Symphony Kukai returns to London, bridging cultures through music

Compared with earlier versions, the participation of Yuasa as conductor brought a new depth to the work.

Yuasa was born on the same day as Master Kukai and grew up beside a temple that revered Master Kukai, absorbing his stories from childhood.

"He was really (integrated) into Japanese society for over a thousand years," Yuasa said. "Everybody knows him, and those who don't know him are also doing what he taught, because it's already in our manner, our ethics, and our beliefs."

Zou Ye, the symphony's composer, believes Yuasa understands his intentions and can take the music further.

"Although I am Chinese, the conductor could find in my music feelings that are shared by Japanese people and the wider Eastern culture—and our common devotion to Master Kukai," he added.

Japanese culture, Yuasa noted, has been closely connected with China for thousands of years. "We use the same characters—some kanji. China and Japan share a great deal," he said.

"Symphony Kukai is one of the best things that has happened," Yuasa added. "This is really at the people level. It is about spirit, about our lives, and very fundamentally about life itself. It's a very common subject among Chinese and Japanese."