Anglo-Japanese fusion

400 years ago the first British ship, The Clove, reached Japan. This event is being celebrated on 11 June with an evening which combines words and music, in the church of All Saints, Fulham which is where the leader of the expedition is buried. The music will mix both Japanese and Western music, classical and folk, and there will be readings of poems inspired by the sea and from the ship's log. Performers will include the ensemble Okeanos, who play on a combination of Japanese and Western instruments, the pianist Noriko Ogawa, soprano Kyoko Murai and the baritone Lt Cdr Peter Nicholson of the Royal Navy, plus UK based Japanese folk musicians, a vocal quartet created by Jason James of the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation. Things start at 6.30pm with the traditional opening of a sake barrel! With the performance following at 7.30pm. The event is just one of many being promoted as part of the Japan 400 celebrations, further information from the Japan 400 website.