Nature Shock at Volcano Art Center on the Big Island of Hawaii

`Nature Schock` by Joe Okuda featuring Shizuno Nasu and Shiho Watanabe was held on May 8th, 2011 at Volcano Art Center.

Volcano is the ideal place for Joe's performance since it is in the middle of rain forest where Joe loves and records sound of birds.
We were very much excited to have a show here and prepared for it very well.
Thanks for the kind staff from Volcano Art Center.

It was on the Friday's Tribune Herald and seems like it has drawn much attention to the show.

We were expecting about 50 to 60 audiences, however despite rainy and chilly weather, there were about 70 audiences got together around 7pm on Sunday evening.

There were several guests who came to EHCC on May 3rd and visited show again at VAC on Sunday evening as well.

Joe gave an introduction in front of the audience.
And introduced his best partner, Fritz as famous for his high skill to record sound of nature.

Then Shizuno and Shiho performed beautiful Dance and Koto at first to welcome guests.

After a short intermission, Joe, Shizuno and Shiho collaborate on the stage.
Joe's sound of nature from the Meiji Jingu Forest in Tokyo, through four seasons along beautiful images was inspiration for Shizuno's contemporary dance.

Her dance for the image was spiritual and soothing.
Her white costume became a part of the screen and reflected images of colored leaves.

Shiho played Japanese traditional musics by koto including Sakura and Momiji.
And sometimes, her play was very powerful along with sound of the waves, thunder and rain.

Joe's movie from Meiji Jingu forest ends with sequence of images through four seasons.
Shiho's plays her koto along Joe's nature sound with her imagination and Shizuno presented her `Eternal Spirals` with her prayers.
It was a beautiful moment which 3 Japanese spirits and talents were appreciated by ALOHA SPIRITS on the Big Island of Hawaii where the land is expanding.

There was a fund raising for Japan and audiences were donated for the victims who are still suffering from the earthquake, Tsunami and radiation from the nuclear power plants.
The contribution that is collected there will be donated to Fukushima Prefecture.

It was all supported by Volcano Art Center. We could not have done it without their support.
Special Mahalo to David, Tanya and Marsha and all of staff who helped Joe, Shizuno and Shiho to perform in Hawaii.


ARIGATO and see you again soon.


5/16/2011 Naomi