On Sunday, December 22, a string quartet performed at sakamotocommon GINZA.

sakamotocommon is a project that aims to share the legacy of Ryuichi Sakamoto and put it to use for the benefit of future creators. As a special performance at sakamotocommon GINZA, an event to return this crowdfunding support, a specially organized string quartet called Tohoku Youth Orchestra in Ginza Sony Park performed a piece composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto.

The four members are Mahiro Watanabe from Fukushima Prefecture on first violin, Minami Suzuki from Miyagi Prefecture on second violin, Yuri Naganuma from Fukushima Prefecture on viola, and Haru Takahashi from Fukushima Prefecture on cello. The cello is played by Haru Takahashi, who is from Fukushima Prefecture.

The following is a recap of the performance and talks by the members of the group.

The opening song was the main theme for “The Last Emperor,” an Italian film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and released in 1987.

Mr. Sakamoto was originally offered the role of Masahiko Amakasu as an actor, but he was hastily asked to compose and produce the soundtrack, which he composed and recorded in a short period of time. We also heard that this piece is a memorable piece that the current Tohoku Youth Orchestra played together with Director Sakamoto for the first time in 2015. The first memorable joint rehearsal was held at the entrance of a public high school in Fukushima City, next to the shoe box.

Immediately after 311, Ryuichi Sakamoto launched “kizunaworld.org” (kizunaworld.org) to collect donations through various works by artists in Japan and abroad, in addition to inspecting and repairing musical instruments at schools. The next piece to be performed, “kizunaworld,” was composed by Mr. Sakamoto himself as the first piece of this disaster relief project. The piece is also performed in the poetry reading section with Ms. Sayuri Yoshinaga and Ms. Non, who perform with us at our regular concert every year. The Tohoku Youth Orchestra, which was inspired by the Great East Japan Earthquake, also created “kizuna” (bonds) with friends who would not have met without this disaster. Please listen to “kizunaworld” by the bonds of four people today.

You have heard “kizunaworld.”
The next piece is a selection from the YMO era, when the members performing today were not born, and is from YMO's second album, “Solid State Survivor,” released in 1979, which sold over one million copies in a year. It is Sakamoto's masterpiece “BEHIND THE MASK,” which was later covered by Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, and many other great musicians of pop and rock music in Europe and the United States. Please listen to it.

[MC] “Now that we have performed three songs, we would like to hear what today's members have to say. I have asked the four of you to name the piece you liked best about today's performance. First of all, second violinist Minami Suzuki, please begin.”
"I am Minami Suzuki, a native of Rifu-cho, Miyagi Prefecture. I am currently a second-year student at a music college in Tokyo, and have been a member of the group since the first term, when I was in the fifth grade. I like the next song because it has a sad yet beautiful sentiment that is indescribably indescribable, and as we move toward the end of the song, it seems to mix and overflow.”
MC] “So, can the audience guess which song it is?
The next song was included in his 1995 solo album “Smoochy,” with lyrics by Masao Uryo, and was originally sung by Sakamoto himself. Later, it was also performed in solo piano and trio concerts, and was one of the songs that the audience got very excited about at the Italian concert.
Now, let's have Mr. Suzuki introduce the song and play it for us.”
We will play 'bibo no aozora.'”

[MC] You have heard “bibo no aozora”. We will now continue with a performance of music from a movie provided by Ms. Sakamoto. Now, we will hear from Yuri Naganuma, who plays the viola.
"My name is Yuri Naganuma and I am from Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture. I am currently a junior at a university in Tokyo. The following song has a beautiful melody that really touches my heart. I especially like the part where the accompaniment adds warmth to the song.”
[MC] “Now, what song is it? The next song was composed by Director Sakamoto in 1998 for his daughter, singer Miu Sakamoto. Since then, it has become a standard concert piece as an instrumental piano solo by Director Sakamoto. It was used as the soundtrack for Hirokazu Kore-eda's film “Monster,” which won an award at the Cannes International Film Festival last year. Mr. Naganuma, please introduce the song.
The next song we will be playing is “Aqua.”

[MC] We had the pleasure of listening to “Aqua. Next, the film music, and the one who chose this piece as his favorite was first violinist Mahiro Watanabe.”
"My name is Masahiro Watanabe and I am from Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture. I have been a member of the group since the first term, and now I have graduated and am working as a freelance violinist. The next piece is. The melody, which sounds like a musical scale, changes more and more with harmony, which is beautiful like the sky. I like it because I can feel that it is never negative rain like the weather rain!”
MC] “A hint: the title has something to do with ‘water,’ just as the earlier song ‘Aqua’ meant ‘water’ in Latin. Now, Mr. Watanabe, please introduce the song.”
It's “Rain” from the soundtrack of the movie “Merry Christmas at the Battlefield. Please listen to it.
[MC] “There is only one song left in this enjoyable time we have spent with you all. The last song will be introduced by cellist Haru Takahashi.

"I am Haru Takahashi from Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. I am currently a senior at a local university. I like the overlapping of the bells and clappers in this original song, which represents both the West and Japan at the same time, and the Christmas feeling it gives.
MC] “As expected, everyone understands. Now, Mr. Takahashi, please introduce the song.
[MC] “We will be playing ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence,’ the main theme from the movie.’”
The performance lasted about an hour, supported by the warmth of the audience.
The piano in the performance hall was “Ryuichi Sakamoto's ‘Opera Piano’ designed for ‘LIFE a ryuichi sakamoto opera 1999’.
It was a good opportunity for the audience to feel the soul of Director Sakamoto as he performed.
Ticket pre-sales for our 10th season subscription concert at Tokyo Suntory Hall on Friday, March 21 next year began on December 20. The members have been practicing hard in preparation for the concert. We hope you will come to Suntory Hall to hear the results of all the members' rehearsals.