Asahi Shimbun (Japan), June 20, 2004

Exchange of performance and a swirl of excitement: a sparkling tone to be emulated

On June 19, the violinist Midori visited Okayama Joto High School, and met with the members of its orchestra. Using her whole body, as if to physically express the story behind the music, her telling sound instantly captured the heart of 61 members of the orchestra. Some of them even shed tears as they listened. ...

Midori, with her pianist partner Koji Oikawa, played three works, including Milhaud's Le Printemps. The students, in return, performed Midori's favorite, Britten's Simple Symphony, among others.

Midori is a world-class violinist who made her recital debut in her teens at Carnegie Hall. Despite her prestige, however, she has chosen this exchange and communication with children through music as her life work, saying "I do not play for people, but I am making and sharing the music with them". ...

The 2nd-grader Akane Kaihata said, with a twinkle in her eyes, "her tone was sparkling. I want to be able to play like her".