Enjoy the beautiful and diverse sounds of the pipe organ for just 100 yen!

A world of art to visit, see and feel
File.4 Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall Yokohama Bank Presents Children's Future Music Program "Children's Organ $1 Concert"
(Inoue Miyuki/Copywriter)

The "One Dollar Organ Concert" is one of Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall's most popular events. For just one dollar (or 100 yen), you can enjoy a full-scale organ concert in the hall, a place everyone dreams of. Long lines form before the doors even open every time.
Held eight times a year, the Yokohama Bank Presents Children's Future Music Program "Children's Organ Dollar Concert" was held in August, and even children as young as 0 were allowed in. After checking that the program was not "just for children" but that adults could enjoy it as well, and that there was no age limit for admission, I decided to go.

We visited during a show that allowed children from 0 years old to enter, and the entrance was lined with mothers pushing strollers. How lucky these babies are to be exposed to real music from such a young age! We're sure they will grow up to be sensitive adults.
By the way, there is a stroller parking area in the lobby at the children's concert, so you don't have to worry.
Admission is 100 yen for both adults and children.
Since it is a "$1 concert," you can pay with $1 bills or coins, but you can also pay with IC cards such as Suica.

© Hiradate Taira

Finally, we entered the great hall.
I was a little worried because there was a long line even before the doors opened, but the large hall with 2020 seats was not affected. It's best to line up early to get your favorite seat, but if you arrive five minutes before the show starts, it should be no problem.
According to the hall staff, if you're looking for a good sound for a pipe organ concert, the third floor seats are recommended. If you want to enjoy the concert at the same height as the organ, the second floor seats are recommended, and if you want to get a closer look, the seats on the side of the stage are recommended. It seems like it would be fun to choose seats depending on your mood that day.
© Hiradate Taira

The organ installed in the main hall is made by the American company C.B. Fisk. It has been nicknamed "Lucy," meaning "light," in keeping with its bright, sparkling tone. The hall itself was architecturally designed with the organ in mind, so the entire hall resonates as a single instrument, and the audience feels as if they are enveloped in the organ's sound. (From the hall's website)
© Hiradate Taira

This is a seagull carving on a Honduran mahogany case. It's a lovely design that exudes Yokohama spirit. It's located just below the central pipes and above the music stand, so take a good look.

Since there was still some time before the show started, I stopped by the drinks corner to quench my thirst. Unlike a night concert, the foyer was filled with bright sunlight, so a nicely chilled white wine was the perfect match.
By the way, a glass of wine comes with snacks and costs 400 yen. This is also bliss.

And finally the concert begins.
The album features pieces you've probably heard at least once, including JS Bach, which you may have learned at school, so you can enjoy it with confidence.
"Aquarium" from Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals" leaves an impression with the mysterious sound of the celesta built into the pipe organ, resembling a metallophone. "The Swan" soothes the soul with its simple organ-like tone.
The 40-minute concert concluded with a piece from Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance." The pipe organ, with its diverse tones, is sometimes referred to as a "one-man orchestra," and the magnificent performance, worthy of that nickname, gave me energy and made me think, "Let's do our best in the afternoon!"

On this day, there was a sale of "animal sables" as souvenirs as part of the "Children's Organ for $1 Plus." It seems to be a collaboration project with the "Nogeyama Zoo Carnival" to be held two days later, and a set of penguin, giraffe, and lion sables was sold. I'm weak to the feeling of something "only available now," so of course I bought some to take home. This is also one of the things I look forward to.

Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
"One Dollar Organ Concert"

■ Wednesday, October 10th 12:10pm performance Balint Karosi
*$1 per night! Show starts at 7:00 PM
■Wednesday, November 28th 12:10pm performance by Yasuko Harada

2019
■January 23 (Wednesday) 12:10pm performance by Nahomi Shiga
■Wednesday, February 27th, 12:10pm performance by Eric Suter
■March 20th (Wednesday) 12:10pm performance by Satoko Kawagoe

《Organ Concert for Children from 0 Years Old》

■September 5th (Wednesday) 11:00 start/14:00 start