NPO Japan-Romania Music Association
Chairperson: Kazuko Shimada
Romanian Music Society in Japan
President Kazuko Shimada
-
In 2002, we were invited to Romania for the "100th Anniversary of Japan-Romania Friendship Intergovernmental Event." We not only wanted to hold a concert there, but also wanted to interact with local high school students. Ion Creanga High School in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, kindly accepted our request. Our association's relationship with Romania began with this exchange concert with Ion Creanga High School.
Twenty years ago, I knew virtually nothing about Romania, except that it was a country with a thriving classical music scene. What I witnessed at the exchange concert far exceeded my expectations.
The stage was decorated with lots of origami, the student host was wearing a kimono, and they sang SMAP's "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana" (The Only Flower in the World). And the high school students spoke Japanese. I visited without knowing anything about it, and along with the question of why, I felt a sense of mission that I had to do something in Japan for these children.After returning to Japan, I wanted to introduce Romania through music, as I make a living from it. With the cooperation of the Romanian Embassy, I established the "Japan-Romania Music Association" in 2005 and held the "1st Romania Music Competition" (renamed the Romania International Music Competition from the 2nd competition onwards).
The concert tour to Romania with the competition winners, the interactions with the Romanians there—20 years later, I'm still cherishing the weight of those 20 years, especially when I have happy reunions with students I met back then who have found jobs in Japan.
Currently, in addition to the "Romania International Music Competition," a junior version, the "Romania International Junior Music Competition," has also been established, and it is recognized as a competition that helps children develop an international perspective from a young age.
I hope to continue sharing the many charms of Romania that cannot be fully conveyed through music alone, such as its beautiful scenery, the warmth of its people, the cheerful spirit of the only Latin people in Eastern Europe, and its delicious wine and food.
-
In 2002, we were invited to visit Romania at the “Intergovernmental Event Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Japan-Romania Friendship.” We requested that we not only hold a concert in Romania, but also interact with local high school students. Ion Creanga High School in Bucharest, Romania, kindly accepted us. The relationship between our Society and Romania began with this exchange concert with Ion Creanga High School.
Twenty years ago, I knew almost nothing about Romania, except that it was the only country with a thriving classical music scene. What I saw at the exchange concert far exceeded my expectations.
The stage was decorated with many origami papers, the host student wore a kimono, and the song sung was SMAP's “One Flower in the World”. And high school students speak Japanese. I came to visit without knowing anything, and I was given a sense of mission that I had to do something for these children while wondering why.After returning to Japan, I wanted to introduce Romania through music, and in 2005, with the cooperation of the Embassy of Romania, I established the Japan Romanian Music Siciety and held the 1st Romanian Music Competition (the 2nd The name was changed to the Romanian International Music Competition from this year onwards).
A Concert tour to Romania with the winners of the competition, exchanges with Romanian people there, and now, 20 years later, a student I met at that time has found a job in Japan and has a happy reunion. I feel the weight of twenty years.
Currently, in addition to the “Romanian International Music Competition”, the “Romanian International Junior Music Competition” has been established as a junior version, and is recognized as a competition that allows children to acquire an international sense from an early age.
We would like to continue to introduce Romania's charms that cannot be explained through music alone, such as the beautiful scenery of Romania, the warmth of the Romanian people, the cheerfulness of the only Latin people in Eastern Europe, and delicious wine and food.
