„When I heard them singing, I couldn’t hold back my tears. I was moved not only by how the Lithuanian songs sounded but also by the respect for our culture,“ – opera soloist V. Miškūnaitė recalled in an interview with 15min.
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According to her, it was the acquaintance with Akihito that made her realize that sometimes Lithuanians themselves no longer appreciate what people from another part of the world admire.
„Sometimes, to understand the treasure we have, we need a person from outside,“ the interviewee admitted.
A. Kinashi first got to know Lithuania more than a decade ago, but it was the visit to the Song Festival that became an experience that changed his attitude towards choral culture. Today, he not only teaches Japanese Lithuanian songs but also aims to organize an event inspired by the Lithuanian Song Festival in his homeland.
When I heard them singing, I couldn’t hold back my tears.
In an interview with 15min, the Japanese man opened up about what fascinated him so much about Lithuania, how the idea of the Song Festival in Japan was born, and why he considers the Lithuanian song a bridge between two cultures.
– Akihito, music holds a special place in your life. Tell us what you do and how music became part of your life?
– I have been working as a conductor for about 20 years. Currently, I am also the conductor of the choir “AKchoir,” which specializes in folk and ethnic music, and I also compose and arrange music.
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This has accompanied me all my life. I was born and raised in a musical family, I am the second son. The greatest influence was my grandmother – she was a middle school music teacher and church organist. She is now 99 years old, soon to be 100, but still actively plays in church.
My father is a pastor; he also conducted a choir. From childhood, I learned to play the piano and sing, and later I studied vocal music and opera at Tokyo University of the Arts. Therefore, I never doubted that I would connect my life with music.
– You mentioned that you lead a choir. Tell us about it. When was it founded, how many singers are in it, and what repertoire do you usually perform?
– AKchoir was founded in 2018. Our repertoire includes Japanese folk, Lithuanian, African songs, and pop music. The style, in a way, crosses various genres, combining classical music, folk traditions, and contemporary sounds.
– You said your choir also sings Lithuanian songs. How did Lithuania come into your life? Do you remember when you first heard about it and what prompted you to come?
– After the great earthquake and tsunami in Japan, many musicians, including myself, began to rethink the meaning of music. We asked ourselves: “What is my music for?”
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