Art Encouragement Prize for Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
1 appearances
-
Edition 21 (1971) award
Kinshi Tsuruta
つるた きんし
Tsuruta Kinshi
Pen Names:
Kikue Tsuruta（birth name (real name)）
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1911-08-15 （Hokkaidō, Japan）
- Died
- 1995-04-04 age 83
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
Career
- Occupations
- Satsuma-biwa player, entrepreneur, performer
- Active Years
- 1925-1995
- Influenced By
- older brother (unnamed), Toru Takemitsu
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Commandeur) | — | — | Ministry of Culture (France) | 受章（コマンドール） |
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Commandeur)
1985
Organization:
Ministry of Culture (France)
Result:
受章（コマンドール）
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
November Steps (performance)
1967 Contemporary classical (performance) / Traditional Japanese (Satsuma-biwa)She made her international debut as a biwa soloist in Toru Takemitsu's 'November Steps' and thereafter was active internationally as a leading Satsuma-biwa performer.
fusion of tradition and modernityinternationalization of Japanese music
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- powerful, narrative-focused performance stylerooted in traditional Satsuma-biwa technique while adaptable to contemporary compositions
- Recurring Motifs
- themes from The Tale of the Heike and other historical narrativesaesthetic motifs such as yūgen and wabi-sabi
Legacy
Kinshi Tsuruta was a foremost Satsuma-biwa master who greatly contributed to spreading traditional Japanese music nationally and internationally. Her participation in Toru Takemitsu's 'November Steps' brought global recognition; she received honors including France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Commandeur).
Academic Societies
- Japan Biwa Music Association
In Popular Culture
- International recognition through performance in Toru Takemitsu's 'November Steps'
- Contribution to the postwar revival and international introduction of traditional Japanese music
Trivia
- Birth name: Kikue Tsuruta.
- Learned the Nishiki-shin school Satsuma-biwa from an early age under the influence of her older brother.
- Began performing professionally in her teens.
- Around 1936 she turned to business (including nightlife establishments) and achieved substantial financial success, reportedly appearing on wealth rankings.
- Re-debuted as Kinshi Tsuruta in 1955.
- Discovered by Toru Takemitsu and made her international debut in 'November Steps'.
- Awarded France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Commandeur) in 1985.