The band Inawashirokos, formed after last month’s earthquake by a group of four Fukushima-born musicians from well-known bands, have released their first single, I love you & I need you Fukushima.

The song sends a message of support from all of Japan to the Fukushima prefecture, which was one of the areas hardest hit during the earthquake and continues to grapple with the unfolding nuclear crisis.

The band has also released an emotionally stirring music video on YouTube that shows the solidarity and support of people from all across Japan. The video has been gaining attention among uses, many adding their own words of encouragement and commenting that, when watching the video, “the tears didn’t stop.”

The video was professionally created by a group of volunteers from the advertising business and features a total 47 famous Japanese actors and actresses, each representing a different prefecture, singing along with the song.

The message at the beginning of the video and lyrics are as follows:

Message
To everyone in Fukushima,
we’re supporting you from across Japan.
That’s why we’ll all sing together.

Song Start
I left my true self at Fukushima, Fukushima, Fukushima
I loved the true you at Fukushima, Fukushima, Fukushima

Something will start tomorrow. Something beautiful.
Something will start tomorrow. I’m talking about you.
I love you baby, Fukushima. I need you baby, Fukushima.
I want you baby, we love Fukushima. (x2)

Let me see that you’re wonderful at Fukushima, Fukushima, Fukushima.
The dreamlike days and the beautiful you, at Fukushima, Fukushima, Fukushima.

Tomorrow, everything will begin. Your life will begin.
Tomorrow, a new life will begin. Your life will begin.

I love you baby, Fukushima. I need you baby, Fukushima.
I want you baby, we love Fukushima.

I love you baby, Hamadori. I need you baby, Nakadori.
I want you baby, Aizu. We love Fukushima.

I love you baby, Nomaoi. I need you baby, Akabeko.
I want you baby, Tsuruga Castle. We love Fukushima.

I love you baby, Fukushima. I need you baby, Fukushima.
I want you baby, we love Fukushima. (x2)

Hamadori, Nakadori and Aizu are all regions in Fukushima. Nomaoi means ‘wild horse chase’ and refers to a military exercise carried out in Fukushima during the Edo Period, re-created to this day during the Soma-Nomaoi Festival. Akapeko is a traditional toy from Fukushima shaped like a red cow.

Inawashiros is made up of Shinji Machia (THE BACK HORN), Takashi Yamaguchi (Sambomaster), Toshimi Watanabe (TOKYO No.1 SOUL SET) and Michihiko Yanai (Kaze to Rock). The band’s name is taken from Lake Inawashiro, which is located in the middle of Fukushima and is a symbol of the prefecture.

The song is available for purchase through the TOKYO FM Mobile Site as well as OTOTOY (both sites are only available in Japanese). All proceeds are donated to the Fukushima Disaster Countermeasures Office.

Source Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CQJuAN2BEY

Translation: Steven
[ Read in Japanese ]