Volunteers who worked together gather in Makuhari! RockCorps supported by JT 2017 “Celebration” has begun!

Hello, this is PR Sunny-chan!

RockCorps supported by JT 2017, for which SUNNY SIDE UP serves as the lead secretariat of the executive committee, has finally reached its grand finale!

Image courtesy of RockCorps supported by JT

This project represents a new form of social contribution that fuses music and volunteering: by completing four hours of volunteer work, participants receive a ticket to a live concert featuring a lineup of popular artists.
On the final day, Saturday, September 2, the “Celebration” live event that concludes the project was held at Makuhari Messe!

Image courtesy of RockCorps supported by JT

Marking its fourth consecutive year, the event moved from the Azuma Gymnasium in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, to Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, making its debut in the Tokyo metropolitan area!

We are excited to share the behind-the-scenes stories along with the highlights of the “RockCorps supported by JT 2017” Celebration!

Stunning performances by a lineup of popular artists

Image courtesy of RockCorps supported by JT

At the Celebration, SPYAIR, Minami Takahashi, androp, miwa, and international guest Fifth Harmony delivered breathtaking performances, keeping the entire venue energized from start to finish!

The Celebration brought together a record-breaking 4,130 participants* for RockCorps.
(*The highest number of participants for a Celebration held in Japan)
Furthermore, the final volunteer activity held on the morning of the Celebration saw 595 participants—the largest in the history of RockCorps supported by JT—bringing the total number of volunteer participants to a record high of 4,595.

We received wonderful feedback from those who participated in the volunteer activities on the day, such as:
“I came all the way from Hokkaido for the ‘Celebration’! I’m already excited, but I want to participate with a refreshed mind and body by volunteering first!”
Hearing such comments makes us realize that through RockCorps, “volunteering” has become more familiar, and it is providing an opportunity for those who previously found it difficult to get involved.
As the lead secretariat of the executive committee, SUNNY SIDE UP is delighted to hear this!

Now, let’s look at things other than the live performances! RockCorps balloons appeared outside the venue!
After passing through the entrance gate, the first thing people did was take commemorative photos in front of the balloons! The design is incredibly cute up close, making it perfect for Instagram!
To ensure that everyone enjoys the entire Celebration, not just the concert, we have put a lot of thought into these details.

This year, there was also a row of booths from Fukushima City and food stalls where you could enjoy the flavors of Tohoku!!
Participants spent their time as they pleased until the concert started, enjoying Tohoku delicacies such as Fukushima’s famous Imokuri Sataro and Miyagi’s beef skewers.

We received many messages on the volunteer photo panel!Group photos from all the volunteer activities conducted over the approximately four-month period were displayed.

Participants enjoyed their own “RockCorps” experience by looking at photos of the volunteer activities they participated in to reminisce, or by writing messages on the board.

Many messages were received, including those from first-time participants saying, “It’s my first time. I’m so excited,” and from those traveling long distances saying, “I came from Fukushima!” There was even a message from someone saying, “This is my fourth consecutive year participating!!”

Every message is very important to us as staff and serves as a great source of encouragement!

Image courtesy of RockCorps supported by JT

The Celebration concluded successfully, with the entire venue united by the passionate performances of the wonderful artists!
Seeing the smiles and enjoyment of the participants every year makes us truly feel the incredible power of music.

While RockCorps supported by JT 2017 has come to an end, we hope that the bonds formed here will continue in various ways!

The official RockCorps website also features highlights of the Celebration and performances by each artist.
RockCorps supported by JT 2017

Please take a look!

● Television broadcast confirmed on BS-TBS again this year!

A TV program following the activities of RockCorps supported by JT 2017 will be broadcast on BS-TBS! It will feature footage from the Celebration stage as well as scenes from the volunteer activities over the four-month period.

Even if you were unable to participate this year, please watch the program to experience the spirit of RockCorps!

＜Program Overview＞
● Broadcast Time: Saturday, September 30, 14:00–15:54
● Broadcaster: BS-TBS
*Program content and broadcast times are subject to change.

As for the SUNNY SIDE UP members…
They were at the venue early in the morning preparing!

In the press room, which served as a waiting area for the media, they were preparing for the event by carefully conducting final checks, such as confirming individual roles, checking the schedule for stage proceedings and artist press scrums, and sharing important notices.

Once the stage performances began, they were constantly checking the upcoming schedule.

Individual Interview Room
While the artists were delivering stunning performances on stage, individual interviews for each artist were being conducted simultaneously.

Official photos taken during the live performances and press scrums were checked on the spot. This is actually quite a demanding task…

Since the live venue, press room, and press scrum area were somewhat far apart this time, we also held detailed meetings regarding logistics.

Operations and Production Room
The operations team was constantly moving throughout the entire venue—around the reception, the live venue, and the artist waiting rooms—making them very hard to catch! (sweat)
We managed to snap a photo of the operations team as they returned to the waiting room toward the end of the concert. Seeing them check the schedule without fail until the very last moment truly shows their professionalism!

In addition, many other operations and production members were active on the day, including staff overseeing the volunteer program, staff in charge of attending to the performers, social media staff, and staff responsible for the campaigns.

One wonders what they are thinking as they watch the stage reach its finale…

Behind the scenes of the Celebration, the operations, production, and PR teams work hard like this to ensure that everyone has the best possible time!
We hope that the Celebration, which the RockCorps team worked together to bring to life, was a wonderful and unforgettable experience for all the participants.