Social Event: Welcome Reception

Name of Event: Social Event of the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit 2000
“Welcome Reception for Summit Leaders”

■ Hosting Organization: Okinawa G8 Summit Host Preparation Council
■ Date: July 22, 2000 (Saturday)
■ Time: 18:45 – 20:15
■ Venue: Hotel Nikko Naha Grand Castle, “Shuri Hall”
Address: 1-132-1 Shuri Yamagawa-cho, Naha, Okinawa
■ Participants: Summit leaderss
Invited guests from the public (300 people)

 

■ Welcome Reception

Turning the Eyes of the World on Okinawa, Sending the Spirit of Okinawa to the World

The Okinawa G8 Summit Host Preparation Council will host a welcome reception for the Summit leaders visiting Okinawa for the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit Meeting.

From the days of old, Okinawa has been known to the world as the “land of courtesy and cordiality.”

The people of Okinawa will warmly welcome the Summit leaders in this reception, which features Okinawa’s unique culture and regal traditional performing arts that were developed in the age of the Ryukyu Kingdom through trade and interaction with various Asian cultures. The Summit theme song, “NEVER END,” which reflects contemporary Okinawa will also be performed.

 

Welcoming Performance

● “Tradition and the Future,” a combination of music and Okinawa’s traditional performing arts

The welcoming performance is produced by Mr. Tetsuya Komuro.

■ Producer: Tetsuya Komuro
Born in 1958 in Tokyo. Debuted in 1984 as a member of the music band, TM Network. In 1990, in addition to the activities of his own band, Mr. Komuro launched a highly successful career as a music producer and has produced a number of million-selling CDs featuring young artists. He was named UN Goodwill Ambassador in 1996 in recognition of his activities in anti-drug campaigns. In recent years, Mr. Komuro has been collaborating extensively with foreign artists, especially Asian musicians, and also others including French and American musicians.

＜Traditional Okinawan Dance Performances＞
～Kashikaki～
One of the classic “women’s dances,” Kashikaki is a well-loved program known for its gentleness and beauty. Kashikaki depicts the process of spinning, weaving, and sewing clothes, an activity performed in the past by women of all social ranks. The dance provides a beautiful portrayal of women’s emotions of longing for loved ones as they engage in their work.

～Nuchibana～
The creation of this dance dates back about a century to the Meiji Era. The dancers are decked in garlands of red and white flowers expressive of the joyous spirit of young women in love. With its visual and musical charms, this is a colorful and festive dance.

■ Dancers: Association for the Preservation of Traditional Okinawan Dances
■ Musical Accompaniment: Association for the Preservation of the Afuso School of Traditional Okinawan Music

＜Theme Song of the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit＞
“NEVER END”
Mr. Komuro produced “NEVER END,” the theme song of the Kyushu Okinawa Summit. The theme song will be featured in this performance.

■ Performing artist: Namie Amuro
Born in 1977 in Okinawa. Debuted in 1992 as a member of the music group, Super Monkeys, and later turned to solo activities with Mr. Komuro as producer. Won the Japan Record Award in 1996 and 1997, and was awarded the Japan Gold Disk Award in 1997. Ms. Amuro is a leading Japanese female singer with a total of more than 25 million CDs sold.

Co-performers: Sadao China(sanshin) and Keiko Higa(taiko)
From Hong Kong: Cerina and Zoie
From the U.S.: Nadia Turner, Daniella Guzman, Iris Duran, Jocelyn Duran, and Denise Duran
Urasoe City Boys and Girls Choir

 

THEME SONG OF THE KYUSHU-OKINAWA SUMMIT

The theme song of the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit originated in an idea that the late Prime Minister Obuchi conveyed to the noted music producer, Tetsuya Komuro, in the following words: “I want you to write a song that will be loved by many people, a song that gives us a vision of harmony and interaction in the world in the 21st century.” Having accepted this challenge, Mr. Komuro made frequent visits to Okinawa to experience the Ryukyuan folk music and traditional performing arts, and to interact with local musicians. The theme song, “NEVER END,” was born out of these experiences. The title conveys the precious value of love, warmth, and consideration. The orchestration includes the sanshin, the traditional three-stringed plucked lute of Okinawa. Mr. Sadao China, a noted musician residing in Okinawa, participated in the CD recording. The theme song is featured in the welcome reception and will be played by Mr. Komuro, Mr. China, and others and sung by Ms. Namie Amuro, an Okinawa-born singer, accompanied by local elementary school children and special guests from overseas. A portion of the proceeds from the CD sales will be contributed to UNICEF Japan.

 

“NEVER END”

Written and Composed by Tetsuya Komuro

[1]
A distant future
A distant land
A distant thought
A distant memory
You and I, brought together today
Bound by a distant pledge of love.
Let us talk of all that has passed.
Let us talk of all that lies ahead.
Never end
Never end
Our future together shall never end.
Our tomorrow shall be a dream of fantasy.
For, everyone dreams
For, everyone finds strength in warmth
That no words can suffice to tell.

[2]
It was always a miracle
What I always imagined.
Finally, I see it before my eyes
The most precious of all things.
We have to live on
Even through the days of tears.
We must grow strong even if it’s hard.
For, nothing can stay the march of time.
Hold back the urge to run
And keep walking steadily.
Never end
Never end
Our future together shall never end.
Our tomorrow will find strength in warmth
That no words can suffice to tell.
The breeze carries memories
Which shall never be forgotten.

[3]
Never end
Never end
Our future together shall never end.
Our tomorrow shall be a dream of fantasy.
For, everyone dreams
For, everyone finds strength in warmth
That no words can suffice to tell.
Never end
Never end
Our future together shall never end.
Never end
Never end
Our tomorrow shall never end, never end.