Japan TV appearances March 2009

[comet]

Greetings Maya and many Thanks from Ireland too.

I am always amazed at Hayley, One so young, who sees the world so clearly , what is important and what needs to be done.

I am sure I will figure out how to download this someday

[Dave]

Hi everyone,

Maya and I now have an improved system and I can bring you a higher quality version of his recording of Hayley's part in the Golden Wedding preview show on the Tokyo Broadcasting TV channel. Here it is, I've added a few subtitles in case we use it on the main site etc. and so "strangers" will have an idea what is going on.

Golden Wedding and Hayley - HQ (.wmv 1.5mbps, 640x480, 36MB)

Background to the Video

I've been looking into this so I'd like to add a word or ten about the story behind this TV programme and the video, Maya please correct me if I get anything wrong!

The programme is a preview of the imminent Golden Wedding anniversary of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and clearly, this is going to be a very important event in Japan. As we know, when The Empress was a student, she wrote a poem which was later set to music by Masami Yamamoto in 1966, to mark the celebration of the birth of the Empress’ second child, Prince Akishinomiya (link). This song was... Lullaby of Nemunoki.

And now, Hayley has released this very song in Japan, is currently on tour there and has recently visited a Childrens' Home - Seibi Childrens' Home in Tokyo, as reported by Roger and Steve Abbott (with photos) in this thread here.
This is the same childrens' home featured in this video.

I believe that the Empress has a special interest in childrens' welfare, quite apart from her own children of course (I hope Maya will confirm this) and so, we can now see, everything comes together in this video... with Hayley singing the Empress's very own words over wonderful archive footage of the Imperial couple's last 50 years of marriage. Incidentally, the video ends with them sitting in tennis clothes... this is because they first met at a tennis court... all of 52 years ago!

And there's more!

As you will see from the link above, the Imperial couple were married in 1959... on April 10th!. Which in case anyone has forgotten, just happens to be Hayley's birthday. Her tour ends on April 5th and the following is speculation... but would anyone be surprised if Hayley stayed to celebrate her birthday in Japan this year? Or if she popped up to sing at a special event or two, during an extended stay? Well speculation or not, I know I wouldn't! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

I'm now getting very interested not only in Hayley's current Japan visit, but also in the Golden Wedding activities as a whole, exciting times! OK, I'll stop now.

Cheers, Dave

[grant]

Hi Dave

Well, I thought the original video was excellent quality, but this latest one is stunning.

Interesting times as you say Dave. I think it is quite amazing that 'a foreigner' has been given this accolade at such an important stage in the history of this lullaby and its creator.

I think it could only happen to someone like Hayley, but WOW! what an honour, very well deserved of course.

Your theory about Hayley's birthday celebrations is an interesting one - wonder if family will be flying over to join her?

Best wishes
Grant

[graemek]

Hi Dave & Grant,

Every time Hayley is involved in something of public significance I'm absolutely ecstatic.....can't wait !!! ....Hope it happens.
And I love that lullaby....

I loved it when I learned she was to sing at the Taipei Games.....

Graeme

PS Great collaboration Dave & Maya....another HWI "collectors item".

[maya]

Hi Dave and everyone.

First of all, thank you Dave for your hard work. It is very well arranged. I also say you have done it very nicely.

Without you, this could not be happened. The video became perfect by your efforts. Also your investigatin about Her Majesty Empress Michiko was perfect too and I have nothing to add except the translation of narrations in the video. I was busy last week but today is Sunday and I just will try the translation.

A man's voice at start up:
A beautiful voice echoed at an orphanage (Seibi Children's Home in Tokyo) on a day in this spring. The New Zealand diva Hayley was visiting there. As a youngest ambassador of UNICEF, she has been playing a big role and paying strong attentions on children under the difficult situations. There was another song she sang for children here was a lullaby “Nemunoki no Komoriuta”. The lyric was written by Empress Michiko when she was a young student.

A woman's voice which is the interpretation of Hayley's interview:
I think it's wonderful for the Empress to pay big attentions on children's welfare. Children are our future. We really must take good care of them. I love them and I love to sing the songs.

A man's voice again close to the end:
Soon the Emperor and the Empress will have the Golden Wedding Anniversary. They have been walking the roads which was sometimes rough and not easy to walk, but hand in hand they have helped each other for almost past a half century. Their walking style has been the symbol of us Japanese.

Hayley's part was the result of translations twice. Original Hayley's words - Japanese - my translation. Due to my limited skill, it is not fully the same as what Hayley said. I am hoping someone close to her could confirm it.

I will be recording NHK-TV show on Tuesday and will be asking Dave again to help me.

Best wishes.
Maya

[Richard]

Hello Dave!

I've just watched the HQ video and it's truly stunning, so I think you should post it on the main site, please.

Thanks for the translations, Maya.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[Martin]

Thanks Dave for the new recording and thanks again Maya for making it all possible.

I hadn't realised the significance of the Lullaby so it makes Hayley's contribution even more an honour.

Martin

PS Did anyone recognise the pianist's hands? They belonged to Tim of course!

[gra7890]

Hi Dave,
Thanks for the background info..... A fascinating read and it certainly brings all the clips of the video into context

Thanks again,

Best Wishes,

Graham

[postscript]

Superb post, Dave, thanks for all your time and trouble and your sharing.

Peter S.

[martindn]

Tanks you for that Dave and Maya. Another one for the collection!

Martin

[Dave]

Mar 29, 2009 7:31:49 GMT maya said:

I will be recording NHK-TV show on Tuesday and will be asking Dave again to help me.

Hi Maya,

I look forward very much to that! I will be asking you to help me, too!

I have now added this video and the extra information to the main HWI website and it can be found at the top of the Video Menu here.

Thanks for confirming the information about the Golden Wedding programme, Maya.

Cheers, Dave

[Karsten]

Hi Dave and Maya,

Thank you very much indeed for sharing the recording.

All the best,

Karsten

[maya]

Hi everyone.

Hayley sang “Flower” tonight on NHK-TV Japan. It is the one in HSJS1 but she sang it in Japanese first and then in English. Final part was again in Japanese. There was a round of applause as she ended her singing. I will contact Dave and we will do the same like we did for the lullaby song. I already upload the compressed file to show Dave and I wait his judgement. May be I should try some better quality one but It is late here and I will try tomorrow.

Best wishes.
Maya

[grant]

Splendid Maya!

I look forward to seeing your handywork!!

Best wishes
Grant

[pjrcorreia]

Hi Maya,

Wonderful news! Well done!

I think we are all looking forward to see it!

Best wishes,
Paulo Correia