Amazing Musicians: Nobuyuki Tsujii

“The piano is something I can use to express myself, and I’m much better at communicating using the piano rather than speech. So in that sense, the piano is essential for me.”

Nobuyuki Tsujii (born 1988) is a Japanese pianist who was born blind. He displayed his innate musicality at the age of 2 when he began picking out tunes on a tiny toy piano. His phenomenal aural skills and memory enabled him to learn increasingly complex pieces by listening to short sections and repeating them at the piano. 

This gifted musician won first prize at the All Japan Music Competition of Blind Students at the age of 7 and made his professional orchestral debut in 2005 at the age of 17. He has appeared as a concerto soloist and performs worldwide. 

Nobuyuki created headline news in 2009 when he was named winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition’s coveted Gold Medal. His pianism prompted the contest’s founder to declare that he was “absolutely miraculous”. His performance had “the power of a healing service. It was truly divine.”