The sales agency for the Japanese edition of a collection of photographs of world-renowned conductor Seiji Ozawa has begun pulling the book from store shelves after discovering it was published without Ozawa's permission.
According to Tokyo-based Yamaha Music Media Corp., the original photographic collection entitled, "Seiji: An Intimate Portrait of Seiji Ozawa," was published in the United States in November 1998 to commemorate Ozawa's 25 years as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
The U.S. edition is a collection of personal tributes and photographs by Lincoln Russell covering the course of Ozawa's career in Boston and his tour with the orchestra around the world.
Officials said the Japanese edition was published on May 20 with a print run of 2,000 copies. They said that only when they contacted Ozawa after publication to discuss a publicity campaign and sales matters did they learn he had no knowledge of the book.
An agency official said it appears an official of the orchestra gave the go-ahead for the Japanese version without informing Ozawa. Agency officials said they decided to recall the copies since terms and conditions have yet to be reached with the conductor. The book was priced at 3,500 yen a copy.