We all know that video game music is some of the most dramatic, striking and downright beautiful around, but nothing can prepare you for the utter magnificence of hearing your favourite Nintendo tunes being played on traditional Japanese instruments.
Say hello to Famikoto, a group of musicians who use traditional Japanese instruments - such as the koto, shamisen and syakuhachi - to play some of the most memorable songs from the world of interactive entertainment.
The group has just confirmed its fourth live performance, which takes place on December 17th at the Toppan Hall in Tokyo. Special guests include HIDE X HIDE, a duo who also work in the field of video game music arrangements.
The games featured in the December performance are Pokemon Red/Blue, Heiankyo Alien, Momotaro Densetsu, Final Fantasy X, MOTHER / EarthBound, Monster Hunter, Monster Hunter X and Bravely Default.
You can check out a previous Famikoto performance - which features tunes from Fire Emblem, Zelda and Super Mario - below.
Should you be lucky enough to find yourself in Japan around December 17th, this might be worth checking out. If you've previously seen Famikoto perform live then let us know your thoughts.
[source gonintendo.com]
Comments 29
I'm actually in Japan that day!
@cfgk24 Do it.
Sounds lovely
Oh I love the shamisen. Just started to learn how to play recently. Also this is fricken amazing. I love seeing modern styles meeting classical instruments. Keeps the instrument tradition alive for a younger generation.
@Ryu_Niiyama yeah I like the shamisen as well, I like the lady on the shamisen even moar, she is so beautiful <3. Also shamisen means three strings, so your Perfume/triforce of lorule gif, seems fitting to say the least. Plus, the original actually represents 'three dragon scales' of the Hojo ninja clans emblem, so your name 'Ryu' fits on another level as well, oh and try the 'Yoshida Brothers' if you like shamisens
Beautiful. That would be a show worth seeing. Love when a country pay homage to their traditions and Japanese culture is just great. That cross on the background of the video is distracting, though.
@5t3v3n LMAO, very observant except for a few things. Wrong salutation. I am female so it would be Ms. and not Mr. Also the Nii character is written as the kun reading for Shin which means new unlike Ni which means two. So I am the Dragon of the New Mountain if you were translating. All and all very observant, I'm always happy to see people recognize Perfume.
@Ryu_Niiyama argh, I corrected myself after thinking it could be spelt differently for two and brother (nii-chan, nii-san etc) but you got the reply before I could change it, so my sincere apologies or rather, gomenasai honto ni... oneesama. The readings they have for different kanji is really confusing at times, not just because of the context but because of the vast content they can apply to... noga, furureru!
Another (not so) fun fact for you, is that the triforce is also the start of a sierpinksi triangle, and can be found by process of elimination inside Pascal's triangle! Yay!
@Billsama well funnily enough, the triforce, in my post up above, even though it was visually based off of the hojo ninja clans emblem, it's actually meaning Nintendo changed to mean three Gods in one, tri-force, borrowed from Christianity's father, son and Holy Spirit. And the so called 'magic book' was renamed in the orignal Zelda from 'holy bible' because it was deemed too 'religious'. So really the games' ethos and history is based off of Christ/link saving his bride/Zelda from the clutches of darkness/Ganon; the same staple for most rpg's and adventure games...
@Billsama How is it distracting? The recording session obviously took place in a church, which isn't all that surprising given that it's a large open space with good acoustics.
Beautiful Japanese cover version, but only Super Mario Bros. theme I can recognized. XD
@Damo well, it's good to know someone gave a less pretentious sounding answer than mine, well done good sir
@5t3v3n Yeah, I know Zelda lore has a lot of Christian references.
What I mean is that the video is all about Japanese culture. Clothes, instruments and music created by Japanese. Then you record the thing in a Christian Church. Break the magic for me. Nothing pretentious about your comment, by the way.
@Damo Sure, great acoustic, just like theaters.
Very nice!
@Billsama Ah, ok. Christianity is religion in Japan, so it's not like it flies against Japanese culture as such. In fact Christianity has a long history in the country.
@Damo - @Shiryu will be jealous lol! - Mind you - I have confirmed a Mini Famicom Classic to bring back for him especially!
@Billsama oh ok cool
Ah, I see what you meant. Hmmm I dunno then, it didn't seem out of place for me, I mean as Damo pointed out, Christianity has been around in Japan at least since the 16 century, so I guess it mainly depends on where you draw the line.
@cfgk24 have an awesome time there in Japan
@cfgk24 Jealousy is the mark of cretins. I instead am filled with great joy that you are there. This might be the universe nudging you to go watch it, tape it and write a report about it...
@cfgk24 Do it!
What FE music starts at 2:56 ?
And, I must be confused, the percussion-like beat that you start hearing at that same point, is it done by the shamisen?
@Shiryu Hot dang!
@Kroko I can hear this! It seems to be tied into the lady in pale blue at the rear of the stage. Shamizens and Kotos do make percussive sounds but this sounds like a bamboo hit. . .
@Kroko The music a 2:56 is "Ride!" from Game Boy Advance "Reka no Ken". My own cover below.
[youtube]hHgort3-LqA[/youtube]
PS: Ok, youtube tags don't want anything with me today, so here https://youtu.be/hHgort3-LqA
These guys should try to get on the Magfest roster. They would gladly pony up the expenses to bring them stateside.
@5t3v3n Definitely a matter of where you draw the line. Christianity has a long history in most countries, still no long enough as that country original traditions. I hope they use a better fitting setting for the live show. Just imagine watching this with a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine as a background. Now that would be something.
Proper love this.
This is great stuff. I really hope they release their upcoming performance online. I would love to see their take on Mother and Monster Hunter!
@Billsama hmm true, but those temples would probably deem it sacrilege to play in and around the grounds, I'd hazard a guess but I don't know. Well, you say 'original tradition' but for all we know, like a study on the connections of the Hebrews to the Chinese, they've been biblical immigrants all this time.
Also I'm sure that Buddhism is actually considered foreign, cuz it's from India but it's from like 2,500 ages ago, whereas as the Shinto religion might be younger, but is considered integral to the Japanese people, so again, it's where do you draw the line? Length vs depth?
@cfgk24 @Shiryu
Thanks.
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