Japan Tour Blog (Part 1)

OK so after a crazy final few gig filled days in the UK, I step off the flight alarmingly refreshed for my 3rd tour in Japan.

30 shows in all over 5 weeks.

Priorities set in – and I head straight for sushi.

Then onto my first show the same night at Anga in Chiba. A nervy but wonderful start to the evening and return faces are keen for the new record. Which is the most awesome reaction I can hope to meet.

Next day is my only day off so far and I stock up on essentials (pics, strings, leads, Rare Vinyl of Supergrass and Radiohead ((must have been in an oxford mood)) before hitting the sake.

Then comes my return to the fold with a show at Chiba. At this point a guy who bought the record on the first night (Eiji) turns up with a Keyboard under his arm and the infomation that he has learnt to play 3 songs from the new record. So we rock it Duo style for `Cage is Rattling`, `Map of Shibuya` and `Watching paint`. Before being joined by a great English tenor Sax player (Graham)for improntu versions of `You know the Score` and `Sleep Tight`

Then I head to Tokyo where I play a show everynight before taking the overnight bus to Kobe where the daily gigs continue.  At Cafe Mignon I had the surprise and pleasure to discover that one of my audience members is the daughter to Japanese Film Score Composer `Ryuichi Sakamoto`. He is most famous for his work on the David Bowie/Takeshi Kitano Film `Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence`. She was real cool as were all the staff. If a show a day wasn`t enough then the addition of 3 shows in Osaka in one day add massively to the pace. No time for being tired in Japan. Just ask the locals.

The Japanese audiences have been simply amazing to play to so far with 12 shows in 10 days to say things have been mental doesn`t quite cut it.

Thanks must go to Folks who have housed me. Hiroto and his family and to Daisuke. Also to Naomi Hirata who has been moral and language support throughout this whole start.

More to follow……

Stoo

🙂

Acoustic Exclusive Folk Gigs Japan Music Tour Travel