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In April 2016, tragedy struck when two massive earthquakes hit Kumamoto Prefecture in the Kyushu Region of southern Japan. As part of a project that aims to remind the world that Kyushu has a lot to offer, the executive committee of Kumamoto Jishin Fukkou Kigan One Kyushu Fes has arranged the charity event One Kyushu Fes to pray for continued recovery following the Kumamoto earthquakes.
It's been about five months since the Kumamoto earthquakes occurred. The whole of Kyushu is united in showing the world that Kyushu is still strong and full of spirit through music, food, and fireworks.
■ Screening of a Message of Support from Arashi and a 10,000-Person Strong Choir Performance of “Furusato”
The author Kundo Koyama wrote the lyrics to the Arashi song “Furusato” with his hometown of Kumamoto in mind, and at One Kyushu Fes “Furusato” will be sung by a 10,000-person strong choir featuring children from areas damaged in the Kumamoto earthquakes as well as visitors from around Japan and overseas. This choir performance by 10,000 people will be a symbol showing Kumamoto's continued recovery from the disaster. Starting from areas across Kumamoto Prefecture and spreading out towards the whole of Kyushu and beyond, this performance will announce to the world through the power of song that Kyushu is taking a powerful step toward its future.
On the same day, there will be a screening of a message of support from the popular Japanese band Arashi, and you won't be able to watch this message anywhere else! The choir singers will sing along as Arashi perform their song “Furusato” during their video message. (As Arashi will be appearing via video, they won't be present at the festival.) If you'd like to visit the festival and join in, there's a video of “Furusato” on the official event website that you can use to practice the song, so there's no excuse for forgetting the lyrics or the tune!
The 10,000-person choir performance will be lit up across Japan with displays of bamboo lanterns by Chikaken, a team of creators from Kumamoto. These bamboo lanterns were made as a prayer for recovery, and the festival will feature bamboo lanterns with wish flags on them which participants will write their dreams for the future. Starting from Sept. 18, “Furusato” performances and bamboo lantern displays will be taking place all over Kumamoto Prefecture, and flags emblazoned with people's hopes for the future will be carried around town. At each location, participants can decorate their own wish flags, and the warm glow created by singing together and sharing wishes is sure to unite the hearts of everyone taking part.
A Concert for Recovery by Sing Like Talking's Chikuzen Sato
At his Concert for Recovery ( Fukkou Raibu in Japanese ), Chikuzen Sato will deliver his hopes for Kyushu through song. He'll be performing for the first time ever songs that were re-recorded following the Kumamoto earthquakes, as well as the theme song from the movie Furusato de Zutto ( Forever in my Hometown ) which stars Kumamon.
Powerful Entertainment and Performances Filled with Hope for Recovery
A variety of entertainment and performances will show the world that Kumamoto and Kyushu are still fighting and full of spirit. The entertainment will include a Seiwa Bunraku puppet theatre show from Kumamoto's Kamimashiki District (which suffered severe damage in the Kumamoto earthquakes), a performance from Kumamoto Castle's Omotenashi Bushoutai group, and a performance from the Aso area's Oaso Soyo Taiko Kiraku group. Thanks to the Yatsushiro Myoken Matsuri Preservation and Promotion Association, the lion dance and Kida (a snake-headed turtle) dance from Yatsushiro Myoken Matsuri will also be appearing in Amakusa. Yatsushiro Myoken Matsuri is one of Kyushu's top three festivals, and it's aiming to achieve UNESCO World Heritage recognition this year
Stage Schedule
・4:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Fukkou Ouen Stage featuring the Haiya dancers of Amakusa Haiya Rinpu-kai, Oaso Soyo Taiko Kiraku, Seiwa Bunraku, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko, Kumamoto Castle Omotenashi Bushoutai, the Yatsushiro Myoken Matsuri Preservation and Promotion Association, and the yosakoi dancers of Kamiamakusa Jishu.
・From 7:00 p.m.
One Kyushu Message
・From 7:10 p.m.
Chikuzen Sato's Concert for Recovery
・From 7:45 p.m.
An introduction to an episode of Furusato (featuring Kumamon and Kundo Koyama (to be confirmed))
・From 8:15 p.m.
Screening of Arashi's message of support and a 10,000-person strong choir performance of “Furusato”
■ Sample Delicacies from 80 Stores from Around Kyushu at the Fukkou Marché
Starting with the Kumamoto Prefectural Sake Bar featuring the best sake from cellars around Kumamoto Prefecture, the Fukkou Marché (meaning "Recovery Market") will be packed with stalls offering delicious food and drink, including stores from areas affected by the disaster. Why not try Fukkou Cider or carbonated water from Mashiki-cho, sakura croquettes from Yamato-cho, or niramenko (croquettes filled with beef, pork, and chives) from Kosa-machi? There will also be stalls serving treats from the Amakusa region, including kaigun-maki sushi rolls, agekamaboko (deep-fried kamaboko fish cakes), fig-flavour shaved ice, and Amakusa Bankan jelly made using sweet and refreshingly tart Amakusa Bankan oranges. There will also be an array of stalls selling a variety of items and accessories.
■ Kumamoto Prefecture's Biggest Fireworks Show! Over 120,000 Fireworks Light Up the Night Sky
Along with the performance of “Furusato” by a 10,000-person strong choir, another beacon of recovery following the earthquakes will be Kumamoto Prefecture's biggest fireworks show. This display of 120,000 fireworks will include Odama fireworks (the type that burst into glittering spheres) and fireworks accompanied by music, and the sight of these stunning fireworks blossoming in the night sky is sure to attract huge crowds of people. Join them in sending a wish into the night sky for Kumamoto to recover as soon as possible!
■ Kids Soccer Class from the Players of Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto FC & Search for Foster Carers for Animals Injured in the Earthquakes
Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto FC will be teaching a soccer class for elementary school children at the event. The class will be made up of three groups - a group for younger grades, a group for middle grades, and a group for upper grades. There will only be room for 15 participants in each group, so the first 15 children of each age group to arrive will be able to take part. Take a look at the event homepage for details on how to take part.
There will also be an opportunity for anyone who'd like to become a foster carer to a pet injured in the Kumamoto earthquakes to adopt a pet. At the moment, veterinarian clinics and animal welfare societies are looking after a lot of pets that became estranged from their owners during the earthquakes. The adopt-a-pet event is being held in order to change this situation.
Event Details
Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016
*The event will be postponed until Monday, Sept. 19 if the weather is bad.*
Location: Oyazaki Ryokuchi Koen (Hondomachi Hirose, Amakusa-shi, Kumamoto)
From 3:00 p.m. - Fukkou Marché
From 4:00 p.m. - Kokoro no Fukkou Stage
From 8:30 p.m. - Omoi o Hitotsu ni Fukkou Yume Fireworks Show
Source: @Press
