The Emperor of the Keyboard: Motonari Iguchi and His Kin

Last year, two Japanese pianists won prizes at the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition, and newspapers wrote, "Japan has finally come this far." However, Mitsuko Uchida had already achieved second place at the 8th competition in 1970.

At the center of it all was Motonari Iguchi. Hidekazu Yoshida memorialized him, saying, "He was a rare individual, possessed by a demon." Despite starting late at the age of 16, Iguchi graduated at the top of his class from the Tokyo Music School (now Tokyo University of the Arts). After studying abroad, he was called "The Emperor" because he was the only one who could master Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor," and because of his popularity, which combined a massive physique with the intimidating presence of speaking his mind without hesitation and a sense of kindness.

With over 3,000 disciples, he enjoyed such prosperity that it was said, "If you are not of the Iguchi school, you are not a pianist." The late Hiroko Nakamura, a graduate of this Juku, was also a student of Iguchi.

At 35, he was awarded the Imperial Art Academy Award. During the war, he was involved in submarine sound identification training with the rank of major, but perhaps because he criticized it, he was drafted as a private second class—the lowest rank in the army—carrying night soil buckets. After the war, he was named a war criminal at his alma mater and resigned. Later, he co-founded the "Music School for Children" with Hideo Saito and Hidekazu Yoshida.

The success of this school led to a growing demand for a high school music department, and it was Hideo Edo of Mitsui Fudosan, who was a parent, who took action. According to Edo, Keio was the first to be consulted about opening the school in 1951. However, the Juku was in a state of confusion as the Hiyoshi Campus had been requisitioned by the GHQ, and in the end, Toho Joshi High School took it on. The first class of the music department consisted of 50 students, including four men such as Seiji Ozawa.

Iguchi's lessons involved shouting and even physical discipline, but he earned the deep trust of parents, and his students went out into the world. Piano sales in Japan also peaked during this era.

Alongside superhuman achievements such as concerts covering everything from classical to contemporary music and the editing of the 49-volume "World Music Collection" scores, he spent his days in indulgence with alcohol and fine food, and had scandalous romances in his later years.

The taller the tree, the deeper and longer its shadow. Honor, downfall, and turmoil. This giant lived everything possible for a human being. This series lasted six years. Having visited 150 people involved across the country, I too was able to live through Iguchi's era by tracing his footsteps.

The Emperor of the Keyboard: Motonari Iguchi and His Kin

Yoshie Nakamaru

Chuokoron-Shinsha

632 pages, 3,300 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.