第2回目となるRI コラム投稿です：
「アニマル・ウェルフェア」と聞いて、第一に連想するものは何か。
RI記事 ‘How can investors accelerate company action on farm animal welfare?’ において、今年2月に公表された第7回アニマル・ウェルフェアに関する企業のグローバル・ベンチマーク、 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare （BBFAW）の結果が公表された。
それによると、ビジネス戦略の中枢にアニマル・ウェルフェアを掲げている企業数は２０１２年比で３倍に増加しており、対象企業のうち43％において役員や管理職レベルでアニマル・ウェルフェアへの明確な監督責任があるなど、進歩が確認されている。
しかし、レポートの中身を更に読んで行くと、調査対象となった日本企業5社が、いずれも最も低い評価段階にあることが確認される。
果たしてこの状況は気に留めるべきものであろうか。
続きはこちら…
~ Travelling off the beat’n path with a saxophone ~
On a sunny weekend stroll in the pretty streets of Marunouchi, you may hear a bouncing melody with the gentle booming beat underneath.
The sound is of Yocotasax., a saxophone player, layering his melodic saxophone onto his original track music.
His tracks are filled with stories, which attract the attention of even those who are not the usual techno/beat connoisseur.
After sampling his tracks on the street, go home and put some headsets on and let the same tracks absorb you. Whether it’s the intricate beats of the “Tornado” fastly approaching in the city nights, or the young, fresh and playful sounds of “Drops”, there is sure to be a track or two for your liking.
In addition to his solo tracks & sax, Hiroyuki Yokota also performs regularly in a number of groups, including his jazz-based lead band called “Gaudav”.
The band’s name originates from two people that he has been inspired by – Kenji Miyazawa, the renowned Japanese author who wrote books including Gauche the Cellist (“Gau”), and inventor Leonardo da Vinci (“Dav”). Perhaps fitting with their namesake, there is both a rhythmical finesse and daring boldness to their sounds.
Here you can hear both the soft smoky wail of the saxophone in classic jazz ballads, to the powerful blasts on the rhythmical hotpot of sambas, irregular meters and 4 beats in one of Hiroyuki or Hideaki Hori (pf)’s original tunes.
But what is most surprising is how his saxophone takes you across the oceans to continents and countries afar, yet Hiroyuki himself has barely stepped out of the Japanese main island.
Perhaps his saxophone has adopted memories of the passers-by during the prolonged street performances. Or maybe the musical masters simply decided to reside within him when he plays.
Either way, perhaps the world in which the saxophone travels will someday soon be heard by the world over. Until then, come enjoy his music in the streets of Tokyo, or in the cosy environment of one of his well visited venues.
For his solo performance, tracks and info go here:
For all other activities by Hiroyuki Yokota go here:
Photo by Keita Haginiwa (See his “Your Eyes Only” series here )
Innovative Encounters 