Hideki Togi's definition of what makes a person truly cosmopolitan might appear somewhat anachronistic in light of the "borderless world" concept that has become popular today.
The 41-year-old performer of "gagaku" -- traditional Imperial court music -- suggests that people should embrace their national identity all the more today if they aspire to relate with other cultures at deeper levels.
This opinion is likely to come as a surprise because Togi has been credited with making the sequestered world of gagaku more accessible to the masses through his work, which at times melds the traditional music with more modern, Western styles.