Tokyo experienced an extreme heat this summer.
The temperature hit 39.5 degrees in Celsius three days before the recording date (July 23), setting the highest record in the history.

In such a heat wave, the recording of Doyo (Japanese traditional children’s song) for "JAPAN, Our Homeland" took place in the First Recording Studio in Colombia’s main office, located in Akasaka, Tokyo.

Participants to the recording were Mr. Kan Wakamatsu (composer), Ms. Kaori Watanabe (pianist/accompaniment), Morinoki Children’s Choir, Tanpopo Children’s Choir, and Suginami Children’s Choir. On the production side joined Mr. Makoto Kuriya (music director), the employees of SERAPH (music production staff) and Ms. Shiozawa (music mixer).

Doyo is one of the central themes of "JAPAN, Our Homeland."
The story, set in the late 1950s, portrays an elementary school teacher and her students who try to pass down Doyo.

Coincidentally, Doyo is gaining popularity in today’s Japan. This movement is symbolized by some foreign artists'releasing Doyo CDs and opening Doyo concerts. They sing Doyo after translating the lyrics from Japanese to their own language. Triggered by Ken Hirai’s hit song "My Grandfather’s Clock," more and more Doyo songs are appreciated by the young generation.

Japanese traditional songs, including Doyo, describe colorful transitions of four seasons and old Japanese sceneries. Their beautiful lyrics carried by soft melodies refresh and deeply move our heart. Doyo’s melodies are also easy to whistle. We believe that Doyo, which has been passed on from generation to generation, has the potential to move the hearts of people all around the world.

With our heart pounding, we kicked off the two-day recording session.