Aki & Kuniko, a guitar and koto duo from Japan , will perform in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from July 8-10.

The concerts, which are free, have been organised by Japan ’s Centre for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam , in conjunction with the Japanese General Consulate in HCM City .

Formed in 2002, the musicians on acoustic guitar and koto, a traditional Japanese instrument, have earned a reputation for being original and musically sophisticated.

They have toured with their unique sound all over Japan and the world, from Europe to the United States , including at ‘Open Strings,’ the world’s largest acoustic music festival held annually in Germany .

Their two albums, ‘Ha-Aki & Kuniko and ‘Over the Top,’ were released in 2003 and 2006, respectively.

The music the duo produces has an unmatched impact, whisking the listener away to an extraordinary world, where the two stringed instruments play against each other furiously one moment and then change to delicate heartrending murmurs the next.

During their stay in Vietnam, Aki and Kuniko will appear at ‘Japanese Day’ at the Youth Cultural Palace in HCM City and perform at the Vietnam National Academy of Music in Hanoi.-VNA