[Daisen City, Akita Prefecture] Daisen City Omagari Junior High School's "Japan's longest school song" will be sung at Ueno Park! Introducing moving experiences

In 2021, this article ([Daisen City, Akita Prefecture] What is the longest school song in Japan? Detailed explanation of the school song of Daisen City Omagari Junior High School), we provided a detailed explanation of the school song of Daisen City Omagari Junior High School, which is the longest school song in Japan. .

This time, the author, a graduate of Omagari Junior High School, participated in an event to sing the school song with students on a school trip that was held at an outdoor stage in Ueno Park, Tokyo on August 30, 2023, so I would like to introduce the details of the event. To do.

What is the event to sing the school song of Daisen City Omagari Junior High School?

The event to sing the school song of Daisen City Omagari Junior High School is held as part of local learning, and although it was first held in 2019, due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, it was held in August 2023 for the first time in four years. Ta.

Specifically, the event involves the third-year students of Daisen City Omagari Junior High School visiting an outdoor stage in Ueno Park on a school trip, and singing the school song ``Live Well, Young People'' and ``Akita Prefectural Folk Song'' with the graduates.

I knew about this event after seeing an article online about it being held for the first time in 2019, so I happened to see the announcement for the event in 2023 and was able to visit.

Reference: Asahi Shimbun Digital ``Japan's longest school song, sung over 10 minutes, to be performed at school trip destination''

Reference: Akita Kai Shimpo electronic version “Omagari junior high school students on school trip sing school song loudly with classmates at Ueno Park, Tokyo”

Why I wanted to sing the school song of Daisen City Omagari Junior High School

When I was a student at Daisen City Omagari Junior High School, we used to record the school song we had sung on cassette tape and distribute it to graduates every year as a souvenir.

After the graduation ceremony, I immediately played the cassette tape I received, but the school song was not the one sung by the Ryoun grade, which I was in, but the school song sung by the Ginrei grade, which is one grade above me. It was.

At that time, the Internet was not as widespread as it is now, and there was no equipment that could easily record it, so it was probably not possible to record the school song sung by Ling Yun's students, but it was a child's heart. I was shocked and felt like I had left something unfinished about the school song.

Reference: Daisen City Omagari Junior High School “Ayumi”

Scenes from the event to sing the school song of Daisen City Omagari Junior High School

On August 30, 2023, the author arrived early, greeted the graduates of various ages gathered in the guest seats set up in front of the stage, and sat in the front center waiting for the performance to begin. I was there.

Then, 244 students on the school trip entered the hall one after another and took their seats behind the guest seats.

I heard later that after arriving at Ueno Station, the students on the school trip went straight to the stage at Ueno Park without doing any sightseeing.I was moved by the school's commitment to this event. I was hit.

We will introduce you to the event rehearsal, the actual performance, and the aftermath.

rehearsal

The PA (acoustic equipment) had already finished setting up microphones and keyboards, so the school song soloists were gathered in front and rehearsals began immediately.

The moment the students on the school trip started singing the first chorus of ``Living Well'' from behind, for some reason tears filled my eyes and I couldn't stop.

I didn't expect to cry during the rehearsal, and I was surprised by my emotions, but because of this, I still can't remember the lyrics, but in the actual performance, I was able to sing without looking at the lyric card, just looking at the conductor and singing confidently. I remember being determined to do this.

Actual performance

When I stood up straight facing the conductor and sang the first phrase while looking only at the conductor, my voice sounded much different from when I was practicing watching YouTube videos the day before. I felt very different from when I was singing without confidence when I was wearing the .

All the soloists have very sophisticated singing voices and expressive powers, and the synergistic effect with the chorus lifts your spirits.

Also, the interpretation of the song was completely different from when we were singing it, and the tempo and singing style were new to us, but it was a great performance that made us realize that this is what it means for a song to be sung and evolved from generation to generation. .

after the show

After the performance, I wondered why I had cried during the rehearsal, but I realized that although it is possible to live ``as well as possible,'' it is not possible to ``live well'' as strongly as the school song of Daisen City Omagari Junior High School says. not.

I think I found myself in the lyrics and cried because I felt myself struggling to "live a good life."

However, as I walked off the stage at Ueno Park, I felt that I had accomplished something, and I don't think I will ever sing the school song with this feeling again.

By participating in the event, I felt like I was able to put my feelings in perspective and move forward again.

summary

On August 30, 2023, an event was held at the outdoor stage in Ueno Park, Tokyo, where students on a school trip and graduates sang the school song of Daisen City Omagari Junior High School.

If you are a graduate and feel like singing the school song again after reading this article, please come to next year's event.

Daisen City Omagari Junior High School School Song Lyrics

Poetry: Takashi Hongo

Song: Chotaro Sato

Live well, live well,
of your parents and mentors in your hometown

voice,
which may be a wish, words are too bright and too bright to be seen,
calling out to
you.Live well.

At first, that voice

is like the dim core
of a flower bud that is just about to open,
like the back of a fish that shines and disappears
at the bottom of the water in spring that has is a voice that can be seen but cannot be heard.

The voice

spreads quickly like the rustle of sunlight

Living well, living well
singing into a
gigantic, transparent chorus that fills the rich soil

The magnificent riverside is full of spring and

. Even in the fountain of Himegami where
flowers gush forth,
also the scent of happy
trees. autumn that gently swirls around

calls out to the bright cheeks of the young people who are being nurtured here

, honoring goodness and beauty in your heart,
Omagari Junior High School,
young people of Omagari Junior High School.

Live well! Live well
! These words were

first heard
by selected wise men from ancient times such as
, and they went through hardships
just to understand their meaning.They are the first and greatest words of

Human beings
are superior to other creatures because they have

we don't really know for sure
the first word that made us human
's too big a word
for our ears to grasp .

Let's hear our own voice within ourselves
in the pouring light
's hear the voice that is elusive but proudly and

Let's listen to humanity's eternal hymn,
live well,
on this blessed day.

One point on each piece, white clouds are
a flock of birds that come and go,
look over here in Senboku,
may my school prosper
now. The green breeze that
crosses the fields and mountains

calls out to the healthy shoulders of the young people who live here

with wisdom and determination in your eyes,
Omagari Junior High School,
young people of Omagari Junior High School.

Source: Daisen City Omagari Junior High School homepage