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"I want to liven up Kamakura with the music I love."

Shotaro Abe, 3rd year School of Education

At Abe's favorite spot, the Waseda University The Waseda International House of Literature (Haruki Murakami Library) on Waseda Campus

Making use of his musical experience since childhood, Shotaro Abe founded the performance group "Kama Classic Orchestra" (hereinafter referred to as Kama Classic) in his hometown of Kamakura. As the representative of the group, he is mainly involved in organizational management and public relations with the goal of "creating a place for people who love Kamakura through music." The first special concert, held in February 2024 at the Kamakura Performing Arts Center Small Hall, was a great success, with a total of 60 people, from elementary school students to those in their 60s, performing in front of a full house. It has also been decided that the second concert will be held in January 2025. We interviewed Abe, who has rushed towards his next performance with new expectations, about the background to the establishment of Kama Classic and his enthusiasm for the future.

--What inspired you to start your musical career and what memorable event occurred?

Encouraged by my parents, who love classical music, I started playing the piano at the age of 4. I started to get more actively involved in music when I was in junior high school. I conducted choir competitions and, as I developed an interest in jazz, I started taking saxophone lessons.

When I was one year old, in the classical music section of a music store. Music was a part of my life from an early age.

I played the double bass in the high school brass band, and while I liked the feeling of playing the low notes, I also had a strong desire to stand out more and be a necessary presence, so I wondered, "What is the value of my existence as a double bass player?" It was during this time that I decided to try my hand at conducting at a regular concert. However, I was so focused on conducting accurately that I couldn't express the tone I imagined in words well, and sometimes I clashed with the performers. Still, at the end of my high school life, I was told, "I'm glad Abesho (Abe's nickname) was the conductor," and I was happy.

Abe poses at the conductor's podium as a high school student.

-After entering university, why did you decide to start up Kama Classic in your hometown of Kamakura?

In college, I joined the Waseda Wind Orchestra (an official student club) and was in charge of conducting, but even here I faced the difficulty of expressing myself in words. I worried about my value in the organization and became increasingly anxious about continuing to belong to it. Then, I came up with the idea of taking on the challenge of starting a new organization on my own, rather than joining an existing organization.

I decided to return to my hometown because I left Kamakura to live at WISH, Waseda International Student House (WISH) in Nakano, and realized that I loved Kamakura because of its rich nature and strong human connections. Life in the dormitory was fulfilling, but seeing my friends in the dormitory running student club and starting businesses, I had a strong desire to do something myself.

When I started Kama Classic, I wanted to make Kamakura a city that can create new culture. Kamakura is rich in historical tourism resources, but if we can further promote it with new communities and arts and culture, it will become a city that brings together not only locals and tourists, but also people who have a deep attachment to Kamakura. With this in mind, I made it a condition for joining Kama Classic that you "love Kamakura" regardless of your age, place of origin, or musical experience. I started my activities alone in October 2022.

-Were there any difficulties when starting Kama Classic?

It was really hard to gather people. At first, we used social media to promote our group, but in order to gather enough people to form an orchestra, we needed to make more people aware of Kama Classics, so we exhibited at a community market called "Kamabito Ichiba" held at Kamakura Seaside Park in May 2023 and handed out flyers. It was very hard to hand out flyers one by one in the heat, but I was happy to meet Mayor Matsuo Takashi of Kamakura at that time. Actually, at that time, I was thinking that it would be an interesting attempt if the mayor conducted the Kamakura City Song as an encore at the concert. I asked him on the spot, and he agreed!

In front of the booth at the 23rd Kamahito Ichiba, where he and a friend handed out flyers for seven hours. Abe is on the left, and Mayor Matsuo is in the center.

--Please tell us your impressions of the Kama Classic Orchestra's 1st Special Concert held in February 2024.

It has been one year and four months since the project was launched, and I am happy that what we have been gradually building up has now taken the form of a concert. In holding the concert, we received support from several local companies, which made us realize that we are a community-based orchestra.

On the other hand, through the activities leading up to the concert, I also found a challenge to more clearly appeal the concept of Kama Classic. Because I am the representative, people sometimes get the impression that it is an orchestra made up of only young people. I would like to spread the word that the good thing about Kama Classic is that it is attended by people of all ages who share the common interest of loving Kamakura.

Scenes from the first special concert. Tickets were sold out in advance. Pieces performed included Kosaku Yamada's Overture in D major. Mayor Matsuo's encore was also well-received.

-What are you studying at university?

Although I am majoring in lifelong learning, I am also taking a variety of other classes. Since I am interested not only in music but also in art and culture in general, I have also taken classes such as "Dance History" (Faculty of School of Humanities and Social Sciences) and "Current Russian Arts 1 & 2" (Faculty of School of Humanities and Social Sciences). In my role as the representative of Kama Classics, I am very inspired by the knowledge I gained from the "Entrepreneurship Training Course" (Faculty School of Commerce) and "Introduction and Special Topics in Public Relations" (GEC courses) as well as the achievements of the students I have met.

Another great thing was that I was able to broaden my network of contacts after entering Waseda University. In addition to the friendships I made in classes and in the dorms, I also joined the Nakano Tomonkai and Kamakura Tomonkai alumni, which allowed me to interact with older people and give me the opportunity to promote Kama Classics.

--The second concert has been scheduled for January 2025. Please tell us about the future goals of the Kama Classic Orchestra and Mr. Abe.

In addition to the people who have participated since the first event, new members have joined us, so we would like to work hard to make the group an even more comfortable place to be.

For the next concert, I would like to get the whole local community involved and liven things up. For example, I would like to have local shops set up booths at the venue, Kamakura Performing Arts Center, so that it will be a concert where people can enjoy Kamakura from various angles, rather than just listening to classical music in a hall. The first concert was held in a small hall, but for the second concert we have booked a large hall with 1,500 seats, so I hope that even more people will enjoy it.

I am currently trying to find a way to balance my work with Kama Classic with my job search. I have become more conscious of marketing while running Kama Classic, and I am interested in a job that involves planning and PR. I would like to continue my work with Kama Classic after graduating from university and cherish it as my life's work. I would like to do my best to further enliven Kamakura through the power of music.

No.873

Interview, text and photography: Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC student staff)
Shiori Kato , 4th year, School of Humanities and Social Sciences