S.S. HANAMI

Robbi here. I’d originally planned to release a solo koto CD in November, but I’ve decided to postpone it so that I can improve my playing and take the summer koto program at the Seiha school in Tokyo. I’m still hosting the Koto and Absinthe event at Anime Iwai: Soar in November though I’m likely not going to perform before then so that I can focus on my technique.

As for S.S. HANAMI,  we’re still looking for a guitarist. (Please continue to keep an eye out!) In the meantime, the recording for our song “Live From the Deep Web” is close to completion. Thanks for all the support and kind words.

At Mini Iwai on Sunday I’ll be hosting a panel on Traditional Japanese Music at 2:00pm in Panel Room 2. There will be a lot of sound clips and videos and I’ll be covering a wide range of topics, from Gagaku (Japanese Court Music) to different styles of shamisen, koto, and shakuhachi music — as well as lesser known instruments such as the ryuteki, sho, and kokyu.

Also, at 6:00pm in Panel Room 1 I’ll be holding open auditions for new members of S.S. HANAMI so if you play an instrument and are so inclined, please stop by and give it a go.

This is Robbi and it’s been an insane past few weeks. Sarah and the Safeword won’t be able to make the Florida shows due to sickness. Also, S.S. HANAMI has dropped out of playing MTAC in April. After our April 2 show in Sanford, the other members of S.S. HANAMI are heading off to pursue other things. We’re parting on good terms, but it’s going to take some time for me to get together new bandmates, so if you’re planning on seeing us, our last two shows with this lineup will be:

March 31 – Ashley’s Sports Page – Satellite Beach, Florida
w/ Paging Mr Herman
Doors 8pm / No Cover / 18+

April 2 – West End Trading Company – Sanford, Florida
w/ The “Marc With A C” Trio
Doors 6pm / $5 / Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, $3 surcharge for under 21

Love you all <3 <3 <3

Just because we’re searching for a full-time drummer and guitarist doesn’t mean we aren’t still playing shows! Here are a few upcoming dates in the Southeast US:

March 31 – Ashley’s Sports Page – Satellite Beach, Florida
w/ Sarah and the Safeword, Fox and Hound
Doors 7pm / No Cover / 18+

April 2 – West End Trading Company – Sanford, Florida
w/ Sarah and the Safeword, The “Marc With A C” Trio
Doors 6pm / $5 / Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, $3 surcharge for under 21

April 15 – MTAC (Middle Tennessee Anime Convention) – Nashville, Tennessee

Happy New Year, everyone! We’ve missed you. For our first show of 2017, we’re honored to be playing at Firesphere‘s CD Release on January 29 in Sanford, FL. Tickets are $12 the day of the show, but you can pre-order yours here for $10 and pick it up at the door:

(Check out will ask for your shipping address, but just show us your email receipt when you arrive at the venue and we’ll have your ticket.)

Jan 29 - West End Trading Co PRESALE

FIRESPHERE Album Release w/ S.S. HANAMI. 5PM. Bring photo ID to pick tickets up at the door.

$10.00

A new S.S. HANAMI shirt design (in the much requested black) will be available for the first time on our upcoming tour, less than two weeks away. Our tour dates and the states we’re visiting are listed HERE

We’re indebted to Toren Fischer for the drawing (and for bearing with the numerous changes we kept having him make). Please give his art page a Like/Share, and consider commissioning his work. Also, thank you Joshua Little for your help with the font and formatting.

S.S. HANAMI will be playing an acoustic set at Third Shift’s Nerd Fest! in Sunrise Park. It’s a free, one-day event taking place on Sep 10 (the Saturday of what would have been Umicon before it was cancelled.)
So put on your costumes and come hang with us as we watch anime, dance to music, play games, and enjoy the company of other anime fans!
S.S. HANAMI performs at 3pm.

~R

It feels great to be able to play koto again. The instrument I’m borrowing and I got along immediately, and even just tuning it was delightful. Can’t wait to be playing for you all again soon!
~R

drawn by Toren Fischer

Hi, Robbi here. This is our first post since the announcement that I was seriously injured and would have to cancel our Spring Tour due to my being hospitalized in critical condition.

First, I’d like to reassure you that if there was any way I could have still gone on tour in spite of my injuries, I would have. I’m haunted by the possibility of disappointing listeners as well as the bands and venues we’d made arrangements with. And I’m being completely honest when I say that I was (and am) more upset about having to cancel tour than about… well, nearly dying. Hah. That might be an unreasonable mindset, but it’s truly how I feel.

Second, a tremendous Thank You to every person who left a kind comment or message, said something nice, sent a card, drew an illustration of me, or thought of me. A special thanks to Joshua for writing up the post about my condition and for taking it upon himself to contact the venues and other bands while I was still in the hospital. Thanks to my Mom for coming over and taking care of me after I was released. Thanks to John and Mike at Lundyville for their fundraiser to help with my medical bills and to my friend Logan for starting an extremely helpful gofundme. Thanks to everyone who contributed. And thanks to the other three members of S.S. HANAMI for their understanding and support.

Third and last, here are some lyrics from the song EVER, by GACKT (translated from the original Japanese by amaia) —
“If you can smile at your pain, and stand up
even your weakness from up until now will vanish.
Let your heart burn so that no one can extinguish it…
Keep fighting until you rot away…
Soar higher and higher until you burn to nothing.”

~Robbi

Get well soon, Robbi

S.S. Hanami’s band leader and lead singer, Robert (Robbi, Robin) Adams was injured in an assault at his home.  He has sustained numerous injuries and it may take a while for him to recover.  He is out of ICU and the slow process of healing has begun.

We regret that we must announce the cancellation of our Spring 2016 Tour.  We will be posting updates about his recovery on our Facebook Page.  Robbi extends his thanks to the numerous fans and friends who’ve wished him well.

We’ll be back soon!

-S.S. Hanami