October 8, 2025

Music is a medicine for the soul

The Tohoku Youth Orchestra relies on your support. We sincerely appreciate your generous contribution. We always accept donations by bank transfer. If you are considering a donation, please email the following information to info@tohoku-youth-orchestra.org and make a deposit to the bank account below. Thank you in advance for your attention and cooperation.
*Currently we are not able to accept donations via credit card. Thank you for your understanding.

●Your Name
●Name of your group
●Amount
●Your email address
●Would you like your name to be listed on our website as a donor or not? (Yes/ No)
Preferred name that will be listed in the Donor Registry (If you prefer different name from your name above)
●Would you like to have a receipt or not? (Yes/ No)
●Notes / Message

【Name and address of designated bank account】
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
1-8-6, Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
【Swift Code】
BOTKJPJT
【Account Name】
Tohoku Youth Orchestra
【Branch Name】
Higashi-Ebisu Branch
【Account Number】
3080490

Hello everyone!

I'm Mizuki Sato, a second-year high school student from Fukushima Prefecture, playing the violin.

I first encountered music at a piano trial class I attended when I was three years old. From a young age, I loved listening to music, singing, and dancing.

I actually encountered the violin in my first year of junior high school. At the time, I never imagined I'd end up playing it.

It was at a club trial session that I saw, heard, and touched a violin up close for the first time.

I've never forgotten that feeling, and my strong desire led me to start playing the violin.

I was two years old when the earthquake struck.

People are skeptical when I say I have vivid memories of the disaster, but I truly do.

I was terrified, beyond belief.

My father is a firefighter, and of course he had to be deployed at the time of the earthquake. So it was just me and my mother. My mother was pregnant with my younger brother, so I remember spending a lot of time with my grandparents.

I was lonely and anxious. I still get sad when I think about it.

I found out about the Tohoku Youth Orchestra through an invitation from an acquaintance.

After all, I had only been playing the violin a year and didn't even really know what an orchestra was. But looking back now, I'm truly glad I applied back then.

To me, the Tohoku Youth Orchestra is a place of refuge. For me, music is a miracle cure for the soul, so on practice days I'm 100% energetic.

It's a special monthly event where I can chat and play with my always-friendly friends.

However, it's not all fun and games. I'm surrounded by so many talented musicians, and I have to perform among them. This can make me feel very anxious and scared.
There are many times when I wonder if I should be in a place like this, but I still hope that I can continue to perform as a member of the Tohoku Youth Orchestra for a long time to come. When I go back to my roots, I feel that the Tohoku Youth Orchestra is where I belong.

Unfortunately, I have never met Director Sakamoto in person. But I will always remember fondly the fond memories of him listening to the 8th ensemble's concert from his hospital room and the message he sent me after the show.
And above all, thank you for creating the best place for me. I am grateful that you have created a place where I can enjoy making music with my beloved friends.

The first time I participated in Tohoku Youth activities, I honestly thought, "What a terrifying place I've come to." I was extremely anxious, wondering if I, a newbie violinist, would be able to play such music.
But now, I'm very happy to be able to perform with everyone.
Especially when I joined in the 8th term, I caused a lot of trouble for the seniors. They gave me a lot of guidance on technique, how to think about practice, and how to approach it.

Thanks to many people, I believe I am able to grow little by little.
Of course, I am still immature both technically and mentally, but I have come to enjoy performing.
I would like to learn more and more, practice a lot, and become more confident in my performance.

I have three dreams.
The first is to actively participate in volunteer performance activities as a member of the Tohoku Youth Orchestra.
When I took part in a volunteer performance for the first time, I felt an indescribable joy that I couldn't experience at the concert in March.
The best part of volunteer performances is being able to perform close to the audience.
I am very happy to be able to perform while looking at the faces of the people who listen to and watch our sound.

Furthermore, volunteer performances are often smaller than orchestras, such as quartets.
Therefore, there is a lot to learn. I feel a strong sense of responsibility for each and every note I play.

The second is to become someone who can support the Tohoku Youth Orchestra. Right now, I'm still a child. I rely a lot on my seniors.
But I always have in my heart the desire to contribute to the Tohoku Youth Orchestra.
No matter what form it takes, I want to work hard so that one day I'll be in a position to support the Tohoku Youth Orchestra and be able to take on as many tasks as possible.
Even though I'm still technically inexperienced, I believe there are many things I can contribute to the Tohoku Youth Orchestra.
Now, I'm being entrusted with more and more work, such as writing member reports, which I find both joyful and challenging.
I want to help in any way I can so that the Tohoku Youth Orchestra can continue for a long time to come.

My third goal is to become a music therapist.
Music is always there for me when I'm going through a difficult time.
Just as music has saved me, I want to save someone else with my music.
I want to cherish the emotional changes that music can bring - the joy, emotion, fear, and sadness that music can bring.
To make this dream come true, I want to continue to learn and grow from my many friends.

Music is a miracle cure for the soul.
Music is always there for me, whether I'm happy, having fun, sad, or in pain.
I hope that my beloved music will continue to be by my side forever.
And I hope that the world will become a place where people all over the world can find happiness through music.

Violinist: Mizuki Sato

REPORT

Music is a medicine for the soul