Wednesday, October 15, 2025
- 1 A miraculous reunion after 50 years! Bonds and exchanges woven by singing voices - Conductor and women's choir co-create the "spirit of harmony" in Hokuryu Town
- 1.1 A miraculous encounter and the beginning of the choir exchange meeting
- 1.2 The fun begins!
- 1.3 It was a moving reunion for classmates after 50 years!
- 1.4 Workshop 1. "Ultramarine": Overall conductor is Tetsuyoshi Yamamoto
- 1.5 Passionate singing instruction from Mr. Tetsuyoshi Yamamoto
- 1.6 Guidance and choral philosophy by Jun Koizumi
- 1.7 Together as one! Performances by each choir
- 1.8 Summary of the exchange event and the universality of the "spirit of harmony"
- 1.9 Closing Workshop 2: "See?": Overall Conductor: Ryoko Hirama
- 1.10 A commemorative photo and words of thanks
- 1.11 Free souvenirs of Hokuryu Town specialties
- 2 Youtube Video
- 3 More Photos
- 4 Related Articles and Websites
A miraculous reunion after 50 years! Bonds and exchanges woven by singing voices - Conductor and women's choir co-create the "spirit of harmony" in Hokuryu Town
A miraculous encounter and the beginning of the choir exchange meeting
Greetings from Himawari Chorus conductor Tetsuyoshi Yamamoto
"I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of chemical reaction will occur when two female choirs come together in one place and sing with one heart. Classmates were reunited after 50 years and had a great time, which is why we've reached this day. Thank you for your support."
Greetings from Mitsuko Fujii, representative of the Himawari Chorus
"We, the Himawari Chorus, are a women's choir formed in 1989. Now in our 37th year, we have a total of 22 members singing: 9 sopranos, 6 mezzo-choruses, and 7 alto-choruses.
The choir originally started as a PTA meeting at an elementary school, but now members of all ages and occupations come from not only Hokuryu Town, but also neighboring towns such as Chishibetsu Town, Numata Town, and Fukagawa City. They practice every Thursday at the Hokuryu Town Community Center. They hold concerts several times a year in the town and in neighboring towns and villages.
We have been taught by Mr. Yamamoto Tetsuyo since 2007, marking our 18th year this year. This is the longest relationship we have had with him as a teacher of song and heart. During that time, we have met many different choirs and experienced many different concerts, learning the joy of singing with one heart.
We are very grateful that today's social gathering was made possible through our connection with Professor Yamamoto. This is our first event. Today, we will be singing two songs together, so we have been practicing while imagining you all. We have also been practicing enthusiastically, knowing that we will be performing our own songs. And we have been looking forward to hearing you sing as well.
Now, it's time for some fun. Thank you very much."
The fun begins!
Greetings from Coro Dolce Conductor Ryoko Hirama
"My name is Hirama Ryoko. I was a classmate of Yamamoto-san, and my maiden name is Yahara. The attendance number following Yamamoto-san's "Ya" is next to mine, so we always took exams together.
Our piano accompanist, Ms. Hanyu, was originally named Takako Maeno, and her attendance numbers were "Maeno," "Yahara," and "Yamamoto." Another classmate, Jun Koizumi, also joined us.
We were all very excited to have this opportunity. The members of the Himawari Chorus are younger and more energetic than our choir! We were looking forward to singing together this time. Thank you very much!
It was a moving reunion for classmates after 50 years!
Coro Dolce's conductor, Ryoko Hirama, and Professor Yamamoto were classmates at university. Furthermore, piano accompanist Hanyu and special guest Jun Koizumi (male club member) were also classmates, and one of the members is a senior, making this a "miraculous connection" that is strongly supporting this exchange event.
- How to prepare for joint practice:There is a chance that your instructor will give you guidance from a different perspective than usual, so you will be encouraged to try it out.
- the purpose:The goal is to overcome the difficulty and resistance of singing next to someone with a different voice, and to create a mutual resonance of hearts.
Workshop 1. "Ultramarine": Overall conductor is Tetsuyoshi Yamamoto
Professor Yamamoto was impressed when he heard the choir rehearsal in Sapporo last year, and decided to incorporate this song into the joint rehearsal this time.
- Lyrics:Minamisoma Municipal Kodaka Junior High School, Fukushima Prefecture, 2012 Graduates
- Composer:Miki Oda (Teacher at Minamiasoma Municipal Elementary and Junior High School, Fukushima Prefecture)
"Ultramarine" is a song written at Minamisoma Municipal Odaka Junior High School in Fukushima Prefecture, which was forced to evacuate due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The song was named "Ultramarine" after the color of the sea in Odaka.
Passionate singing instruction from Mr. Tetsuyoshi Yamamoto
Professor Yamamoto's instruction went beyond technique and focused on expressing the "resonance of the heart" and "story." A lot of time was spent on teaching the first piece, "Gunjo."
- Special "Ah" Expressions: He pointed out that the "Ah" at the beginning of the song is not a regular repetition, but a special "Ah" that contains sad events such as tsunamis and separations. He wanted to put emotion into this one note and sing it in a way that would make it seem like "big waves, small waves, leading to a big wave."
- Crescendo (Gradually Increasing Volume)He advised that the long five-bar crescendo in the part "I wave goodbye" requires an expression that involves a change in the whole body, as if "taking a careful step forward."
- The transition from horizontal to vertical musicThe first half of the song is "horizontal swaying music (music of surfaces)" that penetrates the heart, and the second half changes to "vertical swaying music (vertical movement)" that releases energy all at once, encouraging the release of emotions.
- The pronunciation of the H in "Sound": The phrase "sound" emphasizes the importance of controlling the fricative (H) and staying calm and in control, as the harder you try to sing, the more likely you are to "sing loudly."
Professor Yamamoto explained that music can only be created as a culture when it combines a "passionate heart (sensitivity)" with the "ability to calmly control oneself (skill)."
Guidance and choral philosophy by Jun Koizumi
Mr. Koizumi's instruction included the "basics of how to use your body" in a choir and "how to prepare for changes in volume."
- Body Basics: When singing while standing, it is important to "tighten your buttocks" and sing from your tanden, and it is recommended to be conscious of the shape of your mouth, "a ui ou," to produce resonance.
- Fricative awareness: When producing the H note in "Hibike," it is advised that the resonance will increase if you focus on the flow of breath in a whoosh, whoosh manner rather than a steady one.
- Release Awareness: We instructed students to be conscious of not rushing at the end of the phrase and to carefully release the sound (release).
- Crescendo Unity: They all agreed on the level of the crescendo and shared the philosophy that by "uniting their hearts" they would be able to sing in a more wonderful chorus.
Together as one! Performances by each choir
1. Chorus by Coro Dolce
They performed "When the Cherries Ripen," "The World's Promise," "Snow" (for which they won the Encouragement Award at the Sapporo Civic Choir Festival in 2024), and "May I Pray?" Their gentle, calm voices filled the venue.
2. Chorus by Himawari Chorus
They performed "Wagtail," "Sakura," "Star Dream," and "A Song for You." Their energetic and powerful singing voices created an inspiring sound that spread throughout the room.
Summary of the exchange event and the universality of the "spirit of harmony"
Comments from Jun Koizumi
He recognized the merits of each choir: "The Coro Dolce Chorus is a soft and gentle chorus, like a lick, and the Himawari Chorus is an energetic and powerful chorus."
- Japanese Pronunciation and the Five Senses: While her singing voice is beautiful, she advises that if she pays more attention to the pronunciation and five senses of the Japanese language, the lyrics will be conveyed more clearly to the listeners.
- Style and harmony: Recognizing the difference between a style that moves the body freely and a style that focuses on the core while singing, he emphasized the importance of harmony that matches the content of the song.
Closing Workshop 2: "See?": Overall Conductor: Ryoko Hirama
- Lyrics:Mr. Keiji Ito
- Composer:Mr. Ko Matsushita
"Horane" was created as part of the "Let's Sing Nippon Project" with the hope of healing the hearts of those hurt by the earthquake and lifting their spirits. The song expresses a message of reverence for nature, the preciousness of human connections, and finding hope through simple words and a gentle melody.
A commemorative photo and words of thanks
Greetings from Coro Dolce representative, Shoko Imagawa
"Thank you so much to everyone in the Himawari Chorus for letting me spend such a fun day with you! It felt like we formed a wonderful, very strong bond. Today was a very valuable experience. Thank you so much! I hope to see you again in the future if there is another good opportunity."
Introducing one of our members, Yamamoto-san's senior from university
Professor Yamamoto's choral philosophy and the significance of exchange
Mr. Yamamoto reaffirmed his own choral philosophy, "70% of choral singing is listening, and 30% is singing." He emphasized that listening is the foundation of choral singing, in order to avoid situations where "you don't know if your sound is different from everyone else's."
"Interactions through music create strong bonds, and are an opportunity to incorporate each other's strengths and improve ourselves. I hope that we can become friends and meet again when we return home, creating warm connections that transcend regional boundaries," he concluded.
This choir exchange event was more than just a singing practice; it was an exchange of "spirit of harmony" that transcended the barriers of generations and time, between professional instructors, local choirs, and old friends who were reunited for the first time in 50 years.
The importance of "listening to each other" through music is truly a sign of "compassion." Respecting not only your own sound, but also the sounds of neighboring people and groups, and seeking harmony, is the ideal we should strive for in today's society, where division is becoming more prevalent.
This heartwarming story, born from the small community of Hokuryu, delivers a universal message of hope to the world: "Everyone can become partners who enhance each other's existence." The record of this "journey of co-creation" itself will serve as a quiet yet powerful guidepost toward world peace.
Free souvenirs of Hokuryu Town specialties
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Hibikiryu-kai women's choir, "Himawari Chorus & Coro Dolce Chorus," whose beautiful, soul-shaking voices resonate with one another...
Youtube Video
More Photos
Related Articles and Websites
Monday, December 3, 2024 At 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 30, the "Sunflower Chorus Memorial Concert Part 10" will be held at the Hokuryu Town Public Hall.