Springtime is magical in Japan, land of flowering cherry trees—and so is fall, when the autumnal colours are just as bright, if not quite as pink.

Consequently, Crysanthemums and Maple Trees is an apt title for the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra’s fall series of Japanese and Japanese-inspired concerts, which opens next Wednesday (October 22) and runs until November 3. Acclaimed sho soloist Naomi Sato, the Tiresias Duo, and the Tempest Flute Ensemble kick off the festivities at the Orpheum Annex on Wednesday, with later events focusing on the ancient sounds of gagaku as well as contemporary compositions from both sides of the Pacific. (See the Vi-Co website.)