Maestro move: Tongue-twister in Japan
mainTadaaki Otaka will be the new chief conductor of the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra.
He succeeds Michiyoshi Inoue in April next year.
Osaka with Otaka will be particularly hard on classical announcers.
History lesson: The first concert of the Osaka Philharmonic – known then as the Kansai Symphony Orchestra – was on April 26, 1947. Otaka was born on November 8 1947. He will become its third music director (Michiyoshi Inoue was not music director but principal conductor).
If announcers can manage to say the name of the new CBSO chief I doubt that the combination of Otaka and Osaka will give them much trouble. Great conductor, lovely man.
There’s something faintly xenophobic about this blurb Norman.
Talk about the change of leadership at the orchestra, and leave out the (un)witty quips about foreign names.
Besides, these names are far easier to pronounce than half the phonebook in Dusseldorf.. or worse, in Wales.
Bravo !!!
For goodness sake, it’s just a bit of fun – and we can all do with that from time to time! In any case, it’s not so difficult to separate the two names. The stress on Osaka is in the middle syllable; in Otaka it is on the first.
Actually, as I understand it, the Japanese do not accent any syllables. So, it’s pronounced O-Sa-Ka (not O-SA-ka). It’s not Na-GOY-a; it’s Na-Go-Ya. And the guy’s name is O-Ta-Ka. I’m pretty sure that’s right.
Having lived in Japan for several years your understanding is incorrect. Just listen to Otaka introducing himself. The accent is clearly on the first syllable –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nud6-Ssm2U
Lighten up
mind your own business?
Just as confusing Osama with Obama was difficult for some in the rightwing media…