Masako Yasumoto, Asa-Chang & Junray

Ah, boneless woman, folding before my eyes. Don’t for a moment think I’ve forgotten you unpacking yourself to the musical elasticity of Asa-Chang & Junray back in 2004:

The flexible performer in the video for Senaka is professional dance artist Masako Yasumoto, who was the subject of last night’s Top Runner, the NHK arts show that profiles artists working in various disciplines. Top Runner’s unique point is the fact that, as well as the usual profile/interview segment, each artist is invited to create an improvised work in front of the studio audience. And lo, last night, Masako was doing her double-jointed salamander thing on the studio floor.

As for Asa-Chang, Japan’s foremost tubby genius at making a raindrop indistinguishable from a broken tabla beat has, according to an interview with Shift, been showered with requests from contemporary dance groups wanting to perform his music since Hana (like Senaka, also featuring a J-Pop diva’s voice stretched and grabbed to fit outer space) was released in 2002.

Finally, here’s more of Masako Yasumoto, this time dancing to some music of a decidedly different beat. Non-onchi (nonchi?) visitors may actually prefer this one:

Top Runner can usually be found in NHK’s late Thursday night schedule.