病院に防音室設置｜夭折のチェリスト「山本栞路」の想いを叶えたい

 

 

 

He was incredibly skilled with his hands, had beautiful handwriting, and loved drawing. For six years during elementary school, he kept a daily journal, and even afterward, he would jot down noteworthy events in his planner.

 

Friends described him as someone whose presence brought a sense of relief. While he wasn’t the center of attention at school, he was always smiling warmly from a slight distance.

 

Kanchi began playing the cello at the age of three and aspired to become an internationally acclaimed cellist. During his battle with illness, he shared his dream: “I wanted to perform a concerto with an overseas orchestra and invite my parents to the concert

“The cello was a part of me, and practicing it was part of my daily life.”

 

After being hospitalized for leukemia, he struggled to accept that he couldn’t practice the cello, attend university, or return home. He was forced to cancel more than ten scheduled performances. To make matters worse, within a month of his hospitalization, he lost hearing in one ear due to acute hearing loss brought on by stress.

 

Life in the hospital inevitably brought layers of stress. Initially, Kanchi enjoyed hospital meals, but as his stay prolonged into months, he became familiar enough with the menu to predict what would come next.

 

Treatment required him to sign countless consent forms for medications, blood tests, and bone marrow examinations. While these procedures were essential from the perspective of medical staff, they were mentally taxing for him and his family.

 

For Kanchi, who had lived his entire life intertwined with music, being separated from “sound” was an overwhelming source of stress.

 

 

 

My name is Akio Yamamoto, Kanchi’s father.

 

I first learned that there were abnormal values in Kanchi’s blood test results at a local clinic. The shock was so overwhelming that I personally experienced shortness of breath, something I had never encountered before—it was my first time feeling like I couldn’t breathe.

 

Shortly after, Kanchi was diagnosed with leukemia. At that point, we didn’t yet know how advanced the disease was, but I immediately canceled all my plans, took leave from work, and hardly returned home as I stayed by his side to care for him. Initially, I couldn’t accept the reality of the situation, but over time, it became undeniable. From then on, all I could do was believe, “This is a disease that can be cured.”

 

During his battle, I spent as much time as possible talking with Kanchi. However, in the hematology ward, the windows don’t open. There’s no access to fresh air. I constantly wondered if there was some way to alleviate that suffocating feeling for him.

 

On April 26, 2023, Kanchi passed away.

 

While preparing for the funeral, as I worked on the wording for the farewell messages and the final eulogy, I recalled Kanchi’s wish: “I want to donate a soundproof room to the hospital.” I decided to carry forward that wish. During the funeral, I made this commitment to everyone present. At that moment, I felt as though it wasn’t entirely me speaking but rather Kanchi guiding me, allowing me to calmly express his dream.

 

 

M for M bridges the worlds of music and medicine. The two M's stand for music and medicine. It can be interpreted as "Music for Medicine" or "Medicine for Music." The initiative aims to enhance medical environments through the power of music by promoting the installation of soundproof rooms for emotional rehabilitation. These rooms are intended for long-term hospitalized patients and the healthcare workers who treat them.

 

At the "Memorial Spera: 1st Charity Concert," held on April 30, 2024, at Suntory Hall's Blue Rose, Kanchi's classmates, their parents, teachers, and professionals from the music industry volunteered tirelessly, supporting the event both behind the scenes and on stage from morning to night. As the performance began, the sense of unity in the venue was palpable. The sound filled the space like countless shimmering particles cascading endlessly, enveloping everyone present.

 

The initiative to donate soundproof rooms to hospitals has gained traction, spreading through word of mouth among supporters, concert attendees, and healthcare professionals. Contributions have come from a diverse range of people, from middle school students to seniors. Since its founding, M for M has garnered the support and donations of over 100 individuals.

 

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this cause.

 

 

 

As the first initiative of M for M, we aim to install a soundproof room at Chiba University Hospital, where Kanchi Yamamoto spent a year under their care. Our goal is to complete the installation by the end of 2025.

 

The estimated cost of installing the soundproof room is ¥15,299,670 (as of the August 19, 2024 estimate).

 

Since beginning this initiative in April 2024, we have received donations totaling over ¥2,000,000. However, this accounts for less than 20% of the required installation cost. Therefore, we have decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign.

 

All contributions will be used to cover the expenses of donating and installing the soundproof room at Chiba University Hospital.

 

For any shortfall between our first crowdfunding target and the full installation cost, we are prepared to secure the necessary funds through bank loans. Once the initial target is reached, we pledge to proceed with donating the soundproof room to Chiba University Hospital.

 

Crowdfunding Campaign Details

Launch Date: November 17, 2024
End Date: December 30, 2024
Project Type: All or Nothing
(If the initial goal amount is not reached, all contributions will be refunded to the supporters.)
Initial Goal Amount: ¥3,500,000
Use of Funds: Partial funding for the installation of the soundproof room at Chiba University Hospital.
Although the total cost exceeds ¥15,000,000, the remainder will be covered through bank loans and other means, ensuring the soundproof room is installed by 2025 as planned.

 

 

Even after the installation of the soundproof room at Chiba University Hospital is realized, M for M will continue its activities.

 

Our mission will be complete only when hospitals around the country and across the world, where patients face long-term hospitalization, are equipped with soundproof rooms designed for emotional rehabilitation as a standard feature.

 

By installing soundproof rooms within hospitals, patients can regain their voices and fully experience sound throughout their bodies.

 

We have also heard that the physical and emotional stress on medical professionals working long hours in hospitals is immense. Providing a space where healthcare workers can relieve stress would not only contribute to their well-being but also positively impact the care they provide to patients.

 

Moreover, enhancing medical environments through the efforts of those who love music is an inspiring initiative for the music world as well. Increasing the number of people who believe in the power of music could potentially expand the opportunities available to musicians.

 

As the first step toward this vision, we aim to bring the soundproof room installation at Chiba University Hospital to fruition.

 

We invite you to reflect on the life of Kanchi Yamamoto and kindly support our crowdfunding campaign to help make his dream a reality.

 

 

 

 

Director, Pediatric Cancer Center
National Center for Child Health and Development (NCCHD)
Dr. Koichi Matsumot

 

I work at a hospital specializing in pediatric cancer.

 

I recall a young cancer patient who dreamed of becoming a pianist. She would lay a keyboard mat on her bed and diligently practice, pressing the silent keys. While she truly needed a space where she could play loudly and freely, such an environment wasn’t available.

 

Having a space like a soundproof room, where patients can make as much noise as they want without worrying about disturbing others, is essential for the therapeutic environment of patients requiring long-term hospitalization.

 

Creating a space where patients can express themselves freely—whether through music, listening to music at high volume, shouting, or simply using it as a way to relieve everyday stress—can be transformative.

 

I believe this is a wonderful initiative. I hope many people will come to know about it and lend their support. Thank you very much.

 

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Aichi Medical University
Director of Department of Hematology, Transfusion Medicine, and Cellular Therapy, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Center
Aichi Medical University School of Medicine
Dr. Akiyoshi Takami

 

This project is a vital initiative aimed at providing peace of mind and healing to patients requiring long-term hospitalization. By installing soundproof rooms, we can create an environment where patients can recover with a sense of security, contributing to their physical and emotional well-being.

 

Your cooperation will serve as a significant step toward making this vision a reality. We kindly ask for your warm support.

 

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Director, Advanced Treatment Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Kitasato University Kitasato Institute Hospital
Dr. Taku Kobayashi

 

Hospitalized patients face their illnesses while grappling with a variety of challenges.

 

In addition to anxiety about their illness and treatment, they often endure physically and emotionally taxing tests. They may suffer from not being able to eat what they want or meet the people they wish to see. Some feel the frustration of being unable to do what they love, along with the stress and urgency of trying to bridge the gap in their normal daily lives.

 

Installing a soundproof room in a hospital is not just for those who play musical instruments. It could also provide a space for patients to sing loudly, have uninhibited video calls with family, friends, or loved ones, and find solace in expressing themselves. For many patients, it could become a source of comfort and relief.

 

I hope that even while hospitalized, patients can have moments to rediscover their true selves, regaining the energy and strength needed to overcome their illnesses. It is with this hope that I wholeheartedly support this initiative.

 

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Vice Director, Fujita Health University Hospital
Chair and Professor, Department of Emergency and General Internal Medicine
Dr. Mitsunaga Iwata

 

In a hospital setting, many patients likely undergo treatment while constantly being mindful of others and holding themselves back. In such an "extraordinary" environment, it is crucial to have a space where they can freely express themselves without worrying about their surroundings.

 

A soundproof room would provide such a space, allowing patients to read aloud, laugh while talking with loved ones via the web or phone, sing, or play instruments—all without concern for others. It would enable them to express their emotions openly, face themselves, find emotional balance, and focus on their treatment.

 

I firmly believe that installing soundproof rooms has significant value in creating such an environment. As someone involved in healthcare and as someone who has been encouraged by the power of music, I wholeheartedly support this project.

 

 

 

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To support our crowdfunding campaign from overseas, please select from the following options.
We will send a thank-you email to you and, upon request, include your name on our official website.

When providing your support, please indicate the name you would like to have displayed on our official website. Nicknames are also acceptable. If you prefer not to have your name displayed, please write 'No name display'.

Support Course 1: ￥5,000 (About US$32)
Support Course 2: ￥10,000 (About US$64)
Support Course 3: ￥30,000 (About US$192)

Support Course 4: ￥50,000 (About US$320)
Support Course 5: ￥100,000 (About US$640)
Support Course 6: ￥300,000 (About US$1,920)
Support Course 7: ￥500,000 (About US$3,200)

 

Thank you very much.

 

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