A cello that was found miraculously undamaged in the aftermath of Japan’s 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake will be heard again in a free concert on 26 October. Grammy-winning cellist Eru Matsumoto will perform a recital with pianist Ryu Saito at Wajima Junior High School. The concert is part of the ‘Wajima no Hibiki’ project, which supports the city of Wajima’s efforts to rebuild after the disaster that saw more than 200,000 structures damaged across the region.
The cello is highly distinctive, in that it is covered with traditional Wajima lacquer instead of varnish. The city is famous for its lacquerware, and violins and cellos decorated in this way are said to be more durable than other normal instruments. The earthquake caused part of the Daitetsu Yai lacquerware workshop to collapse, and much of the lacquerware stored there was buried under the rubble; however, a month later, the cello was found intact sandwiched between piles of timber. It was made ten years ago by Yai Hirochika and is currently on display at the Prefectural Music Hall in Kanazawa.
The Wajima no Hibiki project was launched to bring the healing power of music to people working on the rebuilding. The concert will be recorded and used as part of a commemorative film to be released on 1 January 2026, the second anniversary of the earthquake.
‘I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to play a special performance on the Wajima lacquerware cello that was miraculously found intact,’ said Eru Matsumoto. ‘I will be delighted if this concert serves as an opportunity for as many people as possible to learn about the beauty and depth of Wajima lacquerware.’
The magnitude-7.6 earthquake killed 230 people and destroyed or badly damaged 49,000 homes. According to government estimates, the repair bill could be as high as YEN2.6 trillion (£13.1 billion).