Japanese musician builds cultural bridges with Turkey

By Kaan Burak Sen and Musa Alcan</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – A Japanese musician is dazzling Turkish audiences by combining elements of music from both cultures.</p> <p>In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency, Atsuko Suetomi said she was very pleased to represent Japanese music in Turkey and wants to create a common music language by working with Turkish artists.</p> <p>Suetomi said she got positive feedback from Turkish people about her playing the koto, a traditional Japanese string instrument.</p> <p>&quot;Turks say the instrument is felt deep inside,&quot; she said, adding that some people said it brought them peace.</p> <p>Suetomi was born in Japan and studied Japanese culture and Japanese music at the University of Musashino and Takasaki University of Fine Arts.</p> <p>After a one-month tour in 2005, she settled in Turkey because she was impressed by the culture, including the differences in music.</p> <p>&quot;Turkish musicians improvise while playing their instruments, but they don’t do this in traditional Japanese music,&quot; she added.</p> <p>For more than a decade Suetomi has been contributing to the Turkish-Japanese friendship by working with prominent Turkish musicians and orchestras.</p> <p>The rhythmic structure of Turkish music combined with the calmness of Japanese music creates strong feelings, she said.</p> <p>Suetomi added that she would continue to introduce the koto and continue her work training others. </p> <p>Turkey touches her and makes her nostalgic, she said, explaining that this is why she settled in Turkey despite not knowing the language.</p> <p>&quot;Turkish musicians, even if they get academic education, play with a more sincere and free feeling,&quot; she said.</p> <p>Suetomi said when performing in Japan, she includes Turkish music, and also that she wants to take Turkish musicians on her Japanese tours.</p> <p> </p> <p>*Writing by Dilara Hamit</p> <p> </p> <p>