Ota Ward Cultural Arts Information Paper "ART bee HIVE" vol.5 + bee!

It's fun to create things with people
When a good product is made, there is irreplaceable joy
"TOKYO OTA OPERA PROJECT Producer / Pianist Takashi Yoshida"

Opera is a "comprehensive art" created by professionals from each genre of music, literature, and art."TOKYO OTA OPERA PROJECT" was started in 2019 so that as many people as possible can enjoy such an opera.We interviewed Mr. Takashi Yoshida, a genuine "Ota kid" who is the producer and collepetiteur (coach of a vocalist).

About "TOKYO OTA OPERA PROJECT"

Opera "Komori" performed at Ota Citizen's Plaza Large Hall

I heard that Mr. Yoshida was born in Ota Ward and raised in Ota Ward. What made you start this project in the first place?

"It happened that about 15 years ago, I rented a small hall in Ota Ward Hall Aplico and staged the operetta" Queen of Charles Dash "in an independent project. There were people who watched it and supported me. After that, I started a series of concerts by an opera singer called "A la Carte" in the same small hall.It is attractive to be able to listen to the singing voices and techniques of top-class opera singers in an intimate space called a small hall, and this has continued for 10 years.When I was thinking of another project because it was a break, I was asked to speak to this "TOKYO OTA OPERA PROJECT". "

I heard that it is a plan to recruit chorus members mainly from the inhabitants of the ward and create an opera with a three-year plan.

"There are more than 100 choirs in Ota Ward, and choruses are very popular. We want the residents of the ward to participate as choirs so that they can feel closer to the opera, so the chorus members are age-restricted. As a result, the participants ranged from 17 to 85 years old and everyone is very enthusiastic. In the first year, the highlights of Johann Strauss's opera "Komori" were highlighted by professional opera singers. We performed with piano accompaniment with people. There is a difference in the stage experience among the chorus members, but by following those who do not have experience well, you can create a stage with a sense of unity. I think. "

However, this year, the planned gala concert with orchestral accompaniment was canceled to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infection.

"I'm very sorry, but in order to maintain a connection with the members of the choir, I am conducting an online lecture using Zoom. The words of the work I was planning to sing at the performance, mainly in Italian, French and German. Specialized instructors are invited to give lectures on diction (vocalism) and how to use the body. Some of the members were confused at first, but now more than half of them are. People are participating online. The advantage of online is that you can use your time effectively, so in the future I would like to think about a practice method that combines face-to-face and online. "

Please tell us your plans for the third year next year.

"We are planning to hold a concert with orchestral accompaniment that did not come true this year. We are gradually resuming chorus practice, but we ask you to sit at intervals in the large hall of Aplico and use a mask dedicated to vocal music to prevent infection. Is on. "

Occupation called Collepetiteur

Mr. Yoshida heading to the piano © KAZNIKI

Répétiteur is a pianist who plays accompaniment when practicing opera, and also teaches singers to sing.However, it is, so to speak, "behind the scenes" that does not actually appear in front of customers.What was the reason for Mr. Yoshida to aim for Répétiteur?

"When I was in junior high school, I played piano accompaniment in a chorus contest, and I fell in love with singing accompaniment. The music teacher who taught me at that time was from the second session, and said," If you become an accompaniment pianist for the second session in the future. It ’s okay. ”That was the first time I was aware of the profession of "accompaniment pianist".After that, when I was in my second year of high school, I participated in an operetta performance in Shinagawa Ward as a member of the chorus, and for the first time in my life, I came into contact with the work of Colle Petitur.I remember being shocked when I saw him not only playing the piano, but also giving his opinions to the singer and sometimes the conductor. "

However, the university is advancing to the vocal music department of Kunitachi College of Music.

"At that time, I was still wondering whether to become a vocalist or a collepetiteur. From the time I was in school, as a chorus for the second term, I was able to experience how the opera was made while actually standing on the stage. At this time, when the accompaniment pianist suddenly became unable to come, the staff who knew that I could play the piano suddenly asked me to play as a substitute, and I gradually started working on Korepetitur. I'm starting. "

The experience of being on the stage as a singer has been very useful in engaging in the art of opera, which is made by people from various positions.What do you think is the appeal of your job as Répétiteur?

"More than anything else, it's fun to create something together with people. When we disagree with each other, we try to create something, but when we have a good one, we do everything. There is irreplaceable joy. It is true that Répétiteur is "behind the scenes", but it is because it was previously on the "front" as a chorus that we can understand the importance and importance of "behind the scenes". I'm proud of doing a good job. "

History of the birth of "Yoshida P"

© KAZNIKI

And now, he is not only producing Collepetiteur but also producing opera.

"When I was working on" A La Carte "at the Aplico Small Hall, the singers who appeared called me" Yoshida P "(laughs). I think that P had the meaning of both a pianist and a producer, but after that, if you want to work like a producer, I think it's better to call yourself that way, and in a sense, "producer" with the feeling of pushing yourself. I added the title.In Japan, you may not have a good impression of "two-legged waraji", but if you look overseas, there are many people who have multiple jobs in the world of music.I also want to keep wearing proper "waraji" because I will do it. "

Producer business is also a job that connects people.

"While interacting with many singers as a collepetiteur, I was wondering what kind of things would be born if I had this person and this person co-star, and the job of a producer who puts that into shape is also very much. It's rewarding. Of course, no matter how much I was involved in the stage, it was difficult at first because there were so many things I didn't understand, but director Misa Takagishi advised me that I should say that I don't understand what I don't understand. Since then, my feelings have become much easier.The stage is a gathering of various professionals, so it's important how much they can help.To do this, you need to have a solid foundation for yourself so that you can be a reliable person. "

When I asked him, Mr. Yoshida got the impression that he was a collector, a producer, and that he was "just a vocation!"

"I don't want to own something, I want to spread the rich talents of people. To that end, it is important to spread the antenna and communicate with various people. That's right. Basically, I like people, so I wonder if this job is a vocation (laughs). "

Sentence: Naoko Murota

Click here for details on TOKYO OTA OPERA PROJECT

Profile

© KAZNIKI

After graduating from Ota Ward Iriarai XNUMXst Elementary School and Omori XNUMXnd Junior High School, he graduated from the vocal music department of Kunitachi College of Music.Studying opera accompaniment in Milan and Vienna.After graduating, he started his career as a pianist for the second session.While involved in opera production as Répétiteur, he is also highly trusted as a co-starring pianist of a well-known singer.In the drama CX "Goodbye Love", he is in charge of piano instruction and replay of actor Takaya Kamikawa, performance in the drama, and has appeared in the media and has a wide range of activities.
Nikikai pianist, Hosengakuenko nursery piano instructor, member of Japan Performance Federation, CEO of Toji Art Garden Co., Ltd.

Cafe "Old-day guests"

There used to be a secondhand bookstore here,
I would be grateful if you could find out that there was a strange father.

On the right hand side of Usuda Sakashita Dori from Ota Bunkanomori is the cafe "Old Day Customers" that opened at the end of September 2019.
This is where the famous antiquarian bookstore "Sanno Shobo" was once visited by many writers from Magome Bunshimura.The name of the cafe comes from the essay "Old Day Customers", in which the owner of Sanno Shobo, Yoshio Sekiguchi, describes the interaction with many writers and the people of Ichii.The owner is Mr. and Mrs. Naoto Sekiguchi, the son of Mr. Yoshio.

By creating a cafe, I began to hope that I could get to know Magome Bunshimura as much as possible.

Shiro Ozaki's autographed biane at the entrance
© KAZNIKI

What made you start the cafe?

"It is said to be" Magome Bunshimura "among literary enthusiasts, but in general, there are still a few people who know it. By creating this store, I started to hope that more people would know about it. And, after all, the reissue of my father's book "Old Day Customers" was successful.
People who take a walk in Magome Bunshimura can pass in front of them, but if you take a peek at that time and see the books and photos of Professor Shiro Ozaki and other things related to Magome Bunshimura, And I would be grateful if you could know that there used to be a second-hand bookstore here and there was a strange old man. "

When did your father start Sanno Shobo?

"It was April 28. My father was 35 years old at that time. I used to work for a printing company, but it seems that I had a strong dream of working as a second-hand bookstore. When I was looking for a place to shop, this I met a place and changed the name to Sanno Shobo. Actually, the address here is not Sanno, but I heard that it was Sanno Shobo because of the good wording. My father is from a town called Iida where the Tenryu River in Nagano Prefecture flows. I grew up looking at the Japanese Alps. I think I was attracted to the word Sanno. "

Was Magome Bunshimura aware when his father opened the shop here?

"I think I knew it, but I didn't think I would be going out with the literary masters. As a result, thanks to the opening of the store in this place, I got Mr. Shiro Ozaki to love me very much. Also, I was able to get to know many novelists, not just Magome, such as publishers. I think my father was really lucky. "

The owners Naoto Sekiguchi and Mr. and Mrs. Element
© KAZNIKI

Can you tell us something about your father's memories?

"In the 40's of the Showa era, the value of the first edition books of prewar literature increased steadily. Books became the target of investment. Major second-hand bookstores in Jimbocho bought them and put them on the shelves. The price goes up. My father was terribly lamenting such a trend. I heard that I was in the third grade of junior high school, talking to customers, "A secondhand bookstore is a book. It's a business that deals with the "soul" of poets and writers. "I remember being impressed as a child. "

"My father died on August 1977, 8. However, in March 22, a second-hand bookstore friend opened a memorial market in Gotanda, and at that time I disposed of all the books in the store. I want to make the day when Sanno Shobo's books run out as the day when the store closes. "

A jar and a dead leaf fell on my lap.

Could you tell us about your father's book, "Old Day Customers"?

"In commemoration of the 1977th birthday, I decided to put together the sentences I had written in one volume. I was preparing for publication, but in 8 my father was suddenly hospitalized with cancer, and I have one life left. I was told by the doctor that it was two months. I had a meeting in the hospital room with my best friend Noboru Yamataka who did not tell the name of the disease to my father who said that he still had a few stories to write. Mr. Yamataka put a woodblock print in the frontispiece, and my father smiled with a big smile. Maybe the Maruyama vaccine had a life-prolonging effect. About five months later, August 22nd. On the day, I died on the tatami mat at home as he wished. In my 1978th birthday, I wrote the postscript. The year after my father died, I was at Megumi Omori Church on November 11, 18. Had his first wedding. The church depicted in the woodblock print of the frontispiece. When I entered the groom's waiting room, I was surprised to find the newly completed "old-fashioned guest" on the table. I was impressed. I entered the ceremony with that excitement in my heart. After the ceremony, I took a group photo in the courtyard, and at that time, I was sitting down. Just as the photographer set up, a slapstick and a dead leaf fell on my lap.If you look at it, it's a ginkgo leaf.I was surprised to see the ginkgo biloba in the commemorative photo. "

"Old Day Customers" First Edition

Ah, ginkgo is my father ...

"That's right. Ginkgo biloba, and a child's child, Ginkgo, is my father's haiku. Recently, I wondered what happened to that ginkgo tree, so I went to Megumi Church. Then, there is no ginkgo tree. There was an old man who was cleaning it, so I asked, "A long time ago, around 53, was there a ginkgo tree here?" I was there, but I don't remember the ginkgo tree. "So where did that ginkgo leaf come from?It didn't feel like a strong wind was blowing.From directly above, it fell down.Moreover, there was only one of them, and there were no fallen leaves anywhere else.Only one of them came down on my lap.Somehow my father became an angel, no, maybe he was a crow (laughs), but it's a really mysterious event that he delivered the ginkgo leaves. "

Professor Kazuo Ozaki * 1 recommended it for the Japan Essayist Award of the year.

The first "Old Day Guest" came to be called a phantom book.

"Originally, there are only 1,000 first-edition books in the world. Moreover, about 300 books were presented to those who took care of them, and the rest were sold at Sancha Shobo in Jimbocho, my father's best friend. It was such a book. It was very popular, and Professor Kazuo Ozaki * recommended it to the Japan Essayist Award of the year. However, unfortunately, the recipients of that award must be alive. I wasn't able to do it, but what Kazuo-sensei said was that he acknowledged the content. Above all, I was so happy that I cried with my bag. "

It has been well received since then, and even if you know the name, it is difficult to read it.

"I will not let go of the person who owns it. The person who owns it has died, and I can not go to the secondhand bookstore unless I organize the books. It seems that the price was tens of thousands of yen. Even if you find it, the number of people who can buy it is limited. Young people can not afford it, so I definitely wanted to republish it. "

"Old Day Customers" republished in 2010

Now, I would like to ask you about the reissue of "Old Day Customers," which is the year of your father's 33rd anniversary.

"I wasn't aware of it. It's really a coincidence.
It was the 33rd time that I appeared in the talk event "Reading" Old Days Customers "-Omori Sanno Shobo Monogatari-" called "Nishi-Ogi Bookmark", and it was about the time when my father's 33rd anniversary was reached.The dream of republishing gradually approached, and I think it was the end of June 2010, a year later, but I received a heartfelt and polite envelope from a publisher called Natsuhasha.After that, the story of the reissue went on to the beat at a tremendous speed.Around the anniversary of my father's death, I wrote a second postscript, and eventually a beautiful book with the publication date of October 6, the same as the first edition, was piled up on all floors of the Sanseido main store in Jimbocho.I'll never forget the day I saw that scene with my mother. "

* 1: Kazuo Ozaki, 1899-1983.Novelist.Born in Mie prefecture.Received the Akutagawa Prize for his short story collection "Akutagawa Prize".A private novel writer who represents the postwar period.Representative works include "Shinki Glasses", "Various Insects", and "View from a Beautiful Cemetery".

Retro-looking cafe "Old-fashioned guests"
© KAZNIKI

• Location: 1-16-11 Central, Ota-ku, Tokyo
• Access / Get off at Tokyu Bus "Ota Bunkanomori"
• Business hours / 13: 00-18: 00
• Holidays / Irregular holidays
• Email / sekijitsu.no.kya9 ★ gmail.com (★ → @)

Contact

Public Relations and Public Hearing Section, Culture and Arts Promotion Division, Ota Ward Cultural Promotion Association