After last year's tsunami swept through his hometown of Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture, singer-songwriter Takaaki Konno did his part in relief efforts, including participating in several live concerts and fund-raising events.
After last year's tsunami swept through his hometown of Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture, singer-songwriter Takaaki Konno did his part in relief efforts, including participating in several live concerts and fund-raising events.Impressed by various forms of support including relief workers from around the planet to help in the recovery efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake, Konno has written a song as a way of expressing thanks and is currently seeking out singers to participate.Konno, 35, is president of T-Toc Records. He penned a tune called “Mirai e no Tobira” (Door to the future).“There were songs to encourage people in disaster-stricken areas," Konno said. "But I realized there was no song to say 'thanks' to everyone who helped out.”Konno said he is planning to hold the first recording session on June 30 at the Ichinoseki Bunka Center in his hometown, followed by sessions in 10 other venues in disaster-hit areas of Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures. A CD will be created using the recordings.The session in Ibaraki Prefecture will be held on July 29 at Konno's T-Toc Studio in Joso.Participation is free. The name of all the participants will appear on the CD jacket. The application deadline is June 29.Konno plans to release the CD nationwide in September, with proceeds expected to be donated to disadvantaged children around the world.“I do not want the people who helped after the disaster to be forgotten," Konno said. "I want to convey through song our gratitude to the people of the world who extended help.”The song is also available on T-Toc’s website for download (www.t-tocrecords.net/mirai.html).