13-Year-Old Who Moves the World] A young boy, Rhea, won a historic victory at a gospel competition in the U.S. by shutting down Central Park West in New York City, A historic victory in the U.S. Gospel Convention: The miracle of a young boy named Rea and his new challenge.

First, in May 2025, the "TiA and Sakura Japanese Choir," to which a Japanese boy, Rea, 13, belongs, won the first prize at the "McDonald's Gospel Fest 2025," a national gospel competition held in New York City, the United States.

The unprecedented accomplishment of a Japanese team winning in the home of gospel music, which can be said to be the foundation of black culture, was met with a standing ovation and emotional applause at the venue.

Their performance was called "a gift from God," and they created a new legend in the gospel music world, being featured not only in the U.S. but also in the Japanese media and broadcast extensively on TV.

The triumphant return concert in Japan is scheduled to be held at TOKYO FM Hall on October 10, 2025.

The concert will be held on October 10, 2025 at TOKYO FM Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

A few hours before the historic victory, Central Park West, the symbol of Manhattan, was blocked off and a special performance by Japanese was being held under the name of the Japan Parade. At the center of the parade, shining brightly was Rhea, founder and leader of AST KIDs, a group of talented children from around the world.

Joining Rhea as a member of Music for SDGs was a group of world-renowned artists and philanthropists. The smiling faces of Rhea-kun, who danced on the red carpet, set off a chain of smiles from the audience, who gave him cheers one after another.

He has already attracted worldwide attention, and at the age of 10 he was featured in the official magazine of the 2023 G7 (Group of Seven) Summit of the Developed Countries as "the boy who brought love and support to Ukraine through art.

Rea and Mr. Mack hijacking New York (and others, members of Music for SDGs)

The "small steps" that have saved more than 1,000 lives and provided medical aid worth more than 800 million yen...

Rea's activities began with an art project aimed at providing medical aid to war-torn areas.

When he was 10 years old, he was so moved by the loss of lives during the war in Ukraine that he decided to do something he could do as a child. She began drawing pictures on postcards and asking NPO supporters to donate 500 yen per postcard.

Through the sale of the painted postcards, they appeal for medical support and deliver the collected funds and medical supplies to Ukraine and refugee camps.

The simple and small initiative quickly spread around the world, and the cumulative amount of support reached 800 million Japanese yen by January 2025.

Mainly, the 100% naturally derived supplies, which were also studied by the University of Tokyo, were researched, improved, developed, and utilized for local infectious disease control, and a report from a cooperating NGO noted the results of more than 1,000 lives saved. The NGO that cooperated with the project reported that more than 1,000 lives were saved. The product, which has no side effects and is easy to handle, was appreciated by people who were concerned about conventional medicines, and it also brought a ray of hope to people with unexplained and intractable diseases.

He was only 10 years old at the time. The result was a one-man operation that made a significant contribution to the prevention of infectious diseases and medical assistance.

The back of a boy who never gave in to criticism and kept going...]

Rea's path has not been smooth sailing.

In his first medical aid project, supplies were stolen en route, and medical supplies that were thought to have been delivered were sent back.

There have been times when we have received slander and threats from mindless adults who say that we are using children as a tool to raise money for our activities, which are led by a 10-year-old child. It was too heavy an ordeal for a boy still in the process of growing up.

Still, he did not stop. He never gave up. "I don't want to regret giving up what I can do." He has always taken the next step with a smile on his face.

The adults who support him have been encouraged many times by his little back, which stares straight ahead, never saying a word of weakness.

Finally, with the support of the UN aid organization, the medical supplies arrived at the site.

His wish to contribute to the fight against infectious diseases, one of the challenges in the refugee camps, and to save many lives was realized.

In fact, the byproduct of the activities he started with postcards is not only the development of revolutionary medical products that help patients suffering from infectious diseases of unknown causes. A major European energy-related company supported a power generation system for a hospital community where the power plant had ceased to function, and this is about to lead to more than 140 billion yen in transition finance support.

The pure and beautiful words of Mr. Rea touched the hearts of many people, and his circle of supporters spread to royalty and business circles around the world.

The voices that reached UN Headquarters and to the children of the future...

Rea's efforts reached the United Nations Headquarters, and last year his activities were introduced to 193 countries around the world via UN Web TV.

Many artists have received courage and hope from his attitude that "songs and art can save lives.

Mr. Mack (real name: Ryo Okubo), director of Music for SDGs, is one of Rea's supporters.

Mr. Mack is also the chairperson of the APFF (Asia Pacific Finance Forum), a public-private collaborative platform in APEC, in the areas of insurance, pensions, sustainable investment, and digital innovation.

He has advocated the use of music to promote the SDGs at the UN, World Bank, OECD, and APEC.

The cumulative annual investment of APFF member organizations led by Mr. Mack exceeds 100 trillion yen, putting him at the forefront of transition finance worldwide.

Mr. Mack's support has taken Rea's activities to a new level.

The two shared a dream that transcended generations and common sense, and their challenge led to the creation of the "United Nations Children's Summit" and the success of the "Children's Summit" at Expo 2005 Osaka/Kansai.

The diplomats were moved to tears by the speech, "Changing the world from the closet.

Rea also represented Japan at the "Africa Children's Summit EXPO'2025 With UN KIDs" held at the Osaka Expo on May 25.

He began his speech in French, the official language of the African countries represented at the event, by saying, "You can change the world, even from inside your closet. and with a specific episode of Mr. Ado, a popular Japanese singer, he delivered a message that provided a clue to the problem of shut-ins in Japan.

He concluded his speech, which instantly changed the mood of the audience, with the following words: "We are all human beings, beyond language and differences.

In human beings, there is a power of thinking and a caring heart that transcends language and differences.

　Let's use that power to create a joyful world together.

Rea's powerful words were met with a standing ovation from the audience, which included officials from African embassies and foreign ministries, as well as a full house, which had to be restricted because the hall could not accommodate all of the guests.

This summit was organized by AFRICA 4.0 FOUNDATION (Executive Director: Yuki Ueda) with the support and cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and other UN agencies and embassies of various countries, and was realized with a script by Yuichi Shinomiya, a director, and was co-founded by Mr. Rea and Mr. Mack. This summit, led by Mr. Yuki Ueda, Director General of the UN KIDs Summit, and written by Mr. Yuichi Shinomiya, Director of the UN KIDs Summit, was a memorable first step in the history of the UN KIDs Summit, which Rea and Mack co-founded.

To a new challenge...

Rea, a 13-year-old boy, won the first place in the U.S. gospel contest as a member of TiA and Sakura Japanese Choir. While the afterglow of that moment of joy has not yet faded, he is already moving on to his next challenge.

Together with Mr. Mack (Director of Music for SDGs), Rea is now taking on the challenge of creating a grand project that will connect the voices of children around the world: the United Nations Children's Choir.

The future of edutainment, as discussed at UN headquarters...

In May 2025, Mr. Rea and Mr. Mack attended a conference at UN Headquarters in New York. At this conference, they made a presentation to UN officials from various countries and international organizations on the importance of "edutainment," a new form of learning that combines "entertainment" and "education.

This initiative was more than just a presentation. It was a proposal for the future that would expand the stage for children around the world to express themselves through a combination of "learning" and "fun" and to engage in proactive activities.

The vision was to establish a "United Nations Children's Chorus" to serve as the opening act for the UN Children's Summit as the "opening sound" for the event.

Declaration of determination at the UN Headquarters in New York

The miracle of gospel music brought me to this realization.

The starting point for this idea was, of course, his experience at a gospel convention in the United States.

For Rea, singing with the TiA and Sakura Japanese Choir was more than just a stage performance. It was a moment of unification of heart and voice that he will never forget.

Thanks to TiA for leading the team and to the wonderful team for setting an example for me, I love singing even more, even more," he said with an innocent smile.

His innocent smile still has the innocence of a first-year junior high school student, but his heart is definitely in the right place in the world. But his dream of connecting with children around the world is still alive in his heart.

To all of you around the world.

The United Nations Children's Chorus is now accepting applications for its first term of members!

"Even if we speak different languages, our voices can unite as one. "Singing in harmony with you will change the future.

The United Nations Children's Choir has started recruiting members for its first term, with the aim of bringing the preciousness of life and the chain of happiness to the world through "singing voices.

Activities

Opening performance at official UN events

International workshops combining SDGs, music, and art

Interaction with children around the world online and in real life.

Experience that your voice can become "someone's hope

Rhea won an unprecedented victory in the big city of New York.

Why don't you take the baton of hope that his singing voice has connected with your voice?

It may be your voice that saves the future."

Music is not only for special people. Anyone can be a part of changing the world, regardless of age, language, or country, as long as they have the desire to deliver their thoughts and feelings.

Your voice may connect someone's life.

The United Nations Children's Choir is now open for business.

For more information, please visit the following URL

https://ast-kids.com/un-kids-choir/