In English（Thank you for your collaboration.）

I am MANABE Shiho,living in Kagawa prefecture of JAPAN.

Currently, I play and teach traditional musical instrument of Zimbabwe in southern Africa called 'Mbira

Mbira is a musical instrument popularly called 'thumb piano' with a very beautiful 'music box' sound.

Last year (2018) in August I did a recording in Zimbabwe,with a view to promoting this instrument internationally. I intend to participate in the 'Chawapiwa (meaning ‘gifts’ in Shona ) Launching Album'event at Harare with Forward Kwenda ,who produced this CD, and Yann Dubois. I want to bring back what I learned to Japan and reproduce it. And I want to re-make the CD in Japan.

My first encounter with Mbira was the 2014 CD 'TAPIWA(also means 'gift' in Shona) by Hiromi Kondo, a Mbira player living in Okinawa.I was overwhelmed by the beauty of that sound, and throughout that year I was solely attuned to listening to that CD.
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The following year, at my shop, I planned to organize a concert of Garikayi Tirikoti who came to Japan from Zimbabwe in 2015; I was again recaptured by the magical power of Mbira. I was given the opportunity to play Mbira in April 2016.

Initially,I never imagined that I would be able to play Mbira but after trying it I somehow managed ! I was deeply moved! Day by day, tears rolling down for some reason, I played the same song on Mbira, many times over. A further tearful response to Mbira music happened in 2016.when Forward Kwenda was invited to play Mbira at my place by the Japanese Mbira player,Sumi Madzitateguru, I was motivated by the experience, to play Mbira better.I began to think that I want more people to know Mbira. Every time I play Mbira tears come to my eyes. This strange feeling never leaves me, even after many days of Mbira experience.

We launched a circle 'Mbira Convocation Zentsuji' to play Mbira in Zentsuji city,by the end of 2016, Mbira spread around, after just a short time and we now have 22 members. It is impressive!

In the next year (2017) my love for Mbira continued to grow , and at the end of the year I relocated my shop, after nine years, in order to facilitate the promotion of Mbira. Then in February 2018 , I went to Zimbabwe for the first time and I learned from Forward Kwenda for a month.During that stay, a concert named 'Mbira Journey' was held at the Alliance Francaise Theater in Harare, on Mbira. Beginning with a children's play, the final event was a very exciting performance by the Mbira Orchestra.

I became convinced that Mbira is capable of making friends all over the world, having a mysterious power to connect people .For instance, I got in touch with an Argentinian who wanted to join us in the next album. I want more people to listen to this Mbira music. And I want to share a happy time together For that purpose, I want to participate in the Mbira concert plan which is to be held in Harare , Zimbabwe, in order to further expand my Mbira expertise.

After returning from the first visit to Zimbabwe , in April 2018, I reopened my shop as 'Mbira Cafe'. I planned for concerts and events with the members of Mbira Convocation Zentsuji, and we were also invited to other events
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Afterwards, we decided to record at a studio in Zimbabwe with a Frenchman, Yann Dubois, who was planning a 'Mbira Journey'event in Zimbabwe with Forward Kwenda. I went to Zimbabwe again in August 2018, and this joint recording resulted in the videos and photos
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I want to make 1,000 CDs of this sound source in Japan. And I would like to participate in the "Chawapiwa Launching Album" concert in Harare. To do that we need funds. If we can succeed on this , we will further work on 'Chawapiwa Launching Album 'event in Japan this summer.

And I hereby pledge to conltinue to work consistently to fan out the 'Mbira spirit' around us. Thank you very much.