I am writing here because I am searching for someone with better (i.e. existing) Japanese-speaking abilities and connections to the Japanese classical music scene than me. Here is the story why:
I recently received the major part of the estate of German composer Carlos Veerhoff. Among his manuscripts and documents I found the autograph manuscript of a Symphonic poem for orchestra "Japanese scenery" by Kenjiro Ezaki (*1926). I checked the internet to get more information on Ezaki and especially on the composition. I found little about Ezaki (mainly through translating the Japanese Wikipedia article into English) and nothing about the Symphonic poem. The composition dates from 1958 and it seems that this is one of the very first compositions by Ezaki (who later focussed on electronic music, but the poem is pure orchestral music).
I tried to contact the composer to get more information on the piece (and why it was in the possession of Carlos Veerhoff). I got the postal address from the Japanese Composers Society and wrote a letter in English. I never got an answer (of course?). I think that the work is an important piece in the history of Japanese orchestral music and I would like to get in touch with anyone who knows more about the topic, about Ezaki and about Japanese language. Maybe that person could contact Ezaki in Japanese or know musicologists or musicians in Japan that might be interested to know the piece and study it.
So does anyone here can help me or lead me to someone who can help me?
Best,
Tobias