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Clubbing: Crossroads — Metropolis, Jan 2007

Tags press-archiveyogajayametropolisenglish

Publication: Metropolis Issue: January 2007 Article type: Nightlife/clubbing event preview By: Don Crispy People named: Patrick Oancia, Josh Child, Pier Bucci, Duncan Wong, Mishaal, Akiko Kiyama, Fumiya Tanaka

Summary

Section titled “Summary”

Nightlife preview for the inaugural “Crossroads” event at the newly reopened Seco Bar (Shibuya Underpass Society, Miyamasu-zaka between Shibuya and Aoyama). Primary editorial focus is Chilean DJ Pier Bucci. YogaJaya is credited as co-organizer.

Josh Child (Toronto nightlife promoter in Tokyo, described as “fellow Canadian” to Patrick) explains the event’s origin: “Patrick Oancia [of Tokyo yoga school YogaJaya] approached me some time ago and asked if I would be interested in doing some collaborations. I thought it was a great idea, so we put together hopefully the first of many events entitled Crossroads.”

YogaJaya is described as having “branched out with shows that bring together demonstrations of physical practices like yoga with performing arts and music” — an editorial acknowledgment of the studio’s programming philosophy beyond regular classes.

Event performers:

  • Pier Bucci — Chilean DJ, headliner (Berlin-based, Skipsapiens / Familia album)
  • Akiko Kiyama — Japanese electronic creator, signed to Fumiya Tanaka’s Op Disc label
  • Mishaal — Tokyo-based American belly dancer (also appeared at YogaJaya’s Integration Matsuri, Oct 2005 — see E03-metropolis-2005-10)
  • Duncan Wong — American yoga master, guest performer; has “a background in martial arts and Thai massage,” runs his own system called “Yogic Arts,” has taught Madonna and Sting

Event: Seco Bar + Respekt Café (“Shibuya Underpass Society”), designed by Café Company. January 20, 2007.

Key details on Duncan Wong

Section titled “Key details on Duncan Wong”

Duncan Wong is not a YogaJaya teacher. He is a visiting American yoga teacher with his own independent system (“Yogic Arts”). He appeared at this event as a guest performer alongside YogaJaya. This explains the ecocolo_duncan.pdf file — he was a collaborator/guest in Tokyo, not part of the YogaJaya teaching staff. [Ask Patrick to confirm at end of session.]

Key details on Mishaal

Section titled “Key details on Mishaal”

Same belly dancer appearing in both the 2005 Integration Matsuri (E03) and this January 2007 Crossroads event. Ongoing collaborator in YogaJaya’s arts/wellness events.

Relevance notes

Section titled “Relevance notes”
  • Patrick named as the initiator of the Crossroads event series — his outreach to Tokyo’s nightlife and arts community is documented
  • “Fellow Canadian” reference for Patrick and Josh Child — both Canadians operating in Tokyo
  • YogaJaya’s integration of yoga with music, performance, and nightlife is the editorial hook; the studio is presented as already established in this space by 2007
  • No Satoko mention; no YogaJaya teaching staff named

Press page relevance

Section titled “Press page relevance”
  • patrick · yogajaya-history · scene-context
  • Tier 3 (archive): scene/nightlife piece, YogaJaya as supporting context not main subject

Connections

Section titled “Connections”

Full Text & Translation

Section titled “Full Text & Translation”

Transcribed from PDF scan at 150 DPI. English article; 2 pages. Full text legible at this resolution.

Full Text (English)

Section titled “Full Text (English)”

clubbing CROSSROADS CHILEAN DJ PIER BUCCI FRONTS A NEW EVENT AT REBORN NIGHTSPOT SECO BAR BY DON CRISPY

CLUBBING AND YOGA? IF THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN unlikely combination, well, it is. But that’s the background behind a party slated for the new reincarnation of Seco Bar, the offbeat space underneath the train tracks of Shibuya station that was the site of so many entertaining evenings until its closing in 2005.

“Patrick Oancia [of Tokyo yoga school YogaJaya] approached me some time ago and asked if I would be interested in doing some collaborations,” explains Tokyo nightlife promoter Josh Child. “I thought it was a great idea, so we put together hopefully the first of many events entitled Crossroads.”

Child’s Real Grooves series, focusing on cutting-edge minimal techno and house, have developed a reputation as one of Tokyo’s more credible events, while fellow Canadian Oancia’s YogaJaya has also branched out with shows that bring together demonstrations of physical practices like yoga with performing arts and music. The concept, then, isn’t as far-fetched as it may seem.

Headlining the first Crossroads is Chilean DJ Pier Bucci, who made his Tokyo debut last fall with a lively set at Yellow. One of a growing number of South American electronica artists finding their way to Japan recently, Bucci first came of notice with his 1999 Skipsapiens project, which brought warm analog melodies to stark rhythm tracks. In 2002 Bucci relocated to Berlin, where he joined fellow Chilean expats Ricardo Villalobos and Luciano. Together, they are splicing Latin melodies and rhythms with laptop house to offer a more human take on techno’s often robotic sounds. Bucci’s debut full-length, 2005’s Familia, earned him the moniker “South America’s answer to Derrick May.”

Bucci will be performing a set of live, laptop techno as will domestic creator Akiko Kiyama, who is signed to veteran techno innovator Fumiya Tanaka’s excellent Op Disc label. In addition to a slew of other local DJs, the event will also feature a number of performances, including one by Tokyo-based American belly dancer Mishaal and another by visiting American yoga master Duncan Wong. Wong brings a background in martial arts and Thai massage to an original system he calls “Yogic Arts,” which he has taught to celebrities like Madonna and Sting.

The event takes place at the new Seco Bar and adjoining Respekt Café on Miyamasu-zaka between Shibuya and Aoyama. Collectively called Shibuya Universal Society, the space was created by Café Company, which is responsible for some of Tokyo’s hippest dining and nightspots, including Wired Café and Café 248. SUS, Jan 20. See club listings for details.

[Photo caption: Chilean DJ Pier Bucci]