For singer Eva Miklas Takamine, who also has been head of the Czech Center in Tokyo since March, singing both Czech and Japanese songs is a way of expressing her identity.
The Czech-born Miklas, 52, who began her career as a professional singer only three years ago, says she feels she doesn't have a clear national identity after being away from her home country for more than three decades.
Rather than being either a Czech or a Japanese, she feels cosmopolitan. "I came to the conclusion that music is the most appropriate form of expressing my identity. Music is the true meaning of my life. Whether I'm good or bad doesn't matter. I just want to express myself, and have people understand simple things like generosity and tolerance through my music."