“Bariken” is a 2004 album by Merzbow, and as its title suggests, the theme of this work centers on the Bariken itself. The Bariken, also known as the “Taiwan Duck,” is a species of duck and has some characteristics that are its vivid green and ultramarine plumage and the red caruncle that extends around its bill and eyes.
Around 2003, I happened to notice a peculiar-looking duck in a river near my home. Upon investigation, I learned it was a Bariken — likely one that had escaped or been abandoned after being kept for food, subsequently adapting to the wild. There were also Bariken inhabiting the pond of a nearby Japanese garden. At the time, it was common to see ducks swimming in the rivers and ponds of Tokyo. A few years later,…

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us

« »