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FY 2016 Archives

  • Concert in the three prefectures of Tohoku
  • Concert in Tokyo

Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2016 in Tohoku

The “Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2016 in Tohoku” was held on July 24, 2016 (Sun) in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture, on August 21 (Sun) in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, and on September 19 (Mon) in Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture.

Musical collaboration between Kuji High School Brass Band, Kuji East High School Brass Band and Norio Maeda
Musical collaboration between Kuji High School Brass Band, Kuji East High School Brass Band and Norio Maeda
Children of the Kumagawa Chigo Shishimai Preservation Society performing a dance
Children of the Kumagawa Chigo Shishimai Preservation Society performing a dance
Norio Maeda explaining the disaster prevention clock
Norio Maeda explaining the disaster prevention clock

Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony” 2017 in Tokyo

On March 11 (Sat), 6 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, Seiko organized the “Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2017 in Tokyo” at Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Shibuya.

Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony” 2017 in Tokyo

Seiko has been holding concerts to support reconstruction efforts since immediately after the earthquake, both in the disaster areas and in Tokyo, and this edition marked the 24th staging of this concert. Over 2,000 people, ranging from elementary school students to the elderly, gathered at the venue to wish a prompt recovery in the affected areas.

This year too, a great number of artists chose to appear on stage in support of the concert’s stated purpose to "create an opportunity for everyone in the disaster area to be united in spirit with their supporters through the power of music." The role of master of ceremonies was played by former NHK announcer Ryuji Miyamoto.

As opening act, the ZIG-ZAG Roppongi Male Voices Choir, featuring many celebrities from various fields, performed “Tokyo Boogie Woogie” with the Seiko Dancers, formed of Seiko employees, while the Always 4-Chome Choir, similarly formed by Seiko employees, intoned "Kimi ga iru dake de."

The ZIG-ZAG Roppongi Male Voice Choir and Seiko Dancers
The ZIG-ZAG Roppongi Male Voice Choir and Seiko Dancers
Always 4-chome choir
Always 4-chome choir
From left, master of ceremonies Ryuji Miyamoto and Norio Maeda
From left, master of ceremonies Ryuji Miyamoto and Norio Maeda

Norio Maeda told the following anecdote regarding the origin of the concert:, “It all started when, on a visit to the disaster area immediately after the earthquake, I accompanied Group CEO Hattori, who was singing, on a piano that had been partially damaged in the disaster.”

This was followed by EPO ’s “Love,” Circus’s “Mr. Summertime,” Machiko Watanabe ’s “Kamome ga tonda hi,” Kyo Nishimura’s “Over the rainbow,” Naomi Grace’s “One Boy” and other powerful music from the musical guests.

EPO
EPO
The members of Circus
The members of Circus
Machiko Watanabe
Machiko Watanabe
Kyo Nishimura
Kyo Nishimura
Naomi Grace
Naomi Grace

Hanako Oshima, the eldest daughter of Kyu Sakamoto, who had experienced "the sadness of suddenly losing an important person," sang "Miagete goran, yoru no hoshi wo," an hymn to the beauty of life,. Her mother, Yukiko Kashiwagi, who was also present, talked about her connection to Seiko, including the anecdote that Kyu Sakamoto regularly used Seiko watches.

Hanako Oshima
Hanako Oshima
From left: Ryuji Miyamoto, Hanako Oshima, Yukiko Kashiwagi, Group CEO Hattori
From left: Ryuji Miyamoto, Hanako Oshima, Yukiko Kashiwagi, Group CEO Hattori
Wako’s store-front window
Wako’s store-front window

Expressing the determination to continue support activities in the future, Group CEO Hattori, the Always 4-chome Choir, and the Seiko Dancers performed the Seiko corporate song “Moving Ahead. Touching Hearts.” In the final act, the whole venue, united by the power of music, sang "Ue wo muite arukou" together, concluding a concert in which the determination to rebuild was on everyone’s mind.

This year, the heart-shaped “Wa” cards written by residents in the disaster area and their supporters decorated the stage, while at the same time the concert was broadcast from the Wako’s store-front window that was similarly decorated with “Wa” cards.

 
  • Concert in the three prefectures of Tohoku
  • Concert in Tokyo
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