Otoasobi Project UK Talk and enquiry session

A creative collaboration between Otoasobi Project from Japan and Sonic Bothy, Sense Scotland and Artlink Central in Scotland exploring shared practices and processes in the use of creativity in music.

The day’s events will explore cross-cultural approaches to creating innovative opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities in music in the areas of arts in health and well-being, cross-discipline arts practice, exploring the influence of musical genre and tradition in creating equal opportunity for individuals with learning disability in music in Japan and the UK.

Francis McKee, director of CCA, will facilitate this discussion which will look at the value or judgement we place on the creative process in the context of people with complex issues. The discussion will look at improvisation and its use in creative practice, family involvement and cultural attitudes. The talk will include contributions from Mariko Hara, Hiromichi Hosoma, Otomo Yoshihide and Rii Numata from Japan as well as Scottish practitioners Claire Docherty, Kevin Harrison, David McCluskey, Una McGlone and others.

The Otoasobi Project

The Otoasobi Project consists of 16 people with learning disabilities (include autism, Down syndrome, Williams syndrome), their families and about 20 artists from various fields and music therapists. The participants ages range from 8 to 42 and collaborate freely with artists including free improvisers, pop musicians, butoh dancers, installation artists and more. Over 50 guest artists have been involved so far to create new performances. Parents of the people with learning disabilities are also important members who make their own music using cardboard boxes, kitchen utensils, rope with bells or hoovers.

The Otoasobi Project has held more than 30 concerts and public workshops. At their first concert Oto-no-shiro (Castle of Sound), various spaces of an old western house are used to perform improvised ensembles. At second concert Oto-no-Umi (Ocean of Sound), 27 ensembles performed in a hall located on an artificial island in Kobe. The music making process was documented by young film director and released as a documentary in 2010. From the live recordings of these concerts, a CD was released and was used as a soundtrack for the movie German + Rain. The group still continuing making new style of performance such as "rock-papers-scissors" performance, "air ensemble with no sounds" or multi-conducted ensemble.

Performers: Numata Rii, Aoki Shiori, Udo Ayako, Udo Mariko, Kanazawa Risa, Kanazawa Eriko, Goto Yuta, Goto Rika, Sakaguchi Tomoki, Sakaguchi Masahiro, Tomisaka Yuri, Tomisaka Michiko, Hama Tsubasa, Hama Kazuhiro, Fujimoto Masaru, Fujimoto Kazuko, Miyazaki Momoka, Miyazaki Moko, Miyoshi Yuka, Miyoshi Sonoko, Mori Taisei, Mori Mayu, Yoshimi Masaharu, Yoshimi Kayoko, Iwashita Toru, Kamata Makiko, Otomo Yoshihide, Suzuki Masaru, Nakaoji Emiko, Hosoma Hiromichi, Mitsunaga Koreyuki, Morimoto Ali, Nakajima　Kaori, Homma Tomoko, Ebisu Miki, Shimamura Ayane