INDEX
When Wordless Things Tell Their Stories and the World Transforms
On the other hand, clearly operating on a different level from such physical contact is the singing. The sound of a voice, produced by vibrating one’s own throat, involves no literal physical contact. Yet, accompanied by words and melody, singing creates a different kind of contact—a sensation that connects to another time or place, offering an experience of touching something beyond the physical.
After “Kujira no Niwa,” following a brief talk, the set featured mostly vocal-centered songs except for “Rakkasei no Makura.” Tracks like “Hitobitori,” “Makura no Naka,” “Nagasaki Burabura Bushi,” “Carta de Obon,” and “Soto wa Kosame” unfolded. The soft, rich vocals transported listeners somewhere other than here—whether to childhood memories, surrealist scenes, sightseeing in Nagasaki, or the otherworldly atmosphere of Obon season.
However, the strange power of contact brought by singing was felt most deeply in the live’s highlight, “Carta de Obon,” and the final new song, “Hanashitagatteiru.” As Kakudo sang into a handheld mic, the music itself gained ebb and flow alongside her words. Her narration pointed out things as they came into view: “This speaks, that speaks…” Through these words, silent things seemed to become agents trying to communicate, as if another world were overwriting the space they occupied.
After briefly leaving the stage, the band returned for the encore with a brand-new song. Centered on Kakudo and Mugi Furukawa’s guitar and vocals, the track blended call-and-response with Steve Reich–style phase shifting. The audience was drawn into its cheerful, almost childlike energy and thrilling groove as the show came to an end.
The strong connection with Yamagata, which grew through the making of Contact tour merchandise, came to full bloom with the Contact × Yamagata live event at Bunsyōkan. It’s a relationship that I hope will continue to flourish, planting new seeds for future collaborations between Kakudo and Yamagata.
Manami Kakudo Band Set \[Contact] Yamagata Performance ｜ Contact × Yamagata
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Venue: Yamagata Prefectural Folk Museum “Bunsyōkan” Gijō Hall
(3-4-51 Hatago-machi, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture)
Doors Open: 15:00 / Show Starts: 16:30
Performers:
Manami Kakudo Band Set
Manami Kakudo (Vocals, Guitar, Marimba, etc.), Akita Goldman (Double Bass), Hiromiko Iwa (Cello), Mugi Furukawa (Guitar, Chorus, etc.), Wataru Mitsunaga (Drums, Chorus)
PA: Moky
Project: Contact × Yamagata
Production: Marina Yamaguchi (CAT TyPING Records)
Main Visual Design: Yoshikatsu Seisakusho
Public Relations & Editing: Dai Nagae
Support: Daijun Takeda (HAUS)
Organizer: CAT TyPING Records
Manami Kakudo Tour 2024 Contact Archive Book: *Contact Radio Book 2024*
Specifications: B5 size, ring-bound, 140 pages
Price: ¥12,000
Publication Date: May 18, 2025, First Edition, First Printing
Publisher: CAT TyPING Records
Project: Manami Kakudo + Yoshikatsu Seisakusho + Dai Nagae
Support: Rui Fujita
Editor: Dai Nagae (MUESUM)
Design: Katsunobu Yoshida (Yoshikatsu Seisakusho)
Photography: Katsunobu Yoshida, Ayuko Inaba, Dai Nagae, Mai Narita, Hana Yamamoto, Shikai Yamashiro, Gen Umin
Text Contributors: Katsunobu Yoshida, Manami Kakudo, Moriumi Sakamoto, Tsumino Sakamoto, kougame, Hana Yamamoto, Shikai Yamashiro, Kazuhiro Shiro & Yusuke Inoue, Akito Tabira, Gen Umin, Ryohei Matsunaga, Daijun Takeda
Tour Reflection Comments: Akita Goldman, Hiromiko Iwa, Wataru Mitsunaga, Mugi Furukawa
UFO Sightings Contributors: Daisuke Yamashiro, Tomoko Noda, Makoto Oshiro, Takeshi Azuma, Ai Takatori, Tonchi, Youjin Wakamatsu, Hana Yamamoto, Atsumi Tagami (goat), Motoki Tanizawa “Moky,” Akito Tabira, SUGAI KEN, kougame, Risa Takeshita & Masaya Takeshita, Tomoya Kato, Ikuko Harada, Airi Okada (BRANCHINCENSE/air.i___), Yasunori Kajino
Printing:
Cover
Print Management: Kosuke Ouchi (Sonobe Co., Ltd.)
Printing: Sonobe Co., Ltd.
Die Cutting Production: Seiko Nukkata (Ltd.)
Die Cutting Processing: Motoki Paper Works (Ltd.)
Sheeting & Final Trimming: Kikushin Paper Works (Ltd.)
Foil Stamping: Yoshikatsu Seisakusho
Special Cooperation (Paper Supply): Sonobe Co., Ltd.
Body
Monochrome Printing: Yoshikatsu Seisakusho
Color Printing: Graphic Co., Ltd.
Photo Printing: Hokkaido Diamond Co., Ltd.
Binding: Yoshikatsu Seisakusho and participating workshop members
© CAT TyPING Records 2025
https://manamikakudo.com/contact-radio-book
