WRITERS ABROAD MAGAZINE: THE THIRD SPACE
The Japanese Musician
BY S.B. BORGERSEN
He comes from Japan and speaks no English. But he sings and plays like an old English
music hall pro. Does he know of what he sings?
He plays the triplet intro and winks at me. Winks? Did I really catch a wink? From the
young man from Japan?
I assumed he would be so proper. From his first enquiring email to his final
confirmation letter when he addressed me formally and announced his visit. That he
would perform for the festival. I don’t really know what I expected. But it wasn’t this.
On arrival he presents me with a bonsai tree in a hand thrown matt black glazed pot.
When he offers it to me he holds it high, turning it this way and that. Indicating that I
should look closely and then step back and admire it from a few feet. This I do. I
understood that offence can be construed from an innocent remark or gesture.
He stays with us. Eats local food. Enthuses with unusual sounds and plenty of smiles
at lobsters. On the first evening he unpacks his instrument and plays Gershwin to us by
firelight. Gershwin? Again I am taken aback. I expected Japanese music with foreign
sounding chords and discords. With lyrics in a foreign tongue hopefully about love under
the cherry blossom trees. Instead we have Rhapsody in Blue. And I am mesmerised.
Shigeto is a perfect house guest. By the weekend of the festival we are communicating.
I learn the Japanese words for “would you like...?” and he is able to say “yes,” or “no
thank you very much.”
I introduce him on stage at the festival. No-one has any idea of the music he will
perform for us. The theatre is full of anticipation for a new experience. The Lancashire
accent has us all looking around; at each other, at the stage, at the famous musician. And
then he begins to sing and play:
Now I go cleaning windows to earn an honest bob/For a nosy parker it’s an interestin’ job
And I ask myself if he knows what a “bob” is, or a nosy parker come to that and then
he launches into
If you can see what I can see/When I’m cleanin’ windows/Honeymoonin’ couples too
You should see them bill ‘n coo/You’d be surprised at things they do
19 | November 2016