On the night of the 24th, Christmas Eve, a charity concert was held at a church in Yokohama to help Ukraine, ten months after the Russian military invasion began.
This concert was held at a church in Asahi Ward, Yokohama City, and more than 170 people visited the venue, and songs related to Christmas and picture book readings were performed.
One of the performers, saxophonist Kenta Igarashi, was born between a Ukrainian mother and a Japanese father and has lived in Ukraine since he was a child. evacuated to Japan.
It is said that his mother and his younger brother still live there.
Mr. Igarashi performed Ukrainian folk songs and received a big round of applause.
After the concert, donations were called for, and those who cooperated were handed stained glass brooches in the shape of the Ukrainian flag.
A sixth-grade elementary school student who cooperated with the donation said, "I want Ukrainian people to be able to live a normal life."
Pastor Kazuhiro Hiraga, who hosted the event, said, "I hope that the warm feelings of the Japanese people will be conveyed to the Ukrainian people who are in the midst of a harsh reality."
In addition, Mr. Igarashi said, "I want to hold concerts in various places so that people who listen to my performances can forget their hardships and become happy."