MOMRI Welcomes Dr. Yusuke Hosaka, expert in Japan-Bulgaria musical diplomacy

Dr. Yusuke Hosaka visited MOMRI on September 17, 2026 for a dialogue with director Olivier Urbain. He was accompanied by Dr. Reiko Watanabe, who had introduced him to MOMRI. Dr. Hosaka has a fascinating journey to share, powered by his passion for Bulgarian music.

After studying piano with Prof. Toyo Asakawa and Prof. Takanori Nakano at the Tokyo Gakugei University, Yusuke Hosaka went to Bulgaria to further his piano studies. At the National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” in Sofia, he studied piano with Prof. Jenny Zaharieva, completing a second Master's degree before undertaking doctoral research at the Academy. He was awarded a Doctor degree in Musicology and Musical Art (Piano) in 2024. His doctoral dissertation examined piano performance in Japanese-Bulgarian cultural relations from the 1970s to the present. His research and artistic work include the music of Pancho Vladigerov, whose works he has performed and about whom he has published.

At MOMRI we consider music diplomacy, as practiced and researched by Dr. Hosaka, as an important component of Music in Peacebuilding activities. We therefore look forward to our further collaboration and design of potential projects.

Dr. Urbain then responded to an invitation from Dr. Hosaka to attend his piano recital on September 25 at Kingswell Hall, Kai city, a splendid wooden concert hall with a Bösendorfer Model 225 piano. It was a real treat to enjoy an outstanding performance of well-known pieces by Chopin and Liszt, and in the context of music diplomacy, by the Bulgarian composer Pancho Vladigerov. The recital was attended by Ms. Iliyana Kostova, Interpreter at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tokyo, who is also in charge of cultural relations. Dr. Hosaka is well known in Bulgarian diplomatic circles.

At MOMRI, we look forward to adding a music diplomacy component to our research agenda, starting with a collaboration with Dr. Hosaka.

For more information about Dr. Hosaka’s PhD dissertation (in Bulgarian): Yusuke Hosaka, Author’s Abstract (Dissertation Synopsis), National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov,” Sofia, 2024.

For more information about Pancho Vladigerov: Pancho Vladigerov House Museum.