It's the third day of the training camp here in Miyakojima.

First, please take a look at the social section of this morning's Miyako Mainichi Shimbun.

The magnitude of this article's coverage is unimaginable in Tokyo. Let me introduce the article again.

Tohoku Youth Exchange with Miyakojima Junior Orchestra / Miyakojima Youth International Music Festival
http://www.miyakomainichi.com/2015/08/79456/

It seems that we were featured in the local newspaper, Miyako TV, the local cable TV, NHK Okinawa, and Ryukyu Broadcasting. Well, this morning was practice.

Today, we spent an hour practicing just the last nine bars of "The Last Emperor," composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto, the representative and director of the orchestra, which we performed yesterday. Conductor Toshio Yanagisawa gave us guidance on the importance of interpreting and performing the score from a wide range of perspectives, from the fundamentals of orchestral performance to the mindset for musical expression, and examples from Beethoven and Stravinsky. He also said that in order to play a majestic theme like "The Last Emperor," it is important to see various landscapes and scenery around the world and evoke images.

After the practice, there was a lecture by Toshio Yanagisawa. In a gentle manner, he spoke about his experience as the conductor of an orchestra made up of opposing ethnic groups during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. He developed appendicitis in Kosovo and needed treatment within 24 hours, but he said, "I definitely don't want to have the surgery here," and hopped on a plane to Germany to have the surgery. The children listened intently to the realistic impact of his story. By the way, appendicitis is called "Appendix" in English.

He concluded by talking about the importance of being a "global citizen," and how it is especially important for people to meet in person in this day and age when it is so easy to connect with others via the Internet. It was a wonderful talk that even the elementary school students could relate to.

Then, in the afternoon, we finally went sightseeing on Miyako Island. Some of the group members were on a bus traveling through the ocean of Miyako Island, which they were seeing for the first time, and we arrived at Higashi-Hennazaki Lighthouse.

"The blue sea" is merely a one-dimensional expression; I saw the richness of the colors, gradations from dark blue to light blue, and changes from sparkling emerald green to gray and black.

Then, for the long-awaited fun in the sea, we head to Ingya Marine Garden.

Some children were in the sea for the first time in their lives, and some adults who can't go to the local sea now enjoyed the sea of Miyakojima to the fullest. Conductor Toshio Yanagisawa also went snorkeling and said, "There are a lot of clownfish. I want to show them to everyone," and invited the members to a live aquarium experience.

After another productive day, everyone returned to their host families with satisfied looks on their faces.

Ah, thanks to you, my worries about not being able to get home because of the typhoon have subsided.