Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2014

Buddhist chants, or shomyo, have long been recognized for their ability to calm, which has made them fodder for composers of ambient electronic music. But Buddhist chants in Japan, imported a millennium ago from India, also provide the foundation for much traditional Japanese music. Shomyo no Kai brings this practice out of the monastery and into the consciousness of the public. The group’s bewitching performances featuring dozens of monks in robes, incense wafting in the air, are finding a wider audience: they debut in North America next month.

February 24-25, 7pm, ¥4,300 (adv)/ ¥4,500 (door). Spiral Hall. 5-6-23 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Nearest station: Omotesando. www.kaibunsha.net

Metropolis is giving away two pairs of tickets if you can tell us two electronic composers featuring their work,send your answer to giveaways@metropolis.co.jp