Japanese musician captivates Kazakhstan with his dombra playing
The Japanese artist first encountered the dombra at a friend's place in Istanbul, took a few lessons, and has since never parted with the instrument. Today, his repertoire includes more than 20 kuis, such as "Adai," "Saryarka," and "Balbyrauyn."
Journalists from the TV channel fulfilled Akira's long-held dream by arranging a meeting with his idol, renowned kyushi and composer Seken Turysbekov. The musicians performed the kui "Tolkyn" together.
"I have performed in Japan many times, and the Kazakh dombra sparks great interest there. The love for music needs no translation. People should feel it with their hearts and ears. That’s why it’s especially rewarding to see the Japanese audience so captivated by Kazakh music, its delicacy, and depth," said Seken Turysbekov.
The kyushi gave Akira some valuable tips on playing the dombra. He also introduced the Japanese guest to the State Chamber Orchestra "Aq Zhauyn," which performed several pieces especially for him.
"I really like Kazakhstan. I would love to learn the Kazakh language to better understand its traditions and culture. Seken Turysbekov is a true professional, and I am happy to learn from him. Before this, I used to play Turkish music on the violin, but the magical sound of the dombra surpassed everything. These two strings have incredible power. I even won a music competition in Japan by performing Nurgisa Tlendiyev's kui 'Aqqu,'" shared Akira Takeguchi.
Now, the young musician from Japan dreams of taking a master class with Kazakhstan's People's Artist Aigul Ulkenbayeva.