「７本指のピアニスト」として知られる西川悟平氏。
かつては、一緒に食事をしたり、イベントを企画したり、一緒に笑う機会も多かった。
彼が自宅で愛用していたピアノは、今我が家のリビングルームに鎮座している。
ニューヨークから東京へと活動の幅を広げてからの飛躍ぶりは、誰の目にも顕著だった。
昨年のパラリンピック閉会式で華麗なるピアノ演奏をお披露目した勇姿に、
彼が本当に苦労した時代を知っているニューヨークの友人らは皆、心から拍手喝采を送った。
ジストニアという難病を患い、今でも演奏前や途中で指が痙攣するという。
長年のリハビリを経て、演奏曲のレパートリーも増えてきたけれど、
彼のコンサートの醍醐味は、各曲の合間で語られる彼のユニークな人生経験。
そのエピソードが、まるごと舞台劇になるという知らせが届いた。
直接会場に行くことはできなかったけれど、「配信」で観劇の機会を得ることができた。
西川氏のトークで有名な「泥棒」の話が、舞台上で再現される。
深夜に二人組の泥棒が彼のアパートに侵入し、注射針を突きつけて彼を脅す。
部屋の中を物色する泥棒に、恐る恐る話しかける西川氏。
いつしか会話は互いの身の上話になり、泥棒の態度が軟化していく。
（ネタバレになるけれど）泥棒が数年後にカーネギーホールのコンサートに招待される。
私もそのコンサートに行ったけれど、そんな裏話があったとは、後まで知らなかった。
西川氏役、EXILE松本利夫氏の演技が、驚くほど本人によく似ていた。
ピアニストを諦めるよう宣告された彼が、どうやって這い上がってきたか。
なぜ彼のピアノが、人々の心を打つのか。
西川氏自身、そして周囲の愛が、ふんだんに表現される。
実際に生きている人間の半生を舞台劇として描くこと。
それは、演じる側にとっても、演じられる側にとっても、ある種のハードルがある。
物語のある部分を切り取ったとして、それは本人にとって紛れもない事象であるけれど、
そこにあるメッセージを抽出して描くからこそ、次なる人へ継承されていくのだ。
私もしんどい時、西川氏にたくさん励まされ、たくさん勇気をもらった。
どんな時も前向きで、他人への思いやりを忘れない。それが西川氏。
世界に羽ばたいていく彼への感謝とエールを込めて。
この夏、感動をありがとう。
Gohei Nishikawa is known as the "seven-fingers pianist."
In the past, we had many opportunities to eat together, plan events, and laugh together.
The piano he used to play at his apartment now sits in the living room of our apartment.
The leaps he has made since expanding his activities from New York to Tokyo have been remarkable.
To the courage with which he unveiled his brilliant piano performance at the closing ceremony of last year's Paralympics, his friends in New York, who knew him from the days when he struggled, applauded him heartily.
He has dystonia, an incurable disease that still causes his fingers to twitch before and during performances.
After years of rehabilitation, he has expanded his repertoire of pieces, but one of the best parts of his concerts is the unique life experiences he shares between each piece.
I have received the news that one producer will make these episodes into a stage play.
Although I was not able to go to the venue in person, I was able to have the opportunity to see the play via "streaming.
The story of "The Thieves," made famous in Gohei's talk, was recreated on stage.
Late at night, two thieves broke into his apartment and threatened him with a needle.
Gohei fearlessly talked to the thieves as they ransacked his apartment.
Before long, the conversation turned to the thieves' personal lives, and the thieves' attitude softened.
(Spoiler alert) A few years later, Gohei invited the thief to a concert at Carnegie Hall.
I went to that concert myself, but I didn't know there was such a backstory until later.
Toshio Matsumoto of EXILE played the role of Gohei, and his performance was surprisingly similar to his own.
How did he come out of the bottom after being told to give up being a pianist?
Why does his piano strike a chord with people?
The love of Gohei and those around him is abundantly expressed in this play.
To depict the life of an actual living person as a stage play.
There is a particular hurdle for both the performer and the performed.
If a specific part of a story is cut out, it is an unmistakable event for the author.
But because the message is extracted and portrayed, the theme can pass it on to the next person.
I remember that Gohei encouraged me a lot and gave me a lot of courage when I was having a hard time.
He is always positive and considerate of others, regardless of the situation. That is Gohei.
I would like to express my gratitude and encouragement to Gohei as he continues to spread his wings to the world.
Thank you for the inspiration this summer.
All copyrights reserved ©️ Gohei Nishikawa
