Inner Vision

The March 11th disaster inspired an outpouring of creativity in north east Japan. People have been moved to write, paint and sing. A ten year old girl sings about living in darkness and searching for the light, a theme that's struck a chord.

A song that speaks to its audience, in this case tsunami survivors in Kanamishi city, the young pianist and composer of the song is Hirari Sato, she started playing piano at age 5.

Hirari has been blind since birth. Early on she showed a talent for setting her thoughts and feelings to a melody. Hirari lives in Niigata prefecture central Japan, she is visiting Kanamishi with her mother.

In March last year as the terrible events unfolded, Hirari listened to the news coverage. Her mother's explanation helped to picture the devastation.

As those images played out in her mind, an idea took route. Hirari wanted to do something to help. She wrote her first complete song. Arriving in Kanamishi, Hirari visited a high school damaged by the tsunami.

“no windows? so its like being outside?"

Touching the wreckage, feeling the debris beneath her feet, Hirari got a deeper understanding of what happened:

"I can't believe the things that were swept away by the tsunami. I want to sing songs that will touch the hearts of these people. "

Time for the performance, Hirari's concert is being held at an Inn destroyed by the tsunami. The Inn reopened in January.

Her song is called 'mira' which means the future. The lyrics draw on Hirari's own life story. They explain where people can find hope in times of hardship.

"Her love in the song washed over all of us"

"She made me want to live my life in a more positive way"

"I'm happy that my singing could cheer them up, I hope they can look into their hearts and find the strength to move forward into the future"

Hirar's CD will go on sale this summer, some of the proceeds will go to those who were affected by the disaster.