Songs of Life Beyond Conflict — Quiet Yet Unmistakably Present
This year marks 80 years since the end of World War II — a time for Japan to reflect on peace, memory, and the quiet strength of life.
Hiroko Konishi’s (小西寛子） new mini-album Haruka no Shima (“遙カノ島 Distant Island”) offers music that gently embraces this moment. Each track feels nostalgic and analog, as if wandering through a dreamlike landscape that exists nowhere else. Behind each song lies a quiet prayer, filled with deep respect and kindness toward people — a true testament to Konishi’s spirit.
One of the featured tracks, Miyuki Bridge, is set in Hiroshima. Yet, it does not depict the tragedy directly: there are no roaring blasts, no rubble, no hatred. Instead, everything dissolves quietly into silence. Within that silence, however, there remains an undeniable presence of human life and the traces of those who lived. Shadows reflected in the evening sky, fragments of light trembling on the river’s surface, the echo of someone’s footsteps… These images do not simply grieve the past; they gently ask us: How will you walk forward from this moment on?
The opening line, “I’m not sad, I just want to gaze a little longer at my hometown,” is not a cry of criticism or blame. Rather, it expresses a gaze filled with pure human kindness, seeing beyond pain or resentment. Miyuki Bridge is a place where someone once waited for loved ones who would never return — and even today, it quietly watches over us as we continue walking, as if pretending to know nothing. Yet, it gently and firmly reminds us of our shared humanity.
The album’s title track, Harushima, imagines a fictional island reminiscent of Okinawa — a place where warmth, longing, and silent prayers drift together. Other tracks include SODA WATER, capturing the feelings of a traveler arriving in a distant city; Ballad of the Harbor, expressing thoughts of home from far away; and 1975, a vibrant song dedicated to the youth of that era. Altogether, these songs invite listeners to recall countless Japanese summers — Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Okinawa, and so many unnamed places.
Music That Resonates Beyond Words
Hiroko Konishi’s music does not impose messages or demand understanding. Instead, it quietly lingers, leaving a soft question in your heart: What is true kindness? It is something so fragile and precious that it might break if explained too much.
That is why her songs reveal their true essence not through explanation, but through listening in silence. You may find yourself entrusting your heart to the gentle kindness hidden in that stillness. Haruka no Shima invites you to do exactly that — to listen deeply and rediscover the quiet strength within.
【Album Details】
Album Title: Haruka no Shima (Japanese: 遙カノ島)
Release Date: August 1 (Friday)
Tracks:
- Ballad of the Harbor (New Version)
- SODA WATER
- Sandy Road (New Version)
- 1975 (New Version)
- Miyuki Bridge “みゆき橋”
- Harushima”遙カノ島
Price: TBD
Available on iTunes Store and other major digital music platforms.
