Giorgio Armani: The Choice for My Japan Academy Prize Award

A presence that is both feminine and delicate, capable of enveloping everyone present in a gentle mood, combined with an unwavering core personality and sparkling creativity.—Kiyoko Ogino, who models Giorgio Armani for us today, is a composer and pianist active primarily in music for stage, film, drama, and commercials.

Her recent achievements are brilliant, including winning the Excellence in Music Award at the 32nd Japan Academy Prize for director Koki Mitani's film "The Magic Hour," the Excellence in Music Award at the 35th Japan Academy Prize for "A Ghost of a Chance," and composing the music for the currently airing NHK serial TV novel "Jun to Ai."

This photoshoot and interview came about because Ms. Ogino wore Giorgio Armani when she received her Japan Academy Prize for music.





The outfit she chose then was a spring coat with an oriental flair, featuring a mandarin collar and an asymmetrical front design. Although it was a coat, she wore it like a long jacket, cinching the waist with a belt.

“For a major awards ceremony, men wear suits, and actresses all wear dresses. I tend to be more of a behind-the-scenes person, so I can't wear anything too flashy. However, a regular suit would be too plain, so I was looking for something a bit more glamorous when the shop staff recommended this. It suited me perfectly. I had also seen it in the shop window and thought it was lovely.”

Kiyoko Ogino. She also performed several pieces of music during the shoot.

Personality is Key—Followed by Clothing

Styling that Matches One's Personality—In that sense, the coordination Ms. Ogino wears for this shoot perfectly embodies that principle. The outfit, which appears as a standard pantsuit on the runway, was styled with the concept of "dressing up for a performance on stage."

“When I play the piano, if the sleeves are too tight or too long, it can restrict my playing, but the jacket in the first coordination was just right. It was comfortable in many ways.First Coordination JacketI felt no stress at all, and it was very comfortable. With long garments or tailcoats, the tail part can be bothersome, but with a soft fabric like this, I don't have to worry about that, making it an excellent jacket for playing the piano.”—This is quite important, but—I felt no stress at all, and it was very comfortable. With long garments or tailcoats, the tail part can be bothersome, but with a soft fabric like this, I don't have to worry about that, making it an excellent jacket for playing the piano.”

The "drape" is one of Giorgio Armani's signature features, andThis suit worn by Ms. Oginois made of a fine-ribbed velvet fabric, achieving a softness that is unimaginable from its appearance.

“Of what I wore today, my personal favorite wasthe combination of a sharply tailored compact jacket and Bermuda shorts from the second coordination.It was made of velvet with a ribbon motif, and it was very cute.The third coordination, resembling a leather jacketis something I often wear when going to rehearsals. It's perfect for everyday wear.”












We also asked about the costumes she wears when performing on stage.

“Sometimes there's a dedicated costume designer who tells me, 'Please wear this,' and other times they say, 'Anything dark-colored is fine.' It depends on the production. The tuxedo I wore once was my favorite. I think women don't get many chances to wear a tuxedo, but it was well-received by those around me (laughs). It's fun to wear costumes that suggest a character's personality. For example, recently, I was given the theme 'Dress like a teacher in the image of Maria from "The Sound of Music."' The result was a styling that looked like something out of a fairy tale, which was enjoyable.”

Sometimes the music suggests a role, and conversely, inspiration for music can come from a character's personality or attire.





“I loved film scores since I was a child. My parents often listened to LPs featuring film music compilations, which I also loved. I listened to music from 'The Great Escape,' 'Romeo and Juliet,' Westerns, and Paul Mauriat. I also attended music classes from a young age, where I had composition lessons, which was significant. I enjoyed arranging music my own way rather than just playing it as written. Since the first instrument I learned was the Electone, I was exposed to a lot of mood music.”

Sincerity in Composition and Creation

She also speaks about being at the forefront as a woman and a composer.

“There are overwhelmingly more male composers, and this field is male-dominated. Composing is a truly solitary battle; I often work late into the night, face intense pressure, and need to be tough mentally and physically. After composing, I have to bring the music to the site and direct a large number of musicians. In many ways, I spend a lot of time fighting alone. Enduring all this,—I'm not sure if I'm enduring it,—Creating a piece of music or a work is a demanding process. But for me, when people say, 'That's a great piece,' after all the hardship, it all disappears. I've thought about quitting many times (laughs), but then I think, 'I'll do it again, I'll compose another piece.'”





Despite her stoic work ethic, her demeanor is charming. This highlights Ms. Ogino's personality, which possesses a flexible sensibility alongside an inner strength.

As a composer, as a creator, Ms. Ogino continues to look towards the future. She shares her current dreams.

“I've never created an original, large-scale musical, so I'd like to create a musical that would be recognized internationally. It would be wonderful to have it performed on Broadway someday.”

Kiyoko Ogino
Graduated from the Department of Composition, Tokyo University of the Arts. Composer and pianist. Active primarily in music for stage, film, drama, and commercials. Also performs in musicals and concerts. Received the Excellence in Music Award at the 32nd Japan Academy Prize for the film "The Magic Hour." Received the Excellence in Music Award at the 35th Japan Academy Prize for the film "A Ghost of a Chance." Her music for the NHK serial TV novel "Jun to Ai" is currently airing.