Lake Biwa Rowing Song Performances 英語版の公の場
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June 3, 2006 Jamie and Megan Thompson sing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" at Imazu Port, Shiga Pref.
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This was the first time the English song was sung in public. 「琵琶湖周航の歌」英語版の発表会、今津港の歌碑前
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As if drawn to the singing, the floating school named "Uminoko" (Child of the Lake) also docked at the same time.
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Nov. 26, 2006 Jamie and Megan Thompson sing "Lake Biwa Rowing." (verse 1 only) on the NHK TV Nodo Jiman amateur singing show.
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The twins talk with the host of the 61-year-old TV program. NHKのど自慢出場、合格
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Megan: "And Japan's nature is also beautiful..." This show was broadcast live from Mitoyo, Kagawa Pref., near Megan's town.
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The show's Champion is announced. This high school girl from Takamatsu, Kagawa Pref.
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Everyone waving goodbye at the end of the show. Singer Fuji Ayako on the extreme right.
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The twins pose with the high school girl who went on to be the show's Champion.
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Small trophy for those who appeared on the TV program. (Photo by Jamie Thompson)
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Nodo Jiman for those who made it to the preliminary screening.
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Lake Biwa Rowing Song official music video.
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Children's choir in Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, Japan in Feb. 2008 rehearse singing Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) in English. They sing the first verse.
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Video of Jamie and Megan Thompson singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" 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 is Chiho Ono, radio personality at e-radio (FM Shiga) which organized this stage entertainment.
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2011 FISA World Rowing Tour at Lake Biwa, Japan. "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" was played as they rowed.About 40 rowers from overseas rowed around Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, Japan on June 5-11, 2011 for the annual FISA World Rowing Tour held for the first time in Asia. This video was taken on June 9 when they rowed from Nagahama to Hikone in northeastern Lake Biwa. The tour was hosted by the Seta Rowing Club in Otsu. FISA is the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron, the International Rowing Federation which is the governing body for international Rowing.
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Feb. 25, 2007 Jamie Lee Thompson gives her speech at the 3rd Biwako Nihongo Network's Japanese Speech Contest by Foreigners.
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Title of her speech was, Biwako Shuko no Uta no Boken (Adventures with Lake Biwa Rowing Song). 「琵琶湖周航の歌」の冒険
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After the awards ceremony, she was asked to sing a little bit of the English song she talked about. She beautifully sang the first verse and drew much applause.
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Jamie won the speech contest. Her award certificate from Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko. 第３回BNN外国人による日本語スピーチ大会 最優秀賞を受賞！
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Mar. 4, 2007 Nakamura Naoko sings "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" at Canora Hall in Okaya, Nagano Pref.
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The first Japanese person to sing the English song in public. This was at the Okaya International Exchange Association's 15th anniversary festival.
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The first person to sing the English song in public outside Shiga.
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Nakamura Naoko sings "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" up to verse 3.
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June 16, 2007 Singing in front of Verse 4 song monument on Chikubushima.
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Jamie and Megan Thompson singing in front of Verse 4 song monument on Chikubushima. This was during a Lake Biwa cruise.
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Jamie and Megan Thompson singing during a Lake Biwa cruise.
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From 1997 to 2019, Imazu held the annual Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) choir contest in June at Imazu Shimin Kaikan concert hall. (Discontinued after 2019.)「琵琶湖周航の歌」音楽祭合唱コンクール
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Held annually in June since 1997, this choir contest has over 20 choirs, mainly from western Japan, competing for cash prizes. Takashima Shimin Kaikan Hall, venue of the choir contest. Near Omi-Imazu Station on the Kosei Line. 高島市民会館
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Poster for song competition. 第11回「琵琶湖周航の歌」音楽祭 合唱コンクールHeld annually in June since 1997, this song contest has over 20 choirs, mainly from western Japan, compete by singing two songs each. One song they must sing is Biwako Shuko no Uta, while the other song can be anything. On June 17, 2007, the English version, called "Lake Biwa Rowing Song," was sung for the first time at this contest. 第11回「琵琶湖周航の歌」音楽祭 合唱コンクールでジェイミーとメゲン・トンプソン姉妹がコンクールで英語版を歌った。
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Hall lobby and reception desk where you pay 500 yen admission.
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Imazu-cho Tourist Association booth in the lobby where they sold song-related souvenirs, including our Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD.
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Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD flyer. The CD is 800 yen.
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Program. 残念ながら、私どもがこのプログラムに掲載されていませんでした。
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In 2007, 25 choirs, mainly from Shiga and neighboring prefectures, competed. They sang the same song in various ways.
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To enter the choir competition, the choir must have at least 12 members. The entry deadline is late Feb. Entry fee is 5,000 yen per choir (3,000 yen for high school and younger choirs).
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Each choir has to sing two songs: One is Biwako Shuko no Uta, and the second one could be any song. Each choir must sing both songs within 8 min.
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The choirs sing the same song in various ways. Most of them also had a piano player. The choir competition lasted from 10 am to 4 pm.
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Jamie Thompson コンクールで初めて英語で歌われた。歌が終わると大きな拍手。
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Megan Thompson 昼休み中だったし、プログラムにも載っていなかったので大勢の客が退場した後に英語版が歌われた。
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Backstage
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Awards ceremony (受賞式). Sadly, this choir contest has been discontinued after the last time it was held in 2019. Held annually in mid-June from 1997 to 2019. In recent years, there have been fewer choir entrants and fewer from within Shiga.
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Trophies. The 1st place winner would receive 100,000 yen, 2nd place 50,000 yen, and 3rd place 30,000 yen.
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1st place winner 「合唱団かやの樹」（三重県伊賀市）が金賞
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During the choir contest, Imazu Jr. High rowing club offered rides on a wooden, fixed-seat boat. It is a replica of the boat used 90 years ago by Oguchi Taro and crew.
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Made of wood with non-sliding seats. This boat became obsolete as sliding-seat boats came to fore. 小口太郎たちがこういうもの乗ってましたね。
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We rowed for about 20 min. Great fun, but they don't offer this boat ride anymore during the choir contest. Probably due to the lack of demand. 今津中学校ボート部がフィックス艇の体験乗船もやって面白かった。
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June 24, 2007 Hikone VOICE World Gathering was an annual event of this international exchange group in Hikone. Held at Viva City Hall in Minami-Hikone.
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The event featured various international entertainment by a Russian troupe and local foreign students attending universities in Shiga. The last performance was by Jamie Thompson who sang Lake Biwa Rowing Song.
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Jamie sang by herself (without twin sister Megan), however, we provided piano music which included only Megan's voice. So it sounded like both sisters were singing. First time we did that.
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Oct. 20, 2007 Umizukuri Boat Festa in Ogoto. At the end of a rowing race between Otsu and Ogoto, a mini concert was provided near the lake shore with reed flute (yoshibue) players and Jamie singing the song in English.Photo by: 赤澤 一壽
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And guess what, Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko threw a surprise and went on stage to sing in English with Jamie. Wow, what an honor. A real people's governor. Photo by: 赤澤 一壽
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Megan could not make it to this event, nor could Philbert. Thanks to Akazawa-san, leader of the flute group, for the photos. Photo by: 赤澤 一壽
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Oct. 18, 2008 We sang at the Sports Recreation Shiga 2008 festival held at Kibogaoka Park in Yasu. It's an annual event held in a different prefecture. People from all 47 prefectures and South Korea participate in tournamen
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There was an entertainment stage called Kenmin Yume Stage where 8 acts, including us, performed from 9:30 am to 11:15 am. We performed at 10:20 am.
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Jamie and Megan Thompson sing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" at Sports Recreation Shiga 2008 on Oct. 18, 2008 in Kibogaoka Park, Yasu, Shiga Pref.
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April 16, 2017 For the 100th anniversary of Biwako Shuko no Uta in 2017, we planned a mini concert at Imazu.I designed these T-shirts for this day. Also notice the Biwa pearl necklaces which I also had custom-made and gave to the girls.
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It was sweet to return to Imazu to sing. It had been 11 years (2006) since we did this.
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This time, we sang with Lake Biwa reed flutists Lake Reed (Kikui Satoru and Kondo Yumiko). It turned out so pretty.
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We were very lucky to get Lake Reed to perform with us. Mr. Kikui (far right) basically invented the Lake Biwa reed flute in 2000.
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Megan and Jamie pose in front of the song monument. Five major newspapers covered the event. (See the news article section.)
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After performing at Imazu Port, we also performed inside the Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan song museum's 2nd floor.
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Over 50 people attended our mini concert. Sorry about the kids not being able to see well.
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A special guest was Kitagawa Akihiro who is the vocalist of the Nagahama-based duo ~Lefa~. He sang in English with the girls.
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We were honored by former Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko attending our mini concert. She also promoted the 1st Biwako Music Festival to be held at Biwako Hall on June 30, 2017.
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Most of the audience had to leave to go on the 3:30 pm cherry blossom cruise to Kaizu-Osaki from Imazu Port. So we were the only ones left at the end when we sang the song in Japanese the traditional way.
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YouTube video of us singing Lake Biwa Rowing Song at Imazu Port. 5 min.
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YouTube video of our mini concert inside Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan. 23 min.
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