GRATEFUL CRANE ENSEMBLE
2018 GOODWILL TOUR TO TOHOKU, JAPAN
SEPTEMBER 9 - 21, 2018
By Soji Kashiwagi, The Grateful Crane Ensemble
On Sunday, September 9th, Grateful Crane will embark on our third goodwill tour to Tohoku, Japan to sing songs of hope and inspiration for tsunami survivors in some of the hardest hit areas of Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures.
Over eight days from September 11 to September 18, we will perform and participate in 15 concerts or interactive musical workshops for children, youth, adults and seniors.
Venues include public housing facilities, kindergartens, a nursing home, a Mochi Buffet/Arboretum, a shopping center, a children’s home, and a day care center for people with special needs.
New to this year’s tour are musical workshops with a youth choir in Minami Soma City and a junior high school orchestra in Ofunato.
A Huge THANK YOU to over 800 members of our Japanese American community and friends for your generous donations in supporting of our tour.
We couldn’t do this without you, and will be sure to deliver your messages of support and well-wishes to the people of Tohoku at every stop we make.
Thank you also to the Los Angeles Dodgers for its donation of 100 Dodger caps and drawstring bags which will be given as gifts to people in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, and to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for its donation of 100 Angel caps which will be given to people in Iwate prefecture, home of Angels star player Shohei Ohtani.
Here is our schedule for this year’s tour:
TOUR SCHEDULE
Sunday, September 9
Depart LAX for Tokyo
Monday, September 10
Arrive in Tokyo. Stay one night in Tokyo
Tuesday, September 11
Depart Tokyo by Shinkansen for Fukushima. Afternoon Performance at Ishikura Public Housing in Nihonmatsu.
Wednesday, September 12
Depart hotel for Minami Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture
Morning Performance at Haramachi Seiai Kodomoen (Kindergarten)
Early afternoon Performance at Ushigoe Public Housing
Mid-afternoon Performance at Minamimachi Public Housing
Thursday, September 13
Depart hotel for performances in Fukushima City
Morning Performance at Minna no Iekindergarten
Afternoon Performance at Kitasawamata Public Housing
Friday, September 14
Depart hotel for Minami Soma City
Morning Performance at Kitahara Public Housing
Afternoon Performance at Kamimachi Public Housing
Late afternoon activity with Fukushima Youth Choir at Nomaoidouri-Meijoukan
Saturday, September 15
Depart Fukushima for Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture
Afternoon Performance at Jikei-en Nursing Home in Minamisanriku
Sunday, September 16
Depart Minanmisanriku for Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture
Afternoon Public Concert at Hana to Izumi Koen (Arboretum and Mochi Buffet)
Depart Ichinoseki for Ofunato and Check-In at Ofunato Hot Spring Hotel
Holiday Monday, September 17
Depart hotel for activities in Ofunato City
Morning Workshop with Ofunato Junior High School Orchestra
Noontime Public Concert at KYASSEN Shopping Center and a Performance with Ofunato Jr. High Orchestra
Afternoon Performance at Taiyo Gakuen Children’s Home
Depart hotel for dinner with local people in Tome
Tuesday, September 18
Minamisanriku, Depart in morning for Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture Morning Performance: MinnanoYumehiroba which is Day Care Center for people with special needs
Afternoon Visit to Matsunami Koen where the playground was sponsored by Grateful Crane Ensemble in 2014
Wednesday, September 19
Depart Minamisanriku for Kyoto
Thursday, September 20
Sightseeing in Kyoto
Friday, September 21, 2018
Return to Los Angeles