MHI Group Employees and Family Members Serve as Volunteers at Shiki Theatre Company's 2016 "Theater of the Heart" Performances in Yokohama

Most recently, on December 16 seven employees and their family members provided operational assistance at morning and afternoon performances of Shiki Theatre Company's original musical "Elcos no Inori" at Kanagawa Kenmin Hall in Yokohama. Prior to each performance they ushered the guests to their seats, and at the end of the day they helped dismantle the stage equipment. The two performances were enjoyed by a total of 4,398 sixth-graders from 50 schools throughout Yokohama.

The participating volunteers spoke enthusiastically of the day's experience. "Children today have lots of opportunities to come in contact with the digital world, but I came away with a strong sense of the importance of giving them a place where they can see a live performance on stage and interact directly with other people," one commented. Another remarked that it was wonderful to have the children see a professional show unfold before their very eyes, and to give them an opportunity to interact with the actors after the performance. The volunteers expressed special pleasure when the children, on leaving the hall, told them how much they had enjoyed themselves.

The MHI Group is strongly committed to continue actively supporting children of the next generation through activities of these kinds.