2025.12.26
Music Creation Workshop
Tohoku Dream Project
What is expected of musicians? What can musicians do?
The steady efforts that have been made in the disaster-stricken areas of Tohoku since 2011 were recognized, and in 2017, "Music for Disaster-Stricken Areas" was selected for the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Strategic Arts and Culture Creation Promotion Project.
This project allows for the funding of research and studies as an upfront investment to open up Japan's creative future through culture.
The Japan Philharmonic asked Mitsubishi UFJ Research & Consulting to carry out a survey and research into the project. As a result, in addition to the "mental care" that was particularly needed immediately after the earthquake,
- Opportunities to experience culture and art
- Opportunities for local residents to interact
- Communicating the current situation in the disaster-stricken areas to the outside world
We have found that there is a growing demand for this.
Based on the results of the research, we became keenly aware of new needs and asked ourselves, "What can musicians do?" as we carried out our activities, which further deepened our ties with local participating organizations and communities.
Based on these experiences, the "Tohoku Dream Project" was born to support the dissemination of culture from the disaster-stricken areas.
"Tohoku Dream Project"
The aim is to support the dreams, future and smiles of children, and to create a place for communication and exchange. Thus, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra's efforts in the Tohoku region have entered a new stage.
Tohoku's Dream Progress
□2018 Bababa! Orchestra
Enjoying Animals with Sounds / Meeting Akazawa Yoroikenbu
August 10, 2018 Rias Hall (Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture)
The group performed with children who are carrying on the tradition of Akazawa Yoroi Kenbu, and prior to that, they held a music workshop for the children. The results of this workshop were shown on stage, and the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra performed Saint-Saëns's "Carnival of the Animals." The concert was an interactive and communicative event that included many participatory elements from the children and the audience.
The success of this performance, which was the orchestra's first collaboration with children who have inherited traditional performing arts, gave the orchestra a sense of accomplishment in working hand in hand with the local people to "spread the culture of the Tohoku region."
□2019 Fun Orchestra in Iwate
Orchestra! Ballet! Let's all sing together!
August 1, 2019, Iwate Prefectural Civic Center
The Tohoku Dream Project's first performance in Iwate in 2019 saw the children of Akazawa Yoroikenbu, who had performed together for the first time the previous year, and the Miyako High School Brass Band share the stage. A ballet company also came from Tokyo to join them, and everyone enjoyed the joint performance of the orchestra and ballet.
Senior citizens from the coastal areas of Iwate Prefecture were invited on a bus tour to the venue, Iwate Prefectural Civic Center. This aimed to promote exchanges between regions in the Tohoku region, and further strengthen the message by cooperating with local governments, broadcasting stations, newspapers, and other organizations.
□2020 One-day only "Summer Vacation Concert 2020" feat. Tohoku Dream Project
The Japan Philharmonic Summer Vacation Concert, which was forced to be canceled due to the COVID-1 pandemic, was held as a one-off performance in collaboration with the Tohoku Dream Project.
The concert featured a "Video Corner from Tohoku" featuring performances by children from Miyako High School's Wind Orchestra (Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture), Akazawa Yoroikenbu (Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture), and Haramachi Daiichi Junior High School's Wind Orchestra (Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture) (video produced by Ida Yuki). They shared their thoughts and encouragement amid the COVID-19 pandemic with music.
This performance was also available for live viewing, with audiences gathering at Miyako Civic Cultural Hall in Iwate Prefecture (sponsored by the NPO Iwate Art Support Center) and Minamisoma Civic Cultural Hall Yume Hatto in Fukushima Prefecture (co-sponsored by the Minamisoma City Cultural Promotion Foundation).
□ Japan Philharmonic Tohoku Dream Project 2021 Fun Orchestra in Iwate
August 22, 2021, Iwate Prefectural Civic Center
Guest performers: Iwate Prefectural Miyako High School Wind Orchestra Kesencho Fighting Tanabata Taiko
□ Tohoku Dream Project 2022 Fun Orchestra in Iwate
August 12, 2022, Iwate Prefectural Civic Center
Guest performers: Kurosawajiri Kita Elementary School Choir (Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture) Yamada Sakaida Toramai Preservation Society (Yamada Town, Iwate Prefecture)
□ Tohoku Dream Project 2022 Fun Orchestra in Fukushima
Sunday, January 8, 2023 Kenshin Koriyama Cultural Center (Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture)
Guest performers: Minamisoma City Haramachi First Junior High School Brass Band, Koriyama Choral School
https://japanphil.or.jp/concert/20230108
Fukushima Prefecture had been preparing to hold the Tohoku Dream Project in 2020 and 2021, but unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and the earthquakes caused a series of cancellations. This year's event was originally scheduled for August, but the earthquake that occurred in March meant the hall could no longer be used, forcing it to be postponed.
In this context, the Tohoku Dream Project in Fukushima was finally realized for the first time on January 8th in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture.
Following a preliminary visit, the main performance on January 8th featured a performance by the Japan Philharmonic in the first part, and both groups performed in the guest corner in the second part.
On the stage of Haramachi Daiichi Junior High School, a brass percussion octet and a woodwind percussion octet performed. Their lively music, which was a little different from a large-scale wind orchestra performance, reached people throughout Fukushima Prefecture and beyond Minamisoma City.
Koriyama Choral School's performance conveyed the joy of singing, which is especially evident now after the suspension of activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the end of the concert, the choir and the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra performed a choral piece called "Ultramarine," which was written at Minamisoma Municipal Odaka Junior High School immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the audience was deeply moved.
Tohoku Dream Project 2023 Fun Orchestra in Iwate
Wednesday, August 2, 2023 Tosai Classic Hall Iwate (Iwate Prefectural Civic Center)
Co-starring guests: Natsui Daibonten Kagura (Kuji City Natsui Junior High School) and Takizawa City Takizawa Central Elementary School Special Choir
https://japanphil.or.jp/concert/20230802
□ Tohoku Dream Project 2023 Fun Orchestra in Fukushima
Saturday, August 19, 2023 Kenshin Koriyama Cultural Center (Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture)
Guest performers: Fukuda Twelve Kagura Preservation Society (Shinchi Town) and FTV Junior Orchestra (Conductor: Ogawa Yutaka)
https://japanphil.or.jp/concert/20230819
Tohoku Dream Project 2024 Fun Orchestra in Iwate
Monday, August 2, 2023 Tosai Classic Hall Iwate (Iwate Prefectural Civic Center)
Co-stars: Kuzumaki Kagura "Torimai" (Kuzumaki Municipal Kuzumaki Junior High School) and the four-school joint "Connecting" Bonds Choir
https://japanphil.or.jp/concert/20240805
□ Tohoku Dream Project 2024 Fun Orchestra in Fukushima
Sunday, August 11, 2024 Kenshin Koriyama Cultural Center (Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture)
Guest performers: Ukedo Rice Planting Dance (Ukedo Performing Arts Preservation Society) and Tamura Municipal Funehiki Junior High School Brass Band
https://japanphil.or.jp/concert/20240811
Tohoku Dream Project 2025 Fun Orchestra in Iwate
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 Tosai Classic Hall Iwate (Iwate Prefectural Civic Center)
Guest performers: Iwate University Faculty of Education Elementary School Choir, Ushibuse Folk Performing Arts Preservation Society (Miyako City Sendoku Elementary School, Miyako City Miyako Nishi Junior High School)
https://japanphil.or.jp/concert/20250806
□ Tohoku Dream Project 2025 Fun Orchestra in Fukushima
Monday, August 11, 2025 (National Holiday) Iwaki Arts and Culture Center Arios Alpine Large Hall
Co-starring guests: MJC Ensemble (Minamisoma Junior Chorus Ensemble) and Fukushima Prefectural Onahama Kaisei High School Team "Jangara"
https://japanphil.or.jp/concert/20250811
Tohoku Dream Project in Tokyo 2026 - Bringing the brilliance of Tohoku's children to Tokyo!
January 7, 2026 (Wednesday) Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
Co-starring guests: Akazawa Performing Arts Preservation Society [Akazawa Yoroi Kenbu] (Ofunato City), Fukushima Prefecture Choral Federation Southern Branch "Choir School" (Koriyama City)
