We held a piano concert by Frey Balázs

On June 14, 2024, a piano concert by Fülei Balázs entitled "Hungarian Landscapes - A Journey Through My Hometown" was held at Mizuta Memorial Hall on the Chiba Togane Campus.

Frey Balázs is a renowned pianist who has been awarded the Liszt Ferenc Prize. This concert was made possible thanks to Professor Kiss-Csapó Gergely, who is currently based at our university under the Hungarian Cultural Visiting Professor Program, and who kindly agreed to hold a concert at our university due to the connection with him having been taught by Frey some 25 years ago.

Thanks to support from the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's "Hungarian Cultural Visiting Professor Program" and support in advance preparations from Director Melenyi Krystyna of the Liszt Hungarian Cultural Center, the event was co-hosted by the Hungarian Embassy in Japan and the Liszt Hungarian Cultural Center.

The moderator and interpreter for the event was Professor Nagy Anita, who served as the first director of the Liszt Hungarian Cultural Center and is currently a professor in Department of International Exchange Studies Studies in the Faculty Faculty of International Humanities at our university.

Professor Naji Anita, who acted as MC and interpreter

First, Masato KURABAYASHI University President, on behalf of the organizer of the concert, thanked Josai International University for the history of the friendship between Hungary and that started in 2007, for its efforts in human resource development together with 10 Hungarian partner schools abroad, and for the opportunity to hold this concert.

During the concert, Frey carefully explained each piece, and the audience commented that this was a great help in gaining a deeper understanding of the music.

Frey's performance was so warm that it brought the Hungarian landscape to mind, enchanting the packed audience and creating a truly luxurious experience.

Frey performing

Furay's explanation of the song

After the performance, Nonoka Yoshisue, a second-year student majoring in Global Communications in the Graduate Graduate School of Humanities studying Hungarian, gave a speech of thanks in Hungarian and presented Frey with a bouquet of flowers.

Frey was deeply moved, saying, "I never expected to hear someone thank me in such beautiful Hungarian in Japan!"

Yoshisue (left) giving his thanks in Hungarian

Two more concerts by the "Hungarian Culture Visiting Professor Program" are planned for this year. Details will be announced once they have been decided.

We look forward to your participation.