Shimofusa, Kanichi 1898 - 1962
Author: Nakatsuji, Maho
Last updated：April 19, 2018
Author: Nakatsuji, Maho
Shimofusa Kan'ichi, born in Saitama on March 31, 1898 (Meiji 31), left his mark on the Japanese music scene as a composer and music educator. His real name was Shimofusa Kakuzo.
After graduating from Saitama Normal School, Shimofusa enrolled in the Class A Normal Course at the Tokyo Academy of Music in 1917 (Taisho 16). He served as a teacher at normal schools in various regions, including Niigata, Akita, Iwate, and Tochigi. From 1932 (Showa 7), he traveled to Germany as an overseas research fellow for the Ministry of Education and studied at the Berlin University of the Arts. He studied under P. Hindemith, mastering German harmony and counterpoint. In 1934, he returned to Japan and became an assistant professor at the Tokyo Academy of Music, becoming a full professor eight years later. Even after the Pacific War, he continued to instruct younger generations in the Composition Department of the reorganized Tokyo University of the Arts Faculty of Music. He passed away on July 8, 1962, at the age of 64.
In addition to children's songs (shōka) such as "Hanabi" (Fireworks), "Nogiku" (Wild Chrysanthemum), and "Tanabata-sama" (Tanabata Festival), he also composed numerous school songs. He also published works using traditional Japanese instruments, such as "Ichikotsuchō Koto Concerto" (1937), a collaboration with Michio Miyagi, and "Shamisen Concerto" (1938). Shimofusa greatly contributed to the field of music education through his composition and harmonization of children's songs. Furthermore, he actively engaged in writing, publishing many books and translations on music theory, including Counterpoint and Composition Methods. Among these, Harmony is a practical theoretical work that clearly describes fundamental principles and has been referenced by many musicians. Moreover, the theory of scales proposed by Shimofusa also drew the attention of Fumio Koizumi, a renowned musicologist.
Shimofusa Kan'ichi is noteworthy for having laid a lasting foundation for future generations in music education and research, alongside his compositions.
Author : Nakatsuji, Maho
Last Updated: April 19, 2018
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Author : Nakatsuji, Maho
Kanichi Shimofusa: An Overview
Kanichi Shimofusa, born in Saitama on March 31, 1898, left his marks on the modern Japanese music world as a composer and as a music educator. His real name is Kakuzō Shimofusa.
Career
Shimofusa graduated from Saitama Normal School and entered a teacher course at Tokyo Ongaku Gakkō (Tokyo Academy of Music, now the Faculty of Music at Tokyo University of the Arts) in 1917. He subsequently worked as a teacher at various schools in areas such as Niigata, Akita, Iwate, and Tochigi. From 1932, he went to Germany as a researcher of the Ministry of Education where he studied the German laws of harmony and counterpoint under P. Hindemith in Berlin. He returned to Japan in 1934 and became an assistant professor at Tokyo Academy of Music, and eight years later he took up the position of professor. After the Pacific War, he trained the younger generation of students at the newly reorganized Tokyo University of the Arts. He passed away at the age of 64 on July 8, 1962.
Works and Contributions
Shimofusa’s works include:
- Songs:
- “Hanabi (Fireworks)”
- “Nogiku (Wild Chrysanthemum)”
- “Tanabata-sama”
- Various school songs
- Pieces utilizing traditional Japanese instruments:
- “Ichikotsu-chō Koto Kyōsōkyoku (Koto Concerto in Ichikotsu)” (collaborated with Michio Miyagi)
- “Shamisen Kyōsōkyoku (Shamisen Concerto)”
Shimofusa contributed to the field of music education by composing songs and writing harmonies. He also wrote many books about music theory, including:
- “Taiihō (Counterpoint)”
- “Sakkyoku-hō (the Way of Composition)”
- “Wasei-gaku (the Laws of Harmony)” - This explains the basis of harmony and has been an important reference for many Japanese musicians.
The theory of music scale presented by Shimofusa moreover attracted the attention of the famous musicologist, Fumio Koizumi.
Conclusion
In the fields of composition, music education, and music research, Kanichi Shimofusa can be seen as an influential figure.