The Blind Pianist Who Captivated the World

Nobuyuki Tsujii, a 29-year-old Japanese virtuoso pianist, has earned international acclaim, performing with many of the world's leading philharmonic orchestras. Even if you haven't heard of Tsujii before, his presence is unforgettable. Tsujii is blind — blind from birth.

How did a blind child learn to play piano so well that he is now among the most renowned pianists globally, with over 160 prestigious concerts to his name? It all began when he was eight months old, as his mother played a Chopin CD for him. "I moved my legs to the rhythm of the music," he recalls.

At two, he started playing on a toy piano, and by four, he began music lessons. He learned to read music printed in Braille, though many compositions weren't available, forcing him to learn by listening and memorizing them.

It is exceedingly rare to find a blind pianist at such a high professional level as Tsujii, but he attributes much of his success to his mother. "From a young age, my mother made sure to expose me to a range of experiences — not just music. She would take me to museums and describe the paintings and images she loved. She took me to firework shows and described the colors," he shares. Personally, he finds inspiration for his music in emotions stirred by nature. Additionally, he doesn’t confine himself to music alone: "I love sports, enjoy swimming and skiing," he confidently states. "The more experiences I collect, the more positive influences I have as a musician."

And if you're wondering how a blind pianist follows a conductor to know when to play — for Tsujii, the solution is simple. "The other musicians follow the conductor's hand movements, but I listen to the rhythm of his breathing," he explains.