music schools in japan

[moltar]

Would you say it's harder or easier to get accepted to a undergraduate program as a classical pianist in Japan than to a school in Europe or The US?

(This is assuming that one knows and speak japanese, that is)

[birba]

TOHO in Tokyo is supposedly one of the most difficult music schools in the world.  For instrumentalists.  GEDAI is supposedly the most difficult university for music majors in Japan.  I found the instrumentalists there superb.  The vocal department not so much.  But I'm not sure if foreigners can get in these schools.  The Japanese are SO closed to the outside world.  Typical island mentality.

[moltar]

Interesting. But what about other universities, like Tokyo university of the arts and Tokyo College of Music?

It seems many japanese musicians travel to Europe to learn, but I guess some stay in their own country, and are they of the same calibre?