Customer Reviews

Kitaro - Yakushiji

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This 2002 concert by Kitaro, filmed on the grounds of a visually stunning Buddhist Temple in Yakushiji, Japan - is possibly one of his finest performances to date. I'm glad that this show has been released on DVD, because, while the double-CD audio version is excellent, the visuals add an extra dimension. The show seems to have been shot on actual movie film (not on video or DV like most concert films.) And this fact, coupled with some creative visual direction, gives the concert a sort of dreamy/elegiac look that somehow adds to the overall ambiance. There are plenty of shots of the beautiful Temple scenery, which are skillfully intercut with some up-close & personal shots of Kitaro (and his backing musicians) as they perform. As usual, Kitaro seems to throw his very soul into the performance. At times he plays with his eyes closed, and seems to be in a meditative/prayerful state. At other times he has a deep intensity written on his face as he attacks his stacks of synthesizers with flailing arms and dramatic flair. It is obvious that Kitaro is not mearly making music for the fame & fortune, but is one who "feels" his art very deeply. Kudos also must go to Kitaro's fine new backing band. Unlike the multi-ethnic 8-piece orchestras featured on his previous concert videos (1990's "Kojiki - A Story in Concert", and 1994's "An Enchanted Evening"), the Yakushiji concert finds him backed by by only four musicians- all of them from Kitaro's homeland of Japan. Kitaro's wife, Keiko Takahashi, plays additional keyboards, as does Shinji Ebihara (the only male member of the new backing band). Yavoi Sakiyama is featured prominantly on the electric violin, and she looks quite elegant on the stage (in a sleek black dress.) Lastly, Tomoko Nomura rounds out the band on electronic & acoustic percussion, often playing "Tympani"-style with malletts rather than drum sticks. Interestingly, the songs here are arranganged so well that they don't seem to loose any of their "fullness" or dynamics when played with this smaller ensemble. The lack of electric guitars (usually heard is his concerts) actually lends the show a sort of classical/regal feel(And keyboard aficionados will note that Kitaro still has his vintage analog synths front and center, along with some modern equiptment) After a chanted introduction by the Temple Monks, Kitaro kicks off the show with a note-perfect pair of tracks from his "Kojiki" album ("Hazimari", "Sozo"), then moves into a mezmerizing new arrangement of the classic "Caravansary" (featuring some exceptional violin work by Miss Sakiyama.) Some other highlights of the concert include an emotionally-charged version of "Estrella" (with Kitaro's synth-leads much more prominent than in the studio version), the dark, brooding "Magma", an extended take on the ethereal "Mercury" (featuring Kitaro on the Native American flute), a more intense version of the "Ancient" track "Water of Mystery" (with Kitaro playing an electric Sitar) and a majestic encore of "Free Fall" which far surpasses the greatness of the original studio cut. For those who enjoy Kitaro's more experimental side, "Wa" is an unusual track that begins with a blend of atmospheric electronics & chanting by the Monks (the only vocals featured in the concert), before evolving into a tight percussion duel, with Kitaro slamming away-passionately on a huge pair of Japanese taiko drums. Strangely, the concert's second encore piece, "Heaven & Earth", is not included as part of the main concert, but must be accessed as a seperate "bonus track" found among the special features. This bonus piece (great version, too!) is accompanied by a slide show of Temple pictures, so that you never actaully see the band on stage playing it. Not sure why it was done this way...and anyway, this is a very small criticism of an otherwise excellent DVD! All in all, if you are a Kitaro fan, or are simply looking for new musical experiences outside of the mainstream, then this DVD should not disappoint!

IF YOU NEVER SEEN KITARO LIVE LIKE MY SELF THIS BREATH TAKING EXPERIENCE,
GREAT DVD FROM START TO FINISH GREAT 5.1 SOUND GREAT PICTURE QUALITY, GREAT IMAGES OF AN INSPIRING LOCATION. ONE OF THE BEST DVD CONCERT I EVER SEEN.
KITARO PLAYING @THE HOLY TEMPLE OF YAKUSHIJI IN NARA JAPAN FOR AN SPECIAL EVENT. THE SHOW INCLUDES NEW SONGS AND OLD LIKE SILK ROAD THE CONCERT STARD WITH 4 MONK SINGING DURING A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON AS THE SUN SET
KITARO STARD PERFORMING12 OF HIS MOST BEAUTIFUL AND BEST EVER SONGS WRITTING BY HIM (MY POINT OF VIEW) WITH YOUNG GREAT JAPANESE MUSICIANS
INCLUDING THE BEAUTIFUL KOI , SILK ROAD, MERCURY,WATER OF MYSTERY,FREE FLIGHT .
THE DVD ALSO INCLUDE: ARTIST INTERVIEW AND HISTORY OF YAKUSHIJI TEMPLE, I RECOMEND THIS DVD TO ANYYONE EVEN NON KITARO FANS. KITARO MUSIC IS SOOTHING, INSPIRING, A RELIGION EXPERIENCE, GET THIS DVD YOU SIMPLY W'ONT REGRET IT !!

This is my first experience with Kitaro and I never espected that much talent and performance stamina in one man. The scenery provides the perfect athmosphere for this special blend of mystical oriental music using acoustic and electronic elements. The sound and video are superb. If you enjoy relaxing and New Age music, I strongly recomend this one.-

The best music DVD-Video I own. After I dropped
this disc into my player, set up the sound option in the menu
for DTS Surround, it wasn't long after I had it playing for the
first time that I had my wife and two small children coming into
the room asking who was playing the beautiful music! We all
enjoyed the beautiful sounds (and vibrations of the o-daiko
drum~!)of Kitaro. _Highly_ recommended. PS: If there was any
reason needed to invest in a region-free, progressive-scan DVD
player, then here it is. Then, track down the Japanese issue of
this DVD that is 16:9 anamorphic, plus has DTS surround. It'll be
money very well spent. The image and sound are truly top-notch.
Put this DVD in, turn out the lights, turn off the world, and
prepare to be immersed in beautiful music. And the way they ended
it playing "Free Flight" with no visuals of the band but only
beams of light shimmering and rotating in darkness was for lack
of a better word, magical.

One of the important thing of this concert is venue !
The venue is more mystic ( Yakushiji Temple )
This mysthisisim is effected Kitaro music.
The Ambiance is wonderful, Kitaro's sound ( and his orchestra ) is wonderful, songs ( set-list ) is great, audience is great.
So, if you want to watched best of the Kitaro's concert ( more than 2 hours and 5.1 sound ), buy this DVD.

Recently, I caught a concert by Kitaro played on PBS-HD in 16:9 format. It was mesmerizing, magical. I then sought out a copy on DVD, found it here and ordered it, but I was concerned about an earlier review that indicated that the version sold here in the U.S. was not the 16:9 version I had seen on PBS. Not to worry, as I have now discovered. In preparing this DVD for the U.S. market, the original 16:9 image was not cut but compressed horizontally. When you play it, your TV will interpret it as a 4:3 image. But if your 16:9 TV allows you to expand the image to full screen by stretching it horizontally, you will have the version that the earlier reviewer thought was only available in Japan. In fact, only the folks who have a 4:3 TV should complain: on their screens a circle will appear as an oval longer vertically than horizontally.

My brother gave me this DVD as a Christmas gift. Wow, what a gem! I have several concert DVDs, and I rank this one on the top:

Songs/music: 5 stars, soulful and enchanting
Stage lighting: 5 stars, artistic and beautiful
Camera angles: 5 stars, smooth and artistic, like a movie
Bonus materials: 3 stars.

Very good disk. When I his(its) bought I not even thought about such excellent concerto. And sound simply super (DTS)

I THINK THAT KITARO AND MIKE OLFIELD ARE THE MOST HEAVY MUSICIANS OF THE NEW WORLD. KITARO'S MUSIC IS A PERFECT MIX BETWEN JAPANESE CLASIC MUSIC AND ELECTRONIC NEW AGE SOUNDS.
THIS VIDEO IS PERFECT , THE MOVIE LOCATION AND THE SUPPLIES MISICIANS ARE EXCELENT .

I feel Kitaro is on of the best composer/performers of All time.
And this is the Best of the Best! Magma is particularly moving. And the finale is trully amazing. To have been there was probably a Once in a lifetime experience!