Chaminade University’s Mystical Rose Oratory was the setting for the Christmas Concert for PEACE and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Commemoration on Dec. 7. The program by Tinkerbell, a handbells performing group from Japan, and Tsugaru Shamisen music, also from Japan, was organized by the BDK – Rev. (Yoshiaki) Fujitani Interfaith Program at Chaminade University and the Marine Village Foundation of Miyagi, Japan, and sponsored by Studio Bell Fantasy and NPO Club Casa Della Dolce Vita. Tinkerbell members played a Christmas medley, as well as “Take 5,” “Sukiyaki” and other songs.
The Tsugaru Shamisen duo — 16-year-old Shoju Aratani and 22-year-old Tatsuya Oikawa — have been playing shamisen since they were children. Among the selections they performed was “Tsugaru-Jongarabushi.”
The program also featured oli and hula by Masago Asai, Maya Asai and Mika Asai.
The Christmas Concert for PEACE” was initially organized by the Rev. Kazuki Moriyama, head minister of the Fukujyuji Temple in Yokohama, Japan. He was also president of the Marine Village Foundation in Miyagi. His goal was to express deep gratitude to the people and organizations in Hawai‘i for their support following the 2011 Töhoku earthquake and tsunami. When the BDK – Rev. Fujitani Interfaith Program was asked to promote Rev. Moriyama’s cause, the two organizers decided to dedicate the concert to world peace since it is also held on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
The musicians from Japan also performed at Ala Moana Center, Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin and Honolulu Myohoji Mission while in Honolulu.
