Assistant Professor Nozomi Kaneda wins first place in the 2025 Takemitsu Toru Composition Award
At the 2025 Toru Takemitsu Composition Award Final Concert (sponsored by the Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation, judged by Georg Friedrich Haas), Nozomi Kaneda, an assistant professor at our university who graduated from our undergraduate, Master's Program 's and Doctoral Program, won first place in the Toru Takemitsu Composition Award.
Four pieces were selected from 137 submitted works from 33 countries around the world and performed at the final concert on May 25th (Conductor: Kanako Abe, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra) (Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation).
Judge Haas commented on Kaneda's piece, saying, "I thought Kaneda Nozomi's piece, Playing with Skin and Fabric, was a very unusual piece. In fact, the materials used were essentially perfect fifths. It's a world of sound similar to tuning a string instrument, such as a cello or violin, and this continues in a variety of environments; that's the kind of piece it is. And with this material, he creates a world of sound, a universe. He uses a truly interesting sense of rhythm to create a world that's like a kaleidoscope of sound."
Winner Kaneda also commented, "The Toru Takemitsu Composition Award holds a special meaning for me. I was strongly attracted to his music, and it was what inspired me to pursue a career in contemporary music. The work I presented this time was inspired by the work and aesthetics of Miyake Issey, the designer for Issey Miyake. In the process of creating it, I felt the attitudes of Miyake and Takemitsu, who seek universality beyond the bounds of time and individuals, and I would like to continue learning so that I too can create works that will transcend time and remain in people's hearts."
(The full text of the judges' comments and the award winners' comments can be viewed at the Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation.)
We would like to offer our heartfelt congratulations to our graduates for their efforts.