Japan's roots of peace
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Dancing Joy is now being shown in the museum dedicated to the moment when prisoners and their captors celebrated peace by playing Beethoven's stirring Symphony No. 9 in Bando internment camp in 1918, at the end of World War 1.
The Naruto German House museum memorializes two amazing stories, both which have left a deep and powerful impact on the awareness of the people of Japan and Germany.
When German soldiers were captured by Japanese forces in WWI, they were sent to the Bando prison camp in Tokushima, Japan. Rather than treat those prisoners with cruelty, the commander, Lieutenant Colonel Matsue Toyohisa, encouraged the prisoners to do productive pursuits: creating a bakery, crafting items and forming an orchestra.
The villagers treated them with kindness and when the war ended, the prisoners thanked them by performing Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" Choral Symphony. This has inspired yearly holiday celebrations in which the symphony is played, with even up to ten thousand vocalists singing the powerful lyrics all together.
Indeed, this story is just one of the many ways that this music has built peace and inspired movements for human rights, dignity and reconciliation around the world.
Today, Dancing Joy--which expresses that symphony through the dance of 21 world cultures--is being included in the experience visitors have when visiting the German House--the museum dedicated to the memory of that amazing moment in the two nation's histories.
Executive producer Kazuo Tsubata visited the museum recently and presented the curator, Ms. Junko Hasegawa, with Blu-ray and DVD copies of the film, explaining how the story of the Bando prison camp was one of the inspirations for the creation of the movie.
As a result, the film is now being shown as visitors tour the museum.
Ms. Hasegawa writes:
"I felt that the way the spirit of the “Ninth Symphony” is conveyed through a variety of dances from around the world truly symbolizes the universal power of this piece. I read with great interest the explanation from the production team, as well as the reactions of audience members who wish for peace.
"We have also received feedback from visitors to the German House museum who watched the work, saying they were deeply moved by how music and dance connect people across borders.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude for sharing such valuable information and look forward to continued support and collaboration."
"The goal of making the movie was to foster awareness of our common human desire for peace, joy and love, and our ability to make that a reality," Kate Tsubata, the film's producer, said.
"We feel that the collaboration of the Japanese and German people to build dignity, respect and goodness even in the middle of a war--shows the path forward for all humankind. We are honored, and excited, to have our film become part of the inspirational work of the Naruto German House."
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