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The Bloemfontein Children's Choir Japan Tour
from 23 September to 03 October 2007
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The Bloemfontein Children's Choir is one of the leading children's choirs in South Africa. They have performed
in Europe,The United States, and Latin American countries. From 23 September
to 03 October 2007 they toured in Japan for the first time. They visited
Nara, Hiroshima, Osaka, Takarazuka, and Kyoto.
We helped them hold concert at schools and public halls on their
own as well as with Japanese counterparts in Hiroshima and Takarazuka while
staying at the homes of the two host choir members. We also helped them
enjoy sightseeing in these cities.
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Their performance ofered a wider variety of songs from traditional
folk songs to contemporary ones coloured with onomatopoeia, and impressed
the Japanese audience.
The conductors were strict music teachers but attentive to the
choir members so that they might not feel stressed or tired in a foreign
country. Their parents back home would have put their mind at ease. The
children were polite and good-mannered but, like children of every country,
cheerful enough to enjoy themselves. Here are what I would like to note in this website, together with photos
I took.
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Nara
Nara, the first ancient capital of Japan, is a place for us, Japanese,
to learn how our ancestors built the country. For international visitors
it is one of the must-visit places.The choir members visited the Todaiji
Temple and its neighbouring park where they could touch deers.
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Osaka
After leaving Hiroshima, they visited Osaka, the
second largest city next to Tokyo. They enjoyed a panoramic night view from the
observation deck of Umeda Sky Garden. The numerous beady lights must have looked
like jewels!! They had another exciting time when they travelled by the
underground train. It was their first time in their
life.
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Hiroshima
In Hiroshima they
were welcomed by the choir members and their families of Hiroshima Jogakuin
Girls Junior and Senior High School. They stayed at their homes and experienced
part of today's Japanese lifestyle. It must have been exciting. They held joint
concerts with the host choir. On top of them, they enjoyed together Japanese
traditional arts such as calligraphy, "origami", paper craft art,
"koto", a 13-string zither, and martial arts. Among them, they showed
keen interest in calligraphy, wondering how their names were written in Chinese
characters or Japanese letters.
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Takarazuka
In Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, they were welcomed by the members
and families of The Takarazuka Little Singers. They stayed at the members' homes as they had in Hiroshima. During the
three days' stay, they danced together "Yosakoi", a contemporary
rhythmical group dance, and had joint concerts, including public performance
at a shopping centre and Vega Hall.
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During the school concert, they performed a song and dance featuring miners'
work, and non verbal sound commuinication inside mines. For this performance
they wore miners' work uniforms, white helmets and boots as shown in the
photo.
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Kyoto
Kyoto, another ancient capital of our country, was their last place
to visit. Although they did not stayed overnight there, they were able
to visit Kinkakuji Temple and Kiyomizu Temple, both of which are popular
among Japanese but also international visitors.
They left Kansai International Airport for home, with a lot of souvenirs,
and unforogettably nice memories.
English itinerary is available.
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Office :
Ravine 22, 1-56-6, Higashi-nakano,
Nakano-ku,Tokyo 164-0003, JAPAN
Tel: 81-3-5425-2326 (English only)
Fax:81-3-3459-5805 (English only)
e-mail(English only) : jointcon@vesta.ocn.ne.jp
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