Nobuyuki Tsujii interviewed by ANA Magazine Vol 35 2018

The All Nippon Airways (ANA) is a major sponsor of Nobuyuki Tsujii, and is listed as such on the concert programs of the pianist.  Each year, Nobu performs a "secret concert" for ANA card members, including one held on Dec 7 of this year (2018).

Following is an interview that appears in Vol 35 of  ANA's magazine in December 2018.
The original article, in Japanese and with excellent photos, can be read at https://www.ana.co.jp/ja/jp/promotion/ready-for-take-off/tsujii-nobuyuki/

Below is an English translation. I made the translation before noticing that there is a version of the interview in English!  Here => https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/promotion/ready-for-take-off/tsujii-nobuyuki/
But, with due modesty - my translation is truer to the Japanese version.

He kept running for 10 Happy Years

"I have become an uncle (haha)" 

[In Japan, a middle-aged person is politely referred to as "uncle" or "aunt".]

He turned 30 years old in September of this year, and in October we spoke to pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii about his impression as he entered the eleventh year since his  CD debut.

Last year, in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of his CD debut, Mr. Tsujii announced a 2-disc album "début 10 years," containing classical works such as Chopin and Liszt, as well as his original works of recent years. This album can be enjoyed well enough on its own merits, but when you listen to it, you realize how fruitful the past ten years have been for him, and how his career holds further promises. Based on that, the comment at the beginning of this piece was a straightforward impression of Mr. Tsujii, and at the same time it may have been a reflection of the self-confidence of a steadily growing career.

There is an event that marked the starting position of Mr. Tsujii as a professional musician. In 2009, at the age of 20, he triumphed at the 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (USA). At that time his success was big news, as it was a first Japanese achievement.

"Thanks to that championship, the opportunities for playing domestically and also in the West have greatly expanded. It gave me a chance to realize the dream that I had from an early age to become a pianist who is active in the world ","

It is said  that in the realm of music talents, keeping up momentum for ten years is truly difficult.  However, his schedule continues to be busy, and tickets to his concerts continues to sell out instantly.  Mr. Tsujii is now one of the musicians in classical music whose tickets are the hardest to get.
We tried asking him the reason of why he is continuously active on the front line, to which he replied:
"I think that I have come so far thanks to the people who support the concerts and to everyone who have given me their support.  Often people say that your 'sound is delicate and beautiful', and that may be the a feature of my performances, but, to be honest, I do not understand it myself and I have no explanation," he says humbly.

To keep being loved as a professional musician, however, high professionalism is hidden behind it.

"The feeling that piano playing is fun has not changed in the last 10 years. However, being a musician with many engagements and activities, I now feel a strong sense of responsibility as a professional."   As for the fulfillment of his professional responsibility,  Mr. Tsujii mentioned two keywords. One is "growth" and the other is "physical condition management".

Regarding the first, growth: "I think that we must continue to grow as a musician and as a person," he emphasized. And that is largely due to the experience of co-performing with leading musicians.  Mr. Tsujii said that there are many master pianists, past and present, and lots of  pianists who have influenced him, including Mr. [Vladimir] Horowitz and Ms. [Martha]Argerich, as well as many others. However,  there is one great musician that "I dare to name as one from whom I have received advice and counseling directly." It is Mr. Vladimir Ashkenazy, a pianist and conductor.

Mr. Ashkenazy and Mr. Tsujii have co-starred many times so far. They have just completed a nationwide tour with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra in November.  During a tour, they sometimes spend time in activities such as taking a meal, and he said this is why they get to know each other.

"He is a really wonderful person who is friendly, pleasant and fun to anyone.Well, of course he is a tough musician, but I think that contrast is also nice. I often listened to Mr. Ashkenazy's CDs from an early age.   However, I am very much happy to be able to join him in music, learning so much from him in music. "

Regarding the second keyword "physical condition management," the principle is based on "sleep well and eat well."  Sometimes he uses a pool or a sports gym at a hotel where he stays while on tour. Still, there are times when things slip and it is difficult to try to maintain the health of the mind, and "I have to declare to myself that 'I cannot let that happen.'"

"I'm doing something I like (called piano performance) in the first place, and I am good at changing my mood by enjoying conversations while taking meals and dining with friends and music companions of my age. I stay refreshed by walking in the city,  keeping myself ahead with curiosity, self-analysis and new challenges."

A recent favorite activity is pottery. "I found a pottery workshop where I can experience pottery at Okinawa and Yatsugatake while I was on tour.  In order to form clay while turning the wheel, it is necessary to concentrate the nerves on my fingertips, I think that delicate feeling is somewhat similar to playing the piano. "

He talked happily about how he made tea bowls, tea cups, etc. and gifted them to his family. It is his mother Itsuko who built a foundation of cheerful behavior and forward thinking that paved the way for Mr. Tsujii to accept challenges. Mr. Tsujii: "Although I became independent from my parents after I passed the age of 20," I have never forgotten my gratitude to my mother.

"It seems that my mother did not naturally know how to nurture a visually impaired child, but she took me here and there, such as to view a painting in a museum, or to see a firework display. And she would explain the appearance of fireworks in words. I was able to enjoy a lot of things with my mother, regardless of my disability.  It is thanks to my mother's support that I am now able to work with my staff and people who are not disabled, enjoying many things all over the world."

For the players struggling on the big stage: what you can do as a musician

In September, when he celebrated his 30th birthday, Mr. Tsujii also got a new experience. In New York, U.S , where he was visiting on a concert tour, he was taken to watch a game of the prestigious Major League team, the New York Yankees. He likes watching sports, he says, and he often checks topics and competitions on television, but this is the first time for live watching. "That's why I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the live stadium. "

"Home-run hit balls sounded much better than listened through television, and the cheers that struck the stadium were amazing, too. It's too bad that Mr. Masahiro Tanaka was not the pitcher on that day." Now that he has tasted the real pleasure of watching the game live, Mr. Tsujii is looking forward to visiting the ball parks in Tokyo.

"I heard from my father the story of the Olympics in 1964. At that time, my father was young, but he said it was awesome and he still remembers  it well.  It had a big impact, and, as a Japanese, I am happy that 56 years later the competitions will be held in Tokyo again.  I am paying attention to athletes both disabled and otherwise.  Along with all sports fans, I am supportive of regular athletes  as well as para athletes, from the bottom of my heart. "

"I am also thinking about the events of the Olympics"

"In music there are neither disabilities nor borders, so I hope that  there will be something that regular athletes and para athletes can perform together at the Tokyo Olympics. I really hope that it will be realized.  Of course, unlike music, in sports there may be difficulties on the field, but I hope there is a chance for them to send each other ale [that is, to mutually support each other] "

As a musician, he also says that he would be happy if musicians will be given the opportunity to cheer for the players [at the ceremonies]. Because, well, we can be sure that with Mr. Tsujii, there is surely a form of ale [encouragement] that he can express [with his music].  Mr. Tsujii should be heard on a big stage that draws the attention of the world, where he will be listened to, and not just by his fans.

Coverage / text / TEAM A

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