A native of the Tochigi prefecture north of Tokyo, he graduated in singing from the Tokyo University of the
Arts, then he continued his studies at the Giuseppe Nicolini Conservatory in Piacenza on a scholarship (2001/02), and
finally on another scholarship in New York City (2009/10).
At home in Japan, he sang a few main roles in the Japanese provinces (Ferrando, Don Ottavio, Alfredo, Pinkerton,
Rinuccio), but was basically a comprimario with the Nikikai Opera Foundation in Tokyo, where he made his debut in 2007.
While his timbre and musicality are quite agreeable, his top register would be a shame for any baritone, and is far indeed
from what should be expected from a tenor, so singing any roles of note on a serious level was out of question.
Takada's expedient was to become kind of a Japanese Marcel Prawy: in preparation of new Nikikai productions, he gives
a public talk labelled "Opera – why not?", explaining the scheduled work, interviewing the colleagues who will sing
the main roles, thus trying to familiarize a broader audience with opera, and with European musical tradition. He also
hosts radio shows on opera.
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