ITANI - Guitar Workshop And Live Dates Announced For Japan

May 23, 2015, 8 years ago

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ITANI - Guitar Workshop And Live Dates Announced For Japan

Japanese fusion guitarist Nozomi Itani has announced more live dates for the summer and a workshop for he end of May. His schedule is now as follows:

May

30 - ESP Music School - Tokyo, Japan (Workshop: Expression In The Technical Guitar Solo)

June 

3 - Live House Welcomeback - Tokyo, Japan

July 

10 - Live Spot Terra - Tokyo, Japan

August 

28 - Studio WUU - Kashiwa, Japan

Itani's roots as a musician were planted in Germany, where he lived from the age of four for over 30 years when his father – a pioneering businessman that helped introduce Japanese companies to the Western world – moved to Europe in 1962. In that time he carved out a successful albeit behind-the-scenes career, which eventually brought him home to Japan. 

On November 9th, 2014, Germany celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Itani, who was in the country at the time, recalls the epic event for BraveWords:

"It's been 25 years since the fall of on the Berlin Wall. At that time, I still lived in Germany. I came home from a gig late night, turned the TV on, and I saw a bunch of guys standing on the Berlin wall and destroying it. First I thought 'An intresting TV movie' and then I heard the newscaster shouting 'This is not a fiction! This happens right now! What a picture!' 

For me and most of my generation in Germany, Berlin wall was 'always there.' We grew with the existence. All of sudden, the social situation we knew changed and/or fell apart. It was more anxiety I felt than surprise. 

One year later, I visited the former East Germany. It was very impressive to be in a taxi and drive under the Brandenburg Gate. But it was more shocking to see that the unemployment rate in some towns in former East Germany was higher than 80%. I felt bad things coming.

Unfortunately, I was right. The economic situation in Germany decreased, crime rate has increased. I noticed many drug addicts I've never seen in the town where I lived. So called Neo-Nazis increased. The times of 'Germany is safe' were over.

There were a lot of personal reasons why I moved back to Japan in 1997, but it was not totally independent from the social situation at that time in Germany.

Now, after 25 years, there are many Germans who love Japanese manga, anime and pop stars. In 2015, you hear people in Germany saying 'I love Pokemon!' or 'Baby-Metal is really cool!' Time has changed (and by the way, I'm 25 years older...) but I still feel that peace and richness are not self-evident. You have to endeavor every single day for it."

For a look at Itani's career history go to BraveWords scribe Carl Begai's interview at this location.



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