They will perform at a charity concert held at McQueen in Shoreditch which aims to send further financial aid to Japan, while also offering encouragement not only to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami, but also to Japanese in England and across the world.
June 2011
The pop artists are; Naomi Suzuki, an actress, singer and presenter from Japan who is also co-ordinating the event; Ayako Nakanomori, the former vocalist of NAKANOMORI BAND, one of Japan’s most successful girl-groups; the multi-million selling pop artist Yuki Koyanagi; and singer, actress (Spirited Away, Metal Gear Solid) and two time Japanese Academy Award nominee Mari Natsuki.
Additional to the big four Japanese pop singers will be award winning violinist Diana Yukawa, who will open the event. Her debut album entered the charts at number one in Japan and she recently supported Japan for a fundraising event at Nobu Restaurant in Mayfair, raising £500'000 for the Earthquake appeal.
The five will perform separately on the night, and the pop singers will unite to form a special unit to sing the charity single ‘HOME’, the CD of which will be given away free with every ticket. The lyrics to this song were partly composed over Twitter between Suzuki and a victim who had lost his house in the tsunami. “His words captured the feelings of the people affected in a way I never could,” says Suzuki. “We are together, no matter how far we are apart.” The story caught the attention of the Japanese media.
The backing band is also full of world renowned musicians, including Simply Red guitarist Kenji Kazuki, Grammy Award winner Simon Hale, perhaps Japan’s most recognised percussionist, Nobu Saito. Incognito drummer Durren Abraham and Harada Kuma who worked with Kate Bush,Van Morrison.
violinist Website
Japan We've Not Forgotten You Press Release
