May 23

WIT Life #235: Hearts and Eyes Choir

Events, Music, Translating/Interpreting, WIT Life, Writers Add Comment (2)

WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

Last night I saw a concert at Carnegie Hall given by the Hearts and Eyes Choir ( ゆきわりそう合唱団 or Yukiwariso gasshoudan).  This choir was established in 1990 by founder Hiroyo Ubayama, who was on hand to offer her greetings to the audience.  It is composed of members with physical and mental disabilities, and the origin of its name is because the choir “shares its dreams and expresses its joy with its hearts and eyes.”  They travel the world performing with the motto “we will all be sisters and brothers.”  This was their second time on stage at Carnegie Hall, following their debut performance back in 2000.

They were joined by local choral groups as well as featured singers, and the pieces chosen were Rhapsody for Orchestra, Four Seasons of Old Home and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor.  Happy Doll founder Nozomi Terao was the MC, and during intermission collections were taken up for this organization, a “doll travel agency” which arranges the logistics for children around the world to make dolls for other children in need.  Yukiwariso had previously made dolls with Happy Doll, and their creations were displayed on stage alongside the performers, which made the event even more special.

During my several years in Japan, I can’t recall ever having seeing any mentally or physically challenged people in public.  I don’t personally know any Japanese living in Japan who are disabled, but I have heard that there is a tendency to institutionalize them or keep them at home, preventing the possibility of a normal life.  I was happy to see the members of Yukiwariso singing their hearts out and conveying their emotions, and was greatly moved by the performance.  I’m not sure what sorts of lives they lead back home, but it was encouraging to see that they have the opportunity to engage in activities that develop their talents and allow for interaction as fully functioning members of society.