Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call at the Prime Minister's Office from the Japanese Language Theater Group "En Juku," Comprised of Indonesian Students

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"Ms. Kaikiri and everyone from En Juku, thank you for coming today. The song that Ms. Kaikiri described moments ago, 'Sakura Yo,' or 'Wahai sakura (O, Cherry Tree),' is a song I wanted to include in a speech on the Five Principles of Japan's ASEAN Diplomacy that I was planning to make during my visit to Indonesia in January last year. In the process of preparing for the speech, by chance our staff came across Ms. Kaikiri's song on the Internet and proposed that we quote the song. When I listened to this song for the first time on the Internet, my heart truly swelled with emotion. Unfortunately, my visit happened to coincide with the incident in which Japanese nationals were taken hostage, and I was unable to deliver this speech in Indonesia. However, I did get a chance to unveil this song during last year's Annual Convention of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), using video and audio taken from the Internet.
I brought up this song in the middle of my speech at the Annual Convention. At the part of the song where the lyrics are, 'Bloom proudly, o cherry tree, bloom in the heart of Japan. Bloom proudly, o Japan, bloom in the heart of the world,' many of the participants shed tears. If I am not mistaken, I believe this was the first time anybody shed tears during a speech by the President of the LDP. That was how moved everyone was by this song. Upon listening to the song, many participants felt a strong resolve to fulfill the wishes of the young people in Asia and the young people in Indonesia. It made me realize once again the power that songs have.
In fact, I did not know that En Juku was currently performing in Japan. It was actually my mother who went to see a performance by En Juku, and came back telling me what a wonderful performance she had seen. Upon receiving an En Juku pamphlet I saw that it contained messages from me and Mr. Kato. I thought to myself I must immediately invite you all to the Prime Minister's Office and immediately gave out instructions to that effect. However, my instructions came too late, and the main group had already returned to Indonesia. Nevertheless, I am pleased that you have come today, joined by members of the Japan-Indonesia Parliamentarians' League, whose Chairman, Mr. Nikai, was also anxious that this visit be realized. This is actually the first time for me to listen to the song live, and I am very much looking forward to it. Upon listening to your performance of this song, I will continue to work hard to further develop the friendship between Japan and Indonesia, Japan and ASEAN, and Japan and Asia.
I would like to thank you deeply for coming today."

Following the address, En Juku sang the song "Sakura Yo."