The Singing Voice of Japan (日本のうたごえ / うたごえ運動) is a social and political movement that emerged after World War II in Japan and based on musical and choral activities of the working class of the entire nation. On the ideological position of communism or democratic socialism, activists of the movement organize choral circles in factories, in schools and in their residential areas. The movement reached its peak in the years 1950–60. Japanese singer Akiko Seki (関鑑子 1899–1973) is generally regarded as the founder of the Singing Voice of Japan.

 

History

 

May 1, 1946: In the occasion of the first May Day post-war in Tokyo, Akiko Seki conducted L'internationale and a Japanese version of The Red Flag; this experience led her to the creation of a national musical movement of the working class.

February 10, 1948: Akiko Seki created the Choir of the Communist Youth League of Japan (日本青年共産同盟中央合唱団) in Tokyo, as the core of national musical movement of the working class.

November 29, 1953: First national festival of the Singing voice of Japan in Tokyo, in the halls Hibiya Kokaido (日比谷公会堂) and Kanda Kyōristu Kōdō (神田共立講堂).

February 14, 1955: Permanent institution of the Executive Committee of the Festival of the Singing Voice of Japan (日本のうたごえ実行委員会).

December 20, 1955: Akiko Seki received the Stalin Peace Prize.

May 1960: Statement of the Executive Committee of the Festival opposing the renewal of Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan.

December 10, 1969: First performance of the opera Okinawa (歌劇「沖縄」) in Tokyo, in the hall Shibuya Kokaido (渋谷公会堂).

 

 

Musical repertoire and organization

 

The repertoire of the movement consists mainly in revolutionary songs and those of the working class of different nations. Among registered members of individual committees (distinguished by region, industrial union, and other criterion) of the singing voice of Japan is favored to create new songs and choral pieces in the genre suited to the needs of their group. According to the program adopted in 2013, the National Council of the singing voice of Japan aims the objective to include 500 units and choral circles allover the national territory of Japan.

 

Relationship with the Japanese Communist Party

 

Under one of the movement's slogan: Let's sing for the struggle of the working class (うたは闘いとともに), activists of the movement have composed many songs to encourage workers protest against illegal discrimination of their employers. In the 1960s, instruction of militants of the movement and continued improvement of their ideological, political and artistic quality were considered important means of cultural policy by the Japanese Communist Party. Nowadays (2016), the only group that is active and explicitly dedicated to the support of JCP is the Choir of JCP-fans (JCPファン雑唱団), established in 2011 in Kyoto by veteran activists of the movement and directed by Tadao Yamamoto (山本忠生), composer, accordionist, choir director and an ordinary member of the National Council of The Singing Voice of Japan: the choir witnesses the historical connection calling itself by the acronym of English official name of the Party. Its repertory and artistic activity are strongly linked in the movement, and in various cultural events organized by the Party, the Choir of JCP-fans appears as an element among the joined choirs of the volunteer singers of The Singing Voice of Japan.

　

　Notable concerts and performances of the Choir of JCP-fans:

February 11, 2011, Kyoto Kaikan Hall: Concert sponsored by the Kyoto Committee of the JCP.

August 1, 2013, Nishijin Bunka Center (Kyoto): Cultural Live Revolutionary Pub, in collaboration with Tokiko Nishiyama (西山登紀子), former JCP member of the House of Councilors.

September 23, 2014, Takaragaike Park (Kyoto): Festival Kyoto ed. 2014, organized by the Kyoto Committee of the JCP.

February 1, 2015, Kyoiku Bunka Center (Kyoto): Festival sponsored by the Kyoto Committee of the JCP.

April 29, 2016, Takaragaike Park (Kyoto): Festival Kyoto ed. 2016, organized by the Kyoto Committee of the JCP: performance with Seifuku Kōjō Iinkai (制服向上委員会) and Akira Koike (小池晃), JCP member of the House of Councilors, and Secretary-General of the Party.

 

Personalities and historical activists

 

Akiko Seki (関鑑子): singer, founder of the movement (1899–1973)

Sakae Araki (荒木栄): composer (1924–1962)

Gorō Sudō (須藤五郎): composer, conductor, JCP member of the House of Councilors (1897–1988)

Yoritoyo Inoue (井上頼豊): cellist (1912–1996)

Katsura Nakazawa (中澤桂): soprano (1933–2016)

Nobuo Terahara (寺原伸夫): composer (1928–1998)

Hikaru Hayashi (林光): composer (1931–2012)

Yūzō Toyama (外山雄三): conductor (1931–)

Susumu Ōnishi (大西進): composer (1931–)

Nobuo Sugimoto (杉本信夫): composer, musicologist (1934–)

Kiminobu Sōma (相馬公信): composer, choir singer (1942–)

Tadao Yamamoto (山本忠生): composer (1939–)

Hiromi Fujimoto (藤本洋): poet (1932–)

Daisuke Doi (土井大助): poet (1927–2014)

Taku Izumi (いずみたく): composer (1930–1992)

Kōji Kinoshita (木下航二): composer (1925–1999)