FY2022

January 29, 2023
Ginza Oji Hall, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

【Facilitator-Readers】	Motoyo Yamane (announcer) Masako Shindo (announcer)
【Guest Reader 】	Misako Konno (actor)
【Music】	Toshiaki Iida (composer, arranger, and piano) Chiharu Miki (cello) Akatsuki Takahashi (violin)

For the 14th reading, Motoyo Yamane read the immortal masterpiece The Little Mermaid (by Andersen), beautifully illustrated by Chihiro Iwasaki, and Yane no ue no Sawan (by Masuji Ibuse), a well-known work of high literary merit. Masako Shindo also read Curry Rice (by Kiyoshi Shigematsu), which was featured in a Japanese language textbook and humorously depicts the struggles and growth of a young boy. The guest this time was Misako Konno, who is active as an actor on TV and in many other fields. She read from Midori-iro no Kioku (by Atsuko Asano), a story of adolescent aspirations and memories of love. Music was offered by composer Toshiaki Iida on piano, Chiharu Miki on cello, and Akatsuki Takahashi on violin, inviting the audience into the world of the story.
The event was streamed on the official YouTube page for a limited time, allowing those who could not attend the event to enjoy it at home.

September 4, 2022
Muramatsu Recital Hall Shin-Osaka,
Osaka-shi, Osaka

【Facilitator-Readers】	Motoyo Yamane (announcer) Masako Shindo (announcer)
【Guest Reader 】	Nobuo Murakami (announcer)
【Music】	Toshiaki Iida (composer, arranger, and piano) Chiharu Miki (cello) Kofu Suwa (guitar)）

This was the 13th such event, and we selected stories to share with elementary school-age children and older. Motoyo Yamane read from The Dream I Found on London Bridge (by Takako Kayama) with beautiful paper cutouts by Seiji Fujishiro, a Ukrainian folk tale Straw Cattle (by Risako Uchida), and Letters from Mado-san to the Children (by Michio Mado), a message to children who will shape the future. Masako Shindo read LIFE (by Shigenori Kusunoki), a warm story about a chain of kindness among people, and Tenma no Torayan (by Kenzo Nakagawa), a story set in Osaka, the venue of this event and Shindo's hometown, in her Osaka dialect. NHK announcer Nobuo Murakami was also invited as a guest and gave a magnificent reading of The Life of the Forest (by Takuya Kodera), which conveys the depth of nature and the preciousness of life. The performance featured composer and arranger Toshiaki Iida on piano, pianica, and andes, Chiharu Miki on cello, and Kofu Suwa on acoustic guitar, expanding the world of the story with a variety of musical styles.
The event was streamed on the official YouTube page for a limited time, allowing those who could not attend the event to enjoy it at home.