Liszt Academy Receives Japan Foreign Minister’s Commendation

"When considering the musical relations Japan has with countries from all over the world, Hungary ranks among its closest partners. Music is one of the most important pillars which connects the two countries," said Yamamoto Tadamichi, the Ambassador of Japan in Hungary to MTI Hungarian News Agency on the awarding ceremony which took place on Wednesday, 30 July in the György Ligeti building of the Liszt Academy at Wesselényi Street. As the Ambassador emphasized, the Foreign Minister's Commendations are given each year to cities, institutions and individuals of outstanding achievements in promoting the cordial relations between Japan and other countries. This year, 30 institutions were awarded from all over world, including the Liszt Academy of Budapest, which has hosted a large number of Japanese students since the 1960s.
 

Photo: Dr. Andrea Vigh and Yamamoto Tadamicsi (Photo by Liszt Academy / Sándor Benkő)
 

Furthermore, Yamamoto Tadamichi spoke about the great popularity of Western classical music in Japan. "Hungarian music, Liszt and Bartók are widely known in our country, and Kodály is especially acknowledged for his method of music education. Japan is probably the first country after Hungary where the Kodály concept is most generally used," he pointed out. The Ambassador then evoked the guest performances of the Hungarian State Opera company and the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra in Japan, also noting that one of the solo dancers of the Hungarian National Ballet is the Japanese Nakamura Soko.

In September, 46 Japanese students will start the new academic year at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, marking a 20% increase from last year. This makes the Japanese the biggest group of foreign students attending the university, with a 36% share. As Liszt Academy President Dr. Andrea Vigh observed, this ever-growing interest is mainly due to the personal impact and charisma of the Hungarian professors and musicians who give classes, master courses and concerts on a regular basis in Japan, added with the unique method that Hungarian music education draws on. "This method and musical knowledge is radically different from the – otherwise high-standard – education offered by other universities. We have a kind of extra knowledge which cannot be found anywhere else, and is increasingly acknowledged not only in Asia but in other parts of the world as well," Dr. Andrea Vigh explained in response to the inquiry of MTI. The President of the Liszt Academy believes that the community of Japanese students has successfully integrated into the life of the school and the city, which is facilitated by the assistance of a Japanese-speaking colleague in the international department of the university. "Some of our Japanese students keep coming back to Hungary even after graduation; more than that, we have seen a Japanese-Hungarian marriage, too" said Dr. Andrea Vigh on the occasion of receiving the award.

Source: MTI