Takashima: 5 minutes by water-taxi |
Takashima is about 2200meters off shore.
It is a part of Karatsu City. About 400 people
live here. 90% of them are named Nozaki.
'Nozaki' is a historical name of more than
500 years. |
This is Takashima Junior High School.
12 students of three grades are studying.
Karatsu City is going to close this school
in the near future. Parents are worried. |
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Shigeko Niioka, the music teacher, wants
to make good memories for the students. She
wants the students be proud of the island
school.
Three years ago, she made a music band. She
taught all the students to play the guitar.
But the school did not have enough guitars
for each student. |
Kinuyo Ogata, an amateur guitarist, knew
this.
She talked to Mr. Tomiyoshi of Saga Shinbun
(newspaper).
In August of 1999, Mr.Tomiyoshi wrote an
article to ask the readers to send unnecessary
guitars to Kinuyo. |
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In a week or two, Kinuyo's house was full
of guitars. Most of them were used ones.
One was a very special piece made by the
most famous guitarist Yasumasa Kohara. One
person sent two brand new guitars without
telling his/her name. One mother sent a guitar
which her deceased daughter used to play. |
People's good will encouraged the students.
The members of 'Sun Shine' practiced hard.
Each year,they have held a concert.
The givers were invited, and the mother came
with her daughter's photo.
This spring (2002), the school was awarded
for its education of music. |
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This year, for the first time, Sun Shine
challenges Japanese traditional instruments,
Shamisen and Koto. |
| Principal Hirakawa, other teachers, and the
people who live on this island are great
supporters of 'Sun Shine' |
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This girl plays the Koto.
Koto has 13 strings.
The sound is elegant like a harp. |
Another girl also plays the Koto.
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Three girls and two boys play the Shamisen. |
| A Shamisen has 3 strings. |
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To play the Shamisen, Bachi, an ivory or
plastic triangular spatula is used to scratch
the strings. |
Moving the left hand fingers up and down
the neck of the instrument, you make different
notes.
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Some boys sing Japanese folk-songs.
The lady in red dress is Naruko-Dayu, who is a famous Gidayu artist. She taught
the students to play Japanese instruments
and sing Japanese folk-songs. |
On 14th of October, 2002, the annual concert
of 'Sun Shine' was held. It was
a beautiful
stage.
Many people enjoyed. |
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I liked 'Siciliana' very much.
The melody and the harmony sounded like a
lullaby played by the waves of Takashima.
I hope, just as Shigeko Niioka
and Kinuyo
Ogata hope, that the students
will never
forget the highlight of the stage
on that
day.
Shigeko's deceased husband Junji was my high-school
mate. I am sure Junji was listening from
the heaven. He must be proud of his wife.
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On the Island of Takashima, there is a small,
but very famous shrine. Many people from
all over Japan come to the Hoto Shrine. They
wish a miracle on their lottery tickets.
The Shrine has really made some millionaires.
But I wished a different miracle.
I prayed. "Let the school be continued.
Please don't take my Sun Shine away!" And I told the God the story of an American
movie, 'Music of the Heart'
He has not answered anything yet, but I hope
He is listening to the waves and also to
the guitars of students. |
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