Résonances au temple Mii-Dera

Oto no Mii-dera (The Sound of Mii-dera) is a multidisciplinary performing arts project that brings together leading artists from a wide range of disciplines, including waka (classical Japanese poetry), shōmyō (Buddhist chant), Noh theatre, shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute), clarinet, and contemporary music.

Located in Otsu, adjacent to the ancient capital of Kyoto, Mii-dera is a historic temple with a legacy spanning more than 1,200 years. Nestled on the shores of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, it has long stood as a center of cultural and spiritual life. Throughout Japanese history, temples have served not only as places of worship but also as vital hubs supporting society, culture, scholarship, and the arts.

Set within this remarkable historic setting, traditional Japanese music and Western classical music have engaged in an ongoing artistic dialogue over the past five years. Through their distinct approaches to time, spirituality, and expression, these traditions have resonated with one another in profound ways. More than a simple fusion of genres, this project explores the possibility of a “culture of peace” through music—a space in which diverse cultures and values coexist, resonate, and ultimately dissolve into nature and the unseen world. This performance marks the project’s first international tour and represents the culmination of its five-year artistic journey.

The performance features an exceptional ensemble of artists, including Living National Treasure and Noh master Manjiro Tatsumi; internationally acclaimed shakuhachi virtuoso Dozan Fujiwara; the Mii-dera Shōmyō Chanting Choir; and artistic director Makoto Yoshida, an acclaimed clarinetist trained at the Conservatoire de Paris. Bringing together distinguished artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, Oto no Mii-dera offers audiences a serene and immersive experience of resonance that transcends the boundaries of culture, history, and time.