In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency, Atsuko Suetomi said she was very pleased to represent Japanese music in Turkey and wants to create a common music language by working with Turkish artists.<\/p>\n
Suetomi said she got positive feedback from Turkish people about her playing the koto, a traditional Japanese string instrument.<\/p>\n
\u201cTurks say the instrument is felt deep inside,\u201d she said, adding that some people said it brought them peace.<\/p>\n
Suetomi was born in Japan and studied Japanese culture and Japanese music at the University of Musashino and Takasaki University of Fine Arts.<\/p>\n
After a one-month tour in 2005, she settled in Turkey because she was impressed by the culture, including the differences in music.<\/p>\n
\u201cTurkish musicians improvise while playing their instruments, but they don\u2019t do this in traditional Japanese music,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
For more than a decade Suetomi has been contributing to the Turkish-Japanese friendship by working with prominent Turkish musicians and orchestras.<\/p>\n
The rhythmic structure of Turkish music combined with the calmness of Japanese music creates strong feelings, she said.<\/p>\n
Suetomi added that she would continue to introduce the koto and continue her work training others.<\/p>\n
Turkey touches her and makes her nostalgic, she said, explaining that this is why she settled in Turkey despite not knowing the language.<\/p>\n
\u201cTurkish musicians, even if they get academic education, play with a more sincere and free feeling,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Suetomi said when performing in Japan, she includes Turkish music, and also that she wants to take Turkish musicians on her Japanese tours.<\/p>\n