, sister college in Japan, will perform a concert of choral music on Wednesday, February 29, 7 p.m. at Palikū Theatre. Professor Rika Watanabe, who is a well-known soprano in Japan, will accompany 20 students from the Kagawa chorus. The concert is free and open to the public.
Kagawa Junior College is located on the southern island of Shikoku. Since 1989, Kagawa students have been visiting the Windward campus as part of their education program to learn and exchange language and culture, and also to experience Hawaiian hospitality. Three days after arriving home from last year’s visit, the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 occurred.
This concert has special meaning for the students and they will share a heartfelt presentation of traditional and modern choral music in a medley of children’s songs and seasonal landscapes.
In a message from the students, “The March 11 Great Earthquake of Eastern Japan severely damaged the beautiful ‘country side’ (our image of the traditional hometown) of Northeastern Japan. This experience uncovered deeply held feelings about Japan’s traditional landscapes within many of our people. We would like to share with you, through choral music, our emotional connection to these beautiful landscapes.”
For more information, email International Education Committee Chair Toshi Ikagawa.