KEIKO KOMA net

3 Nov. 2011

Homeland

While my life was unified with the souls of my ancestor, the word Homeland made me recall a strong heart for the lands of Koguryo to where I could not easily go and visit. Many people talked about their homeland but mine was always associated with a touch of sadness. At the Legends of Koguryo Rediscovered concert held in Fukui I narrated a poem about my heart for a homeland that I had created at Suruga bay and since then more often than not I yearned for going to my homelands: Mt. Gojo, the birthplace of Koguryo, Jian city, the ancient capital, both of them were located in China and the last capital city that was located in North Korea where I had a chance to visit once but extremely difficult to do so again. In Morioka I often came across a landscape that looked similar to my homelands in the main continent and made me filled with joy. Morioka was situated in the same latitude as Koguryo’s ancient cities so trees and rivers looked identical. Therefore to hold the Legends of Koguryo Rediscovered concert in Morioka brought me closer to my homeland. I wondered if my feeling of sadness and yearning associated with a homeland might disappear when all the East Asian countries would be unified to fill a vacancy of sorrows at heart to have been separated by force and people would be allowed freely to go around. These days I have been speculating about my homeland. For Mr. Idaki Shin the coming Legends of Koguryo Rediscovered concert in Morioka prefecture was the one to be held at his homeland where his home was actually located; at Hirosaki city. I have been there many times and there my body and mind were always greatly nursed as I could regain human nature touched by the warmth in the daily life of people. I was always saved. It was indeed a great honor for me to hold my concert at two cities for two days in the Tohoku area that was associated with a homeland. I wanted to thank someone greatly and was looking forwards to these concerts as I felt as if I were about to go back to my homeland and my heart became filled with warm energy.