A circle of friends connected by gut touch! The “FIST BUMP” corner of the radio program “GRAND MARQUEE” features people who live and enjoy Tokyo in a relay format.
On July 31, Yukako Yajima, an editor and music writer, will appear. We asked her about her roots that led her to become an interviewer, the story behind her coverage of Paul McCartney, and her activities on social networking sites, where she produces her husband’s cooking account and has become popular.
INDEX
A universal language I realized as a child
Celeina (MC): First of all, let me give you a brief profile. She has been editing and writing for music free newspapers since she was a university student. After graduating from university, she joined an entertainment agency, where she worked as an artist manager and was in charge of finding and training new artists. After that, he worked for 6 years in the editorial department of culture media CINRA.NET, where he served as deputy editor-in-chief.
She has since been involved in creator management and content direction on TikTok, and currently works as a freelance music writer/editor, while her husband’s social networking account ‘Men’s Food for the Family🐒 Monkichi’, which she set up as a producer, has over 380,000 followers.
Takano (MC): First of all, there is something I want listeners to know.
Yajima: I came here directly from Naeba.
Takano: Isn’t this atmosphere very “Fuji Rock”-like?
Yajima: It’s great.
Takano: Everyone had a smile on their face when they came in.
Celeina: Did you have a good time? How many days did you go?
Yajima: I went on Friday morning and enjoyed myself for three days. It was great. It rained a little on Friday, but it was sunny most of the time.
Takano: It was rather nice because it got a little cooler. I would like to hear Yajima-san’s highlights of “Fuji Rock.
Yajima: Wow, isn’t it really hard to pick one?
Takano: It’s really difficult (laughs).
Celeina: It doesn’t have to be number one, just one of the number ones that you can share.
Yajima: Yes, that’s right. I knew Lizzo was cool. It was the best, wasn’t it?
Takano: It was great. It was full of love.
Yajima: It was an all-people empowerment show. It really cheered me up. I wondered if Michael Jackson was able to make people’s eyes sparkle like this back then. He took action against racism and other social issues of the time, sent out messages, and created a perfect show. I felt like I was receiving something similar from Lizzo, and it made my heart tremble.
Takano: I was happy to see you there, too.
Yajima: We were having a good time with beer in our hands (laughs).
Celeina: How many times did you play “Fuji Rock” this year?
Yajima: How many years has it been? I have been at least 10 times already.
Celeina: You must be a senior.
Yajima: Once you go once, you may think that you don’t have to go this year because you have a lot of work to do, but right before the event, you start thinking, “I want to go for three days. It’s addictive.
Takano: I’m already looking forward to next year.
Celeina: The festival season has begun in earnest, but when did your musical awakening occur?
Yajima: I started going to TSUTAYA with my parents when I was little, borrowing CDs and recording them on cassette tapes, etc. When I was in elementary school, we moved to the United States. I moved to the U.S. when I was in elementary school, and since I didn’t understand English, I couldn’t understand what people were saying at school, and even when I turned on the TV, I couldn’t understand anything.
Takano: When it comes to music, yes.
Celeina: A universal language.
Yajima: That’s right. Even if you don’t understand what they are saying, you can enjoy the music. Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Eminem, and so on.
Celeina: It was a good time.
Yajima: That’s right. I think my life of watching MTV every day after school was a turning point in my life or my roots.
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Behind-the-scenes story of the Paul McCartney interview
Celeina: And your college thesis topic was “Why did The Beatles sell so well?
Takano: I want to read it!
Yajima: I read it again the other day, and it was quite interesting (laughs).
Takano: Please make it into a book.
Yajima: It may not be of good enough quality to be published in book form (laughs).
Takano: With some additions and corrections.
Yajima: Indeed.
Celeina: I’m curious. And you said that a miracle happened a few years after that thesis. Did you interview Paul McCartney?
Yajima: Yes, I did. I had the opportunity to meet that legend.
Takano: How?
Yajima: A concert promoter called me two days before the Tokyo Dome concert and said, “Would you do an interview with Paul?” I was like, “How is that possible? I was like, “How is that possible?
Celeina: You were the only person in Japan who interviewed Paul that year.
Yajima: As was the case with Eikichi Yazawa for “Fuji Rock,” Paul always had a fresh sensibility, and he wanted to create an article that would reach the highly sensitive young people in Japan. So the Japanese promoter called me and said, “How about Yajima? I said, “Sure, let me do it. It was like a dream come true.
Takano: Was Paul wonderful?
Yajima: He was super nice. He was very kind and even took a picture with me at the end.
Takano: Wow, a treasure.
Yajima: Really, it’s a family heirloom.
Takano: Did you show them your thesis?
Yajima: As expected, I can’t show it to them (laughs).
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Awareness as an interviewer
Celeina: You have interviewed many artists as an interviewer.
Yajima: The interview with Paul was the most nerve-wracking event in my life, more so than any other life event, so it left a lasting impression on me.
But I believe that each interview, regardless of whether it is famous or not, will change the artist’s life. I believe that an article has the power to change the life of the interviewed artist, for better or worse.
Celeina: I see, that’s profound. We also do interviews on our TV program, but since we are just starting out, we were wondering if you had any interview tips for us.
Yajima: I guess you have to ask questions in your own words. Not the standard questions, but the questions you want to ask them, in your own words. If you do that, I think the interviewee will want to answer your questions in his or her own words. I think this will lead to a deeper conversation. I know I sounded very forward, but I think it’s a good idea.
Celeina: Thank you very much.
Takano: I just wrote down “my words” in the script (laughs). I would like to go to one song here. What song would you like to listen to together on the radio at this time, and what song would it be?
Yajima: I would like to share a song called “Landscape” by Haruy.
Takano: Why did you choose this song?
Yajima: I saw the keyboardist of Suchmos, TAIHEI, on stage at “Fuji Rock” at the Mokudotei, and he was really good. TAIHEI composed and performed the song “Landscape” by Haruy. In fact, I had the opportunity to interview Haruy-san. If you are interested in this song, please check out the interview.
INDEX
Her husband’s cooking account, which she produced, has become popular
Celeina: I have asked you about your music and “Fuji Rock” so far, but you are also producing your husband’s cooking account, aren’t you?
Yajima: That’s right. I have a TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube account under the name of “Monkichi: Men’s Food for the Family.
Takano: That’s a very interesting account name.
Celeina: What inspired you to start this account?
Yajima: I guess I’m the kind of person who can’t leave budding talents alone, and not just in music.
Celeina: So your husband has a talent for cooking.
Yajima: My husband dreamed of making people smile with his cooking ever since he was a child, and he was a chef as well, but he gave up that career once and was working in a different industry. I started uploading my husband’s cooking to TikTok, and from the first upload, it got quite a lot of buzz.
Celeina: That’s what a producer is for.
Takano: What kind of videos are they?
Yajima: It’s a video where I say, “I want to eat Neapolitan like at a coffee shop,” or “Make me something with pork,” and my husband quickly completes a simple dish that everyone can make at home.
Takano: It’s very funny in a theatrical way, and it’s not only funny, but it’s great that everyone can do it at home.
@fujimon_kitchen You want it? #tiktokfood #recipe #pork belly ? Otona Blue – New School Leaders
Yajima: Recently, when I go for interviews or coverage, artists often say to me, “I’m looking at your cooking account, Yajima-san” (laughs) Haruy-san also said that to me. It’s a little embarrassing, but it makes me happy.
Takano: I will follow you.
Yajima: Thank you (laughs).
Celeina: And in March, you released a book titled “Cheap Foods, Yet Delicious Enough to Bring Tears to Your Eyes.
Yajima: This book contains 84 recipes that can be used on a daily basis, that can be prepared in a flash even by people who have never cooked before, while keeping food costs low.
Celeina: I like the title of this book. It’s called “Tearfully Delicious Gohan. That’s something that happens, doesn’t it?
Yajima: Rice is nourishment for the soul.
Celeina: Isn’t rice, like music, a universal language?
Yajima: That’s true!
Takano: It’s also good for the wallet. It’s great.
Celeina: I hope you listeners will read “Cheap ingredients, but the food is so delicious it will bring tears to your eyes. FIST BUMP” is a circle of friends connected by gootouchi, and we are asking you to introduce us to your friends.
Yajima: I would like to connect you to a brother and sister musician duo called Peropero Kyandee.
Celeina: Do they do TikTok or something like that?
Yajima: Yes, they are. That’s exactly right!
Celeina: I’ve seen them.
Yajima: The contents of “low tone girls” and “genius brother” are very popular.
Celeina: Yes. I’m looking forward to it! What is your relationship with them?
Yajima: I actually produced the publicity and social networking. I also created the catchphrase, “Delivering a gal mindset to you in a corner of the earth.
Takano: You are also a copywriter?
Celeina: In a word, how would you describe them?
Yajima: Funky siblings!
Takano: Funky siblings! Tomorrow, we will welcome Peropero Kyandee.
Celeina: “FIST BUMP”, today we have editor and music writer Yukako Yajima. Thank you very much.
Yajima: Thank you very much.
GRAND MARQUEE
J-WAVE (81.3FM) Mon-Thu 16:00 – 18:50
Navigator: Shinya Takano, Celeina Ann
