{"id":35945,"date":"2026-06-05T14:09:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/35945\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:09:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:09:12","slug":"japanese-duo-bridges-cultures-with-turkish-music-cuisine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/35945\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese duo bridges cultures with Turkish music, cuisine"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Japanese chef and a violinist are introducing Turkish music and culture to audiences in Japan through a musical partnership that blends traditional Anatolian melodies<\/a> with classical violin, while also highlighting culinary ties to T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n

The duo, called \u201cYakamoz Duo,\u201d was formed by chef Rie Sakamoto and violinist Sachi after the two met in Japan at a restaurant owned by Sakamoto that serves Turkish cuisine<\/a>. Their collaboration has since grown into performances that aim to connect Japanese audiences with Turkish folk traditions.<\/p>\n

From kitchen to stage<\/p>\n

Sakamoto, who spent time in T\u00fcrkiye studying Turkish cuisine and culture, said her interest in the country deepened during her stay. Alongside her culinary training, she also learned to play the ba\u011flama, a traditional Turkish string instrument.<\/p>\n

After returning to Japan, she opened a small reservation-based restaurant specializing in Turkish dishes. She occasionally performs ba\u011flama for customers and also teaches traditional crafts in her free time as part of her efforts to promote Turkish culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to learn as much as I could about Turkish culture,\u201d Sakamoto said. She noted that she even spent a month in a village learning local crafts such as carpet weaving and needlework.<\/p>\n

Sakamoto said her interest in folk music from different countries helped shape the duo\u2019s repertoire after meeting Sachi. \u201cPeople who come to our concerts often say it\u2019s the first time they\u2019ve heard Turkish music. The response has been very positive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Building a cultural bridge<\/p>\n

Sakamoto said Japanese audiences are often surprised that they can understand the emotion of Turkish songs despite not speaking the language. \u201cThe melody carries all the feeling of the song,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The duo\u2019s signature piece is the Turkish folk song \u201cMemleketim\u201d (“My Homeland”), which they describe as a symbolic bridge between the two cultures.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a song in Japan with a very similar melody,\u201d Sakamoto said. \u201cEven though our countries are different, we realized we feel the same emotions about our homeland.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shared ambitions<\/p>\n

Sachi, a conservatory-trained violinist, said she has not yet visited T\u00fcrkiye but has learned Turkish and hopes to travel there to perform.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to visit T\u00fcrkiye more than any other country,\u201d she said, adding that she dreams of performing there with her violin.<\/p>\n

She said the duo hopes to travel across T\u00fcrkiye to perform regional folk songs in their places of origin. Among their aspirations is performing \u201cDeniz \u00dcst\u00fc K\u00f6p\u00fcr\u00fcr\u201d (“The Sea Foams on the Surface”) in Mu\u011fla and works by legendary folk musician Ne\u015fet Erta\u015f<\/a> in K\u0131r\u015fehir.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to go everywhere in T\u00fcrkiye and play the folk songs at their source,\u201d Sachi said.<\/p>\n

Music after disaster<\/p>\n

Following the Feb. 6, 2023, earthquakes centered in Kahramanmara\u015f, the duo also organized charity concerts, further highlighting their role as informal cultural ambassadors between Japan and T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n

Through music, food and shared artistic curiosity, Yakamoz Duo continues to introduce Turkish cultural traditions to Japanese audiences while building a personal bridge between the two countries.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

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