Sunny Side Gospel Club draws its roughly 50 performing members — gathering in Hakodate for this occasion — from chapters in Mie, Nagoya, Shinjuku, Kofu, and Osaka (which alone counts 530 members on its roster).
Guided by the motto “money spent on joy here can become a powerful force somewhere else,” the group channels a portion of its membership dues, along with surplus funds raised through member-organized events, into scholarships sent each year to middle school students in rural Cambodia.
Members of every age and occupation come together as one through gospel singing, and the group performs live regularly and enthusiastically. Gospel, they believe, is music that turns life toward hope. In every performance, they sing with their whole hearts, hoping their voices can bring energy, comfort, and love to as many people as possible.
Their slogan: “Sing in unity, live in peace.”