“The key for creating the civilization of next century is to aim for an ensemble of beautiful hearts.”

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From now on, there will be less barrier of nations and races, and new cosmopolitan may appear. In such a world, it would be natural to speak a common language and more important thing focus; that is sharing of “aesthetic sense.” The key for the civilization of next century is, to share the impressionable paintings and sculptures, to sing a phrase of a symphony together, and if there is any chance, to aim for an ensemble of beautiful hearts like yours.

Please do not let small daily matters get your minds, but make many friends in many countries in very sensitive youthful days and continue the lifetime friendship as fellow musicians who shared the same experiences.
(March 1995)

Becoming a member of an orchestra is to stand clearly in a position for the most important significance of existence as a human being. You will need hardworking effort and ambition, and to harmonize yourself with other players in the orchestra. Independence and self-respect are essential for a player; a player should listen to other people as well. Let us work on the most humanistic matters, “independence” and “cooperation”. There is no boundary between language or nation in music. Put aside your worries of youth and let us concentrate on music.
(March 1996)

With a little feeling of jealousy and enviousness, I have some words to send to you, who now have expensive instruments in the affluent world today, which were impossible back then.

-How precious are the instruments to you?
-Do you train yourself to express your dreams with your instruments?
-How many friends were you able to make through your instruments?
-How do you make listeners be touched through your instruments?
-How are you learning about nonmusical matters through your instruments and/or music?
-Do you plan to go on your journey of life with your instruments?

I truly hope that TYOC has helped you at the very beginning of your long life’s journey. I also hope that you all keep in mind that once a youth like me, who endured a poor period are all looking out for your journeys.
(March 1986)

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As you get older, you will learn to compromise to some extent and hesitate to express your true thought from bottom of your heart. This is equivalent to what people say, “to grow up to be a man or a woman,” means. However, in a way, it is a pearl of wisdom to settle with people around you in everyday life.

There are times when you cannot keep calmness; you might meet something that shakes your soul without any reason, or you might need to find something to support you in moments of despair, frustration, and loneliness. I am not confident to say whether classical music or orchestra will support you fully in such times, but I am confident to say that classical music that you know is a condensation of human wisdom that have survived many histories and countries.

In order to live your life which sometimes may not go well, the fact you play music and instruments in an orchestra is important, but what’s more essential is that you face and talk with your inner self.

I truly hope that your experience at TYOC will help you to face your core, which only you get to face.
(March 2006)

I would like young people to read Japanese classic as much as possible. Try to read the love poem in “Manyoshu”. You will immediately hear the timeless wistful sigh of the young people more than 1000 years ago. Listen to masterpieces of classical music. It will bring you not just beyond time, but also to any place on the Earth. Feel the heartbeat of those who lived and not know it just as a knowledge.
(April 2004)

For us as boys, classical music was unrelated. However, I felt as if the music all at once expressed my dreamlike inspirations when I listened to “Slavic March” coming from audio speakers of a junior high school classroom. I still remember I climbed on the chair and put my ears close to the audio speaker. Having said this, I would say that it was not a musical experience but more the literary background which led me to classical music.

If you want to find something genuine without being overwhelmed by the trends of the world, carefully look at the classical music works that have overcame the time, borders, genders, and ages. Whether it is a physical or emotional “hungriness,” we are tested for the strong willingness to live whenever we have “hungriness.” I sincerely hope that the vitality created by “hungriness” will pull you into your “dream” of the youth.
(May 1980)

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  Thunderous applause for participants completing the camp (1991)

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  “13th Toyota Youth Orchestra Camp” (1997)