
A Japanese musician describes his delightfully surprising encounter with a fellow music and anime lover from Europe.
Sometimes the best memories are made when and where you’d least expect them.
Japanese Twitter user and seasoned saxophone player @sangsongsing experienced one such serendipitous encounter as he was coming home on a flight from Europe. As he was dabbling in copying and composing some music to pass the time, a Dutch man sitting next to him took an interest in what he was doing and ended up being in tune (pun intended) with a lot more than @sangsongsing was expecting. Read his tweet about the chance conversation below:
欧州帰りの飛行機で楽譜を書いてたら、隣に座ったオランダ兄貴に
— さんそん (@sangsongsing) September 6, 2018
「楽譜を書けるなんてクールだ!何を書いてるんだ?」
って言われて、流石にガイナックス組曲書いてるとも言えず
「現代音楽ですぅ」
って答えたら
「いやいやそれグレンラガンじゃないか最高にクールだっ!」って。
知 っ て た。
“As I was scoring music on my return flight from Europe, the Dutch guy sitting next to me said, ‘It’s so cool that you can compose music! What are you working on now?’ to which I replied (without saying that it was Gainax [anime studio] music), ‘Some pop music.’ He then said, ‘No no, isn’t that music from Gurren Lagann [2007 anime]? You’re awesome!’
He. Knew.”
▼ The opening theme of Gurren Lagann (2007)
https://twitter.com/ModernAnimeOP/status/1036693983467118592@sangsongsing then posted a follow-up message a few minutes later:
オランダ兄貴、なんか俺の楽譜をチラチラ見ながら、膝の上で指ピロピロしてるなと思ってたら、なんと楽譜見ながら鍵盤引いて何の曲かわかったそうな。どうもピアノを趣味でやってるとのこと。
— さんそん (@sangsongsing) September 6, 2018
「俺このあとAKIHABARAに行くんだぜ超楽しみだっフーッ!」ってテンションマックスオランダ兄貴可愛かった。
“It turns out that the Dutch guy, while glancing at my score from time to time, was tapping his fingers on his knee as if he were playing the keyboard. He figured out what song it was because playing the piano was his hobby. He also told me that he was so excited to be on his way to Akihabara. I have to admit that the supe enthusiastic Dutch guy was super cute.”
Some net users were skeptical of his story, claiming that there’s no way it actually happened, while others left excited comments online:
“This kind of fortuitous encounter is wonderful.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like writing a musical score…”
“Gainax’s musical selection is the best!”
“I really want that Dutch guy to enjoy Japan.”
“Yesterday at Akihabara’s Yodobashi Camera store there was a foreign guy playing “Libera Me” from Gurren Lagann in the keyboard corner. I wonder…”
In any case, we know that @sangsongsing definitely has some good taste in music. On Twitter he notes his favorite musical scores as being from Cowboy Bebop, Legend of Mana (1999 PlayStation game), Enchanted (2007 live-action Disney film), Yoko Kanno (composer of Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Vision of Escaflowne), and the Seatbelts (band led by Yoko Kanno that performed the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack). Who knows what other foreign fellow fans he’ll meet on his next trip abroad when he opens his composition book.
Source: My Game News Flash
Featured image: Pakutaso

Batman Ninja anime’s awesome preview video is every bit as crazy cool as the concept sounds【Vid】
Anime music legend Yoko Kanno to compose music for Japan’s Takarazuka all-female revue
Overseas Uber driver and anime fan gets the Cowboy Bebop surprise of a lifetime【Video】
Italian jazz pianist unleashes inner Ghibli fanboy, releases anime theme song album
Anime Music Video Encourages the World to Continue Dreaming About Japan
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Studio Ghibli unveils new fluffy purses from films like My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away
Tokyo police found our lost wallet, but the story of how they did made us feel empty
Japan’s famous Suica Penguin JR train pass card mascot is “graduating”/being laid off
Starbucks Japan unveils the new Soupuccino
Giant digital sumo wrestler now stopping trains at Tokyo station【Video】
Never forget that Mister Donut’s super-simple ramen is actually very hard to beat
Japan’s plus-sized idol singer group releases new video about the joys of eating【Video】
Stay in a Tokyo hotel with a train driver’s seat in the room
Sailor Moon Museum will finally make its outside-Japan debut
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Tokyo hotel lets you make your stay a Sanrio one with special My Melody and Kuromi rooms【Pics】
Real takoyaki is almost impossible to find in Tokyo, but this place has it, our hardliner says
One of the busiest stations in Tokyo is changing the name on its signs, but not necessarily to make it easier for people to find their way around.
Studio Ghibli releases new Ursula’s blanket from Kiki’s Delivery Service
Tokyo all-you-can-eat senbei deal is perfect for newbies to the world of beloved Japanese snacks
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys to brighten your days
JR Hokkaido train driver in trouble for reading book about trains on stopped train
Sanrio and Sonic the Hedgehog characters become fast friends with new plushie collection
Tokyo bento boxed lunch shop charges different prices depending on how heavy your laptop is
Studio Ghibli anime stoles are here to keep you warm with a range of famous characters
Japan has vending machines that put protective film on your phone for you — Here’s how to use them
Studio Ghibli releases new anime tea and mugs in Japan
Totoro fountain figurine recreates the sights and sounds of one of anime’s most memorable scenes
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas Frappuccino and holiday drinks for 2025
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
Cowboy Bebop fragrance line created to celebrate anime’s 25th anniversary
SoraNews24’s Otaku Aniki is here to give you the three must-watch anime of the spring season【Vid】
A singalong song from Japan to surpass “Paprika?” Presenting “Karaoke Neko-chan”【Video】
Will listening to Japan’s biggest earworm song for five hours drive you insane? Let’s find out!
Does Japan’s T.M. Revolution J-rock cake really look like the song it’s named after?
Our reporter/Yngwie Malmsteen’s request for anime actress Kotori Koiwai, and her shocking answer
Let’s get some cash from Japan’s sexy anime men ATMs【Photos, video】
A skeptic’s guide to anime – Five series to ease you into Japan’s most popular export
Leave a Reply