The musical connection between Victoria and Japan goes back to the 80's, with significant figure in the music industry, such as independent Australian Record Label owner and promoter Bruce Milne, who had experience managing punk rock groups in Japan.
Woody McDonald, programmer for Japan In Focus program, RISING says, the event is "a nod to the mania, Melbourne music fans have developed towards Japanese musical culture".
"You can see the influence all over town" he spoke to SBS Japanese.
"Especially in things like audiophile bars popping up and even local record stores ordering their racks in a Shibuya style"
The Japan In Focus program include "only a bit size selection of Japanese music" says McDonald, but has managed to capture some of the most iconic artist of the country, with Tokyo's leading pop experimentalists of the 90s, Buffalo Daughter and CHAI, world-renowned rock band BORIS, techno great, DJ Nobu and genre breaking DJ and producer Kenji Takimi lining up the program.
Headlining Japan In Focus is Midori Takada, world's renowned percussionist and composer, who in her 70's, is still highly acclaimed around the world.
Takada recalls her first visit to Australia during her 20s, where an opportunity to come in contact with the First Nation's people and their music was an eye opener.
"The native power, which Australia had, combined with elements of Asia and Europe", was striking.
"I strongly felt a new way of coexisting in a new country" she spoke to SBS Japanese.
For Takada, whose music is based on the "relationship between mankind and sound", perhaps the encounter of the indigenous music, the Yidaki (didgeridoo) shaped and inspired her music in the years to come.
"The didgeridoo is the origin of the relationship between the body and sound"
Japanese percussionist Midori Takada’ music connects the body and mind to the earth Source: RISING/Midori Takada
In fact, her debut solo album from the early 80s, Through the Looking Glass was given a re-birth when it was posted on YouTube without a permission, fetching over million views.
Takada who did not use the internet, open a laptop or carry a smartphone back then, was puzzled as to why record company from all over the world was suddenly contacting her about re-release.
"I had no idea, and very surprised"
She believes that the music created decades ago, is still accepted by youngster's of today, as "the spirit of seeking music does not change from generation to generation".
"The most important element in music is resonance, vibration. This vibration that reaches the skin must be a live sound, and is completely different from digital sound"
For the full interview in Japanese, listen from below
See below for Japan in Focus program
Singular Voices: Midori Takada (Sydney) Sat June 11
Listen to SBS Japanese Radio on Tue, Thu and Sat from 10pm
