Takahiro Sonoda

Japanese pianist Takahiro Sonoda was born on 17 September 1928 in Nogata (now Nakano City, part of Tokyo). He studied at the Tokyo Music School, following lessons with his father and then with Leo Shirota.

He won multiple awards during a long and successful career that included working with Herbert von Karajan and several other conductors at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and became one of his country's best known pianists.

Takahiro Sonoda died from an aortic aneurysm, aged seventy-six, at his home in Meguro City, Tokyo on Thursday 7 October 2004, whilst preparing for a concert.