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FY 2018 Archives

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

Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2018 in Tohoku

Performing "Hanataba wo arigatou" with local residents
Performing "Hanataba wo arigatou" with local residents
Performers and spectators joined hands. letting their hearts fill with music.
Performers and spectators joined hands. letting their hearts fill with music.
A musical collaboration between special guest Sara Kobayashi and the Tagajo High School Brass Band
A musical collaboration between special guest Sara Kobayashi and the Tagajo High School Brass Band

Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2019 in Tokyo

On March 11 (Mon), 8 years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, Seiko organized the “Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2019 in Tokyo” at Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Shibuya.

This initiative was launched immediately after the 2011 earthquake, and this edition marked the 32nd staging of the concert. It all started with someone, in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, playing on a piano that had been badly damaged in the disaster. After that, our employees started traveling around Tohoku in summer to organize concerts with local residents, and on March 11, a concert was held in Tokyo with the purpose of bringing together disaster victims and supporters.

During the summer of 2018, concerts were held in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, in July, in Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture, in August, and in Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture, in October. At the concerts held in Tohoku, a special stage is reserved for one-time-only collaborations between the performing artists and local school choirs/brass bands or locally active musicians, with the goal of bringing people together with an eye of reconstruction.

Wako's store-front window

On the day of March 11, at 14:46, the exact time when the earthquake struck, at the sound of the “Bell of Prayer and Hope” in the Ginza/Wako clock tower, a large number of people in Ginza stopped what they were doing to offer a silent prayer for the disaster-stricken areas. The store-front window was decorated with about 550 “Cherry Blossoms Cards” that relayed thoughts on reconstruction from the whole country, as if to signify that hope was in full bloom.

Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2019 in Tokyo

On the evening of the same day, the “Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony 2019 in Tokyo” was held at Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Shibuya. Tickets were sold out before the event and the venue was filled with more than 2,000 spectators.

The concert opened with Sarah Àlainn singing “You Raise Me Up.” The venue was enveloped by the sound of Sarah’s violin and her voice, and everyone’s hearts were filled with thoughts on reconstruction.

Through the power of music, we want to restore “the sense of the ordinary ”that was lost after the disaster. The artists who embraced this concept, held dear by our company, sang in voices that reflected their emotions towards people in the affected areas.
Midori Karashima, who had participated in the concert held in Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture, in August, performed “Ai suru koto” and Sakura.” Her words conveyed the hopes and strength required to continue on the road to reconstruction.
Midori Karashima, who had participated in the concert held in Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture, in August, performed “Ai suru koto” and Sakura.” Her words conveyed the hopes and strength required to continue on the road to reconstruction.
Mayumi Itsuwa powerfully conveyed her thoughts on reconstruction.

Midori Karashima
Midori Karashima
Circus performers
Circus performers
Mayumi Itsuwa
Mayumi Itsuwa

Master of ceremonies Ryuji Miyamoto paid tribute to Norio Maeda, who had been involved with the concerts since 2011, saying: “when i look back, I still see the great Maeda here with us.”

The second part of the concert featured performances by Sarah Àlainn, TIME FIVE and Machiko Watanabe. Sarah Àlainn performed “My Way” in a strong, clear voice.
Next, TIME FIVE sang "When You Wish Upon A Star" and "On The Street Where You Live" in their rich distinctive harmonies.
“Kamome ga tonda hi” was performed by Machiko Watanabe in her powerful voice, with the entire audience clapping their hands to the beat.

Sarah Àlainn
Sarah Àlainn
TIME FIVE
TIME FIVE
Machiko Watanabe
Machiko Watanabe

The Seiko Dancers, consisting of Seiko employees, and the Always 4-Chome Choir, also formed by company employees, showed off their skills on the stage.

Seiko Dancers
Seiko Dancers
Always 4-chome choir
Always 4-chome choir

For the final act, all performers got together on stage to sing “Ano subarashii ai wo mou ichido“ arranged by Katsuhisa Hattori, bringing down the curtain on a concert that infused the venue with the power of music.

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