Ancient Stairway

Kokage Shrine

Offerings for abundant cocoons

Ancient Custom Hanging on by a (Silk) Thread

Long before Japan was exporting Toyotas and Sonies,its most important foreign exchange earner was silk. Until about fifty years ago most farmers in the Kanto area supplimented their incomes by raising silk worms. Ten years ago I was still able to find the huts where these plump
caterpillars were grown and the sound of their loud munching on mulberry leaves still rings in my ears whenever I think about the times I came upon them. Now, even the mulberry groves which were a typical part of the Tsukuba landscape have all but disappeared.

Today,March 28th, I braved thunder and lightning to negotiate the steps up to Kokage Shrine and join the priests and 3 older, local gentlemen to give offerings for abundant rice crops and silk production and think back upon the heyday of Japans fling with the worms and their precious cocoons.
Kokage Shrine is yet another Tsukuba superlative. It is the oldest shrine in Japan dedicated exclusively to sericulture and once attracted thousands of worshipers, many from the textile
towns of Nagano and Gunma.
Located in the beautifully rustic Kangori(神郡) district of Tsukuba,the shrine is reached ascending ancient and uneven stone steps through an even more ancient sacred grove. It is said that the sea once reached this site and that an Indian princess who had set sail for Japan was dead upon arrival. Her ship was made of mulberry wood, and the locals imagined that she came from a land of abundant silkworms. They buit a casket for her and filled it with mulberry leaves.
To the right of the shrines main hall ,under an enclosure I found an undated E-ma painting depicting this scene.
I had a chance to chat with the Kanshushis(Shinto priests) as they were setting up the offerings on the altar. They were actually sent by The Tsukuba-San Shrine, as the Kokage Shrine has nearly been forgotten with the pricipitous decline in sericulture in Japan over the past few decades.
Now there are priests at the shrine only 2 days a year, March 28th for the spring offerings, and then November 23rd for the shrines festival. They explained to me how special the silkworms(kaiko) were to the Japanese, as they were the only domestic animal actually raised in peoples homes.They are also the only animals which normally are referred to using an honorific - O Kaiko-Sama, though the local people usual shorten this to O Ko-Sama.
As the time came to commence the ceremony only 3 old men had battled the stairs and settled inside the shrine for the ceremony.
This being a mere shadow of the crowds who would be there in former days.
First,a purification rite was carried out, and then offerings of cocoons, fruit and sacred sakaki leaves were made. O-miki(sake) was then drunk, and commemorative towels given to the few of us present. After the ceremony, we clambered down the steps as the local men reminisced about the shrines glory days.
Now the wooden buidings which would have been used by numerous vendors on this day were virtually falling apart. One man mentioned that a movie had been shot on this staircase, though he could not recall the title. Another man mentioned how just the other day the Emperor and Emperess performed a similar ritual for silkworms, which he had seen broadcast on TV(the Imperial Couple raises rice and silkworms for ritual purposes).
We reached the bottom of the stairway huffing and puffing. We entered the dilapidated old shop which once served the throngs of pilgrims who would flock here. They still sold a special souvenir- Kokage Yokan(beanpaste).
As a breeze entered the shop it gently lifted the paper displaying the price of the yokan. I noticed that for that day they had raised the price by 100 yen, taking advantage of the ceremony. Unfortunately,only 3 locals and I had shown up.
Times change, things change, and this ancient rite is certainly hanging on by a VERY thin thread.
　　

Bitter herbs in this season`s sweet

In Tsukuba, as the days get longer,here and there,slim shafts of greenery begin pushing up out from the snowless,brown, gray and straw-colored winterscape, giving us relieved assurance that once again, spring has come.It is in this time of year that many Japanese can be seen scouring the roadside, field edges or riverbank, as if looking for a lost object.
In fact, they are in search of yomogi(蓬), a wild herb which is gathered to make this season`s sweet - kusamochi(草餅), a distinctly green hued(perfect for St Paddy`s Day!) mochi-rice cake, sometimes filled with anko-sweet bean paste, or covered with kinako-soy bean powder.
Since yomogi(mugwort in English, though that word does NOT sound very appetizing), becomes inediblly tough quite soon after sprouting up, it has to be gathered when still very small ,young and fresh.
(I remember doing this years ago, for the first time, in the field behind the Tsukuba Central Police Station!)The herb is then boiled to make it less bitter, and then mixed into mochi(pounded rice cakes) and molded into small roundish patties.
　　This gives the mochi a slightly bitter and grassy taste.
It is because of this flavor that the custom began in the first place in ancient China,
where bitter grasses were believed to be effective in expelling
impurities and evil spirits. This notion was imported to Japan in the Heian Period(794-1192)
though a different type of herb was the most common ingredient(母子草 hahakogusa or gogyou).
It was only in the Edo Period (1601-1868)the yomogi became the commonly used ingredient.Yomogi is also an important component og the heated acupuncture called moxabustion. This English term derives from the Japanese word mogusa, which is the dried
mugwort used for this traditional medical treatment.
These days kusamochi is also available at most convenient stores in this season and can of course be found at wagashiya(Japanese sweet shops).
I had one today. Why dont you enjoy the season and the tradition and try it for yourself!

Avi Landau

Jenny belts it out

In the dressing room

Thomas between takes

Michael Frei lays down the sax

Jenny recording

Jenny and Takumi in the studio

TenGooz in the woods! @Capio Hall

Busy we are! Four Tengooz and guitarist Thomas Mayer have joined forces to create and perform the music to Ki no Ballad, or as I translate it- Ballad in Wood.
It has not been easy trying to blend narration, projected images, sculpture, dance and music, but the show went quite well and should be much better for our next performance on the 22nd.
We have gotten lots of positive comments on the music, and we hope that the extra two weeks will give us the time to pull everything together and create something really special.
Its a great thrill and satisfaction to have Jenny sing our songs. She is truly STAR material with her rivetting stage presence and almost uncontainable passion.
We will be recording tommorow night and hope to have CDs ready for next Friday nights show as there have been some inquiries about getting the music which we perform in the show.

In the picture sent to us by Dan, you can see the general merriment which we whipped up in the 3rd act of the show. Lots of kids,parents and seniors romping on the stage. What could be better!

Avi Landau

pic from Dan - hope it is the same one!

Something Smells Fishy-Its Setsubun!

Most of the world cultures that I can think of have (or had)　their own special ways of keeping evil spirits at bay,　or even better,far away. Japan is probably the industrialized　country with its traditional demon-fighting repetoire most intact. One of the most important and popular of the occassions on which excorcisms are appropriate is SETSUBUN(節分)usually celebrated on February 3rd, the day before the first day of spring(risshun(立春).The main technique used is bean-throwing(豆まき）,highly effective and plenty of fun!

Usually,Dad wears a demon(oni)mask,easilly purchased at any convenience store, and the kids procede to pelt him with dried soy beans(from packets available at the same stores).While they do this,they shout-oni wa soto!
Fuku wa uchi!(Evil out, Good Fortune in!)This is done at the entance to the house, and then in the other rooms. When the beans are all used up, they are gathered up and each family member usually eats the same number of beans as his/her age.Beans can also be offered to the Shinto
and Buddhist altars.

This ceremony remains one of the most popular of the traditional evil fighting customs and you can enjoy the ceremony in various forms at temples and shrines throughout Japan as well as on
TV(you might catch a scene of sumo wrestlers in masks being pelted by excited kids).

One of the other techniques of keeping evil away in this season has not fared as well as the bean throwing. Im refering to hiiragi（ヒイラギ）, the holly and dried sardine amulets which in not very former times would adorn the entranceways of most houses in this area.

Since holly has thorned leaves, it was thought to repel demons who were afraid to get poked in the eye,and the sardines would do the same job with its unpleasant,fishy smell.
Though the use of these amulets has decreased rapidly over recent years, I have still found a few around town.

Ive also taken some pictures of SANPO, containers for soy beans made out of origami paper by nursery school kids.

Another way to celebrate SETSUBUN (or desacrate it by joining in on its commercialization) in to buy the EHO-MAKI(恵方巻き）sushi rolls which are being sold at all the convenience stores and being promoted as efficatious for bringing good fortune by pointing the roll in the properly auspicious directions.

So,There you have it. Take YOUR choice of how you want to keep EVIL away!

Avi Landau

LIVE at last,recording, and event at Capio Hall

Felicitations to all!
The TenGooz had there first gig of the year at Hot Stuff last Friday night. Lots of people came out to the show and I hope we were able to overcome the rust acquired over the long layover and please everyone.

We will also begin recording again,in earnest, this week. We will try to lay down our new ballad,which will be used in Ballad in Wood an event which will be held at Capio Hall.
We will also be putting out a remix of a song I wrote with Ascelin several years ago(autophobia).

We will also be driving out to Ishioka to Elizabeth Robless' studio to develop a feel for her sculpture instruments.
Sounds Like a busy week!

Cheers

Avi Landau

Getting ready for special event at Capio Hall

Four members of the TenGooz, Hase G, Michael Frei, A-Chan and myself(Avi) will be making the music at Capio Hall as part of Contemporary artist Elizabeth Robless'multi-media happening-Ballad In Wood.

The interesting thing is that we will mostly to musicating on sculptures which Elizabeth has created especially for the occassion. Much of what happens will be improvised, so we are looking forward to two very adventurous evenings.

I was first drawn into the singular world of Elizabeth Robless' artistic vision several months ago while on my way to the library, which happens to be located in the same building as The Tsukuba Art Museum.
Just as I was about to walk through the doors that lead to the books, I gave a glance to my right. What i saw stopped me in my tracks. I stood and gazed down the long, narrow corridor leading
to the exhibition hall where Elizabeth's works beckoned me to enter, which I did.

I cant recall now what I had wanted to study at the library on that day, but I will long remember what I came upon there in the art museums inner-sanctum.

For that show Elizabeth had turned the gallery into a magical forest, reflecting her powerful inner-light and visions. Darkly hued wooden planks, boards and posts of various sizes,which she had shaped and embellished upon, sometimes ringed by carefully placed pebbles, were arranged on the walls, floor and in the air,suspended from the ceiling.I could at once feel the time,energy and passion that went into the creation of these pieces.

I also found that her works inspired music in me, with many of them looking like newly invented, still-unnamed instruments, begging to have sounds coaxed out of them.It was difficult NOT to beat,tap, or scratch them.

Of course, I was not the only one to get excited. Dance artist Mako Karasawa visited the show on another day and simply could not control her urges. She began to dance among the pieces.
Elizabeth took the cue and started to improvise an acompaniment on various sculpture-instruments.Many of the visitors then present joined in. It was a magical and cathartic moment for everyone there.

It was also the inspiration for the upcomming events.

Feb. 8 and 22
Capio Hall

Hope to see you there.

Back in action! Coming of Age Day!

New Years Greetings to all you TenGoophiles out there!
Im glad to inform you that we are back in action and FULLY ENERGIZED after the rather lengthy holiday layoff that we had.
We had an invigorating and encouraging practice session thursday night and we are revved up and ready to go for next Friday nights gig at Hot Stuff.
With other news, my young cousin Noam is in Tokyo on business and I gave him a whirlwind tour of the Eastern Capital (Tokyo). Luckilly for him, that day was Coming-Of-Age-Day in Japan, the day on which all 20 year olds celebrate their official entrance into adulthood.They do this by dressing up and attending a ceremony at the city office etc.
Later most of these youngstersgo out and party for the first time(legally)!

These are some of the happy New Adults we ran into on that day.

Avi Landau

New Years Decorations Go Up In Smoke

In Japan seasonal decorations are not simply thrown in the garbage. They are disposed of respect at a ceremony called dondo-yaki. This usually takes place in the middle of January when it is time to take down all the New Years decorations.
I attended such a ceremony which took place near my house ( a place where the TenGooz have enjoyed many a barbecue) on a frosty and windy Sunday morning.
The first point of interest was that now there are restrictions on what type of gargage can or cannot be burned so all bundles grought for incineration on that day were checked, in a way reminiscent of airport security, for any plastics etc.
The decorations, consisting of sacred ropes, wreaths and last years daruma dolls were piled high in a teepee shape. This was done under the careful supervision of the fire department.

Then you could go to the reception desk and recieve a free omochi-rice cake and a very long slender bamboo pole.

It is believed that eating mochi roasted in the heat of the dondoyaki guarranties good health for whole year!

The firemen doused the pile with kerosene and set off the blaze. Fire is always fascinating and the crowd gathered round it were mezmerized by the flames, all holding their long rods with rice cakes at the tips like an army all primed to roast marshmellows.

When the fire burned down everyone stuck their mochi in, and I must say it was deelish!

To the rescue! Please join our efforts!

The birds will be coming soon,in great abundance. Flocks of migrators will surely be in need of some rest during their amazing journey, and historically they have found this on and around Lake Kasumigaura in Ibaraki Prefecture.
This year,thousands of weary travellers will be caught in deadly nets, which are literally protecting nothing, as the lotus roots have all been harvested, and will die slow and horrific deaths,dangling for days by a wing or a leg.

Now it is January and there are much fewer birds than will soon be arriving. Everyday however, some are being caught. Maurice,Dr. Kasuga and I found hundreds, mostly dead, in just a few fields. Looking towards the horizon we saw hundreds more.

We brought gear and began freeing all the birds which still had life in them. This did not amount to much, in terms of number, but it did feel good to get them off the nets and set them on the lake.

Please contact us if you would like to join us.

We need lots more volunteers.

Thanks

Avi Landau

Two-Legged Daikon Radish and Dosojin-A Local Custom

Let me tell you about a fascinating local custom,since the band is still in a new Year hiatus.
It involves FUTAMATA-DAIKON(二股大根),which is the Japanese term for a double-pronged daikon radish. These two-legged curiosities turn up at a surprisingly high rate when farmers harvest their daikon crop in late autumn.The abberant shapes are caused by small rocks,hard clumps of soil or fertilizer,insects, or uneven distribution of irrigation water.
The futamata daikon cannot be found on sale in stores or stalls , and in fact, though perfectly edible, they are traditionally NOT eaten. When I asked several local farmers why this was so, they all came out with the same response, in tones implying that I shouldnt have had to ask
such a question-we dont eat them because they look like peoples legs!
Due to this resemblance to the lower half of the human body, local farmers show reverence and do not simply discard these unsellable roots which are not to be eaten, for it is believed that the disrespect of doing so would bring on leg or foot trouble.
What is done then with these significantly shaped vegetables?

In Tsukuba, the rest of Ibaraki Prefecture and in some outlying areas farmers offer the futamata daikon to a type of sekibutsu(sacred stone) called a dosojin(道祖神),the protector of travellers, roads and the entrance to villages. I suppose that I dont have to point out the
connection between travel and legs(oops, I just did!).locals leave futamata daikon and a variety of foot-wear(anything from straw sandals to sneakers) in front of the dosojin to pray for healthy legs feet and lower back.

This week I have found and photographed dozens of plump and juicy offerings which are rustically photogenic.They will be left exposed to the elements and as the weeks go by they will become the dried out and scrawny shadows that you might find next summer.

Let me make one very important point clear.Though the offering of futamata daikon to dosojin is a VERY localized custom and unfamiliar to most Japanese, dosojin stones are generally known and found throughout Japan. They are most famous in Nagano Prefecture, especially around the beautiful town of Azumino.

These dosojin,however, look completely different from most of their Ibaraki counterparts and also have a totally different significance. The typical image of the dosojin is a stone carving of a loving couple, set on the roadside.Making offerings to them can be efficacious for matchmaking and fertility.In Tsukuba almost all the dosojin I have found are simple stones with only the characters 道祖神　engraved on them.
In Dejima and Yasato I have found very special dosojin with graven images of a single one-legged man.This shows further how in this area these sekibutsu are associated with legs and feet.

If you put in some leg work you might be able to find examples of this custom. You`ll be able to get some great pictures.
I'm not pulling your leg!

Tantric Fire Ritual-Midnight-New Years Eve

Hi, TenGooz fans! Our members have all gone their separate ways for the New Year.
Here is an article Ive written about a very special way to spend New Years Eve in Tsukuba.

When a living organism or seed is carried by winds,ocean currents or an animal host to a new and distant environment, it might fail to take to the unfamiliar surroundings and perish.
On the other hand, there is some chance that it might take root in its new home and maybe even flourish.

The same holds true for the seeds of culture.It can probably be said that the mechanisms determining the success or failure of cultural transmission are even more complex than they are in the biological sphere.

Among the various types of vessels which can transport the spores of culture beyond their original boundaries we can note invading armies, caravans of merchants, and very often, highly
influential individuals.

One such outstanding figure,Kukai(known commonly in Japan by his posthumous Buddhist name-Kobo Daishi弘法大師),was single-handedly responsible for introducing to Japan certain ancient Tantric rites which originated in India more than 3000 years ago.
These practices were carried across the Himalayas, and over the centuries spread throughout South-East Asia and also ,puzzlingly, in Confucian China, whose cultural background would seem to have been hostile soil for most subcontinental concepts.

It was in the Tang Chinese capital of Chang-An in 804 AD that Kukai came into contact with the Master of Esoteric Buddhism,Huikuo(Keika,in Japanese), who believed that the Japanese monk was destined to bring the ancient Indian teachings to distant Japan where they would come into full bloom.

And this he certainly did,in the form of Shingon Buddhism,which has had an impact on almost every aspect of Japanese culture.

This New Years Eve, if you are curious, patient, and impervious to the bitter cold,you can experience first-hand, one of the most important Tantric rituals brought to Japan by Kukai,
the Homa fire ritual,or as it is known in Japan-Goma Taki(護摩焚き).
There is no more impressive way to see how the cultural torch transported by Kukai continues to burn brightly.

The ritual will be performed,as it has been for centuries, at the Tofukuji Temple(東福寺)in Konda,Tsukuba.

Originally founded in 1249,this temple is worth a visit ANY TIME, for its gracefull roof and interesting carvings. Inside the Main Hall you might be surprised to find that the entire ceiling
is a large overhead Mandala,symbol of the Buddhist universe. Also,some people are excited to hear that the Jizo carving on the alter is said to have been carved by Prince Shotoku himself(hmmmm).

The best time to visit the temple ,however,is the night of December 31st, when the priest and his wife get a bon-fire going outside the main hall for visitors to keep warm by before the ceremony begins. Amazake and snacks are usually offered as well.

As it gets closer to midnight, the handfull of locals
who show up start getting edgy from the cold and the excitement.
When the priest opens the doors to the Hall, I would recommend
grabbing a seat near one of the kerosene heaters because
it aint much warmer inside, and the ceremony is about an hour
long.

Homa fire rituals are still still commonly practiced by Hindus for a variety of purposes including supplication for long life, wealth,world peace,good karma, etc.

At the Tofukuji Temple, the rite is carried out as a New Years blessing and purification ceremony.

As the priest creates the fire using sundry mysterious ingredients including a variety of woods, seeds and grains, his sons, chant and percuss for the shomyo incantions, which are worth coming out for in themselves.

When the fire is properly going the priest calls all visitors to burn their wish tablets(100yen) and then to apply the sacred smoke to any body parts that might need it.

When everything is over head back out to the bonfire for more amazake and treats.

If you happen to be in Tsukuba on New Years Eve, this might be the place for you to cross over into the new year. Dont forget to give a thought to kukai and his impact on Japan.

Avi Landau

Bird Rescue Underway! Six saved ,thousands to go.....

Something MUST be done about the senseless and cruel slaughter of birds in the nets around Lake kasumigaura.
And because Maurice, a Canadian living in Iwama has gotten involved , the beginnings of a volunteer rescue movement have started to germinate. Maurice is an experienced environmental activist whose approach to getting things moving is engage the farmers in friendly discussion in order to win them over to our side. Then if farmers refuse to or are not available to free birds entangled in their own fields,Maurice takes action, but strictly within the bounds of the law. He has purchased a pair of chest-high water-proof waders, and rubber gloves, and carries tools which are not used for cutting. He refuses to cut any nets in order to free birds(as the farmers themselves would do),because that could be considered an illegal act. Instead, he patiently and painstakingly untangles the ensnared wings legs and necks. He also takes precautions against bird flu by wearing a protective surgical mask. This approach is extemely time consuming,and we were only able to rescue six birds today. I felt impotent, standing on firm ground as Maurice plodded, like an astronaut on a planet with a strong gravitational pull, through the waist deep muck, slowly toiling to free the struggling survivers which he spotted with his uncanny eagle eyes.

Birds are continually being caught. Saving a handfull of birds has no effect on the big picture and our ultimate aim is to have the nets come down as soon as possible.
however, It was still extremely heartwarming and relieving to see birds that would have hung until starvation set in swim freely out into the lake.

We DEFINITELY need more people to get involved and we need more in put and ideas.

Please contact us if you are interested in making a difference and doing THE RIGHT THING.

Thanks alot

Avi Landau
and The TenGooz

Ending the Year on FIRE!

Hey there, all ye TenGooz fans!

We appreciate you being with us for our last show of the year. And quite a show it was ,too! Hoping to start at a much earlier time than usual, so those who have always wanted to catch the TenGooz LIVE but couldnt get out so late could finally see us,Hase G, Michael and I arrived ready to go at 7.
Unfortunately it would be a couple of hours before A-Chan would arrive, as he was held up by business matters, so the 3 of us gave it a go.

We played about 4 songs as a trio and then Kinchan arrived. It work out pretty well as we all percussed (I mean the band and the audience) on anything percussable nearby, making for a unique sound and plenty of good cheer!

All in all we had a really good vibe going and we all had a great time.

Michael will be back in Germany soon so we are gonna have to take a brief brake in our gig schedule.

Keep checking our schedule and hope to see you at next years first show!

Avi Landau

Hotter than ever!

Hello there TenGooz fans!
Thanks for coming out in the wee hours and heat things up at Hot Stuff on a beautiful December night and then early morning!
Early on we had a small but intimate audience and we tried out some new songs. The band really found its groove last night and Kin-chan not only dazzled with his skill, but is starting to bond with the rest of us. We had some good chemistry going.

Playing to the point of exhaustion, we still forged on with 3 encores before heading back into the rising son.

Catch this years last gig at Spitfire on the 16th.

Cheers

Avi Landau

Marathon Michael !

Hello , TenGoophiles everywhere ! I hope that all fares well with you.
We have been getting little rest these days practicing , composing,recording and performing. Michael got a chance to leap directly into the Japanese livehouse scene, joining up with Kin-Chan , A-Chan and the other members of Twisters for an all-day sunday musical bonanza which was held in an establishment called Country.

Ten bands played. twisters were on last, and hand to be there before the start for rehearsal, giving our buddies the chance to enjoy all the acts! Michael looked a bit gaunt when I showed up at 9pm and they were just about to go on.

Despite the ling wait the guys and gals of Twister put on a great show, which was followed by the post event party! It goes without saying that michael was a tad tired for the next days TenGooz practice.

Remember-this Saturday night at Spitfire!!!

TenGooz @ Hot Stuff

It was a cool autumn night outside. it the comfortable confines of Hot Stuff,though, it was a sultry summer night as the heat was turned up by Hase g, a-chan,kin-chan, Michael Frei and myself, as we were joined by a very special guest, Jean, of the Bang Boys.

The place was packed and spirits were high throughout our 3 sets.kin chan played the crowd beautifully and the Frei fans were out in abundance. Hase -G treated us with the seemingly impossible-flamenco bass! yes, thats right!

I dont think it has ever been done before. If ANYONE has seen or heard it before,please let me know.
Thanks to all of you who were there to make it an extra special evening.

Ohtani-San helps us lay down Smile!

It's great to be back in the studio again ! Especially with the skillfull engineering of Ohtani-San who is giving us a sound. hase g and A-Chan laid down the drums and bass and then put down the vocal. Michael finished things off with his sax. Now there remains the mix down and the possible addition of embellishments here and there.

The lyrics

Feels like i've met you before somewhere
another place another time
Now I've forgotten all my cares
and Im thinkin thoughts sublime

just like a zen satori
there came a flash to me
you're not only my present but my future and my history

I know it mgiht sound funny
but no matter where you flee
there's no way that you can run away from destiny

I was running crazed down a lonley road
but what seems like a million miles
but that life is all over now
and I sit 'n watch you smile

I'm learning to love again...

See you Saturday night at Hot Stuff

Avi Landau

On Fire at Spitfire!!!

Spitfire was on fire tonight!

The TenGooz were fanning the flames with special guest Kinchan on guitar and Hassan,fromNigeria on percussion. With just a lttle practice just before the gig Kinchan drove the crowd wild with his spirited and skillful guitarations. Hassan added lots of good sound and atmosphere on the dance numbers. We played 4 sets. Dance,slow,dance and then dance again! Thanks,as usual to all those who turned out for the show and to Chris and Taka.

We will be back at the Spit on November 17th with lots more song and a more refined version of our new African sound.

Sweet dreams

Avi Landau Tsukuba Japan

New York and Phillie, Maia Cabeza plays Carnegie Hall !

Hi,all ! I am back in Japan offering you these nocturnal jet-lag induced scribblings.

After arriving in NY on the 24 of September, the next evening I met Alma and Roberto, my dear old friends,originally from Argentina but long term residents(and big time musos) in Tsukuba,who now reside in both Raleigh, North Carolina(Roberto is a Prof at Duke) and Philadelphia(Alma teaches at U. of P).

We had arranged to meet at Carnegie Hall, because their daughter Maia,who is like a niece to me( I played with her everyday when she was a baby)was playing the violin at that most famous of venues! It goes without saying that it was a thrill to see her on stage, as even in her early teens she has great charisma and seems to become MUSIC ITSELF when she performs.

On the following weekend we went out to Philadelphia where the Cabeza`s showed us around. It was perfect timing weather-wise and maybe a little too hot for rambling the old colonial streets.

It was also memorable to be there as the Phillies finished their amazing come from behind theft of first place from the Mets.
I will never forget the audible cry of victory resonating from peoples homes when the final out was made.

The TenGooz have started recording while I was away and we have a gig coming up this Saturday. Hope to see you there!

Heating things up at Hot STUFF!

It's already the end of September but its still steamy,even at night! Even more so when the TenGooz are firing it up! Everyone at Hot Stuff worked up a good shvitz dancing till midnight as our proposed one hour show went into overtime!
Thanks to all who were there for making it real fun. We will be doing regular gigs at HS, so we hope you can catch us there some time soon! We hope that by next month the humdity will have dropped a few percentage points. Michael is off for a couple of days hiking to destinations unknown and I will be off to NY for a couple of weeks but hase G and i will be working on new material tomorrow night.

Keep in the groove

Avi

Mayhem in Ishioka!

Whenever I mention going to the Ishioka Festival to friends in Tsukuba, they strongly warn me off with-its too dangerous-you had better be careful- etc...
As you might expect I pay no attention, as the 3-day festival is my favorite in all of Japan. Yes, there are fights and drunken brawls, and it certainly seems a tad precarious for all of the kids, not to mention the infants who have to be snapped up suddenly out of the paths of oncoming floats with its stampeding frenzy of revelers.
The festival is a reflection of of Japans volcanic and highly seismic nature. Throughout the year Ishioka is a sleepy backwater, rusting away as its glory days slip further into the past. The people are as reserved and polite as any Kanto Japanese and surely would not usually show much passion.
When the middle of September rolls around all the primeval energies erupt,especially on the second day of the 3-day bacchanalian bonanza.
Ive been there for the first 2 days and plan to be back tomorrow. Ive been doing the lion dance and am starting to get the hang of it, though pracing rythmically with a very heavy wooden shi-shi mask still leaves me out of breath. I have always tried to put the same kind of passion into gigs, that i find at this festival.
I think that TenGooz saxman michael Frei has also been inspired(though he certainly needs no inspiration!). Hopefully we can put up some more pics soon!

Avi Landau

Firing it up at Spitfire, then at Aren

Well, we sure have been busy! Last Saturday night, September 1st, we did a gig at Spitfire, playing our new set of songs, including one of Michaels band`s songs Craving Bones.

The audience grew from intimate and friendly to abundant and boisterous as the hours passed and it was good to see lots of beautiful dancers on the floor-Rachel,Yuriko and Ikuko setting the pace.

All in all I must say it was great fun ! I'd also like to introduce Seiichiro Ukyo who has been playing keyboards with us at practices. Hopefully, he will join us at our next gig, adding even more flavor to the TenGooz savory sound.

Last night,Saturday the 8th, we finished a two hour rehearsal at 9pm and then crossed to street to do a gig at Aren. There was a huge party there that night and DJ A.B had the music turned up full. We played 2 sets, leaving out our slow songs and ballads,as they did seem appropriate for the occassion!

Thanks to Jimmy and AB for their kindness and for having us at that raucus event. Ill try to let everyone know about our upcoming gigs a little earlier next time, and REMEMBER- stat grounded in GROOVE!

Avi Landau

TenGooz- G Whizz at the Ninomiya Festival

Hello out there in TenGooland! I have so much to report and have certainly been delinquent in my blog-writing duties! First let me tell you about G Whizz and our latest gig. A few weeks ago,
my buddy Rick Weisburd emailed me about a German researcher who had recently arrived in Tsukuba who looking for musicians to jam with.

Well I sent Sax player Michael Frei a message, and we ended up getting together. There was good chemistry right from the start and we started working on some of Hase G`s new material. Michael, who is a rice researcher,has vast musical experience and has a lot of contagious enthusiasm. He talked us into signing up for his residences summer festival entertainment roster and we put together a short set. TenGooz drummer Jon has been unavailable this summer,so Hase G called an old musical partner Yazawa A-Chan, originally from Osaka. We worked on 3 new Hase G songs, 2 covers , and then Perfect Wave and Saudade.

The festival was much bigger than we expected with a very large international crowd. The parking attendants had us on the vip list as G Whizz, which is what we were for the night and we also had a nice dressing room. Michael played beautifully,giving his neighbors a taste of what he can do on his horn.A-chan was in the groove too! Another special aspect of the night was arrival of our long time supporter and very special Hase G fan, Tess,who flew in from Shiga for the show.

Thanks alot for coming and we hope to see alot more of you. A special thanks to the staff of the festival for their very warm hospitality. Also thanks to Michael for everything! I promise I will write soon.

Avi Landau

Bloomsday in Tsukuba,Japan

Bloomsday has come and gone. I had hoped to finish rereading Ulysses by the 16th but I have been FLOODED with things to do and made it only up to the Cyclops section.

That chapter, however, always hits me hard and it seemed appropriate that the scene with the outsider Bloom, in the bar with all the narrow-minded(one-eyed) nationalist bigots, enduring all their indeirect and direct jibes, was that I was reading, while walking through the verdant wilds, so reminiscent of that other emerald isle, on the other end of Eurasia,with my trusty companion, Tickes.

Reading the great work always seems to involve some coincidences with me. Last year, while reading,as I walked, a friend of mine, who has never heard of James Joyce or and couldnt have possibly understood the connection to Ireland,came up to me and said:Avi! I found a four-leaf clover!

Here,have it! Being accustomed to bizarre occurences, I kept my cool and slipped the plant into the thick book where it remains to this day. The lucky charm was of course still pressed between the pages when I amazingly ran into Paddy Moloney, the great Irish musician and famous resident of Dublin,who signed my copy of Ulysses,as I had been reading it just as we met.

Later that night, when I picked up the book again, coincidence struck again, as Donnycarney,Paddy Moloney`s hometown,cropped up on the page!

I didnt tell paddy about The TenGooz or our Irish song Innishmoor or our arrangement of Johnny I hardly knew ya. maybe I should have. I hope he finds out about them for himself!

Avi Landau Tsukuba

Brett back at the Ice Palace,Running into Paddy Moloney

Hi,TenGoophiles!

My sincere felicitations to you after another long, unwarranted time away from the blog.

Brett Johnson, sometime Tengoo and, just about the funkiest bass player you are bound to find this side of the international dateline,is back in town,crashing at the Ice Palace.

The last time I was fortunate to be in his company,we were the only other customers in a Greek restaurant besides the Dixie Chicks, and today on my way to hook up with Brett. I ran into another Grammy Award winner(6 times over),Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains! as it is my custom to reread James Joyces Ulysses every year starting mid-may(hoping to finish by bloomsday,June 16). I was carring the thick tome with me when I encountered that other famous Dubliner.Paddy signed my book and actually called out to me during his concert later that night-Hey,get up here New York!

With Brett staying over I never know what to expect! I will keep you posted of any further developements.

On thursday, I will be interviewed by the Joyo newspaper in regard to my work trying to save the birds of Kasumigaura,and tomorrow I will be doing some researrch for an article on The Shibanuma soysauce factory(located about ten minutes away by car) and is the oldest in japan.

if you would like to read any of my recent articles just google my name-Avi Landau, and they will pop up.

Hopefully,we will have some new recordings soon. We have lots of material and just need to get together and do the job.

Sorry to keep everyone waiting.

Thanks for all your support

Avi Landau

Spring Fever in Tsukuba!

Happy spring, ye legions of loyal TenGoophiles! And a happy autumn to to all of you who are Down-Under! Thanks to all those who came out last Saturday night for our spring fever gig. We were ecstatic to have good friends come from afar! It was a real picker-upper to have Ertla and Elin from Iceland it made the evening very special indeed for me,with memories rushing back in torrents! Kuhara, our original bassist also showed up unexpectedly and I cant help but admit that I was ecstatic to see him. We started off slow,as we did in Australia,with Saudade, The Chills, Perfect Wave etc.... and grew progressively into our final frenzied set. It was nice to once again have such a wild crowd! Thanks for all the support! We will be recording this month and I hope to lay down Delirious, SunDance Walt`s Waltz, Beefcake,1,2,3 etc. In my extra musical life, I have been actively trying to save migrating water birds which become entangled in nets set up by farmers to protect their lotus root crops. Thousands of our feathered friends die a cruel and humiliating death as they try to take a rest during their gruelling journey. It's a pity that the beautiful coutryside scenery around lake kasumigaura has to be defiled by such horrific images. I will be writing an article soon with more details in an effort to have these nets taken down. The picture Im posting is a typical Koi Nobori ,or Carp Streamer Set, the festive decoration for the month of May. Families with sons, raise these fish flags in hope that their boys will grow to be brave and strong, with pleny of fighting spirit.

KTUH interview with DJ Erik in Hawaii

Good evening and Konban wa ! Im starting to pull out of my post-tour blues and one reason for that is the exciting interview I just had with DJ Erik of WKTUH in Honolulu.

Of course it was a phone interview,as Im here in Tsukuba,but I felt a real connection with Erik and I think we were really in tune. Especially since he is familiar with the creative commons(his show specializes in cc material)and Jamendo. So I found the convesation stimulating!

You can find Erik show on the web and listen to it on a stream. I will post the info later.Hopefully, I will be chatting with Erik on the air in the near future, since hase G and I have decided to start recording very soon. We will begin with

Autophobia, a song by Ascelin and myself about long suppressed memories of past relationships suddenly bubling up to the surface and the feeling of self disgust which this sometimes can elicit.

Tanaka, HaseG and I got together for a 2 hour session.They are in the same post Adelaide blue state of mind that Im in but we are hoping to get things fired up soon.

Once again, thanks to Erik in Hawaii ! Youve got a great concept for a show and I wish you the best!

Back Up-Over!

I made it back to Japan with all the bumps and bruises accumulated over 11 gigs in ten days in Adelaide Australia,

as part of the world famous Fringe Festival. Kenya flew back a day earlier, and HOPEFULLY Hase G, Tanaka and Jon will make it back tonight. I have my fingers crossed!

We wuold like to thank all those who befriended and supprted us, especially Sue and Ross, who we will miss very much.Thank you to our supportive audiences foryour warm and enthusiastic encouragement. You made travelling the thousands of miles and the gruelling daily gigs well worth it.

A very special thanks to Dr Ascelin Gordon who came out to spend some time with us and honoring us by playing with us on a few songs each night he was with us.Thanks to Tim at radio Adelaide for his warmth and kindness while hosting us on his radio show, and to the fringe reviewer John McBeath for his article on our shows.

Another big thanks to Dush and Otto for having us on as the house band of the Fringe Club Cabaret,an experience we are not likely to forget.

All in all, it was a wondeful experience for us and we are lookingf forward to getting back Down-Under real soon!

TenGooz Live in Adelaide

Hello loyal legions of TenGoophiles! Or should I say G'day?

We finally have a day off,so I have a bit of time to fill in on whats been going on. The band arrived safely,but groggy after the long flight.I had arrived two days earlier,and had been on the radio with Sue,3d radios super dj and allround wonder person.Thanks to Sue and Ross, weve really felt at home here and Ross"s extensive knowledge of local history and lore have helped to give me a deeper understanding of this beaytiful city.

There were beautiful TenGooz posters put up around the city, some designed by Brett and some by Jon,so when the guys arrived they felt quite welcome.
Our town house is very comfortable and I would even say palatial by Japanese standards, situated in a lovely,quiet suburb surrounded by stately eucalyptus trees. Ross made Jon very happy by bringing over his barbecue set, which has already been put to extensive use.
Our first gigs went down at the Wheatsheaf,a great venue with a fantastic clientele. Our three shows went over real well and we couldnt have hoped for a better response, though we could have hoped for more people.
On Saturday night we had everybody dancing and even got some people shakin it up on Suday afternoon.

A review appeared in the largest Adelaide paper with a 4 star rating and adulatory praise.

We still have 2 more shows to go! I have lots more to tell, but I will be back with more blogging on Friday!

Stay Grounded in Groove

Avi

3d Radio in Adelaide!

Last weekends St Patricks Day gig turned into Saturday Night Fever once again, as luck would have it,as I came down with flu-like symptoms just before a big show. Somehow,with the help of the band and some friends I made it through and the night was not that bad considering the conditions.
Jon soared to new heighs with his songs taking things all the way to 11 and even though Kenya had to go home early, the hornless TenGooz pulled it off.
Right now, Im in Adelaide and I just finished an exciting interview on Sue and Peters world music show. 3d radio, here in Adelaide is a really impressive set up of which Id like to write more about later. It is what a radio station SHOULD be, and if I were living in these parts I would always be tuned in. I will try to get a recording of the show online.Sue played Stranger, Innishmoore,The Chills, Mio Mine and Backwards peeker. I added lots of comments.Thanks Sue and Peter!
The rest of the guys will be getting in the day after tomorrow!

Avi

Stevie Wonder in Saitama,prepping for Adelaide

Hello out there all you Tengoomaniacs! Greetings from Avi! Last night was a special experience for me,as I was able to soak in the energy exuding from one of the great musical figures of our lifetimes. The Saitama arena was packed(as you might imagine) with reverant fans.Despite his age and excess heft, Stevie did his best to please the adoring crowd.

I was trying to inhale some of his vibes as he showed that none of his vocal virtuosity has been lost and neither has he lost any of his magic.

The back-up band however was lacking in presence and the sound system was disappointing.The greatest moment for me was after the show when Mai-chan an 11 year old tengoo fan said-This wasnt as much fun as the tengooz in Kasama!

This next week is gonna be hectic,as we have got to get the publicity material ready for our trip to adelaide.

Wish us luck!

Avi Landau

Kick-Ass Brass!!

Hello, Tengoophiles! Avi here!

After a week of Hawaii`s magic, I have been feeling extra stimulated and chomping on the bit to get back on stage. Unfortunately, with Jon now living in the big city,we are having a little trouble scheduling things.anyway, we were back last night, with a bang, though Jon was under the weather in a very bad way, regurgitating his fish and chips between the 2nd and 3rd sets and necessitating an early cessation of the evenings festivities.

Showing his KONJO (fighting spirit), he did a great job of drumming and singing despite his flu.

I would have to say that the high point of the evening was when Dr. Sax, Dr. sax, Kawakami Ryutaro showed up with his sax and joind kenya to make up a FORMIDABLE brass section! Ryutaro stayed on for one set, playing Running, Stranger, Bailar, and Vonja Vonja. The crowd showed its appreciation,howling, and whistling.

Thanks Ryutaro!

It was great to see lots of friends come out and we also made lots of fresh acquaintance.

We will be back soon with some polished up new material and begin rehearsals for our trip to Adelaide!

Good bye all!

Avi landau