The power of shared song
Perhaps the most moving experience came when we visited a community center for the elderly, many of whom had lost their homes in the disaster. The room was filled with an almost tangible heaviness and quiet faces that had seen too much loss. We began our concert softly, inviting them to clap or hum along. Slowly, we saw shoulders lift, eyes brighten.
Then came a moment none of us will forget. The Turkish students had prepared two traditional Japanese folk songs, rehearsed in honor of their hosts. As they sang, the elderly audience began to join in, hesitant at first, then stronger, until the entire hall was alive with shared song.
That was when the walls came down. Tears streamed freely, language no longer mattered: music had become the common language, a bridge from heart to heart. There were hugs, smiles, and even laughter as strangers embraced each other.
Theatre as healing
Drama played its own powerful role. Simple exercises – mirroring, group storytelling, improvisation — created moments of togetherness. For many students, performing gave them a space to express something they could not say in words. They learned to collaborate, to listen, and to create meaning. It was art as therapy, though we never called it that. It was simply play, the most ancient and natural form of healing.
Cultural bridges
Learning was two-way – the Turkish and Japanese students learned as much from one another as they did from us. They exchanged songs, language, and laughter, discovering that compassion is universal. Through shared creation, stereotypes dissolved. They found that they could be both teachers and learners – ambassadors of empathy in a world too often divided