Emerald’s Yosuke Nakano Explores Harmony with Others and Reminisces About PaperBagLunchbox

Yosuke Nakano’s Commitment: “Honoring the Support I’ve Received”

-Having looked back on your band activities, how do you feel about your personal growth and changes?

Nakano： I try not to think too much about how I’ve changed as a person. But looking back, it’s clear that when the band ended, I was starting from scratch—maybe even from a point of deep loss. It felt like I was grasping at a thread, relying on the help of many people to keep going.

Nakano： And since I’m standing here thanks to the help of so many people, I want to repay that support. I’d love to give them something tangible, but I’m not that wealthy [laughs]. Instead, if people who see me on stage think, “He looks happy and energetic,” then maybe they’ll feel it was worth extending a hand back then. That’s the feeling I carry with me.

Even though we say Emerald is DIY, it’s clear that many people are helping us behind the scenes. I want to honor their support while not overextending myself, avoiding singing things I don’t want to sing, and not feeling pressured to perform in ways that don’t feel right. One big thing is not wanting to make those currently involved with the band experience the hardships we faced during the Paperback days.

-Did starting Emerald after the breakup of Paperback feel like a form of salvation or a way to find some relief for you?

Nakano：Yes, definitely. Starting Emerald created a new space for me to sing, and it offered a vast, expansive environment. With Paperback, there wasn’t much room; singing in such a confined space was part of what made it interesting. But with Emerald, there was ample space, and that has allowed me to improve my singing. Feeling saved by that, I now have the desire to give back, to move forward, and to take things to the next level.

-The album includes creative support from NiEW. Mansaku Kashiwai from NiEW, who previously worked on the CINRA series ‘People Who Quit Music and Those Who Continued,’ participated in the production. How was it working with him?

Nakano: To be honest, I don’t really think of Mansaku-san as someone who ‘quit music’ (laughs). I see it as just a change in format; in terms of being involved in creative work, I still consider him a band member. He’s someone who has a keen eye for what makes things feel right, so in that sense, I feel like we were working together as if we were in a band. Also, he always follows through on what he says he’ll do, so the members trust him a lot. I’m really happy that we’ve been able to continue working together over time.

-Now for the final question, continuing with the theme of ‘People Who Quit Music and Those Who Continued.’ Nakano-san, how long do you plan to continue making music?

Nakano：I think continuing to make music depends on my own will, of course, but more importantly, it’s about how much my presence can influence others. On the flip side, I believe the reason I’ve been able to continue music is thanks to the influence of other people. So I want to create an environment where this mutual influence can happen easily, and I want to stay in places where music is likely to emerge. As long as I have that mindset and I’m ready to sing at any moment, the music will keep going. If something more important comes along, and if I want to do something else more than music, then I would actively step away from it. But I really love singing, and the moment when I come up with lyrics is ultimately the most fun and happiest for me. When I think about it that way, I can’t yet imagine stopping because of something else I love more. If, for various reasons, the people around me start to disappear, maybe I would naturally stop. But as long as there are people saying, ‘Let’s do it,’ I think I’ll probably keep going.

-As long as you coexist with others, the music will continue.

Nakano：Yes, that’s right. I’d like to try making solo work someday, but in the end, I think I would still make it with other people. And if there’s even one person who says, ‘I like your singing, I want to hear more,’ that would reignite the fire in me, and I think I’d be able to keep going.

Emerald 3rd Album “Neo Oriented” Release Tour Ray of Hope”

2024.9.7 Sat Osaka CONPASS
Guest: First Love is Never Returned
OPEN/START: 18:30/19:00
Advance: ¥4,500 (tax included, plus drink fee)
Student Discount: ¥3,000 (tax included, plus drink fee)
Info: SMASH WEST 06-6535-5569

2024.9.8 Sun Nagoya stiff slack
Guest: First Love is Never Returned
OPEN/START: 18:30/19:00
Advance: ¥4,500 (tax included, plus drink fee)
Student Discount: ¥3,000 (tax included, plus drink fee)
Info: JAILHOUSE 052-936-6041

2024.9.20 Fri Tokyo Kinema Club
OPEN/START: 18:30/19:30
Advance: ¥4,500 (tax included, plus drink fee)
Student Discount: ¥3,000 (tax included, plus drink fee)
Info: HOT STUFF PROMOTION 050-5211-6077

Ticket URL: eplus.jp/emerald/