Although I am a native of Hiroshima, Japan, I consider Wuxi to be my second hometown. In 1996, I set foot on the land of Wuxi to the familiar melody of Love Story in Wuxi, starting my journey of investing and building a factory as required by the head office. Little did I know that from that day on, I would live on this vibrant land for a full 23 years. During this time, aside from running my business, I also fell in love with the music of Wuxi. I am particularly fond of masterpieces like Er Quan Ying Yue (The Moon Reflected on the Second Spring) and Liu Tianhua's Bing Zhong Yin (Melodies of Illness). These enchanting and captivating pieces became a part of my daily life at the time.
Kawakami (first from left) and his friends in Wuxi. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
In the late 1990s, township enterprises in Wuxi were thriving, but there were not many entertainment activities for the public. So, every weekend, I would spend half a day alone in a teahouse, munching on sunflower seeds, drinking Cuizhu tea, and listening to a duo—an older man and a younger woman—play the pipa, a string instrument that sounds like water droplets, while they sang Wuxi's ancient stories in the form of pingtan (a traditional Chinese musical storytelling). The melodies and tones were incredibly beautiful, though I couldn't understand a word. I could only let the rising and falling, the fast and slow rhythms stir my emotions. As for the content, I could only guess the captivating stories they told from their titles.
Later, as the reform and opening-up policy deepened, life in Wuxi became increasingly colorful. Various operas, concerts, performances, and dance shows frequently appeared. Although I was still alone in Wuxi at the time, living in this wonderful musical world every day made me feel not so lonely in a foreign land.
Wuxi, a city known for its commerce and industry, experienced rapid economic growth. The people became wealthier, and the government had more resources at its disposal, leading to rapid urban development. In addition to developing the surrounding environment and scenic leisure areas along Taihu Lake, Wuxi also introduced new facilities like the Wuxi Grand Theatre, other theaters, and cinemas. As someone who does not enjoy solitude, the city's improvements enriched my weekends. In this harmonious atmosphere, I felt younger with each passing day. At that time, one could not only frequently listen to symphony and jazz performances by renowned international orchestras but also attend concerts by Hong Kong and Taiwan stars and domestic singers. It was a dazzling array of events, and I was never short of things to do on weekends.
Kawakami holds one of his own works at his home in Hiroshima, Japan. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
However, my personal preference was still for music with local characteristics and an Oriental charm. The previously mentioned The Moon Reflected on the Second Spring and Melodies of Illness were self-evident favorites, and I gradually developed a fondness for southern operas like Xiju Opera, Kunqu Opera, and Yueju Opera, as well as Jiangnan ballads like Beautiful Taihu Lake. The unique, soft, and enchanting tones of Jiangnan could make one feel intoxicated and reach a state of pleasant forgetfulness after a small drink. Consequently, I joined the Wuxi Xiju Opera Promotion Association and served as its vice-president, which gave me the opportunity to meet many famous actors from the Wuxi Xiju Opera Troupe. Not only did I often support their performances, but I also engaged in numerous private activities with them. The charm of art is infinite; beautiful music can foster wonderful friendships and even a beautiful life.
By then, I was already over 70 years old. Influenced by music, I joined an adult singing class organized by Professor Chen Jian'an at Wuxi Normal College. I also participated in Wuxi's amateur music group Heavenly Sound Choir and briefly joined the Wuxi Workers' Choir. Through weekly musical exchanges, I immersed myself in the ocean of art and the charm of music with my Wuxi brothers and sisters. It is said that the allure of Wuxi lies in its "warmth and water", but in fact, Wuxi also has music more intoxicating than wine!
Due to my wife's Parkinson's disease, I had to return to my hometown in Hiroshima at the end of 2019 for treatment (as our medical insurance was only valid in Japan), forcing me to leave the city I had become so attached to. Physically, a person can be easily separated, but spiritually, it is like "cutting water with a knife—the water flows even more". Jiangnan's melodies lingered in my mind, impossible to dispel.
Amid these heart-wrenching melodies, I tried writing a song titled Under Qingming Bridge, which unexpectedly won a silver award in a Chinese competition. I entrusted the lyrics and composition to Zhang Zhishen, a national-level musician from Harbin, completing an ode to my second hometown. From then on, I couldn't stop and wrote over 400 lyrics, more than 100 of which were about Wuxi. Nearly 50 have been set to music. Among them, Zhang Zhishen composed The Moon of Wuxi, and the erhu solo Love for Wuxi. Wuxi music master Xu Xiang composed Midsummer Night, and Wuxi's senior musician Yang Hong composed Spring of Wuxi, and Ode to Wuxi, among others.
Musicians from the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra perform on the ancient Qingming Bridge. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
I believe that songs are the most direct expression of people's love and deep feelings for their hometown. All feelings for one's homeland often begin with music. The unforgettable local sounds, the unforgettable local tunes, the familiar opera melodies of one's hometown—all are deeply ingrained tastes, full of local color, intricately woven with nostalgia for one's homeland.
This time, UNESCO's Creative Cities Network awarded the title of "City of Music" to Wuxi. As a foreigner with 23 years of personal experience there, I feel deeply that the music played in this famous Jiangnan city is not just a hymn to a city; it is a magnificent symphony of Eastern music moving to the center of the world stage. Wuxi's recognition as China's first City of Music is not only a major honor but also shows how Eastern music has carved out a presence on the global artistic map.
Looking at the 75 music cities worldwide, each occupies a unique place in the world music scene with its distinctive sound. From Pesaro's classical opera tradition to Liverpool's rock revolution, from Hamamatsu's instrument manufacturing kingdom to Vienna's Golden Hall legend—they collectively form a diverse world music map. Now, with Wuxi's addition, this colorful picture is enriched with vibrant Eastern elements. The moonlight reflected in Erquan Spring is not only soft but also as dazzling as the sun.
As a long-term resident of Wuxi for 23 years, my heart has long been infused with Wuxi's warmth and water. Every pulse in my veins resonates with Wuxi's melody. I share the joy and excitement of Wuxi's citizens, and I will forever breathe and sing with Wuxi, striving to compose and sing praises of Wuxi in my lifetime.
The city of Wuxi boasts a musical heritage spanning 3,000 years. From the legendary tale of Ji Zha appreciating music during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) to the Tang Dynasty (618-907)'s popular saying "Wuxi, home of world music", music has long been woven into the city's fabric. From the mournful yet beautiful strings of Ah Bing's The Moon Reflected on the Second Spring to Liu Tianhua's modern innovations on erhu, music has become part of Wuxi's genetic makeup. Today, Wuxi has established a comprehensive musical ecosystem: the Wuxi Grand Theatre has become a cultural landmark in the region, the Taihu Music Festival attracts music enthusiasts worldwide, and music programs at Jiangnan University and Wuxi Normal College are nurturing a new generation of musical talent. There are countless music fans and amateur musicians in Wuxi, along with the popular karaoke competitions organized by Wuxi Education Television Station. These burgeoning musical activities and the explosion of musical works are becoming another engine of innovation for this commercial and industrial city.
A concert is held in a paddy field in Wuxi in October 2023. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
For years, Wuxi has quietly contributed its unique Oriental charm to world music. The Moon Reflected on the Second Spring is not only a pinnacle of erhu art but also a concrete expression of a musical philosophy—within its graceful melodies lies the Chinese literati's aesthetic pursuit of "mournful but not distressing", and in its flowing notes, the Oriental wisdom of "harmony between heaven and humanity". This masterpiece, which once moved Seiji Ozawa to tears, will now, through the platform of the City of Music, become a cherished musical heritage for all humanity.
With a solid foundation laid by predecessors and the immortal contributions they have made to world music, Wuxi, as a City of Music, will not rest on the laurels of its predecessors. It will further carry forward their achievements and showcase the charm of Chinese music to the world with more and better works.
Wuxi's selection has rewritten the narrative of world music. For a long time, the global music discourse has been dominated by the West, with symphonic, rock, and jazz music forming the main pathways through which the world understands music. Now, Oriental melodies represented by The Moon Reflected on the Second Spring, ensemble traditions characterized by Jiangnan sizhu (traditional stringed and woodwind instruments), and notation systems based on ancient modes will enter global music education classrooms through the Creative Cities Network platform, influencing the next generation of music creation.
Wuxi's recognition as a City of Music marks a victory for cultural diversity, a deepening of civilizational dialogue, and a re-emergence of Chinese music on the world stage. It also signifies that Jiangnan's star city, Wuxi, has not only developed an industrial and commercial sector but also possesses distinct culture and music, giving it a spiritual wealth that shines brighter than gold.
Musicians from the Wuxi Chinese Orchestra perform traditional Chinese music at Xue Family Garden in November 2024. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]
As China's first City of Music, Wuxi now bears a heavier historical responsibility than before. It must not only showcase the unique charm of Chinese music to the world but also fulfill the historical mission of integrating world civilization into Chinese culture. Through musical exchanges, it should build bridges of civilizational communication within the Creative Cities Network. We look forward to Wuxi becoming a window for Oriental music to reach the world, a platform for Chinese musicians to engage in dialogue with the international music scene, and a bond for different civilizations to achieve spiritual connection through music.
From the fishermen's songs on the shores of Taihu Lake to the dance of Jasmine Flower on the global stage, from the moonlit reflections of Erquan Spring to the echoes in Vienna's Golden Hall, Wuxi's successful leap this time plays a strong note of confidence in Chinese culture. As the name "Wuxi" lights up on the star map of the world's 75 Cities of Music, every one of us who loves Wuxi and Chinese culture feels not only proud but also responsible for fueling its growth, making it shine ever brighter. We know that becoming a City of Music should not be our ultimate goal; it should be a new starting point for Wuxi. The dissemination of Oriental music aesthetics will once again resound loudly from Wuxi. We firmly believe that the shared future of human music will be richer and more colorful with Wuxi's inclusion.
As a long-term resident of Wuxi and a musician who loves the city, I sincerely congratulate Wuxi on being awarded the title of City of Music by UNESCO and hope this city, which carves time with music, soars to even greater heights! May Chinese music resonate around the world, and may these notes pulse in harmony with the world's heartbeat!
The author is a retired Japanese businessman known as Zhang Yi within Chinese circles.
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