Turning 80 this year hasn't interrupted Isao Tomita in his search for new musical possibilities. Known to many as the father of Japanese electronic music, the artist is about to turn his latest dream into a (virtual) reality, by collaborating with computer-generated diva Hatsune Miku. This weekend, Tomita will welcome her on stage to sing with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra when they perform his "Symphony Ihatov."
Being the first Japanese musician to incorporate a synthesizer into a composition, Tomita has always been a pioneer for which he has been recognized both here and abroad. Highlights from his career include composing the music for two animated series based on works by Osamu Tezuka: "Jungle Emperor Leo" and "The Ribbon Knight" (also known as "The Princess Knight"). This connection to the country's most influential manga writer helped boost his success.
The composition for "Jungle Emperor Leo" resulted in Tomita receiving the 1966 Art Encouragement Prize at the National Arts Festival. His use of synthesizers evolved in the 1970s, his masterpiece "Snowflakes are Dancing" made it to the No. 1 spot on Billboard's classical charts in 1974. From that point, Tomita saw his star rise abroad and he followed up with many synthesizer-centric albums.