Part 2: The World of Unaccompanied Musicians

Influenced by Eiji Arai.
The most appropriate word to describe Eiji Arai after his graduation as a solo concertmaster of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra is not "soloist. The words "maestro" and "elder" do not even come close to describing Arai, who makes guest appearances with various orchestras and performs chamber music with various generations.
　If I had to venture a guess, I would say that Eiji Arai is an "influencer" with a violin in his arms. Just by being there and doing something, he influences the people around him. Just by sitting in the front row, Arai changes the color of the eyes and the sound of the musicians...he is truly an "influencer. What would happen if Arai were to stand alone on stage? What happens to the violin instrument when its aura toward others turns squarely toward you? Perhaps the "correctness" and even the "beauty" we usually think of will be driven away. And then we will be INFLUENCED by Eiji Arai. Kazu Watanabe (music journalist)