John Lennon and Yoko Ono record a message for Japanese radio

On the second morning of their Canadian peace campaign, John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded a message to be broadcast on Japanese radio.

The recording took place at the home of musician Ronnie Hawkins, on Mississauga Road, Ontario, where Lennon and Ono were staying during their trip.

It begins with a few words in Japanese, before a version of ‘Give Peace A Chance’. Lasting about a minute, it ends with Lennon repeatedly bantering “moshi moshi” in mock Japanese.

Much of the remainder of the 10-minute recording is of Ono speaking in Japanese, with Lennon in the background playing an acoustic guitar. Versions of ‘Sun King’, ‘Dear Prudence’ and Make Love Not War, which later became ‘Mind Games’, can be heard amid the aimless strumming. At one point he also answers a telephone call.

Ono speaks of her plans for the peace movement and accompanying music festival. She mentions her recent holidays with Lennon in India and Italy, and says she would like to return to Japan in 1970.