IMERUAT first LIVE in TOKYO 

31 – Sun – 7:00 (Sun) 18:00 17:00

Opening – Venue – KIWA Futakotamagawa http://oasis-kiwa.com/
3,500 yen / 3,000 yen – Advance Fee – Fri (admission number / order will be accepted free seating)

 

IMERUAT co-founders Masashi Hamauzu and Mina met in 2007 at a mutual friend’s exhibit of woodblock prints. In recent years Mina has organized live music performances drawing on the culture of Japan’s indigenous Ainu people. Outside of his occupation composing music, Hamauzu has dedicated himself to researching the cultural heritage of Northern Japan’s minority groups. Several collaborations have ensued, culminating in 2010 with the IMERUAT unit, whose intention is to explore diverse presentations of Ainu music. From the Tokachi region dialect of the Ainu language, the name carries the meaning “Flash of Light.” The project presents unique cross-overs of worldwide musical styles and genres. IMERUAT will debut with live performances in Kraków, Poland and Paris, France in May of 2011. You can join the Facebook page for the group here or see their Japanese blog.

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■ Masashi Hamauzu

Born September 20, 1971 in Munich, Germany, Masashi Hamauzu graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts with avocal music concentration. Raised in a household where both parents were musicians, from a young age he aspired to compose music. As a high school student he began a course of self-study, and following graduation from university he was hired by the musicMasashi Hamauza Official Site department of game developer Square Enix. There he contributed original compositions to the titles SaGa Frontier 2, Final Fantasy X, Sigma Harmonics and Final Fantasy XIII, among others. Since that time a diverse collection of music publications have made ​​use of his knowledge and experience. In 2010 the composer established his own freelance music studio MONOMUSIKand his compositions and arrangements were featured in orchestral concerts outside Japan. The scope of the composer’s activities now range from productions organized within the country to events performed overseas.

■ Mina

Mina was born on January 5, 1983 in Obihiro, Hokkaido, to a Japanese mother and Ainu father. She studied modern dance from a young age while familiarizing herself with traditional Ainu forms of dance, song and mukkur (music instrument). After graduating from university, she formed a performance group with several friends of Ainu descent, called “Ainu Rebels.” Performing at numerous venues throughout Japan, the group presented a combination of traditional and contemporary expressions of Ainu dance, music and art. After the Ainu Rebels group disbanded in 2008, Mina formally began her career as a solo artist in music and dance performances. She contributed to the music score for Final Fantasy XIII as a vocalist while also playing the mukkur on the soundtrack.