The Twilight of Kunihiko Hashimoto: The Tragedy of a Genius Sinking into the Darkness of Oblivion

Kunihiko Hashimoto (1904-1949).
He was a composer, conductor, and educator who once made his way through the Japanese music world before and during World War II, and his name shone brilliantly in the classical music world of the time. But how much of his music is performed today? We rarely hear them. Even his name is fading away, washed away by the waves of history. How should we accept this reality? As a person who knows his former glory and as a person who genuinely knows the beauty of his music, I cannot help but feel saddened by this situation.

Why has Kunihiko Hashimoto been forgotten?
Are his works mere "relics of the times"?
No, they are not.

In his music, the emotion born of Japanese soil and the constructed beauty of Western music were exquisitely intertwined, creating an unparalleled sound. But was this not in tune with the "atmosphere of the times," or was he intentionally kept away from the music world in the midst of its postwar transformation? Certainly, some argue that his political positions and activities have prevented a reappraisal of his work. But is it right to seal his music with that? I would like to say this out loud. Kunihiko Hashimoto's music should be brought back into the limelight.

What is the music of Kunihiko Hashimoto?

In prewar Japan, many composers attempted to establish a unique Japanese musical language while actively incorporating Western music. Kunihiko Hashimoto was one of them. After graduating from the Tokyo Music School (now Tokyo University of the Arts), he studied in France before returning to Japan. He was also a talented conductor and was involved in the founding of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. His compositions are all of exceptional perfection.

So why are they not performed?
It is simple. Performers do not know his works. And because they don't know them, they are not played, and because they are not played, they are even less known. This is a negative spiral.

Masterpiece Introduction──The Essence of Kunihiko Hashimoto

Some of his works are presented here. Without knowing these, it is impossible to talk about Kunihiko Hashimoto's music.

Symphony No. 1
This is Kunihiko Hashimoto's masterpiece, and was also in the repertoire of the Japan Symphony Orchestra (now NHK Symphony Orchestra). From the beginning, a profound sound dominates, and Brucknerian austerity and Debussyian colorfulness coexist. In the second movement, a lyrical melody flows through the piece, spreading its beauty as if it were depicting a Japanese landscape. But how often is this symphony performed today? Almost none.

Piano Suite "Oroku Musume
This is one of Kunihiko Hashimoto's best-known Japanese-style works. While utilizing a folk melody, it is characterized by a Western sense of harmony and a modern composition. It has a colorful sound somewhat reminiscent of ukiyo-e woodblock prints, and the rhythm is unique and reminiscent of Japanese dance. Although not technically easy, this piece should be reevaluated as one of the important repertoire of Japanese piano music.

String Quartet
Among Kunihiko Hashimoto's chamber music works, this work is regarded as one of the most highly accomplished. It is in the vein of French modern music, but blended with a Japanese lyricism. The combination of the elaborate counterpoint structure and unique sound shows that he was not just a "Japanese composer," but a musician of solid technique and individuality.

Song "Spotted Cat
Among Kunihiko Hashimoto's songs, this work leaves a strong impression. This song, based on a poem by Kitahara Hakushu, is characterized by a melodic flow that makes the most of the Japanese sound, and its interplay with the piano accompaniment is exquisite. It is one of the most poetic and original of the prewar Japanese songs, and deserves to be sung even today.

Why was Kunihiko Hashimoto forgotten?

With such a body of work, why has he fallen into near obscurity in our time? There are several possible reasons.

◆Changes in the music world after the war
Although Kunihiko Hashimoto contributed to the development of Japanese music culture during the war, his position did not match the postwar climate. It is possible that he was "sealed" in a certain way as a person involved in the war.

◆Performers' indifference
Composers of modern Japan have been compared to those with strong personalities such as Yamada Kosaku and Ifukube Akira, and Hashimoto Kunihiko's music has been misunderstood as "somewhat half-baked. In reality, however, his works have a precise structure and unique aesthetic sense that should never be buried.

◆ Difficulty in obtaining sheet music ◆
Although some of his scores have been published, many of his works are out of print. In addition, as was the case with Japanese composers in general before and during the war, archives are inadequately maintained, and his works are easily buried.

To revive Kunihiko Hashimoto's music

So how can we make his music resonate again?
The answer is obvious.

Reprint and popularize his music
Discovery and re-recording of sound sources
Active program adoption at concerts and music festivals
Re-evaluation by researchers and critics

If these efforts are made, Kunihiko Hashimoto's music will come into the light once again. He is not a composer to be forgotten. Rather, he is one of the composers who should be reevaluated in the history of Japanese music.

If this is not done, his music will remain in the dark. I hope so. I hope that the day will come when Kunihiko Hashimoto's melodies will once again echo across the Japanese sky.