JAPAN: Former Beatles member John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono hosta a charity concert "John Lennon Super Live" in Tokyo

Record ID: 465279

  • Title: JAPAN: Former Beatles member John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono hosta a charity concert "John Lennon Super Live" in Tokyo
  • Date: 9th November 2006
  • Summary: YOKO ONO, JAPANESE MUSICIANS (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: NAOKI, KUMI OF LOVE PSYCHEDELICO AND KAZUYOSHI SAITO) POSING FOR PHOTO SESSION PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS YOKO ONO GIVING THE PEACE SIGN
  • Embargoed: 24th November 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Entertainment,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA94XET0V2NY7VP90THFHA92YII
  • Story Text: Former Beatles member John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono hosted a charity concert "John Lennon Super Live" in Tokyo on Thursday (November 04) featuring the music of John Lennon performed by Japanese top artists.
    Ono, an artist and musician who married Lennon in 1969, came up with a charity concert aimed at raising money for schools in developing nations in October 2001, a month after 9.11 incident insisting to eradicate poverty is essential for peace. The 73-year-old since then, has hosted this annual charity event every year in Japan and claimed to help setting up more than 50 schools in Africa and Asia.
    "This charity concert marked sixth anniversary. He (John Lennon) must be pleased with this." Ono said to nearly 10,000 packed audiences who gathered at Nippon Budokan hall in which is the only place in Japan the Beatles played during five days visit in 1966.
    "The world is now in a very tense situation. However we should not just simply be afraid of it and I think it is very important to keep on doing something for improving the world situation. And I haven't done this activity alone but teamed up with as many people as possible, so we can keep this movement going up to now." said Ono at a press conference which was held days before the concert.
    Various top Japanese musicians including Love Psychedelico, Kazuyoshi Saito and male duo Sukimaswitch entertained audience with songs of John Lennon and the Beatles during three-hour concert.
    Though 40 year has passed since the Beatles visited Japan last time and more than a quarter of century has passed since John Lennon was shot to death, its popularity and the influence on musicians and other artists in Japan has never seemed to decline.
    "It was such a big impact. John Lennon affected me in many ways. He tells me every time when I listen to his songs to return to love and simple. For me he is love." said Kumi of Love Psychedelico on the influence which was given her by John Lennon at a press conference.
    Ono also said at a press conference that the aim of this charity concert is not only call for a help to Japanese people but to encourage Japan's children who suffer bullying at schools which has led many boys and girls to the suicides recently throughout Japan.
    "I heard that bullying in Japanese schools was a serious social problem, but in my point of view I myself too once had been bullied by people all around the world. At that time, I suffered a lot but remained undaunted. So I want to say people who suffers bullying that hang in there like me."
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