Maestro Kazuyoshi Akiyama remembered for his elegant movements and passion for culture

A beloved conductor who, as one musician remembers it, introduced Japanese food to his orchestra back when there was little to be found in Vancouver, has died, leaving behind a legacy of culture and elegance. 

Kazuyoshi Akiyama, who conducted the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) from 1972 until 1985, passed away last weekend at the age of 84. 

David Brown joined the VSO in 1978 as a young musician, when Akiyama already had a few years under his belt. 

"I was very, very fond of him," Brown said, recalling everything from international tours to local shows under the guidance of Akiyama. 

Brown, now 70 and still a member of the VSO's double bass section, said Akiyama was "inspiring" to up-and-coming musicians, and likened the maestro's movements to that of a ballet dancer. 

"Every motion was thought out," Brown said.  "The way that he moved from one beat to the next, it was this beautiful flow really. He was very, very poetic to watch. He conveyed the music through his body, and when things would reach big peaks, the small man would become very large, in both his expression and his gestures."

Roger Cole, an oboe player who also performed under Akiyama's direction, said the conductor let his baton do the talking. 

"Maestro Akiyama had the most beautiful hands of any conductor in the business," he said.

"I will always remember his positive, friendly attitude and the fun we had together."

In a statement, the VSO said Akiyama was honoured as Conductor Laureate in 1985. In 2011, he was inducted into the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame. 

"Kazuyoshi Akiyama's profound impact on the world of music will continue to resonate for generations to come," the VSO said.

After leaving the VSO in 1985, Akiyama went on to conduct in Syracuse, N.Y. and then in Hiroshima, Japan. 

However, he frequently returned to Vancouver for special concerts, the VSO said. 

And while music was Akiyama's passion, Brown said there was more to him than just his conducting abilities. 

Brown remembers Akiyama as shy — "a man of few words."

"He didn't speak in public to groups of people, but if you spoke to him one-on-one, he was very personable," Brown said. "He had a kind of a childish curiosity … I think he was intrigued by things."

One of Akiyama's hobbies, Brown said, was toy trains.  

"He had a big toy train collection, and he liked to set that up and run it at his house." 

And as Brown reminisced about his days working with the VSO under Akiyama, he couldn't help but mention the maestro's affinity for sharing Japanese food with his musicians. 

"In Vancouver at that time there were probably two Japanese restaurants — now there's like 5,000 — but he got a lot of delight out of getting people to try things like uni and stuff like that."

Brown said that while he is comforted by the great memories he has of the conductor, his thoughts are with Akiyama's family, who often attended VSO concerts and connected with the musicians, too. 

"My heart goes out to all of them at this time."