Composed with the image of Nakashibetsu Town, Hokkaido, a place I visit almost every year.

The first movement "Summer Sketch" was composed for Yourou Elementary School, which was closed in 2012. I visited there for many concerts and the school was filled with a heartwarming atmosphere and wonderful friendship of nearly 20 students. When they decided to close the school due to consolidation, I composed this in the hope of preserving some warm memories.

The second movement "The Farthest Hill" refers to Kaiyodai, a hill at an altitude of 271 meters in Nakashibetsu Town, Hokkaido. It is an observatory and you can see Notsuke Peninsula and Kunashiri Island on sunny days and enjoy a panoramic view of the endless horizon. The work represents the summer excitement of walking down a straight road from Nakashibetsu Town to Kaiyodai.

(Hiroshi Arakawa)