‘A person who usually rides a 50cc motorbike won’t be able to manage a Harley,’ he said. ‘It’s the same in this situation. If you adjust it so the touch is really sensitive, it’ll actually make it harder for someone to handle who doesn’t yet have the technique.’

As I unlocked the car I ventured to disagree. ‘But if you practise, you can learn to ride a Harley.’

‘It depends on whether or not you want to. At the moment this person can’t and they’re not showing any interest in trying. In a case like that, I think the kinder thing to do is to get the 50cc motorbike in the best shape possible for them.’

Who knows? He could be right.

‘Personally, I like to adjust the action of the movement, so that when I play it has a more sensitive response. But with this sort of client I hold back and adjust the touch so it’s duller and less resonant. If you have limited play in the action of the keys, any weakness on the part of the pianist will be less detectable. I intentionally adjust the piano so it doesn’t resonate as much, bearing in mind the nature of the client.’

‘I see.’

Mr Akino climbed into the passenger seat and quietly shut the door. ‘It’s really not very interesting. I’d much rather do a Harley.’ He turned to stare out of the window.

I had nothing to say. It’s not that he couldn’t, it’s that he didn’t. Some people simply can’t play a piano if it’s too responsive. He wasn’t making fun of the people who couldn’t play it, but was actually being respectful towards them. No matter how well an amateur primary-school player can hit a ball, you can’t just go handing him a full-sized bat. It’s simply too heavy.

‘It seems like such a shame, though.’

For Mr Akino, for the piano, for the primary-school pupil who only takes practice swings with a child’s bat.

Mr Akino had his yellow earplugs in now and didn’t reply.

Some of Us Are Blessed

‘He’s coming next year!’

Miss Kitagawa in our office was bubbling over with excitement as she gave the name of a famous pianist – a popular French performer whose nickname was Prince of Piano, or Master of Piano, or something like that.

‘He’ll be at the hall over there,’ she continued.