Two Ukrainian evacuees in Tokyo played the cello at a Japan Philharmonic Orchestra concert on April 18 in the capital while praying for peace in their homeland.
An interesting quirk of Japan is that people seem to have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of which parts of the country are the best at producing pretty much any food imaginable. Ask for apples and they’ll be quick to recommend Aomori Prefecture. You want battered octopus balls? Go to Osaka of course. And who would…
For Kateryna Gudzii, the Ukrainian traditional instrument she plays has been her way of sharing the culture and music of her homeland with Japan and this more than decade-long personal mission takes on a deeper meaning now Ukraine has been thrust into the global spotlight following Russia s invasion.
"When I perform, I do so with thoughts that the war would end and there will be peace in the world," said Kateryna Gudzii, one of two bandura players in Japan.