SAEDNEWS: The "Melodies of the East" concert highlighted the cultural bond between Iran and Japan, featuring performances by Keivan Saket and Tsumuzi. The event celebrated shared history and musical collaboration, concluding with symbolic renditions of both nations' anthems.
According to SAEDNEWS, On Saturday, the Japanese Embassy in Tehran hosted the "Melodies of the East" concert, a cultural showcase that highlighted the collaborative performance of distinguished Iranian musician Keivan Saket and Japanese violinist Nagayo Tsumuzi.
The "Melodies of the East" concert, held at the Japanese Embassy in Tehran, brought together foreign diplomats, Iranian cultural officials, and artists, emphasizing the long-standing cultural bond between Iran and Japan.
The evening began with a speech by Adachi Hideaki, the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Japanese Embassy in Iran, who highlighted the concert as an embodiment of the two nations' enduring musical collaboration. He traced the roots of this exchange to over 1300 years ago during Japan's Nara period, referencing the discovery of Iranian Sassanid artifacts, including the ancient Barbat instrument, in Nara Prefecture, as evidence of the cultural exchange along the Silk Road.
Adachi expressed his hopes for continued musical partnerships, with plans for joint performances in 2029 to mark the centenary of diplomatic ties between Iran and Japan.
Keivan Saket, the renowned Iranian virtuoso on the tar and setar, introduced his piece "Afsoos" (Regret), which he dedicated to the victims of the recent tragedy in Bandar Abbas as well as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, symbolizing shared grief and resilience across nations. Saket emphasized the emotional weight of performing this piece in such a context.
In his remarks, Tsumuzi, the Japanese violinist, reflected on his first visit to Iran and his collaboration with the Art Bureau of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization for the production of a new music video. He expressed his thanks to the Iranian Ambassador to Japan, Peyman Sa’adat, for facilitating the trip. Inspired by images of Isfahan, Tsumuzi shared his creation of the piece "Cloudy Isfahan," for which a music video is currently being filmed. He also plans a video for "Caravan," inspired by the desert caravanserai.
Tsumuzi praised the support from the Art Bureau and the Iranian Ambassador, fulfilling a long-held desire to visit Iran. He also recounted a memorable six-day journey with a mixed Iranian and Japanese group through Tehran, Isfahan, Kashan, Varzaneh, and Shiraz. The collaboration, which transcended national borders, fostered a deep cultural exchange. Tsumuzi reflected on the journey, noting how the shared history and culture of both countries made him believe that nations with rich legacies, like Iran and Japan, are more likely to form lasting bonds.
The violinist also remarked on the hospitality he experienced, describing the overwhelming friendliness of the Iranian people, who were eager to take photos with him. He expressed his desire to strengthen these positive relations and return to Iran for more cultural exchanges.
The concert featured a set of ten musical compositions co-created by Saket and Tsumuzi, accompanied by Iranian musicians such as Negar E’zazi on daf, Siavash Saket on tonbak, Raha Sajedi on cello, and Parizad Zeyghami on piano.
The performance concluded with the symbolic rendition of both Japan's national anthem and the beloved Iranian anthem "Ey Iran" ("O Iran"), underscoring the unity and friendship shared between the two nations through the universal medium of music.
