Ryozo Okuda

Ryozo Okuda(Riozo Okuda) was a Japanese bel canto tenor vocalist who studied at Tokyo Geidai and graduated from L’Accademia di Santa Cecelia in Rome, Italy. He also was taught by Emile Angel in Paris and Julius Kyuper in Vienna. During this time(1927-1928), he won 1st Prize at Cenacolo Society competition in Rome and in 1932 won a Silver medal at an International Competition in Vienna, the first by an Asian artist. While in Rome, he sang for a welcoming party for His Eminence Cardinal van Russum of the Netherlands and charmed him with Mascagni’s “Ave Maria,” Franck’s “Paris Angelicus” and Japanese songs. He was so impressed by his “angelic voice” as he called it, he wanted to baptize him personally which he did a few months later. His baptism name was Paul. Later under the auspices of Japan Polydor where he was a recording artist, he went to Berlin and graduated from State Berlin Music Conservatory. During 1932 to 1936 he recorded many Japanese songs on 78 rpm which became very popular in Japan as well as performing in the first opera by Kousaku Yamada. While in Berlin attending school, he also recorded at Gramaphone studio in Berlin, songs from German popular movies of that time like Merry Widow and the like which became a big hit in Japan. He was an educator as well and taught at Ochanomizu University and Yokohama National University. He became president of Showa Ongaku University 1988. Born 12 June 1903, died 27 January 1993.