Hidekazu Yoshida
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese music critic and literary critic, active in Shōwa
and Heisei Japan.
, Tokyo
. From an early age, he was interested in languages, and joined in club activities involving English
and German
when in high school. He was tutored in the French language
by noted poet Nakahara Chuya
, and corresponded with noted literary critics Kobayashi Hideo
and Ooka Shohei
when still a student. He later graduated from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in French literature
.
His first work of music criticism
was a series on Mozart, published in the magazine Ongaku Geijutsu in 1946. In 1948, he helped establish the Toho Gakuen School of Music
together with follow music critics and noted musicians; the school in now one of Japan's most prestigious music institutions.
He made frequent appearances on radio
, and later on television
, providing commentary on classical music
, and on music educational programs.
In 1975, he was awarded the 2nd Osaragi Jizo literary prize for his Yoshino Hideo zenshu (Collected Poems of Yoshino Hideo). In 1988, he became director of the Mito Geijutsukan. The same year, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure
, 3rd class and the NHK Culture Award. In 1993, he was awarded the Yomiuri Prize
.
In 2006, he received the Order of Culture
from the Japanese government.
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
and Heisei Japan.
Biography
Yoshida was born in NihonbashiNihonbashi
, or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. From an early age, he was interested in languages, and joined in club activities involving English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
when in high school. He was tutored in the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
by noted poet Nakahara Chuya
Nakahara Chuya
was a Japanese poet active during the early Shōwa period of Japan.-Early life:Nakahara Chūya was born in Yamaguchi Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1907, where his father was an army doctor. In his early life, his father was posted to Hiroshima and Kanazawa, returning to Yamaguchi in 1914...
, and corresponded with noted literary critics Kobayashi Hideo
Kobayashi Hideo
was a Japanese author, who established literary criticism as an independent art form in Japan.-Early life:Kobayashi was born in the Kanda district of Tokyo. He studied French literature at Tokyo Imperial University and graduated in 1927...
and Ooka Shohei
Ooka Shohei
was a Japanese novelist, literary critic, and translator of French literature who was active during the Shōwa period of Japan. Ōoka belongs to the group of postwar writers whose World War II experiences at home and abroad figure prominently in their works...
when still a student. He later graduated from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
.
His first work of music criticism
Music criticism
See also Music journalism for reporting on classical and popular music in the media.The Oxford Companion to Music defines music criticism as 'the intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres'. In this...
was a series on Mozart, published in the magazine Ongaku Geijutsu in 1946. In 1948, he helped establish the Toho Gakuen School of Music
Toho Gakuen School of Music
is a private conservatoire located in Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan.-History:Toho Gakuen was founded in 1948 in Kudan as a music school for children, and two years later opened the Toho High School of Music, to provide quality musical education to teenage girls. 1955 saw the establishment of the Junior...
together with follow music critics and noted musicians; the school in now one of Japan's most prestigious music institutions.
He made frequent appearances on radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, and later on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, providing commentary on classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, and on music educational programs.
In 1975, he was awarded the 2nd Osaragi Jizo literary prize for his Yoshino Hideo zenshu (Collected Poems of Yoshino Hideo). In 1988, he became director of the Mito Geijutsukan. The same year, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure
Order of the Sacred Treasure
The is a Japanese Order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan as the Order of Meiji. It is awarded in eight classes . It is generally awarded for long and/or meritorious service and considered to be the lowest of the Japanese orders of merit...
, 3rd class and the NHK Culture Award. In 1993, he was awarded the Yomiuri Prize
Yomiuri Prize
The is a prestigious literary award in Japan. The prize was founded in 1948 by the Yomiuri Shinbun Company to help form a "cultural nation". The winner is awarded one million Japanese yen and an inkstone.-Award categories:...
.
In 2006, he received the Order of Culture
Order of Culture
The is a Japanese order, established on February 11, 1937. The order has one class only, and may be awarded to men and women for contributions to Japan's art, literature or culture; recipients of the order also receive an annuity for life...
from the Japanese government.