The “Oh well” aesthetics that saved Otake@James.

Too hard, too difficult, clumsy struggle against “self-care

I heard that the reason why you started your music career was because of the people who were pleased by your music. It seems to me that feeling the presence of others and thinking about their feelings is a major core of your activities.

Otake: ……Yes, I definitely feel the presence of someone else. I don’t really do anything for my own satisfaction alone. It’s like I can’t enjoy something for myself unless it’s a place with as much impact as Disneyland, for example.

-I know that the songwriting process can be a solitary part, but do you feel that you are “alone” or that you don’t have much of a feeling of “for yourself”?

Otake: It’s a different feeling for me because the output is based on what people have said or done to me. I imagine the voices and reactions of various people, and I feel like I have a lot of stands behind me (laughs). I feel like I have a lot of stands behind me (laughs).

-I was wondering if it is not hard for you to be in that state.

Otake: I end up crying about once a month (laughs). I don’t even know if that is a state of being overwhelmed or not, because I work too hard. The term “self-care,” as it is often called, doesn’t really ring a bell. When I listen to people around me, I think they are taking care of themselves in various ways, but I am not very good at self-care.

I think the word and the concept are spreading because there are many people who are aware that they are not able to take care of themselves.

Otake: That’s right. But in parallel with self-care, the term “time performance” has also emerged, hasn’t it? People are trying their best to make up time and cram in all kinds of things, but they are not taking care of anything!　It’s so contradictory to save time to take care of yourself!　You mockingly say, “I’m the one who’s overworked the most,” but in fact, you are the one who is overworked the most.

-Perhaps it is because there are many people who are feeling the strain of a “typa” world that there is a need for self-care.

Otake: When I hear from people around me that they are digitally detoxing, I think that everyone is doing self-care in various ways, but as long as I am doing a lot of live shows, I will never stop calling and I will never be able to do it.

-Where does your sense of “I want to be pursued” or “I have to work hard” come from?

Otake: Hmmm……… I think it might also be for the sake of others. In a very condescending way, I think it is “for the money,” but that money is also because I am hoping that the members will take it easy on me. But now, I feel like I am enjoying myself and pushing myself.

But now, I feel like I’m forcing myself to have fun.

Otake: I don’t have to be tense anymore, which I don’t want to be. When I was doing about 25 gigs a month, I was panicking while doing them, but compared to those days, I have more leeway in my mind. Compared to those days, I feel more relaxed. I am satisfied with what I do because I hope people are happy with what I do. So I think “Well, it’s OK,” and that’s how I feel about the song “Ryo-Yaku”. I don’t know what the other person thinks, but if I think it’s okay and I’m getting a little peace of mind, then that’s all that matters. ……

I guess I’m thinking a lot more than I thought. I try to act like I’m not thinking about it, though.

-I feel that the song “Yokare” expresses this kind of conflict in an honest way.

Otake: Thank you very much. But compared to the past, I am much more cheerful and able to live without any worries (laughs).