I had heard that Seiji Ozawa 's condition was not good, so I knew this day would come someday, but I am still deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden news of his death.
Mr. Ozawa has been my greatest admiration since I was a child, and I don't think I would have aimed to become a conductor if it weren't for him. The concerts he conducted are still clearly etched in my sonic memory. After that, I was fortunate enough to receive guidance from Mr. Ozawa and win the Besancon International Conducting Competition, which was won by Mr. Ozawa. During this time, I have been chasing after Seiji Ozawa, who is running ahead of me, and I have always felt that he is far away. It makes me realize that we have truly lost a great maestro.
His most important accomplishment was that he devoted all his energy to teaching the younger generation. He has conveyed the wonders of music with all his heart and soul to a wide range of generations, from our generation to current students, as much as his physical strength and time allowed. We pray for the souls from the bottom of my heart.
New Japan Philharmonic Music Director /Conductor Yutaka Sado