Happy 28th Birthday, Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii!

"Japanese birthdays are not as big a celebration as they are in the West. In fact, there was no custom of celebrating birthdays in Japan until around 1950! Before this, there was only one day on which to celebrate birthdays (everyone's birthday) and that day was New Year's Day. This was because ancient people thought everyone got older on New Year's Day, not the day they were born. Since then, however, Japan has been influenced by Western culture, so they started celebrating people's birthdays on the date of their actual birth."  - Birthdays In Japan

Nobuyuki Tsujii was born on September 13, 1988.  Although I never read about any big celebration for Nobu's birthday, I have noticed that there always seems to be a gap in his performance schedule around that day.  I can imagine his devoted mother, Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii, fussing over him on the occasion, and perhaps his hard-working father, Mr. Takashi Tsujii (OB-GYN), would spend some time with his son to share some good eats at one of their favorite Tokyo eateries.  And there might be treats from Nobu's doting grandparents, relatives and friends ...


It was six years ago -- on his 22 birthday -- that I created my web site for Nobu's International Fans, soon after I was seriously smitten.  How time does fly!   

Once again, what a year this has been for Tsujii-san! I am always amazed when I look back at the long list of his past concerts. Tour after successful tour in Japan, starting with -- only days after his 27th birthday -- the"Mozart of Sorrow"Tour with the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa and Conductor Michiyoshi Inoue; a tour with Valery Gergeiv & Munich Phil in Novemeber, the "Ultimate Concertos" Japan tour with violinist Miura Fumiaki and Yomuira Nippon Orchestra in February;  part 2 of his own All-Chopin Recital Japan Tour in March; the Orpheus -- 2016 Japan tour in June and, most recently, "The Pianist 2016" Tour. I am always moved by the devotion and loyalty of Nobu's fans in Japan, and as always, it is my fervent hope that Nobu's popularity in his own country will never wane. 

Photo above: Nobuyuki Tsujii & Vladimir Ashkenazy plays Rach 2 in Miyazaki on May 7 2016 Source: blog of Violinist 上村文乃 Fumino Uemura 

Overseas, Nobu traveled to my country (U.S.A.) in October and again this past June; to Stuttgart/Munich/Basel in November; to Germany on a 4-city tour with the Dresden Philharmonic in March; and U.K. and Russia this past April.  Every appearance was a rousing success -- I speak as an eyewitness at three of the performances, in San Francisco, Munich and London respectively.   I am grateful to Tsujii-san for giving me the incentives to travel; these performances were highlights of my trips!

Photo above: Nobu was an honored guest at a post-concert banquet in San Francisco hosted by the Japan Society of  San Francisco, September 2016.

Photo above: September 2016 in Boston, Nobu performed at a charity concert which benefiting the Booston Higashi School.

And it gladdens me that Nobu's exposure in Europe seems to be expanding, which I hope will even get better now that he is under the management of  the well-regarded firm Harrisonparrott.

Coming as it does in mid-September,  Nobu's birthday coincides with the beginning of a new season in classical music.  This coming year (Nobu's 28th), I look forward to seeing him at the Sydney Opera House this October, and again in Berlin next May. And, I  am excited about his forage into baroque music, performing Bach for the first time in February.   

At 28, Nobu has yet to, physically, reach a male's peak. The last time when I saw him in person -- at the Wigmore Hall debut recital in London, April 16 2016 -- Nobu still looked much like a high-school student, as vibrant as ever --  and healthy as a horse! 

PHOTO ABOVE: Nobu with me (eyes inadvertently closed) after his Wigmore Hall recital in April

Nobu's birthday was on the mind of his devoted mother Itsuko in this recent blog post of hers
http://ameblo.jp/tsujii-itsuko/entry-12192658828.html

PHOTO above: The Yatsugatake Plateau Concert Hall

I like the idea of Nobu being born in the same year as a concert hall nestled in the mountains of Nagano.  Rugged, sturdy,  embraced by nature --  the Yatsugatke concert hall makes a good metaphor for  my beloved Nobu.  May Father Time treat them both with kindness, and may there be many, many more years of joy and successes ahead of them both!

Happy 28, Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii!

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