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Argo is more than Hollywood fiction movie. It is based on the true story from 1979, and this true story is almost unbelievable. The American embassy in Iran was invaded by Iranian revolutionaries and they took Americans as hostage. However, six embassy workers managed to escape to the official residence of the Canadian Ambassador. With the […]

白鵬は強い。最高にカッコ良い。横綱風情が決まっている。２３回目の優勝、本当におめでとうございます。「優勝の仕方を忘れたかと思った」と、優勝インタビューで答えていた白鵬関だが、その優勝振りは清々しく、場所中も横綱相撲の連続でした。今場所、日馬富士関の横綱昇進で、朝青龍引退以来の、東西二人の横綱誕生。しかし、「横綱二人、本当にいるの？？」というくらい、日馬富士関は、残念な位我々の期待を裏切り、情けない成績で終りました。勿論、ご本人が一番情けない思いなのでしょうけれど。一人横綱を数年張って来た白鵬関だが、今後もしばらく、そんな感じが続くのでは。松鋒山関、地元の期待を大きく受け、大活躍。沢山の人が、ファンになったはずです（私も！）。私は、テレビ相撲観戦の面白さの中に、解説の親方のコメントを聞くのを、とても楽しみにしています。北の富士さんが、目の仇にしていた元北勝力関（現谷川親方）と、元普天王関（現稲川親方）は、現役の時の相撲もとてもカッコ良かったのですが、解説の時の分析の細かさ、現役時代の経験談など、解説者としても最高です。舞の海さんも、顔負けなくらい。新旧の入れ替えが、今場所後にいろいろ予想されるので、初場所の番付けを見るのが、今から楽しみです。舛の山関、体の不調にも関わらず、全力で戦う姿は、心を打つものがあります。これからも、応援しています。そして日本人の若手力士達が頑張っているのは、やはり、日本人として嬉しいですね。来年も、大相撲観戦、心から楽しみにしています。

I usually don’t miss any James Bond movie, and yes, I went to see the newest one, “Skyfall”. My local movie theatre got amazing seats which have huge space for each person and recliner. Oh well I was just so comfortable and happy sitting there as if I were at home. It was so interesting to see people […]

I had a wonderful time performing Brahms Piano Quintet with amazing musician friends. We performed 2 occasions last week. One anecdote tells how Brahms composed his works. One evening in Vienna, Brahms joined his friends at cafe, and his friend asked him how he spent his day. Brahms answered “I was working on my symphony. In […]

Last Sunday November 4th, I had 2 chamber music concerts, one at LACMA Sunday Live, and another one for LA Phil’s Committee group. At LACMA, we played trios for flute, cello, and piano by Kuhlau, Martinu, and Kapustin, and duo for cello and piano by Mendelssohn. This program covers a wide range of musical styles, Classical […]

I really liked this colorful piece, “Azul”, by Osvaldo Golijov. I went to LA Phil’s Sunday matinee concert on November 4. “Azul” was performed right after Barber’s “Second Essay” for Orchestra. I am a big fan of Barber’s music, from piano solo pieces (I recorded his “Excursions” Op. 20 for my first CD) to wonderful […]

The movie “The Master” tells the story of Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), a World War II veteran struggling to adjust to a post-war life, and meets Lancaster Dodd (Philip Symour Hoffman), a leader of a philosophical movement known as “The Cause” (Scientology). Dodd sees something special in Freddie, and accepts him into Dodd’s movement. They […]

We heard Sir. Schiff’s WTC Book I last Wednesday, and he performed Book II a week later at Disney Hall. As I was deeply touched and moved by Book I concert, I was more involved by his playing with Book II. The concert started little after 8pm, and with a regular length intermission the concert ended […]

We are so blessed to have “BACH Week” in LA until next Wednesday October 24. Sir. András Schiff will perform WTC Book II. Mr. Mark Swed, a music critic for LA Times, wrote a very good review on Sir. Schiff’s concert last Wednesday on WTC Book I, and I totally agree with his wonderful observation. […]

It will be my 3rd year, performing at LA Bach Festival, and I am looking forward for the opportunity. The program includes Aria variata in A minor BWV 989, Partita No. 1 BWV 825, Italian Concerto BWV 971, and French Overture BWV 831. Below is the program note I wrote for the concert. I hope […]