Beyond the Clouds ｜ The Challenge Fukushima Project

“Beyond the Clouds” is a song about Fukushima’s present.

The song “Beyond the Clouds” was composed to convey a message about current conditions here in Fukushima Prefecture to as many people as possible, both here in Fukushima and throughout Japan and the world. We wanted to appeal　to both men and women of all ages and to stimulate interest and awareness.

Drawing on ideas from 825 entries submitted to Feelings for Fukushima by local people and many others whose hearts went out to the prefecture, 　Musician Shinji Tanimura composed the lyrics and music for “Beyond the Clouds.” The piece was sung by the Nihon University Tohoku High School Choir, 　gold prizewinners in the 2016 Fukushima Vocal Ensemble Competition. We also turned this performance into an anime feature as the 11th installment of Letters to the Future: On Our Way There.

We hope that many people will enjoy listening to “Beyond the Clouds,” and perhaps begin to sing it themselves. The song brims with many different people’s tender feelings for Fukushima. If it helps you to gain a deeper understanding of Fukushima Prefecture, we’ll feel that we’ve done our job.

Fukushima Prefecture Public Relations Division

雲のかなた

作詞 /: 谷村新司

作曲 /: 谷村新司

編曲 /: 石坂慶彦

（⼀）

10年後に　空を見上げる　私を思い描こう
その時は　笑顔でいようね　自分との約束
10年後の　空を見ている
その場所がここならいいね
旅のなか　帰りたくなる
それがここならいいね
雨の日は　雨に打たれて
風の日は　風に吹かれて
それでも雲のかなたは
いつも蒼い空

（⼆）

通いなれた　あの道端に
咲いている花忘れない
ふざけあい　涙流した　君を忘れてない
離れたから　気付けることや
失くしたものもあるけれど
旅のあと　帰り着く場所
それがここならいいね
雨の日は　雨に打たれて
風の日は　風に吹かれて
それでも雲のかなたは
いつも蒼い空

AH-　AH-　AH-　AH-

10 years after
どこにいて　僕らは生きているのだろう
10 years after
未来図は　この手の中にある
10 years after
どこにいて　僕らは生きているのだろう
10 years after
未来図は　見上げる蒼い空　 AH
10 years after
どこにいて　僕らは生きているのだろう
10 years after
未来図は　この手の中にある
10 years after
どこにいて　僕らは生きているのだろう
10 years after
未来図は　見上げる蒼い空　 AH

Go beyond the pain

Download Lyrics and Score

Download the Music

Sung by the Nihon University Tohoku High School Choir

Nihon University Tohoku High School is located in the City of Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, and is affiliated with Nihon University. Even though the choir was recently formed and was only officially approved as a high school club in 2016, it won the gold prize at the 9th Fukushima Vocal Ensemble Competition. It is a mixed chorus comprised of ten girls and six boys. They have taken the school motto of “independence and creativity” to heart. They are aiming to become a choir that can perform beautiful music for all and make Nihon University Tohoku High School proud. Each member takes ownership for the choir and they constantly push each other to new heights.

A video of the special dialogue that immediately followed the completion of “Beyond the Clouds.”

Shinji Tanimura (musician / composer of the lyrics and music for “Beyond the Clouds”) and
Michihiko Yanai (creative director, Fukushima Prefecture)

Letter Eleven: Beyond the Clouds

A child goes with his parents to the beach to see birds that have flown in from the north. They discover a baby bird that has been wounded. After its wounds healed the bird rejoined the flock and returned to the sky. Later an earthquake tragically strikes the area, and the beach where the birds usually rest disappears. The youth, now grown, works to restore the beach and patiently waits for the birds’ return. One day, a propeller plane appears, soaring through the sky. Looking at the plane flying freely through the sky, the youth adds his own prayers, falling into a reverie. Coming back to himself, he glances up at the sky and sees the familiar figure of the birds. Welcome home!