On the 22 December 2009, the closing ceremony and the final concert of Japan-Holland year 2009 is held in Sakura-city, Chiba prefecture in Japan. The main guest of the final concert is flutist/composer Wil Offermans. He performs solo as well as collaboration with local folk music Sakura-bayashi, Dutch street orgels, Asunaro Chorus group of Sakura-city and the duo music with biwa and voice of Junko Ueda. Ueda also wrote a special lyric and song dedicating to Sakura-city and celebrating of the Japan-Holland year. The song is performed by the Asunaro Chorus group.

18 Sep. 13:00: Nishinobô-ji Temple (Marugame-shi, Kagawa)
Duo Concert + lecture by Yukitada Terasawa about "Buddhism & Saigyô (12C poet)". Ueda performs traditional biwa piece "Dan-no-Ura". Also, the duo premieres a new piece titled "Wings" inspired by the poems of Saigyô composed by Ueda/Offermans.

20 Sep. 14:30: Hirado Cultural Centre Concert Hall (Hirado-shi, Nagasaki)
Duo Concert in the symposium about 400 years relation between Holland and Japan. They perform "Voices of Nagasaki" and "Voices of Ocean" from Dejima Suite composed by Wil Offermans in 2000.

22 Sep. 15:00: Hirado Cultural Centre Concert Hall (Hirado-shi, Nagasaki)
12xHolland Art Festival. Ueda performs in the piece called "Kaze-no-Suiheisen" (Horizon of Wind) - a music theatre with 10 Dutch artists directed by Wil Offermans.

23 Sep. 15:00: Tabira Cultural Centre Concert Hall (Hirado-shi, Nagasaki)
The second performance of 12xHolland Art Festival.

3 Oct. 16:00 ~ 19:00: Dôgo Community Centre (Matsuyama-shi, Ehime)
Shomyo (by Ueda) & Movement (by Mayumi Isshiki) workshop.

4 Oct. 14:00: Kuma Museum (Kuma-Kôgen, Ehime)
Duo Concert. Ueda performs traditional biwa piece "Dan-no-Ura". The duo performs a new version of duo piece "How to Survive in Paradise" involving live-electronics. Also, there is a collaboration trio piece titled "Garden' with dancer Mayumi Isshiki.

5 Oct. 18:00: Tennyo-za (Kumano-shi, Mie)
Duo Concert. Ueda performs traditional biwa piece "Dan-no-Ura". The duo performs a new version of duo piece "How to Survive in Paradise" involving live-electronics. Also, there is an trio improvisation with Shiho Yabuki (synthesiser). 

8 Oct. 20;00: Knuttelhouse (Taito-ku, Tokyo)
Improvisation duo with Yoko Arai (piano) & Junko Ueda (biwa&voice)

10 Oct. 18:00: Daizen-in Temple (Higashi-Murayama, Tokyo)
Duo Concert. Ueda performs traditional biwa piece "Dan-no-Ura". The duo performs a new version of duo piece "How to Survive in Paradise"involving live-electronics. Also, there is a collaboration trio piece with Flamenco dancer La Eiko.

11 Oct. 13:00 ~ : Fujimi Cultural Centre (Higashi-Murayama, Tokyo)
BSXCaravan. Ueda presents workshop "Let's sing Gion-Shôja (traditional biwa song)". The duo concert follows, including collaboration with Flamenco dancer La Eiko and visual artist Annelinde de Jong.

14 Oct. 18:00: Gyokusen-ji Temple (Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata)
Duo Concert.

18 Oct. 17:00: Senzoku Conservatory (Kawasaki, Kanagawa)
Sound Creators Festa. Duo Concert. The duo performs a new version of duo piece "How to Survive in Paradise" involving live-electronics.

This year, Hirado-city (southern island in Nagasaki prefecture in Japan) celebrates 400 years relationship with Holland. In this occasion, Junko Ueda writes a special lyrics and song ‘Horizon of Wind’ dedicating to the Hirado City. She sings this song in the same titled music theatre project ‘Horizon of Wind’ performed together with nine Dutch artists and directed by Wil Offermans in the 12xHolland Art Festival.

22 September: 15:00 Hirado Cultural Centre Main Hall
23 September: 15:00 Tabira Cultural Centre Hall

Continuing from the last year, Junko Ueda again joins a special project combining occidental and oriental troubadour art-styles in both music and poetry: Troubadours Caravane. The ensemble is created around the Troubadours Art Ensemble directed by Gérard Zuchetto. The project is organised by Trob'Art Productions.

18 July: Cour de la Madeleine, Festival Horizon Mediterranee, Narbonne, France
13 September: Abbaye de Fontcaude, Cazedarnes, Herault, France
25 October: Temple, Vezenobres, Gard, France

On the 14 & 15 May 2009, Junko Ueda performs at Flagey in Brussels, Belgium.
14 May 20:00: Satsuma-Biwa concert. She performs traditional biwa pieces as well as a piece of Toru Takemitsu “Voyage”.
15 May 9:00-12:00: Shomyo Workshop. The participation in the workshop is free and you can apply here.
15 May 12:30: Shomyo chanting concert. Junko Ueda performs traditional shomyo pieces.

More information, please look here.

Junko Ueda has made a Japan Concert Tour performing with flutist Wil Offermans, the Duo Ueda/Offermans; for the BSXCaravan project, the project “Genji-Monogatari & Lorca” and as a initiator/organizer for 12xHolland. A quick photo impression:


More photos and tour reports, please click here!

14.11.08 - Kofuku-ji Temple, Nagasaki, Duo “Genji-Monogatari & Lorca” / BSXCaravan
16.11.08 - Ikitsuki Culture Centre, Nagasaki, 12xHolland / BSXCaravan
18.11.08 - Hirado Culture Centre, Nagasaki, 12xHolland / BSXCaravan
22.11.08 - Best Amenity Centre, Tosu, Saga, BSXCaravan
24.11.08 - Musashi-Murayama City Concert Hall, Tokyo, BSXCaravan
25.11.08 - Olympic Centre, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Duo Voice Workshop
27.11.08 - Honen-in Temple, Kyoto, Duo “Genji-Monogatari & Lorca” / BSXCaravan
30.11.08 - Josai High School Hall, Kamiyama-cho, Tokushima, BSXCaravan
01.12.08 - Kamiyama-Onsen Hall, Kamiyama-cho, Tokushima, Duo Concert
04.12.08 - Core Shakkyo, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Duo “Genji-Monogatari & Lorca”
05.12.08 - Shangri-la, Musashi-Murayama, Tokyo, Duo “Genji-Monogatari & Lorca”
06.12.08 - Fujimi Culture Centre, Higashi-Murayama, Tokyo, BSXCaravan
07.12.08 - Daisho-an, Tsuruoka, Duo “Genji-Monogatari & Lorca”
08.12.08 - Daisho-an, Tsuruoka, Shomyo Workshop
08.12.08 - Gyokusen-ji Temple, Tsuruoka, Duo Concert

This year 2008 is the 1000 years anniversary of ‘The Tale of Genji’, a most famous Japanese antique romance-literature written by Murasaki Shikibu. To celebrate this anniversary, Duo Ueda/Offermans has composed a music piece combining the scenery of The Tale of Genji and three poems of Federico Garcia Lorca. This work will be performed at: 14/11 Kofuku-ji (Nagasaki); 27/11 Honen-in (Kyoto); 4/12 Core-Shakkyo (Shinjuku); 5/12 Shangri-la (Musashimurayama); 7/12 Daisho-an (Tsuruoka).

Junko Ueda have made an arrangement of her biwa traditional repertory ‘Funabenkei’ for the Troubadours Caravan ensemble. Here under you can see the performances. The dancer is Michel Raji, who made the choreograph with the piece.

L'abbaye de Lagrasse, Lagrasse, Aude, France


Amphitheatre Fin Amor, Rodez, Aveyron, France

On the 27 October 2008, Junko Ueda performs biwa traditional music at Musée Cernuschi (7 Ave. Vélasquez 75008) in Paris. This concert is held for the celebration of the new publication about Utamaro, 'l'Almanach des maisons vertes' by Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art .