Shomyo (聲明)

“When I encountered Japanese shomyo Buddhist chanting in the beginning of 1980s, I experienced an unforgettable sensation: apart from perceiving sound with the ears and the intellect, an intense mass of voices vibrated directly inside my whole body. Being captivated by shomyo chanting, I became a student of the great shomyo master Mr. Kôshin Ebihara, a celebrated monk of Tendai-shû Buddhist sect.

During these lessons, Mr. Ebihara often expressed the philosophy and the basis of his shomyo chanting: “Shomyo chanting can obviously be enjoyed as an art music. However, above all, the shomyo chanting is a most serious training and an expression of a religious feeling by a devout Buddhist person.” During years of daily practicing, one may gradually enter its profundity. While reflecting the words of the teacher, I could gradually explore some of this profundity and the significance of the shomyo chanting.

During practicing I realized that the breathing is the most essential necessity for human survival. The slow melismatic shomyo chanting makes you aware of the considerably extended length of breathing. This resembles to a religious act which gazes at the breathing as the root of human existence. Breathing is equal to the life. In other words, enjoying the breathing every moment is equal to enjoying the life. This seems to me an important message behind the shomyo chanting.

So what was that first sensation that caught me when listening to the shomyo chanting for the first time? Instead of a beautiful melody or some excellent musical virtuosity, I seemed to be touched by the power of a single breath, a power which made my body vibrate. It was the sensation of the breath ‘息’ (IKI), the spirit ‘意気’ (IKI) and the life ‘生き’ (IKI). Thinking about this, I sing shomyo once again. Then I feel thankfulness and happiness.

I would like to bring the voice of shomyo out of the Buddhist temple and to share my experience and thoughts about shomyo chanting. Also, I would like to approach to a world of universal sensitivity of human being through the expression of ‘the breath’ that has been nurtured in the Japanese culture.

The world of shomyo is extremely profound. I feel I have just started rowing out into the great ocean of shomyo chanting and it seems to take more time to be able to sail freely over this great ocean. However, exposing the power of breath in the shomyo Buddhist chanting may fill the heart of people with a moment of peace."

Junko Ueda

Because of its style of slow melismatic Shomyo chanting, the participants will be stimulated to concentrate on their breathing in a quiet manner. While enjoying singing basic Shomyo melodies and meeting this ancient tradition, we will aim to discover the wisdom and the power of the breath, and its essence for humanity.

Since 1995, Junko Ueda has been presenting Shomyo workshops. Through promoting these ancient and universal melodies, she supports a global sustainability with thinking about good air as a primary importance to enjoy the breathing.

Beside, Junko Ueda presents the lecture about the shomyo Buddhist chant. She will explain its history and concept, and demonstrates some of the pieces.

• Warming up: breath and body exercises, focusing on breathing and Hara.
• Introduction of Shomyo: learning various Shomyo melody patterns and later singing musical variations using these melody patterns.
• Singing traditional Shomyo pieces: Practice 'Sange' and 'Taiyo'.
• Introduction of its history and various concepts of the Japanese culture.

• The workshop can be held once, like a single event, or as a series of more workshops.
• Proposed duration for a one-time workshop: 3 hours
• Amount of participants: minimum 5
• It is recommended for the participants to wear any style of casual clothes (better avoid high heels and neck-ties).
• A workshop can be held in any quiet place with sufficient space to put chairs for the participants in a half circle. A white-board is needed.
• Language: English and Japanese, Spanish and Dutch.

• “Very organic music. I feel very comfortable and relaxing to sing together.” (from enquête of a Shomyo workshop)
• "A very inspirational workshop." (from enquête of a Shomyo workshop)
• “It is amazing that so many different voice qualities can be together and make a music. There is no competition and no stress. You can just produce your voice as you feel like.” (from enquête of a Shomyo workshop)
• "An experience that whole my body is vibrating and healthily activated." (from enquête of a Shomyo workshop)
• "Standing next to the music with text and musical instructions, she played long ritual only with her voice. For fifty minutes the audience was holding their breath..." (from Shomyo concert, De Volkskrant, Holland)

• ‘Les Suds à Arles’ le festival de Musiques du Monde (Arles, France)
• Leo Kestenberg Musikschule im Haus am Kleistpark (Berlin, Germany)
• Ateliers d'Ethnomusicologie (Geneva, Switzerland)
• SOAS, University of London (London, UK)
• Hochschule für Musik Würzburg (Germany)
• Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon (France)
• De Singel, Conservatorium Antwerpen (Belgium)
• Athens National Concervatory (Athens, Greece)
• International Zen Buddhism Association, La Gendronnière (France)
• University of Montreal (Canada)
• Western Front (Vancouver, Canada)
• Mántica Theatre Festival (Cesena, Italy)
• Flagey, Brussels (Belgium)
• Conservatorio Superior de Granada (Granada, Spain)
• Aula de Musicas, music school (Madrid, Spain)
• Conservatorio profesional de musica de Getafe (Getafe, Spain)
• Carmen de San Onofre (Granada, Spain)
• Private lesson at Studio E (Amsterdam, Holland)
• World Music Festival Rotterdam (Rotterdam, Holland)
• Vooruit, Gent (Belgium) - at IETM conference 'OneOnOne'
• Arkas Concert Hall, Sasebo (Japan)
• Enmeiji Temple, Aoto (Tokyo, Japan)
• Drama Institute, at Shinjuku Olympic Centre (Tokyo, Japan)
• Dôgo Community Centre (Ehime, Japan)
• Daishô-an (Yamagata, Japan)
• Trunk Theatre (Tokyo, Japan)

Click on an image below to download the leaflet of the Shomyo Workshop PDF in the language of your preference.