On May 31, 2026, the Akasaka Civic Center Hall in Tokyo came alive with the sounds of Haiti, as nearly 350 guests — among them diplomatic representatives from 20 countries — gathered for a lecture concert celebrating seven decades of friendship between Haiti and Japan.
Organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Japan and MIN-ON, in cooperation with Minato City, the evening brought together artists from both nations for a program that moved fluidly between history, culture, and live performance.
The concert opened with remarks by Mr. UEDA, Hajime, Counselor of the Latin America and Caribbean Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and H.E. Mr. Louis Harold JOSEPH, Ambassador of Haiti to Japan — setting a tone of warmth and mutual respect that carried through the night.
Onstage, the Haitian music group Métiskacao — featuring Amos Coulanges on guitar and Kécita Clénard on vocals — led the first half with traditional songs and folk melodies rooted in Haiti’s layered cultural inheritance: African, Caribbean, and European threads woven into something distinctly its own. Haitian drummer Claude Saturne rounded out the ensemble.
The second half opened with a solo piano set by Japanese musician Mao Sone, before the full group reunited to perform works by Ludovic Lamothe, a towering figure in Haitian classical composition. The evening’s most memorable moment came when Sone’s arrangement of “Sakura Sakura” — Japan’s beloved traditional melody, reimagined in Haitian rhythm — drew the audience to its feet. At the encore, many in the hall sang along.
Audience reactions spoke to something beyond entertainment. “Even without understanding the words, I felt how music brings people together,” one attendee said. “Cultural exchanges like this feel more important than ever,” said another.
The day prior, the performers and Ambassador JOSEPH visited the MIN-ON Culture Center, meeting with Vice President Ito before touring the MIN-ON Music Museum.
This program was made possible through the generous support of Min-On’s sustaining members, to whom we extend our sincere appreciation.
