“Together with you, we want to be instruments of peace.” “The seed of peace has grown in me.” “This indeed is the most sublime artistic expression: to give strength and hope.” These are just a few of the comments from the numerous audiences (a total of about 17,000 people) of the Gen Verde concerts in the Japanese cities of Tokyo, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Nagano. The Gen Verde performing arts group, one of the artistic expressions of the Focolare Movement, spent 68 days in Japan, from Sept. 24 to December 1, 2004. They had been invited to perform by the Rissho Kosei-kai (RKK), a Japanese Buddhist movement with which Chiara Lubich and the Focolare in Japan have been engaged in profound interreligious dialogue since 1979. Onstage the Gen Verde presented Prime Pagine (The First Pages). The musical, which was translated into Japanese specifically for this tour, traces the origins of the Focolare Movement in its re-discovery of the Gospel, especially Jesus’ priestly prayer, “Father, may they all be one,” the fulfillment of which it aims to pursue.

Hoping the concert tour would bring forth fruits of peace and brotherhood
On October 1, RKK President Nichiko Niwano offered an official welcome dinner to Gen Verde. “Let us exchange our best wishes that the concert tour may bring forth fruits of peace and fraternity, and that whoever sees us might exclaim – seeing the reciprocal love between RKK and Gen Verde – ‘see how they love one another’. A wish which came true: the concert tour promoted by the Japanese movement contributed to the progress of Buddhist-Christian dialogue and to deepening the unity between the Focolare Movement and the Rissho Kosei-kai.

Going deep into the heart of the Japanese people
The tour – Paola Stradi of Gen Verde commented – was a chance to learn first-hand about the sufferings which the Japanese nation has endured. “During the 68 days of our stay, these people kept surprising us with their traits: pronounced and delicate at the same time, determined and indomitable yet very sensitive to spiritual values. We tried to share in the sorrows they had gone through, such as the tragedy of the atomic bomb and its consequences at Nagasaki and Hiroshima; there, we invited the public to begin the concert with a moment of silence for peace. The recent violent typhoon and earthquake at Niigata inspired us to make our performance a sign of concrete solidarity.

Numerous contacts
Aside from the 17,000 people met during Gen Verde’s 9 performances, another 2,120 people participated in the Koriukai, the meetings to exchange experiences and comments, aimed at establishing a deeper dialogue. A performance-meeting was also held for 215 university students, upon the invitation of the Salesian Sisters. Moreover, Gen Verde met the Archbishop of Nagasaki, the bishop of Hiroshima and a number of priests and religious. Cardinal Shirayanagi, Archbishop of Tokyo, offered some remarks during the performance held on Nov. 14 at the Fumon Hall, in the presence of Nichiko Niwano, President of RKK and his daughter Kosho, designated as RKK’s future president. Cardinal Shirayanagi and Kosho introduced the Gen Verde on this occasion. Also the Apostolic Nuncio in Japan, His Excellency Ambrose De Paoli, was present.

Visits to Buddhist temple and Shinto shrine
The tour gave the Gen Verde the chance to come into direct contact with Japanese culture as well as with Shintoism and traditional Buddhism. Venerable Takeuchi had reserved for them a particularly warm welcome in an atmosphere of true brotherhood. He had been in Italy last April to participate at the first Buddhist-Christian symposium promoted by the Focolare.

Ceremonies in honor of the founder of the Rissho Kosei-kai
The official motive for inviting Gen Verde was the commemoration of Nikkyo Niwano, founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, the ceremonies of which were held on October 2 at Tokyo’s Fumon Hall. On this occasion, the memory of his death on October 4, 1999, was evoked – “the day of St. Francis,” the Buddhist friends recalled. A beautiful coincidence that among the songs translated by the Gen Verde into Japanese there was also “St. Francis’ Prayer”. 3,000 people were present, while over a million followed the event via satellite. So it was with the second ceremony, held at the Sacred Hall on November 15, to commemorate the founder’s birthday, with the participation of 7,000 people. The first part of the ceremonies consisted in a solemn prayer led by Nichiko Niwano and his daughter Kosho. The message sent by Chiara Lubich for the occasion was warmly received, especially her invitation “to live and work together with renewed commitment, with dedication and trust, continually supporting one another, so as to build unity in the human family.”
On November 20, also in the Sacred Hall, Gen Verde offered songs and experiences to 1,500 Buddhist youth, leaders of local groups from all parts of Japan. At the conclusion of the concert tour, a television interview with Gen Verde, transmitted on the monthly “link-up” reached over 6 million people.

Sayonara, Goodbye Japan!
Here are a few of the numerous impressions gathered after the performances which, like a “thermometer” , are a gauge of the atmosphere experienced during the concerts:
“You have re-awakened the love of God within me and made me aware that it is this love which makes me live.” “The seed of peace has grown in me. Even during the earthquake I felt the power of love.” “I want to be a person who gives.” “I understood that even in the midst of suffering I exist for other people.”

As Gen Verde left Japan, Paola Stradi affirmed: “We have been enriched, our hearts have been expanded, we have gained new strength. In each city, President Niwano had marvelous flower compositions arranged to welcome us. But an even more intense fragrance continues to follow us – the fragrance of those hearts we have come to meet, and are now living with renewed determination for a more united world.”

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