ˆษ“กŒ๕ŒฮŒ๖ŽฎƒTƒCƒg  Mitsuko Ito Official Website

ลIXV“๚ Last updated : 9/10/2011

ก Report about Mitsuko Ito's "Tohoku Tour 2011" ก

( “๚–{Œ๊”ล‚อ‚ฑ‚ฟ‚็‚ล‚ทB )


When the great earthquake hit Japan in March 2011, I was in Paris where I live, and I jumped when I heard the radio news in the morning. Since then, performing at Charity Concerts for Japan in France, I was thinking of delivering my performance in Tohoku area which is the worst striken part of Japan.

I contacted to Ms. Eiko Masuda ( representative of a travel agency ), and she contacted many people. With the cooperation of "Musubiba", "NPO Hokkaido Neos", "Caritas Japan" and many other organizations and individuals, this "Tohoku Concert Tour" has come to pass. I thank them very much for their cooperation.


ก The 1st Day - 1 August

The team "Mitsuko Ito & Areyakoreya - tai" left Sapporo in the afternoon. At 7:00 p.m., we left Tomakomai, Hokkaido, towards Sendai by Ferry ( ship ).

Team members ( from right to left of the photo ) : Mr. Takeo Masuda ( Driver ), Ms. Eiko masuda ( Representative of this trip ), Ms. Yoko Sasaki ( Apron Theatre ), Ms. Keiko Takeda ( Navigator ), Ms. Yoshiko Ito ( Social welfare care manager ), and Ms. Ryoko Onozaki ( Photographer ). All the photographs on this page and 3 photos on HOME page of this site, and "2011 Tohoku Photos" on PHOTO page are Ms. Onozaki's work.

ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito


ก The 2nd Day - 2 August

At 10:00 a.m., we arrived at Sendai. We went to "Shichigahama Central Town Hall"
( Shichigahama, Miyagi ). This building was used as an evacuation center for a long time, and there was a big signboard "WC" on the wall of the lobby. Before the concert, our team members went to temporary houses and talked to people and invited them to the concert.

The concert in the lobby began at 2:30 p.m.. The programme of 1 hour included a local song "Aobajo Koiuta". The audience had a lot of fun when I drew under the sign "WC", as there was nowhere else to draw back !

ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito
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After the concrt, we went to the coast. Then we left towards the hotel in Tono, Iwate, by car. ( All the trip was done by car. ) It was completely dark when we arrived at 8:30 p.m., and we had a great difficulty in finding the hotel "B&B Kuranoya". Thanks to Ms. Takeda, our navigator, we were able to find the inn and we enjoyed comfortable lodgings.

The breakfast at "B&B Kuranoya" was made of carefully selected ingredients and it was very delicious. It was a quite healthy and tasty Japanese meal. ( They also serve western meal sometimes. ) The room was nice too, and there was a white cat sitting at the reception welcoming the guests.


ก The 3rd Day - 3 August

The first concert of this day was held at "Otsuchi Magokoro Hiroba" ( Otsutchi, Iwate).

We met members of "Hokkaido Neos" and they guided us to the place. It was very hot, and even thoug it was 11:30 a.m., I think it was about 40 degrees Celsius in the car where I stayed before the concert. Team members were all right as they were under a tent.

ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito

The concert was held under a tent which did not have sides, so it was refreshing with a breeze. We were glad as many people had come. I did not have much chance to talk to people, as I prepare by myself before I play. After the concert they gave me their opinions of the concert, so I hardly heard their story of the disaster. Rather, they have gone to completely different world out of reality through music, and their expression filled with joy impressed me greatly. I will never forget the word that a gentlman gave me after the concert," I am glad that I am alive ! There are good things if we are alive !"

ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito

Then, we went to the next concert hall,"Kamaishi Catholic Church" ( Kamaisi, Iwate ). The concert was planned at 6:30 p.m., though we arrived at 2:00 p.m. to have a rest. I had a bad headache because of the heat in the morning, so immediately I cooled my head and laid down. Thanks to the prompt care of the people of the church, I recovered and I was able to give concert in the evening. Thank you very much for your help.

While I was in bed, Ms. Sasaki' s "Apron Theatre" had a big succsess. "Apron Theatre" is a kind of "picture - story show". She uses an apron instead of paper, and she sticks some handmade characters and small tools on the apron, while she recites a story.

The concert was held as scheduled in the evening. This church has been functioning as a support center since the earthquake, and many volunteers were gathering from all over Japan.

ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito

Father Max Enderle S . M . B and those who are in chuch, thank you very much for your help.


ก The 4th Day - 4 August

There was a concert at "Hashino Hekichi Kindergarten" ( Hashinocho, Iwate ). To arrive this "Hekichi" ( that means "a remote place" ), we went through a mountain. As the road was so meandering that we got carsick. So when I arrived at the destination, I was considerably tottering.

When we arrived, people of "Hokkaido Neos" welcomed us, and led me to my waiting room.

ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito

The view from my waiting room was wonderful as it was full of nature. For me who is a "natural lover", it was fantastic. And also they gave me a chair and flowers in my waiting room. That was great hospitality. ( I am keeping the potpourri in my violin case.)

The concert was held at a tent which was set up nearby. I asked them to put the performance tent right next to the audience tent, and to cover the side of the performance tent by large plastic sheet. This sheet prevented the breeze comming through and so made the sound much better.

ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito

After the concert, we had a lunch together at "Yamanokafe" ( Mountain's Cafe ). Members of "Sumirenokai" cooked for us. The meal was absolutely delicious, as it was made by their handmade vegetables and also wild plants that they had collected. Obviously it was because they cooked it well, but also the ingredients in Kamaishi, Iwate, are so rich. Kamaishi is a wonderful place with full of nature.

I am deeply grateful for such a hospitality. Also it was nice that I could hear a story from people of the land. One jounalist told me that Tohoku was able to recover thanks to those cheerful ladies like those of "Sumirenokai".

We gave them two kinds of message cards which Ms. Sasaki had made for the people in Tohoku.

Thank you very much for wonderful time that we spent with you, who are full of cheer, vigour and vitality.

ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito

In the afternoon, we went to listen to a "reciter of Tono". She recited some traditional folktales like "Kappabuchi", and that was interesting. Then we went to "Tono Museum" where we looked at a profile of the "village of the folktale".


ก The 5th Day - 5 August

After having comfortable lodging at "B&B Kuranoya", we went to Tono Catholic Church in the morning. This is where Max Enderle S . M . B father of Kamaishi Catholic Church lives.

Then we left towards Miyako. After three hours of trip under the scorching sunlight and heat, we arrived at Miyako Catholic Church. This day's first concert was held here at 2:00 p.m.. It was the hottest day of this summer, and the temperature of the room I stayed was so high. As a result, I had a fever when I performed.

Because of the temperature of the day, not many people could come, though the concert was held as scheduled. I had a considerable muscular pain and I was tottering badly, though I was able to perform.

ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito

At 6:30 p.m., there was a concert at cinema "Marinecoop DORA cinemarine". The heat of the day had gone, and many people have come. There was air - conditioner in the hall, so we have had a comfortable time.

ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito

After the concert, there was a party at Miyako Church. It was a joint party for the concert and for Mr. Sakuma. He was in charge of these two concerts in Miyako, and this day was his last day at this city, after having served as volunteer for three months. Good job !

ˆษ“กŒ๕Œฮ Mitsuko Ito

When we were in high spirits, Ms. Sasaki presented her "Apron Theatre".

Everybody enjoyed it so much, and the atmosphere rose. Particularly those volunteers from Kansai enjoyed it very much.



ก The 6th Day - 6 August

When I was checking if there was a concert in Hanamaki at breakfast ( I once heard there would be concerts in Hanamaki, though it did not come to pass ), Ms. Masuda joked and said, "You can play Bach's Chaconne here now !". Actually, Mr. Sakuma who was in charge of the concerts loves Bach, and he once listened to my performance of Bach's Partita in Muroran, Hokkaido. And he loved it. ( Thank you very much. ) So, I just checked if it was ever possible to perform something that I had not practiced for a long time. Then I heard that we would take a photo, so I went downstairs with my violin.

At that time, it was 8:15 a.m., a bell of the peace of Hiroshima resounded and one - minute silent prayer was given. At that moment, I was strongly convinced that I should definitely play Bach's Chaconne now as my prayer for the peace of the whole world through Hiroshima. After taking a photo, we all went into church and I performed.

I performed with a strong prayer of the Psalm 140 verse 8, "Do not grant the wicked their desires, O Lord ; do not let their plans succeed." That was an extremely moving time.

Father Marco and those who are in chuch, thank you very much for your help.

Then we left towards Sendai. Members of the team had different plans, though except one who left towards Hanamaki, we went to Ofunato Catholic Church and "Ipicks printing office". ( This is the office in which the Kesen - language Bible is printed. This office was striken by Tsunami and moved on the hill. ) On the way a road sign indicated, "The present temperature : 36 degrees Celsius ". Then we took three members to Sendai port, and I was taken to Sendai airport to go back to Chitose, Hokkaido. The rest went to see their own family.

I got a report that all the members of our team arrived home safely.

For those who have helped us before and during our trip, and all the members of our team, I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.



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