One of Japan’s most acclaimed artists, Fumiko Sakura, began playing the nai at the age of eight. Fascinated by the sound of this instrument, she continued her studies in the art of the snare in Romania. A valuable nanny and teacher of nai, Fumiko Sakura has a cult for Romania and Gheorghe Zamfir.
Fumiko Sakura, naista who adores Romania PHOTO Facebook
Fumiko Sakura had an exceptional talent for learning to play several musical instruments as a child.
“I started playing the nai when I was eight years old. What drew me to the nai from the beginning was its natural tone that was so wonderful. I was also attracted by the difficulty of learning to play the nai. I learned to play the piano at 5, the harp at 8 and the trumpet at 11. Of all the three instruments, the snare was the one that fascinated me the most”Fumiko Sakura reveals with emotion for “The Truth”.
Fumiko Sakura grew up with the very special music of Gheorghe Zamfir: “As a child, I was fascinated by the wonderful sounds of the bagpipes and the compositions of Gheorghe Zamfir. I fell in love with the nai, which had a different tone than anything I had heard until then. By the way, my favorite Romanian word is even Nai”.
The valiant Japanese nanny later honed her skills at an international nanny seminar in Switzerland.
And in Switzerland he met Radu Nechifor, one of the most talented naisists of the new generation, teacher and builder in his own nais workshop. A valuable naist, Radu Nechifor was the first in 2003 to join maestro Gheorghe Zamfir’s naist chair at the University of Music in Bucharest.
“I really wanted to become a professional nanny, so I asked Radu Nechifor to teach me nanny lessons and I became his disciple. Radu Nechifor is a great artist and teacher, being one of Gheorghe Zamfir’s disciples. Before the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, I came every year to take horse riding lessons from Radu Nechifor. And I have already made a plan to return to Romania next summer”says Fumiko Sakura.
The special relationship with Romania
The talented Japanese singer, who has performed numerous concerts so far, has many special memories related to Romania.
“If I were to nominate a few special memories related to Romania, they are regarding its cheerful and open people, the nature of an ineffable charm and the high level of traditional Romanian culture. I can say without hesitation that Romania is my favorite country. And I would like to thank the Romanians for preserving the tradition of the naiului”says Japanese nanny Fumiko Sakura.
Image 1/7:
December 27 naista fumiko sakura photo facebook jpg
Although the nai is not currently among the most popular instruments in Japan, steady steps are being taken to promote the nai, and interest is steadily increasing.
Seikei University has a snare club, and Tokyo College of Music has created a snare course for adults. It must be said that Fumiko Sakura is a lecturer at both Seikei University and the Tokyo College of Music, and her students are captivated by the charm of the snare.
“I have been composing for nai and publishing compositions since 2016. Every year, we donate compositions for nai to high schools in Romania that have nai classes. And I will continue to do so with great pleasure. I love Gheorghe Zamfir’s creations and Romanian folk songs. I love what I do and I would like to play trumpet forever”confesses Fumiko Sakura.
