The White Hands Chorus NIPPON (WHCN) is an inclusive choir with members from 6 to 40 years old. Half of them are children with disabilities like hearing or vision impairment, Down syndrome, wheelchair users. Other singers are without disabilities. The Japanese education system lacks inclusive learning environments where children with and without disabilities can interact together, and we are rarely able to enjoy music together with deaf people. We believe, that as various musical instrument can harmonize together, inclusive people can perform music together. Based on the vision of »El Sistema«, a Venezuelan philosophy for social change, WHCN is operated by El Sistema Connect (based in Tokyo, Japan) and instructed by professional artists such as its Artistic Director Erika Colon (Soprano singer) and Tetsuya lzaki (Advisor to Deaf Theater Company). They offer free workshops in Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa so that any children can participate regardless of their financial status.
WHCN performed in the opera at the New National Theatre Tokyo in 2021 and appeared in the song program of NHK (national TV) in 2022. In December 2021 the choir performed Beethoven’s 9th symphony with Bach Collegium Japan using sign language and also voice. This performance has created a collaborative art project titled »Visible ›An die Freude (Ode to Joy)‹« with photographer Mariko Tagashira.