Hirosaki's "Chanson Bar Ren" (Okeya-cho, Hirosaki City, TEL 0172-33-0191) celebrated its 50th anniversary in June. Currently, the owner, Tsugaru Benson singer Ren Akita, is conducting a nationwide concert tour.

It was opened in 1968 (Showa 43), and it was said that it was a bar that initially records BGM. Mr. Akita started singing instead of records, so he bought a microphone, hired a pianist, and gradually started performing live in the store.

Mr. Akita said, "I've never been to France, and I don't even have a passport, but since I was a student, I loved French movies and loved singing songs in the play. Was the focus.”

The 50th anniversary concert started in Kyushu and Fukuoka on April 1st, and also held in Osaka and Koriyama in June. "Singing is basically only in the store. Customers who listened to the song in the store wanted to listen to it at their own place, so they started singing outside the store," said Akita. “I am grateful to be able to perform a song at a place I have never visited for a memorial concert and to have an opportunity to convey the charm of Hirosaki,” he smiles.

On October 5th, a concert will be held at the Caltz Kawasaki Hall (Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture) with pianist Takashi Ohara and navigator Mr. Nobuo Murakami, former NHK announcer. This is the third live in Kawasaki, and it is said that he appeared as a charity concert after the Great East Japan Earthquake reconstruction.

Mr. Akita said, "I started my store in my twenties and it is still supported by the warm cheering of the locals. I'm old but I want to continue singing as long as I can hear it." Show me.

Commemorative concerts will be held in Sendai and Hanamaki, and additional performances will be held. Mr. Akita said, "I'm thinking about the final performance in Hirosaki, and I'm planning to do it in April next year at the Hirosaki Civic Center (Shimohiragincho, Hirosaki City)."