On March 21, 2025, the Tohoku Youth Orchestra staged a heartfelt concert dedicated to peace and recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, featuring renowned actress Sayuri Yoshinaga.
Despite being a weekday, the concert held at Tokyo's Suntory Hall was a complete sell-out, attracting approximately 2000 attendees for both the afternoon and evening performances. Yoshinaga, who is 80 years old, captivated the audience with her readings that accompanied the orchestra’s performance of works created by the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Sakamoto, who passed away in 2023, founded the Tohoku Youth Orchestra to support the rebuilding efforts in the regions affected by the disaster. The orchestra comprises young musicians ranging from elementary school students to university students, primarily from Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima, the three prefectures most impacted by the earthquake.
This year’s program diverged from the previous year's tribute to Sakamoto and instead showcased a selection of his celebrated compositions including pieces from the Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) era, providing fans with a rich auditory experience. Following the intermission, Yoshinaga graced the stage clad in a stunning black dress, ready to deliver her readings.
Yoshinaga began her performance with a poignant reading of a poem by Ryoichi Wago, a poet from Fukushima City, reflecting on the lost souls in the disaster-stricken area. Following this, she presented 'Grieving,' a highly regarded piece of atomic bomb poetry by Kazuko Oohira, which echoes the sentiment of wishing for a world with no more war, especially in the context of the 80 years since World War II ended.
Her final reading was of 'Hello, goodbye, thank you,' a poem by Yume Ariyasu, which she previously recited with Sakamoto during a performance in Osaka. The heartfelt delivery garnered overwhelming applause from the audience.
In a discussion after her readings, the emcee, broadcaster Mari Watanabe, inquired about Yoshinaga's thoughts on peace. Yoshinaga expressed her deep concern, stating, “I feel strongly that everyone around the world needs to think about peace together.” She shared her passion for acting and emphasized her desire to use her readings to communicate important messages, urging everyone to take some form of action.
Yoshinaga also acknowledged the young musicians in the orchestra with a smile, noting the presence of a sixth-grade student among them. She shared her experiences visiting the orchestra's training camp at Lake Kawaguchi, where nearly 100 dedicated young musicians were hard at work. “I believe this orchestra will continue on. I plan to perform alongside them for as long as I can. I genuinely hope the audience will listen to the Tohoku Youth Orchestra with warm thoughts,” she stated, concluding her address with a bright smile before leaving the stage.
One notable moment from the concert was the performance of 'PIECE FOR ILLIA,' composed by Sakamoto, which was beautifully executed by Ukrainian violinist Illia Bondarenko. Yoshinaga expressed her admiration for Bondarenko, highlighting his resilience and ability to engage with the orchestra while delivering such a beautiful performance, adding, “Sakamoto would be pleased that they are playing the music they exchanged with me and the orchestra.”
The Tohoku Youth Orchestra's concert was not only a tribute to Sakamoto's legacy but also a reminder of the resilience of young artists and the continuous hope for peace in the world.
