NMGE, known for large-scale Gagaku performances, to present a triple bill of solo and duo pieces by contemporary composers including Atsuhiko Gondai, with anticipation for their performance of the traditional Gagaku piece 'Kishunraku'! Tickets for 'Tradition and Innovation 4' are selling well.

The 'Naoyuki MANABE GAGAKU Ensemble 2026 Performance: Tradition and Innovation 4 ~Unraveling Classics, Creating Future Traditions~' will be held on Monday, August 31, 2026, at the Densho Hall of the Shibuya Cultural Center Owada (23-21 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo).

Tickets are currently on sale through Confetti (operated by Long Run Planning Co., Ltd., Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Daigo Kurematsu).

Tickets on sale at Confetti

Naoyuki MANABE GAGAKU Ensemble (hereinafter referred to as NMGE) has been holding regular concerts annually. Due to popular demand, starting this fiscal year, the ensemble will hold two performances per year.

While NMGE has previously performed contemporary ensemble pieces, this time they will challenge themselves with solo and duo performances, including works by the renowned contemporary music composer Atsuhiko Gondai.

Furthermore, in traditional Gagaku music, they will re-attempt the 'Omeri-mai' (retreating dance) of the Bugaku piece 'Kishunraku,' which they have tackled before, delivering a performance with even greater perfection.

Please look forward to a concert that offers a different flavor from NMGE's previous performances.

Program (Tentative) Atsuhiko Gondai's 'Higan/Shigan' (Akichi/Kocchi) (Shō Duo Piece - 2025)

Commissioned work by Ryota Fukumoto, a current graduate student at Tokyo University of the Arts (Hichiriki Duo Piece)

Naoyuki Manabe's 'Invention VII' (Yokobue Solo Piece - Commissioned Work)

Comment from Naoyuki Manabe

For six years since the formation of NMGE. The 'Kodama-buki' (a playing technique where sounds echo each other in a garden), which has been researched since the beginning, and 'Tai-mai' (dancing with staggered steps) will reach a significant milestone here. Since 1998, I have been researching 'Tai-buki' (a playing technique where melodies are staggered) on the Shō. With three or more instruments, Tai-buki can become chaotic, making it difficult to discern individual melodies, and in a sense, it can be called 'aleatoric music.' My continuous pursuit as a composer has been to make these chance elements intentional and controlled. Simultaneously, I have been researching Tai-buki in 'two-group序' (an introductory section divided into two groups), not only with the Shō but also incorporating the Hichiriki and Fue. In 2017, the two-group Tai-buki was completed in the introduction of 'Kojinshu,' followed by the performance of 'Kojinshu' (solo dance) in 2020 with the addition of percussion and dance. NMGE has inherited and developed these achievements. In 2021, we completed the two-group Tai-mai in the introduction of 'Gojōraku' with four dancers. Furthermore, in 2022, we named the staggered playing technique in rhythmic pieces 'Kae-buki' and performed it in 'Shunteika.' In 2024, we completed the four-group Tai-buki in the introduction of 'Kishunraku.' This time marks the first attempt where four dancers will perform Tai-mai using four-group Tai-buki. The undulating sounds of Kodama-buki and Tai-buki will be visualized as dance movements. 'Kagurauta,' which NMGE has been working on since its formation, is a lengthy piece lasting over six hours, consisting of three parts: 'Kami-mukae' (God welcoming), 'Kami-asobi' (God playing), and 'Kami-okuri' (God sending off). This time, we will finally perform 'Kikiri' from the third part, 'Hoshi' (Stars).

While NMGE has performed Gagaku with large ensembles, starting from this concert, we will begin commissioning and performing works focused on individual instruments (Shō Duo, Hichiriki Duo, Fue Solo). Atsuhiko Gondai is currently one of Japan's most active composers, having won the 'Odaka Prize' twice, awarded for the most outstanding orchestral work by a Japanese composer. He continues to achieve remarkable success. We will perform 'Higan/Shigan,' which premiered in 2025. Naoyuki Manabe has created many works that leverage the characteristics of instruments and has composed a piece for the transverse flute this time. Ryota Fukumoto is an emerging composer who graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, highly acclaimed for his ensemble works using Gagaku instruments during his student years, leading to this commission for a Hichiriki duet.

This concert will be an opportunity to witness tradition, modernity, and the creation of future traditions.

Performance Outline

'Naoyuki MANABE GAGAKU Ensemble 2026 Performance: Tradition and Innovation 4 ~Unraveling Classics, Creating Future Traditions~'

Date: Monday, August 31, 2026, 19:00

Venue: Shibuya Cultural Center Owada Densho Hall (23-21 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)

Performers Naoyuki MANABE GAGAKU Ensemble

Shō: Naoyuki Manabe, Go Aki, Taishi Nagai, Soki Aoki, Ayako Kawakami, Kosei Shimomiya

Hichiriki: Motonori Miura, Yoshie Kunimoto

Fue: Yutaka Ota, Tatsuya Iwasaki, Ryo Fujiwaki, Takuya Koketsu

Special Guest Performance

Shō: Hideaki Toyo

Saburai (Left Dance): Nagao Okubo

Supporting Performance

Shō: Kumiko Oka

Hichiriki: Tomoko Nakamura, Shohei Okada, Hiroshi Shimada

Fue: Tadahira Otani

Ticket Prices

General: 5,000 yen

Students: 2,500 yen

(All seats unreserved, tax included)

Ticket Site 'Confetti'

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