An ensemble of Lao student violinists, with Japanese pianist Keisuke Kodaira at the centre piano and a stage director in the foreground.

Lao, Japanese children find common ground in music

Lao children and a Japanese pianist joined together to produce a concert involving a lively meeting of cultures, blending the khaen, piano, violin and popular Japanese music.
Children Communication on Earth (CCE), in cooperation with the Lao Youth Union and with support from the Embassy of Japan in Laos, organised the Piano Concert for Lao Children in Vientiane on September 16.
Japanese pianist Keisuke Kodaira performed solo pieces and joined Lao children in several collaborative performances during the concert.
One of the highlights was a rendition of “Champa Meuang Lao”, which brought together Mr Kodaira’s piano and the Lao khaen. The combination created a distinctive sound, linking Lao musical traditions with the pianist’s performance.
Another lively moment came when students from Israphone School played the violin alongside Mr Kodaira in a song from the popular Japanese cartoon Doraemon.

Keisuke Kodaira poses for a group photo with students on stage during the Piano Concert for Lao Children in Vientiane.

The performance delighted the audience as the children combined their violin skills with a song familiar to audiences in both Laos and Japan.
Mr Kodaira also performed solo pieces, including “Let It Go”, a popular song from the animated film Frozen. The song was particularly enjoyed by younger members of the audience.
President of Children Communication on Earth, Ms Setsuko Haga, said the organisation has worked for years to build friendship among children through international exchange programmes.
“We have made a lot of friends in Laos and have deepened wonderful friendships,” she said, expressing hope that the friendship between Lao and Japanese children would continue to grow.
For the children who performed, the concert provided an opportunity to share the stage with an experienced Japanese pianist while presenting elements of Lao culture through music.
Audience member Alisa Southichak, 10, a student at the Australia International School, said she particularly enjoyed watching children of her age perform on stage.
“I enjoyed the concert very much, especially seeing the pianist perform my favourite song ‘Let It Go’. The performance with Lao children was very special,” she said.
The concert showed how music can bring children from different cultural backgrounds together. Traditional Lao instruments such as the khaen shared the stage with piano and violin, while Japanese popular culture added another familiar connection between the young performers and their audience.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update September 18, 2026)