Chinese women's ensemble strikes a chord in Japan
( 2003-10-22 16:30) (Xinhua)
A Chinese women's ensemble
has enjoyed unexpected success in Japan since their virgin album was released
there on July 24, with sales exceeding 1.2 million so far.
 The "12 Women's Music Workshop" features a classic ensemble
of traditional Chinese music instruments such as the urheen, dulcimerand lute.
The band's superb performance of classical music and fashionable presentation
has also drawn wide attention among Chinese music fans in the past several
years.
Yutaka Wantanabe, from the marketing department of King Records,said while
attending a recent seminar on the music industry being held in this east China
metropolis that sales of the album "Beautiful Energy" will finally exceed 1.5
million and continue to top the sales chart in Japan.
Japanese listeners of "Beautiful Energy" age from 20 to 60, with female fans
accounting for 60 percent, according to Wantanabe.
According to music critics from Japan and China, traditional Chinese music is
helpful in easing tension and creating a breezy and relaxed mood. Meanwhile, the
band's dynamic and voguish packaging especially in terms of dress and stage
effects make it easily acceptable to modern music lovers.
The package of a CD and DVD of "Beautiful Energy" is sold for 2,980 Japanese
Yen (approximately 200 yuan or 24 US dollars), a price reasonably affordable to
Japanese buyers.
To further promote the ensemble, King Records plans to organizea concert in a
Japan-based hall capable of accommodating 10,000 people in January 2004.
In addition to "12 Women's Music Workshop", Beijing urheen player Wu Rujun,
Shanghai ancient zither player Wu Fang and urheenplayer Jiang Jianhua, and the
Beijing-based rock band "Black Leopard" have also been active in Japan
lately.
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