A circle of friends connected by goo touch! The “FIST BUMP” corner of the radio program “GRAND MARQUEE” features people who live and enjoy Tokyo in a relay format.
On December 14, Ms. Mizuho Kudo, editor-in-chief of the web media “soar,” was introduced by Ms. Naoko Sakurabayashi, a person of chatting. We asked her about the reason why she started “soar”, her thoughts on it, and the charity events she organized.
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Media “soar” was started to encourage people to live their own lives.
Celeina (MC): Ms. Kudo experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake while working for the Japanese Red Cross Society in Sendai. In 2015, he opened “soar,” a media outlet focusing on activities that expand people’s possibilities. In 2017, she established the NPO soar, aiming to create a future in which all people can live up to their potential through various approaches.
First of all, could you tell us why you launched “soar”?
Kudo: When one of my family members developed schizophrenia, I learned that there are many people with illnesses who are able to live their lives with support and in their own way. I felt that life can change drastically depending on the availability of information, so I started to think that it would be good if I could carry with me the wisdom of living by sharing the lifestyles of various people, and live my life in my own way, valuing myself as I am.
Celeina:It is important to carry the wisdom to live. I actually visited the site, and I felt that there are many topics that have not been mentioned much in the media.
Takano (MC): All the articles are voluminous, which is great for those who want to know more information. I felt that the segmentation of items such as worries and wishes makes it easy to get to the information one wants.
Kudo: Not only people with worries, but also people who have a desire to act for the good of society read our site, so we hope that we can provide hints to our readers.
Celeina: Which articles have had a particularly strong response?
Kudo: Many people search by the specific name of the disability or disease, but there are also people who enter their own problems and wishes as well. For example, their faces turn red when they speak in public, or they cry when they talk about their feelings. For those who have these kinds of worries that have not been clearly identified as issues, articles that can provide hints are often read.
Takano: Even if you have a problem, you don’t know where to go for help. The article also includes information on contact points, etc., so if you are interested, please check it out. I also thought it was great that there were no advertisements in the site.
Kudo: I think normal media usually include advertisements and tie-up articles, but “soar” has been operated with your sympathetic donations for the past eight years because we want to maintain the independence of the information we think is necessary and we want people who share our vision to participate.
Celeina: I see!
Kudo: We have many people who have been donating every month for a long time. We operate with the support of many different people.
Takano: Just by not having advertisements in the site, it makes it easier to look at.
Kudo: It also changes the appearance of the site, and by allowing people to read articles for free, I think it gives people more opportunities to genuinely learn about various people’s lives. Of course, there are some difficulties in running the site, but I want to keep the faith.
Celeina: I admire you. Is there a moment when you feel happy to be active?
Kudo: I often receive comments such as, “I had been struggling for years not to tell anyone, but reading your article gave me courage,” or “I feel like my horizons have broadened and I can live freely. What the media can do may be limited, but we are happy to be able to support people’s lives, even if only a little.

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Events combining music, dance, and dialogue are a place for diverse people to gather
Takano: I understand that you held a charity event in Sendai that combined music / dance with learning about social issues and dialogue.
Kudo: I used to do street dance, so I used to hold dance events at clubs. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, I added dialogue on social issues and took on the challenge of holding a festival that could be attended by men and women of all ages, while being allowed to use local resources such as temples, kindergartens, and shrines.
Takano: This is an activity that makes use of your love of dance, isn’t it, Mr. Kudo?
Kudo: I was very surprised when we held the festival at both temples and shrines.
Takano:That’s right. What kind of event was it?
Kudo: In addition to music and dance, we created charity booths for recovery support groups, etc., a market, a food corner, and a playground for children.

Celeina: It was really nice and diverse.
Kudo: It was really interesting. It was a space where children and adults could play together.
Takano: It’s a good place to convey a message, and it looks genuinely very fun.
Kudo: It was fun. I think that festivals and media are similar in that they bring together a variety of people, and we operate as a place where a diverse range of people can gather.
Takano: You are in the business of connecting people with people. What do you want to do in the future?
Kudo: Up until now we have conducted interviews as media and delivered them in articles, but in the future I would like to do a project where we all communicate together. There are readers who want to deliver the stories of their parents, friends, and others close to them, so I would like to help them learn how to listen to and write about “soar” so that they can deliver their own stories.
Celeina:I see. It is good that from now on the readers will be the senders. Now, I would like to send one song here. I asked Ms. Kudo to choose a song that we would all like to listen to together on the radio at this time. Please tell us the reason for your song selection.
Kudo: When I was a dancer in Sendai, a friend of mine from Tokyo used this song in a street dance show, and I listened to it many times while longing for Tokyo. ”Take U to Somewhere” by Ovall。
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The “cultural first” of 2023 is an idol audition show
Celeina:Today’s program introduces “cultural firsts” in 2023.
Kudo: For the first time in my life, I got into a survival idol audition program. I’m really into “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN THE GIRLS”.
Celeina: Have you been following the show from the beginning?
Kudo: Yes, I have. I was originally a “Hello! Project” geek, and when I saw that Momona Kasahara, formerly of Angulum, was in the show, I was hooked.
Celeina: What do you find attractive about the show?
Kudo: Not only the technical aspects of being an idol, but also the mental growth. There are times when you want to deny yourself, but you overcome that and follow the process of expressing yourself with confidence, which I think is filled with important things in life.
Celeina: Ms.Kudo, rather than pushing for a particular girl, do you want to support everyone?
Kudo: There is one, but I am an all-affirmative geek who supports everyone, no matter who they are.
Celeina: Do you think you will want to watch other audition programs in the future, not just “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN THE GIRLS”?
Kudo: I think so.
Takano: I would like to talk about that again.
Celeina: It will be interesting to hear from a different angle. Today we welcome Mizuho Kudo, editor-in-chief of the web media “soar. Thank you very much.

GRAND MARQUEE

J-WAVE (81.3FM) Mon-Thu 16:00 – 18:50
Navigator: Shinya Takano, Celeina Ann