Hitachi Ltd sponsors European tour of Japan’s answer to Jean Michel Jarre
This year’s offering from the Hitachi Culture Special, which is a sponsorship campaign to promote Japanese culture in the West, is the first European tour of Japanese composer and synthesist, Kitaro. This tour is the fourth programme in the campaign, which began in 1986 with the Toho Company Ltd’s production of Medea, performed in the UK, Canada, and the US. First this was followed by Kitaro’s debut tour in the US in 1987, and then, in 1988, Hitachi sponsored The Grand Kabuki, a two month tour of traditional Japanese Kabuki theatre in North America, Canada, and Mexico. No doubt with an eye on 1992, Hitachi is targeting Europe for its current cultural Special, saying that it wants to be recognised as a truly international company, with European subsidiaries that play a part in the community life of the old continent. Kitaro’s tour, which is costing the company the equivalent of approximately $780,000, kicks off in Copenhagen on February 3, tours 17 cities with 18 shows, including two at London’s Dominion Theatre on February 18 and 19, and finishes in Vienna on March 1. Kitaro’s music is comparable to that of the French artist Jean-Michel Jarre, a comparison the Japanese composer acknowledges, saying that both he and Jarre write music that acts like an aspirin in soothing away pain and sorrow. Hitachi claims that Kitaro is representative of contemporary Japanese music. In terms of Western music, however, Kitaro appears to be part of a virulent strain of 1970s concept music, and, in fact, admits that the group Tangerine Dream changed his life. Yet, in terms of Hitachi’s corporate image, Kitaro is probably a wise choice for sponsorship since he is part of a cultural trend termed New Age which has considerable commercial appeal in the West among wealthy young professionals seeking alternative lifestyles. Those unsure whether Kitaro is to their musical taste can sample his compositions before going to see him, as Geffen Records has recently released an album entitled 10 Years which is a compilation of the synthesist composer’s solo career.
IBM’s Leanardo show opens in London The IBMsponsored Leonardo da Vinci exhibition announced last summer (CI No 996), has now opened at the Hayward Gallery on London’s South Bank. On show are 88 drawings normally housed at the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, and 31 other loans from major collections in the UK and abroad. Visitors can also see a 36′ model of flying machine, constructed by Tetra Des-ign Services Ltd from original da Vinci drawings. IBM’s contribution, over and above some UKP200,000 on sponsorship and advertising, is a number of computer graphics programs, developed at its Scientific Centre at Winchester. The programs explore recurring themes in da Vinci’s work, and his use of perspective in The Last Sup per. The exhibition runs until April 16; opening hours are 10.00 to 20.00, Monday to Wednesday, 10.00 to 18.00 Thursday to Saturday, and 12.00 to 18.00 on Sundays. Full charge admission is UKP4.00.
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