Every new experience is an encounter, an adventure, and a step into the unknown. How we approach each encounter will determine the quality of the experience and its outcomes. Our capacity to remain open, to connect, appreciate, and learn from each other, to give and receive, is essential for building peace and making the most of each unique encounter.

Song 1:

Yo Vengo a Ofrecer mi Corazón – I Come to Offer My Heart 

(Fito Páez – Argentina)

In order to truly understand each other, besides being open and available, we need to understand our concrete realities, our personal and collective history, where we come from, and how this has shaped us. Come, visit my land, not only physically, but emotionally. To understand each other, we need to come close to one another.

Song 2: 

Para Comprenderlo – To Understand It 

(Ana Lucía Vlieg – Panamá)

Each encounter is an adventure, holding unknown possibilities. No one knows the mysterious reasons behind it. Therefore, each encounter should be treasured and appreciated.

Song 3: 

Ito – Thread  

(Miyuki Nakajima – Japan)

Fear and prejudice towards all that we don’t know or that seems different often hinders us from connecting, learning, and appreciating each other. This song encourages us to bring out the best of each of our cultures and celebrate our diverse expressions, histories, and human experiences.

Song 4:

Contamíname – Mix with Me 

(Pedro Guerra – Spain) 

As we come closer together, we engage in dialogues. These help us realize that, through our various languages and cultural expressions we can find common ground, rejoice in our various ways of understanding and connecting with the world. 

PART II:

Dialogues, Discoveries, Empathy 

(対話、発見、共感)

The following songs are a celebration of nature, each reflecting different cultural perspectives that praise our ability to revel in and appreciate its beauty.

 

Song 5:

Waka is a classical form of Japanese poetry consisting of 31 syllables arranged in a 5-7-5-7-7 pattern. In Japanese culture, sakura is celebrated for its fleeting beauty, representing the transient nature of life. This Waka praises the beauty and gentle aroma of sakuras, cherry blossoms.

 Waka – Traditional Japanese Poem 

(illustrated audio of sung poem by Hirobayashi Sensei – Japan)

 

Song 6:

Morning Raaga – Traditional Indian Classical Music (excerpt) 

Raaga, or raga, is a foundational element of Indian classical music. It is a melodic framework for improvisation and composition, characterized by specific scales, motifs, and emotional expressions. Each raga is associated with particular moods, times of day, and seasons, creating an intricate and expressive musical tradition.

(Illustrated audio – India)

 

Song 7:

Sabana – 

Savannah (Excerpt) 

The Venezuelan Tonada is a traditional genre of Venezuelan folk music that originated in the rural and agricultural regions of the country. It is characterized by its melodic and lyrical qualities, often reflecting the life, culture, and struggles of rural communities.

(Simón Díaz – Venezuela)

 

Song 8:

Vaishnav Jan Tó – (excerpt)

A Good Human Being (Bhayan) 

In the following bhajan, “Vaishnav Jan To,” a famous Gujarati devotional song written by the 15th-century poet Narsinh Mehta and greatly cherished by Mahatma Gandhi, we reflect on the universal values and virtues that a good human being should cultivate. Bhajans, an integral part of Indian spiritual life, are commonly sung in temples, during religious festivals, and in homes as part of daily worship. 

(guest: Rekha Gokhale – India) 

 

Song 9:

Ndihamba Nawe – 

I am Going with You 

The expression of joy in each culture is a delightful discovery. In this song, we celebrate the joy of encounters and the appreciation for each other. African music is characterized by its immense rhythmic intricacy and diversity, linguistic variety, and haunting melodies, as well as the common use of call-and-response singing patterns. This traditional song from South Africa in Zulu, “Ndihamba Nawe” (I am going with you), embodies these rich musical traditions, inviting us to experience the vibrant spirit and deep connection within the culture.

(traditional South African) 

(guest: Lorna Muthembwa)

 

Song 10:

Todo Cambia – 

Everything Changes

Nothing is permanent—neither joy nor sorrow, nor anything in between. However, no matter how distant we may be, the love for our roots, our homeland, and our people should accompany us and remain present as a shining light in our hearts. This song is specially dedicated to those who have to leave their countries because of violence, oppression, lack of freedom or opportunities for development, inequality, climate hardships, hunger, or other struggles, and who retain the hope of a positive change for peace. We join them in embracing that hope.

(Julio Numhauser /Maciel Nunhauser – Chile) 

 

Song 11:

Haha – 

Mother  (Daisaku Ikeda) 

Despite sufferings and hardships, love serves as a force of resilience worldwide. This love is often exemplified by mothers and women who, with unwavering and tender hearts, protect, nourish, and strive for a better life for all. We dedicate this song to the mothers who have been instrumental in conflict areas, fighting for a brighter future.

(guest: Junna Mori – Japan)

PARTE III.  

Wishes of Peace (平和の願い) 

 

Song 12: 

A Pesar de Você 

In Spite of You

This song, written during the years of the military dictatorship in Brazil, is a cry for freedom and a warning to all those who perpetrate violence and oppression through the misuse of power. In spite of every attempt to course people and silence their voices,the strength and resiliency of the people will prevail, and they will be the dawn of a new day where Peace will flourish.

(Chico Buarque –  Brazil) 

 

Song 13: 

Ojalá Que Llueva Café – 

I Hope It Rains Coffee 

These two songs express wishes for peace and human rights and serve as a call for action and commitment. Peace and human rights in action encompass emotional, intellectual, and internal well-being, as well as tangible opportunities for growth and collective development. The song “Ojalá Que Llueva Café” (“I Hope It Rains Coffee”), beautifully portrays an image of abundant resources for people who struggle against economic disparity and lack of opportunities through the lively rhythm of Dominican Republic merengue.

(Juan Luis Guerra – Dominican Republic)

 

PARTE IV:

Consciousness, Collaboration, Togetherness 

(意識、協力、一体感)

Song 14:

Coraçao de Studante – 

Bringing our desire for peace into concrete actions requires awareness, cooperation, and collective effort. This song is dedicated to the youth, who are a vital force for positive change. Despite oppression, violence, and disappointment, we must continue protecting nature, nurturing relationships, and caring for each other and for the earth as our common home.

Student’s Heart 

(Milton Nascimento) (Brazil)

PART V. 

Gratitude 

(普遍の感謝)

Life, as we have said, is a series of encounters and diverse experiences. These songs, from various generations and cultural backgrounds, unite through the common theme of life as a rich, treasured tapestry of many colors in which we are all interconnected. They invite us to cultivate gratitude, openness, and appreciation despite uncertainties. Let them inspire us to continue nurturing spaces and relationships where we can imagine and work together to bring human rights into action, bearing fruits of empathy, happiness, well-being, growth opportunities, and peace for all.

Song 15:

Medley:

Life, as we have said, is a series of encounters and diverse experiences. These songs, from various generations and cultural backgrounds, unite through the common theme of life as a rich, treasured tapestry of many colors in which we are all interconnected. They invite us to cultivate gratitude, openness, and appreciation despite uncertainties. Let them inspire us to continue nurturing spaces and relationships where we can imagine and work together to bring human rights into action, bearing fruits of empathy, happiness, well-being, growth opportunities, and peace for all.

Aisansan (excerpt) – Abundant Love 

(Ogura Kei – Japan)  

 

Vida de colores – Life of Colors (excerpt) 

(Aida Bossa – Colombia)

 

Gracias a la Vida – Thanks to Life (excerpt) 

(Violeta Parra – Chile)