This is the day I went to go see the movie At the End of the Matinee, which stars my favorite actress Yuriko Ishida. I was so smitten with the classical guitar music played by Masahiro Fukuyama, who starred alongside her, that I went home too excited to sleep. As I lay in bed, I decided I would learn how to play classical guitar.
I’d never picked up an instrument before, so of course I couldn’t read sheet music, either. I was also entering my fifties, so all in all the cards were stacked against me. But I found a class, bought a guitar, and began music lessons. I was really discouraged at how difficult it felt, but in my third year, I was able to participate in a recital and start feeling like my dream was gradually becoming a reality.
Even now I’m amazed at how much that visit to the movie theater changed the trajectory of my life, which previously had no connection with playing instruments.

(Kana)