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We were given the opportunity to interview two musicians who performed at the Japan-Croatia Friendship “Elis & Utako” Lecture Concert held on October 25 last year.

【Artist Profiles】

Elis Lovrić

A multifaceted artist from Croatia, Elis is dedicated to preserving the Labin dialect, which is recognized as an intangible cultural asset of Croatia. She is involved in songwriting, composing, acting, and producing, and has performed internationally, including at the European Parliaments. Her composition “Film Under the Stars” became the anthem of Croatia’s oldest film festival, the Pula Film Festival, enhancing her status as a celebrated figure in Croatian culture earning her multiple awards for her musical and theatrical contributions.

 

Utako Toyama

A composer from Osaka, Japan, is renowned for her dedication to music and world peace. As the founder of SkyBridge and co-founder of Songs for World Peace, she applies her talents to fostering unity and harmony. A Berklee College of Music graduate, she has earned numerous awards, including the Martin Luther King Artistry Award and the Hiroshima Award, and collaborates with musicians from over 100 countries to promote diversity and equality on a global stage.

 

 

 

Min-On:

Thank you very much for performing in the Min-On Lecture Concert on October 25.

We heard that the title of this concert, “Two Drops of the Ocean – Umi no Ni-teki,” was chosen by the two of you. It carries with it a meaningful message that while the efforts each of us alone may be small and unnoticeable like a single drop of water in the vast ocean, when two, three, or more people come together and combine their strengths, they can create waves to achieve something significant. It reflects the belief that although our individual efforts may be minute, if we join forces and unite, we can make a big difference.

Could you please share with us your impressions of the concert at the Min-On Music Museum?

Elis:

I was filled with a sense of gratitude and fulfillment throughout the day of the concert at the Min-On Music Museum, which was the last concert Utako and I performed together as part of our ”Two Drops of the Ocean – Umi no Ni-teki” tour. That Friday, something very special happened. A wish I made 25 years ago finally came true. Back then, I wrote a letter from Italy and sent two of my songs, “Niji Ketsudan no Toki” and “Rivoluzione Umana,” hoping to be able to perform them for Mr. Daisaku Ikeda as my way expressing gratitude to him for everything I learned from him. As years went by, I put behind this wish and almost forgot about it until the day of the concert. Even though Mr. Ikeda wasn’t physically present, I felt a profound connection with him. Min-On President Koji Yamaguchi’s consideration and care and the way his team showed their attention to details, further contributed to that feeling.

This concert became a proof that heartfelt wishes can come true. Since I was a child, I used to do ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, with my mother and it was as though I was arranging parts of myself into a spiritual bouquet. At the concert in the Min-on Music Museum, in many ways, I felt as though I was arranging music into such a bouquet, connecting lost threads of time. I was enchanted by the museum’s exhibits—the antique pianos, music boxes, and other astonishing instruments and that, each in their own way, narrated their stories across the ages and this is what inspired me for the concert. The whole event was perfectly organized, enabling us, professional musicians, to focus fully on the most important aspect—the music.

Utako:

First of all, thank you so much for making this concert possible. What left the deepest impression on me that day was when Mr. Yamaguchi kindly guided me to the “peace-building through music” section of the museum. It reminded me of the essence of why I play music, that is, not just for the sake of music itself, but to bring people together, by transcending our differences.

This realization inspired my performance that day. Thanks to the professional support of the staff, I was able to fully focus on my music. Having performed in several areas in Croatia with Elis this summer, this concert at Min-On felt like a culmination of the journey we embarked on together. I am deeply honored that our collaborative efforts resonated so strongly in such a meaningful setting.


Min-On:

It was a heartwarming concert that conveyed both of your deep wishes for peace, and I am happy to say that it was very well received by the audience.

Do you have any message for the listeners who listened to the concert at Min-On and on YouTube?

Elis:

I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who shared this unforgettable evening with us, whether in person or online. Thank you for sharing the beauty and for empowering the connection of distant cultures, languages, dialects, and traditions through the universal language of music. I’m looking forward to meeting you again, wherever our melodies may take us.

Utako:

To everyone who attended the concert, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedules to join Elis and I for “Two Drops of the Ocean.” And to everyone watching it on YouTube, I truly appreciate your support as well.

This time, we presented a combination of songs in Croatian and Japanese, as well as a collaboration of Istrian dialect and the Osaka dialect. While collaborations in different languages are not common, it was the first time for me to pair dialects. I’m curious how it resonated with the listeners, but as a creator, I was amazed by the versatility of music during the creative process—it felt like music was saying, “Yes, this is possible!”

I have visited the Istrian Peninsula several times and was captivated by its crystal-clear waters, friendly locals who welcome me as one of their own people, delicious seafood, and traditional beverages like Rakija, Teranino, and the Istrian soup, which is featured in Elis’s song. Translating songs written in Istrian dialect, including Elis’s original song, into Japanese and the Osaka dialect allowed me to explore their profound love for their homeland, as reflected in their sea and mountains. I hope the audience can picture the people there and the landscapes while listening to the music.

Min-On:

Min-On was founded in 1963 by Dr. Daisaku Ikeda as a music organization based on his philosophy of bringing people together though music and cultural activities for peace building.

We believe in the power of music and have promoted cultural exchanges with 112 countries and regions. Could you share your thoughts on the power of music?

Elis:

“Where words fail, music speaks,” says Hans Christian Andersen. Music is a bridge connecting worlds and resolving the misunderstandings that words sometimes create. For me, music is like gold that mends the most broken pieces of the heart and breathes fresh new meaning into them. We all know what it feels like to be broken—there is no need explain this. Nor does joy and beauty need explanation. Music, in that sense, is like a transcendental kintsugi* for the soul. When I wrote the song “Two Drops of the Ocean” and asked Utako to translate it into Japanese, along with adapting “Je ča je” into the Osaka dialect, I was tremendously relieved that she embraced these ideas that are often regarded ridiculous or impossible. It was the first time that these songs, as well as ” Sakura Sakura” (Crešnjica, crešnjica) were translated from or into the Labinian dialect, and have thus become symbols of unity and collaboration between our distant cultures.

With the division we see in the world today, Min-On’s efforts to promote peace through music are profoundly inspiring and I am honored to be a small drop in the ocean of bringing people together.

I was deeply moved by the gift of the CD featuring 11 versions of Ikeda Sensei’s song “Mother” in various languages. I hope that my wish to perform “Mother” in Croatian will take less than 25 years to come true, so that we can share the same melody again soon.

(* Kintsugi: The Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powered gold, silver or platinum.)

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210107-kintsugi-japans-ancient-art-of-embracing-imperfection

Utako:

I knew about Min-On as a distinguished organization through friends who performed for the organization and through Laura Hassler, the founder and the director of Musicians Without Borders (https://www.musicianswithoutborders.org/), whom I deeply respect. However, visiting the museum gave me a deeper understanding of Min-On’s dedication to world peace.

For over a decade, I have worked on promoting diversity, equity, and world peace through collaborations with musicians from over 100 countries. My recent work with Elis exemplifies how music can bridge cultural divides and create something uniquely beautiful. Seeing the “world peace” section of the museum and learning about Mr. Ikeda’s philosophy inspired me and gave me a sense of solace. Knowing that others have walked this path long before me, I felt as though I had received the baton to carry forward the mission and trust that many more will continue this journey.

Music, like humanity, comes in many forms and connects us in profound ways and beyond vastly different circumstances. It has the power to free hearts and bring people together. A simple sound can make someone smile, cry, or reflect deeply. Even after years of being involved in music, its ability to transcend barriers continues to amaze me.

I feel truly grateful to have learned about Mr. Ikeda’s vision and Min-On’s activities. Music, as a form of soft power and is an irreplaceable tool for fostering friendships in ways that words often cannot do. I hope to return to Min-On and look forward to the day I can meet you all again.

Elis and Utako have shown how music can bridge cultures and inspire collaboration. Like ‘Two Drops

of the Ocean,’ their journey reminds us that even small connections can create waves of harmony and understanding across the world. May their melodies continue to unite hearts and inspire people by transcending boundaries of language for peace building.

◆ Please enjoy the full concert:

 

◆ Min-On Music Journey: Croatia Edition

The Croatia Edition of Min-On Music Journey beautifully showcases the charm of Croatian culture and music. We invite you to embark on this journey through the following link:

Min-On Music Journey No. 54: Republic of Croatia

 

If you have any comments regarding this article, please feel free to email at publicrelations@min-on.or.jp

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