Yolanda Kusakabe

Yolanda Kusakabe
Yolanda Kusakabe, from a 1928 newspaper
Bornabout 1907
Italy
Other namesYolande Kusakabe, Yolanda Hikabe
OccupationPianist

Yolanda Kusakabe (born about 1907) was a Japanese-Italian pianist who toured internationally in the 1920s.

Early life and education

Kusakabe was born in Italy, the daughter of Sankuro Kusakabe.[1] Her father was a Japanese diplomat in Hawaii[2] and Rome,[3][4] and her mother, Beatrice,[5] was an Italian woman who traveled with her on tours.[6][7] Kusakabe attended the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome,[8] and was described as "the first Japanese pianist to graduate from that institution."[9]

Career

Kusakabe was decorated for her wartime performances for the Italian Red Cross.[9] She toured as "Yolanda Hikabe" with tenor Yoshie Fujiwara,[10][11] and performed in Japan and Hawaii in 1928,[6][12] playing both European and Japanese compositions.[13][14] In San Francisco in January 1929, she gave a recital at the Kinmon Gakuen Hall,[15][16] and another at the Fairmont Hotel.[17][18] In February 1929, she made her New York debut, with a concert at Steinway Hall.[19] She gave another concert at the same venue in March 1929, when The New York Times reported that "she showed digital dexterity and a fluent style".[20] Her American manager was Alice Seckels.[18] Italian composer Ottorino Respighi described her as "a fine talent, a real artist."[21]

Personal life

In 1936, Kusakabe and Taiso Watanabe, who worked at the Japanese embassy in Rome, were engaged to marry.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "Girl Pianist on Visit From Italy". San Francisco Chronicle. 1929-01-02. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Notables Come on Korea Maru; Count and Countess, Editor, Pianist Are Included in List". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 1928-12-01. p. 23. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Church News and Notes". Our Sunday Visitor. 1907-07-26. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Has Perfect Confidence". Midland Empire News. 1907-02-08. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Musical Folk Gather to Hear Young Pianist". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 1928-12-08. p. 32. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Yolanda Kusakabe in Piano Concert Tonight at Mission Hall; is On Way to Rome". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 1928-12-13. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Miss Kusakabe Gives a Recital". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 1928-12-06. p. 23. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Woman First Japanese to Win Musical Fame" St. Paul Pioneer Press (February 24, 1929): 7; via Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub.
  9. 1 2 "Japanese Pianist Here for Fortnight". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 1928-12-02. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Yoshie Fujiwara and Japanese Americans I: A Night at the Opera". Discover Nikkei. 2023-02-23. Archived from the original on 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  11. ↑ "Yoshie Fujiwara Expected Here Soon". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 1927-12-10. p. 44. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Distinguished Pianist Will Give Concert". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 1928-12-03. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Visitor to Be Heard Here December 13". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 1928-12-08. p. 41. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Mason, Redfern (1929-01-24). "East and West Meet in Recital". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 14. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Noted Japanese Pianist to Give Recital Sunday at Kinmon Gakuen Hall" Japanese American News (Nichibei) (January 5, 1929): 1; via Hoover Institution Library and Archives.
  16. ↑ "Girl Pianist Wins Praise" Japanese American News (Nichibei) (January 25, 1929): 1; via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  17. ↑ "Miss Kisakabe in Recital Wednesday Eve; Japitalic". San Francisco Chronicle. 1929-01-20. p. 42. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. 1 2 Fisher, Marjory M. (February 10, 1929). "Kusakabe Gives Recital; San Francisco Hears American Debut". Musical America: 61.
  19. ↑ "Yolanda Kusakabe Plays; Pianist Reveals Good Tone in Debut at Steinway Hall". The New York Times. 1929-02-20. p. 17. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  20. ↑ "Yolanda Kuskabe in Piano Recital". The New York Times. p. 33. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  21. ↑ "Japanese Pianist, Who Plays Here Soon, Lauded by Respighi". San Francisco Bulletin. 1929-01-19. p. 11. Retrieved 2025-11-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ Tajiri, Larry (January 23, 1936). "Village Vagaries: Yolanda..." Nichibei Shinbun. pp. 2–3 – via Hoover Institution, Hoji Shinbun Digital Collection.
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