“A young woman, new in town, is excited to be joining a local amateur symphony orchestra, but she soon discovers that all its members are elderly,” reads an unsigned article in Tuesday’s (11/29) Asahi Shimbun (Tokyo). “She’s kept on her toes by a seemingly endless array of problems, but she nevertheless begins to appreciate how the power of music can bring people together. This is a summary of ‘Oke Rojin!’ (Golden Orchestra), a Japanese film that is now showing at theaters nationwide.… ‘Even though some of the scenes are a bit too far-fetched, I was quite impressed by the way this film depicts the power of senior citizens and their solidarity,’ said Hideki Sakuma, 72, a member of the Chiba Masters Orchestra … based in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture…. Many members are retirees…. The orchestra’s main activity is to perform at special-needs schools throughout the prefecture. The oldest member is Kiyoshi Watanabe, 87, who plays the cello.… ‘It is wonderfully stimulating to meet people at rehearsals and concerts,’ he said. ‘The cello makes you use your head and fingers. This is perfect for keeping fit.’ ”
Posted December 2, 2016
