Four Seasons of Traditional Japanese Entertainment Thrills a CEO Audinece in Tokyo, Japan

September 2000. Chinzan-So, Tokyo, The Four Seasons Hotel

For a client dinner event held for a high level Japanese and American audience at the Four Seasons Chinzan-So in Tokyo, Empire conceptualized, designed and produced a series of traditional Japanese entertainment vignettes that were performed between courses. The evening's 'Four Seasons' theme featured live entertainment, Ikebana (floral arrangements) and stage design that symbolized each of Japan's seasons. The Autumn segment featured Taiko drummers & dancers performing before an arrangement of harvest foliage. The Winter segment featured an ensemble of Koto & Shakuhachi, a dance by a solo performer in a sea of fog and a giant brush stroke painting backdrop that was created live by renowned suiboku-ga artist Tohun Kobayashi. The Spring vignette celebrated the cherry blossom (Sakura) festival and featured female dancers dressed in furisode kimono performing a traditional dance with fans & cherry blossom boughs. The Summer piece was based on the fireworks festivals that are held each Summer throughout Japan. This finale included a fiber optic simulation of fireflies, singing children with glowing lanterns, the renowned Tokyo Dagekidan Taiko Drum Troupe and a team of dancer / acrobats. The breathtaking performance concluded with simulated fireworks and a standing ovation.