May 05, 2011
Thursday AM

There is something beautiful and calming about the Koto instrument - the fashion in which it is played by women in their cultural dress playing with such delicate, soft strokes.

It was a pleasure tonight to be a part of the experience of participating in the Japanese Connection, Koto concert. The Ktn Community Chorus and 7 community instrumentalists joined with Koto players Chieko Imai and Miyuki Ishihara, and the Kanayama and Ketchikan exchange students to provide an evening of traditional Japanese songs. Also, two Koto students, Hana Lee Oshima and Ayuka Ishihara, played a contemporary collection of Japanese songs.

Thank you to Steve Kinney, Music Director of the Community Chorus; his wife Grace, who provided the photo presentation of the Kanayama area; and their daughter Chandra, who did the interpretation between the cultures - for giving Ketchikan this gift, an evening of a rich blending of the Japanese culture through music and photos.

Judith Green
Ketchikan, AK