Prof. Gen Akashi - 11-string guitarist/music director
Having studied classical guitar at Vienna Conservatory, he has, since his debut, showcased his versatility through composing, and recording soundtracks for film, TV, radio, theatres, and performances across Europe.
In the years from 2004 to 2006, he received multiple invitations from bodies in Spain, including the foundation of Juan Ramón Jiménez (a Nobel laureate in literature) and the Government of Cantabria, in the latter of which he both organised and performed on stages as a Music Director. These fruitful achievements led him to hosting the following college student exchange programmes between Japan and Spain (2013-2020), where he made paramount contributions to the development of signing choir, a choir that employs sign language alongside the audible singing. The choir, for which he composed songs and accompanied with 11-string guitar, took place globally in Cantabria, Minamata, and Hiroshima in Japan, and Vienna in Austria.
Most recently, he co-hosted a concert at St Salvator’s Chapel of the University of St Andrews in the UK, being supported by the university chaplain Dr MacEwan, on the commemorative day of 9th August of the atomic bombing in Nagasaki in 1945, emphasising the historical significance of art in the context of creation of peace.
Ayako Hidetani - literature recitalist/general director of the Unite Peace by Art Project
Ayako Hidetani has made tremendous contributions to the arts and cultural exchange, particularly through her literature recitations in Japanese across Europe. Her performances emphasise the integration of music and linguistic melody of Japanese, a language rich in history, fostering a unique cultural dialogue.
In 2004, in response to an invite by the foundation of the Nobel Laureate J.R. Jiménez, she performed recitation in 3 cities in Spain.
In 2007, she collaborated with local and international artists to design and direct the Festival de Una Flor in Spain, inspired by the Japanese literature One Flower. The festival reinterpreted the tragedy of the atomic bombings as a message of peace and trust in humanity. Supported by the Botín Foundation, a prestigious organisation founded by Santander Bank, the Spain's largest bank, it was praised as a significant arts initiative rooted in Japanese culture.
In 2011, Hidetani was invited by the mayor of Deutsch-Wagram, Austria, to produce a stage performance at the Musikschule Deutsch-Wagram. This collaboration with local students highlighted her ability to connect diverse cultures through shared artistic expression.
That same year, she performed an original literature recital inspired by Viktor Frankl's Man’s Search for Meaning – Experiences in a German Concentration Camp as a Psychologist. This production held in Tokyo, received a letter of support from the head of the Viktor Frankl Institute in Vienna, expressing strong support for the initiative and anticipating its potential for future extension.
Most recently, in August 2023, Hidetani launched the Unite Peace by Art Concerts in the historic chapel of the University of St Andrews, the UK, commemorating Japan's atomic bombing and the end of WWII. All the proceeds from these performances were donated to support Ukraine, reflecting her belief in art as a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries.
Akiyo Ozawa - harpsichordist/composer
Akiyo Ozawa is an accomplished harpsichordist and composer from Tokyo, recognised for her refined artistry and dedication to classical music. She studied under Professor M. Mauriello at the Vienna City Conservatory, graduating with first class honours. Her performances have been featured at esteemed venues across Europe, including Vienna Music Week at the Altes Rathaus, a concert hosted by the Embassy of Japan at the Musikverein, and the Domenico Scarlatti 300th Birth Anniversary Concert in Milan. She was also a prizewinner in the Pittsburgh Concert Society competition, marking her debut in the United States, where her artistry has been well received.
From 2008 to 2014, she held annual recitals at the Austrian Heiligenkreuz Castle Baroque Museum and later performed and recorded at the Feltre Guarnieri Palace in Italy. In Japan, her activities extend beyond performance to composition and peace education. She played a key role in the Spain-Japan Peace Art Exchange Project "Japanese Epic Poetry", supported by Spain’s Ministry of Education and Science, and presented at Tokyo Opera City in 2011. That same year, she began collaborating with renowned novelist Nobuko Takagi and recitalist Yuko Aoki on a nationwide school tour under the Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs, integrating peace education into cultural development programmes.
In the same year, her compositions were involved with NHK's BS series "Nippon no Satoyama." The 2022 special edition of this series, "New Cinematic Poem: Satoyama," received the ABU Award and was also broadcast internationally on the BBC, narrated by Sir David Attenborough.