Bagpipe › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

Tuesday 01st April, 06:05 AM JST

A man plays a bagpipe in Yoyogi Park in front of a sign that says musical performances are prohibited.
PHOTO BY JOHN KONNO

Latest 15 of 47 Total Comments Show All

taj at 11:46 AM JST - 1st April

He's not using an amp, so he'd be fine in the park, as well.

I can't tell who this is from the photo, but the guys (and girls) who practice at Yoyogi do wear kilts when they perform. And they're fantastic!
taj at 01:10 PM JST - 1st April

Just heard back from a bagpipe-playing friend, who recognizes this guy and assures us he is a "good piper."

I love Yoyogi Park. There's always so much to see, listen to, and yes, sometimes run away from. ;-)
taj at 01:15 PM JST - 1st April

http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/recent/photo.asp

Another piper from the same practice group. (And his kilt really shows of his tats!)
Balefire at 02:11 PM JST - 1st April

I used to live in Tomigaya, close to Yoyogi Park, and had a lot of sympathy for the tuba player who regularly practiced there. I'd see/hear him when I'd ride through on my way to work, and assumed that he couldn't find, or maybe afford, any other place to practice. He wasn't particularly good (although its hard to tell with tuba practice), but he was certainly enthusiastic.

I like the sound of bagpipes played well, and I wish I still lived near there, so I could listen to this piper practicing.
Nessie at 03:21 PM JST - 1st April

As an avid frisbee player, my favorite park sign is "No ball sports."
borscht at 03:53 PM JST - 1st April

I agree with benjie, he's not technically in the park and, as all restaurant owners know, music, like smoke, stops at invisible lines in the air, so he's free to play. (It looks like he's in the handicapped parking spot but maybe it's just an artistic design on concrete.)
conqueror_of_Uranus at 04:32 PM JST - 1st April

Damn pipers, always sticking it to the man. ;P
Helly at 05:13 PM JST - 1st April

"musical performances are prohibited" Another step towards removing all the peoples civil rights.
Zorro at 07:32 PM JST - 1st April

I request "Rebel yell".
Ah_so at 11:21 PM JST - 1st April

I am pretty sure the piper is Japanese. The headshape, the little feet and the bum bag convince (apologies to any Scots out there of Asian origin - I know they exist, I dated one).
realist at 01:30 AM JST - 2nd April

Freedom and Civil/Human Rights are dying in Japan. Part of the fun of Yoyogi Park was watching the locals perform, either dancing or playing instruments. Now the fun is gone. Fascism is alive and well in Tokyo.
eastokyo at 07:54 AM JST - 2nd April

Hey this is yesterday's picture of the day.
kemiko at 03:51 PM JST - 2nd April

Whatjapanthink-san, Yes, the bagpipe is a musical instrument. But what he has in the picture seems to be the one WITHOUT an amplifier etc.Therefore, its usage is not explicitly prohibited.
Sanatan22 at 01:11 PM JST - 3rd April

Bagpipes are the most obnoxious instruments that we ever created. If someone plays anywhere in a park you can't get away from that noise and the silence is destroyed until he shuts up. Arrest him I'd say.
notimpressed at 01:45 PM JST - 5th April

I used to think bagpipes were offesnive to the ear untill I heard them played well. The atmospheric hum overlaid with the piping can sound so majestic and powerfull, and can really stir the spirits.BAd bagpipes sound as bad as any bad music. And at the end of the day, as I love music and terefor all instruments of music, I wouldnt want to stomp on anyones creative attempts, wether its my cup of tea or not. All power to him, if you ban one instrument other would be sure to follow. I always love to see anyone with the balls to back themselves and perform to the public for free. Technicalities of the sign aside, its still a nicely ironic image.