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7 July, 2011
On Friday 24 June, the Australian ‘Isabella Acappella’ choir group performed for the residents of Futaba, Fukushima, at an evacuation centre in Saitama Prefecture. Their beautiful voices brought smiles to the faces of the evacuees, who have been relocated from their homes in the exclusion zone surrounding the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to a former high school in Kazo, Saitama. The Isabella Acappella choir group, composed of students, staff and alumni of Southern Cross University, performed throughout Japan from 3 to 26 June as part of their 7th Friendship Tour.
Many sang along to familiar songs Japanese and international songs, such as ‘Sukiyaki’ and ‘Stand By Me’. The Australian Embassy Tokyo donated a number of children’s picture books, and the members of Isabella Acappella presented Futaba Deputy Mayor Inoue with the funds raised during their tour.
Throughout the tour, which was supported by the Australia-Japan Foundation, the group performed in various goodwill concerts showing their support for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
Chef Hiroyuki Sakai, also known as the “Iron Chef”, also came to the evacuation centre to show his support for the evacuees. Chef Sakai said: “Just as Isabella Acappella showed their support today, the people in Australia and people all over the world are praying and standing by Japan and those affected by the disasters.” He promised to come back again to prepare a meal for the people of Futaba and encouraged the people to keep their faith.
