Happy Father’s Day, Dad! (June 15, 2025)

From left to right: My father acting as master of ceremonies for a concert I am giving in Japan last year; a photograph with my father in front of “our” cherry tree, age10 years; the same tree, four years later; my first visit to New York with my father and grandmother, and a trip on the famous Circle Line Tour. 

Today I would like to pay a special tribute to my own father, Tetsugaku Miyoshi.  There are not enough nice things I could say about him or my mother, as they have continued to support me in every way possible.

My father is a teacher of Mathematics by profession, and he teaches everyone from elementary to high school students.  I admire many things about him, but one of the things I admire most is the fact that he has always encouraged my dream to become a concert pianist, and has constantly helped me with all of my studies and work.  He has always told me that music is my strength, and has helped me to approach my dream with both power and confidence.  Even when something did not go as I hoped it would, he has always been there to help me get back on course.

As a child, when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom in front of our neighborhood, my father and I would take a photo in front of the same tree every year.  It is one of many fond memories I treasure growing up with him.  As a teacher, his greatest lessons to me have not come with his words, but in his actions, and I am, and will be, forever grateful.

Happy Father’s Day!