MEET IN TOKYO is a music and art festival created by percussionist Kuniko Kato and designer Seitaro Yamazaki. The idea for MEET IN TOKYO came from an artistically simple curiosity: what kind of chemical reaction would occur if strong personalities got together and held a festival without any genre, country, or other boundary? The idea was born from an artistically simple curiosity. This is an art platform concept that connects art, people, and areas. Kuniko Kato, who has access to a wide range of artists and cutting-edge art from around the world, selects the most important and unique artists in the contemporary art world from various countries in a cross-genre approach, and Seitaro Yamazaki, who doubles as creative director, produces the space and events. Starting with “Reich 85,” which commemorates the 85th birthday of contemporary music master Steve Reich in 2021, the Corona disaster will be transmitted from TOKYO to the world.

UK-JAPAN Project – Hywel Davies is a composer, sound artist and installation artist. His wide-ranging output includes the sound installation Test Polyphony which was installed in the Cellarium here from June 2013 to April 2014. This new art installation taps into the experience of the pilgrim in its widest sense – be it as an outsider, observer or wanderer. As part of the preparation for Pilgrim Hywel made two visits to Izumo in north-west Japan site of the largest Shinto shrine in Japan, also a place of pilgrimage. Pilgrim reflects on this and other journeys Hywel has made.

The principal element of the work is written for Japanese virtuoso percussionist Kuniko Kato and Englsh bass-baritone Laurence Williams. This part of the piece run on a loop, broadcast from speakers embedded in four hemlock tree trunks sited within the Beech Circle. For the second element of Pilgrim Hywel undertook a series of interviews with visitors, volunteers and staff on their experience of ‘journeys’. These intimate recordings are installed in Gardener’s Cottage next to the Kitchen Garden.