MONKEY MAJIK - KIZUNA Ambassadors (Ambassadors of RESILIENCE) Special Acoustic LIVE Show in Ottawa
On Tuesday, February 21, the Embassy of Japan in Canada was pleased to present a free special acoustic live show by MONKEY MAJIK, KIZUNA Ambassadors at Zaphod Beeblebrox in Ottawa to support Japan’s recovery from the devastating damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Ishikawa reiterated his gratitude for all the support from Canada after the disaster and also spoke of the significance of promoting Japan’s reconstruction and recovery. On Tuesday night in Ottawa, the band performed many songs to an enthusiastic crowd and they also shared their own experiences from the disaster from the perspective of their own activities in the affected areas. 250 people attended the concert which resulted in a full house at Zaphod Beeblebrox. Tickets for the recent concert in Ottawa were sold out within two days which demonstrated again the great popularity of brothers Maynard and Blaise, in their hometown. During their stay in Ottawa, the band responded to different media with enthusiasm. Furthermore, they expressed their determination to deepen “Kizuna”, or bonds with Canada and the rest of the world as well as convey a “Vibrant Japan” as appointed KIZUNA Ambassadors by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The February 22nd issue of the Ottawa Citizen included an article on MONKEY MAJIK entitled “Work in Japan has only begun.”
As Ambassadors of RESILIENCE, MONKEY MAJIK’s special acoustic live show at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto received an extraordinarily positive reception on Sunday, February 19. (An article on the concert in Toronto can be found here.)
The Embassy of Japan would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Yamaha Canada Music Ltd. for their support of this event.
- MONKEY MAJIK’s Profile -
A hybrid band consisting of Canadian brothers, Maynard and Blaise (on vocals and guitars) and the Japanese rhythm team of tax and DICK (on drums and bass), is headquartered in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Despite their own houses being damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake, the band stopped their music activities immediately after the disaster and went to the affected areas to volunteer. Even after the band resumed their music activities, they established the “Send LOVE” project and actively held a charity concert to support disaster victims. The band continues to encourage victims through their music.
In 2008, MONKEY MAJIK performed at the same club, Zaphod Beeblebrox, as “Goodwill Ambassadors” for the 80th anniversary of Japanese-Canadian relations. Furthermore, during the official visit to Canada of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan in July, 2009, the band performed live with the presence of their Majesties at a commemorative event hosted at the Lester B. Pearson Building (Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada).
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