Seiji Ozawa, the most Western Japanese conductor, dies at 88. The teacher had been retired since 2010 due to treatment for esophageal cancer.

His last appearance on stage occurred in 2022, conducting Beethoven's 'Egmont' overture. He was born in what is now Shenyang, in Manchuria, during the Japanese occupation. He became the owner of his State Opera until his forced retirement at the end of 2009. He tried to conduct the most complicated repertoire, focused on 20th century composers.