WSD Global Human Rights Summit 2015 (5)

  In an ending statement, Cohen illustrated how difficult it is to properly rescue the victims and finally solve the problem., explaining the case where young girls were once rescued from a brothel and taken to a police station overnight, but the next morning they were taken to another brothel. This teaches us a lesson that we need more and more proper and systematic ways in rescuing the victims without fail.

Panelists greet the audience at the conference.

WSD

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Decemer.22, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/12/22/special-supplements/global-human-summit/

WSD Global Human Rights Summit 2015 (4)

  Ong Keng Yong, the chairman of the Human Rights resource Center and former secretary-general of ASEAN said that the governments and security  authorities of all ASEAN nations, inlcuding foreign affairs ministries, prefectural governrnment offices, police customs and coast guards, need to coordinate to monitor and control the global problem related to the human trafficking.

 Ian Thorpe, the Australian Olympic legend in swimming race who won five gold medals with three silvers and one bronze, has been publicly known as a human rights activist. He also joined the summmit. In the afternoon sessions, he proposed the four basic principles of fighting human trafficking or the "Four Ps." They are: the prevention of the illicit trade, the prosecution of those committing the crime, the protection of the victims, and the partnership between concerned authorities. He said these four elements are like the legs of the chair which cannot be stable even with just one leg missing.

  Shaymala Alagendra, a defense counsel at the International Criminal Court pointed out the other side of the problem. Some of the U.N. peacekeepers dispatched to African countries, Haiti and Cambodia, are reported to have committed crimes inlcuding rape, sexual abuse, and other illicit deeds leading to the violation of the human rights of the local people.   



(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Decemer.22, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/12/22/special-supplements/global-human-summit/

   

WSD Global Human Rights Summit 2015 (3)

 The afternoon session was open to the public.  The panelists discussed the definition of human trafficking and the causes of the problem. 

 David Carden, a former U.S. ambassador to ASEAN, appealed to as much as 1,200 audience, saying  that the root cause of the problem is a lack of resources necessary to make a living, and that these resources include food, water, land electricity, health care and education. In most cases, the victims had been under unbearable living conditions so that they could not have a choice but to look for 'another life'.  However, they were deprived of their minimum requirements for living by those involved in the trafficking, and the latter are among the culprits in human trafficking., he added. 

 Surakiart Sathiranthai, former deputy  prime minister and former minister of foreign affairs of Thailand, agreed on Carden's view and said that victims of the illegal deeds are always "the most vulnerable, the youngest and women and girls, " and that human trafficking and poverty are intertwined, and just one government cannot be enough to disband the secret connections spread over numerous countries. He added that "It requires intergovernmental cooperation, but it is of course no easy task."




(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Decemer.22, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/12/22/special-supplements/global-human-summit/

  

WSD Global Human Rights Summit 2015 (2)

  According to David Cohen, director of the WSD Handa Center, explained to the audience that  Human trafficking is now found spreading in almost all countries in the world. Human traffickers captivate or kidnapp innocent men and women in a certain country, then they deliver them through other countries, and finally,  send them to the destination countries. However, at present, no reliable data of such illegal deeds have been made, so it is the problem, he continued.

 Then, the Walk Free Foundation, an Australian organization issuing "Annual Slavery Index" published an estimate of nearly 36 million people in modern-day slavery, and the International Labor Organization said in 2012 that about 21 million people worldwide are under forced labor. They also said that there is no accurate data of the victims, so they cannot say anything for certain.



(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Decemer.22, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/12/22/special-supplements/global-human-summit/

  

WSD Global Human Rights Summit 2015 (1)

 The Global Human Rights Summit was held in Tokyo, on Dec.13, organized by Worldwide Support for Development (WSD)., and co-organized by the Human Rights Resource Center and the WSD Handa Center for Human Rights and International Justice at Stanford University. 
 The aim of the summit was to raise global awareness to combat human trafficking. On that day, experts, learned men in the various fields including legislators, lawyers, human rights activists and former ambassadors and government officials of ASEAN members and other countries, joined the summit.
 Valerie Amos, the director of the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London as well as the undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator at the U.N., said in a panel discussion at the summit, "Modern-day slavery is a multibillion dollar industry and it's a big business...Every country is affected by modern-day slavery in some way."
 The panel discussion held in the morning and others in the afternoon were presided over by Dr.Haruhisa Handa, 

World Support Development Chairman Dr.Haruhisa Handa
addresses the audience
at the WSD Global Human Rights Summit
in Japan, held in Tokyo on Dec.13.

WSD

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Decemer.22, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/12/22/special-supplements/global-human-summit/

The 2nd 'Blazing Autumn People's Concert' (6)

 Following an intermission, the orchestra reappeared along with amateur chorus members of TAF (Tokyo Art Foundation) . The chorus group was established 21 years ago, and has been awarded a gold prize three times at an International Choir Competition in China.
 Backed by them, Dr.Handa and the other four invited singers took turns singing 18 songs, and "Hallelujah" from "Messiah."
 Finally, Dr.Handa asked the audience to stand up, and the chorus group sang "Hallelujah" as an encore to wrap up the concert.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, November.24, 2015)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2015/11/24/general/world-opera-singers-delight-new-national-theatre/#.VnDG-3zUjIV

The 2nd 'Blazing Autumn People's Concert' (5)

  Then, Longmuir appeared again on the stage to sing "La Donna e mobile"(The woman is fickle) from "Rigoletto," and Ferris and Gore followed to perform their singing with "Seguidilla" from "Carmen" and "Sempre Libera"(Always free) from "La Traviata."
  Finally, Onuki, clad in a white kimono,  concluded the opera portion of the concert with Japanese opera "Yuzuru." She  filled the concert hall with her clear and crisp soprano voice when singing an aria, "Sayonara."
  After the stage setting was changed and the orchestra took a break, a piano was setting at the center of the stage and Dr.Handa and Onuki staged again  a total of 12 Japanese folk songs and nursery rhymes including "Momiji"(Maple leaves) , "Tsuki no Sabaku"(The desert of the moon), "Oborozukiyo"(Misty moon), and "Akebono"(Dragonfiles). 
  In the end, the two sang together "Hana"(A flower) and "Furusato"(Hometown) , which were quite polular in Japan. 

Dr.Handa, together with opera singers and orchestra members
greet the audience.
IFAC

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, November.24, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2015/11/24/general/world-opera-singers-delight-new-national-theatre/#.VnDG-3zUjIV

The 2nd 'Blazing Autumn People's Concert' (4)

 Then, three invited guests singers, Longmuir, Gore and Ferris took turns performed famous opera numbers in an enchanting voice.
 Longmuir entertained the audience with 'Dein ist mein ganzes Herz' (You are my heart's delight), from the Second Act of "Land of Smiles," followed by Gore singing "Quando me'n vo"(When I go along) from "La Boheme," and then by Ferris singing "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"(Love is a rebellious bird)which is also known as "Habanera," from "Carmen". 

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, November.24, 2015)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2015/11/24/general/world-opera-singers-delight-new-national-theatre/#.VnDG-3zUjIV

The 2nd 'Blazing Autumn People's Concert' (3)

 Dr.Handa appeared on the stage in a traditional costume montsuki hakama, a men's formal kimono with family crest, and hakama which was a long and pleated culotte-like pants for men. It lent an authoritative and dignified tone to the air.

 He gestured silently for the audience to stand and started singing "Kimigayo," the Japan's national anthem, backed by the orchestra. The singing  really was reminiscent of the opening of a sporting event.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, November.24, 2015)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2015/11/24/general/world-opera-singers-delight-new-national-theatre/#.VnDG-3zUjIV

The 2nd 'Blazing Autumn People's Concert' (2)

 The concert was the second one following a free concert where Onuki and Longmuir performed.
 This time, Gore was invited to the concert for the first time.
 He has a career of being given many prestigious awards both before and since joining Opera Australia. as a principal artist in 2008. The awards includes the Dame Joan Sutherland Scholarship in 2012 from the Australian Opera Awards Committee, and the Opera Awards in 2010 from Music & Opera Singers Trust. 

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, November.24, 2015)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2015/11/24/general/world-opera-singers-delight-new-national-theatre/#.VnDG-3zUjIV

The 2nd 'Blazing Autumn People's Concert' (1)

  On Nov.15, Dr.Haruhisa Handa, chairman of the International Foundation for Arts and Culture (IFAC) held a concert in which famous opera singers entertained the audience with a three-hour musical performance at the New National Theatre in Tokyo. The concert was sponsored by the Tokyo Art Foundation (TAF) and co-sponsored by Opera Australia, with a support of Japan's Agency for Cultural affairs.
  The concert was the second one following a free concert in Oct.14, 2014.  
  The performers were: Hiroko Onuki, a Japanese Soprano, John Longmuir, a Scottish tenor, Lorina Gore, an Australian soprano and mezzo-soprano Austrarian Tania Ferris. They sang songs from operas, including "Carmen," "La Traviata," "La Boheme," "Rigoletto" and "Land of Smiles."
  Among others, Gore and Ferris are members of Australia's national opera company, Opera Australia.

Dr.Haruhisa Handa
chairman of the International Foundation for Arts and Culture,
receives applause from the audience at the Second Blazing Autumn People's Concert,
in Tokyo on Nov.15
IFAC

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, November.24, 2015)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2015/11/24/general/world-opera-singers-delight-new-national-theatre/#.VnDG-3zUjIV

'Human Jukebox' came back again (4)

 Dr.Handa also said he likes keeping abreast of the trends in pop music now popular among the youth. Therefore the list of his repertoire of this concert inevitably includes such a genre of the music. 
 He sang "Heavy rotation" and "Flying Get" by the poplular AKB 48 idol group, and then performed two theme songs of the anime series, including "Cha-la Head-Chala", which is the theme song of the Dragon Ball, and "Slow Ballad" by the late Kiyoshiro Imawano, and finally, "We are the Champions" by Queen. 

 For an encore, he sang "Mazinger Z". 

 Soon afterward, He asked the audience in the venue to inflate balloons given beforehand to all the audience while his band played the instrumental tune "The March of Macky Mious and Dunald Dock." The audience flew the baloons when he began singing "Lupin the Third".

 The last song for the concert was "Kanpai", a  well-known folk song by Tsuyoshi Nagauchi.

 The concert this time held at Budokan was his first concert in which Dr.Handa performed his musical talent all by himself from the beginning till the end. 

 The concert really marked an epoch of his long-standing artistic activity. 

Audience  cheer Dr.Haruhisa Handa during the conert

TAF

  

   

'Human Jukebox' came back again (3)

  The Group Sounds were followed by two enka, "Sazanka no Yado"(Accommodation of Camellia sasanqua) and "Tokyo Sabaku"(Tokyo desert). 
  Enka is widely known Japanese music genre characterized by kobushi, or undulating tones.   Next, Dr.Handa sang two polular hits by famous songwriter Miyuki Nakajima: "Harunanoni"(Even though it's spring.) and "Wakare Uta"(Breakup song).
  After that,  he sang his oroginal numbers including "I Left my Heart in San Francisco," "I Lost my Love,","Amayadori"(Resting at one place to avoid rain), "Koisuru Otome"(a girl in love) and "Enmusubi"(Matchmaking). 
 Amang others, "Koisuru Otome" is a song about a high school girl who likens herself to an earthworm and her crush, her classmate and a track and field athlete, to an ant. Very funny lyrics.
  

'Human Jukebox' came back again (2)

  Dr.Handa started the concert with "Take the 'A' Train." Then, he said, "We've artrived at a high-class cabaret in Las Vegas," and sang "The shadow of Your Smile," "Mysty" and "Summertime." It's already autumn, but he joked, "'Summertime is a great song of the year." 

  Next, he sang Japanese folk songs, which were popular in the 1970s. He showed his performancve with "Kandagawa"(Kanda River), "Tabi no Yado"(Accomodation for a journey), "Tsubasa wo Kudasai"(GIve me wings) and "Emerarudo no Densetsu"(The emerald legend). He also sang two 'Group Sounds' by groups who were popular in the 1960s and 70s. They were "Kimidake ni"(Love only for you) an "Seaside Bound". 
     

'Human Jukebox' came back again (1)

 On Sept. 19, The Tokyo Art Foundation (TAF) held a solo concert in which its chairman Dr.Haruhisa Handa sang favorite songs across several genres of music at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. 

 The concert was titled 'This is going to be one fantastic concert, for young and old, no matter what your musical tastes!'. He sang 28 songs including jazz numbers, anime themes, and J-pop hits, popular folk songs and so called 'Group Sounds', Enka in the 1970s. Also, he sang some of his own songs. 

 This was his third  performance at Budokan, but his first solo performance at the same venue. 

Tokyo Art Foundation Chairman Dr.Haruhisa Handa sings
during his first solo concert at Nippon Budokan
on sept. 19, 2015

TAF

    

Tokyo Global Concert (4)

 The concert reached the most exciting part as the singers entertained the audience with even more popular-hit numbers. A considerable number of the audience gave the performers standing ovations every time they finished singing each song. The performance reached its peak of excitement when Domingo began singing the first encore "Besame Mucho." During the performance. he invited the audience to sing with him, and the excited audience reply with enthusiastic cheers and applause. 

 The concert ended with "Furusato", a Japanese song with lyrics reminding people of one's hometown. All four members sang it together. 

From left, Virginia Tola, Michaela Oeste, Placido Domingo
and Dr.Haruhisa Handa
sing together during the concert.

IFAC

Tokyo Global Concert (3)

 In the first part of the concert, Dr.Handa and Oeste sang "La ci darem la mano" from "Don Giovanni", followed by Dr.Handa's solo performance of "Torna a Surriento" and "'O sole mio"...  Domingo sang "Nemico della patria" from "Andrea Chenier". Tolan an Oeste sang famous solo arias and each performed duets with Domingo.

 In the second part of the concert, the three sang songs mainly from musicals and movies. It began with a medley of "The sound of Music". They also sang famous piece such as "I could have danced all night" from "My Fair Lady", "Over the Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Impossible Dream" from "Man of La Mancha".

Tokyo Global Concert (2)

 Domingo is a world-famous classical singer. He gained much fame as an artist in the Latin and pop genres. He has won eleven Grammy Awards, three Latin Grammy awards, and two Emmy Awards., so that he is now recognized as a "Living Legend" and the "King of Opera".

 He is still actively performing even though he is now at the age 74. He can take a variety of roles, including tenor singer, conductor, and arts administrator. This really shows his versatility. Up to now, he has had many great experiences of performing at the most prestigious opera houses in the world. He has performed more than 146 different roles in operas. 

 Domingo was best known for performing with his fellow tenors Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras. The first album of Three Tenors became the best-selling album of all time in the classical genre.

Tokyo Global Concert (1)

 On Aug.26, The International Foundation for Arts and Culture (IFAC) held its fourth Tokyo Global Concert. It featured Placido Domingo, Virginia Tola, Michaela Oeste and Dr.Toshu Fukami. As much as 5000 audience attended the concert.  

 The concert was sponsored by lots of international cultural institutions and embassies, newspapers. 

 Some of the condert profits will be donated to Tohoku reconstruction assistance.

IFAC Chairman Dr. Haruhisa Handa shakes hands with
"King of Opera" Placido Domingo
during the fourth Tokyo Global Concert
at the Tokyo International Forum,
on Aug.26

IFAC

Midsummer Night's Jazz And Pop Extravaganza (2)

   When Bolton appeard on the stage, he said, "Konbanwa(good evening), thank you for coming...I get a phone call from Dr.Handa and he said, 'I feel like jazz.''' That's why they decided to hold the concert.
   Bolton sang 11 songs, including "That's Life,""You Don't Know me,""Night and Day,""Summer Wind,""Fly Me to the Moon,""New York, New York,""How am I Supposed to Live Without You,""Prayer,""When a Man Loves a Woman,""How Cold We be Lovers?" and "Georgia."
  When he sang "How am I Supposed to Live Without You", he said it is the first hit he ever wrote for another artist. It was written for Laura Branigan, who released it in 1983. Later, he sang it himself on an album released in 1989.
   Afterwards, Bolton invited Amanda Brown, a youg female artist who became famous on the U.S.TV program "The Voice," to the stage, telling the audience that She absolutely killed it on The Voice.
  Subsequently, Brown and Bolton sang together "How am I Supposed to Live Without You" and "Prayer."
  For an encore, Dr.Handa and Bolton together sang "What a Wonerful World" and "Nessun Dorma."

  Almost all the auience seemed to be totally fascinated with the songs they sang from the beginning till the end.

 The concert was the third one where Bolton and Dr.Handa made their joint effort to hold a concert.

Dr.Handa gestures as he walks among the clapping audience.

TAF

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.22, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/22/special-supplements/michael-bolton-entertains-popular-favorites/#.VbHOJoQw_mI





 

Midsummer Night's Jazz And Pop Extravaganza (1)

 On July 14, the Tokyo Art Foundation (TAF) held a concert in which Dr.Handa and Michael Bolton gave the 4,000 people an excellent vocal performance at National Convention Hall, Pacifico Yokohama,  in Yokohama, Japan. 

 The concert was titled "Midsummer Night's Jazz And Pop Extravaganza".

 The two sang popular classics favored for a long time by people around the world, including those by Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Edith Piaf and etc.

 At the beginning of the concert, Dr.Handa introduced "Hair Band", all of whom are foreign musicians. Dr.Handa said jokingly, "One guitarist was using a guitar he just bought in Tokyo and a saxophonist brought just a mouthpiece and rented a saxophone."  

 Dr.Handa sang 16 songs, including "Take the A Train," "It's Only a Paper Moon," "La Vie en Rose," "Autumn Leaves,""I Left My Heart in San Francisco" "Moon River,""Misty,""As Time Goes by,""The Shadow of Your Smile,""Summertime,""It's a Sin to Tell a Lie,""Tennessee Waltz,""Fly Me to the Moon,""Danny Boy,""Speak Softly Love," and "When the Saints go Marching in."

 As usual, Dr.Handa gave a short explanation of each song before singing them. Before singing "It's Only a Paper Moon," he said,"It's a song about how true love makes the moon shine."

 While singing "Tennessee waltz," he stopped in the middle as he got emotional sympathizing with the woman in the song. later, he started over to sing to the end. 

Michael Bolton and Tokyo Art Foundation Chairman Dr. Haruhisa  Handa
sing together at a concert in Yokohama onJuly 14.

TAF

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.22, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/22/special-supplements/michael-bolton-entertains-popular-favorites/#.VbHOJoQw_mI

Exploring A New Realm Of Performance: Not A Solo, Not A Drama, Not A Musical (4)

 On the contrary, Entertainment District can said to be a drama with rather conventional development of the acts.
 In the play, a man dropped in a local bar at the end of the day, and found that the bartender and the customers were all able to read his mind. But the man, who is married, can't read their minds. That is because the bartender and the customers are all single (dokushin in Japanese)...   
 Here, the wordplay stands out because 'being single' explains the reason they are telepathic.

Actors perform in the third play, "Entertainment District."
with Dr.Handa performing his unique stage role at the right side of the stage

TAF

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.15, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/15/special-supplements/show-features-fantastical-dramas-showa-tunes/

Exploring A New Realm Of Performance: Not A Solo, Not A Drama, Not A Musical (3)

 The four plays were written by Dr.Handa under the pen name of Totoami: "Antarctica,""Minshuku"(Inn), "Sakariba"(Entertainment District) and "Battani Dakarete"(Hugged by a Grasshopper). 
 The four plays were filled with mixture of comedy, puns, black humor, serious stories which were devised within an unprecedented development of the acts, all contributing to a much unique dramatization.  
 The audience entertained a 'weird' love story about a girl and a penguin in Antarctica, where the girl lands on the icy continent alone to meet penguins surrounding a brazier, and a person living with a 2-meter-high grasshopper who is able to 'walk on two legs'.  
 They might have wondered why the girl meets penguins, why the grasshopper walks on two legs... However, these questions are all meaningless in the case of Dr.Handa's dramas. There is no use of thinking seriously about hows any whys when seeing his drama. What he intends to let the audience enjoy is not a reasonably conventional series of drama development, but a funniness which can be found in  a mixture of fantasy, eccentricity, and whim.     



(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.15, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/15/special-supplements/show-features-fantastical-dramas-showa-tunes/

Exploring A New Realm Of Performance: Not A Solo, Not A Drama, Not A Musical (2)

 Most of the songs sang by Dr.Handa between and during the plays were popular Showa Era songs, including "Kiri no Mashuko"(Lake Mashu in mist), "Atsuki Kokoroni"(Fire in my heart), "Akai Gurasu"(Red glass) and "Sasoriza no Onna"(Scorpio woman). They were sang by lots of singers over and over on the media,  and later sang by lots of karaoke fans in Japan.  
 In addition, He sang "Heavy Rotation",  a hit song by AKB48. When he sang, the audience stood on their feet, dancers on the stage danced with colorful glow sticks in their hands. The hall was filled with flashing of stage lights and glittering of a disco ball.
 However, when he sang at the side of the stage during the plays, the actors on the center stage didn't sing at all. This is the uniqueness of Dr.Handa's drama performance. No other conventional drama plays didn't have such a feature.
 Between the plays, D.Handa also entertained the audience with comic relief by mimicking the sounds of a hair dryer, fax machine and the sirens of a fire engine, an ambulance and a police car.   


(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.15, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/15/special-supplements/show-features-fantastical-dramas-showa-tunes/

Exploring A New Realm Of Performance: Not A Solo, Not A Drama, Not A Musical (1)

 TAF, the Tokyo Art Foundation,  featured a new realm of stage performance produced and directed by Dr.Haruhisa Handa, at the National Theater, Tokyo, on July 5. 

 The main attractions in a series of performance was four plays. Between and during the plays, Dr.Handa  entertained the audience by his singing and unique comic relief.

 However, this is not a drama of a classical form like Shakespeare's. 

 This is not a musical of a conventional style, neither. 

 His act between and during the plays was not like one often seen in an interlude in a traditional play. Normally, the interlude is supposed to be a minor act compared to the main drama parts.  However, as he explained, the role between the plays and his own interludes are the other way round...!

 He said , "As we perform this program every year, we aren't sure which part is the main feature of the program..." 

 This is a realization of his effort into always exploring a new realm of art.   

 It was not a solo concert.

 It was not a drama.

 It was not a musical.

 But it was a new realm of artistic performance. 
That's why the performance was titled, "Funnier-Than-a-Musical Fusical & Singing Pantomime Singomime!"

Tokyo Art Foundation (TAF) Chairman Dr.Haruhisa Handa
sings popular Showa Era songs in an interlude
during the sixth annual performance of his theatrical troupe,
at the New National Theater, Tokyo
TAF

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.15, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/15/special-supplements/show-features-fantastical-dramas-showa-tunes/

The 1st ISPS Handa Global Cup (3)

  In addition, at the award ceremony in the final day, Norio Suzuki of the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) acknowledged the success of the first ISPS Handa Global Cup. He said, "JGTO intends to train Japanese golfers to be globally successful players. We also want to contribute to society through golf. On these two points, Handa and I have something in common. "

  Mr.Suzuki and Dr.Handa appeared to be happy that  the first champion of the ISPS Handa Global Cup was Japanese. 

ISPS Chairman Dr.Handa (left) and champion Toshinori Muto
pose with the trophy at the awards ceremony.

ISPS 

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.8, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/15/special-supplements/show-features-fantastical-dramas-showa-tunes/

The 1st ISPS Handa Global Cup (2)

  At the awards ceremony on the final day, Dr.Handa explained the reason why ISPS, which sponsored more than 60 sporting events in and out of Japan, decided to hold the ISPS Handa Global Cup in Japan, saying, "Golf is an international sport, but the Japanese golf industry is becoming isolated." He said  he would continue to plan on improving the image of Japanese golf on the global stage. He also expressed his high hope that he would like to hold the tournament again and reach as much as 600 million households around the world by expanding the broadcast.

   The final day of the tournament was much finer than the first, second and third days. Dr.Handa was very happy with the weather, saying, "The weather was great today and we could show the world the beautiful scenery of Mt.Fuji and the Southern Alps."

   In fact, the fine weather of the final day, together with the international exposure of the tournament, led to much increase in the number of the gllary to 2,511. 


(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.8, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/15/special-supplements/show-features-fantastical-dramas-showa-tunes/

  

    

The 1st ISPS Handa Global Cup (1)

  From June 25, to 28, the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) held the inaugural ISPS Handa Global Cup at Vintage Golf Club in Yamanashi Prefecture. It was the first international tournament in Japan with a global broadcast reaching about 170 million households around the world.

  In this competition, Toshinori Muto finally claimed victory.

  Muto finished the four-day tournament at 14-under, tied with Filipino player Angelo Que. 

  Que seemed to be in good shape on the final day, finishing the round at seven-under, one of the two best scores of the day.

  On the other hand, Muto took three bogeys and six birdies, finishing the round at three-under. He said later in an interview, "I had many bogeys on the back nine and was a bit nervous. But it was nice I was able to birdie 16 and 18. "

  Then for the playoff, the two golfers played the 577-yard, par-5 18th hole. They both finished with par on the first playoff hole, but in the second try, Muto birdied and Que had to settled for par. 

  Finally, Muto defeated Que.

  Muto was awarded 20 million yen, a Toyota Prius hybrid, rice sake, watches and a green haori, a Japanese traditional jacket.

  The reason he was awarded such a jacket is because Dr.Handa had an idea that, in a like manner the Masters Golf Tournament awards its winners green jackets every year, the ISPS Handa Global Cup should give green haori to the champion.  This idea, Dr.Handa thinks, contributes to propagating the unique Japanese tradition across the world. 

Toshinori Muto (right), the winner of the first ISPS Handa Global Cup,
and his caddy hold up a flag with the logo of ISPS,
which stands for International Sports Promotion society,
 after Muto won in a playoff at the Vintage Golf Club,
in Yamanashi Prefecture, on June 28.

ISPS


(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.8, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/15/special-supplements/show-features-fantastical-dramas-showa-tunes/

   

International High School Arts festival (4)

  At the end of the ceremony, Dr.Handa, who also runs a chain of cram schools called Misuzu Gakuen in Japan which helps high school students prepare for university entrance exams, advised Japanese high school students to "just do what you have to do right now."
  He then added, "People worry because they have time to worry. When you find yourself worrying, stop and just do what you have to do."

The arts festival welcomes both domestic and international high school students.

IFAC



(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.7, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/07/special-supplements/coming-aspiring-artists-recognized-talents/#.VZ5Mb_0w_mI 

International High School Arts festival (3)

  IFAC Chairman Dr.Haruhisa Handa said to students, parents,embassy officials and other guest at the venue that this admission-free festival focuses on it openness to any high school student, and that the criteria of awards showcases the 'untested potential' of the students.
 In addition, he expressed his strong hope that he would like Japanese high school students students to interact with high school students from around the world. 

  Emphasizing the significance of young people's development of international friendship,   Dr.Handa restated a passage from Wolfgang von Goethe, "Those who knows nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own," that could be translated from the original German "Wer fremde Sprachen nicht kennt, weiß auch nichts von seiner eigenen."

 Dr.Handa hopes that next year, more foreign students will participate , so that they can see and experience art created by not only Japanese but non-Japanese students, make friends with each other, and have a significant experience in Japan with their teachers and parents.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.7, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/07/special-supplements/coming-aspiring-artists-recognized-talents/#.VZ5Mb_0w_mI

International High School Arts festival (2)

 Besides, non-Japanese award winners from Ireland, UK, Israel, Indonesia, Egypt, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Benin and Russia were also invited to the ceremony.
 Of them, Singaporean Ashia Abdullah Kobayashi of St.Margaret's Secondary School won The Japan Times Award for her painting "Crossing," in which an anthropomorphized lion and other animals in an office are depicted.

IFAC Chairman Dr.Handa(center) stands between

high school students, Kenta Mark Boyd Coronan(left) and

Nanami Kuriyama, the two winners of the Prime Minister Awards

in the 16th International High School Arts Festival

at the Ritz  Carlton, Tokyo

on June 27.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.7, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/07/special-supplements/coming-aspiring-artists-recognized-talents/#.VZ5Mb_0w_mI

IFAC

International High School Arts festival (1)

 The 16th International High school Arts festival, sponsored by the IFAC was held at The Ritz Carlton, Tokyo, on June 27.
 This year, students from Japan and 15 other countries put more than 11,000 pieces of works up for the festival, including fine art and calligraphy. Of them, 408 works were exhibited at the National art Center, Tokyo.
 28 Japanese students and a Singaporean student won special awards presented by the prime minister, other ministers and media.

 In the fine arts division, the top Prime Minister Awards went to Kenta Mark Boyd Coronan, a senior at Honjo-Daiichi school, Saitama Prefecture.Coronan said, "I'm so honored to receive this award. I didn't think I'd win it because I didn't win anything the past two years. This art festival is a place where I'm on equal footing with the world and wining such an honorable award is very meaningful." His work "Sunbeams of Warmth," manifests warm sunbeams in a forest of bamboos and other trees.

 In the calligraphy division, Nanami Kuriyama, a senior at Omiya Koryo High school, Saitama Prefecture, won the prize. Kuriyama said, "I'm truly grateful to have been selected for the prestigious Prime Minister Award this year. She wrote excerpts from the "Treatise of calligraphy" written by Sun Guoting during China's Tang Dynasty.



(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July.7, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/07/07/special-supplements/coming-aspiring-artists-recognized-talents/#.VZ5Mb_0w_mI

Tokyo Global Concert (4)

 The second part was a stage for Carreras, the main guest of the concert.

 He sang, "Era de maggio", "Piscatore e Pusillico," "T'estimo," "Vurria" and "Me so  'MBriacato 'o Sole." and other famous opera numbers.

  His voice was powerful with his emotion delicately expressed, and fascinated the whole audience. 

 During the concert, He requested the air conditioning to be turned off, but the excitement of the audience contributed to rising the heat in the hall more than the lack of the air conditioning.

 For the encore, Dr.Handa, Coad and Carreras sang together the poplular Japanese song "Kawa no Nagare no Yoni." Their voice together made an exquisite harmony so that the audience give cheers and a standing ovation.

 Besides, Carreras sang "Core 'Ngrato" and "Vierno" during the encore.

From left, Dr.Haruhisa Handa, the chairman of IFAC,
Jose Carreras
and Conal Coad, a bass
preparing to take a bow.

IFAC

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, June.23, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/06/22/special-supplements/audience-gets-rare-treat-world-renowned-tenor/#.VZaS1P0w_mI

  

Tokyo Global Concert (3)

 The concert also featured IFAC Chairman Dr.Haruhisa Handa, a baritone, and Conal Coad, a bass from New Zealand. 
 The first part of the concert began with Dr.Handa and Coad singing solo accompanied on piano by Yuhei Kimura and Phoebe Briggs. The songs not only included famous arias such as "Li Dissoluto Punto" from "Don Giovanni" and "Dio di Giuda!" from "Nabuccho," but also classics, including "I Got Plenty O'Nuttin," "First Love" and "An Evening Primrose." The first part ended with "Furusato" sang by both Dr.Handa and Coad, then "danny Boy" by Dr.Handa.


(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, June.23, 2015)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/2015/06/22/special-supplements/audience-gets-rare-treat-world-renowned-tenor/#.VZaS1P0w_mI