Two nations sing one song during friendship concert

Photo By Sgt. Benjamin Pryer | Japanese and American students perform the ‘Sohran Folk Dance’ at Iwakuni Civic Hall during the U.S.-Japan Friendship Concert Feb. 18. The dance takes the rigorous actions of working aboard a fishing boat and turns the movements into a rhythmic and fluid ceremonial dance.  

IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN

02.24.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Joseph Karwick 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

IWAKUNI, Japan - American and Japanese students came together at the U.S. - Japan Friendship Concert Feb. 18, to strengthen the bonds between the base and the community.

The concert brought together children of two cultures by way of a melting pot of song and dance.

Plans for the concert begun as early as September, according to Allen Strawbridge, Matthew C. Perry High School music director.
Cultural events such as this friendship concert allow the students to see the differences in cultures.

“The kids get to see a lot of our differences, but also see that we’re really the same. They play around and get to have fun,” said
Strawbridge. “They also get to learn because the Japanese students have been performing a lot longer than my students they are excellent musicians. We get to learn from each other musically and interact on a social level.”

“We did a lot of practicing,” said Michaelynn Kopp, M.C. Perry Elementary School student.

Before the concert began, the audience was greeted and thanked by Masayoshi Tatsumi, Chugoku-Shikoku Defense Bureau director general, Yoshihiko Fukuda, Iwakuni City mayor and Col. James C. Stewart, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni commanding officer.
Soon after the addresses, the festivities were under way.

The children from M.C. Perry Elementary School sang an assortment of songs from The Beatles.

“Some of the songs my students, are performing are: 'Yellow Submarine,' 'Yesterday' and 'Michelle,'” said Chris Kimmey, M.C. Perry Elementary School music director.

Strawbridge conducted the M.C. Perry High school group, including World Drum Ensemble, which performed ‘Caribbean Funk,’ the Samurai Chorus, which performed ‘America the Beautiful’ and ‘I Believe I Can.'

'Fly’ as well as the Symphonic Band, which performed ‘The Star Wars Saga.’

The Japanese schools included Iwakuni Municipal Kawashimo Elementary School, Iwakuni Municipal Iwakuni Junior High School, Iwakuni Municipal Nada Junior High School and Otake Municipal Ogata Junior High School.

These schools performed such songs as ‘Somebody Somewhere,’ ‘National Emblem March’ and several others.

Toward the end of the concert, both the American and Japanese students came together to perform the ‘Sohran Folk Dance.’

This dance takes the rigorous actions aboard a fishing boat and turns the movements into a rhythmic and fluid ceremonial dance.

“I am looking forward to dancing with the Americans,” said Ryuuto Muramoto, a participating Japanese student.

By the end of the concert, it was obvious it was a success when it came to establishing bonds between the community and students.

“I can remember after rehearsals the Japanese and American kids would hang out and start singing all the same songs,” said Kimmey. “It’s a really good experience for them.”

By the time the sun sank, seats in the Iwakuni Civic Hall had all emptied.

The songs had been sung, but the memories of a fun day remained in the thoughts of those present.

The ties between countries had been expressed, and the bonds of friendship had been branded into the hearts of children from
both nations.

• Date Taken: 02.24.2012
• Date Posted: 07.01.2012 12:07
• Story ID: 90944
• Location: IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP