Art Encouragement Prize for Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
1 appearances
-
Edition 49 (1999) award
Yosuke Yamashita
やました ようすけ
Yamashita Yosuke
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1942-02-26 （Tokyo (Konno-cho, Shibuya), Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
Career
- Occupations
- Jazz pianist, Composer, Essayist, Writer
- Active Years
- 1959-
- Influenced By
- Taro Nakamura
- Influenced
- Tamori (Kazuyoshi Morita)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azabu Junior & Senior High School | — | — | — | — | Japan |
| Kunitachi College of Music | Faculty of Music | Composition | — | — | Japan |
Azabu Junior & Senior High School
Country:
Japan
Began professional performances while enrolled
Kunitachi College of Music
Faculty of Music
/ Composition
Country:
Japan
Studied composition and theory under Taro Nakamura and others
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Mainichi Film Concours — Music Award | Kanzo Sensei | 音楽賞 | Mainichi Film Concours | 受賞 |
| 1999 | 22nd Japan Academy Prize — Outstanding Music | Kanzo Sensei | 優秀音楽賞 | Japan Academy Prize Association | 受賞 |
| 1998 | Art Festival (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Minister of Education Award (Popular Performing Arts) | — | 大衆芸能部門 | Agency for Cultural Affairs / Art Festival | 受賞 |
| 2003 | Order of the Purple Ribbon | — | — | Government of Japan | 受章 |
| 2005 | Oribe Prize | — | — | Oribe Prize Committee | 受賞 |
| 2012 | Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (small) | — | — | Government of Japan | 受章 |
| 2023 | Mainichi Art Award | — | — | Mainichi Newspapers | 受賞 |
Mainichi Film Concours — Music Award
1998
Work:
Kanzo Sensei
Category:
音楽賞
Organization:
Mainichi Film Concours
Result:
受賞
22nd Japan Academy Prize — Outstanding Music
1999
Work:
Kanzo Sensei
Category:
優秀音楽賞
Organization:
Japan Academy Prize Association
Result:
受賞
Art Festival (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Minister of Education Award (Popular Performing Arts)
1998
Category:
大衆芸能部門
Organization:
Agency for Cultural Affairs / Art Festival
Result:
受賞
Order of the Purple Ribbon
2003
Organization:
Government of Japan
Result:
受章
Oribe Prize
2005
Organization:
Oribe Prize Committee
Result:
受賞
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (small)
2012
Organization:
Government of Japan
Result:
受章
Mainichi Art Award
2023
Organization:
Mainichi Newspapers
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
DANCING Kojiki
1969 Jazz (live album)An early representative live recording by the Yosuke Yamashita Trio, captured at Waseda University's Building 4.
Free jazzImprovisation
Fuun Jazz-cho (Wind and Cloud Jazz Notes)
1975 EssayA collection of tour journals and humorous essays about band life; a representative work of Yamashita's writing.
Tour memoirHumorImmediacy / improvisation
Laugh at the Pianist!
1976 Essay / TravelogueAn essay and travelogue collection centered on European concerts; acclaimed for sharp observation and humor.
Overseas touringJazz culture commentary
Jugemu — The World of Yosuke Yamashita Vol.1
1981 Album (compilation)Volume 1 of a series considered a summation of Yamashita's work; includes pieces incorporating rakugo rhythms.
Fusion of rakugo (traditional comic storytelling) and jazz
Bibliography
- Fuun Jazz-cho
- Laugh at the Pianist!
- Pianist's Year of Invasion
- Dobarada Gate
- Don't Laugh at the Pianist!
Adaptations
- Jazz Daimyo (soundtrack for the film 'Jazz Daimyo')
- Kanzo Sensei (film score)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Humorous, light essayistic styleVoice shaped by improvisational immediacy
- Recurring Motifs
- ImprovisationJazzRakugo (comic storytelling)Travel
Legacy
One of postwar Japan's leading free-jazz pianists, Yamashita has had broad influence as performer, composer and writer. His practice of improvisation and cross-disciplinary collaborations broadened the reach of jazz in Japan.
In Popular Culture
- Discovered Tamori and played a role in his entry into show business; influential presence across TV, radio and film.
Quotes
-
I'd be happy to die while playing the piano.
Source: Recounted in interviews/essays (as anecdote) (1969)
Trivia
- Served as the first president of the tongue-in-cheek 'All-Japan Hiyashi-Chuka Lovers' Association'
- An avid go (board game) player; served as a go ambassador for the Nihon Ki-in
- Known for free-jazz techniques such as striking keys with his elbow (later adopting more orthodox technique)