Romania’s Christmas

A Romanian folk tale, read by Eri Watanabe, Goodwill Ambassador of Romania.

Christmas carols performed by a Romanian conductor and professional singers.

These will be heartwarming Christmas concerts.

Concert
Overview

  • Open／Starts

    Minami-Osawa Cultural Hall, Main Hall

    3-minute walk from Minami-Osawa Station

  • Open／Starts

    Open／Starts

    Josai University, Kioicho Campus, Multipurpose Hall

    3-minute walk from Exit 1 of Kojimachi Station
    5-minute walk from Exit 9 of Nagatacho Station

Artist

First stage
Reading × Music

Reading

watanabe eri
Eri Watanabe
Eri Watanabe

Eri Watanabe

Born in 1955.

In 1978, she founded the theater company “Gekidan 3〇〇 (Sanjuumaru)” and led it for 20 years. She wrote, directed, and performed in many acclaimed productions. She has received numerous awards, including the Kishida Kunio Drama Award and the Kinokuniya Theater Award for Individual Achievement.
Alongside her stage work, she has also been active in films and television dramas. She made a strong impression in the internationally acclaimed film Shall We Dance? She has also appeared in numerous NHK productions, including the television dramas Oshin, Haru yo, Koi, Ten Urara, Ohisama, and Amachan, as well as the Premium Yoru Drama series Onna Michi.
In 2021, she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of Romania.

Musicians

Hiroko Yamakawa
Hiroko Yamakawa(Saxophone)
Hiroko Yamakawa

Hiroko Yamakawa(Saxophone)

Classical saxophonist and concert producer.Graduated from Showa University of Music in Japan.She was awarded the Jury Prize in the wind instrument division at the 10th Burkhardt International Music Competition and received an Encouragement Award at the 7th Romania International Music Competition, among many other awards.

In 2012, she visited Romania for the first time and gave recitals at Peleș Castle and other venues. She later held recitals in Romania and Turkey in 2014. In May 2015, she was invited as an artist from Japan to the 10th anniversary event of the Japanese Language Training Center at the Romana American University (Romania). In 2017, she released her second album “Classical Melodies” . In 2018, she performed two concertos with the Brașov Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania, which were highly acclaimed. In the same year, she also gave a recital in Spain. Currently, in addition to her activities as a soloist, she is actively involved in chamber music, guest performances with orchestras, concert planning, and produce. She has produced many concerts focused on Romanian classical music.
Official website: http://hirokosax.com/

Miyu Uemura
Miyu Uemura(Piano)
Miyu Uemura

Miyu Uemura(Piano)

Born in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Graduated from Hamamatsu Kita High School, currently enrolled in the Diploma Course at Toho Gakuen College of Music, and a graduate of the École Normale de Musique de Paris.

While in France, performed in numerous chamber music concerts and was selected to play in all of the distinguished-performer concerts at the international masterclasses she attended.

Currently, in addition to appearing in many concerts each year, she serves as a resident pianist for opera, ballet, and musical productions, including work with K-Ballet Company and Tokyo Theatre Place.

She also plans and produces concerts and opera performances as a presenter and collaborative pianist. In recent years, she has written and directed original productions, holding regular performances in Tokyo and Hamamatsu.

Gerald Kawasaki
Gerald Kawasaki（Percussion）
Gerald Kawasaki

Gerald Kawasaki（Percussion）

Born in Tokyo. He started playing drums at the age of 13. Graduated from Musashino University of Music's percussion department. He started his career as a professional player while he was in school. He is now a multiplayer who transcends genre boundaries from timpani to frying pan with a wide range of musical qualities including classical music, pop music and folk music. Presiding the music room of Gerald Kawasaki (Marimba Classroom). He is a member of the Japan Castanets Association. He lives in Nishi-Tokyo City.

Second stage
Choir

Traditional Romanian Christmas carols, “Colinde”, sung a cappella.

Heartwarming melodies that touch the soul.

Conductor

Răzvan Apetrei
Răzvan Apetrei
Răzvan Apetrei

Răzvan Apetrei

Răzvan Apetrei was born in 1988, in the city of Bacău (Romania), into a family of actors, but with a musical tradition spanning several generations, on his mother's side.
He began studying piano at the age of 7 at the "George Apostu" Art High School in Bacău, which he continued at the National University of Music in Bucharest.

Between 2011-2017, within the same institution, he completed his bachelor's and master's studies in orchestra conducting. Between 2020-2022, he followed the second master's program, at the "George Enescu" National University of Arts in Iași, specializing in Cultural Management and Artistic Entrepreneurship. In 2024, he obtained his PhD in music (orchestra conducting specialization) at the "George Enescu" National University of Arts in Iași.
As a conductor, he collaborates with Philharmonic Orchestras from Romania and Republic of Moldova (Brașov, Bacău, Pitești, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Chișinău), Comic Opera for Children in Bucharest, Opera Clandestina, Royal Camerata, Royal Choir, "Gavriil Musicescu" Academic Choir of the "Moldova" Philharmonic in Iași, "Symbol" Children and Youth Choir of the Romanian Orthodox Church, etc., performing symphonic, vocal-symphonic, operatic, ballet and choral works from the entire history of universal music.

He participates as a conductor in the "George Enescu" International Festival in the 2019 and 2021 editions, within the Royal Concert, an event under the auspices of the Royal Family of Romania, performing works the first Romanian audition of J.-B. Lully, H. Purcell, G. F. Handel, P. I. Tchaikovsky, etc.
In 2016, he founded Opera Clandestina, an independent opera, ballet and theater company, through which he stages opera performances and vocal-symphonic works by H. Purcell, G. F. Handel and W. A. Mozart. In 2018, he performed, in memory of His Majesty King Michael I of Romania, the first Romanian audition of Henry Purcell's "Funeral Sentences", in the presence of the Royal Family of Romania, and the first Romanian audition of Igor Stravinsky's ballet Pulcinella.
He is a founding member of the Royal Camerata and the Royal Choir (which he currently leads as conductor), ensembles under the High Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania and decorated by Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown. Since 2009, he has frequently collaborated with the Royal House of Romania to organize musical events.
Since 2017, he has been working as a professor of orchestra, choir and chamber music at various pre-university education institutions in Bucharest (the "George Enescu" National College of Music, the "Iosif Sava" Junior High School of Arts, the Junior High School of Arts no. 3), as well as an assistant professor (associate teacher) at the "George Enescu" National University of Arts in Iași in the department of orchestra conducting.
He composes works for solo piano or chamber ensembles, as well as theater music, musical theater and dance theater, in productions by UNATC, the Bucharest Comedy Theater, the Bucharest Small Theater, the "Excelsior" Theater, the "Bacovia" Municipal Theater in Bacău, the "George Ciprian" Theater in Buzău, where he appears in the dual role of composer-performer.
In 2024, he was decorated by Her Majesty Margareta of Romania with the Custodian of the Romanian Crown Medal.

Chorus members

Coming Soon

Ticket Information

All seats
5,000yen

Ticket Information

Ticket Pia

Tickets can be purchased directly at 7-Eleven.

  1. ①On the touch panel of the multi-copy machine, select “Ticket Pia”.
  2. ②Enter the P Code: 333312
  3. ③Select the venue.
  4. ④Enter your name and other details, then pay at the register.
Ticket PiaYou will be redirected to the external site 'Ticket Pia'.

Confetti

phone 050-3092-0051

【 Reception Hours 】
Weekdays 10:00-17:00

Please follow the operator’s instructions to make a reservation.

ConfettiOpens the external site “Confetti”

Free Invitation for Students 18and Under!

Parents/Guardians – Half Price / December 18 is not free.

First-come, first-served
Advance registration required

Eligibility

  • Free: 18 and under
  • Half Price: Accompanying parents/guardians of the above children

What is “Supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan in the Fiscal 2025”

The program aims to provide children with opportunities to watch, experience, and engage with full-scale live performing arts in theaters and concert halls, thereby cultivating their rich humanity while also contributing to the development of future cultural and artistic practitioners and audiences. (For further details, please refer to the website of the Agency for Cultural Affairs.)

  • Eligible participants are those born on or after April 2, 2008 (18 years old and under).
  • Invitation tickets are non-transferable and may only be used by the applicant.
  • The half-price ticket for accompanying parents/guardians is 2,500 yen (tax included).
  • “Parents/Guardians” include adult siblings, grandparents, and other relatives.
  • Children and their accompanying parents/guardians must enter the venue together.
  • Please present identification proving your name and age (such as a student ID, health insurance card, or national health insurance card) upon entry.
  • After the performance, the Agency for Cultural Affairs may ask for your cooperation in completing a survey.

Learn about Romania and perform in the pre-concert
at the Hachioji Minami-Osawa performance on Saturday, December 19!

  • Eligibility：
    Elementary school students to high school students
  • Participation Fee：
    Free
  • Music：
    Romanian Christmas carols (2 songs planned)
  • Application Deadline：
    October 10
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Schedule

  • Date
    November 3 (Tue./Holiday) 14:00–17:00
    Venue
    Minami-Osawa Civic Center, Meeting Room 1
  • Date
    November 14 (Sat.) 13:00–17:00
    Venue
    Minami-Osawa Cultural Hall, Rehearsal Room 1
  • Date
    November 21 (Sat.) 9:00–12:00
    Venue
    Minami-Osawa Cultural Hall, Exchange Hall
  • Date
    November 23 (Mon./Holiday) 11:00–12:30
    Venue
    Visit to the Embassy of Romania in Japan
  • Date
    November 28 (Sat.) 9:00–12:00
    Venue
    Minami-Osawa Cultural Hall, Rehearsal Room 2
  • Date
    December 13 (Sun.) 9:00–12:00
    Venue
    Minami-Osawa Cultural Hall, Rehearsal Room 1
  • Date
    December 18 (Fri.) 18:30–20:00
    Venue
    Minami-Osawa Cultural Hall, Main Hall

Additional Information

  • Participants are required to attend all scheduled sessions, except for the visit to the Embassy of Romania in Japan.
  • Due to limited capacity at the facilities, parents/guardians may observe the program only on Saturday, November 21.
  • Participants are responsible for their own transportation expenses.
  • Photos and videos may be taken during rehearsals and on the day of the performance and may be used for publicity and promotional purposes.

Visit to the Embassy
of Romania in Japan

〒106-0031
3-16-19 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
  • Participants will meet at the Embassy and leave from the Embassy.
  • The visit to the Embassy is optional.
  • Up to one parent/guardian may accompany each child.Due to limited capacity, registration may close on a first-come, first-served basis once the maximum number of participants is reached.
  • There is no parking available. Please use public transportation.
  • Please present a form of identification on the day of the visit.
Application

Access to the Venue

Date
Venue Minami-Osawa Cultural Hall, Main Hall
Address 2-27-27 Minamiosawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-0364, Japan
Access 3-minute walk from Minami-Osawa Station
Ticket Sales Ticket PiaYou will be redirected to the external site 'Ticket Pia'.
Date
Venue Josai University, Kioicho Campus, Multipurpose Hall
Address Building 1, Tokyo Kioicho Campus,
Josai University Educational Corporation
3-26 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0094, Japan
Access 3-minute walk from Exit 1 of Kojimachi Station
5-minute walk from Exit 9 of Nagatacho Station
Ticket Sales Ticket PiaYou will be redirected to the external site 'Ticket Pia'.
  • Preschool children are not admitted.
  • Program contents are subject to change without notice. Thank you for your understanding.

Accessibility Services

  • Audio Guide

    We will provide leaflets with a QR code that supports audio explanations of the works. (Japanese only)

  • Communication in Writing

    Writing materials are available at the reception and information desks inside the venue.

  • Subtitles

    Subtitles will be displayed during the concert.
    Languages: Japanese, Romanian

  • Multilingual Support

    The leaflet distributed on the day will include a language other than Japanese (English).
    Interpretation services will also be available at the concert venue.

  • Wheelchair Accessible

    Wheelchair users are welcome to enjoy the concert.

Support Us

In addition to donations, there are various other ways to support the event, such as sponsorship or placing advertisements in the pamphlets distributed on the day.
For inquiries, please contact us via the inquiry form.

Support the Concert

Support the Concert

Donate

We welcome gifts and refreshments for the artists and staff.
Your support is a great encouragement to us.
We sincerely appreciate your kindness.

【差し入れ】お水 1ケース

【Support Gift】 1 Case of Water

¥5,000

Support Now
【差し入れ】お菓子

【Support Gift】Sweets

¥8,000

Support Now
【差し入れ】出演者&スタッフへのお弁当

【【Support Gift】Lunch Boxes for Performers & Staff

¥50,000

Support Now

Contact

Asterism Co., Ltd.