If you're wondering about the title of the ballet, as I was when it was first performed, here's composer Shinji Eshima's explanation:
RAkU is a Japanese ceramic technique involving very high heat in the firing process. Occasionally, by chance, the high heat creates a blemish or flaw in the piece which the Japanese can find exceptionally beautiful.The lower case "k" was originally a typo that I sent out to the production team. We adopted it into the title as a way to symbolize the flaw in all of us. Even a Zen monk, despite his discipline, can fall in love.
Eshima also sent a photo from the Joffrey/Chicago production of RAkU last weekend, unfortunately too grainy for reproduction, but let the caption speak for it:
The photo was taken at a dinner in Chicago for the Joffrey after a rehearsal. Seated are Ashley Wheater, Yuri, Elise Borne, Val Caniparoli, Pierre Vilanoba, Regina Bustillos, and myself. Also there but not seen here, was Rose and Bonnie Borne. Elise noticed that by coincidence, for opening night of SF Ballet next season, the production teams were all seated. Elise is staging Serenade, Yuri and myself for RAkU and Val for his Lambarena (which I also love).