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Lake Biwa Rowing Song

Entries for Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta).

Kyoto International Photo Showcase 2011

Oct 25th, 2011
by philbert.
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日本語

Updated: Our group photo exhibition in Kyoto went very well. It was great meeting people and explaining about our pictures and work. Thank you to all who came to see us.

Photos of the exhibition here:
http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=833

Exhibition details:
I organized a group photo exhibition in Kyoto held on Nov. 16-20, 2011 at the Kyoto International Community House in Kyoto, near Keage Station (5 min. by Tozai Line subway from Yamashina Station). The exhibition room was open from noon to 7 pm (till 5:30 pm on the 20th). We had a gathering on Nov. 19 (Sat.) at 5 pm – 7 pm and on Nov. 20 (Sun.) at 4 pm – 5:30 pm when the public was invited to meet the artists. Free admission.

The theme was “Home Sweet Hometown.” Many of us foreigners in Japan have lived here for so long that Japan has become our second hometown. We love our hometowns in Japan so much that we often photograph it. We shall now share some images of our beloved hometown. I showed photos based on the Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta). I have shown these pictures at various places in Shiga, but this was the first time for me to show them in Kyoto.

Also, Bruce Osborn showed Maibara Oyako (Parent-Child) Portraits. They come from the exhibition he is currently having at Maibara Station until March 2012.

Most of the other artists are based in Kyoto showed mainly Kyoto.

Featured Artists
Micah Gampel: “My Furukiyoki” self-portraits with friends in Kyoto. Very amusing collection of prints.
Peter Macintosh: Huge mural of Kyoto geisha photos taken over the past 10 years.
Motoyasu Matsutani: Pretty pictures of Kyoto.
Peter Miller: Copperplate photogravures of furusato scenes in Japan such as Shirakawa-go and Kamakura.
Philbert Ono: Introduction of Shiga’s hometown song, Lake Biwa Rowing Song. (Biwako Shuko no Uta) created by Kyoto University Rowing Club members in 1917.
Bruce Osborn: Maibara (Shiga Prefecture) Oyako (Parent-child) portraits taken in the four seasons.
John Wells: Mixed media (oil painting, sumie painting, etc.) of Kyoto scenes/objects.

Kyoto International Photo Showcase 2011

The Japan Times inserted a nice announcement for our show in the Nov. 13, 2011 issue:

The Japan Times, Nov. 13, 2011, page 2 (National News)

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Spo-rec Shiga 2008

Oct 18th, 2008
by philbert.
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Jamie and Megan Thompson sang “Lake Biwa Rowing Song” (Biwako Shuko no Uta) at Spo-Rec Shiga on Oct. 18, 2008 at Kibogaoka Park in Yasu, Shiga Prefecture. The performance was part of the side entertainment on the opening day of the sports festival. The MC was Chiho Ono, radio personality at e-radio (FM Shiga) which organized this stage entertainment.

Afterward, I went to see the Sports Recreation event at Kibogaoka Park in Yasu. They had the opening ceremony. Many people were there from all 47 prefectures and South Korea too. 

It’s a great event and Kibogaoka Park is a perfect place. Many food booths, health/sports booths, stage entertainment, and Caffee. There are new sports which you can try out too. Lots of things for the kids. I highly recommend visiting Kibogaoka Park during Oct. 19-21.

Photos: http://photoguide.jp/pix/displayimage.php?album=718

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Event notice: Sports Recreation Shiga 2008

Oct 7th, 2008
by philbert.
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The Sports Recreation event will be held in Shiga during Oct. 18-21, 2008. On the first day Oct. 18 at Kibogaoka Park in Yasu, there will be some entertainment on a side stage called スポレク「夢」ステージ near the Nishi-guchi west gate during 9:30 am to 11:15 am. 

During this entertainment time, we will appear and sing “Lake Biwa Rowing Song”(Biwako Shuko no Uta in English) on this outdoor Yume stage at around 10:20 am. Jamie and Megan Thompson will sing the song. If you have time, please come down to see us. 

On the same day, the Spo-rec opening ceremony will start on the center stage at 12:30 pm. From JR Yasu Station, there will be free shuttle buses going to the park every 10-15 min. Note that if the weather is bad, the show will be canceled. Light rain will be no problem though. 

http://www.pref.shiga.jp/edu/sporec/koso.html 

スポレクの開会式の日、10月18日（土）に希望が丘文化公園内に「夢」ステージで色々な団体が9:30-11:20 amに出演します。 私たちは、10:20ごろに出演して「琵琶湖周航の歌」英語版を披露いたします。歌うのはジェイミーとメゲン・トンプソンの双子姉妹。 

「夢」ステージは、希望が丘文化公園の西口の近くにあります（池の前）。そして中央ステージで開会式が12:30ごろ始まります。野洲駅から無料バスあります。 

会場：　滋賀県立希望が丘文化公園内　スポレク滋賀２００８会場内　県民ステージ） 
主催：　エフエム滋賀 
Tel: ０７７−５２７−０８１４

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3rd Imazu Regatta

Sep 13th, 2008
by philbert.
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The 3rd Imazu Regatta was held on Aug. 17, 2008. Imazu Jr. High and Takashima High rowing clubs and people from Kyoto also rowed. I donated copies of the Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD as one of the prizes. They played the song during the regatta.
http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=704

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Photo exhibition at Imazu Public Library

Jul 3rd, 2008
by philbert.
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I’m holding a photo exhibition now at Imazu Public Library near Omi-Imazu Station (West exit). It will be until July 30. 

I’m showing photos of the Imazu Jr. High School Rowing Club’s rowing trip on Biwako which I took last Aug. (also see the above note). I also have photos of Biwako Shuko no Uta. 

Imazu Library site: 
http://lib.city.takashima.shiga.jp/iliswing/we/tosho/shoukai/imadu/imadu.html 

Also, on Aug. 17 at Imazu, the 3rd Imazu Regatta will be held. This is a rowing race which anyone can participate, even non-experienced rowers. You can even go there alone, and they will put you together with other people to row on the same boat. The race course is only 500 meters. More details at their site: 
http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~t-imazurowing/

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Lake Biwa Rowing Song music video

Mar 26th, 2008
by philbert.
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I created a music video for Lake Biwa Rowing Song and now you can see it on YouTube:

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Event notice: Shiga ALT art exhibition at 琵琶湖文化館

Mar 20th, 2008
by philbert.
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Shiga’s Assistant Language Teachers (mainly English) are having an art exhibition at the Biwako Bunkakan. About 16 teachers are exhibiting paintings, photography, etc., during March 20-23, 2008. 

It is on the 1st floor of the museum. Hours: 9 am – 5 pm. Free admission. 

I also have my Lake Biwa Rowing Song pictures on display as well. I will be there on Sunday the 23rd (last day) from 3 pm to 5 pm. If you have time, please visit us. 

The museum is near Shimanoseki and Ishiba Stations on the Keihan Line. 

As you may know, the museum will close down at the end of this month. If you’ve never been to this museum, this is your last chance. It has a lot of Buddhist art, including National Treasures. The top floor also has nice views of the lake. This museum has been a landmark in Otsu for many years (since 1961). I think they will keep the building, but it will be closed to the public. 

Web site: http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~biwa-bun/

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Governor Kada sings in English

Nov 18th, 2007
by philbert.
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なんと嘉田知事も飛び入りして英語版「琵琶湖周航の歌」を歌う！光栄でした。

On Oct. 20, 2007 (Sat.), an event called Umizukuri Boat Festa 湖づくりボートフェスタ was held. It was a dragon boat and canoe race between Otsu (near Ishiyama) and Ogoto.

After the race ended, a mini concert featuring cute kids playing the よし笛 reed flute (made from reeds in Biwako) was held in Ogoto (Opal) next to the lake shore. Jamie Thompson sang Biwako Shuko no Uta in English as they played the song with the flute. (Her twin sister could not attend and neither could I).

And then a surprise. Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko went on stage and began singing in English with Jamie!! (See photos above.)

Wow, what a great honor. She’s a real people’s governor.

Event flyer:

http://setarc.jp/2007/08/umizukuri/info.pdf

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Emperor and Empress visit Shiga

Nov 15th, 2007
by philbert.
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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Shiga Prefecture for the first time in 13 years during Nov. 10-13, 2007. The main reason was to attend the 27th Zenkoku Yutaka na Umizukuri Taikai (National Convention to Make Bountiful Oceans 第２７回全国豊かな海づくり大会) held in Otsu.
On the first day, they visited a nursing home called Care Town Karasaki in Otsu. Some 20 patients there sang Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) for the Imperial couple and the Emperor demanded an encore for them to sing it again. It is Shiga’s most famous song.
On the second day the 11th, they attended the formal opening ceremony of the National Convention to Make Bountiful Oceans held at the lakeside Biwako Hall in Otsu. In his speech, the Emperor reflected, “It hurts my heart that the blue gill fish I brought to Japan from America for human consumption is now damaging the ecosystem of Lake Biwa.” In 1960 as Crown Prince on a trip to the U.S., the Emperor brought back the blue gill fish given to him in Chicago, Illinois and intended it to be raised in Japan for human consumption.
Some of the blue gill subsequently escaped from a research facility and entered Lake Biwa. The fish multiplied rapidly during the 1990s. Since it eats the baby fish of native lake fish found nowhere else in the world, the blue gill (and black bass) has become a major ecological problem in the lake. After the formal ceremony, the Emperor and Empress went outside the lakeside hall and released baby fish of native lake fish into the lake. Some of the ceremonial pomp included water-spraying fireboats and fishing boats sailing in a procession on the lake. The convention also had pavilions and booths in the Hama-Otsu area for the public to become more aware of fisheries in Lake Biwa.
After the convention, the Imperial couple took a boat ride to Karasuma Peninsula in Kusatsu to visit the Lake Biwa Museum. On the 12th, they visited Shigaraki Ceramic Park and the ruins of Shigaraki-no-Miya which was a detached palace of Emperor Shomu.
On the 13th, they visited Enryakuji temple on Mt. Hiei and returned to Tokyo via shinkansen train from Kyoto Station. It must have been a spectacle to see Shinto’s highest-ranking priest (the emperor) paying a visit to the headquarters of one of Japan’s largest Buddhist sects. Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko accompanied the Emperor and Empress during their tour in Shiga.
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Biwako Shimin Regatta

Jul 27th, 2007
by philbert.
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This coming Sunday, there will be a citizens’ regatta (rowing boat race) on Seta River near Seta Karahashi Bridge. 

It will be all day long from 9 am to 4 pm. Many rowing teams will race down the river for 250 meters.

The 本部 (headquarters) will be on the east side of the river near Seta-Karahashi Bridge. Map: 
http://setarc.jp/2007resident/map.png 

They will also sell my Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD for 800 yen. I will also be there most of the time to help sell the CD. So if you have time on Sunday, please drop by and say hello. 

My CD will also be one of the prizes awarded to all the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the regatta in all race categories. (Total of 75 winners.) 

Web site: 
http://setarc.jp/2007resident/point/

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Lake Biwa Rowing Song photo exhibition in Maibara

Jul 22nd, 2007
by philbert.
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I don’t know if there’s anybody from Maibara in this community, but I currently have my Lake Biwa Rowing Song photo exhibition again, this time in Maibara until Aug. 3. 

The place is Lucci Plaza near JR Omi-Nagaoka Station on the Tokaido Line. This place also has a public library where people can borrow the CD. There’s also a nice restaurant with a view of Mt. Ibuki. 
http://plaza.city.maibara.shiga.jp/access.htm 

It is open from 10 am to 10 pm, closed on Mon. Free admission of course. 

This is my third photo exhibition this year in Shiga, after Yokaichi and Imazu. Many of the photos are the same, but there are also new pictures as well. Captions in both Japanese and English.

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Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD

Jul 8th, 2007
by philbert.
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I’m happy to announce that our Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD is finally on sale. We started selling the CD on June 16, 2007 in Imazu at the Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan song museum 琵琶湖周航の歌資料館.The Asahi Shimbun wrote about it in the June 17 issue:
http://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/boatsong/news/488news20070617.jpgYou can buy it at the Shiryokan in Imazu or call them at 0740-22-2108 and order it. You can also order it from me. Just send me a message and I’ll give you my bank account info. The price is 1,000 yen including shipping via mail-bin. Discount available for large orders (30 CDs or more).

About the CD:
-Four tracks: English version (with and without piano music), Japanese version, and piano karaoke.
-Sung by Jamie & Megan Thompson.
-12-page CD booklet explains the song in English and Japanese and includes the English and Japanese lyrics (Japanese and romanized text).
-Retail price in Japan 800 yen, including tax.

The CD is being very well-received so far. It makes a perfect gift from Shiga. Send it to your friends overseas. Or give it to your friends when they visit Shiga. Now I’m searching for more shops in Shiga to sell the CD.

More info:

http://photoguide.jp/txt/Lake_Biwa_Rowing_Song

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Lake Biwa Cruise and choir contest

Jul 8th, 2007
by philbert.
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We had a fun time in Imazu during the weekend of June 16-17, 2007. On the 16th (Sat.), there was a 3-hour Lake Biwa Cruise to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Biwako Shuko no Uta. Jamie and Megan Thompson sang the English song in the chartered boat and also on Chikubushima.We also introduced and sold the CD on the boat and quite a few people bought it. In the evening, we attended a lecture about the song and also a dinner reception where we met the mayor of Takashima. I gave him a free copy of the CD.

Photos: http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=581

Newspaper (Kyoto Shimbun):
http://photoguide.jp/pix/displayimage.php?album=587&pid=17364

On the next day Sunday, the Thompson sisters sang the song at the Biwako Shuko no Uta choir contest in Imazu. We also sold the CD there. There were 25 choirs from Shiga, Hokuriku, Kyoto, etc. Each choir had to sing two songs, one must be Biwako Shuko no Uta, and the other can be any song. The 1st place prize was 100,000 yen.

We could also experience rowing on the same type of boat used by songwriter Oguchi Taro 90 years ago. The local junior high school kids took us for a boat ride on Biwako near Imazu Port. Great fun.

Photos: http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=582

On June 19 (Tue.), e-radio (FM Shiga) introduced our CD and song on an afternoon radio program hosted by Chiho Ono (not my relative). I was in Tokyo so I couldn’t listen to the program, but a few of our friends have told us that they heard it. I think that was the first time a radio station played the song from the CD. Thanks to Chiho.

And on June 24 in Hikone’s Viva City Hall, Jamie sang the song at an international event organized by a local int’l exchange organization called VOICE. We were able to introduce and sell the CD there as well.

Enjoy!

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琵琶湖周航の歌　英語版CD

Jul 8th, 2007
by philbert.
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待望の琵琶湖周航の歌 英語版CDが2007年6月16日に発売されました。定価800円。お陰さまで売れ行きが好調。

  • 歌はジェイミーとメゲン・トンプソン姉妹（美しいハーモニー!!）
  • 4曲収録：英語版（ピアノ伴奏、アカペラ）、日本語、ピアノ（カラオケ）
  • 12ページのCDブックレットに英語版歌詞、日本語歌詞、歌の紹介（英語と日本語）、歌碑紹介、滋賀の英文概要
  • 英語版の歌い方の手本や滋賀の物産として最高！海外の友人などにいいお土産。英語の勉強にも！
  • CDジャケットのデザインは「のぼる狭霧や　さざなみの」というモチーフ
  • 英語版作詞・CD制作：オノ・フィルバート

CDは、滋賀県高島市今津町中沼1-5-7の琵琶湖周航の歌資料館で販売中。同資料館で通信販売もやっています。電話でも注文できます：

英語版CD注文: Tel/Fax: (0740) 22-2108

(休館日: 月曜、祝日の翌日。支払い方法は現金書留か為替。)

  • 定価800円（税込み、送料別）
  • 銀行振込を希望する方は、メールください: bid@photojpn.org
  • 大量(30部以上)の注文は1割以上の割引もあります。学校での大量注文も割引あります。問い合わせはbid@photojpn.orgへ。（琵琶湖周航の歌資料館では割引できません。）

詳細は：

http://photoguide.jp/txt/Biwako_Shuko_no_Uta

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Event notice: Biwako Shuko no Uta choir contest

Jun 17th, 2007
by philbert.
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第１１回「琵琶湖周航の歌」音楽祭合唱コンクール 

私が作成した「琵琶湖周航の歌」の英語版がまた公の場で歌われます。 歌の発祥地である滋賀県高島市今津町は、毎年の6月にこの歌の合唱コンクールを開催していて、今年はアメリカ人のJamie and Megan Thompson姉妹がゲストとして午後12:15に出場して英語版を歌う予定です。関西、近畿、北陸地方などの様々なコーラスが参加します。 

そして、会場内で英語版CDも発売されます。 

入場料は500円。コンクールは午前10時から始まるが、姉妹は何時ごろに出るかまだ分かりません。 分かりましたらまたお知らせします。 

高島市民会館　滋賀県高島市今津町中沼１丁目３番地１ 
（JR湖西線近江今津駅から徒歩5分。駅構内に観光案内あり）TEL: 0740-22-1764 

同時に今津町にある琵琶湖周航の歌資料館に英語版の写真展も開催されます。5月22日〜7月1日 
（このお知らせを自由にメール、ブログなど転送・転載してもOK.) 

The 11th Biwako Shuko no Uta Choir Contest will be held on June 17, 2007 at Takashima, Shiga. Various choirs from the Kansai, Kinki, and Hokuriku regions will participate to sing two songs: Biwako Shuko no Uta and one other song. 

Jamie and Megan Thompson have also been invited to sing my English version of the song. The contest starts at 10 am and lasts all day. The Thompsons will sing at 12:15 pm. Please come if you can. Imazu is a lovely place to visit as well. 

Place: Takashima Shimin Kaikan, near Omi-Imazu Station on the Kosei Line. Get out the East Exit. The station also has a tourist info booth.

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