Send it to the children of the world! Prayer for Peace Music Festival in Tokyo

The Japan Future Support Organization (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Keiko Asano), a general incorporated association, held the "Relay to the Children of the World! Prayer Music Festival for Peace in Tokyo" at the Tokyo National Museum on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

This music festival, which is centered around children who will carry the future of the world and visits World Heritage sites and beautiful places around the world to pray for the happiness and peace of children around the world, was organized by Keiko Asano, composer Ari Onishi, the Ambassador of Senegal, and the wife of the Vice President of Cambodia.

◾️Organizer: Keiko Asano (Representative Director, Japan Future Support Organization)

Tsuda University sophomore Ishimatsu Karin / Aoyama Gakuin University senior Kasahara Yusuke / Organizer Asano Keiko / Keimei Gakuen freshman Nagai Karina / Toyo University sophomore Koshiyama Rinno

I plan to hold a "Prayer for Peace Music Festival for the Children of the World" in front of Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, New York in August 2036. Since 2014, I have been delivering soap (Ami♡soap) containing invitation medals for the party to children around the world.

First, wash your hands and live well!

And live your dreams! Make your dreams come true and see you in New York in 2036!

I distributed soaps with messages like this, but children naturally have dreams. Even orphaned children from the slums of India would talk with sparkling eyes about their dreams, saying things like, "I want to be a princess!" Through these activities, I realized that it's not children who don't have dreams, but adults. Adults live without dreams, complaining about society and fighting with their spouses right in front of their children. This is why children who do have dreams don't believe that dreams can come true. I started distributing soaps to encourage adults to have dreams, but no matter how much we tell them to have dreams, dreams don't come true under a sky full of falling bombs. That's why adults need to build peace in the world for children, and children need to build friendships. If children can become friends across borders, skin color, religion, language, and all the other boundaries adults have created, they won't wage war when they grow up. This strong belief led to the creation of a music festival where children pray for peace for the world's children.

To you who will create the world of the future

In the midst of wars waged by adults around the world and a world that continues to be destroyed, there are people who dedicate their lives to creating music, culture, and beautiful things. I truly respect such people. In a beautiful world, there is peace. Each country in the world has its own rules, but there is only one right thing."Protecting and giving"And what is wrong in any world is "taking." It is right to protect, share and give, but it is wrong to take away life or things from others. If everyone understood that, I think the world would be peaceful. Adults tell children to get along with their friends and not to fight, but adults are at war. First, be kind to your friends and those around you. Then, those people will be kind to someone else, and that kindness will go around the earth and one day, someone on earth will be kind to you or someone you care about. I think that is peace. A good person is"Someone who can care about others"Please become a good person. And adults still can't do it."Living in harmony"Please make this a reality. I strongly believe that you, as adults, can definitely achieve it. And for the sake of the children of the future, please use your power to create peace.

◾️ Composer: Ari Onishi

Tsuda University sophomore Ishimatsu Karin / Aoyama Gakuin University senior Kasahara Yusuke / Composer Onishi Ari / Keimei Gakuen freshman Nagai Karina / Toyo University sophomore Koshiyama Rinno

The festival has previously been held in Hiroshima and is planned to be held in other countries in the future."friend"I believe that the word "friends" is essential for world peace, and I hope that as we hold music festivals around the world in the future, people will have fun remembering the word "friends." To that end, I asked the daughter of the organizer, Mr. Asano, to write the lyrics. She is a second-year high school student living in Switzerland, so we kept in touch and worked on the lyrics together. My son, who has recently developed a strong interest in music, was in charge of the music. By asking them to compose the song, which is not professional, I hope to reduce the image that songwriting is difficult and further increase children's interest in music.

 No matter how much money you have, I think life is half as fun if you're alone. I believe that having deep connections with the people around you is essential to enriching your life. That's why I want my children to make friends in various places and cherish those friends.

◾️PEN VIMUOL, Wife of the Vice President of Cambodia

Interpreter for the wife of the Vice President of Cambodia CHENG PHALA (Chenpara) / Karina Nagai, 1st year student at Keimei Gakuen High School / Wife of the Vice President of Cambodia PEN VIMUOL (Penvimol) / Yusuke Kasahara, 4th year student at Aoyama Gakuin University

I thought it was wonderful that this music festival wasn't just a regular adult festival, but one that included children and focused on world peace. Cambodia also suffered a long and bitter civil war under the Pol Pot regime. Through this music festival, I was reminded that cooperation and connection between children and adults, across ethnicities and countries, is the first step toward peace. Cambodia's rich cultural heritage, including culture, arts, and performing arts, was largely wiped out by the Khmer Rouge (under the Pol Pot regime). While it's hard to imagine for people in Japan, there was a time when music was banned. As a result, there isn't much musical experience. Of course, Cambodian artists are active these days, and there are traditional dances and songs, but there are no music festival-style events like this. While singing is a tradition, there are still very few people who can play instruments like the piano, guitar, or bass proficiently.

To the children of the future

It is important for children to convey to adults that peace is necessary through events like this. We currently live in a society where there is war and fighting, so peace is needed all over the world. I am happy to hear the message calling for peace from everyone. Both Japan and Cambodia have experienced war in their modern history. It was a wonderful time that allowed me to feel that world peace begins with Japan and Cambodia. I look forward to the day when the children I met today will visit Cambodia again.

◾️His Excellency Jean-Antoine Dufou, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to Japan

Karin Ishimatsu, second-year student at Tsuda University; Yusuke Kasahara, fourth-year student at Aoyama Gakuin University; His Excellency Jean-Antoine Dufou, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to Japan; Karina Nagai, first-year student at Keimei Gakuen High School; and second-year student at Toyo University.

It was so much fun to see so many talented artists. There were also many young artists, which made me realize that Japan is truly overflowing with talent. Senegal has several traditional forms of music, primarily drums, such as the large "Jembe" and the small, portable "Tama." Other instruments include the flute "Balafon" and the harp-like instrument "Cora," used in West African countries. Music is often played at rites of passage such as weddings, funerals, and coming-of-age ceremonies, and even within Senegal, each ethnic group has its own unique style of music and ceremony.

I believe that music is universal and can connect countries. Therefore, at events that bring together people from various countries, I hope that people will continue to strengthen the ties between countries through music, just like the young artists who performed today.

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English Translation

◾️Mr. Jean Antoine DIOUF Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Senegal

 I was really impressed by all the talented artists today, especially the young ones. I feel that Japan has a lot of talent.

 Senegal has many traditional forms of music. The main instruments used are drums, including the large “Jembe” drum and the smaller “Tama,” which can be carried around. There is also the “Balafon,” a type of flute, and the “Cora,” a harp-like instrument used in West African countries such as Mali and Gambia. Music is often played during weddings, funerals, and initiation ceremonies. The style and music can vary from tribe to tribe within Senegal.

 I believe music can be a bridge between countries with its universality. Like the young artists today, I hope children will continue to strengthen the bonds between nations through music, especially in events where people from around the world come together.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on March 29, 2025. Yusuke Kasahara, 4th year student at Aoyama Gakuin University, Karina Nagai, 1st year student at Keimei Gakuen High School, and Rinno Koshiyama, 2nd year student at Toyo University.