Tuesday, 28th January, 2025
You are cordially invited to attend JANZ Society’s annual New Year’s Party which will be held on Tuesday, 28 January at the New Zealand Ambassador’s Residence. Celebrating its centenary in 2028, JANZ Society (Japan Australia New Zealand Society) is a well-established Public Interest Incorporated Association that promotes social and cross-cultural interactions, economic development, mutual understanding, and friendship between the three countries.
The 2025 New Year’s Party will be graced by the New Zealand Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Hamish Cooper, and the Australian Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Justin Hayhurst. Other expected attendees include senior officials from both embassies as well as members of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Shakuhachi player Seizan Ishigaki and bandoneon player Hitoshi will entertain us with their beautiful collaborative musical performance. The N.Z. embassy chef will serve delicious food and wine. So please come to our annual soirée and help us celebrate the new year’s opening.
Ishigaki had been exposed to Japanese music as a child learning shakuhachi from his father, Seizan Ishigaki I. He further studied under the Living National Treasure, Yamamoto Hōzan.
He gained a good reputation after performing overseas in countries such as Australia, Argentina, and Poland. He passed the Tozan-ryū master’s exam with the highest marks and inherited his father’s name, Seizan.
Ishigaki performs as a soloist with numerous orchestras, such as the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also performed with many famous artists, including Tatsuya Ishii, Ayaka Hirahara, Yukihide Takekawa, Fuyumi Sakamoto, Yuki Koyanagi, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and Yasuko Otani. He has performed in over 30 countries to date.
He graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Music, Department of Traditional Japanese Music, and the NHK School for the Training of Traditional Japanese Music Performers. He is a master teacher of the Tozan-ryū Shakuhachi Foundation.
Member of Hogaku Onshinkai and JSPN. He is also a true gamer.
Major Awards and Career History
2007: Received first place and Japan Traditional Culture Promotion Foundation Award at the 4th Tokyo Japanese Music Competition
2010: Received the Grand Prize and Encouragement Award from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology at the 16th Kumamoto National Japanese Music Competition – Hase Kengyo Memorial
2013: Received the Gold Prize and the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at the 39th Tozan-ryu Honkyoku Competition (received the same award again in 2017 and 2019)
2015: Composed a song “In the Moonlight” for ethnic instruments from 8 ASEAN countries and Japan at “ONE ASIA Joint Concert” held in Laos
2016: Composed and provided the theme song “Ise-Shima” for the official PR video of the Ise-Shima Summit 2019: Performed with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra as a soloist on NHK’s “Symphonic Gamers 4” 2023: Held his first recital “Ishigaki Seizan Shakuhachi Recital” at Kioi Main Hall
Originally from Kyoto, Hitoshi is a bandoneon player, who also composes and arranges music. In 2018 and 2019 he received 2nd Prize at the “Che Bandoneon Competition” held in the United States.
Hitoshi’s music goes beyond borders and music genres, making a global impact on music. His repertoire includes tango, classic, jazz, gypsy, Brazilian, folk songs, etc.
2019: Made his CD Released major debut by releasing “FELIX” from T- Toc Records.
2022, 2023: Staged with voice actors Hayami Sho and Shiina Hekiru at the Kasumigaseki Iino Hall as the director and performer for the recitation drama “Gento no Baku” and “Jiketsu suru Yogyo Eikyu Kikan”.
The performance was based on the story written by the Japanese mystery and thriller author, Edogawa Ranpo.
2024: Conducted and performed for the ballet “Don Quixote” at Marinart Hall in Shimizu City. He is also involved in various projects as the video and live-streaming director.
