“AWAKENING” is a series of interviews in which professionals who are active in various fields share their “awareness” gained from health and lifestyle.

This time, we have pianist/composer Yaeko Takemura.
While working as a pianist, he has expanded his range of activities as a composer, and is active in various fields such as TV personality.


From unknown pianist work to stoic physical condition management before the performance.

We also asked Mr. Takemura, who said he is a heavy user of Lypo-C about how to use Lypo-C.

Yaeko Takemura (pianist/composer)
Selected as one of six world soloists at the Chopin International Festival. In the same year, he became the first artist of CHANEL Japan. Recently, activities that transcend the existing classical piano framework have become a hot topic, such as working under the name of Shinichi Osawa's music unit "LNoL". A second album will be released in 2023.

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─First of all, please tell us what made you want to become a pianist.

Actually, I didn't originally want to be a pianist, I wanted to be a scholar who studies classical music. I was interested in Chopin's musicality and historical background, so I studied it in graduate school.

The reason I became interested in Chopin was when I was in the 3rd and 4th grades of elementary school, when I heard "Kakumei no Etude" at a concert by Akira Jinno, a famous Chopin player. .
I started to take an interest in Chopin, thinking, "It's cool!" and "I want to play this piece someday!"

After studying Chopin in graduate school, he went to Vienna to study music.
While I was studying abroad, I was selected as the first artist of Chanel's "Pygmalion Days", a program that supports young musicians, and I returned to Japan on that occasion.

At that time, I still didn't say, "I'm going to make it as a professional pianist!"
I may look flashy at first glance, but I want to go out in public and do something! It's not that personality, and it's getting more and more attracted to what people want.

I believe that a musician is someone who is wanted by people to perform on stage.

Breaking out of traditional frameworks and moving toward a “personal path”

When I was selected as Chanel's first artist, the classical music industry asked me, ``You have a career that has been selected at Chopin's international festival, but you are going to do music in a world as frivolous as fashion! I have been told.

At that time, there was a part of me that didn't make sense.
I've always loved fashion, and my piano teacher used to say harsh things like, "People with bad taste in clothes also have bad taste in music."

In the same way, I think that "sense" is something that can be applied to all things, whether it's classics or fashion.
So, being in a classical music industry that respects tradition, I thought I had to do something new.

After that, I tried various things other than the piano, such as being an MC for a music talk show on a TV program for 8 years.
From those experiences, I felt that maybe I was being told, "Don't go on a different path than everyone else."

And when I last met the late Dr. Jinno, whom I respected, he told me, "Yae-chan, follow Yae-chan's path."

The classical music industry is a very tough world.
Only one out of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of people, can become a musician active on the front lines.

Not everyone can go there.

In the first place, the classical music industry is individualistic, so there is no way for seniors to give.

So, I want to go my own way.
And when the juniors who see me know that "musicians also have this path," I want to illuminate the path that follows, so that's what I'm doing now.

─ Speaking of “going beyond the boundaries of classical musicians”, recently you have been active under the name of “LNoL”, a music unit produced by Shinichi Osawa.

That's right.
I'm proud of the classics, but isn't it okay to change them to suit the current times? Both I think. Even classical music was pop music 200 to 300 years ago.

So, I thought that if I could apply classical techniques to other genres, I could make cool music, so I started LNoL.

"LNoL" is a piano-based electronic music unit produced by Shinichi Osawa.

We are currently working on our second album, and this time we are working with 7 top creators.
In addition to Shinichi Osawa, Ryosuke Imai, who worked on Namie Amuro's "Hero", Grammy-nominated Japanese producer starRo, and ☆Taku Takahashi from m-flo, are some of the top representatives of Japan. I made a song with 7 creators.

The theme of "LNoL" is to create universal music.
I was so fascinated by the universal music of Chopin and Beethoven that I made the theme of my graduate school thesis "The universality of Chopin's style and its historical historical background." !” was the desire.

This time as well, we're working with top creators to discuss what kind of music is universal, so we've created a finish that brings out each person's individuality.
The album is scheduled to be released this year and is currently being recorded. Please look forward to it.

Just like an athlete! Pianist is a physical fitness game

─While working as a pianist, please tell us what you enjoy and what you find difficult.

The fun thing is that I can play songs that I couldn't play! That's the joy.
Also, when the audience who listened to the performance was moved and said, "It gave me energy for tomorrow," I think I'm really glad I continued.

On the other hand, the difficult thing is that it is a test of physical strength because it is a continuous practice every day.

Being a pianist isn't as glamorous and glamorous as you might think, it's more like a swan. Even if you play lightly on the surface of the water, your feet are desperately flapping when the water surface.

I practice, practice, practice every day.

─Please tell us if there is anything you are careful about when managing your physical condition, such as before the performance.

In order to prepare for the performance in perfect condition, I strictly restrict my diet from 3 to 4 weeks before the performance.

For example, I don't generally take anything that cools my body. When I take vegetables, I eat warm vegetables instead of salads.

Also, I don't eat raw fish or raw fish (sushi, sashimi), even the slightest risk.

He was so busy that when he was in his twenties, he collapsed from gastroenteritis while recording.
I don't think I'm a professional if I can't expect to be in perfect physical condition on an important day, such as a performance or recording, so I'm always careful about my physical condition.

─ Listening to you, it sounds like you live like an athlete!

oh yeah! I think all musicians are athletes.
I watch my diet, and many people work out at the gym.

Being a musician is a job that requires more physical strength than you might think.
People tend to think that pianists only move their hands, but since they have not only a keyboard but also three pedals, they need to use their entire bodies to perform.

Also, abdominal muscles are important, so I train them.
As a baseball player, don't you often say, ``Leave your upper body weak while keeping your lower body strong''?
It's the same with the piano.

Since the piano has the widest range, it is necessary to play while expanding the range of motion of the shoulders and moving the shoulder blades firmly.
Since it's a full-body exercise, my muscles often hurt, and after the performance I lose about 2kg.

A healthy mind resides in a healthy body

Keeping fit is one of the most important tasks for a pianist.
I usually do Pilates, and I also do muscle training with a whole body EMS machine like "Tomb Raider".

Also, drinking Lypo-C every night.
At first, after receiving treatment at a beauty clinic, it was recommended that I started drinking it, and it's been about 4-5 years.

Since then, I drink it every day, and I always take it with me when I go abroad.
Since I started drinking, I'm happy that my anxiety before the performance has disappeared, not to mention the beauty aspect.

The timing to drink is once a day before going to bed.
But when practice was hard, I drank it twice or three times a day, so the amount I consumed was quite high (laughs).
I don't like the taste of Lypo-C, so I put it in my mouth first and then swallow it with green juice.

─ When did you start thinking about inner care?

It was after my 30s that I became conscious of my health.

As you get older, you can't maintain the status quo without making an effort, so maintaining the status quo is a must!
I consider myself lucky if it is in better condition than that.

I believe that "a healthy body inhabits a healthy mind, and a healthy mind inhabits a healthy body."

─Finally, Mr. Takemura, please tell us if there is anything you are conscious of for your “future self”.

It means to "believe in yourself positively".
No matter what you do, it is positive to think, "Are you okay? Are you worried?"

If you keep doing what you are doing every day and take on new challenges, you will be happy.
I think that if I continue to have the feeling of "positively believing in myself" toward the future, I will be happy forever.

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