Uncovering Ceremony of Nello and Patrasche Statue

On December 6, as one of the main events sponsored by the Japanese Embassy for the 150 Years of Friendship between Japan and Belgium, the Yoshida Brothers were invited to perform a concert of tsugaru shamisen at Flagey in Brussels. On that day, the concert was performed twice: once for the public, and once on invitation only. At the second concert, Ambassador Ishii gave a welcoming speech expressing his gratitude at the start of the concert. Originally, this performance was part of the “Matsuri” or Japan Festival sponsored by the Japan Foundation, which was planned to take place on March 24; but it was cancelled because of the terrorist attacks of March 22 in Brussels. When asked again by the Embassy, they agreed to come to Brussels to perform as the final event to conclude the anniversary year. The Yoshida Brothers conveyed their call for world peace through music, particularly “Tori no Uta –decollage”, which is full of feelings and wishes for peace. The audience was charmed by the technical prowess and the expressiveness of the performance of tsugaru shamisen, which was both passionate and delicate.