[Pre-event training camp in Morioka] It's the third day.

This morning, guest violinist Tatsuki Narita joined us and we were grateful to him for greeting us with a cordial and enthusiastic response, in which he spoke of his joy at being able to take part in this concert.

At the same time, we introduced the supporting performers from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, who have been supporting us since the event's launch.
Also on hand to offer words of encouragement was Yasuhisa Shiozaki, a former member of the House of Representatives who took on the role of director of the Tohoku Youth Orchestra General Incorporated Association last year.

The friendship he had with director Ryuichi Sakamoto in his youth overlaps with the bond between the members of the Tohoku Youth Orchestra. Here is a post he made on X (formerly Twitter):

Next to me is Abe Norihiko, a director of the Iwate Nippo newspaper, which is organizing tomorrow's Iwate performance.

Now, let's start practicing for tomorrow's performance.

He seems to be one with the piano.

"Dandy" Abe Hidekatsu, an ex-employee electric power worker who used his precious paid leave to participate in and support the camp, was there to record the footage.

And this afternoon we have an important rehearsal.

Yoshinaga Sayuri and Non, who will be performing poetry recitations with us again this year, joined us for practice.

Yoshinaga-san has been in attendance for the seventh time at the regular concert, and Non-san has been there for the fourth time since the Iwate concert in 2019. It was such a wonderful collaboration that I saw the members in tears while playing during rehearsals. This emotional reading part, which they couldn't contain, is sure to be one of the highlights of this concert.

Mari Watanabe , who has been the host since the live performances for the Children's Music Revitalization Fund, a project to inspect and restore musical instruments in schools in disaster-stricken areas (the predecessor of the Tohoku Youth Orchestra), came to rehearsal to serve as an executive officer again this year.

We received the Tohoku Youth Orchestra Dorayaki, an original treat that has become a tradition for the orchestra members, but this year it has a "♡" branded on the back. Thank you very much!

And here is the regular series of gifts.

Yes, I call it "Cream Puff Man" at my own whim.

Yuji Arakawa, CEO and COO of NexTone, Inc. , a music copyright management company. He has been friends with Director Ryuichi Sakamoto for a long time, and every year he writes the track listings for the pamphlets distributed at the venue of the regular concert. He encouraged us by saying, "This year's concert is billed as a memorial to Director Ryuichi Sakamoto, but above all else, please enjoy the performance." (I'm sorry I couldn't erase the chair at his feet with a magic eraser.)

This was the stage after three days of final training camp practice had ended.

Guest performer Tatsuki Narita is holding a Stradivarius made in 1711, "Tartini." I'm such a commoner that I can't help but feel like I have several houses on my left shoulder.

This is a photo of me and our committee member, Watanabe Masahiro.

Members staying behind after practice.

When I asked, "What is this group?" I was told, "The meat team."
Apparently, they were just chatting about how "human relationships are tiring," and then they all agreed that "meat is the answer." It's deep. "When you're worried, you eat meat and feel better," or "Humans are nothing more than lumps of meat after all."
I hope he does his best as "Meat" in tomorrow's performance!

Meanwhile, this.

The viola part has a youthful feel! (including alumni)
Miyu Takagi, who is in the center position, has switched from violin to viola, considering the lack of violas this season (sorry for the closed-eyed look in the photo, but I interpreted it as a look of joy).

Look forward to the serious viola part performance that quickly steals the show in "AQUA" despite my tinkering.

Then I spotted an alumnus holding a lonely double bass.

Nishimaru-kun, who was able to take paid leave today to join us, always reminds me of "simulcast broadcasting," but his left ear was dangling suspiciously, so I asked him, "What's that?" and he replied,

The earrings were "Kakipi" (persimmon-shaped peas).
I want to tell this to Director Sakamoto. He must have been so pleased that he was laughing with his head bowed. He said, "I won't wear it during the actual shoot," but I'd like to wear a stingray fin earring tomorrow!

On the other hand, a crew from NHK's ETV special was interviewing the cellists.

It seems that the focus of the interview is on "Chopin-kun," who tends to be the model for the portraits introduced in yesterday's report.

OG director Momoka Kikuchi appears to be asking probing questions related to his connection with the Tohoku Youth Orchestra, which began as a project to inspect and repair instruments after his cello was damaged due to dryness during practice today.

But it doesn't seem to be the case.

It was about time for the bus for the group members to depart for their accommodation.

I interviewed percussionist Mizuho Miura about her clapper-stick playing. Her tenacity is sure to make for a great show!

Well, today's report will end with a comparative verification project between the portrait and the person himself.

Our former cellist, Otsuki, is now an elementary school teacher.
Dear students, I hope your teacher is doing well.

Here's the standard announcement.
Tickets are still available for the concerts in Morioka tomorrow, Saturday the 23rd, in Sendai on Sunday the 24th (both with guest Non-san), and in Koriyama on Saturday the 30th (with guest Yoshinaga Sayuri). It takes just over two hours to get from Tokyo to Morioka on the 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.