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Ambassador Orita presents Joji Hirota with his Commendation |
On 27 February 2004, Ambassador Orita presented Japanese musician and composer Joji Hirota with a certificate of commendation in recognition of his distinguished service in contributing to the deepening of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and other nations.
Joji Hirota began his lifelong study of percussion at the age of eleven and has been composing since the age of thirteen. His greatest influence was his training with the Hokkaido-based group Hokkai Daiko , led by the great taiko (Japanese drum) master Itto Ohba. After studying at Kyoto University of Arts, he came to the UK in the 1970s and has performed both as a solo artist, as well as in collaboration with other musicians. In the 1980s Hirota formed the group Joji Hirota and the Taiko Drummers . Hirota's concert programmes include performances of his original string arrangement of shakuhachi flute and vocals of Japanese folk songs. This has established Hirota's position as a leading figure of traditional Japanese music.
Hirota wrote and performed the music for the Lindsay Kemp Dance Company's production of Onnagata, for which they received the Time Out Award for Best Dance Company in 1991. His album Trisan won the Tower Records Best Contemporary Instrumental Music Award in 1993. Hirota has also contributed extensively towards Japan-UK cultural exchange at a grass roots level by making appearances at regional Japan Days. He has maintained his reputation as one of the most acclaimed, wide-ranging performers of Japanese music in the UK.
After speeches by Ambassador Orita and Joji Hirota, the guests of the commendation reception were treated to performances of Hirota's work by a string quartet with shakuhachi and vocals, a piano solo medley by Reiko Fujisawa and an energetic performance by Joji Hirota and The Taiko Drummers. The audience's amazing reaction further confirmed the praise and congratulations due to Joji Hirota for his outstanding work.
(The Ambassador's Commendations were introduced in 2000 in order to recognise the contributions of those who had made outstanding efforts to promote grassroots exchange between the UK and Japan.)
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