This month (May 2020), the 2014 film "Touching the Sound -- the improbable journey of Nobuyuki Tsujii", by master documentary maker Peter Rosen, is premiering on our public television stations in USA.
The film is a moving portrayal of Nobuyuki Tsujii, aptly described by Mr. Masahiro Kawakai (Nobu's long-time piano teacher) in his May 2 2020 blog post as "it depicts the footsteps of Mr. Tsujii up until around 2013."
As a fan of Nobuyuki Tsujii, I am grateful that Mr. Kawakami and Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii (Nobu's mother) -- two of the key figures in Nobu's early life -- are highlighted in the film. Their wisdom and loving care enabled the extraordinary talent of Nobu to blossom -- and we are forever indebted to them for the gift of Nobuyuki Tsujii.
But no one who watches this film will forget the screen presence of another key figure: Mr. Nick Asano, Nobu's business manager, who provides the narratives in the film.
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From after Nobu's 2009 Cliburn victory to late 2018, it was Mr. Asano who escorted Nobu on tour, traveling to many corners of the world. Mr. Asano says he spends so much time with Nobu that he knows Nobu more than his own children. In one playful scene of the film, of the two (dressed in their newly purchased tee shirts) riding in a car, Nobu aptly calls Mr. Asano his "second father" and "a good father"
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Linda Kipps, U.S. blind pianist and big Nobu fan, was deeply moved after watching the film. She wrote:
I relayed her compliments to Mr. Asano, and it was typical of him to send me a gracious reply:
The film is a moving portrayal of Nobuyuki Tsujii, aptly described by Mr. Masahiro Kawakai (Nobu's long-time piano teacher) in his May 2 2020 blog post as "it depicts the footsteps of Mr. Tsujii up until around 2013."
As a fan of Nobuyuki Tsujii, I am grateful that Mr. Kawakami and Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii (Nobu's mother) -- two of the key figures in Nobu's early life -- are highlighted in the film. Their wisdom and loving care enabled the extraordinary talent of Nobu to blossom -- and we are forever indebted to them for the gift of Nobuyuki Tsujii.
But no one who watches this film will forget the screen presence of another key figure: Mr. Nick Asano, Nobu's business manager, who provides the narratives in the film.
From after Nobu's 2009 Cliburn victory to late 2018, it was Mr. Asano who escorted Nobu on tour, traveling to many corners of the world. Mr. Asano says he spends so much time with Nobu that he knows Nobu more than his own children. In one playful scene of the film, of the two (dressed in their newly purchased tee shirts) riding in a car, Nobu aptly calls Mr. Asano his "second father" and "a good father"
Linda Kipps, U.S. blind pianist and big Nobu fan, was deeply moved after watching the film. She wrote:
"I thought Nick Asano was fabulous and he did a magnificent job! I am sorry that I have never had the opportunity to come to know Nick Asano. His accounts of everything in this film is incredible, and I feel like I really know him so much better now. His description of what it was like during and after the earthquake is unbelievable, and I can’t imagine what it must have been like to experience that. I hope sometime you will tell him what a great job he did in this film."
I relayed her compliments to Mr. Asano, and it was typical of him to send me a gracious reply:
[The film reminds me] of Nobu's North American supporters in early 2010's, who engaged him before his career took off like today.
As you saw, the logistic aspect of those travels was not always easy, sometimes challenging, but people at every stop were very kind and warm to us.
Nobu always did his best on stage and enjoyed meeting local people.
I hope they are safe...
Please remember my warmest regards to Linda, for her kind words and for following Nobu with such sympathy and insights.
Actually, I'm not a special guy but just one of ordinary people.
The Nick Asano in the film was very well presented by Peter Rosen, he did such a great job!
As I wrote before, once you became Nobu's buddy, you would automatically get tuned to what he and you need to do because your mission is obvious.
You might get nervous at the beginning, but you would soon get used to it and start enjoying.
It was basically the same even on the day of the earthquake in 2011, even though it was not enjoyable at all, and I needed a bit of good luck and good will to manage the situation.
What I can swear is that I tried to do my best while I was with Nobu, but there was a limit what one of ordinary people could do.
Nobu's career development was made possible by enormous amount of precious supports from people directly and indirectly involved and, above all, through the wish of Nobu himself to communicate with people through music.
Mr. Aasno appears in so many memorable scenes in the film throughout.
In this amusing scene, Mr. Asano grooms Nobu before curtain; Nobu playfully grooms Mr. Asano's hair in return.
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Nobu, led by Mr. Asano, walks on a high mountain path strewn with wood branches and fresh snow, overlooking the Colorado River [I think] and mountains in the background. Subtitle: "
"I can see the mountains when I feel the wind"
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Mr Aasno guides Nobu up a long flight of steps to a memorial for victims of Japan's 2011 Earthquake
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Mr. Asano and Nobu standing in a crowded subway in Boston[?].
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Mr. Asano holds Nobu's hand to point to landmarks around them on a water front [in Maine?] -- In other documentaries, Mrs. Tsujii is seen doing the same. Subtitle: "On the near side, there is a small fishing boat."
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In this amusing scene, Mr. Asano grooms Nobu before curtain; Nobu playfully grooms Mr. Asano's hair in return.
Nobu, led by Mr. Asano, walks on a high mountain path strewn with wood branches and fresh snow, overlooking the Colorado River [I think] and mountains in the background. Subtitle: ""I can see the mountains when I feel the wind"
Mr Aasno guides Nobu up a long flight of steps to a memorial for victims of Japan's 2011 Earthquake
Mr. Asano and Nobu standing in a crowded subway in Boston[?].
Mr. Asano holds Nobu's hand to point to landmarks around them on a water front [in Maine?] -- In other documentaries, Mrs. Tsujii is seen doing the same. Subtitle: "On the near side, there is a small fishing boat."
Mr. Asano and Nobu jumping up and down on a boat dock (probably scripted by Mr. Rosen), It looks at the end of this scene that Mr. Asano might have lost his balance, and we are left to wonder if he fell into the water!
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Mr. Asano helps Nobu to get on a treadmill, exercising in a gym. "Getting him to exercise is difficult."
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Final scene: Mr. Asano leads Nobu into the water of the Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast of USA
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***
It was through the grace and understanding of Mr. Asano that I was able to enjoy some privileged access to Nobu, including backstage visits over the years when he was Nobu's tour manager. When he parted ways with Nobu in 2019, I wrote a heartfelt piece to thank him on behalf of all Nobu fans.
Watching "Touching the sound" at home this week, I am reminded once again of his moving loyalty to Nobu, and his calming presence around Nobu. In the mind of many of us, Mr. Nick Asano will be forever remembered as Nobu's "second father."
RELATED ARTICLES
Coming to PBS in May 2020: Nobuyuki Tsujii "Touching the Sound"
"Mr. Asano, THANK YOU from ALL Nobu fans!!"
The duo managers of Nobuyuki Tsujii
Mr. Asano helps Nobu to get on a treadmill, exercising in a gym. "Getting him to exercise is difficult."
Final scene: Mr. Asano leads Nobu into the water of the Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast of USA
***It was through the grace and understanding of Mr. Asano that I was able to enjoy some privileged access to Nobu, including backstage visits over the years when he was Nobu's tour manager. When he parted ways with Nobu in 2019, I wrote a heartfelt piece to thank him on behalf of all Nobu fans.
Watching "Touching the sound" at home this week, I am reminded once again of his moving loyalty to Nobu, and his calming presence around Nobu. In the mind of many of us, Mr. Nick Asano will be forever remembered as Nobu's "second father."
RELATED ARTICLES
Coming to PBS in May 2020: Nobuyuki Tsujii "Touching the Sound"
"Mr. Asano, THANK YOU from ALL Nobu fans!!"
The duo managers of Nobuyuki Tsujii