最終更新日 Last updated : 11/10/2012

■ Report about Mitsuko Ito's "Tohoku Tour 2012" ■

( 日本語版はこちらです。 )

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 ) as last year, and she contacted many people. With the cooperation of "Caritas Japan", "Musubiba", "NPO Hokkaido Neos" and many other organizations and individuals, this "Tohoku Concert Tour" has come to pass. I thank them very much for their cooperation.

Some of the members who went to Tohoku the first time after the disaster was shocked to see people still liveing in temporary housings and the land being still empty. My impression was that those fragments oh houses and cars which were left everywhere last summer had been cleared. It takes time.

■ The 1st Day - 30 July

The group "East Japan great earthquake disaster reconstruction aid tour with violinist Mitsuko Ito" left Sapporo in the afternoon. At 7:00 p.m., we left Tomakomai, Hokkaido, towards Sendai by Ferry ( ship ).

This time, it was a group of 16 people including those who joined us in Tohoku. There were two different purposes of this tour. One was to bring Mitsuko Ito's music to Tohoku, and the other was to contribute financially by staying in hotels which were newly reconstructed and by consuming products of the land.

All the photographs on this page and 3 photos on HOME page of this site, and most of the "2012 Tohoku Photos" on PHOTO page are Ms. Onozaki's work.

This year, I gave recitals twice a day for three consecutive deys ( and one more recital was added in the end ), so the physical strength was required more than ever.

■ The 2nd Day - 31 July

At 10:00 a.m., we arrived at Sendai. This time, every transportation in Tohoku was done by a chartered bus. The first place we left for was Sendaimotoderakoji Catholic Church. This is a center church of the aid for Tohoku, so we just dropped in for greetings.

We met Sister Nogami of "Caritas Ofunato" at Rikuzentakada, and then she led us to the temporary housing at the former Hirotasuisan high school, which was the first concert venue for us. I played for those who gathered in the "assembly hall" at 3:30 p.m..

Each concert ( recital ) was one hour programme including talks. This year, Ms. Azumi Ono greeted the audience at the beginning and at the end of each concert.

The thermometer at the drive-in "Michinoeki" indicated 35 degrees Celsius, though I was able to play comfortably as there was an air conditioner in the venue. I was very impressed to see that the smile of the audience grew bigger after each piece.

After the concert, a lady gave me her handmade "owl mascot". I attached it to my bag immediately. Members of our tour were actively associating with the audience before and after the concert.

Right after the concert, we hurried to the next venue. From 5:30 p.m., there was another concert at an open space in front of the temporary housing at Osumi. It was a beautiful place surrounded by nature.

This concert became an unforgettable memory, as cicadas began to sing with my violin playing and made a massive orchestra.

After the concert we went to a hotel, then we had a dinner at a restaurant "Urashima" near the hotel. Doctor Yamaura who translated the Bible into Kesen language ( a Tohoku dialect ) and Mr. Kumagai ( representative of E - PIX Publishing Company ) joined us, and we had a good time together.

■ The 3rd Day - 1 August

The first concert of this day was held at "Hashino Dongurihiroba" ( an open space ) at Otsuchi, Iwate. Before that, we droped in the Ofunato Catholic Church, then also in Dr. Yamaura's house. As we had much trouble to find the Dongurihiroba, we arrived at the venue just before the opening of the concert.

A team of volunteers had already set up tents for the audience and for me when we arrived.

It was a very hot and sunny day. The concert started at 10:30 a.m. as scheduled. It was held under tents which did not have sides, though I believe that the temperature of the spot where I performed was around 40 degrees Celsius.

After the concert, we had lunchboxs which were handmade at "Matsunonetei". They were beautifully cooked and really delicious.

After the lunch, we droped in "Matsunonetei" to see Ms. Fujiwara. She was one of the members who treated us with fantastic lunch last year at "Yamanokafe" ( here is a report of the Tohoku Tour 2011 ), and now she is working in this restaurant.

It was a great joy for us to see her again, and it was wonderful to see people in Kamaishi working vigorously as the town recovers little by little.

Next, we moved to a hotel "Horaikan" in Kamaishi, Iwate. It was the venue of our next concert, and also it was our accomodation. On the way to Horaikan, Mr. Ito of "NPO Hokkaido Neos" showed us a temporary housing which is used as their office.

The concert was scheduled at 3:00 p.m., though the expected audience, children in the violin class of "Uminoneirokurabu" and members of "citizen brass band", fell by the heatstroke in the morning. So the landlady of Horaikan strongly proposed me to do a "Requiem toward the sea".

The landlady Ms. Akiko Iwasaki guided me to the point where we could overlook the sea and the land in which still 600 people are missing. And we decided to play there.

To be honest, I was perplex as the programme was not particularly suitable for the occasion. But the moment I listened to the story of the landlady, I changed my mind. I decided to give a cheerful talk concert for those 600 missing people as well as for those who were there.

The big smiling face of the landlady during the concert remains in my heart.

After the concert, we had a fantastic dinner at Horaikan which was wonderfully restored. At the end of the dinner, there were great performances by highly talented "Ono family" who joined this tour at Tohoku.

First, professional artist Ms. Azumi Ono performed "Uiro uri" ( a kind of theater ), then Mr. Yugo Ono ( professor at Hokuseigakuen University ) performed a Rakugo "Jugemu". At last, Ms. Taeko Ono ( Azumi's mother ) and Azumi performed a "Picture-story show" that was created by the amazing story of the landlady of Horaikan. The landlady herself was with us, and she really enjoyed the show.

We thank you very much for such a comfortable accomodation, gorgeous dinner, landlady's amazing story, and your hospitality.

■ The 4th Day - 2 August

This day, there was a concert at the community center in Yamadacho, Kamaisi, Iwate. When we enterd into the town, we heard an announcement by broadcast vehicle, which said "there will be a violin concert at the community center at 10:30 a.m. today." That was all over the town.

This hall had a strong air conditioning, so it was pretty cool. It was the same in any concert, though the smile of the audience here was even more impressive.

After the concert, we moved to Miyako, Iwate, and we went to our next concert venue "Riastei". I stayed at the venue, and others went for lunch.

For this concert, some members of the tour stood at the entrance and called passre-by, inviting them to the concert.

We saw a lady who by chance came to our concert last year at "Marinecoop DORA cinemarine", which is not far from there.

It was the same last year, that I was filled with gratitude to see the way that the audience changed. It looks like they have gone to another world during the concert, and got filled with joy. I thank them for coming to the concert even though they were busy.

After the concert, we headed for a hot spring hotel "Obonai" at Ninohe, Iwate. It took three hours by bus. This was a hotel of quite historical touch ( built about 80 years ago ). We enjoyed wonderful dinner and hot spring bath.

■ The 5th Day - 3 August

Just one hour before we left the hotel, suddenly we decided to give a surprise concert for those who worked at the hotel. One of us heard that they were so busy everyday that they had no time to go out, and she proposed me to give them a present.

Even though I did not have time to change into a dress, this surprise concert pleased them so much.

In the middle of the concert, the landlady of the hotel has come out the first time, saying
"I am the popular Zashikibasama ( a kind of monster ) of this hotel. I was attracted to a beautiful sound and came out of my bed."

"I want to let everybody listen to this sound in all over the world !! I want to let those who are dead ( by the disaster ) listen to this sound as well !! We must tell this to the dead who passed away without listning to this sound !!", she exclaimed. I was deeply touched by her word and her enthusiasm.

When we left the hotel, they gave me a pair of Waraji ( Ancient Japanese straw sandals ). The landlady asked me to shake ( rather grab ) hands, then we hurryed to the ferry port of Hachinohe.

Thank you very much Mr. Watanabe, who drove the bus during this tour.

There were not so many people in the Ferry, so we could spend time comfortably. We arrived at Tomakomai at 10:00 p.m., then everybody returned safely to Sapporo.

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