Rakuten and El Sistema Japan Begin Call for Instrument Donations as Part of Joint Activities
to Support Music Education

TOKYO, July 9 – Rakuten, Inc. and General Incorporated Association El Sistema Japan have started a call for instruments donations for the children of Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture. Donations are being accepted from today.

The donated instruments will be gathered for performances by the Soma Children's Orchestra & Chorus comprised of the children of Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture and supported by the Japan Children's Orchestra*¹. Instruments will be handled via the donation system of Rakuten Auction. Considerations are also underway concerning the donation of instruments using this system for the overseas activities supported by El Sistema. The El Sistema music education program encourages the development of social skills among children through musical activities. It dispatches music instructors and provides instruments free of charge. Rakuten is making use of its network to support this program, such as through the provision of a venue for a choral concert being held today at the Tokyo Dome*² and through the call for the donation of instruments.

A total of 73 used instruments are being requested this time, including violins, violas, cellos, and contrabasses that can be used by children. Rakuten Members who wish to donate can begin via the special donation page set up on Rakuten Auction. Members can easily send instruments by using the QR Code or inquiry number assigned during registration to print out address labels at the Loppi machines set up in Lawson convenient stores nationwide. The Auction Yu-Pack service shall be used for deliveries*³. A page explaining this initiative and the donation process will be set up on the Rakuten CSR website. In addition, with the expectation that there will be many among those considering the purchase of new instruments they no longer use, 16 merchants listed on Rakuten Ichiba*⁴ have also agreed to post information on their shop web sites. 

・Start of registration: July 9, 2013 (Tue.)
・Requested instruments: 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 sized violins (10 each), full-sized violins (20), violas (10), cellos (10),
 contrabass (3)
・Where to register:
   The Japan Children's Orchestra (https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/csr/el-sistema/ )

*1. About the Japan Children's Orchestra
(https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/news/press/2013/0620_01.html)
The Japan Children's Orchestra is a joint Rakuten and El Sistema Japan project with the objective of creating a rich future for children through music. Since last year, El Sistema Japan has been working on the Soma Children’s Orchestra & Chorus project, which involves elementary school students in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, based on the principles of the El Sistema music education model.  Rakuten will join these activities, and it has been decided that Rakuten and El Sistema’s first action together for Japan Children’s Orchestra will be to give support for provision of a venue for the children’s chorus, and the collection of musical instruments for the children. There are also plans to eventually hold exchange events that will bring together the children of Japan and countries overseas who are participating in El Sistema musical education programs. The two organizations are also considering the creation of a domestic activity model and collaborations with the El Sistema activities being developed around the world in the future.

*2. Choral Concert by the Children of Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, at Tokyo Dome
(https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/news/update/2013/0627_01.html)
For this event held on Rakuten Group Day before to a match between the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, 83 sixth grade students from Sakuragaoka Elementary School of Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture have been invited to the Tokyo Dome for a choral performance. The opportunity to perform at the Tokyo Dome this time is being offered in response to voices from the children stating that they wanted to spread information about the achievements of their activities and happy conditions to everyone across the country who is cheering on the reconstruction efforts from the Great East Japan Earthquake. The children will sing Furusato, a song by pop group Arashi that emphasizes the importance cherishing one's hometown. The song was chosen because it richly expresses the thoughts of the children and because the natural environment described in its lyrics are reminiscent of Soma City, which is surrounded by mountains and the ocean.

*3. About the Auction Yu Pack
A Service for Rakuten Members provided by Japan Post Co., Ltd., that offers a reduced rate for the delivery of a single package (470 yen for a Size 60 package sent anywhere within Japan). Furthermore, those using the service receive 10 Rakuten Super Points per package sent. It is possible to send packages 24 hours a day, 365 days per year via the Loppi machines set up at the approximately 9,600 Lawson stores nationwide.

*4. Cooperative Rakuten Ichiba Merchants
IKEBE GAKKI Rakuten Shop ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/ikebe )
Shibuya IKEBE GAKKI-MURA ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/shibuya-ikebe )
WIND BROS ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/windbros )
IKEBE Trumpet Station ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/trumpetstation )
Ishibashi Gakki WEB SHOP ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/ishibashi )
Ishibashi Gakki Piano Kan( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/ishibashi-piano )
Ishibashi Gakki Ikebukuro ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/ishibashi-ikebukuro )
Ishibashi Gakki Ochanomizu ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/ishibashi-ochanomizu )
Ishibashi Gakki Shibuya ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/ishibashi-shibuya )
Ishibashi Gakki 17Shops ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/ishibashi-shops )
Ishibashi Gakki Shinjuku ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/ishibashi-shinjuku )
Ishibashi Gakki Shibuya WEST ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/spin-dj )
Off Price Gakki ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/offpricegakki )
Off Price Gakki Zeitaku Kan ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/offpricegakki-zeitaku )
Gakki Bin Off Price Gakki ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/gakufubin )
Gakki Tengoku ( https://www.rakuten.co.jp/gakkiten )