Talented young wind-instrument musicians from high school orchestras around Hyogo Prefecture perform tree-planting charity concerts to aid in recovering damage caused by forest fires in the United States.

The group, which leaves for California tomorrow (December 22, 2004), says they want to convey “the spirit of rehabilitation.”

In October, 2003, 13 different forest fires broke out in Southern California, consuming about 300,000 hectares　 (or almost 1.5 times the Tokyo area).

In order to contribute to the tree-planting campaign for the disaster-stricken area in Southern California, which was devastated by massive forest fires last year, the Akashi Green Band will be visiting America on the 22^nd of this month to participate in a fund-raising charity concert.

The 70-member brass band consists of students from three schools in Hyogo Prefecture, including Akashikita High School, Akashiminami High School (both public schools), and Kobe Daiichi High School (a private school). A number of the participants have themselves been victims of disaster in the Great Hanshin Earthquake. Their experience has given them a great desire to convey “the spirit of rehabilitation which overcomes disaster.”

The group will stay in the US until January 6, 2005, in conjunction with Greener Planet Movement (GPM). GPM is an international non-profit organization, headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, which promotes environmental awareness and organizes fund-raising campaigns using talented young artists who perform charity concerts and hold art exhibitions and auctions for tree-planting. While in the US, they will give three performances at universities and other venues. Donations received for the performances will be presented to the Forest Conservation Organization. The students will also participate with local high schools in tree-planting activities.

Band-leader and coach Hirofumi Yokoyama (42) is also a past earthquake victim. His home was partially destroyed by the Kobe Earthquake, and his parents’ house completely demolished. He recalls transporting many bodies, including three of his own relatives, to their place of rest. Mr. Yokoyama says, “I naturally thought at the time that I wanted to be of help in some way to anybody I could. Now that we have a chance again to help, we are very happy that we can increase or replenish the number of trees by way of our musical performances.” Student band-leader Naoya Toki (17), a 2^nd grade student at Akashikita High School, also experienced the trauma of natural disaster as the earthquake hit his house in Chuo-Ku, Kobe. He says, “I will be happy if the commonality of traumatic experiences brought upon us through natural disaster will help us to understand each other. I think the enjoyment of music helps dissolve the barriers of language and culture.”

Hisashi Hiramatsu, vice-chairman of the board of directors of the All Japan Band Association says, “It is a wonderful thing that these performances can help preserve nature and give joy to the people. I believe that by participating in many different things our students can make a positive difference in strengthening international understanding.”

On top of their concert performances, the group will also make a monumental appearance in the Disneyland Christmas Parade on December 29, being the first Japanese group to have ever done so. When they return to Japan, students from Akashikita High School will participate in the Earthquake Disaster Rehabilitation Parade, held at the Motomachi Shopping Center, Chuo-ku, Kobe, on the 15^th of January.

March 24, 2005

Stop Global Warming:

Produced by (Japanese) high school students from Kyoto.

13 students will hold an exhibition and charity auction of their artwork,  at the Greener [Planet] Project held in Rotorua New Zealand.

13 (Japanese) students from Kyoto City Doda Senior High School of Arts took their artwork to NZ for an Exhibition and Charity Auction to raise funds for planting trees. The Rotorua Green Exhibition , organized by International NPO Greener Planet Movement (GPM) opens its doors on March 17, 2005 at the Rotorua City Museum (RAVE) in NZ. 9 of the students will be stay in Rotorua until March 24, for the activities which include tree planting, interacting with local art students, and producing art of the natural beauty of Rotorua that they will take back to Kyoto Japan for a similar exhibition and auction, there.

Rotorua is located in the North Island. The community recently lost many trees due to the extension of its airport runway to facilitate international tourist flights, including those from Japan. To restore the greenery lost in the extension, GPM (headquartered in Kyoto) is organizing an art exhibition in this city.

Megumi Sakakida (18), who received the Rotorua Mayor's Prize in GPM's 2nd Rotorua Exhibition in July 2004, was instrumental in making this year's exhibition possible by inviting her friends from her art school to participate. Miss Sakakida, an art student majoring in design at a Kyoto high school, participated in the first Exhibition in Rotorua in March 2004, at the recommendation of her teacher. Her artwork (planting a green globe seed in a forest) was selected by the Mayor of Rotorua last year. Of this Miss Sakakida said, "I am very impressed and happy that we can contribute to tree planting through our artwork. I invited my friends for this trip, and they decided to participate right away."

Miss Sakakida and 8 of her friends (also art students) arrived in Rotorua on March 16 to prepare for and run the exhibition. Together they have created about 70 pieces of art, including drawings, sculptures and pottery. They will be on display, including an English.