Photos: Rudy Lu

Yokai are Japanese supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore. They are often, demons, ghosts or monsters as they are in our culture. They inspired Japanese woodblock prints to depict them.

Western Mass. native Fumi Tomita has chosen them to be an inspiration for a project entitled: Yokai. Songs of the Japanese Supernatural.

His quartet performed these pieces at the Van Dyck with slides of the woodblocks to further illustrate the music which consisted of 7 compositions.

Subjects ranged from Daija (Monster Snake) through various ghosts, tales of revenge and nights of terror.

Daija is a snake. An animal associated with terror and fear .Except in Japanese culture, the snake is also respected as having superpowers.

Beto-beto san is a mysterious spirit that follows travelers. A banner of Beto-beto is at a train station pictured following a child.

Wakama- Hime is about a princess who can cast magical spells to fight off enemies.

Hyakki Yagyo( Night Parade of 100 Demons) sums the whole experience up. It is a night parade of Night Demons.

In between Oliver Nelson’s “Invitation was played.

This was the 5th public performance of this project. Tomi is bringing the band to Syracuse and Rochester to perform this project.

Further information on Fumi Tomita’s music can be found at

fumitomitamusic.com

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Musicians

Fumi Tomita- Acoustic Bass

Carl Clements-saxes & flute

Jason Ennis -guitar

Gary Fieldman-drums