"I believe in the power of song," a Japanese musician sang with students to remember the war tragedy

Atsuko Arai is a vocalist and choir leader from Nara, Japan. This year, she visited Cowra twice to mark the 80th anniversary of the Cowra Breakout. In May, she taught students in Cowra a few Japanese songs so that students from Cowra and Japan could sing together at the memorial events held in August.

Japanese soprano singer Atsuko Arai (centre) performed with students from Cowra NSW and Japan to mark the 80th anniversary of the Cowra Breakout. Credit: SBS

Japanese soprano singer Atsuko Arai visited Cowra NSW to teach local students Japanes songs for the 80th anniversary of the Cowra Breakout. At the ceremony, she performed with students from Cowra and Japan. Ms Arai also record a Japanese song 'Haru ga Kita' with a popular Australian group The Wiggles. Credit: SBS

If you drive from Sydney to Cowra, it will take four hours even without having any breaks. It is not an easy place to visit, even if you live in Australia. But Ms Arai has been regularly visiting the town from Japan. What is the driving force behind that?

Her mother, she says.

Recording with The Wiggles

Japanese singer Atsuko Arai and Anthony Field (the Blue Wiggle) at the reunion in 2023. Credit: Atsuko Arai

Ms Arai recorded an old Japanese song ‘Spring has come’ with a popular Australian group, The Wiggles. The song was released in 2000.

The group's member, Anthony Field (the Blue Wiggle), played the lead role in the Japanese film, 'The railroad of love' (1988), which Ms Arai wrote and sang its theme song. That was how they got to know each other.

The film is about Father Tony Glynn, an Australian priest who worked for reconciliation between Australia and Japan.

When Ms Arai was asked to sing 'Spring Has Come’ together, with The Wiggles, she wondered why the song was chosen.

After visiting Cowra, Ms Arai says she found out why.

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