I like playing the piano.  Sound of the piano really makes me feel happy and smooth. Today, I listened to a blind person’s piano play.  His name is NOBUYUKI TSUJII, who won the 1st prize at this year’s Van Cliburn Piano Contest.

He is certainly a blind player, so he is supposed to have hardship before coming to this stage. If I look at his life side, I’m deeply moved by his attitude. He is humble and respects all the people around him. He never regret his life blaming of his handicap. I often am learning from him.

However, as a musician, once we start listening the music, we don’t think of the handicap. We just listen to the music and we judge if we like it or not.  When we listen to classical music, we maybe don’t think of the composer’s life or condition. The sound of the tunes only can tell us their talent over a long time of history.

Just like that, I listen to his music without thinking of his life side. 

And his piano play still moves me very much. His sound is beautifully clear and each piano sound has emotional message for me. When listening to his play, I sometimes close my eyes unintentionally,  it means I stand on the same condition with him before the piano sound, and the sound he plays reached my mind directly.  It’s a real joy of my mind. 

After the interplay with him, coming back to my own world, I always find myself healed by his sound purity.

I suppose he still has undescribable handicap always trying to overcome. When I think of it, my heart often cries.  However, in the music of mind space, it’s a great pleasure to have a common language called piano.