In June 2025, the Min-On Concert Association held three school concerts across three cities in Japan. The artists and the schools that hosted them are as follows.
Jacob Koller
6/6 (Fri): Meiji Elementary School in Nagoya City
ASKA Japanese Drum
6/10 (Tue): Harima-Minami Junior High School in Harima Town
6/27 (Fri): Oshi Junior High School in Gyoda City
Jacob Koller
A school concert by Jacob Koller, a jazz pianist originally from Arizona in the United States, was held at Meiji Elementary School in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. As part of a family education seminar, local residents were invited to attend, and children, faculty and members of the community came together for an enjoyable concert.
When Mr. Koller performed jazz arrangements of anime and Disney songs, the students joined in the fun, humming along and keeping rhythm. He talked about how the piano is a fun instrument that can produce a variety of tones and shared with the group what makes music so compelling. To conclude the concert, Mr. Koller surprised everyone by playing the school song of Meiji Elementary School, prompting the students to sing along enthusiastically for a very memorable experience.
After the concert, the students expressed their gratitude, sharing how the beautiful tones of the piano soothed their hearts and reminded them of music’s power to truly move people. They also conveyed heartfelt messages encouraging Mr. Koller to continue sharing his wonderful music to help create a world without conflict or war. Jacob Koller’s concert demonstrated the power that music possesses to enrich and connect people’s hearts.
ASKA Japanese Drum
The world-renowned taiko drum troupe ASKA Japanese Drum held Min-On school concerts at Harima-Minami Junior High School in Harima Town, Kako District, Hyogo Prefecture on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, and at Gyoda City Industrial and Cultural Hall in Saitama Prefecture on Friday, June 27, 2025.
At Harima-Minami Junior High School, approximately 450 people, including students, faculty members and members of the Harima Town Board of Education, enjoyed the performance. The Oshi Junior High School concert was attended by approximately 400 students, faculty members, and parents, and the event was hosted at Gyoda City Industrial and Cultural Hall.
In addition to the powerful and dynamic sounds of taiko drums, the concert also featured a performance of traditional Japanese flutes, providing an opportunity for the audience to enjoy traditional Japanese performing arts. Students bounced to the powerful rhythm of the drums and clapped along as the hall filled with energetic beats.
The “Oni and Tengu” Kagura performance – another traditional Japanese performing art – saw performers interacting with students as they entered the audience. There was also a taiko drumming workshop that the students and faculty members took part in, creating a very lively atmosphere.
After the concert, Principal Fukuda of Harima Minami Junior High School thanked the members of ASKA Japanese Drum for giving the students a valuable opportunity to learn about the importance of hard work and for sharing such a beautiful, inspiring performance.
Min-On wishes to thank its sustaining members for making this and other association initiatives possible.
