1927

Born on Mar. 29 in Tokyo, Japan. Youngest of four children of KOIZUMI Naozumi (father) and TOSHIMA Waka (mother). Had two brothers and a sister. Birthday was registered as April 4th.

1934 (7 years old)

April: Entered elementary school.
Absorbed in playing violin and swimming.

1940 (13 years old)

April: Entered secondary school.
Encountered ABE Kōmei (composer).
Absorbed in horse riding and swimming. Made new record as backstroke swimmer.

1944 (17 years old)

April: Entered high school. Joined high school musical group.
Learned violin from OKAMI Haruhiko, piano from TAKU Kōji, and participated in choir directed by TAKADA Saburo.

1945(18 years old)

August: Did mobilized labor at the Army Medical School in Yamagata Prefecture when World War II came to end.

1946(19 years old)

Enjoyed singing hymns at a Christian church in Tokyo.

1947(20 years old)

Was baptized.
Joined group for the research of religious music.
Met KAKO Mieko, a soprano singer.

1948(21 years old)

April: Entered Tokyo University, Faculty of Literature.
Worked as a part-time interpreter at Ueno and Tsukiji Police Station, Tokyo.

1949(22 years old)

April: Majored in aesthetics and art history.
September: Married KAKO Mieko.

1950(23 years old)

Deeply impressed with a live performance of Japanese traditional music style called jiuta.

1951(24 years old)

March: Graduated from Tokyo University. Wrote graduation thesis about modern European programme music.
April: Entered Tokyo University Graduate School.
Assisted MACHIDA Kashō in transcripting Japanese folksongs for Nihon min'yo taikan (Anthology of Japanese Folksongs).

1952(25 years old)

Became member of editorial committee of Philharmonie (bulletin of NHK Philharmonic) until 1970.
Began doing commentary on NHK radio programs regarding world music.
Daughter Shoko was born.

1953(26 years old)

Assisted in editing music dictionary as part-time employee for Publisher Heibon-sha. Learned about past research in comparative musicology through his work.

1954(27 years old)

Full-time employee of Publisher Heibon-sha (editorial staff).
Started broadcasting on radio (Bunka Hōsō) at show entitled Sekai no min'yō (World Folksongs) once a week, and continued until 1956.
Started publications of Nihon dentō ongaku kenkyū ni kansuru hōhōron to kisoteki shomondai (Methodology and fundamental issues for research on traditional Japanese music) serially in Philharmonie.
Had a chance to hear Indian folksongs (Bengalese etc.) at a regular meeting of Tōyō Ongaku Gakkai (The Society for Research in Asiatic Music).

1956(29 years old)

February: Produced and presided at the musical performance Sekai no min'yō (World Folksongs).
March: Graduated from graduate school, Tokyo University. Master's thesis was Nihon dentō ongaku kenkyū ni kansuru hohoron to kisoteki shomondai (Methodology and fundamental issues for research on Japanese traditional music). Later published as Nihon dentō ongaku no kenkyū 1 (Research on Japanese traditional music 1)(1958).
May: Passed Indian Government scholarship student examination.

1957(30 years old)

June: Left for India via Hong Kong and Burma.
July: Entered Central College of Karnataka Music, Madras. Investigated folk and classical music in South India.

1958(31 years old)

February: Entered College of Hindustani Music, Lucknow, North India.
Published Nihon dentō ongaku no kenkyū 1 (Research on Japanese traditional music 1), Ongaku-no-tomo-sha, Tokyo.
Returned Tokyo at end of the year.

1959(32 years old)

Worked at Heibon-sha as editorial staff for a dictionary on the history of Asia.
Lectured on Indian music at the regular meeting of Tōyō Ongaku Gakkai (The Society for Research in Asiatic Music).
Planned the NET-TV program World Music (until 1961) and started to make TV appearances.
September: Became part-time lecturer at Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music) and lectured on history of Asian music.

1960(33 years old)

March: Retired from Heibon-sha.
April: Became full-time lecturer at Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).
Became part-time lecturer of Toho Gakuen University.

1961(34 years old)

April: Attended the meeting of International Folk Music Council at Tehran, Iran, and had a chance to hear Persian Music.
Did field work research of children songs from Tokyo in a seminar of Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).

1962(35 years old)

May: Started to publish Nihon no rizumu (Japanese rhythm) serially in Ongaku geijutsu(Musical Art). These treatises became the bulk of Nihon dentō ongaku no kenkyū 2 (Research on Japanese traditional music 2) which were published after his death.
Started broadcasting Sekai no minzoku ongaku (Folk music of the world) over experimental radio NHK-FM.
Sponsored Nihon Ongaku Buyō Kaigi (Japanese Music and Dance Conference).

1963(36 years old)

April & May: Organized Folk music Research Group of Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music). Did field work research on the music of Okinawa Main Island, Miyako Islands, and Yaeyama Islands.
July: Participated in the comprehensive research of Shimokita Peninsula as a member of Tōyō Ongaku Gakkai (The Society for Research in Asiatic Music) in collaboration with nine different societies.

1964(37 years old)

January: Attended 1st International Festival of Folk Performance in Cairo, Egypt.
January through April: Did folk music field work in the upper stream area of Nile River with Egyptian researcher. Discovered ancient liturgical music of a Coptic Church. The recordings were released 2 years later as a LP-Album Nairu no Uta (Songs from the Nile area) (JVC) and won an artistic award.
Continued field work research in West Asia (Turkey, Iraq, Iran), Southern Europe (Spain) and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Hungary).
October: Returned to Tokyo.

1965(38 years old)

April 11: Started to broadcast Sekai no minzoku ongaku (Folk Music of the World ) over NHK-FM radio once a week. Program was renamed in 1972 as Sekai no minzoku ongaku (World Music) and continued until May 1983.
Made LP-Album Sekai no minzoku ongaku dai-1-shū: Minzoku ongaku no kaimei (World Music vol.1: Elucidate World Music) (Prince Records).
Presented the results of musical research in Shimokita Peninsula at Tōyō Ongaku Gakkai (The Society for Research in Asiatic Music).

1966(39 years old)

April: Became Assistant Professor of Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).
August: Participated in the field work to investigate folk music in Oshima Peninsula, Hokkaido by Tōyō Ongaku Gakkai (The Society for Research in Asiatic Music).

1967(40 years old)

March: Conducted field work to investigate children songs intensively in Nakano Ward and Shinjuku Ward of Tokyo as the leader of Folk Music Research Group of Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).
April: Collaborated with Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Research on language and culture of Asia and Africa (until 1975). Participated in the comprehensive research of Tone basin in collaboration with nine other societies.
July: Did field work research of Hawaiian and Latin American music.
August: Attended international conference at Michigan University.
August & September: Did field work research of Canadian Eskimo music.
September through January of 1968: Became Visiting Associate Professor at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, USA, to lecture on Japanese music.
December: Did field work research of Mohawk Indian music.

1968(41 years old)

January: Did field work research for Alaska Eskimo music.
February: Returned to Tokyo.
Started to analyze the music of kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs).
Conducted field work research of Bon festival dance in Gifu Prefecture as the leader of Folk Music Research Group of Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).
August: Participated in the field work research of folk music in Tosa by Tōyō Ongaku Gakkai (The Society for Research in Asiatic Music).

1969(42 years old)

March: Published Shingi Shingon Shōmyō Shūsei, Gakufu-hen Dai-1-kan (Collection of Buddhist liturgical chant: Shingi school of Shingon Shōmyō, music book vol.1), edited with KURIYAMA Akinori, Shingi Shingon Shōmyō Shūsei Kankō-kai.
August: Participated in the field work research of folk music in Satsuma Peninsula, Kagoshima by Tōyō Ongaku Gakkai (The Society for Research in Asiatic Music).
September: Edited and Published Warabeuta no Kenkyū, Gakufu-hen/Kenkyū-hen (Game Songs of Japanese Children, Comparative Scores/Studies of Game Songs).

1970(43 years old)

June: Produced African Festival at the world exposition in Japan.
August: Asian Festival at the world exposition in Japan.
August: Participated in the field work research of folk music in Hida Takayama, Gifu by Tōyō Ongaku Gakkai (The Society for Research in Asiatic Music).
Autumn: Produced film Invitation to Japanese Music (Sakura Eiga-sha) at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1971(44 years old)

January: Did field work research of music in Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Senegal).
February through May: Became Visiting Associate Professor at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, USA. Tape recorded African-American church services in the state of Connecticut.
June: Did field work research of music in the coastal area of the Mediterranean Sea (Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy).
July: Did field work research of the music of minorities, Toda in India and Veda in Sri Lanka.
July through September: Conducted field work research of music in South-East Asia (Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines). In Indonesia, purchased Central Java gamelan set (slendro). Saw Central Java Royal Palace's gamelan set which was bought by Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music) in 1973.
November: Organized Gamelan Study Group and practiced every Wednesday night at his home until about 1974.

1972(45 years old)

May: Produced 5 films of bugaku for Encyclopedia Cinematographica, Germany.
July: Did field work research of music in the Republic of Korea. These tape-recordings were released the next year as LP-records Ariran no Uta (SJL-25, 26).
August: Did field work research of music in Indonesia. This research was broadcasted on Japanese television. Thereafter tied up with commercial broadcasting companies at his field work research.
August & September: Did field work research of music in Fiji and Yap Island.
August: Translated and published Waga Jinsei Waga Ongaku (My Music, My Life), written by Ravi Shankar, Ongaku no tomo-sha.
December: Published treatise Onkai to Sempō (Musical scale and mode).

1973(46 years old)

January: Made commentary and performed the 'purifying role' at the 1st performance of Balinese kecak by Hato no kai in Tokyo.
July & August: Did field work research of music in Taiwan.
September: Did field work research of music in the Balkan Peninsula.
October & November: Attended an international seminar of the Asia/Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO (ACCU) in Philippines.
December & January of 1974: After a blank of 10 yrs., conducted more field work research of Okinawa and Miyako Islands as the leader of Folk Music Research Group of Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).
Published Otamajakushi Muyōron (Unnecessary of musical notes), Inner Trip-sha, reprinted in 1980, Seido-sha.

1974(47 years old)

March: Did music research in India and Afghanistan.
April: Became Professor of Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).
September: Did field work to investigate music in Malaysia. Attended international conference of UNESCO in Austria.
December & January of 1975: Conducted field work to investigate music in Yaeyama Islands, as the leader of Folk Music Research Group of Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).

1975(48 years old)

February: Attended International Conference of ACCU on musical teaching materials for professionals. As a leader of this group until 1982, he had influence over the musical teaching material for Asian children.
November: Did field work research of music in Iraq and Laos.

1976(49 years old)

March & April: As a supervisor, participated in the first project Ajia dentō Geinō no Koryū (Asian Traditional Performing Arts) of Japan Foundation. In the next year, the results were published as reports entitled Asian Musics in an Asian Perspective (Japan Foundation), LP-Album Nihon Ongaku no genryū wo tazunete (Looking for the origin of Japanese Music) (JVC) and several films contain Take no hibiki (The Sounds of Bamboo)( Mitsu Productions).
April: Visited China as one of representative Japanese musicians delegated by the Association for Japan-China Culture Exchange.

1977(50 years old)

April until 1982: Produced symposium concerning kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs) entitled Kon'nichi no taishū to ongaku (Today's Multitudes and Music) (Watanabe Cultural Forum).
April & May: Did field work research of music in Iran, Iraq and Turkey, in preparation for Nihon Min'yō Matsuri (Japanese Folksong Festival) for the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
July & August: Conducted field work research of music in Mongol, the former Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India and so on, as the leader of the 1st Silk Road Music and Dance Research Group of Min'on.
September: Produced and commented on Asian music at Nihon Min'yō Matsuri (Japanese Folksong Festival).
December: Published Nihon no oto (Japanese Sounds), Seido-sha.
December & January of 1978: Did field work research of music in Iran, India, Nepal and Burma, in preparation for the second project Asia dentō Geinō no Kohryū (Asian Traditional Performing Arts).

1978(51 years old)

March & April: Did field work research of music in the Republic of Korea, in preparation for Nihon Min'yō Matsuri (Japanese Folksong Festival).
April & May: Did field work research of music in Mongol in preparation for Ajia dentō Geinō no Kohryū (Asian Traditional Performing Arts).
April through September: Appeared once a month on NHK Educational Television Column.
May: Produced LP Ajia no deai (An Encounter with Asia), in which Ravi Shankar (Indian sitar player) played together with Japanese musicians. Published Esukimō no uta (Eskimo Songs), Seido-sha.
June: Produced and commented on the National Theatre Performance Nihon ongaku no nagare: shōka (The Stream of Japanese Music: School Songs).
July: Lectured the Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko on Eastern European Music.
July & August: Conducted field work research of music in Yaeyama Islands, as the leader of Folk Music Research Group of Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).
September: Commented on Turkish and Korean songs on the stage of Nihon Min'yō Matsuri (Japanese Folksong Festival). Published Kūsō Ongaku Daigaku (Visionary College of Music), Seido-sha.
November: Published Chūtō Ongaku no Sankyoku (The three centers of Middle East music), Kodan-sha.
November & December: As a supervisor, participated in the second project Ajia dentō Geinō no Koryū (Asian Traditional Performing Arts). Later, the results were published as reports Musical Voices of Asia, 1978 (Japan Foundation), LP-Album Ajia no uta (Songs of Asia) (JVC) and several films contain Ajia no uta (Songs of Asia) (Mitsu Productions).

1979(52 years old)

February: Did field work research of music in India in preparation for Min'on Concert.
March: Published Minzoku Ongaku Kenkyū Nōto (Research Notes of World Music), Seido-sha.
April: Did field work research of music in Sri Lanka and Indonesia in order to prepare for Nihon Min'yō Matsuri (Japanese Folksong Festival).
July: Produced, commented and presided at the Min'on concert entitled Shirukurōdo Ongaku no Tabi: Harukanaru Uta no Michi (Journey Silk Road Looking for Music: Song Route).
August: Did field work research of music in Bali Island, Indonesia.
October: Produced and commented on the National Theatre Performance Nihon Ongaku no Nagare: Rizumu (The Stream of Japanese music: Rhythm).
December: Recorded south Indian classical dance bharata-natyam in Madras for TV program.

1980(53 years old)

February: Did field work research of music in South America (Peru, Bolivia, Argentina). This was broadcasted on TV as Mō-hitotsu no Tabi (Another Journey).
March & April: Did field work research of music in Malaysia, Pakistan and India in order to prepare for Nihon Min'yō Matsuri (Japanese Folksong Festival).
May: Did field work research of folk music in the former Soviet Union at the invitation of Soviet Foreign Friendship Culture Exchange Association Federation and Soviet Japan Society.
July & August: Conducted field work research of folk music in China and Pakistan, as the leader of the Second Silk Road Music and Dance Research Group of Min'on.
September: Produced and commented at the Min'on Silk Road music concert entitled Turkish Folksong with MAYUZUMI Jun.
October: Visited China to observe The Public Performance by Minority Races in China.
November: Received the Suntory Prize of Arts and Sciences (Art and Culture Section).

1981(54 years old)

February: Did field work research of music in Romania, which was broadcasted over TV as Mō-hitotsu no Tabi (Another journey).
March: Released 50 LP-album Minzoku Ongaku Daishūsei (Collection of world music), King Records. This LP-album contains his principle recordings.
June: As a supervisor, participated in the third project Ajia dentō Geinō no Koryū (Asian Traditional Performing Arts). Later, the results were published as reports Dance and Music in South Asian Drama (Japan Foundation), LP-Album etc.
July & August: Produced, commented and presided at Min'on concert entitled Shiruku Rōdo Ongaku no Tabi: Gakujin-tachi no Michi (Journey Silk Road Looking for Music: Musician Route).
August: Did field work research of music in Bulgaria.
September: Conducted field work research of music in Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture, as the leader of Folk Music Research Group of Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).
October: Supervised and commented on the National Theatre Performance Nihon Ongaku no Nagare: Fue no Ongaku (Kangakki no Iroiro) [The Stream of Japanese music: Music of the flute (Various wind instruments)].
December & January of 1982: Did field work research of music in India and Nepal.

1982(55 years old)

April: Did field work research of music in Mongol, in preparation for Nihon Min'yō Matsuri (Japanese Folksong Festival).
July: Did field work research of music in Turkey.
July & August: Conducted field work research of music in Turkey, India and China, as the leader of the third Silk Road Music and Dance Research Group of Min'on.
October: Supervised and commented on the National Theatre Performance Nihon Ongaku no Nagare: Dagakki (The Stream of Japanese music: Percussion).
December & January of 1983: Conducted field work research of music in Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture, as the leader of Folk Music Research Group of Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).

1983(56 years old)

February: Did field work research of music in Kypros and Greece.
March: Appeared on Educational TV NHK program Junia Daihyakka: Kore ga Nihon Ongaku no Rutsu da (Encyclopedia for juniors: These are the roots of Japanese music) in five series.
March & April: Did field work research of music in Burma, in preparation for Nihon Min'yo Matsuri (Japanese Folksong Festival).
May: Published Kokyū-suru Minzoku Ongaku (Breathing World Music), Seido-sha.
Suffering from poor health conditions, and sometimes had acute pains in the night.
June 4 & 5: Attended Symposium Okinawa by Okinawa Times in Naha, Okinawa.
June 6: Had medical examination.
June 15: Hospitalized.
July 18: Operated on for carcinoma of the pancreas.
August 20: Died of hepatic insufficiency.

August 31: Farewell Service in Tokyo. KOIZUMI Fumio was awarded the Third Order of the Sacred Treasure.

Radio NHK-FM, TV Asahi and the other broadcasting stations broadcasted mourning programs on the air.

October 20: All of KOIZUMI Fumio's research materials were donated to the Faculty of Music, Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).

1985

June: KOIZUMI Fumio Memorial Archives opened at the Faculty of Music, Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).
July & August: Memorial Exhibition and Lecture Concert.

1990

April: 1st Annual (1989) KOIZUMI Fumio Prize for Ethnomusicology was awarded.

1994

October: Memorial concert Ajia no Hibiki (Musics in Asia).