Local residents from Japan perform Saturday

Harmony Basket, 20^th Annual Concert

Saturday, February 23, 2013

            Twenty years ago, a Japanese woman brought an enduring gift to Fort Lee.

On Saturday, the gift will be presented once again, at the 20th Annual Concert of Harmony Basket Women's Chorus .

            Naoko Kamihara lived here for four years while her husband was transferred by his employer in Japan.

            Naoko wanted to make friends with other Japanese women – and also with the local people she met in Fort Lee.

            In Japan Naoko enjoyed playing violin.  Accomplished in playing that instrument as an avocation, her move to Fort Lee gave her determination to form a chorus of Japanese women – and to perform for schools, senior centers, and present one public concert a year.

            Since most Japanese living in Fort Lee and nearby Bergen County are on temporary business transfer, the members of Harmony Basket change through the years.

            While this transient membership of altos, mezzos and sopranos is a challenge,

Harmony Basket – sometimes called “Hamobasu” to cut the title short – keeps on delighting audiences. 

            The constant in the equation is Ms. Aya Shimada, the conductor, who also conducts a Japanese womens chorus in Westchester.  Shimada inspires Harmony Basket at weekly practices on Friday morning at the Fort Lee Gospel Church. 

            Although twenty years have passed since its founding Harmony Basket is still going strong.  Kamihara moved back to Japan more than a decade ago, but continues to inspire the chorus, often visiting Fort Lee for the annual concert.

            This year, as usual, the concert program is diverse.  Chorus members, all non-orofessional singers, present Broadway, Hollywood and Opera: “Dancing Queen” the Abba hit, “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” from Hollywood and Disney – to Latin “Ave Maria,” to German “Heidenroslein,”

and a number of Japanese songs about festivals “Tanabata” and mountain journeys “Hakone Hachiri.”

            If you haven’t yet discovered this local treasure from Japan, mark your calendar:

Saturday, February 23, at 4:45pm. 

            Concert takes place just north of Route 4 at 1190 River Road, Teaneck – in the spacious and comfortable auditorium of Hope Presbyterian Church (Love Joy Peace Church) Admission is Free.  Parking is Available.

*There will be a donation box for victims of the Sandy disaster. For info:

[URL]http:/harmonybasket.web.fc2.com/