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Name……..Yo Kubota See top page how to write my name in Japanese. “Yo” means ocean in Japanese.

Born……..Takaoka city in Toyama prefecture. West-northern part in Japan. That area is noted for heavy snows and delicious fish.

Brought up…..Fujisawa city in Kanagawa prefecture. Fujisawa is a seaside city in the suburbs of Tokyo and nearby Kamakura. I have been living there from the age of eight.

Age………Assume it from musical histories (^^;.

Musical Histories………In my childhood I liked classical music such as Beethoven and Mozart. At the age of thirteen I heard “The Rite of Spring” by Stravinsky and “Requiem for Strings” by Toru Takemitsu and was impressed deeply. That made me “strange”. When I was in a high school and in a university, avant-garde music in 1960s was at its hieght. I was crazy about it and Takemitu, Yuasa, Ichiyanagi, Nono, Boulez, Berio, Xnakis and Globokar became my idols.
In 1970s, being influenced by the pieces of Minao Sibata’s Meta music, I discovered Medieval and Renaissance music, Gamelan music, Tibetan buddhism music, Songs of Takasagos and was amazed heartily. (Minao Shibata is not as famous as Takemitsu but he is one of the greatest composers of the second half of 20th century in Japan). Munir Bashir (Ud player in Iraq), Ali Akbar Khan (Sarod player in India) are my favorites. Like this I have fallen in love with strange music. Also I am interested in Don Cherry, Cecil taylor, Pink Floyd and Astor Piazzolla and love the music of Bach very much.

While I was writing this short history, I came to realize that my musical taste has really no consistency!

written in September 2008, updated in March 2023