I sometimes feel that my concerts in Germany are helped by a series of miracles.

The following year, I had a concert... I mean two concerts in the same area. One was at the same chapel as the previous year and the other was at a hotel, I forgot the name...I heard it was once Japan capital. It was part of an event of the association of Aachen Germany and Japan.
We put Tatami mats on the floor and made a little Japanese style tea room. German Kado meister made a flower arrangement. She had made Big flower arrangement for my concert of the previous year.

I was asked many questions such as “I’m learning Zen, In what kind of situations do you feel Zen during the tea ceremony?” “Why do you turn the bowl three times?” I felt like I was representing Japan. I thought, if I would have another opportunity like that, I wanted to explain in my own words. After coming back to Japan, I decided to take up my English studies. I also read books on Japanese culture both in Japanese and English.

One day, Junko sent me a message. “When will you come again?” I didn’t have any plan to go there again. But she said a man contacted her and asked her to do a Concert like the one I did the previous year, a cultural exchange concert. He said he read an article about us. Junko was excited, but I was worried about how to make the money to go to Germany. I asked Ken, my husband, to help me. He was kind enough to give the miles he had accumulated to me.

This time Junko suggested that it would be better that I give my self-introduction in German. I had Junko’s friend translate my script into German, Frank, Junko’s husband, read it aloud and record it. I practiced it hundreds of times. It seems like I was able to make myself understood because some people talked to me in German after the concert.

I’ll never forget the honor. Over 200 people came and enjoyed my songs. I sung some songs in German. It would have been helpful to touch their memories. Encores and Standing ovations. I know I’m not young, didn’t receive musical education, majored in Japanese literature, I don’t speak German either. But…What an amazing applause!

Another achievement of that time, I sung at the elderly house as a volunteer. It was such a heartfelt experience for me. I was happy. Really happy.

But… to be continued….

#kimonosinger
#cultural exchange
#英語学習