Today, I write about “Piano story”.
1823, Piano was carried in Japan for the first time by German doctor.
1867, The samurai’s time was over.
1887, Former samurai , Yamaha Torakusu shouldered his own making Organ and arrived at the Tokyo music academy.
However, it differed from the Western Organ.
Musical scale is different in Japan and the West.
His organ was a Japanese musical scale.
His challenge failed.
A music teacher teaches him Western musical scale.
After that, Yamaha Torakusu complete Organ.
It was low price compared to imports.
Organ became popular in Japan,and Western musical scale became popular.
1900, Yamaha Torakusu complete Piano.
1916, Yamaha Torakusu died at age of 65.
The piano which he manufactured in 1902 is still active.
About 1915, a newspaper in Chicago praised a Japanese pianist.
Her name is Ogura Sueko.
1917, She became a professor of the Tokyo music academy.
She was showered with praise in Japan.
She held the free concert, in order to tell wonderful music.
Japan was tending toward militarism.
1941, The Pacific War
The piano was used for military training.
Her students were called for war.
1944, She resigned the Tokyo music academy.
September 1944, Ogura Sueko died at age of 54.
A girl inherited Ogura Sueko’s piano.
The girl practiced the piano every day.
Prisoners’ camp was near her house.
Captives heard her performance on a roof.
Her spectators increased in number every day.
It was like the sparrows.
The roof of prisoners’ camp were full of people.
1945, the war ended.
Prisoners of war visited girl’s house before return to country.
They thanked to the girl.
The sound of the piano crossed the border.
It looks like Ogura Sueko’s mind.
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Kazuyoshi Kawahara
kaw8456@salsa.ocn.ne.jp