Celebrate the New Year with a youthful performance by a rising star performer!

Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall is Japan's first full-fledged music hall, a public facility with a history of 68 years.
The 17th Fresh Concert For Future, a collaboration between the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra and talented young performers, will be held at the historic hall on January 9th of the new year. This time, we will be featuring violinist Asako Fukuda, who won first place at the Tokyo Music Competition, which is said to be the gateway to success for young concert performers, and conductor Sakairi, who has emerged like a rising star and taken the classical music world by storm. Two musicians, Mr. Kenjiro Sakairi, will perform with the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra on a wonderful stage. Would you like to celebrate the new year with the vibrant sounds of youth and talent?
《Top image: Asako Fukuda Photography: Shigeto Imura》

This time, we spoke to violinist Asako Fukuda.
You had a very nice talk.
Please enjoy until the end!

First of all, please tell us why you chose to become a violinist.

According to my mother, my sister and brother had learned and played the violin first, so I naturally said, ``I want to try it too!'' I chose to become a violinist because I felt that I was good at playing the violin, and my family was all involved in music, so it was natural for me to continue playing instruments and aspire to be a musician. was.

Please tell us about your family.

Originally, my grandfather was a maker of bows for stringed instruments, and I was born to a father who inherited that business, and a mother who studied vocal music. There are three brothers, and all three are still active as violinists.

Wow, that's a thoroughbred! Do you have any anecdotes related to music?

Anecdotes include when I practiced, my mother would accompany me, and when I was a child, the three of us would often perform together at ceremonial occasions. Recently, I have had the opportunity to perform with my brother in duo concerts several times. When we play together, it's great that we can have honest conversations because we're brothers, but on the other hand, we're both too direct in our expressions, and sometimes we end up fighting over our performances. My brother and I studied with the same teacher and entered competitions at the same time, so we often listened to each other and gave each other advice.
I'm still far from my ideal performance, but my father was very picky about the tone, and I think he influenced me to be very conscious of the quality of the sound.

Please tell us what kind of violinist you aspire to be.

In my opinion, an attractive performer is an attractive person. There are as many wonderful musicians as there are in the stars, but you can't become someone other than yourself, and others can't become you, so I think it's important to ``to what extent can you face yourself?'' I am. I want to accumulate "something" that is born as I face myself and music.

Have you ever felt like giving up? How did you overcome that time?

When I witness an overwhelming and wonderful performance, I sometimes feel a kind of despair. But music isn't meant to be compared to others, and each time I try to focus on what I can do right now.

What is the unique charm of violinist Asako?

I am often told that my delicate expressions are attractive. Also, since we are using instruments from the 1700s, I think that the unique tones of old instruments are unique.

Performing with the Kanagawa Philharmonic at the historic Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall. What are your thoughts?

I was born and raised in Kanagawa Prefecture, so I'm very happy and honored to be able to perform at the Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall and to perform with the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra!

Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall ©Ryo Hata

Please tell us what to listen to and what to see this time.

All the movements are very attractive: the powerful and determined first movement, the serene second movement, and the dramatic third movement. I would like you to listen to the various tones of the violin.

What exactly does music mean to Asako?

It is a means for contemporary performers to recreate the wonderful works left behind by great composers of the past, and it is also a tool for self-dialogue.

Is there anything you would like to convey to your juniors who aspire to become musicians?

I myself am still trying to figure out how to be as a musician, and I want to play music from a comprehensive and multifaceted perspective. I think it's important to think about how you want to perform and interact with society!

Finally, I think this concert will be a great concert to start the new year!
Everyone please come!

Through the interview, I got the impression that he has a wonderfully honed musical sensibility, as well as being very smart and intelligent!
“Music is a tool for self-dialogue.” Hmm. deep···
I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of tones will be created from the songs left by great musicians of the past using Asako's technique and sensitivity.
The world, which has overcome many hardships, welcomes a new year with hopes for peace. There is no doubt that you will be able to listen to a performance suitable for welcoming 2023.
Everyone, please look forward to it!

Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra “17th Fresh Concert For Future”

[Date and time] Monday, January 9, 2023, starting at 2:00 p.m.
[Main program] Hybert/Mozart homage
Saint-Saëns/Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor Op.61
Mozart/Symphony No. 41 in C major, K.551 “Jupiter”
[Fee] General 3,000 yen Youth (under 25 years old) 1,500 yen
[Subsidy] Agency for Cultural Affairs Subsidy for Cultural Arts Promotion (Performing Arts Creative Activities Revitalization Project) | Japan Arts Council, Independent Administrative Agency