Embrace your culture in this flattening world.
Japanese translation of this article is here.
Here are things I recently found that I'm very glad of:
That I was born and raised in Japan, one of the countries where people have highly sophisticated time-proven cultures.
That I didn't get trained as musician when I was kid. That is, my musical fundamental didn't get invaded by western culture, significantly
That I started singing in high school choir. It was not too late to acquire aesthetics of western music (I believe. :p)
That I self-taught composition until 2010. and it was not concert music, but completely computer based, open-ended music :p
Yes. I am very glad about those fact. In real, I am having tough time to get my English solid, to improve my keyboard skill, however, they are small things comparing to things I have instead, by those facts. Those facts formed me as a composer as I am now.
I used to be envicious of people who started learning piano early in their life, have perfect pitch, of people whose native language is English, etc, and used to be not aware what I had instead. I think the reason I got aware of what I have as Japanese is that I moved out of Japan, studying one of the cores of western culture. The trigger of this thoughts was attempts to express my background as Japanese in my composition.
Long time ago, I asked this composer from Japan who studied music composition at good school in CA and living in CA, how she thinks about utilizing Japanese ethnic elements in music composition. Her answers were "evasion", "kind of cheating", "fake", "imprudent" etc. I may have had a similar feeling (but much less though) back then, and maybe that was why I asked the question. It was after writing Tsuki no Uta.
I don't have that kind of feeling anymore. I realized I've gone through lots of Japanese cultures for long time, even though I have no experience on Japanese traditional music. I have so much from Japanese culture in me. After composing The Garden for String Trio, I've become more interested in Japanese-ness in me. (The piece is about Japanese temple garden. It will be premiered on March 14, 2014)
Especially after World War II, Japanese has been having inferior feeling to Western culture, subconsciously. Yes. I think most of us still do. And we're gradually losing our culture. Luckily we have not completely lost our cultures, and I've got aware how Japanese cultures are beautiful and sophisticated. No wonder Japan has been increasing its popularity around the world in so many fields. Here are color videos capturing Japan in 1930's.
I'm not saying Japan is better than some country. Most of us must have something you're not aware of, in yourself. Language, food, customs, play songs... everything you've been through makes you. That is your culture. I think as an artist, embracing your own culture is becoming more and more important nowaday in this world flattening. I do love the concept of the flattening world, but I also want the world to keep colorful.
I'd like to say that artists or non-artists should grow their appreciation for their own culture, so that they can appreciate their ancestors, society, and even other cultures more.
As a composer, it is one of my missions to explore my own culture and compose pieces based on the culture, to preserve, to spread, and to appreciate it.
Lastly, here is well made video clip of current Tokyo where modern culture and traditional culture are in harmony.
Japanese translation of this article is here.
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