- 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
Kamaishi City
TETTO, the concert venue, was completed in March 2018, seven years after the earthquake, to replace the Civic Cultural Hall damaged by the tsunami. The venue resonated with the messages of support to Kamaishi sung by the performers, who included the one-time-only “Maeda trio,” formed especially for this occasion by Norio Maeda and local Kamaishi musicians, and former NHK announcer Ryuji Miyamoto who sang “Moon River.” Special guest Machiko Watanabe performed “Kamome ga tonda hi” in her powerful singing voice. The venue exploded in shouts and applause in response to Machiko Watanabe's passionate singing voice. The performance of “Hanataba wo arigatou." featuring the harmonies of local Kamaishi musicians, brought together the venue.
Kitakata City
The 30th “Sound of “Wa” Concert to Support Eastern Japan in a Spirit of Harmony” was held in Kitakata. During the performance by the local elementary, junior and senior high school brass bands, the audience and stage performers came together as the audience started clapping to the rhythm.
Special guest Midori Karashima climbed on stage to perform "Silent Eve" in her beautiful singing voice.
For “Yūbae,” more than 100 students came on stage to sing, enveloping the venue ina warm, fuzzy feeling. Karashima, as she always does when singing for disaster-affected areas, played the piano singing: “Let's hold hands-you are not alone.” Everyone in the audience and on stage held hands with their neighbors while listening to the music, turning the whole venue into a celebration of “Wa.”
Tagajo City
The opening song was "Young Man," by a local band. The audience was greatly stirred by Y.M.C.A.
Soprano singer Sara Kobayashi performed "Oh My Beloved Father" from the opera "Gianni Schicchi" in a musical collaboration with the Tagajo High School Brass Band. The driving force behind the concerts, Norio Maeda (83 years old), who plays the piano at every concerts, was absent for medical reasons but sent a playful hand-written note saying “Sorry, Tagajo City!” Mr. Maeda's portrait was visible on the back of the conductor of the Tagajo Orchestra, reminding how his presence was indispensable from this concert.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The Seiko Group undertakes community support activities through music that deepen bonds with people.