November 19, 2025

The place that changed my dreams.

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【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 Miyu Takaki, a 4th-year violinist.
This is my first time writing a report, so I'm a little nervous, but I hope you'll read it all the way through.

My musical journey began with piano, which I started at age 3.
Many people who start at this age can play one or two well-known pieces, but I can't play them at all. I can only play simple songs with both hands.
That's because I hated practicing... (laughs)
But I did enjoy singing the lyrics written on the piano sheet music.
So, since elementary school, I've decided that I would join the choir in junior high.

I started playing the violin, which I play mainly now, when I joined the elementary school orchestra. I joined the club lightly, thinking, "Will it be a problem when I join the choir?", so at first I just participated in club activities without much thought.

However, it was my experience with the Tohoku Youth Orchestra, where I was able to perform in a magnificent hall alongside technically skilled seniors and peers, that made me want to "seriously pursue" the violin.

I still remember how the sound I played sparkled more than usual when we performed at Opera City in my fourth year. At that moment, a big goal was born within me for the first time: "I want to be able to perform in a way that is worthy of this hall."

This is why I started playing music, and continue to do so.

I was five years old when the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred.

People often say, "You don't remember much at that age," but I still remember that day vividly.

I was having a piano lesson at kindergarten that day, and after lesson, I went down from the second floor to the first floor when I was hit by the strongest shaking I had ever experienced. In a panic, I called out to my teacher, who was watching me take a nap, and evacuated outside with everyone. I remember pulling a large blue tarp over my head and waiting for the shaking to stop.

When the shaking subsided, I was put on the nursery school bus and waited for my mother to pick me up. It wasn't until I arrived at my mother's workplace that I realized the magnitude of the situation. Documents were scattered everywhere, the building was cracked, and even large machines that normally wouldn't fall over had fallen over. Then I heard on the news that many people had died, and I've never been able to forget that scene.

I joined the Tohoku Youth Orchestra after being introduced to it by an older student at my school.

My father was a big fan of YMO, so he had no hesitation in joining the Tohoku Youth Orchestra, directed by Mr. Sakamoto.

I was in sixth grade when I joined. I was surrounded by older students, so I would nervously head to Minposha every time practice started. I had a hard time making friends my age, and I repeatedly told my father, who came to pick me up, that I wanted to quit.

But then Sakura-chan was the first to speak to me. I had a lot of fun talking with her, and she was a big part of what motivated me to join the youth group. She's now gone to college, but we're such good friends that we went to Disneyland together during Golden Week this year.

(Just before the 2023 concert)

We take the same pose every year, lol.

Since making friends, I've become more proactive in talking with my seniors, and they've always helped me out. This term, I'm serving as a section leader. I'm not sure if I can bring everyone together like my seniors did back then, but I'll try my best with everyone's help, remembering their example.

The biggest change in my future through my youth activities is my dream.

I originally wanted to become a nurse. However, my high school guidance counselor told me, "After seeing you give a presentation in class, I think you'd be more lively in a job where you stand in front of people," so I began to consider a different path.

When I thought of a job that involves giving presentations, the first thing that came to mind was a producer, responsible for planning and producing.

I've been in charge of the volunteers since last year, and while it's often difficult, I feel great pride when people enjoy my performances. I thought, "If I can make this my job, I might be able to do something fulfilling while making use of my strengths," so I went on to my current university.

For me, youth orchestras are a place that gave me dreams.

My current dream and goal as a volunteer orchestra member is to plan even better volunteer concerts.

I hope you will continue to support the Tohoku Youth Orchestra.

REPORT

The place that changed my dreams.