Japan’s iconic orchestra conductor, Seiji Ozawa, known as one of the best of his generation, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 88 due to heart failure.
Born in China in 1935, Ozawa spent decades gracing top orchestras worldwide. Despite his illustrious career, he preferred a casual approach, often opting for baseball-themed ties during interviews and insisting on being addressed by his first name, not the traditional “maestro.”
Ozawa’s charm extended beyond the musical realm. His distinctive bushy hair and warm smile captivated audiences, particularly during his nearly three-decade tenure as the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 2020, the city of Boston declared September 1st as “Seiji Ozawa Day,” a gesture that deeply touched the maestro, referring to Boston as his second home.
Reflecting on his time in Boston, Ozawa expressed its significance in his life, stating, “No matter where I go, Boston is a part of my heart.”
Back in Tokyo, Ozawa continued to embrace a down-to-earth lifestyle. Often seen on subway platforms donning the jacket and cap of his beloved Boston Red Sox baseball team, he would readily engage in conversations with admirers.
In a 2014 news conference, he humbly shared, “I’m the complete opposite of a genius, I have always had to make an effort. I don’t really like studying, but I had to do it if I wanted to make music. Anybody with genius can easily do better than me.”
Ozawa faced health challenges during his career, including a battle with esophageal cancer in 2010. Despite setbacks, his enthusiasm for music remained unwavering. In a 2013 interview, he asserted, “I will continue doing everything I have always done, teaching and conducting orchestra, until I die.”
Amidst health-related downtime, Ozawa seized the opportunity to deepen his musical knowledge, engage with friends like Japanese author Haruki Murakami, and reflect on his life.
The accomplished conductor’s journey in music began in his childhood in China, where his mother introduced him to hymns at church. The family’s return to Japan in 1941 marked the start of Ozawa’s piano education, which eventually shifted to conducting after a rugby injury.
Ozawa’s career took a significant turn in 1959 when he won a young conductors’ competition in France, propelling him into the global music scene. Collaborations with legends like Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein followed, leading to directorial roles in Toronto, San Francisco, and Singapore before his influential 29-year directorship at the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Beyond his international success, Ozawa’s heart remained deeply rooted in Boston sports, passionately supporting the Red Sox, New England Patriots, and Celtics. While dedicated to teaching, particularly in Boston, where he held weekly classes for children, his primary passion was nurturing classical music in Japan.
He established a successful summer music festival in Matsumoto, named after his first mentor, Hideo Saito. The festival not only thrived but also turned Matsumoto into a hub for classical music enthusiasts.
Seiji Ozawa leaves behind a lasting legacy, survived by his two grown children – daughter Seira, an author, and son Yukiyoshi, an actor.