Journey to Japan (PT1 - Introduction): In October '99 I, along with my wife Kelly, daughter Céline and her governess Meghan Hart, took off on a trip to Japan. I'd been to Japan many times before – about 20 times I think, over a period of about 45 years. But this time was different, for I was going not to perform but to receive an award – the Praemium Imperiale. For those of you not familiar with this honor, the Praemium Imperiale was established in 1987 on the occasion of the beginning of the second century of the Japan Art Association. Prince Hitachi, following the wishes of Prince Takamatsu, established the award to recognize achievements in the Arts as the Nobel Prize does for accomplishments in Science. The five categories in which the Prize is awarded are: Music, Theatre/Film, Sculpture, Painting, and Architecture. In June of '99, I had been invited to a press conference in Lincoln Center. It was an impressive affair hosted by David Rockefeller, Jr. with many distinguished guests, including Prince and Princess Hitachi, Sir Edward Heath, Prime Minister Nakasone, Richard von Weizsacker, Umberto Agnelli and Raymond Barre, and Ryuzo Sejima, Chairman of the Japan Art Association. It was at this conference that I was publicly named as one of those nominated for the prize. The nominees in the other categories were: Pina Bausch, for Theatre/Film Anselm Kiefer, for Painting Fumihiko Maki, for Architecture Louise Bourgeois, for Sculpture I accepted my nomination in the names of former Jazz greats – Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and other timeless artists in this idiom – whom I felt should be the true recipients of this honor. The Awards ceremony itself was part of a week-long celebration held in Tokyo in October. Upon our arrival at Narita airport, we were greeted by a delegation from the Japan Art Association, and at that time were introduced to the gentleman who was to become our interpreter and general aide throughout the trip, Mr. Russ Yost. The first few days were primarily rest days in order to orient ourselves to the new time zone we were now in. Then, on Wednesday, October 27, the formalities began. First was a press conference held in the Hotel Okura, a place I had stayed many times before. Each of the laureates made a short speech, followed by a few words from each of the International Advisors. Then the five of us fielded questions from the international press corp that was in attendance. After this, I attended yet another press conference, this time to introduce the release of the new Oscar Peterson Multimedia CD-ROM and the volume of transcriptions entitled Oscar Peterson: Note for Note. Representatives from PG Music and I answered questions from the Japanese press about this new project. I pointed out that over the years of my career, I haven't had time to answer many of the queries of musicians and listeners alike about my approach to the piano and about the great trios and quartets I was fortunate enough to have. It's my hope that the CD-ROM and book will go some way to answering those questions and will serve to both to enlighten Jazz players and to encourage listeners to deepen their interest in this artistic medium. In the next OP Journal installment, I'll continue the report of the week of ceremonies in Japan for the Praemium Imperiale. Hope you're enjoying it.