--- canonical_url: "https://japoneson.com/en/swing/dream/" title: "I Have a Dream… Seina — Japonéson" description: "A gift of songs to 3,500 nursing homes across the United States, begun in 1992 with an album called G.I. Jo and a recording by Jo Stafford." lang: "en" --- THE SONGS FOR NURSING HOMES IN THE U.S. # I Have a Dream… Seina 3500 nursing homes in the United States — a gift of songs, Christmas 1999. ![The dream of singing World War II songs became a CD with the support of many people, and during Christmas season 1999 it reached 3,500 nursing homes in the U.S.](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/anime-en-1.gif) * * * ## The letter ![The letter Seina enclosed with the album, sent to nursing homes in December 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/letter-to-nursing-homes-1999.jpg) Click to enlarge * * * December, 1999 Dear Nursing Home in the U.S.: This is my dream… I send this dream to 3500 nursing homes in the U.S. In 1992, I came across an album called G.I. Jo. There was a recording on the album by JO STAFFORD, who was one of the most popular singers during WWII. On that album, she sang about the war and life during that time. My heart was taken by those songs. Since then, I set my focus on music from the WWII era, and listened to many of those songs. For a person born long after the war, it was difficult to understand the feeling of that era. The music that era was very beautiful, romantic, and sentimental. And the music reflected the wartime sentiment, when lovers had to part and prayed to reunite. I could feel that they had no other choice except praying. Through these songs, I was able to understand the heartaches and the emotions that people experienced. There are songs that are still loved and cherished today. However, there are some songs that have been forgotten by people. Further, there are songs that endure today, but are not appreciated for their true meaning and the era they come from. The reason why those songs endure today is probably because of the many prayers put into these songs. As a singer who truly loves the music from this era, I'd been wanting to record these songs with my prayers, and be helped by musicians who lived in this era. And I decided to send them to nursing homes in the U.S, as a gift of Christmas, in 1999. I want to tell you that their songs are still breathing and alive. I know that Japan and the U.S were fighting during WWII. But now, I want you to know the songs are still loved by many people in Japan. For those who still feel pain, remembering that time, I offer this album, with warmth, love… and my prayers. And… here is my Christmas gift for people at nursing homes. Very truly yours, Shoko “Seina” Shiraishi P.S. Please visit my Site, there is more information and messages from me… [↑ Contents](#contents) * * * ## CD Album ### I Have a Dream...Seina The Songs for Nursing Homes in the U.S [Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries) ![I Have a Dream… Seina — CD jacket](https://japoneson.com/images/wp/2026/05/CDjacket-1024x1024.jpg) ### Track List 1. I'll Walk Alone5:10 2. I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen3:43 3. We'll Be Together Again3:34 4. P.S. I Love You5:00 5. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square5:50 6. Sentimental Journey3:10 7. It's Been a Long, Long Time4:34 8. We Mustn't Say Goodbye4:16 9. I'll Be Seeing You4:37 10. White Christmas2:31 ### Musicians Leonard Gaskin (bass), Artie Baker (Clarinet & Tenor Sax), Toya (piano), Grady Tate (drums), Ron Roulier (piano), Howard Kimbo (Tenor Sax) Seina (Vocals) [↑ Contents](#contents) * * * ## The CDs Arrive ![Boxes of finished CDs stacked high in a room in 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/cds-arrive-boxes.jpg) The CDs arrived for the mailing to about 3,500 nursing homes. The room briefly became a warehouse. [↑ Contents](#contents) * * * ## Packing and Shipping ![CD packages boxed and ready for shipping](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/cd-packages.jpg) The finished CDs were packaged and prepared for shipping. Everything was assembled and packed by hand. ![Large post office mail sacks piled in a room, prepared for bulk mail](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/bulk-mail-sacks.jpg) Bulk Mail prepared for about 3,500 shipments. These sacks were carried to the post office many times, by taxi and in friends' cars. [↑ Contents](#contents) * * * ## In the Press Between July 1999 and February 2000, the project was covered by national and regional newspapers across Japan and by the Japanese-language press in New York. It was an unusual amount of attention for something started by one private individual. The plan began at 4,300 nursing homes and was scaled to 3,500 for cost — and 3,500 was already an enormous undertaking. [Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY-yB9-tC8U) ![Mainichi Shimbun · Jul 9, 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/1999-07-09-mainichi.jpg) Mainichi Shimbun · Jul 9, 1999 ![Asahi Shimbun · Jul 28, 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/1999-07-28-asahi.jpg) Asahi Shimbun · Jul 28, 1999 ![Nikkei · Jul 31, 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/1999-07-31-nikkei.jpg) Nikkei · Jul 31, 1999 ![Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun · Jul 31, 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/1999-07-31-kumamoto-nichinichi.jpg) Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun · Jul 31, 1999 ![Nishinippon Shimbun · Aug 3, 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/1999-08-03-nishinihon.jpg) Nishinippon Shimbun · Aug 3, 1999 ![Nishinippon Shimbun · 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/1999-nishinihon.jpg) Nishinippon Shimbun · 1999 ![The Mainichi Daily News · Sep 28, 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/1999-09-28-mainichi-daily-news.jpg) The Mainichi Daily News · Sep 28, 1999 ![Asahi Shimbun · Dec 19, 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/1999-12-19-asahi.jpg) Asahi Shimbun · Dec 19, 1999 ![Yomiuri America · Nov 19, 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/1999-11-19-yomiuri-america.jpg) Yomiuri America · Nov 19, 1999 ![Shukan Yomiuri · 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/1999-shukan-yomiuri.jpg) Shukan Yomiuri · 1999 ![Toyama Shimbun · 1999](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/1999-toyama.jpg) Toyama Shimbun · 1999 ![Josei Seven · Feb 24, 2000 (1/4)](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/2000-02-24-josei-seven-1.jpg) Josei Seven · Feb 24, 2000 (1/4) ![Josei Seven · Feb 24, 2000 (2/4)](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/2000-02-24-josei-seven-2.jpg) Josei Seven · Feb 24, 2000 (2/4) ![Josei Seven · Feb 24, 2000 (3/4)](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/2000-02-24-josei-seven-3.jpg) Josei Seven · Feb 24, 2000 (3/4) ![Josei Seven · Feb 24, 2000 (4/4)](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/2000-02-24-josei-seven-4.jpg) Josei Seven · Feb 24, 2000 (4/4) ![Yomiuri America · 2000](https://media.cabin1701.com/japoneson/swing/dream/press/2000-yomiuri-america.jpg) Yomiuri America · 2000 [↑ Contents](#contents) Jii - oldman