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Having been granted a peerage from the Principality of Sealand in Feb. 2025, I am a genuine count.

#count #sealand #伯爵

Steam locomotive excursion with Hakushaku in January 2025

I enjoyed it so much that I am still basking in the aftermath.

I applied a filter to the video taken by @abe_kun

#vintagestyle #1920s #1930s #1940s #大正浪漫 #昭和レトロ #ヴィンテージスタイル #蒸気機関車 #戦前車両

The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra has a new music director. At just 36 years of age, Lorenzo Viotti has certainly made his mark.
For his inaugural concert, he chose Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1—works from both the Classical and Romantic periods that were composed when the composers were still young.

How magnificently he brings out the soft passages! By keeping the volume subdued for as long as possible and stretching it to the limit, he makes the explosive fortissimo stand out all the more, creating an irresistible climax.
He unfolds the piece with a lively tempo and a light touch, allowing the solo parts ample scope to sing out, and bringing out the very essence of the work.

Fears following Jonathan Nott’s departure proved to be unfounded. Bravo. I look forward to his future performances.

#tokyosymphonyorchestra #東響 #lorenzoviotti

The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra has a new music director. At just 36 years of age, Lorenzo Viotti has certainly made his mark.
For his inaugural concert, he chose Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1—works from both the Classical and Romantic periods that were composed when the composers were still young.

How magnificently he brings out the soft passages! By keeping the volume subdued for as long as possible and stretching it to the limit, he makes the explosive fortissimo stand out all the more, creating an irresistible climax.
He unfolds the piece with a lively tempo and a light touch, allowing the solo parts ample scope to sing out, and bringing out the very essence of the work.

Fears following Jonathan Nott’s departure proved to be unfounded. Bravo. I look forward to his future performances.

#tokyosymphonyorchestra #東響 #lorenzoviotti

The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra has a new music director. At just 36 years of age, Lorenzo Viotti has certainly made his mark.
For his inaugural concert, he chose Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1—works from both the Classical and Romantic periods that were composed when the composers were still young.

How magnificently he brings out the soft passages! By keeping the volume subdued for as long as possible and stretching it to the limit, he makes the explosive fortissimo stand out all the more, creating an irresistible climax.
He unfolds the piece with a lively tempo and a light touch, allowing the solo parts ample scope to sing out, and bringing out the very essence of the work.

Fears following Jonathan Nott’s departure proved to be unfounded. Bravo. I look forward to his future performances.

#tokyosymphonyorchestra #東響 #lorenzoviotti

The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra has a new music director. At just 36 years of age, Lorenzo Viotti has certainly made his mark.
For his inaugural concert, he chose Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1—works from both the Classical and Romantic periods that were composed when the composers were still young.

How magnificently he brings out the soft passages! By keeping the volume subdued for as long as possible and stretching it to the limit, he makes the explosive fortissimo stand out all the more, creating an irresistible climax.
He unfolds the piece with a lively tempo and a light touch, allowing the solo parts ample scope to sing out, and bringing out the very essence of the work.

Fears following Jonathan Nott’s departure proved to be unfounded. Bravo. I look forward to his future performances.

#tokyosymphonyorchestra #東響 #lorenzoviotti

Everyone brought their own food and drink, and we held our first ‘Beard Picnic’ as the Japan Beard & Moustache Club.

Even those without beards came along to support us, and it turned out to be a lovely gathering where we listened to music playing from a gramophone whilst basking in the glorious May sunshine filtering through the trees.

#beardpicnic #ヒゲピクニック #日本ヒゲ倶楽部 #jbmc

You are cordially invited to an elegant summer soirée in Yokohama.

“The Counts of East & West’s Summer Banquet ” will be held in the historic Rainbow Room of Hotel New Grand in Yokohama.

An evening of refined company, vintage attire, and live music awaits.

Date: Sunday 28th June 2026
Reception at 17:00 (welcome drink)
Dinner commences at 17:30

Venue: Hotel New Grand, Yokohama – Rainbow Room

Live Music: Swingin’ Dappers
Master of Ceremonies: Russell

Dress Code: Summer vintage style
(white linen preferred)
Alternative fabrics such as cotton, summer wool, or kimono are welcome.

Capacity: 80 guests

RSVP
Deadline: Friday 12/06/2026 17:00

Kindly register via Google Form (link in bio).

横濱の夏の夕べ、装ひを正して集はれたし。
東西伯爵 夏の晩餐會、爰に催す。
古雅なる館にて、生演奏の調べとともに、ひと夜の興を分かち合はんことを願ふ。

日時：2026/06/28（日）
17時　受付始（迎へ酒あり）
17時30分　開宴

會場：ホテルニューグランド（横濱）
レインボールーム

生演奏：Swingin’ Dappers
司會：Russell

服装：夏のヴィンテージ装束
（白麻を基本とす）
※綿・夏羊毛・和服も亦可なり

定員：八十名
締切：2026/06/12（金）17時

申込はGoogleの文書様式より賜はり度候
（連絡にて案内仕候）

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeIAGNbimT7VGSg3ZrPwdmIdabnNkUBUXrdqifIFDOhYWSjaQ/viewform?usp=header

#vintagestyle #1920s #1930s #大正浪漫 #昭和レトロ

I took part in a workshop held as part of the trio exhibition by Nanase Ishihara, Mayako Nakamura and Yuki Nagatomo.

The task was to decorate plain Gifu paper lanterns with masking tape, but because they were three-dimensional, it proved surprisingly difficult.

It took some time, but I think I’ve managed to capture the essence of the grapes.

#japaneseart #japaneseartist #workshop

I took part in a workshop held as part of the trio exhibition by Nanase Ishihara, Mayako Nakamura and Yuki Nagatomo.

The task was to decorate plain Gifu paper lanterns with masking tape, but because they were three-dimensional, it proved surprisingly difficult.

It took some time, but I think I’ve managed to capture the essence of the grapes.

#japaneseart #japaneseartist #workshop

I took part in a workshop held as part of the trio exhibition by Nanase Ishihara, Mayako Nakamura and Yuki Nagatomo.

The task was to decorate plain Gifu paper lanterns with masking tape, but because they were three-dimensional, it proved surprisingly difficult.

It took some time, but I think I’ve managed to capture the essence of the grapes.

#japaneseart #japaneseartist #workshop

I took part in a workshop held as part of the trio exhibition by Nanase Ishihara, Mayako Nakamura and Yuki Nagatomo.

The task was to decorate plain Gifu paper lanterns with masking tape, but because they were three-dimensional, it proved surprisingly difficult.

It took some time, but I think I’ve managed to capture the essence of the grapes.

#japaneseart #japaneseartist #workshop

I took part in a workshop held as part of the trio exhibition by Nanase Ishihara, Mayako Nakamura and Yuki Nagatomo.

The task was to decorate plain Gifu paper lanterns with masking tape, but because they were three-dimensional, it proved surprisingly difficult.

It took some time, but I think I’ve managed to capture the essence of the grapes.

#japaneseart #japaneseartist #workshop

I took part in a workshop held as part of the trio exhibition by Nanase Ishihara, Mayako Nakamura and Yuki Nagatomo.

The task was to decorate plain Gifu paper lanterns with masking tape, but because they were three-dimensional, it proved surprisingly difficult.

It took some time, but I think I’ve managed to capture the essence of the grapes.

#japaneseart #japaneseartist #workshop

Every two years, we hire Musicasa in Yoyogi-Uehara to hold a gramophone concert. This time, we all listened to pieces conducted by the composer Richard Strauss.

We heard his breakthrough work, Don Juan; the rarely performed Music for the 2600th Anniversary of the Founding of the Empire of Japan; and the Alpine Symphony, which expresses mountain climbing through sound.
It was a solid, unadorned performance in the spirit of neo-objectivism.

This hall, designed by Edward Suzuki, has a ceiling height of approximately five metres and possesses excellent acoustics, making it perfectly suited for playing this large gramophone, the HMV194.

However, taking it out from my house and putting it away after the performance is truly a chore. It's rather heavy, so three men have to carry it up the stairs.
Thank you very much to the students who helped out.

#gramophone #musicasa #gramophoneconcert #蓄音機 #蓄音機コンサート

Every two years, we hire Musicasa in Yoyogi-Uehara to hold a gramophone concert. This time, we all listened to pieces conducted by the composer Richard Strauss.

We heard his breakthrough work, Don Juan; the rarely performed Music for the 2600th Anniversary of the Founding of the Empire of Japan; and the Alpine Symphony, which expresses mountain climbing through sound.
It was a solid, unadorned performance in the spirit of neo-objectivism.

This hall, designed by Edward Suzuki, has a ceiling height of approximately five metres and possesses excellent acoustics, making it perfectly suited for playing this large gramophone, the HMV194.

However, taking it out from my house and putting it away after the performance is truly a chore. It's rather heavy, so three men have to carry it up the stairs.
Thank you very much to the students who helped out.

#gramophone #musicasa #gramophoneconcert #蓄音機 #蓄音機コンサート

Every two years, we hire Musicasa in Yoyogi-Uehara to hold a gramophone concert. This time, we all listened to pieces conducted by the composer Richard Strauss.

We heard his breakthrough work, Don Juan; the rarely performed Music for the 2600th Anniversary of the Founding of the Empire of Japan; and the Alpine Symphony, which expresses mountain climbing through sound.
It was a solid, unadorned performance in the spirit of neo-objectivism.

This hall, designed by Edward Suzuki, has a ceiling height of approximately five metres and possesses excellent acoustics, making it perfectly suited for playing this large gramophone, the HMV194.

However, taking it out from my house and putting it away after the performance is truly a chore. It's rather heavy, so three men have to carry it up the stairs.
Thank you very much to the students who helped out.

#gramophone #musicasa #gramophoneconcert #蓄音機 #蓄音機コンサート

Every two years, we hire Musicasa in Yoyogi-Uehara to hold a gramophone concert. This time, we all listened to pieces conducted by the composer Richard Strauss.

We heard his breakthrough work, Don Juan; the rarely performed Music for the 2600th Anniversary of the Founding of the Empire of Japan; and the Alpine Symphony, which expresses mountain climbing through sound.
It was a solid, unadorned performance in the spirit of neo-objectivism.

This hall, designed by Edward Suzuki, has a ceiling height of approximately five metres and possesses excellent acoustics, making it perfectly suited for playing this large gramophone, the HMV194.

However, taking it out from my house and putting it away after the performance is truly a chore. It's rather heavy, so three men have to carry it up the stairs.
Thank you very much to the students who helped out.

#gramophone #musicasa #gramophoneconcert #蓄音機 #蓄音機コンサート

Every two years, we hire Musicasa in Yoyogi-Uehara to hold a gramophone concert. This time, we all listened to pieces conducted by the composer Richard Strauss.

We heard his breakthrough work, Don Juan; the rarely performed Music for the 2600th Anniversary of the Founding of the Empire of Japan; and the Alpine Symphony, which expresses mountain climbing through sound.
It was a solid, unadorned performance in the spirit of neo-objectivism.

This hall, designed by Edward Suzuki, has a ceiling height of approximately five metres and possesses excellent acoustics, making it perfectly suited for playing this large gramophone, the HMV194.

However, taking it out from my house and putting it away after the performance is truly a chore. It's rather heavy, so three men have to carry it up the stairs.
Thank you very much to the students who helped out.

#gramophone #musicasa #gramophoneconcert #蓄音機 #蓄音機コンサート

Every two years, we hire Musicasa in Yoyogi-Uehara to hold a gramophone concert. This time, we all listened to pieces conducted by the composer Richard Strauss.

We heard his breakthrough work, Don Juan; the rarely performed Music for the 2600th Anniversary of the Founding of the Empire of Japan; and the Alpine Symphony, which expresses mountain climbing through sound.
It was a solid, unadorned performance in the spirit of neo-objectivism.

This hall, designed by Edward Suzuki, has a ceiling height of approximately five metres and possesses excellent acoustics, making it perfectly suited for playing this large gramophone, the HMV194.

However, taking it out from my house and putting it away after the performance is truly a chore. It's rather heavy, so three men have to carry it up the stairs.
Thank you very much to the students who helped out.

#gramophone #musicasa #gramophoneconcert #蓄音機 #蓄音機コンサート

Every two years, we hire Musicasa in Yoyogi-Uehara to hold a gramophone concert. This time, we all listened to pieces conducted by the composer Richard Strauss.

We heard his breakthrough work, Don Juan; the rarely performed Music for the 2600th Anniversary of the Founding of the Empire of Japan; and the Alpine Symphony, which expresses mountain climbing through sound.
It was a solid, unadorned performance in the spirit of neo-objectivism.

This hall, designed by Edward Suzuki, has a ceiling height of approximately five metres and possesses excellent acoustics, making it perfectly suited for playing this large gramophone, the HMV194.

However, taking it out from my house and putting it away after the performance is truly a chore. It's rather heavy, so three men have to carry it up the stairs.
Thank you very much to the students who helped out.

#gramophone #musicasa #gramophoneconcert #蓄音機 #蓄音機コンサート

Every two years, we hire Musicasa in Yoyogi-Uehara to hold a gramophone concert. This time, we all listened to pieces conducted by the composer Richard Strauss.

We heard his breakthrough work, Don Juan; the rarely performed Music for the 2600th Anniversary of the Founding of the Empire of Japan; and the Alpine Symphony, which expresses mountain climbing through sound.
It was a solid, unadorned performance in the spirit of neo-objectivism.

This hall, designed by Edward Suzuki, has a ceiling height of approximately five metres and possesses excellent acoustics, making it perfectly suited for playing this large gramophone, the HMV194.

However, taking it out from my house and putting it away after the performance is truly a chore. It's rather heavy, so three men have to carry it up the stairs.
Thank you very much to the students who helped out.

#gramophone #musicasa #gramophoneconcert #蓄音機 #蓄音機コンサート

2026 Tweed Wearers’ Gathering at @lessor___
You can enjoy British country style even while in Japan.

We dined at a renowned French restaurant, savouring sumptuous dishes and quenching our thirst with champagne, white wine and red wine. We may have had a little too much to drink.
#tweed #englishgentleman #vintagestyle

I was fortunate to listen Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eliahu Inbal, at Suntory Hall.

From the thunderous opening of the chorus’s ‘Veni, creatore, Spiritus’ following the organ’s fortissimo, the sound did not merely fill the hall; it seemed to set the universe itself in motion. The voices, orchestra, organ, and distant brass ascended and converged like planets orbiting a solemn path.

In the gentler movements, each melody was given breathing space, while at the climax, the immense power of sound harmonised with astonishing precision.

When the final chord resonated through the hall, it felt less like an ending and more like a vast, luminous affirmation.

A rare performance that stirred the heart to its depths.

#gustavmahler #thousandsymphony #tokyometropolitansymphonyorchestra

I was fortunate to listen Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eliahu Inbal, at Suntory Hall.

From the thunderous opening of the chorus’s ‘Veni, creatore, Spiritus’ following the organ’s fortissimo, the sound did not merely fill the hall; it seemed to set the universe itself in motion. The voices, orchestra, organ, and distant brass ascended and converged like planets orbiting a solemn path.

In the gentler movements, each melody was given breathing space, while at the climax, the immense power of sound harmonised with astonishing precision.

When the final chord resonated through the hall, it felt less like an ending and more like a vast, luminous affirmation.

A rare performance that stirred the heart to its depths.

#gustavmahler #thousandsymphony #tokyometropolitansymphonyorchestra

I was fortunate to listen Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eliahu Inbal, at Suntory Hall.

From the thunderous opening of the chorus’s ‘Veni, creatore, Spiritus’ following the organ’s fortissimo, the sound did not merely fill the hall; it seemed to set the universe itself in motion. The voices, orchestra, organ, and distant brass ascended and converged like planets orbiting a solemn path.

In the gentler movements, each melody was given breathing space, while at the climax, the immense power of sound harmonised with astonishing precision.

When the final chord resonated through the hall, it felt less like an ending and more like a vast, luminous affirmation.

A rare performance that stirred the heart to its depths.

#gustavmahler #thousandsymphony #tokyometropolitansymphonyorchestra

I was fortunate to listen Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eliahu Inbal, at Suntory Hall.

From the thunderous opening of the chorus’s ‘Veni, creatore, Spiritus’ following the organ’s fortissimo, the sound did not merely fill the hall; it seemed to set the universe itself in motion. The voices, orchestra, organ, and distant brass ascended and converged like planets orbiting a solemn path.

In the gentler movements, each melody was given breathing space, while at the climax, the immense power of sound harmonised with astonishing precision.

When the final chord resonated through the hall, it felt less like an ending and more like a vast, luminous affirmation.

A rare performance that stirred the heart to its depths.

#gustavmahler #thousandsymphony #tokyometropolitansymphonyorchestra

I was fortunate to listen Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eliahu Inbal, at Suntory Hall.

From the thunderous opening of the chorus’s ‘Veni, creatore, Spiritus’ following the organ’s fortissimo, the sound did not merely fill the hall; it seemed to set the universe itself in motion. The voices, orchestra, organ, and distant brass ascended and converged like planets orbiting a solemn path.

In the gentler movements, each melody was given breathing space, while at the climax, the immense power of sound harmonised with astonishing precision.

When the final chord resonated through the hall, it felt less like an ending and more like a vast, luminous affirmation.

A rare performance that stirred the heart to its depths.

#gustavmahler #thousandsymphony #tokyometropolitansymphonyorchestra

I was fortunate to listen Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eliahu Inbal, at Suntory Hall.

From the thunderous opening of the chorus’s ‘Veni, creatore, Spiritus’ following the organ’s fortissimo, the sound did not merely fill the hall; it seemed to set the universe itself in motion. The voices, orchestra, organ, and distant brass ascended and converged like planets orbiting a solemn path.

In the gentler movements, each melody was given breathing space, while at the climax, the immense power of sound harmonised with astonishing precision.

When the final chord resonated through the hall, it felt less like an ending and more like a vast, luminous affirmation.

A rare performance that stirred the heart to its depths.

#gustavmahler #thousandsymphony #tokyometropolitansymphonyorchestra

The 2026 East-West Earls’ New Year Party was held at Café de la Presse.
A gathering was held where I, residing in Tokyo, and @salon_de_ra , residing in Nara to the west, assembled in formal attire.
51 vintage-style enthusiasts gathered from across the country.
We raised our glasses with friends, shared conversation, and had a splendid time.

Why not join us next time in vintage style?

Photo by @joa.portraits

#vintagestyle #1930s #昭和レトロ

This time, we are holding a gramophone concert where you can listen to historical recordings conducted by Richard Strauss himself, using the same playback principle as at the time.

The pieces featured this time are:
“Festive Music for the 2600th Anniversary of the Great Japanese Empire”, Op. 84 (recorded in 1940)
“Alpine Symphony”, Op. 64 (recorded in 1941).
Both were conducted by Richard Strauss himself.

The recordings will be played on the HMV194, the finest large gramophone produced by the British Gramophone Company in its final period.
Using no electricity whatsoever, it revives the vibrations engraved on 78 rpm SP discs as airborne sound.

This is a rare opportunity to experience Richard Strauss as a conductor
and the atmosphere of the 1940s
in a modern concert hall.

[Performance Overview]
Sunday, 8 March 2026,
15:00 start (doors open at 14:30)
MUSICA SA (Yoyogi-Uehara)
Please see the flyer for details.
Please apply using the Google form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFMPzPoM9N2k9gWRZHw_Z11X6E46an4nZQvzI4d_HjbFWF7Q/viewform?usp=header
Discounts are available for advance bank transfers.
Shall we climb a mountain together with our ears?

今回は、シュトラウス自らが指揮した歴史的な録音を、当時と同じ再生原理で聴くことができる蓄音機コンサートを開催いたします。

今回取り上げる作品は、
「大日本帝国2600年記念祝典音楽」作品84（1940年録音）
および「アルプス交響曲」作品64 （1941年録音）。
いずれもリヒャルト・シュトラウス自らが指揮したものです。

録音は、英国グラモフォン社が最終期に製造した最高級大型蓄音機「HMV194」で再生されます。
電気を一切使用せず、78回転SP盤に刻まれた振動を再現します。

ご一緒に耳で山登りしてみませんか？

【公演概要】
2026年3月8日（日） 15:00開演（14:30開場）
MUSICASA（代々木上原）
Googleフォームからお申し込みください。

事前振込で割引があります。
素晴らしい音響を誇るムジカーザでぜひご体験ください。

#gramophone #1940s #richardstrauss

This time, we are holding a gramophone concert where you can listen to historical recordings conducted by Richard Strauss himself, using the same playback principle as at the time.

The pieces featured this time are:
“Festive Music for the 2600th Anniversary of the Great Japanese Empire”, Op. 84 (recorded in 1940)
“Alpine Symphony”, Op. 64 (recorded in 1941).
Both were conducted by Richard Strauss himself.

The recordings will be played on the HMV194, the finest large gramophone produced by the British Gramophone Company in its final period.
Using no electricity whatsoever, it revives the vibrations engraved on 78 rpm SP discs as airborne sound.

This is a rare opportunity to experience Richard Strauss as a conductor
and the atmosphere of the 1940s
in a modern concert hall.

[Performance Overview]
Sunday, 8 March 2026,
15:00 start (doors open at 14:30)
MUSICA SA (Yoyogi-Uehara)
Please see the flyer for details.
Please apply using the Google form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFMPzPoM9N2k9gWRZHw_Z11X6E46an4nZQvzI4d_HjbFWF7Q/viewform?usp=header
Discounts are available for advance bank transfers.
Shall we climb a mountain together with our ears?

今回は、シュトラウス自らが指揮した歴史的な録音を、当時と同じ再生原理で聴くことができる蓄音機コンサートを開催いたします。

今回取り上げる作品は、
「大日本帝国2600年記念祝典音楽」作品84（1940年録音）
および「アルプス交響曲」作品64 （1941年録音）。
いずれもリヒャルト・シュトラウス自らが指揮したものです。

録音は、英国グラモフォン社が最終期に製造した最高級大型蓄音機「HMV194」で再生されます。
電気を一切使用せず、78回転SP盤に刻まれた振動を再現します。

ご一緒に耳で山登りしてみませんか？

【公演概要】
2026年3月8日（日） 15:00開演（14:30開場）
MUSICASA（代々木上原）
Googleフォームからお申し込みください。

事前振込で割引があります。
素晴らしい音響を誇るムジカーザでぜひご体験ください。

#gramophone #1940s #richardstrauss

@vintage.down.under thank you for the wonderful photograph