When you think about "listening to live music," you need to purchase tickets for live shows or concerts and go to large venues like music halls.
However, if there is a day when you can casually enjoy live performances by local artists in your own town...
you will feel music closer to you.
The Harmony Marche will be held on April 13, 2025 (Sunday) at Shoshin-cho No. 4 Park in Shoshin-cho, Kurashiki City, where local shops sponsor the event for the community to enjoy live music, making it accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
We spoke with Midori Yao, the manager of Armonía and the founder of the Harmony Marche, about the concept and her thoughts.
What is the 3rd Harmony Marche?
The 3rd Harmony Marche will be held on April 13, 2025 (Sunday) at Shoshin-cho No. 4 Park Ground in the Shoshin area of Kurashiki City.
It will be a half-day event with local people from the Shoshin area, musicians who gather at Armonía, and vendors actively involved in children's cafeteria activities and welfare activities in Kurashiki City and Hayashima Town.
The conditions for vendors are as follows:
- Vendors must agree to support charities for children's cafeterias and disability assistance.
- Vendors must learn and participate in the sign language song that everyone will perform at the end of the stage.
At the end of the stage, we will sing the sign language song "Maru Iinachi," written and composed by Iruka, with everyone, continuing from 2024.
Please check the following image for details about the vendors.
Overview of the 2nd Harmony Marche
The Harmony Marche is now in its third edition.
The 2nd Harmony Marche, held in April 2024, resonated with music on stage, where children made cotton candy with their own hands, and participants were able to donate to children's cafeterias through their food and drink purchases, contributing to social contribution.
Many volunteers supported the Marche, taking care of stage setup, sound operation, parking lot maintenance, and clapping along to the music stage, and they all express the following:
"Because it's a Marche created by friends who have grown up in this area."
With smiles, they say this is a Marche where you can experience "local love."
In 2025, they are planning to involve participants in projects that everyone can enjoy together at the venue.
Interview with Midori Yao, the founder of the Harmony Marche
We interviewed Midori Yao from the Harmony Marche Executive Committee about her thoughts on the 3rd Harmony Marche.
What kind of event is the Harmony Marche?
Yao (no honorifics)
Harmony means harmony, right?
In fact, the name of my café, Armonía, refers to harmony in Spanish.
I hope that all people, things, and cultures on Earth can create beautiful harmony here, transcending borders, ethnicities, languages, and religions. Even if we can't communicate with words, we can sway our shoulders to the same music.
To fulfill that wish, I started to think that I want the people in my local neighborhood, who have taken care of me the most, to experience music.
Including sound effects from TV and games, everyone is familiar with music in their daily lives. In other words, music is a universal language.
I run the Harmony Marche with the hope that people living in this area, including those who have difficulties going out due to disabilities, can experience live music and interact with others, leading to the revitalization of Shoshin-cho.
Once again, it will be held at Shoshin-cho No. 4 Park, right?
Yao
The first Harmony Marche was held in front of Café Armonía, so I was worried whether the local people would accept it when we used a larger venue last year.
However, when we actually held the Marche, both the vendors and participants enjoyed it very much. Not only that, but the participants' manners were also very good.
Seeing that, this year, local people have become actively involved from the preparation stage.
Sponsored companies have increased, and we distributed flyers not only to local elementary schools but to all households in Shoshin-cho.
At Café Armonía, we regularly hold children's cafeteria events, so I would be happy if the local people also became aware of the existence of children's cafeterias.
What kind of vendors will participate on the day?
Yao
All vendors are those who have the intention to support charity events for children's cafeterias and disability assistance.
We have vendors from shops active in Shoshin-cho and those we have connections with when Café Armonía participated in events.
The musicians participating in the music stage are all customers of Café Armonía.
Professional musicians from Okayama Prefecture, including Kurashiki City, will gather.
Even when watching TV, there are few opportunities to meet new musicians.
Even if you want to support local artists from Okayama and Kurashiki, you first need a connection with the musicians.
At the Harmony Marche, music will be played continuously from the stage during the event.
While enjoying delicious food and interacting with other participants, you will feel like stepping to the music... so please look forward to the gathering of such musicians.
Please tell us your recommended way to enjoy the event.
Yao
First and foremost, I want people to get to know the musicians active in the local area.
Among the participants, there may be people who have few opportunities to experience live music.
Without having to purchase special tickets or go to distant music halls, this is a day when you can hear live music just by listening closely in a local park. I hope you can listen to the music and feel enriched.
Additionally, some vendors are organizations involved in disability assistance.
There may be people in wheelchairs, those who are hard of hearing, or those who are visually impaired gathering at the venue.
It’s not a special experience; when you go to the Harmony Marche, various interactions among people of different backgrounds will naturally occur.
It truly embodies harmony, Armonía.
I hope you enjoy such moments as well.
Please send a message to the readers.
Yao
I hope it will be a day when various people and cultures create beautiful harmony, transcending borders and ethnicities.
Participation from outside Shoshin-cho is also very welcome.
Everyone, have a great day.
Conclusion
I also participated in the 2nd Harmony Marche held last year as a supervisor of the sign language song.
The scene at the end of the Marche, where everyone in the venue came together to perform the sign language song, was truly "harmony" itself.
The atmosphere of local leaders and youth groups gathering together to uplift the community was also impressive.
How about going out to enjoy live music and an experiential Marche in the warm spring weather?
Data for the 3rd Harmony Marche
| Name | 3rd Harmony Marche |
|---|---|
| Date | April 13, 2025 (Sunday) 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
| Location | 11-11 Shoshin-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free admission |
