Why did Tomoko go into music? She says, “Because it is
honest -- and I love music.”
She watched her brother play, and she started playing her
when she was seven years old: on the family organ.
Some youngsters stop playing the piano, or at least stop
taking lessons, but Tomoko continued. She recalls, “My school required singing,
and they expected me to play.” Tomoko thought to herself, “This is an
opportunity. Hey, I can go it.”
In order to play well for her peers, Tomoko wanted to play
well, “Like climbing a mountain. Learning to play well is challenging, and you
have to keep moving.” Tomoko understood
that music preparation helped her get smarter.
Music has also helped Tomoko make connections and gain friends.
“The church welcomed me,” she said. Because of the quality of her performance, “People
can respect me immediately.” Certainly, in international circles, music is an
opening door, especially when the spoken word is hard to follow; “I don’t have
to say anything.”
Tomoko thinks has a long-term
commitment to music. She explains, “Music takes a long time to learn and gain
over time. It is hard work, like sweat, but I sleep well.” She continues, “Music
is part of my daily schedule. It is a discipline.” Music also keeps her young. “Music
is energetic. We need to be energized and to use the energy we get from music. It’s
like cycling; the more you do, the more oxygen you get; you feel fresher. And it helps maintain one’s hearing and
memory.”
She concludes, "The companionship of music is lifelong."
