5/24/2026 A Tenor Recital at Age 99 (Hakuju)

When one speaks of Hakuju—the milestone of turning 99—it is an age at which simply living each day in good health is remarkable in itself. While everyone has their own way of enjoying their later years, I traveled to Akashi City (to the ”Ours Hall” Akashi City Community Large Hall to attend a tenor recital given by Mr. Tsutomu Ando—an acquaintance from my corporate days who has now reached this extraordinary age.

What first astonished me was the turnout: despite the venue being a large hall with 1,268 seats, it was filled nearly to capacity. I was also deeply

impressed by the sheer number of songs he performed—singing them all the way through in that vast hall using only his natural voice, deliberately choosing not to use a microphone. As you can see from the program, the recital was designed to delight the audience with a rich variety of genres: Part I featured beloved Japanese songs, as well as works by Kōsaku Yamada and Kōzaburō Hirai; Part II included songs from the UK, the US, and Germany, Italian songs, and opera arias. After completing the entire scheduled program, he went on to sing three encores—“’O sole mio,” “Hatsukoi” (First Love), and “Hamabe no Uta” (Song of the Seashore). Witnessing his physical stamina and mental vigor—which still seemed to have plenty in reserve even after such a demanding performance—I believe that not only I, but every person in the hall, left feeling inspired and energized.

The segment I particularly enjoyed was the selection of Italian songs. It brought back memories of a two‑week tour of Italy I took several years ago: during our very first dinner in Naples, an Italian quartet sang Neapolitan folk songs continuously for more than two hours.

Although Mr. Ando’s natural speaking voice falls within the baritone–bass range, he began studying vocal music in his sixties under the guidance of an instructor. As a result, his tenor range and pitch sounded remarkably steady and assured to my ears, making for a truly magnificent recital. If I were to offer a comment—purely subjective and personal—I might say that, given the sheer size of the venue, his voice occasionally struggled to project fully to every corner of the hall. I found myself thinking that his vocal power might be even better showcased either with a subtle, skillful use of a microphone or in a somewhat smaller venue. However, this observation has absolutely no bearing on the excellence of the recital; it is merely a passing thought, offered only in the hope that it might serve as a reference for any future performances—perhaps even one planned for his 100th birthday.

Mr. Ando’s talent for watercolor painting also extends far beyond the level of a hobby. The artwork on the cover of the program, as well as the large canvases—perhaps exceeding size 100—displayed on either side of the stage, were all painted by him.

Incidentally, Mr. Ando and I first met during our time at the same company, though we never belonged to the same division. We became acquainted through work: during my overseas postings in Germany and New York, I had the privilege of assisting him on several occasions when he visited on business trips.