Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa

Haruki Murakami stays true to himself. He does what he likes—and in the way he believes it should be done.

“Even these conversations are an interesting experience. Our talk wasn’t an interview in the usual sense. It wasn’t that infamous conversation between two celebrities either. I wanted—no, I couldn’t help wanting—to talk in the natural rhythm of the heart. …The main thing is that as Maestro Ozawa was revealed through our conversation, I was revealed in parallel.”

In the end, it turned out they were two like-minded people with the same life direction. First, they both experience “pure, unclouded joy from work.” Second, a rebellious spirit and a perpetual dissatisfaction with the achieved—just like in their youth—live within them. Third, what distinguishes them is “persistence, toughness, and stubbornness”—to carry out what they set out to do, only the way they see it, no matter what anyone says. And most of all, Haruki Murakami and Seiji Ozawa truly love music. They share their knowledge, discover new fascinating facts, and let us look more deeply into this beautiful world of sounds that fills the heart with joy.

“Good music is like love—you can never have too much of it. …For many people in the world, it’s the most valuable fuel that nourishes their desire to live.”