10 Facts About Fujita Haruko

Fujita Haruko was a Japanese pianist, teacher, music critic, and jurist.

In 1930 Fujita Haruko began to study piano with Leo Sirota, who had immigrated to Japan with his family in 1929.

Later when Fujita Haruko was preparing for her public debut recital, Sirota's wife showed her support by gifting her a concert gown.

In 1936 Fujita Haruko was the runner-up in the piano division of the Fifth Japan Music Competition.

Fujita Haruko was the member of a piano trio with violinist Suzuki Shinichi and his cellist brother Fumio, which they founded in 1937.

When her teacher Sirota was banned from public performance because of his Jewish heritage, Fujita Haruko was abruptly asked to deputize for him in a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 5 in Yokohama.

When Sirota and his wife were forcibly relocated to Karuizawa in 1944, Fujita Haruko kept her former teacher supplied with food rations.

Fujita Haruko enrolled at the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, becoming one of the institution's first 19 female students.

Fujita Haruko was a respected constitutional scholar and music critic.

Fujita Haruko was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 3rd class, in 1988.