News Releases
2009

* Information contained in this news release is current as of its date of announcement. Be aware that information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

Special promotional event exclusively for non-Japanese
“OMOTENASHI” Experience
Experience the genuine Japanese hospitality & traditional performing arts
Held every Saturday evening until March 28 at Nihonbashi’s Muromachi Fukutokujuku

February 27, 2009
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
Shinnichiya Co.,Ltd./Tokyo Kimono Club

Mitsui Fudosan and Tokyo Kimono Club join hand-in-hand in producing a special paid event called “OMOTENASHI Experience” dedicated for foreign nationals. The event is held at Nihonbashi’s cultural community center “Muromachi Fukutokujuku*1” and offers the guests an unique and enjoyable experience of the Japanese culture/heritage. The event started on Saturday, February 14.
*1 For details of Muromachi Fukutokujuku, please refer to page 2.

In collaboration with Nihonbashi community and local establishments, currently, Mitsui Fudosan is promoting “Nihonbashi Revitalization Program.” It is an ongoing program driven by the passion to revitalize the Nihonbashi district and create new value for the future while upholding and bringing out the best of this community. This event constitutes a part of this very Program. We believe that providing foreign travelers an opportunity to experience the heartfelt spirits of Japanese “omotenashi*2” will lead to spreading of a positive message that “Japan is enchanting” directly from Nihonbashi to the rest of the world. Trying out the traditional Japanese entertainment will undoubtedly leave a pleasant memory in each guests participating in this event.
*2 “Omotenashi” is an act of providing detailed service in a variety of ways to allow guests to spend a relaxing and memorable time.

Some episodes from the opening night

  • The seats were fully booked with foreign guests from U.S., Mexico and other 9 nations.
  • The guests savored the traditional hors d’oeuvres using seasonal ingredients made by Nihonbashi’s respected shinise, or stores famous for quality and long tradition, and fine quality Japanese sake perfectly selected to match the food. As they ate, the guests enjoyed the Japanese traditional performing arts, geisha’s dance and shinnai, right in front of their eyes.
  • Jolly voices and cheers filled the air as some volunteering guests tried out geisha party games such as Tora Tora Tora.

During this special event, guests will enjoy traditional Japanese dance performed by genuine geisha and experience ozashiki asobi (geisha party entertainment/game). In addition, we will feature different Japanese art performances such as houkan, taikagura, shinnai, hayashi, every week. This event is held every Saturday evening from 6pm until Saturday, March 28.For inquiries about , interview and/or news coverage, please contact Corporate Communications Dept. of Mitsui Fudosan at 03-3246-3155(phone).


Traditional Dance by Geisha

“Tora Tora Tora”
A typical ozashiki asobi (geisha party entertainment)

Shinnai

“OMOTENASHI” Experience (Event Outline)

Venue “Muromachi Fukutokujuku” at Nihonbashi
1st Floor of Mitsui Building #6, 2-3-16 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0022
Dates Every Saturday from February 14 until March 28, 2009 (total of 9 performances)
Time 6 pm to 7:30 pm
Scheduled Performances - Mar. 14: Geisha / Shinnai
- Mar. 21: Geisha / Houkan
- Mar. 28: Geisha / Hayashi
Hors d’oeuvres “Tetori Hanpen (steamed minced fish)” (by Kanmo of Nihonbashi Muromachi)
“Anago Tsukudani (eel boiled in soy sauce)” (by Funasa of Nihonbashi)
“Sweet Omelet” (by Toritada of Ningyo-cho)
This event is open only to expatriates and foreign travelers.
For any inquiries from readers and viewers, please contact:
Tokyo Kimono Club 03-3249-3136 (phone)
Seating Capacity approximately 30
Fee ¥12,000 (includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks)
Access 2 minutes walk from A4 exit at Mitsukoshi-mae station
(Tokyo Metro Ginza Line & Hanzomon Line)

“Muromachi Fukutokujuku” (‘Fukutokujuku’)

As part of “Nihonbashi Revitalization Program”, the ongoing Program being pursued in united efforts among Mitsui Fudosan, Nihonbashi community and local establishments, Mitsui Fudosan established Fukutokujuku in December 2006 as Nihonbashi’s cultural community center. Fukutokujuku consists of the following three sections:

Fukutokujuku:
Fukutokujuku is an educational saloon that offers knowledge of good old Japanese culture. Inviting cultural experts from various fields and Nihonbashi’s long standing shinise store-owners as guest speakers, Fukutokujuku hosts variety of seminars themed on “Edo”, “Japanese-style” and “Nihonbashi” to familiarize people of the unique Nihonbashi culture and hopefully trigger a creation of yet another new Japanese culture.
Fukutoku Chaya:
Fukutoku Chaya is a restaurant that offers enjoyable seasonal cuisine and various dishes made of food ingredients from Nihonbashi’s shinise.
Fukutoku Shrine:
Fukutoku Shrine has existed in Nihonbashi for over 1000 years and has been worshiped by the locals as their guardian god.

*For details, please check the official website (Japanese only) at: http://www.fukutokujuku.jp


Inside the “Muromachi Fukutokujuku”

Fukutoku Shrine

Profile of Performing Artists

Total Space Producer & Master of Ceremony: Mr. Kihachiro Nishiura
Mr. Nishiura Kihachiro is the owner of “Nishiura Ryokusui Do”, an antique store that dates back from late Edo Era and currently located in Minami-Aoyama. In 2006, he founded Nishiura Style that blends traditional and modern Japanese art form and beauty. Flower arrangements and incense are just some examples of the works he does to take "nature of nature" in his daily life. He opens classes/exhibitions/seminars themed on flower arrangements and incense in Japan, U.S. and European countries.
Mr. Nishiura was born in Tokyo and has a Master’s degree in Geophysics from Ohio University.

Shinnai: Ms. Koteru Fujimatsu
Ms. Fujimatsu was born in downtown Tokyo, and started to learn shinnai under the master Fujimatsu Kagateru at age 9.
Her original recital “Fujimatsu-Koteru-no-kai” has started in 1975 and currently counts 65 performances. Her loyalty to shinnai classics is unquestionable, but she seeks for new and is a music composer herself. Her latest release includes “Ise Monogatari” and “Shuzenji Monogatari”.
She co-stages with performers from various fields, like Bunraku Gidayu, Kabuki actors, dancers, as well as opera singers and chanson singers.

Shinnai
Shinnai is short term for “shinnai-bushi” and is style of joruri (narrative singing) created during the Edo Period. Because narrative is a significant element of joruri, shinnai is not merely singing the lyrics along with the tune. This is why joruri is not “sung” but “told”. It is vocally “narrated” with shamisen (Japanese banjo) accompaniment. Shinnai is elegant and known for its emotional style of “telling” the stories in a lamentabile voice with delicate, beautiful music.

Hayashi: Ms. Tazae Mochizuki
Ms. Mochizuki started to learn hayashi (a type of Japanese music) from her father, 10th master Mochizuki Tazaemon, in her childhood. She inherited the name Mochizuki Tazae to become Mochizuki Tazae the 2nd in 1994. She features various concerts to perform her unique hayashi music.
Besides her works as performer, she is also a board member of Nagauta Association and an instructor of the training course of the National Theater.
Ms. Mochizuki has a Ph.D in music from the Graduate School of Music of Tokyo University of the Arts.

Hayashi
A type of Japanese music played to enliven the mood at festivals or in performing arts such as No, Kyogen, Kabuki, Nagauta and skits.
Percussion instruments including taiko(drum), tsutumi(hand drum), kane(type of gong) and fue (Japanese flute) are used. Hayashi is sometimes accompanied by lyrics or the shamisen.

Daikagura: Mr. Zenzaburo Kagami
Mr. Kagami was born in Morioka City of Iwate Prefecture in 1946.
Started to learn daikagura under the 12th Kagami Kozen in 1955 and re-named himself as Morinosuke (stage name). His first act was in 1957 at Ikebukuro Entertainment Hall. Again re-named himself as Zenzaburo. He was awarded Outstanding Performance Prize of Art Festival and was designated by the Tokyo Municipal Government as intangible folk cultural asset. Along with his two apprentices, he founded Kagami Zenzaburo Performing Group. He assumed the position of vice chairman of Daikagura Traditional Juggling Association in 1998, followed by position of the chairman in 2004.

Daikagura
It is a traditional Japanese performing/juggling acts such as shishimai, juggling, kakeai-chaban. It was originally performed to pay tribute to the gods. It is said that it originates in both Ise Shrine and Atsuta Shrine.

Houkan: Mr. Shichiko Sakurakawa
Mr. Sakurakawa showed interest in houkan when he saw a skit featuring a former Asakusa geisha Okamoto Miyafuji in 1982. He was so inspired by the act and decided to dedicate rest of his life as a houkan.
He became an apprentice to Sakurakawa Yoneshichi (one of the Yugentei Tamasuke Clan) in 1993. His first act was a year later at Tokyo Asakusa Kenban. To draw more laughter and fun for the guests, he continues his efforts to upgrade his acts.

Houkan
Professional male entertainers who entertain guests by performing actions and acting skits to keep banquets lively and fun for guests. Also called as otoko geisha (male geisha) or taiko-mochi (drum beaters). Before the war, there were more than 470 houkan, but now there are only four living houkan in Japan, indeed treasured beings.

Geisha
Geisha are women dressed in kimono who perform various Japanese arts such as traditional songs, dance, shamisen to cheer and liven the gathering. We have invited geisha from Shimbashi, Akasaka and Asakusa to this event.

For interview or news coverage, please contact:
Corporate Communications Dept., Mitsui Fudosan phone: 03-3246-3155

For inquiries concerning art performances, please contact:
Tokyo Kimono Club phone: 03-3249-3136