- Concert in the three prefectures of Tohoku
- Concert in Tokyo
Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2017 in Tohoku
The “Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2017 in Tohoku” was held on July 8, 2017 (Sat) in Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture, on July 23 (Sun) in Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, and on September 24 (Sun) ” in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture.
Shiogama City
This edition of the concert, which is held in 3 Prefectures in the Tohoku region and in Tokyo, was held in Shiogama and marked the 25th staging of the concert.
The concert started with Norio Maeda's piano performance featuring the gentle voices of the Shiogama Mixed Chorus “Ushio.” Following a performance and dancing by the Shiogama City Daiichi Junior High School Brass Band, the Shiogama Municipal Tamagawa Junior High School Brass Band performed a jazz number with Norio Maeda, greatly stirring up the audience. Special guest EPO, sang in the audience section together with the spectators, filling the venue with smiles and clapping.
Sukagawa City
The Sukagawa Cultural Center, the venue of the concert, was where some of the city halls affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake had been relocated to until the completion of the new government building in May.
The stage curtain was raised at the powerful sound of traditional Taimatsu drums skillfully played by the “Taimatsu Taiko Kowaka-kumi Senior Team.” Children from the Sukagawa Municipal Nishibukuro Daiichi Elementary School Ensemble enlivened the stage, performing together with local musicians. Special guest Circus played beautiful harmonies accompanied on the piano by Norio Maeda.
Rikuzentakata City
The concert venue, Rikuzentakata City’s Community Hall, received the assistance of the Singapore Red Cross in the aftermath of the earthquake and stands next to the Rikuzentakata City Hall, which is still functioning as a temporary facility.
After the Iwate Prefectural Takada High School Band Club opened the concert, the audience was moved to tears by the gentle voices of the children of Rikuzentakata Municipal Daiichi Junior High School. Special guest Machiko Watanabe performed some of her most iconic songs, including “Kamome ga tonda hi/Special Version” and more. From time to time the microphone was pointed at the audience and spectators were invited to sing along.
Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2018 in Tokyo
On March 12 (Mon), 7 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, Seiko organized the “Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2018 in Tokyo” at Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Shibuya.
Prior to Tokyo, the concerts held every summer in 3 prefectures of the Tohoku region were held in July in Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture, and Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, and in September in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture. In each occasion in Tohoku, choirs and brass bands from local junior and senior high schools, as well as amateur choirs and musicians showed off their skills performing and singing on stage. There were many opportunities for cordial exchanges, including one-time-only special collaborations between Norio Maeda and local musicians.
This year too, at 14:46, the exact time when the earthquake struck on March 11, many people offered a silent prayer for the disaster-stricken area at the sound of the “Bell of Prayer and Hope” in the Ginza/Wako clock tower. The store-front window was decorated with about 450 “Cherry Blossoms Cards” expressing encouragement for reconstruction efforts from the whole country.
The “Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2018 in Tokyo” was held on the following March 12. This edition of “Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony,” marked the 28th staging of the concert in the Tohoku region and Tokyo. The stage was decorated with about 600 “Cherry Blossoms Cards” expressing the hopes of disaster victims and supporters, and the venue was filled with more than 2,000 spectators.
The opening number was performed by the Seiko Dancers, consisting of Seiko employees, as the “Ginza Cancan Musume” who had supported post-war reconstruction efforts, followed by the Always 4-Chome Choir, also formed by employees, who sang the Seiko corporate song “Moving Ahead. Touching Hearts.”
Last year, EPO and the members of Circus, performing at concerts in 3 prefectures of the Tohoku region, sang in voices that reflected their emotions towards people in the affected areas. Machiko Watanabe, who this year celebrated the 40th anniversary of her musical career, showed off her vocal virtuosity by singing “Kamome ga tonda hi” in her powerful voice.
Norio Maeda, the driving force behind the concerts, played jazz compositions like “Sing, Sing, Sing” with the Windbreakers and the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra.
The first guest of the second part was jazz violinist Naoko Terai. She enraptured the venue playing passionate renditions of “Autumn Leaves” and “Spain.” Next, Junko Ohashi sang her love for the affected areas in passionate songs like “Silhouette Romance” and “Ai wa toki wo koete.”
Yutaro Miura, performing for the first time, sang in a clear voice "Sayonara no mukougawa', the song that his mother, Momoe Yamaguchi, sang on her last appearance on stage.
“Īi hi tabidachi,” sung by everyone, brought the venue together through the power of music and marked the end of this heart-warming concert.
- Concert in the three prefectures of Tohoku
- Concert in Tokyo
The Seiko Group undertakes community support activities through music that deepen bonds with people.