INDEX
Surviving Amidst Noise: “The Truly Essential People Will Find You at the Right Time” (Kokawa)
-What do you think about your future activities in terms of Japan and overseas?
Kokawa： Without a language barrier, it is easier for me to go outside the country, so I am always looking overseas. But I still love Japan, so it is hard for me to leave.
Shing02： As far as living in Japan?
Kokawa： When it comes to living in Japan, I can never leave.
Shing02 : In this day and age, there is no need to be particular about that. I happen to have made music with Nujabes, and now there are simultaneous tributes all over the world, so I would like to use that as a starting point, but I have also been making Japanese beats with DJ A-1, so I think there are many ways to showcase my work.
Shing02： I’m now almost 50 years old, and I think one of my strengths is that I have “been doing this for a long time,” so there are many ways to package it, such as looking back on that history or working with younger people. I think one of my strengths is that I have been around for 50 years, so there are many ways to package things. It’s not like I’m forcing myself to plan it.
-The recent performance of “battelcry” with OMA and A-1 at the “Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2024” was also timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the TV broadcast of “Samurai Champloo. Shing02: Speaking of cool things.
Shing02: To put it another way, I always want to be where I am needed, wherever that may be. What I am doing is going downhill a bit, the world is being sifted through Corona, and many other things are happening. The fact that I am able to continue in such a situation means that I am able to survive.
I think the challenge is to maintain a good level of tension in your daily life and to be able to continue to do so. Whether you are a writer or a photographer, if you drown yourself in noise that has nothing to do with you, you will lose motivation. Blocking it out is one of the tasks, and if you are not ready when the time comes, you will be late to the party. Conversely, even if you are not doing anything, as long as you are ready, you can go out with a bang. I think it is important to switch between the two. I would like to talk about this at …… today.
Kokawa: By all means!
Shing02: On the flip side, I think it is important not to waste time and energy. For me, if I am wasting my time working and moving, I can’t get ready quickly. There are all kinds of ties, and my self-esteem goes down. So I think it’s one thing to just do nothing. If I think, “I don’t have to do this work,” then I don’t do it anymore. But on the other hand, if I think, “Only I can do this,” I will do anything, no matter how trivial, and I will take on even the smallest job. In fact, I am a jack-of-all-trades, so I do graphics when asked, go to communities to teach, and do anything else. Even if it’s something really small and personal, if I think it would be better to do it myself, I’ll do it.
Kokawa： I totally understand. There is a sense of isolation as a result of refusing to do things that I don’t think are necessary for me, but I can pull together with people who really need me at the right time, so I think that is perfectly fine.
Shing02: That’s the best.
-That’s the best part. -I guess all the people participating in this solo album are people who met at the right time and had a sense of inevitability.
Kokawa： Yes, that’s true. I’m very grateful.
