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NOT WONK’s Kato on “FAHDAY2024”: Preserving Culture in Modern Cities

2024.9.19

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Shuhei Kato’s Work with NOT WONK and SADFRANK Embodies a Core Belief: ‘Never Leave Your Value in Someone Else’s Hands.’ His Connection to Punk and His View of ‘Alternative’ as a ‘Path of Life’ Rather Than Just a Genre Reflect His Quest for Unity in a Modern World Where Lives Are Monetized and Existence Is Reduced to Numbers. At the 2019 ‘YOUR NAME’ Event in Tomakomai, Kato Advocated for Trust and Autonomy Through the Simple Act of Calling Each Other’s Names, Seeking to Affirm Individual Existence. In 2023, With SADFRANK’s Release of ‘gel,’ He Reflected on the Question ‘What Is Existence?’ by Turning It Inward, Continuing His Journey Through Music While Seeking Self-Definition. Kato’s Creative Drive Is Fueled by Confronting Forces That Aim to Erase Individual Existence and Inspiring a Continuous Struggle for Life.

The New Festival He Founded, ‘FAHDAY 2024,’ Serves as a New Gathering Place Under the Theme of ‘Expression Exchange.’

Kato’s Extended Stay in Tomakomai During the COVID-19 Pandemic Helped Him Recognize the Overlooked Daily Lives of People. He Came to See These Lives as Vital Assertions of Individual Existence and the Culture That Continues to Evolve. This Interview Delves Into the Spirit of ‘FAHDAY 2024,’ a Festival Aimed at Connecting People and Creating a Larger Circle Through Human Interaction, Providing a Clear Insight Into Kato’s Unwavering View of Humanity and What We Should Focus On Now.

Shuhei Kato
NOT WONK/SADFRANK. Born in 1994 in Tomakomai and currently based there, Kato is a musician. He formed the rock band NOT WONK while still in high school in 2010. Since 2015, he has released four albums through KiliKiliVilla and Avex Entertainment. In addition, he released an album as a solo project, SADFRANK, in 2022. He is also responsible for art direction on many of his works.

Attempting to Manage Everything Solo for “YOUR NAME”: A Fruitless Endeavor

The event “FAHDAY2024” (FAHDAY), conceived by Kato, has been announced. A statement positioning this event as an ‘Exchange of Expression Market’ was also released. Could you share more about the spirit behind this concept and the background leading up to this event?

Kato: Since the ‘YOUR NAME’ event at ELLCUBE in Tomakomai in 2019, I’ve felt a strong urge to take action. For ‘FAHDAY,’ I’m relying on support from local friends and businesses, which is a departure from the approach I took with ‘YOUR NAME.’ Back then, I was determined to handle everything myself—from creating the tickets, which were hand-printed by the three members of NOT WONK, to managing the cloakroom and ticket checking. We prepared for the event in just six months, starting in July 2019, with the resolve to do it all on our own.

“YOUR NAME” December 7, 2019 @ Tomakomai ELLCUBE (Photography: Tomoki Kuwashima)

Kato: So, with 262 attendees and 24 opening bands (as noted), plus the staff, there were a total of 368 people. The way each person’s enjoyment connected truly made it a fantastic day. However, despite starting the event with the intention of handling everything myself, it proved to be utterly impossible. I wanted to create a DIY experience to connect with each individual, but in reality, I couldn’t even manage basics like filling the stove with kerosene. I ended up needing help for every little detail.

The opening bands at ‘YOUR NAME’ were those who performed during the open stage event. All artists who applied between July 5, 2019, 11:00 AM and July 6, 10:30 AM performed. The lineup included Gotch, Discharming Man, Totsuzenshoujo, Yahhoo, TIMELY ERROR, The Triops, SUP, Indie Girl, Yurina Maeda, BANGLANG, INViSBL, The Giraffes, Datto, Hue’s, SEAPOOL, And Summer Club, LADALES, JEEP, The Big Mouth, cult grass stars, zo-sun park, Dr. NY, MAPPY, and Mitsuru Okubo.

Did your effort to manage everything solo reveal that seeking help from others is acceptable?

Kato: That’s right. I came to realize that I might have been the only one thinking I had to do everything myself. I understood that both the opening bands and the attendees felt they should pitch in. As a result, despite my intention to manage everything alone, ‘YOUR NAME’ turned out not to be a genuine DIY event. I believe DIY is most meaningful when it achieves the highest quality. Otherwise, it might be better not to organize a DIY event at all.

If the aim is simply to do everything solo and it results in lower quality, it’s ultimately counterproductive. ‘YOUR NAME’ was indeed a fantastic day with remarkable performances.

Kato: If I insisted on doing it all myself while still relying on others for help, it would be exploitative. I decided it was better to seek fair support from everyone and build something together. This approach was the foundation for “FAHDAY.”

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