Oct. 17, 2014
Toyota to Hold 38th Toyota Lobby Concert
Musicians to Inspire Dreams as Part of the Kokoro Hakobu Project
Toyota City, Japan, October 17, 2014―Toyota Motor Corporation, as part of its social contribution activities, will hold its 38th Toyota Lobby Concert on December 17 in the first-floor lobby of its Tokyo Head Office. The concert, the latest in a series of concerts held regularly since 1995, is being conducted as part of the Kokoro Hakobu Project, an initiative that started in 2011 to assist the recovery of the Tohoku region following the Great East Japan Earthquake.
This year's concert features three acts: Nicholas Edwards, a 22 year-old singer-songwriter born in the U.S. who combines Japanese and English lyrics in his songs; Ensemble Planeta, a four-member, female a cappella group singing new arrangements of famous classical and Japanese songs; and Nanase Aikawa, a talented singer celebrating 20 years as a professional singer next year.
The theme of the concert is chikara oto (the power of sound). Music, song, and lyrics each possess a power that fills the listener with inspiration and energy, and this year's acts will seek to spread inspiration and energy through their heart-felt emotions.
With the cooperation of the Iwate prefectural government, special goods and locally made products will be available for purchase at the concert in the hope that the event will contribute to Iwate's economic recovery, even if only in a small way.
Toyota will provide complimentary tickets to 330 residents of nursing-care facilities located near its Tokyo Head Office, as well as the general public. Those wishing to attend are requested to apply by following the instructions in the table below. Tickets will be sent by post to successful applicants around December 4.
38th Toyota Lobby Concert: Chikara Oto (Power of Sound)
| Date | December 17, 2014 |
|---|---|
| Time | 18:30 to 20:00 (venue opens at 18:00) |
| Venue | 1st floor lobby, Toyota Motor Corporation Tokyo Head Office, 1-4-18 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo |
| Performers |
|
| Host | Toyota Motor Corporation |
| Assistance | Tokyo Voluntary Action Center, Bunkyo Voluntary Action Center, NPO Echo, and Iwate Ginga Plaza. |
| Planning and production support |
Trans Mission Inc. |
| Tickets |
To apply online, fill out an application at http://www.toyota.co.jp/lobby_concert/ (Japanese language only). To apply by mail, send a postcard with your name, address, age, telephone number, email address and number of tickets desired (up to two per attendee) to: Corporate Citizenship Div. (Toyota Lobby Concert)
Applications close on November 27 (postcards must arrive on or before).
Toyota Motor Corporation 1-4-18 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, 112-8701 |
Performer Profiles
- Nicholas Edwards
- Nicholas Edwards was born on July 31, 1992 in Hillsboro, Oregon in the United States. He came to Japan as an exchange student six years ago, and was deeply impressed by Japanese culture and the J-pop music scene. After returning to the U.S., he set about diligently mastering the Japanese language and, after graduating from high school, returned to Japan. Edwards has passed grade one (the highest level) of the Japanese Proficiency Test, and is qualified to work as a simultaneous interpreter. He received widespread attention for winning Nippon Television's "Song For Japan―Nodojiman the World" (he has taken first place three times thus far), and last year made his professional debut as a singer-songwriter. Edwards' latest album, HARDSPICE, was released on October 8 in two versions: a Japanese version, in which he sings the original Japanese lyrics he composed himself; and an English version, in which he sings an English translation.
- Ensemble Planeta
- An all-female four-member group, Ensemble Planeta creates new arrangements of famous classical songs, European folk songs, and popular, traditional Japanese songs. They sing in a unique, non-vibrato, a cappella style, creating music that transcends period and genre. Since their debut in 2001, Ensemble Planeta have released eight CDs and gained popularity in South Korea, Germany, Italy, and elsewhere. Last year, they released an album of their greatest hits, Inori no Harmony (The harmony of prayer).
- Nanase Aikawa
- Born in February 1975, Nanase Aikawa made her professional debut with the song Yume miru shojo ja irarenai (I can't continue to be a girl who dreams). Her debut album reached No.1 in the new debut charts and sold over two million copies. With nationwide fame, she was subsequently invited to sing on "NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen" (a New Year's Eve singing contest hosted by NHK). Aikawa is engaged in a wide variety of pursuits―in 2001, she gave birth to her first child, and now balances her musical activities with being a mother of three. She has published a novel, Dahlia, and in July of this year released a collection of travel essays entitled Kami musubi (Heavenly connections). Furthermore, she is a celebrity "red rice ambassador" for the city of Soja in Okayama Prefecture. In spring this year, she released a single in collaboration with Mayo Okamoto, Sakura mai oriru koro, namida iro (When the sakura begin to fall, they are the color of tears). In November 2015, Aikawa will celebrate 20 years as a professional singer.
