Junichiro Tutor Interview

Q. Please tell us what inspired you to start playing the piano!: A. I don't remember the exact reason, but I think I was influenced by a boy in my neighborhood who was learning the piano when I was young, and that is how I started playing the piano. I wasn't particularly interested in the piano itself, which seems a little strange looking back on it now.
Q. You mentioned that you started playing the piano at the age of 6 and started jazz at a university jazz study group in Tokyo. Could you tell us how your focus shifted to jazz?: A. I took basic piano lessons at a local piano school when I was 6 to 15, but I have to admit that I was not very good at practicing when I was in elementary school, and I was coasting along. In terms of performance level, I would say I was a little above Bayer.
Once I entered junior high school, I became interested in a variety of musical instruments and started playing the guitar. I became obsessed with playing hard rock, metal, and other fast-paced music, and my life was guitar-centered until I entered college. During that time, I became interested in fusion, jazz, Latin, and Brazilian music from my later years in high school.
When I entered university, I heard a performance by a jazz research group at a welcome party and immediately thought, “I want to try it too,” so I joined that club. Feeling that piano was a cool way to play jazz, I returned to the piano again and gradually became more and more absorbed in jazz piano.
Q. You mentioned that you worked as a research staff member in the field of vibro-acoustic engineering. Could you tell us a bit about this job?: A. I studied electrical and electronic engineering and semiconductors at university, which led me to join NEC’s Central Research Laboratory. At first, I was in charge of designing and acoustically evaluating cell phone speakers and microphones, and I remember how impressed I was when I was able to hear music through a speaker I had made.
Later, as the company withdrew from the cell phone business with the spread of smartphones, my work shifted from acoustics to mainly vibration. I was working on the development of a system to detect cracks in bridges and buildings, burst water pipes, etc. using vibration sensors.
Q. When you went to the U.S. to study music in 2019, what was your English proficiency level? How did you approach learning English?: A. During my time working at NEC, I was involved in joint research with a university in London and was in an environment where I used English on the daily. Because of this, I frequently traveled for business, spending a total of about a year commuting between London and Japan. Thanks to this experience, I became somewhat accustomed to listening and speaking English at a conversational level, and even after coming to America, I didn't struggle significantly in my courses.
Music courses, in particular, focused more on performance than language, and many technical terms were somewhat universal. Since most textbooks were written in musical notation, I realized once again that music is even more of a “universal language” than English.
With that being said, I struggled with academic English as a subject. My graduate school required a TOEFL score for admission, so I studied for the exam while balancing my work. I memorized vocabulary during my morning commute, practiced mock exams on weekends, and made the most of my limited time to prepare. I also continued online English conversation lessons for speaking practice, but my scores didn’t improve as much as I hoped, making it quite challenging.
Q. Do you have any stories about what went well or what was difficult when living in the US?: A. What made me truly glad about coming to the US, especially to New York, was undoubtedly the opportunity to learn authentic jazz firsthand. Many people might associate New York with images like “stylish” or a “great tourist destination,” but for me, the joy of being able to study what I wanted to, in an environment I’d long admired, which was far more valuable than anything else.
On the other hand, what I found challenging after living here was the high cost of living and the inconvenience of public transportation. Especially in New York—while glittering skyscrapers dominate the skyline, the streets below are dirtier than I expected, with their own distinct smells, and the gap between expectation and reality could be surprising. lol Still, the experiences and connections I've gained through music made every day so fulfilling that they outweighed the hardships.
Q. Do you have any advice for young people who are planning on living abroad to pursue their studies or other reasons?: A. When going abroad, I believe it’s more important to base your decisions on “what you want to do” rather than “where to live.” Even if the country or environment changes, the place itself won't transform you. What brings change is what you think about, and how you act. While living in a new place is certainly exciting, what truly matters is how you utilize that experience and what you learn from it. Wherever you are, maintaining your core values is key to making your study abroad experience fulfilling.
Q. If possible, could you share with us about jazz artists that have caught your attention in the US, or famous jazz spots where someone can go to enjoy jazz music?: A. This story is specific to New York where I’m based, but if you want to enjoy jazz locally, you definitely shouldn't miss the historic live venue “Village Vanguard.” Every night features performances by amazing artists, making it truly an amazing place for jazz.
New York gathers many excellent musicians from young talents to experienced players, allowing you to enjoy various jazz styles from traditional to contemporary, as well as free improvisation.
Personally, I’d like to highlight pianists like Julian Shore and Glenn Zaleski. Both are musicians I have connections with—artists with rich expressiveness and unique worldviews. They’ve released many CDs, so please give them a try.
Q. You’ve released albums and been active in various fields - are there any goals or things you're aiming for next?: A. I always strive to improve the quality of my performances, while also wanting to focus more on composition and arrangement. While my previous albums primarily featured my piano trio performances, many tracks were originally written for larger ensembles and later rearranged for the trio format. In the future, I hope to challenge myself with larger ensembles and orchestration to expand my music performance skills.
Q. There are many students on Cafetalk who take online music lessons for piano and other music instruments, as well as singing lessons. Do you have any message for them?: A. Cafetalk has wonderful, experienced instructors across various fields. The ability to learn what you want at your own pace, unrestricted by location, holds tremendous value in my opinion. While jazz might be a somewhat niche genre within music, if you're interested, I'd be delighted if you’d give it a try. I hope you'll experience the joy and freedom that music can bring.