Ishikawa Prefecture is home to the 「Piano of Memories」 located in the underground plaza of the Motenashi Dome at Kanazawa Station. Did you know that it was a grand piano that was familiar to children at Kanazawa Municipal Higashi Asakawa Elementary School from 1990 to 2009? Now it has taken a new path as a street piano, and a video of the 「Piano of Memories」 being played is creating a sensation.
Pianist Masato Mitsui (image from 『Masato Mitsui’s Official Website』)
About Pianist Makoto Mitsui
Born in Osaka, she graduated from the music department of Yuhigaoka Prefectural High School and went to France, where she studied at the Ecole Normale Superieure de Musique and the Paris Regional Conservatory, and received a bachelor’s degree in ballet accompaniment from the Conservatoire de Paris. 10 years of study in France was followed by a return to Japan in 2017. Known as 「the classical pianist who sings」, she works outside the box.
Street piano performance of Ado’s 『Asura-chan』
On June 9, Makoto Mitsui released a video of him playing 『Ashura-chan』 by Ado, which was also used as the theme song for the drama 『Doctor X: Surgeon Daimon Michiko』, at the Motegi Dome underground plaza, which caused a sensation.
Here is the original 『Asura-chan』 for your reference.
The phrase 「understand」 is striking.
And if Makoto Mitsui played it on the piano….
I played without looking at anything, and it was this powerful!
Followers who watched the video commented, 「Have you only listened to it a few times? It’s wonderful」, 「You have such a powerful sound and all the knobs are in place」, 「Wow! It’s a pleasant performance! I thought, Wow, you are indeed a pianist who studied in Europe」.
Yuzuru Hanyu used 『Ashura-chan』 as background music at the 「Stars on Ice」 figure skating ice show held in Yokohama, Kanagawa in April, and some people said, 「I saw Mr. Hanyu’s superb steps」. The song choice is as good as it gets.
Kanazawa Station Motenashi Dome Information
| Name | Kanazawa Station East Motenashi Dome Underground Plaza |
| Address | 2 Kinoshinbo-machi, Kanazawa City |
| Official Site | Kanazawa Station Event Plaza User Guide |
