FREE ADMISSION
20 October 2025 7:00PM | Carlos P Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City
21 October 2025 4:30PM | PETA Studio A&B, Quezon City
23 October 2025 10:00AM | CAP Auditorium, Davao City
25 October 2025 10:30AM | Xavier University Little Theater, Cagayan de Oro City
The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) presents a unique chronicle of the conflict in Gaza as told through traditional Japanese music and storytelling.
Ikusamonogatari II – Stories of Battle in Gaza is a live narration of tales, reflecting the courage, sorrow, and struggles from the conflict-torn city of Gaza, accompanied by the timeless sounds of the Japanese Biwa and Koto instruments. Inspired by the classical style of the Heike Monogatari and its iconic recounting of the Battle of Dannoura, this performance reimagines the art of oral storytelling to reflect the modern-day struggles of the people of Gaza.
Performing the Ikusamonogatari, literally translated to “battle stories,” are two masters of traditional Japanese music, together with one of the Philippines’ foremost wordsmiths.
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Hiroko Nagai pursued her mastery of the koto after training as a classical pianist. She is now part of the School of Social Sciences faculty at the Ateneo de Manila University, as well as an instructor at the College of Music at the University of the Philippines. Her work throughout the years has received recognition, including accolades from the Young Critics Circle and the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences.
Keiko Yokota is an actress and Chikuzen Biwa storyteller from Saitama, Japan. Formerly with the Black Tent Theater in Tokyo, she now works independently, performing with the traditional Japanese instrument biwa – both classical Heike pieces and original works in her distinctive style. Her music has taken her around the world, performing in France, Peru, Norway, and the Philippines.
The koto and biwa performed together is a unique occurrence, making this special performance singular and unforgettable; an opportunity to see two beautiful instruments in rare harmony.
Completing the trio of performers is award winning author, playwright, theatre actor, and director Rody Vera. As a playwright, he has written at least twenty-five original plays, ten of which have won Palanca Awards. In 2015, he was awarded the Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi by the Ateneo de Manila University, and In 2019, he received the Dangal ni Balagtas Award from the Commission on the Filipino Language in recognition of his contributions to Philippine literature.
Ikusamonogatari II – Stories of Battle in Gaza forges a connection between past and present, exploring the shared human experiences of grief, hope, and impermanence across cultures and generations. This performance is a tribute to the enduring human spirit and a reminder of the universal themes that bind us all. Because in a war, nobody truly wins—and peace is not just a dream, but our shared responsibility.
The series of performances will kick off in Manila at the Carlos P Romulo Auditorium and the PETA Theater, and will continue in Davao and Cagayan de Oro with venue partners CAP Auditorium and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan:
Admission to all performances is free.
Follow JFM’s official social media accounts for updates.
