famous Japanese artists for Disaster Relief: sukiyaki song - Ue wo Muite...

There was a nice segment earlier this week on National Public Radio about suntory's TV ad remake of the 1961 hit "ue wo muite arukou..." (later put in English in the 1970s as The Sukiyaki Song). http://www.npr.org/2011/04/12/135338626/the-last-word-in-business [summary: TV commercials in Japan were pulled right after last month's earthquake and tsunami because they seemed inappropriate. Advertisers are still being careful. Some are opting for uplifting messages.] Here is the CM itself, http://youtu.be/a5YwM0pEgIY The ACTFL guidelines speak of the 5 C's. And when learning Cultural Literacy, it is important to know all the Proper Nouns: Persons, Places, Things/events. Since this TV ad features many famous names/faces, all the non-native speakers of Japanese would do well to recognize who these are. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Main participants are famous singers & actors Wada Akiko, Kondo Masahiko, Takeuchi Yuko, Fuji Sumiko, Dan Rei, Motoki Masahiro , Oguri Shun, Becky, Sakai Masaaki, Miyazawa Rie, Okada Masaki and Matsuda Seiko. http://www.suntory.co.jp/enjoy/movie/d_s/880953901001.html 30 different versions with 71 different people :::UPDATE April 16 - the Chinese artists create a tribute (sung here in Japanese) ...famous Chinese singers/musicians and actors (including Jackie Chan) singing for Japan. ...there's a Chinese language version, too... 香港演艺协会基本全部到位~为日本欺负作品 無懼風雨 雨ニモマケズ Ame ni mo Makezu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jlfSv44qQE&feature=related [background to lyrics] Ame ni mo makezu (雨ニモマケズ) roughly translated as "Be not defeated by the rain" is the most well known poem of Kenji Miyazawa (�m�g �t治) , a poet and author of children's literature of the early Showa period (1926-1989). Born at a wealthy family, he abandoned the lifestyleof his family when he was exposed to the life difficulties of the impoverished farmers of his area and dedicated his life in helping people in need. He passed away still young, at age 37, on the 21st of September 1933. His life path and beliefs are reflected on his work as it is evident from "Ameni mo makezu". The poem was found after his death in a small black notebook in one of the poet's trunks.