Magcal Academy (Odawara Edition) "Odawara Boys and Girls Choir"

Please tell us what made you decide to join the Odawara Boys and Girls Choir and how you feel since joining.

Leader Kana Fujita, second year student at Seisen Jogakuin High School

It all started when an older sister who lived next door to my house was in the Odawara Boys and Girls Choir and asked me if I wanted to join. At the time, I was in the first grade of elementary school and was a girl who loved singing and would often sing in the bath. When I joined, the older sisters in the choir always looked after me and taught me a lot, so it was really fun. For a while, we had to take a break from activities to take up the junior high school entrance exam, and it was very painful to no longer have singing practice on weekends and to have singing disappear from my daily life. When I first joined, I think there were about 80 people in the choir. Even earlier, there was a time when there were more than 100 people. It's unfortunate that the number of people has decreased for various reasons. However, because we are a small group, the power of each member is very important, and I feel a strong sense of gratitude for being able to sing together. Since it's a choir, you can't sing alone, and if even one person is missing, we won't be able to sing, so I want to keep singing hard together.

Sub-leader Yoshiko Ishida, second year student at Hiratsuka Gakuen High School

It all started when I went to see the Odawara Boys and Girls Choir's concert in Odawara when I was in the third grade of elementary school. They were so good and looked like they were having fun, I wanted to join them and sing with them. At the time, I was worried about whether I could do group activities, but here it is normal for older people to look after younger people. Looking after younger people is not something I do in my daily life, but I think I have to pass on what my seniors taught me when I was little here. I think it's wonderful that friends who love to sing can come together and sing with the same goal.

Former leader Chiharu Moriyama, third-year student at Odawara High School

I joined the choir when I was in the second grade of elementary school, at the recommendation of my grandfather. At that time, my grandfather saw the Odawara Boys and Girls Choir singing together with a choir from overseas, and he was surprised at the high level of the choir. When I joined, I not only felt a sense of camaraderie through singing, but also had the opportunity to have international exchange, so I think it was a good thing that I did. It was a wonderful experience to go abroad to sing songs and experience homestays abroad. I had the opportunity to stay with a host family in the Czech Republic, and even though we spoke different languages, we were able to communicate by trying to understand each other. I was also moved when we were able to sing Czech songs together and felt that we were connected through song. Singing is really fun.

Makoto Satomi, first year student at Seisen Girls' High School

I've loved singing since I was little, and my grandmother, who was in a choir, recommended the Odawara Boys and Girls Choir to me. I joined when I was in the first grade of elementary school. My grandmother had heard from her fellow choir members that this was a good place to join if you wanted to join a children's choir. Since the members of the choir are from different schools and grades, they take care of each other like a family. I also like the fact that you can make friends with people of all ages, people you wouldn't meet if you just went to your own school. Since we are all gathered together with the goal of singing, practicing singing feels very rewarding.

From left: Chiharu Moriyama, Kana Fujita, Makoto Satomi, and Yoshiko Ishida

When asked what makes the Odawara Boys and Girls Choir different from other children's choirs, everyone mentioned the warm personality of the choir's instructor, Mr. Kuwabara, the fact that it is international, and that the choir is run by volunteer parents. Apparently, they invite choirs and musicians from various countries, such as the Czech Republic and Indonesia, to perform together and receive high-level instruction. There are no auditions to join, and anyone who loves singing can join.
In a choir, it is not enough for only one person to be good at singing, but it is important for each person to sing together while keeping the balance of the group. By caring about each other, they told me that it is very fun to feel like they are united through singing.

The refreshing uniforms have star badges on the front. The number of star badges represents the number of years of enrollment. There are families where two generations continue to sing together, with the current choir and the Mulberry Chamber Choir, which is made up of choir alumni.
Their main activities include family concerts, regular concerts, training camps, and Christmas concerts, as well as singing at nursing homes and joint concerts with overseas choirs.
He also showed me this handwritten note:

This notebook has been a tradition since the Odawara Boys and Girls Choir first began. Apparently, they write it down after a performance, or to connect with their instructor, Mr. Kuwabara, when something happens. Looking through it, there are some notes about how nervous they were singing in a new place, and Mr. Kuwabara responds with kind words of appreciation for each one. With the 55th anniversary coming up next year, how many books will this be? I feel that the reason this tradition has continued for such a long time is because of the strong relationship of trust between students and teachers.

Finally, I would like to ask Ms. Taeko Kuwahara, the instructor. What is the significance of continuing to lead the children's choir for 55 years?

Taeko Kuwahara

I want children to feel the joy of communicating with each other through song. I think singing has the power to let out all the vague feelings of adolescence that can't be put into words. Singing makes you feel refreshed and good. It also enriches your heart.
It seems that the number of choir members is declining not only in Japan, but also overseas, such as in Europe. One of the reasons is the declining birthrate, but I am concerned that it is because many children now want to do everything on their own using smartphones and the Internet. I wonder if they are finding it troublesome to cooperate and try to accomplish something together. When the time comes for me to retire, I intend to leave my successor to Haruko Kuwahara, a member of the choir's 10th class who currently lives in the UK and serves as the musical director. She returns to Japan every month to provide guidance, creating music before the performance and acting as a bridge between the choir and overseas choirs.
We are currently looking for new members from first grade elementary school to second grade high school. Why not join us and experience the joy of singing together? Our goal is to increase the number of members to about 50.