Report from the Road: ACO in Japan II

3 October
This evening the orchestra performed at the Suginami Koukaidou hall which is about a one hour drive west of our hotel in Tokyo. Japanese locals, in particular younger female members of the audience go into hysterics when they get to meet our soloist Emmanuel Pahud at the conclusion of the concert. Little wonder that Emmanuel is in such high demand as a soloist here.

Like the hall in Fukuoka yesterday (Hibiki Hall), the Japanese really know how to build fantastic concert venues with marvellous acoustics. If only other countries like Australia learnt lessons from countries like Japan when it comes to public infrastructure. The NSW Government would be well advised to employ managers and officials from the Japanese rail network to solve our public transport woes back in Sydney. No crippling rail network breakdowns or long delays with trains here.

5 October
The orchestra has just arrived back at our hotel in Tokyo after performing at the Tamashima Cultural Centre in Kurashiki-shi this afternoon.

I know I have already said this but train travel here is really what public transport should be like back in Australia. You hurtle through space at over 200km an hour for 4 hours, leave exactly on time to the second from your point of departure, and arrive to the minute at your final destination even with 4 stops in between.

One curious thing about Japan though is the complete lack of public rubbish bins on the street although ironically the streets are absolutely devoid of any rubbish or waste. Perhaps public littering is as taboo as petty theft - another lesson for the West.

The only things you will never find a shortage of here are vending machines (almost literally on every street corner) and plastic packaging. Open a packet of rice crackers and each individual rice cracker has its own package; get your laundry back from the hotel laundry and each item is individually wrapped in plastic. Good way to keep your socks nice and fresh I guess.

Damien Low
Orchestra Manager