Blind pianist from Japan makes his U.S. debut

Blind pianist from Japan makes his U.S. debut

NEW YORK, United States - Takeshi Kakehashi, a blind Japanese pianist, debuts Oct. 20 in the United States in a recital at Carnegie Hall. Kakehashi, 25, performed renditions of Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven, eliciting a standing ovation.

Empress Michiko, her daughter attend charity concert

Empress Michiko, her daughter attend charity concert

TOKYO, Japan - Empress Michiko (second from L) and her daughter, Princess Sayako (second from R), also known as Princess Nori, attend a charity concert by blind pianist Takeshi Kakehashi at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo on Nov. 1. Kakehashi won second prize in the 1998 International Marguerite Long and Jacques Thibaud Competition in December last year. (Pool photo)

Japanese pianist tells of his joy

Japanese pianist tells of his joy

Takeshi Kakehashi (L), a Japanese pianist who won the second prize in the International Marguerite Long and Jacques Thibaud Competition on Dec. 5, tells of his joy in a Paris hotel on Dec. 8. The secretariat of the contest said he is the first blind musician to win a prize in the prestigious contest. Smiling at right is his mother Yuko.

Blind pianist from Japan makes his U.S. debut

Blind pianist from Japan makes his U.S. debut

NEW YORK, United States - Takeshi Kakehashi, a blind Japanese pianist, debuts Oct. 20 in the United States in a recital at Carnegie Hall. Kakehashi, 25, performed renditions of Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven, eliciting a standing ovation. (Kyodo)

Sendai's orchestra plays at the Konzerthaus in Vienna

Sendai's orchestra plays at the Konzerthaus in Vienna

VIENNA, Austria - The Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, a Japanese professional orchestra based in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, plays Chopin's piano concerto No. 2 at the Konzerthaus, a prestigious concert hall in Vienna. Pianist Takeshi Kakehashi, a winner of Concours international de Long-Thibaud in 1998, is shown in the picture together with Japanese leading conductor Yuzo Toyama.

Empress Michiko, her daughter attend charity concert

Empress Michiko, her daughter attend charity concert

TOKYO, Japan - Empress Michiko (second from L) and her daughter, Princess Sayako (second from R), also known as Princess Nori, attend a charity concert by blind pianist Takeshi Kakehashi at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo on Nov. 1. Kakehashi won second prize in the 1998 International Marguerite Long and Jacques Thibaud Competition in December last year.

Japanese pianist tells of his joy

Japanese pianist tells of his joy

Takeshi Kakehashi (L), a Japanese pianist who won the second prize in the International Marguerite Long and Jacques Thibaud Competition on Dec. 5, tells of his joy in a Paris hotel Dec. 8. The secretariat of the contest said he is the first blind musician to win a prize in the prestigious contest. Smiling at right is his mother Yuko. ==Kyodo