Friends for Life

Friends are important, as Tomoko well knows. She has made good musical friends, and continues to keep in touch with them throughout her life.

A case in point? Tomoko still connects with her high school friends, including at reunions that they hold to this day. “We were all in the same situation,” Tomoko recalls. “It was after the war, and materials were not available. We all made do.”

Tomoko didn’t know anyone in San Francisco when she arrived to study at the Conservatory, but she soon made friends through her classes. She was invited to their homes to celebrate holidays, and even flew one time with a couple of her classmates to Arizona State University to see Pablo Casals in person. “My friend was particularly inspired by him,”Tomoko notes. “We even met him at the airport, and shared a meal with him.”

Tomoko herself idolized Lili Kraus, an internationally famous pianist. In 1962 Tomoko and Lili were both practicing at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and started a professional conversation that bloomed into a long-time friendship. 

Several of Tomoko’s friends began as performance partners. For instance, Tomoko met violinist Ernestine Chihuaria in 1968 through the Peninsula Symphony. Ernestine needed an accompanist at the last minute, and Tomoko performed with her at the DeYoung Museum. They continued to perform together as a duet for thirty years, and Tomoko kept in touch with Ernestine until she passed in 2014. 

Tomoko also became a friend to many of her students and their families. George Duke, who become a jazz musician, was an early student of hers. She was very impressed with his dedication and his kindness. She performed Brahms and Prokofiev with him, and continued to keep in touch with him.

Tomoko’s friendships were certainly reflected in a recent recital that she arranged, and in which she performed with her current and former students. The audience was filled with her friends, who love her artistry – and her personality. It’s music to her heart.

Staying with Music

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."