STU48, an idol group based in the seven Setouchi prefectures, has been appointed as the “Peace Culture Ambassador,” and has attended the concert commemorating the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, and has attended the concert commemorating the wrapping renewal of Kamiyacho Machikado Piano.
Today, STU48 performed in the first official activity since becoming the Peace Culture Ambassador, “Kaiyacho Machikado Piano Wrapping Renewal Concert, Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Atomic Atomic Exploration Project.” The five attendees were Okada Azumi, Okamura Rio, Kurushima Yuka, Hyodo Aoi, and Zhukuzu Nori.
The Kamiyacho Machikado Piano is a 1967 grand piano that was popular among citizens at Mushika, a pure music teahouse in Hiroshima City after the war, and has brought hope and courage to many people in Hiroshima after the war. This historic piano was installed at Kamiyacho Shaleo on July 7th, 2020, and today marks its fifth anniversary.
At this commemorative concert, the piano wrapping design was completely revamped to coincide with the milestone of 80 years of the atomic bombing and the fifth anniversary of its establishment. The new design expresses the wish that Hiroshima, which was said to have “not grown in plants for 75 years,” has now been reborn as a beautiful city filled with flowers and greenery, and uses flowers and green as motifs to express their desire for peace.
At the concert, Aoi Hyodo played the piano, and four people sang, Okada, Okamura, Kurushima and Zhuge. Okada said, “We recently became Peace Culture Ambassadors. I sing with the hope that through our performances and songs, we can convey our feelings for peace as much as possible.” Okamura said, “We are the ones who work in Hiroshima and we can only deliver peace. As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing this year, we would like to deliver this song to more people,” and the message song “Who are the flowers? ‘ was shown.
In addition, through four songs, including “Voices of the Setouchi,” which sings about the calm scenery of the Setouchi, bringing his feelings for peace into the song, and finally Hyodo concluded with, “I hope that the songs and activities of STU48 will give you an opportunity to think about the preciousness of peace.”
In the finale, the group choirs at Hiroshima Municipal Motomachi Elementary School and Hiroshima Nagisa Junior and Senior High School choirs were chorused by the key music “Hiroshima Peace Song,” a project commemorating the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing. The singing voice resonated with the sound of Kamiyacho Machikado piano was a moving ending that once again conveyed the importance of peace to the entire venue.
■What is “Shimayacho Machikado Piano”The Kamiyacho Machikado Piano is a 1967 grand piano that was used in the Jun Music Sabo Mushika, which was once a popular place to relax in Hiroshima. On New Year’s Eve, the year after the bombing, the record “Nine” played through the inside speakers of Mushika, brought hope and courage to those who were in the midst of the chaos of the postwar era. This piano, which was placed inside the store, also colored its history over the years and connected the hearts of many people. To my regret, Mushika has closed, but this piano was installed in the Shareo on July 7th, 2020 as the Kamiyacho Machikado Piano. Since then, as a symbol of “creating a city full of music,” citizens and visitors to Hiroshima from Japan and abroad have been able to enjoy music casually.
■What is “Hiroshima Peace Song”?“Hiroshima Peace Song” was a song completed by Yamamoto Minoru, a song that was sung by the Hiroshima Peace Festival Association with the hope that Hiroshima City will become the origin of world peace, and was sung by Yamamoto Minoru on the selected work by Shigezono Yoshio. It was sung widely at the first Peace Festival held in a solemn atmosphere on August 6, 1947, and is still sung at the Peace Memorial Ceremony.
