(Note: I use AI to help me translate my stories from Japanese to English.)
Jacob Koller is an American pianist who lives in Japan. He is also a composer, arranger, and YouTuber.
He started playing the piano when he was four years old and has won many competitions. He has lived in Japan since 2009 and has released numerous albums. His YouTube channel has about 350,000 subscribers.
I’m embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of him before. That’s why I looked him up online before attending the concert.
The concert was held at 2 p.m. on a Sunday in Ishikawa, Japan. My seat was in the fourth row from the front, and there were several hundred people in the venue.
A mother and her daughter were sitting in front of me.
The concert began, and Jacob walked onto the stage. The audience applauded enthusiastically, and I joined in.
After giving a brief greeting, he sat down at the piano and immediately started playing. I was surprised because I had expected him to talk more before performing.
He played with incredible energy and speed. His performance felt powerful and dynamic. I thought, “This is what a professional pianist looks like.”
After the first piece, Jacob picked up a microphone and spoke to the audience—first in English and then in Japanese.
He has a high, gentle voice. He said, “Thank you for coming today. I hope you enjoy the concert.”
Then he continued with the performance.
Jacob played many Japanese songs, so I recognized most of the music. That made the concert even more enjoyable.
He played the piano with his whole body. He moved energetically and sometimes looked as if he were singing along to the music. Occasionally, he even jumped slightly while playing. It looked as though he was pouring his soul into the performance.
At times, he gestured for the audience to clap along with the music. We followed his lead and clapped in rhythm. I was a little nervous because I had to keep time with everyone else.
Then, with a gesture, he suddenly signaled us to stop. The entire audience stopped clapping at the same moment. I felt as if I had become part of the performance.
Every piece ended with loud applause.
At one point, Jacob mentioned that he had made a mistake. The audience laughed, but I had no idea where the mistake had occurred. That’s one of the charms of live performances—mistakes can make them feel even more real and memorable.
He also performed pieces such as “Sing, Sing, Sing,” music from Studio Ghibli films, and songs by the Carpenters.
Listening to the Carpenters’ music live made me realize how wonderful their songs are.
Jacob also played some of his recent original compositions. They were creative, beautiful, and moving.
He said that his recently released album features music performed on the Atomic Bomb Piano, a piano that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. He also said that he prayed for world peace while playing it.
Then he performed Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
You have probably heard this piece before because it is so famous. I had heard it many times on television, but this was my first time hearing it performed live.
As I listened, I was reminded of what a beautiful piece it is. Because it was a live performance, I didn’t know exactly how the music would unfold. That uncertainty made it exciting and thrilling.
The other day, I heard someone on television describe “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” as a modern classic, saying that it would continue to be played for many years to come.
After hearing it live, I understood why. Although the piece is relatively modern, it is already regarded as a classic because of its exceptional quality.
Later, Jacob spoke to the audience again.
“I perform here every year, and this is my fifth concert in this venue. For my final set, I’d like to play some of my favorite anime songs. When I came to Japan 17 years ago, I couldn’t speak Japanese. I watched a lot of anime and learned Japanese through it. That’s one reason I came to love anime music.”
He then played famous anime songs, including music from Galaxy Express 999 and Lupin the Third.
The little girl sitting in front of me looked delighted.
When the performance ended, the audience applauded loudly. Jacob bowed and left the stage.
I thought the concert was over. However, everyone kept clapping because they were waiting for an encore.
Then Jacob came back onto the stage, and the audience cheered.
He said, “Which would you like to hear—’Moon River’ or ‘Jounetsu Tairiku’? Raise your hand if you want to hear ‘Moon River.'”
About half of the audience raised their hands for “Moon River,” and the other half preferred “Jounetsu Tairiku.” I wanted to hear “Moon River.”
Then a woman shouted, “Please play both!”
Jacob smiled and replied, “I’ll play both.”
The audience was delighted. At that moment, I felt that the day had become even more special.
“Moon River” is a famous and beautiful song. Its gentle melody is relaxing and heartwarming. I listened to it very carefully and was reminded that there is so much wonderful music in the world.
Finally, he played Jounetsu Tairiku, a piece that is extremely famous in Japan. I think almost every Japanese person has heard it. It is passionate and energetic music that fills listeners with excitement.
When the piece ended, Jacob left the stage once again. Yet the audience continued clapping because we wanted to hear more.
Eventually, he returned to the stage and thanked us warmly.
This time, he played a jazz piece. We clapped along with the rhythm, and I felt that the audience and performer had become one. Once again, I felt as though I were part of the performance itself.
That experience made me realize that I prefer jazz to classical music. Jazz feels freer, and I enjoy its atmosphere.
As soon as the final piece ended, Jacob stood up, bowed, and left the stage.
The concert lasted about two hours.
It was the first piano solo concert I had ever attended. Before this experience, I imagined that pianists played gently and quietly. However, Jacob performed with tremendous passion and energy. It made me realize that pianists need a great deal of stamina.
Today’s concert was very special for me. At home, I rarely sit down and listen to music with complete attention. At this live performance, however, I was able to focus entirely on the music.
It reminded me that live performances have a special kind of power that cannot be experienced through recordings alone.