Music, art, and international friendship will take center stage this fall as the Bethlehem Area Public Library and the Lehigh Valley–JAJAJA community present the Bethlehem-Japan Peace Project — a one-day festival honoring two remarkable milestones: the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and more than 60 years of sister-city ties between Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Tondabayashi, Japan.

The celebration begins in Payrow Plaza with the thunderous beats of Japanese taiko drums, drawing the community to the unveiling of a reimagined Guernica mural — a powerful statement for global peace. Spanning the library’s columns, the mural will feature contributions from children in the Lehigh Valley and Japan, with a professional Japanese calligrapher completing the work live.

At 1:30 PM, guests will gather inside the library for welcoming remarks from Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds and Tondabayashi Mayor Yoshimi Yoshimura. The concert will feature moving performances on a violin that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, alongside singer-songwriter Rachel Andie, world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra cellist Udi Bar-David, and shamisen artist Kosaburo Kineya. Reverend Dr. T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki (TK) will close the program with a prayer for peace. Following the concert, attendees are invited to a community reception with light refreshments.

Evening – Strings of Hope Concert | 8:00 PM – Congregation Brith Sholom The evening culminates in the debut of Strings of Hope: Sounds of Surviving Violins — a historic first in which two violins that survived the devastation of Hiroshima and the Holocaust will meet and perform together. Through a moving blend of live music, film, and spoken word, audiences will journey through Hiroshima, Shanghai, Vienna, and Warsaw. Rare artifacts and original materials will accompany the performance, offering a profound experience of resilience, cultural memory, and hope.

Community Invitation & Support
This free, public event invites the community to come together in remembrance, cultural exchange, and the pursuit of peace. We encourage attendees to register in advance at https://bethlehemarea.librarycalendar.com/event/bethlehem-peace-project-22924 or by calling (610) 867-3761 ext. 399