台風被害から2カ月の八丈島　出身アーティストが地元ライブ「幸せだなと思える島を」

Two months have passed since the typhoon hit Hachijojima Island in the Izu Islands of Tokyo. While power and water outages have been resolved, the impact on daily life and industry continues. Amidst this, an artist from Hachijojima held a live concert on the island, bringing cheer to the local people. On November 30th, a voice echoed through a live music venue on Hachijojima. The performer was the rock band "MONO NO AWARE." A popular band among young people, having performed at Japan's largest music event, the Fuji Rock Festival, the band's vocalist and guitarist, Shukei Tamaki, who also writes lyrics and composes music, and guitarist, Seijun Kato, are both from Hachijojima. Tamaki, who was born and raised in the Sueyoshi district, which was hit by landslides during the typhoon, said he was shocked by the drastic changes to the familiar landscape of his hometown. The day before the concert, Tamaki told TOKYO MX in an interview, "I felt an indescribable sense of helplessness, a feeling that was more than just sadness. It felt like it wasn't just someone else's problem, as I'd seen it on the news." MONO NO AWARE had planned a concert on the island even before the typhoon hit, but they struggled with the decision of whether or not to perform there given the ongoing impact on daily life and industry. Nevertheless, they decided to go ahead with the concert, hoping to "bring even a little joy to the local people." Tamaki explained his decision, saying, "In this case, I realized that messages alone are insufficient. A live performance is all we can do, and the only positive message we can send is for those who come to think, 'This might be fun.'" Tamaki, who left Hachijojima to attend university, performed songs expressing his "feelings for his hometown" in front of over 300 fans who had traveled from not only the island but also across Japan. Tamaki addressed the audience, saying, "I hope this was refreshing for everyone, both those who came from Tokyo and the islanders. That's all we can do. Did we manage to do that today?" Finally, he performed "High-Speed ​​Maim Maim," a traditional piece from the annual Obon festival held in the grounds of his alma mater, the former Sueyoshi Elementary School, and cheered, "Hey! We'll hold an Obon festival someday in the rubble-strewn grounds of Sueyoshi Elementary School!" In an interview, Tamaki smiled and said, "They often perform Maim Maim at the Obon festival in the Sueyoshi area, and I've always thought it was great since I was little." Participants from the island said things like, "High-Speed ​​Maim Maim was so much fun," "This was the first big event since the typhoon. I think it gave everyone a boost of energy. I'm so grateful," and "There were tough times, so I hope events like this spread little by little. I especially love MONO NO AWARE, so it really cheered me up." What they delivered to the people of their hometown, who had been working tirelessly for recovery and reconstruction for two months, was a moment immersed in music and renewed energy for tomorrow—"a happy island time." Tamaki said, "Some people have suffered sad experiences, and others just want to have fun. I want the island to be a place where both the islanders and visitors can think, 'I'm so happy,'" and continues to pray for the recovery of her hometown, Hachijojima.