Pianist Tsujii Nobuyuki

The power of his fingers comes from the encouragement of his mother's "Hayashi rice"

The article below appears in the Japanese publication yomiDr. トップページへ, dated March 7, 2011. The photos are from a 2010 Japan TV show. The Japanese text of the original article is shown at the bottom of this page.

Prologue: During the 2009 Cliburn Competition, the following paragraph, written by Barry Shlachter, appeared on May 30 in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (http://startelegram.typepad.com/notes_from_the_cliburn/page/3/).  It was written  about Nobuyuki Tsuji's semi-final performance with the Takacs Quartet --

... What also might set Tsujii apart is what he requested for breakfast Friday, nothing typically American, Texan or, for that matter, Japanese. He chowed down on his version of comfort food – beef curry and rice prepared by his mother.

The dish referred to by Shlachter is apparently the Hayashi Rice, which is NOT beef curry.

(Hashed beef rice or Hayashi rice (ハヤシライス) is a dish popular in Japan as a Western-style dish. It usually contains beef, onions, and button mushrooms, in a thick demi-glace sauce which often contains red wine and tomato sauce. --wikipedia)

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Pianist Tsujii Nobuyuki

The power of his fingers comes from the encouragement of his mother's "Hayashi rice"

During the fifth grade, Noubyuki participated in the largest national piano competition and advanced to the final round.  The night before the final performance, what he ate at home was the dish Hayashi rice.

In the practice session on the previous day, the piano teacher was strict and the tough repertoire was challenging.  On the way home, Nobuyuki was depressed and disappointed.  Upon returning home, he was served heaping plates of Hayashi rice by his mother.  His stomach full, Nobuyuki was able to give a strong push at the final practice. "I will play my best at the competition," the young pianist resolved.

On the morning of the competition, Nobuyuki ate two more helpings of the dish for breakfast.  They tasted even more delicious after being left overnight. Then, he won the competition, and said "Thanks, Hayashi rice. I can't play well when hungry..."

Since then, Hayashi rice has been served to Nobuyuki the night before and on the morning of every big performance in Japan, for good luck.   It  worked.  This dish helped Nobuyuki to succeed in making his debut recital at Suntory Hall in Tokyo at age 12, then performing Chopin and Mozart concertos at a concert at age 14.

"My mother is good at cooking; her Hayashi rice is special and gives me power", said Nobuyuki.

Noubyuki Tsujii was born blind, but his extraordinary music talent was soon noticed by his mother.    At age two, he skillfully accompanied his mother's singing on a toy piano.  Slowly, the remarkable talent blossomed.

At the age of 20, Nobuyuki won a gold medal at the "Van Cliburn International Piano Competition" held in the United States.  The first (native) Japanese to win that prestigious prize, Nobuyuki has since joined the ranks of the world's toppianists.

During the competition,  Nobuyuki's mother made Hayashi rice on the eve of the elimination round. However, there was no ingredient for the demi-glace sauce, and fresh and strong substitute ingredients were used.   "It was an unusual taste," recalled Nobuyuki.   But the outcome of the competition was successful just the same.

In addition to performing as a concert pianist, Nobuyuki Tsujii is a serious composer.  "I love to make music about my impression of whispering rivers, mountains and the wind that I experience while on hiking trips."

These days,  his mother no longer accompanies Nobuyuki when he tours abroad, and so there is less opportunity for the pianist to eat Hayashi rice for good luck.  "Growing up, you want to learn more and more, and to impress the audience as a pianist playing alone," said Nobuyuki.  Having proven his ability to perform on the piano as an independent adult, Nobuyuki will nevertheless always have fond memories of the Hayashi rice.

(<the original Japanese article was written by> Ueda Noriko <according to google translation>)

Pianist Nobuyuki  Tsujii. Born in 1988. Professional debut at age 10. In 2009, won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. In February, a CD "Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1" (Yutaka Sado conductor) was  released. In June, he will perform with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra.

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The text of the  original Japanese article is shown below --  my thanks to a Japanese Nobu fan for pointing me to it:

Source: http://www.yomidr.yomiuri.co.jp/page.jsp?id=37732&from=yolsp  March 7, 2011

ピアニスト 辻井伸行さん

「ハヤシライス」 母の激励 指に「力」宿る

小学５年生の時、

初めて参加した国内最大規模のピアノコンクールで、決勝大会に進んだ。決勝は８月下旬。その前夜、自宅でたまたま食べたのが、ハヤシライスだった。

決勝前日の練習で、ピアノ教師から、課題曲を演奏する速度などを厳しく指導された。帰り道で、母親のいつ子さんと共にがっくりと落ち込んだ。

帰宅後、母親が作ったハヤシライスを山盛りで２皿平らげた。満腹になると、最後の練習に励んだ。「大会では、いい演奏をするぞ」と気合が入った。

大会当日の朝も、残っていたハヤシライス２皿をペロリ。一晩寝かせてコクが出て、さらにおいしくなっていた。それから臨んだ大会で優勝。「うまく弾けたのは、ハヤシライスのおかげ。おなかがすいていると、弾けないタイプなので……」

以来、国内の大きなコンサートの前夜と当日の朝には、縁起を担いで、ハヤシライスを食べるように。そうすることで、１２歳の時に東京のサントリーホールで開いた初めての独奏会でも、１４歳でモーツァルトとショパンの協奏曲を弾いた演奏会でも、成功を収めることができた。

母親が作ってくれたハヤシライスは、赤ワインをたっぷり入れて煮込むのが特徴。「手頃な価格のワインを惜しみなく、ドボドボと入れるんです」。具は、牛肉、タマネギ、ニンジン、そしてマッシュルーム。さらに香草類を入れて煮込み、ケチャップや蜂蜜で味を調える。

じっくり煮込むことで肉は軟らかくなり、具のうま味も出て、赤ワインのフルーティーな香りがほのかに漂う。「母は料理が得意で、他にもおいしい手料理はたくさんありますが、ハヤシライスは特別。力がわいてくる何かがあるのかなと思います」

生まれた時から目が見えない。音に対して敏感に反応することを感じた母親が、１歳半からピアノを習わせた。２歳の時、母親が口ずさんだ歌に合わせておもちゃのピアノで伴奏するなど、非凡な才能を徐々に開花させていった。

２０歳の時、米国で開かれた「バン・クライバーン国際ピアノコンクール」に出場。世界的演奏家を輩出してきた大会で、日本人で初めて優勝し、トップピアニストの仲間入りをした。

このコンクールでも、本番前の食事を滞在先で母親が作ってくれた。１次予選の前夜は、やはりハヤシライス。ところが、いつものデミグラスソースがなく、他 のソースで代用したため、塩気が強く、「いつもと違う味でした」。それでも母親の思いを力に決勝へ進み、優勝を果たせた。

これからは、演奏活動に加え、作曲にも本格的に取り組むつもりだ。「山あいを吹き抜ける風や川のせせらぎなど、旅先などで感じたイメージを膨らませて曲を作るのが大好きなんです」

国内外のツアーで慌ただしい日々が続いているが、以前のように母親が同行する機会は減った。縁起を担いでハヤシライスを食べる機会も少なくなった。「もっ と勉強し、成長して、一人のピアニストとして聴衆を感動させる演奏をしたい」。実力を付け、大人のピアニストとして自立した今、ハヤシライスの思い出が自 身を奮い立たせる。（上田詔子）

つじい・のぶゆき ピアニスト。１９８８年生まれ。１０歳でプロデビュー。２００９年、バン・クライバーン国際ピアノコンクールで優勝。２月にＣＤ「チャイコフスキー ピアノ協奏曲第１番」（指揮・佐渡裕）を発売。６月には読売日本交響楽団と共演する。

（2011年3月7日 読売新聞）

yomiDr. トップページへ