In December 2025, as part of Min-On Concert Association’s international cultural exchange initiatives, Japanese musicians traveled to France to participate in a series of cultural exchange programs and concerts in Paris and the surrounding areas.
The concerts held on December 9 at the Théâtre de la Tour Eiffel featured not only Japanese traditional instruments but also collaborative performances with French guest artists, creating memorable moments of musical exchange. One of the guest artists was French guitarist and composer Mathias Duplessy. We spoke with him about the Paris concert, his first collaboration with Japanese traditional instruments, and the inspirations that continue to shape his musical journey. (Interview conducted on February 20, 2026.)
◆Watch the performance of “A Japanese in Paris” here:
MIN-ON: To start, could you share your thoughts on the Paris concert held last December?
Mathias: I loved this small, quintessentially Parisian theater and the beautiful mix of cultures and generations. We truly need that today. The audience was incredibly warm and welcoming.
MIN-ON: We understand that this was your first time performing with Japanese musicians and traditional Japanese instruments, including in your own composition A Japanese in Paris. How did you experience this collaboration?
Mathias: It was a magical and deeply moving moment. Since my teenage years, I had dreamed of playing alongside the shakuhachi, ever since I discovered a record by Hozan Yamamoto, the great master of this instrument. From that moment on, it became one of my favorite instruments to listen to. It was especially moving to perform this waltz—a tribute to the painter Tsuguharu Foujita—in the heart of Paris, where he lived, together with Japanese musicians.
MIN-ON: Over the course of your career, with musicians from roughly how many countries have you collaborated?
Mathias: I’m not sure—I’ve never liked counting! What matters most is playing with all your heart and giving one hundred percent. It’s also important to understand your own culture deeply, because that is what makes true exchange with others possible and allows us to grow richer through one another.
MIN-ON: When collaborating with musicians from different cultural and musical backgrounds, what do you consider most important?
Mathias: Modesty and listening—no ego, just a genuine effort to serve the music. At the same time, we must also dare to be a little reckless.
MIN-ON: Your musical activities transcend borders—across countries, instruments, and genres. What continues to inspire you to pursue this kind of musical journey?
Mathias: A thirst for learning and sharing, and a desire to serve as an ambassador for peace throughout the world. Musicians are the last “soldiers of love.”
MIN-ON: On a personal level, what does music mean to you?
Mathias: It is a poetic vessel that allows me to travel through time and space, expressing my emotions and my vision of the world.
MIN-ON: Finally, could you share a message for those who aspire to pursue music, especially younger generations who are just beginning their musical journeys?
Mathias: Never forget that music is a means of expression—you must have something to say to the world. To do that, we must live life to the fullest: travel, love, run through the rain to win back the one we love, learn from others, observe deeply, and make our own connections. We must plant our own seeds and, in time, create beautiful bouquets. As Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “You must have music in yourself if you want to make the world dance.”
Profile
Mathias Duplessy – Guitar & World Music
French composer and multi-instrumentalist Mathias Duplessy blends classical, jazz, and traditional musical influences in his work. He performs on rare instruments such as the morin khuur (Mongolian horsehead fiddle) and the oud, and also practices khöömii (Mongolian overtone singing). After studying flamenco in Spain, he developed a uniquely expressive guitar style.
Awarded the UCMF Prize for film music in 2020, he leads the acclaimed ensemble Duplessy & the Violins of the World, performing on stages around the globe. In 2024, he captivated audiences across Japan during a tour organized by the Min-On Concert Association.
◆ Min-On Conducts Cultural Exchange Program in France
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