Figure 1.--Here is the Choir founder Shinichi Hasegawa with some of the choristers in their studio at Shin-Okubo during 1958.

The Little Singers of Tokyo (LSOT) has the same initials as the The Little Singers of TAKARAZUKA. I don't know if there is any relationship between the two. The Tokyo LSOT was at first an all boy choir. The LSOT was founded by Shinichi Hasegawa in 1951. It was initialled called the Boys choir of Tokyo. Hasegawa wanted to focus on Renaissance choral music written for children's voices and to introduce European choral music to Japan. Father Paul Annuih, a Catholic priest, was teaching Renaissance church music and Gregorian chant in Tokyo. He assisted Hasegawa as advisor and choir conductor. The Choir at first practiced at a elementary school. A private studio for choir was completed at Shin-Okubo in 1954. This same studio is still used today. The Choir in 1955 joined the Pueri Cantores, a European Cathloic choirassociation as a Japanese branch. It used some of the techniques developed by the Pueri Cantores choirs in France and other countries. Hasegawa in 1960 founded the Girls Choir of Tokyo. The Boys choir of Tokyo and the Girls Choir of Tokyo in 1964 united as "The Little Singers of Tokyo" before the first trip to North America. The LSOT performed at Carnegie Hall and appeared on the popular Ed Sullivan television show. That was the Choirs first overseas tour, but as of 2000 there were 26 overseas tours. The LSOT has performed in 19 countries and territories (America, Canada, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Finland, Belgium, Spain, Monaco, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong-Kong, Korea, and the Trust Territory of Okinawa. In 1971, Saeko Hasegawa became the Chief LSOT Conductor and conducted European concert tours. The Choir has performed in European Gothic churches whichbhas given them the opportunity to experience the same resonance and sound for which the Renaissance music was written.