The 10th International Red and White Singing Festival (IRWS)

were held by connecting 5 countries  

Japanese sing in a foreign language, Non-Japanese sing in Japanese, 

IRWS is a new way to promote mutual understanding of different cultures by singing

together.

《Date and time》 November 20, 2021, 15: 30-18: 30

《Place》 Hagoromo Gakuen / Lecture Hall 1-11-57 Higashihagoromo,

Takaishi City, Osaka 592-0003

<< Authorized by >> 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau,

ASEAN-Japan Centre.

The Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad

 << Sponsored by>> 

City Housing Co., Ltd. 

『Grow and Learn together with Social Residence』

Oak House Co., Ltd.

------------------------------------

＊＊Partner companies/organizations＊＊

Ichi Co., Ltd.

Global Trust Networks Co., Ltd. 

Tokyo Happiness Co., Ltd.

Eisei Hospital, 

Holistic Clinic Ginza ,

Japan Mental and Physical Function Activation Therapy Instructor Association

XING Inc.

 << Organizer >> International Red and White Singing Festival Executive Committee

This event is held as the venue of called "International Student Week" (sponsored by the International Student Support Consortium Osaka), which is the first in Japan, starting from November 13 to 20 to deepen exchanges between international students and Japanese people. It was held online by connecting the stage in Osaka and Cebu, Bali, Sao Paulo, Tokyo.

*Number of event participants

Approximately 150 participants (Hagoromo Gakuen Auditorium, Osaka)

Participants from 13 countries and regions including Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Inner Mongolia, China, Russia, Brazil, Japan.

*The number of　viewers:

Approximately 1000 in real-time. Access has continued to grow, reaching 2500 counts (as of Dec 15th). By December 22, an e-mail newsletter will be delivered to 15,000 people in Japanese and English. Therefore, it is expected to be accessed about 10000 counts as a whole by the end of the year.

MC is Sunny Francis, a former international student from India. And he is  Kansai's popular TV/radio personality who has been in Japan for 35 years. Ryoko Yuasa, a 4th year student at Kwansei Gakuin University, acted as an assistant.

MC , Sunny Francis, and Ryoko Yuasa emphasized:

『Only one thing we want your favor. please send big applause and cheers to performers』

『IRWS is not for competition. IRWS is for praise for all performers 』

The opening started with "Asian Gateway Osaka", a cheering song for IRWS in Osaka, and it was followed by  "Smile and HAPPY VOICE".composed for Japanese learners.

After that, the student from Myanmar sang "365 days of paper airplanes" and "nada so so" in Japanese, and Japanese participants sang Korean, Thai, Swedish, and English songs. 

Chairman Mizohata of the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau also sang "WE ARE THE WORLD" with international students to encourage them.

    The IRWS 2018 Cebu winner (Philippines)     The IRWS 2018 in Bali winner (Indonesia) 　

In the second half, the IRWS 2018 in Bali winner (Indonesia), the 2018 Cebu winner (Philippines), Sao Paulo (Brazil), and Tokyo were connected and introduced, 

Prepared videos of the guest singers were played at the venue, and they were so happy to see them. Keisha (17 years old) is already active as a singer and wants to study music in Japan.

Although unofficial, a pre-exchange meeting was held only for online participants, although performers who have geographically separated, made good friends by sharing their interest in Japan and listening to each other's songs.

This time, the state of emergency was lifted one and a half months before the event, so most of the participants' adjustments and volunteer meetings were done online. live-streaming on YOUTUBE was also done.

We plan to hold regular online social gatherings with the participating members and volunteers to promote efforts to shorten the physical distance and create a friendly  IRWS community online for next year.

        （polarのAshley＆Faith）

“polar” (Ashely & Faith)  graduated from the popular group MNL48 (Philippines version of AKB48) also took into consideration their activities in Japan, and for this day, they practiced Japanese songs and made a friendship appearance online.

Special guest from Tokyo 

Miho Ogata (緒方美穂) World tour of Folk song：Turkey version) She is the main vocalist of the group called 『ORINOVIVO』, which plays world folk songs of more than 25 countries. Their concert is said to be The world tour of folk song music.

Two online participants from San Paulo, Brazil

 

In addition, there were two online participants from Brazil this time, but they learned about this event and participated with the introduction of the Nikkei Karaoke Association (registered members of about 100,000) in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

We had a lot of online meetings in advance with Mr. Ebihara, who has been the representative for 25 years since the Asso. was founded. In the future, we confirmed that we will create closer relationships with each other. We will continue to interact with each other in order to have representatives at each event. São Paulo is also a sister city of Osaka,

We hope to promote "song exchange" with Sao Paulo, Brazil, the home country of many Japanese Emigrants, and create an atmosphere where many people will come to Japan at the 2025 Osaka Expo.

●Media coverage

1: national newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun (21st Nov)

２：FM Kobe　KISSFM　Interviewed at “ VANDY what's going on”（7th Nov）

　　Mc Sunny Francias’  radio program at Radio ABC　(14th & 21th Nov)

３：Internet media: Kansai Chiniese Times ,kabun jihou,zaikei newspaper,and many others

4:　TV Tokyo 『YOUは何しに日本へ』( What do you want to do in Japan?)

  Very popular long-lasting TV program    ( On Air date is not fixed yet.)

TV crew brought 3 cameras and spent 3 days taking a movie, many Non-japanese contestants have been interviewed. They had very good memorable experiences.

[unscaled1]

I would like to invite my friends in Visayas once again, especially those who are in CEBU, to please join this event which will be held in AYALA Center in August. this is a very awesome experience! Those who can sing Japanese songs are very much welcome! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1981850132045752/permalink/1987131208184311/?action_history[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22timeline%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22surface%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A[]%7D]&pnref=story

[unscaled2]

The 6th Red-White Singing Festival       

第6回国際紅白歌合戦

Make entry  now  for contestants ,volunteers/

第6回　国際紅白歌合戦　 参加者・協力団体・ボランテイア募集中！！

National holiday 10th Octoerber 16:00-21:00

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center (near yoyogi park)

 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター・大ホール 　16:00-21:00

The　３rd　Internatrional　red-white　singing　contest　is　in　osaka event calender 

http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/eventcalendar/

Have a nice chat with many Japanese sake lovers.

 mashiko　tour　with　mashiko　family

地元の方の直売所のお手伝い。一年前の出来事を乗り越えていこうというように賑わいを見せました。
We helped local people at the direct sales store. It prospered as if trying to overcome the tragedy.

旅館のお風呂の近く飾ってあった時計。相田みつをさんのメッセージが
地震の被害にあった益子の人々に前向きなメッセージを送っているような気がしました。
A clock which was on display near the bath in the Japanese-style hotel.
It says that "Don't care about your failure, we are just human being" by famous artist Mituo Aida. I felt this as a positive message to the people of Masyuko even though they were damaged by the earthquake.

 益子の地元の米を使っておにぎりを作っているところ。
おにぎりひとつにも作り方にコツがあることをまなびました。
お腹が空いてたせいかおにぎりを何個も食べてしまいました。
This is the picture making riceball by Masyuko's rice.
We learned that making just a simple riceball needs technique.
Since we were hungry, everyone ate too much till they become full.
 
ｂｙ　Tsuyoshi　Taniguchi
 
 

益子 - One weekend in Mashiko

With　Mashiko　family！！

Last weekend I had the opportunity to be part of a Tour to Mashiko（益子）. This city, located in the Tochigi prefecture, is known as the “city of ceramic arts” in Japan and also a widely known city for fans of ceramic arts from all over the world. However, due to the great earthquake disaster in eastern Japan, Mashiko suffers from great damages, that are unforeseeable yet. Ceramic works, including the valuable existing and other facilities for the creation of pottery kiln were damaged from the devastating earthquake in Mashiko. In addition Mashiko suffers because of rumors concerning the nuclear accident at Fukushima.

 

 

To help the people in Mashiko and to reflate the tourism in this area, the “Mashiko Fun Tour” was created. Let me tell you about an incredible weekend far away from the big cities with their skylines and the busy streets.

The tour started on Saturday morning at 9 am. We were 36 people from six different countries and of all ages. After around three hours on the road we stopped at Ichigodanchi (イチゴ団地), a part of Mashiko, which is famous for the growing of strawberries. An experienced tour guide explained the characteristics of Ichigodanchi and how a really good strawberry has to look like. After the speech it was time to taste the delicious strawberries.

 

 

Next stop was our accommodation in Mashiko, where the next highlight was waiting for the group. For lunch we created Onigiri on our own and to be honest, that were the most delicious Onigiris, which I’ve ever tasted. Really special and completely different from the ones you can buy at the Konbinis. After lunchtime we had a long walk around Mashiko to visit several potteries shops and to enjoy the beautiful landscape.

 

 

After the walk we enjoyed a tasty dinner together with some locals from Mashiko. Everybody introduced himself to the group and shared his first impressions of this beautiful spot. We learned more about the art of producing fine potteries and sake. Only the best rice and water were used for the fabulous sake, that we were allowed to taste. For me the best sake I’ve tasted so far. After dinner there was plenty of time for interesting and nice conversations. The first day of our tour ended late, but was full of satisfaction and a very good feeling.

 

On Sunday we started with a traditional Japanese breakfast, before we went once again experienced the fine potteries arts of Mashiko. There were always new incredible potteries to see and so many ways to create them. Another highlight just waited for us, because we could take part in the production process and join the locals, while they kilned new potteries or just pace through the festival. We got the chance to buy some potteries, enjoying the delicious foods or tasting ice cream and cakes made out of soba. Something I haven’t tasted before.

At 14.30 pm we took part at the remembrance ceremony for the victims of the earthquake one year ago. At 14.47 pm (the time when the earthquake hit Japan one year ago) the monks chimed the bell of the temple. The ceremony was accompanied by a wind ensemble and a taiko group (太鼓). For me the first time to see a taiko group and I was really impressed by the accuracy and the devotion of this performance.

 

After the remembrance ceremony we left Mashiko. But before we really went back home, we had the chance to buy some of the strawberry products of Ichigodanchi and the fine sake distillery. On the way home everybody on the bus had the chance to take a résumé of the trip and share his impressions with the others. No wonder, that everybody was absolutely satisfied and deeply touched by this very unique tour away from all the ordinary tourist activities. Mashiko really left a permanent impression and I can just highly recommend to everybody to visit Mashiko. This city with its own charm is definitely worth a journey.

 

reported　by　Andreas Steiner　internship　students　for　globalcommunity

http://globalcommunitydiary.blogspot.com/2012/03/one-weekend-in-mashiko.html

for　the　tourist　to　mashiko