Violinist Ikuko Kawai appeared on Tetsuko Kuroyanagi's long-running talk show "Tetsuko's Room" (TV Asahi) broadcast on June 13th. She talked about her memories of her classmate Taro Hakase at Tokyo University of the Arts and her own journey as a violinist.
When taking the exam, Hakaze said of the practical exam, "He was one position ahead of me.I was waiting outside when I heard what had happened, and I turned pale, but Hakaze came out cheerfully as if nothing had happened, saying something like, 'Oh, I've done it,'" she said, laughing, "He's a big shot."
Kawai-san is from Takamatsu City. "I lived in the countryside, so I didn't know how difficult it was to get into Tokyo University of the Arts. I just worked hard toward that goal, and when I got in, I was like, 'Oh, so this is what it's like.' At first, I was a little apathetic," she said. "Living in the countryside, I didn't know what kind of rivals I would have or how difficult the exams would be, so that was tough, and there was a girl younger than me who worked really hard, and thanks to her, I reluctantly worked hard too."
Upon discovering the music of composer Astor Piazzolla, she said, "I was deeply moved by his new, unprecedented compositions, and it gave me a goal to realize that I too could achieve originality to that extent."
Until then, she had chosen inconspicuous costumes, but "after I started performing my own music, I performed my debut concert in a sensual bright red dress. That made me feel more aggressive on stage, which was fun. I was surprised at myself, as I felt like I was leading the audience. It felt 180 degrees different from my former self," she said, describing it as a turning point for her.
