PTNA proposes a new way to enjoy the competition, thanks to Ustream and twitter, by giving live streaming and text-based live reports at the same time. It will be taken place at the semi-final solo recital on August 19th, and the final round piano concerti on August 22nd (special grade).

Four opinion leaders will be twittering while the performances being broadcasted by Ustream. Those four people, representing the world of music and art in Japan, are as follows; Sakura Amamiya, Yoichi Iio, (music writers), Ichiro Kaneko (PTNA Piano Competition grand prize winner in 2005) and Shogo Kariyazaki(flower artist). Please see their profiles below.

In general, audience increase is one of the shared goals in the music world and also an important project that PTNA has been working on for years. In 2002, "Audience Prize" was introduced in the special grade, which awards the winner half of the admission fee at the final round. It literally enables audiences to give direct support and sponsorship to young pianists. It evokes a substantial interest and the prize has reached its highest amount in 2007 (0.88 million yen).

This year, the Ustream & twitter project is expected to invite greater audience online, and to show variety of perspectives on individual performances, apart from the official judge. See Ustream page. (photo: Iio, Amamiya, and Kaneko at the meeting) 

*Profiles of 4 opinion leaders

Shogo Kariyazaki, a flower artist, is famous for the dynamic flower designs and arrangements. He made exhibisions across Japan and overseas, in Keukenhof (Holland), Shanghai Expo, etc. He will make flower installation at Rome International Film Festival (Oct-Nov) and Petit Palais in Paris (Dec-Jan 2011). He also gives a number of collaborative performances with pianists / musicians in Japan. (*8/22 only)

Sakura Amamiya, pianist, piano teacher and music writer, obtained the master's degree at University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, and won the gold medal at the 26th Viotti International Piano Competition. She is now teaching piano and chamber music at Toho Gakuen School of Music.

Yoichi Iio, music writer, had been an editor of 'Ongaku-no-Tomo' and 'Record Geijutsu', etc. and became independent in 2005. One of his outstanding works is the guidebooks for classical music lovers such as 'Best 100 Selection of Classical Music', and an online journal called 'Classica' which gains over 300 thousands access monthly.

Ichiro Kaneko, the grand prize winner in 2005, is a pianist and high school teacher specialized in mathematics. He has given recitals and CD recordings, and also published a book titled "A Pianist Who Makes Challenges - how to be self-educated?". He also wrote a series of articles about Debussy on PTNA online journal.

*All the posts on twitter will be open to public except judges. Those four people will be kept separated from judges and audience during the session, and judges cannot see any of the live reports until the end of the final round.