Tokyo, 31 October 2024
© NHK
World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s annual day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November.
“Song for the Voices” the English version of “Koe no Uta” is the theme song of the Child Rights Project, or “Kodomo no Kenri Project.” Jointly organised by the Japan Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF Japan) and the Children and Families Agency, the English version is now available on UNICEF Japan’s special website and official YouTube channel. Following the release of the original version in Japanese in September, Mitsushima performs the song in English, again as Mee, a five-year-old character from the NHK animation, “I love Mee” in which she voices over 60 characters including Mee.
© NHK
Marking the 30th anniversary of Japan’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, this Project aims to improve the wellbeing of children by promoting better understanding of the rights of the child. The song is based on ‘hearing the voice of the child”, one of the four principles of the Convention. Voices are a metaphor for each individual's feelings, thoughts, opinions and rights. The song delivers messages that every person is born with a voice, and that all voices are irreplaceable, and there is no voice that is superior or inferior.
Song for the Voices
(“Koe no Uta” English version)
Lyrics (Original version) by “I Love Mee”
Lyrics (English version) by Jeff Manning, Translation supervised by Kumiko Sato
Composed by Yoshinari Sato
Performed by Mee (Hikari Mitsushima) and NHK Tokyo Children Chorus
*“Koe no Uta” (Japanese original version) can be seen here
The Child Rights Project provides teaching materials, teaching plans and other tools for learning about children's rights. “Song for the Voices” can be downloaded free of charge from UNICEF Japan's special website.
“Song for the Voices” was composed and produced by Yoshinari Sato of Humbert Humbert. The melody is easy to sing for children and adults alike, and the rhythm is provided by various percussion instruments.
In November, the NHK Tokyo Children Chorus will sing a two-part chorus version, and in Spring 2025, a ‘hand-song’ version will be released together with White Hand Chorus NIPPON, an inclusive chorus group of members with diverse backgrounds. A documentary on the making of the ‘hand-song’ version, which follows how the children interpret the message of the song and express it in their own way, will also be released. The score of the ‘chorus’ version and sound files for practice will also be distributed free of charge from UNICEF Japan's special website for use in schools and other educational settings.
About Child Rights Project
©NED
2024 marks the 30th anniversary of Japan's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Through this project, the Japan Committee for UNICEF and the Children and Families Agency have made available newly developed UNICEF’s Child Rights Education tools for over 50,000 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and other types of education facilities. The tools were developed in collaboration with NHK Educational Inc. by fully utilizing the company’s extensive knowledge and experiences in developing educational programmes and materials, in addition to its network with academia and teachers.
Looking towards the 40th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (2029), this project will continue to work with various stakeholders to raise awareness and promote the rights of the child until the end of March 2030, the target year for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
https://www.unicef.or.jp/kodoken/
About “I Love Mee”
© NHK
A children’s animation programme weekly broadcasted nationwide on NHK’s E-television channel. The main character, 5-year-old ‘Mee’, uses various everyday events as an opportunity to think about ‘What does it mean to take care of yourself? Hikari Mitsushima voices all of over 60 characters that appear in the programme.
http://nhk.jp/iloveme
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
https://www.unicef.org
About Japan Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF Japan)
The Japan Committee for UNICEF is one of 33 national UNICEF committees in developed countries and regions and is the only private sector organisation representing UNICEF in the country, undertaking public information (communication), fundraising and policy-advocacy on behalf of UNICEF.
https://www.unicef.or.jp