When one-armed miracle violinist Manami Ito shared her talent with an inspiring audition on The World’s Best, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house by the time she was done. The Japanese nurse lost one of her arms in a car accident when she was 20. She lost all hope in life, stopped studying, and didn’t leave her house for a year. However, after her mum asked her to play violin again for her one day, Manami found inspiration again by playing violin with her prosthetic arm.
When Manami appeared on The World’s Best, the incredible beauty of her playing, and the pure joy that emanated from her as she played made the audition so uplifting. The judges openly wept as she played the song “Ito,” which translates to “Thread.” It’s really impossible to watch without becoming emotional. To see her proud husband and daughter watch her play was just the cherry on top. The Music Man has to say that Manami is an incredible talent, and such an inspiration for people around the world.
Fan channel MusicBella uploaded Manami’s audition to YouTube, where it hit 336,000 views. Viewers added comments such as “Whenever I feel sad, stressed, and feel like giving up, I just watch this video. Thank you for reminding me to never give up. May God bless you” and “She has brought hope to me. I was depressed these days and feeling like giving up, but this video gave me hope and strength. Such a touching, thankful video. I deeply feel grateful for her.”
Another of Manami’s viral videos featured her playing Miyuki Nakajima’s “Ito” in an auditorium. This version focused entirely on Manami and gives a better feel for how she’s able to play with her prosthetic arm. The Music Man has to say it’s so impressive how she is able to play with such beauty and precision. This video also includes the English lyrics of the song, which add another layer of meaning to her performance.
Manami Ito is a violinist, nurse, and former Paralympian swimmer from Aoi Ward, Shizuoka, Japan. She started playing the violin at age seven and was very passionate about it. She was in a car accident with a large truck at age 20, after which she had to have her arm amputated. Manami then confined herself to her house for a year and planned to do so for the rest of her life. However, her parents’ pain at her depressed state inspired her to find a way forward. As she told Arab News, “I thought, I cannot make them smile if I don’t smile myself.” At first, Manami attempted to play the violin by taping the bow to her foot. After several years, she was able to have an advanced prosthetic arm fitted, which allowed her to develop her current fluid style of playing. Manami initially feared playing in public. However, she eventually gained the determination to get past her fears, saying, “I want to show to the world that just because no one else has done it, it doesn’t mean I can’t do it.”