[Pre-event training camp in Morioka] The first day has begun.

When I got off the Tohoku Shinkansen at Morioka Station, it was midwinter with the temperature at 2 degrees. The journey to the practice venue, Morioka Civic Cultural Hall, about a three-minute walk from the station, was as tough as a march up Mt. Hakkoda.

It must have been a "good picture" from the perspective of the NHK documentary team led by TYO's former director Momoka Kikuchi. An article by Director Kikuchi was also published the day before yesterday.
What Ryuichi Sakamoto gave to the members of the Tohoku Youth Orchestra: The feelings they share - The Great Earthquake and Children - NHK Minnade Plus

It has been decided that last year's TYO program will be rebroadcast on BS immediately following the broadcast of the film "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" on March 28th, the anniversary of the director's death.

Dear Nippon "Watch out, Director Ryuichi Sakamoto ~Tohoku Youth Orchestra's New Beginning~" Broadcast date: Thursday, March 28th, 3:04pm-3:29pm [BS]

My son, who used to play the clarinet and was a lively guy, is now in his second year at NHK and has made a truly encouraging contribution. Thank you very much.

The group had already prepared to brave the cold even before leaving for Tokyo, and the teacher in charge, dressed in ski pants, can be seen in the corner.

(At that time, I didn't realize that I had forgotten to fasten my belt...)

This year, we also preached "safety first, health first," and Director Ryuichi Sakamoto also said, "Don't push yourself before the performance." If you're not feeling well, don't push yourself and take a rest. You can get off the stage between songs during the performance. That's also a way of playing with everyone. There have been many members who have gotten off the stage during the performance in the past, so I told them not to worry. After all, some of the alumni participating this time are nursing license holders, so that's reassuring. So parents and other related parties can rest assured.

I always say that we should not forget to be grateful for being able to perform, but this year, in addition to that, we will perform to express our gratitude to Director Ryuichi Sakamoto. Let's perform with the feeling that Director Sakamoto in heaven will hear us.

Coincidentally, today, the 20th , Tohoku Youth Orchestra and Ryuichi Sakamoto released the CD "The Best of Tohoku Youth Orchestra 2013-2023" . In the piano improvisation in the interlude of the song "ETUDE", which was included in the album, Sakamoto said, "The improvisation parts in the songs we performed this time are not the same, but rather, they are improvised on the spot, which is the spirit of Ryuichi Sakamoto."

Masato Oshigi, Executive Director of Yamaha Corporation and Representative Director of the Tohoku Youth Orchestra General Incorporated Association, has been participating in the camp since the first day.

We received a gift of "Night Sweets," a famous confectionery from Hamamatsu, where the company's headquarters are located.

The parents of the Iwate group also presented us with two types of local sweets, each with a lovely message.

This is a gift from Aya Nishina, a musician from Sendai City who was commissioned to compose the TYO original song "Kugui no Sora" for the fourth period concert. Thank you for your kind consideration.

And fresh strawberries too!

These fresh fruits were grown by the grandfather of Mizuho Miura, a percussionist from Kesennuma City who helped us out at a volunteer concert the other day. He also came to teach folk songs for "Three TOHOKU Songs," and today, his grandson on stage gave us a hearsay remote commentary, saying, "The intonation of the shouts here is..."

Today, the conductor, Toshio Yanagisawa, is taking a rest due to poor health. We have asked Manabu Takeda from the Fukushima office to take his place.

Although he usually coaches the Fukushima Junior Orchestra, he said he was "nervous" and felt a lot of pressure from this sudden change, but he also participates in monthly practice sessions, so he is a reliable backup.

Today, it was a heartwarming sight to see concert mistress Watanabe Masahiro standing next to Chiba Takashi, a classmate duo from the same city of Koriyama.

So, the first day of the camp was spent carefully practicing the songs to be performed, starting with the first song.

Tickets are still available for this weekend's concerts in Morioka on the 23rd (Sat), in Sendai on the 24th (Sun) (both with guest Non-san), and in Koriyama on the 30th (Sat) (with guest Yoshinaga Sayuri). It takes just over two hours to get from Tokyo to Morioka by Hayabusa. The only official memorial performance for director Sakamoto Ryuichi! The footage also includes plenty of unreleased material, such as photos from his private archives and footage of his days with members of the Tohoku Youth Orchestra.

Please come and visit us.