Why is "Daiku" so popular in Japan?

A movie showing the reason, called "Bart no Gakuen" (Ode an die Freude), was screened in Japan in 2006.

It starred one of the greatest Japanese actors, Ken Matsudaira, and one of the greatest German actors, Bruno Gantz.

However, it was a failure because of poor communication of the Japanese director and German actors.

This is a trailer followed by some scenes.

It was based upon the true story of a prison camp during WWI.

I consulted some books and the Internet to investigate the truth of the movie, and I found that fact is stranger than fiction.

When World War I occured in 1914, Great Britain engaged in warfare with Germany, so Japan also declared war against Germany.

The Japanese army with 29,000 soldiers launched a bitter attack on the Qing Tao Fortress in China where 4,300 German soldiers were stationed.

There was one camp in a small village called Bando, on Shikoku Island during WWI.

Matsue was the son of Aidu samurai, who survived the oppression from the Meiji Government and then entered the military.

He decided not to make any of the prisoners feel such humiliation.

Since then "Daiku" had been often performed by Japanese orchestras and has become popular.

According to a myth, it is said that the first emperor Jinmu took the throne in the year 660 B.

When the concert producer was asked why "Daiku" was selected, he answered that they held a concert of the Ninth Symphony in Germany on December 31 every year.

This is why we have the habit of having "Daiku" concerts near the end of the year.

The Symphony No.9 composed by Beethoven (I usually recognize it "Beethoven's 9th Symphony") is affectionately called "Daiku" in Japanese.

It starred one of the greatest Japanese actors, Ken Matsudaira, and one of the greatest German actors, Bruno Gantz.

Though it was However, it turned out to be a failure because of (or "due to") poor communication of between the Japanese director and the German actors.

I consulted read some books and checked the Internet in order to investigate the truth of about the movie, so and I found that fact is stranger than fiction.

The Japanese army, using with 29,000 soldiers, had engaged in a bitter attack on the Qing Tao Fortress in China where 4,300 German soldiers were stationed.

There was a camp at the a very small town, Bando, in the Shikoku Island during WWI.

He treated the prisoners humanely according to the Haag Convention, which was less known to ("among"?) Japanese commanders then.

Matsue was a son of an Aidu samurai, survived the oppression from the Meiji Government and then entered the military.

The German prisoners were so treated as such as in order to restore their dignity.

They showed the people of Bando people their advanced skills and technologies in return.

There were filled with formed a strange friendship.

Then the Symphony No.9 was performed by the an orchestra, selected from the made up by a select group of prisoners, for the first time.

Since then "Daiku" had been often had often been performed by Japanese orchestras(?) and became popular.

When the concert producer was asked why "Daiku" was selected, he answered ("replied") that they had the held a concert of for the Symphony No.9 in Germany on every December 31 every year.

This is why we have the habit (tradition) of having (holding) "Daiku" concert(s?) near the end of the year.

It is performed by the special orchestra including that includes foreign players and an amateur chorus group consisting of 10,000 people mainly from the Kansai district.

The choir have been has trained intensively trained for about four months.

The audience of 7,000 are is also allowed to sing a part of the chorus.

Moreover the 1,000-member Tohoku choir, who were affected by the 3/11 disaster, will join the chorus via the live remote broadcasting.

The Japanese army, 29,000 strong, launched a bitter attack on the Qing Tao Fortress in China where 4,300 German soldiers were stationed. >this is a common idiomatic usage

He treated the prisoners humanely according to the Hague Convention, which was not well-known among Japanese commanders then. > if you use "less", you need to make some kind of comparison----to the present-day, perhaps?

The German prisoners-of-war were treated as such in order to restore their dignity. >i.e. the special status of "prisoner-of-war" was recognized

Then the Symphony No.9 was performed by an orchestra made up of a select group of the prisoners, for the first time.

Some Japanese, who had been taught by the prisoners, joined the orchestra.

Since then "Daiku" has often been performed by Japanese orchestras and has became popular.

When the concert producer was asked why "Daiku" was selected, he answered that there was a special performance of the Ninth Symphony in Germany every December 31.

One of these annual concerts may seem peculiar to the Western people.

It is performed by a special orchestra that includes foreign players and an amateur chorus group consisting of 10,000 people mainly from the Kansai district.

The choir trains intensively for about four months. >since this is the same routine every year, Present Tense is better.

The current conductor is Maestro Yutaka Sado. >"Maestro" is usually used as a title, like "Sensei".

If Beethoven attended the concert, he would be mad. >hey, that's cruel!