Grace Cooper

On May 16, Japanese instructor Masumi Timson and her students ended week seven off with a bang.

The group performed a short concert featuring the koto— a traditional Japanese instrument. Joining Timson on the stage were her three Japanese course students: Kiiro Nishimoto on the koto, Eloise Kochi on the piano, and Lance Bosarge on the drums.The concert was showcased for 30 minutes and was performed at the Student Center.

Each of their songs contained a rich background on what the song meant and its importance to Japanese culture. For instance, their first song “Sakura Sakura,” translating to “Cherry Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms,” is a traditional Japanese folk song that illustrates the blooming of the Japanese cherry blossoms during the spring season. Another one of their songs titled “Haru Ga Kita,” meaning “Spring Has Come,” celebrates the arrival of spring through a charming and simplistic melody.

During both songs, many other students from Timson’s Japanese courses and members of the Japanese Culture Club sang along on stage. Alongside traditional Japanese music, the students even performed a koto cover of the classic jazz single “Take Five” by Dave Bruback. With the drums beating and the koto strings strumming, the students crafted an image that symbolized unity between Japanese and American culture and music. 

With large numbers of students, staff, and their families attending the event, everyone was gearing up to listen to some traditional Japanese music while also learning about the history of the koto and its influence on Japanese culture.