Hayato Sumino, a unique pianist who graduated from Tokyo University, appeared on Tetsuko Kuroyanagi's long-running talk show "Tetsuko's Room" (TV Asahi) broadcast on March 4th. The 29-year-old, who lives in New York, spoke about his interactions with singer-songwriter Akiko Yano, who lives in New York.
Sumino said, "We've been getting along well recently. She cooks for me and stuff." Yano says that Sumino is her "grandson,'' but he laughs and says, "I'm a little too big to be a grandson."
He feels that Yano is someone who plays cheerful, free-spirited music. He says he first saw her live about two years ago. She plays the piano as if she is singing, and sings as if she is playing the piano. He thinks that freedom is wonderful, and says he "respects" her.
He says that they sometimes play together on the two pianos in Yano's home. Yano asks Sumino to teach her classical music, and brings over Bach sheet music to talk about Bach, saying, "I enjoy those kinds of conversations."
