Chieko Hara, a pioneer Japanese pianist who performed throughout Europe, died of old age at a suburban Tokyo hospital Sunday, her family said Monday. She was 86.
Hara was born in Kobe and graduated from the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique in Paris. She studied under French pianist Alfred Cortot.
She was awarded a special prize at the International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in 1937 and started performing throughout Europe.
Hara married Gaspar Cassado, a renowned Spanish cellist, in 1959 and obtained Spanish citizenship.
After Cassado died, she started the International Gaspar Cassado Competition in Italy in his memory and nurtured young musicians.
She returned to Japan in 1989.
Japanese comic Edoya Nekohachi III, known for his imitations of creatures such as chickens and crickets, died of heart failure Monday at a Tokyo hospital, his family said. He was 80.
Nekohachi, whose real name was Rokuro Okada, took after his late father Edoya Nekohachi I, who also did imitations. Another comic, Edoya Nekohachi II, was also inspired by the first Nekohachi, but was not related to him.
A resident of Tokyo, Nekohachi appeared on TV shows such as the comedic "Owarai Sannin Gumi" that debuted on NHK TV in 1956, as well as the film "Ososhiki" ("The Funeral").