FRISK’s collaboration corner “FRISK DEAR ME,” part of the project “Words to Deliver to the Jibuns of Those Days,” supports professionals and students embarking on new challenges, along with the radio program “GRAND MARQUEE.”
Appearing on the third day was Masaya Mifune from the Japanese folk-rock band ROTH BART BARON. From his experiences during high school, when he struggled with absenteeism, to his early twenties filled with anxiety, Mifune reflected on the letter he wrote to himself and discussed how it connects to his current self and the significance of making music, based on his activities in Tokyo and Berlin since 2023.
※NiEW has compiled an article including content that was not broadcast on the show.
INDEX
Truant High School Days: The Most Intense Period of My Life
Takano (MC): How old were you when you wrote the title of your letter, “Nothing You”?
Mifune: I think I was around 23 or 24 years old when I started playing music, and when I started being pulled more and more by music, I think I was around 23 or 24 years old when I left college, but I was playing with a lot of anxiety. So I wrote a letter to myself, thinking about what it would be like to write words to myself at that time.
Celeina (MC): Let me read the beginning of the letter.
To Unremarkable My Past Self
Hey, how’s it going? You’re still navigating this world solo, grappling with its injustices, feeling the weight of the unknown, but refusing to let go of hope. It’s because of your stubborn resilience and open-heartedness that I’ve become who I am today. I’m sincerely thankful for that.
Preface to the letter. The full text of the handwritten letter by Masaya Mifune (ROTH BART BARON) will be exhibited at the FRISK “Words to Deliver to the Jibuns of Those Days Exhibition,” held at BONUS TRACK in Shimokitazawa from April 11th (Thursday) (click here for details).
Celeina： In the state of ‘being unremarkable,’ seems to be in a state of great anxiety. The feeling of being afraid of something vague resonated with me a lot, as I experienced it when I was around the same age. Masaya-san, I heard that there was a time during your high school days when you didn’t attend school much.
Mifune: I quit after the first 8 months. I was a truant. I think it was what we now call depression, but I couldn’t ride the train, or I would try my best to get to the halfway point, but it was difficult and I would come back home. There was a period of about two years when I rented music and movies from a rental shop and just stayed at home to input my thoughts.
Takano: Do those days lead you to where you are today?
Mifune: Yes, they are. When I think back on it now, it was the most intense time for me to be able to input so much of what I was interested in while everyone else was studying in high school. I absorbed a lot of things like a sponge, so I think now that it was a big season of input in my life.
Takano: You also say, “The only thing I have now that you don’t have is courage.
But what sets me apart now is ‘courage’—something you lack. Just shut your eyes, breathe deeply, and take the leap. The expansive world has been awaiting your arrival for quite some time. It’s up to us to uncover its mysteries, to explore the enchantment of music, even if only a bit, during our lifetime.
Excerpt from Masaya Mifune’s (ROTH BART BARON) letter (“Words to Deliver to the Jibuns of Those Days,” presented by FRISK)
Mifune: It’s not as if there was a clear shift of “Okay, now is the time. I started making music and performing in front of a single-digit number of people, but everyone helped and encouraged me, and as the circle gradually grew larger and larger, I felt like I was able to step out with everyone. I think now that the accumulation of these experiences has made me who I am today, but I didn’t know that at the time. I think it was a step for me to be able to write songs that I liked, and it was also a step for me to meet someone special through music. I think those were really small steps. Rather than a definite step, I feel like it was a huge step made up of many small ones.
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Uniquely Mine: Preferring Personal Discoveries Over Popular Approval
Celeina： In the beginning of your letter, you mention things like the noise in our environment. From that, I felt like you were telling us that it is important to focus on our own happiness. When did you start to shift your perspective? Have you always felt that way?
Isn’t it true that people constantly declare, ‘The world’s falling apart, the economy’s in ruins, and our country’s a lost cause’? But it’s mostly just noise. They’re fishing for attention with upbeat words. Remember that classmate who always sought attention with gloomy phrases? Well, there are plenty of grown-ups still doing the same. You don’t have to entertain such negativity.
Excerpt from a letter by Masaya Mifune (ROTH BART BARON) (from “Words I want to deliver to the people of those days” presented by FRISK)
Mifune: I think it has always been that way. I was the type of person who liked discovering something small and fun that only I knew about, rather than something that everyone else in the world was saying, “This is good. That’s why I was never interested in what was popular around me. I was always thinking, “Isn’t this more interesting? And then I would find myself going in a different direction than everyone else, like, “Mifune, where did you go? I was like, “Mifune, where did you go? [Laughs]. Because I was such a character, I don’t think my perspective has changed much since I was a child.
Rather than starting to do it with a clear bird’s-eye view, I thought I was out of sync. There is an overvaluation of what is considered good and an undervaluation of what is considered bad in the world’s structure and overall trends. When I felt that it would be difficult to live in accordance with such a situation, I tried to enjoy such discrepancies. I feel that I have come to make music or something as a way to fill in the gaps and make connections.
Takano: Trusting one’s own sensitivity is very important for everyone. I also loved the passage in your letter, “You are special, you are the world itself, and you are the only one who can protect you from this world. People who can accept their past selves are also able to be kind to others. So I think this is a very important concept. I hope many people will read it.
INDEX
Embracing Openness: Witnessing the Expansive World
Celeina： If you were to choose one word from your letter that you would like to convey to “Jibun back then,” what would it be?
Mifune: I wonder what it would be. Celeina: What would you like to say to “the people of those days”? Just remember to keep an open mind. It’s simple, but I wrote it because I wondered what I would be happy to hear from a stranger in a time machine. I probably would have kicked him out and said, “Shut up” back then (laughs). (Laughs.) I thought it would be fun to be that nice.
Keep this in mind: “I’ll never let you down.” I’ll ensure your future is bright, so feel liberated to pursue your desires. Just remember to keep your heart open. And one day, amaze me. I’ll be anticipating it in the days to come.
Excerpt from a letter by Masaya Mifune (ROTH BART BARON) (from “Words I want to deliver to the people of those days” presented by FRISK)
Takano: Actually, you were the future Mifune. It will be made into a movie [laughs].
Mifune: Just because there are so many things that you can’t see unless you open your mind. When you are young, you are easily frightened by what you don’t know, and you tend to believe too much in what you believe without any basis. That is the fun of being young, though. If you always remember to keep an open mind in a corner of your mind, you can accept various things with an open heart and your mind will expand more and more. I like that feeling very much, so I think that’s what I’m trying to do.
Takano: Mifune-san, you have made many works over time. Is there a song you would like to present to yourself back then?
Mifune: This song was very difficult to write, but I decided to choose this song because it was the song that opened up so many things for me and made me realize how powerful a single song can be. The title is “Kyokusai｜IGL(S).
Takano: It is a beautiful song. I really hope that Mr. Mifune from back then will listen to it. I told him that the future Mr. Mifune would write a song like this.
Celeina: Lastly, could you give a message to those who are at a crossroads in their career and life, just like you were back then?
Mifune: The world is a big place, as far as I am concerned, so please look at the big world. Nowadays, we tend to live within a radius of a few kilometers, but if you move, the radius of a few kilometers will expand tremendously. Japan is a big country, but if you see the world outside of Japan and come back from there, I am sure your heart will be enriched.
Celeina： Thank you very much for your words, since you are also active in Berlin. Thank you very much.
#WordsToMyYoungerSelf presented by FRISK
FRISK is championing positive strides and ventures with its “#WordsIWantToSendToMyselfFromBackThen” campaign. Here, 11 artists, talents, and creators have penned letters to their former selves, encouraging them to embark on new paths and embrace challenges. Expect interviews and discussions on the letter contents across platforms like CINRA, J-WAVE, me and you, Natalie, NiEW, and QJWeb. The handwritten letters in full will be showcased at the FRISK exhibition titled “Words I Want to Send to Myself from Back Then,” commencing April 11th (Thursday) at BONUS TRACK in Shimokitazawa. (Details here).
#WordsIWantToSendToMyself
Eleven groups of leading artists will present “Words I Wish I Could Deliver to Myself Back Then”. The exhibition features handwritten letters written to their former selves who were once troubled by problems. This exhibition is a gift to all those who will start a new life this spring.
Venue: BONUS TRACK GALLERY, Shimokitazawa (2-36-12 Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo)
Dates: April 11 (Thu) – 17 (Wed), 2024, 11:00 – 20:00 (common for all days) *Opening hours are subject to change.
Participating artists: Sekai Kan Ozaki (Creep Hype), Ayuni D, Boru Juku (Tomoka Tanabe, Hope Sakayori, Anri, Haruka Kiriya), SIRUP, imase, Megane, Ameko Kodama, TENDRE, Kento Nagatsuka (WONK), Aile The Shota, Masaya Mifune (ROTH BART BARON)
Organized by NiEW Supported by FRISK
A special talk show featuring Ayuni D. and Ameiko Kodama x Megane will also be held!
In addition to the exhibition, we will hold a special talk show featuring Ms. Ayuni D., Ms. Ameko Kodama, and Mr. Megane, who have contributed messages to this project, on the stage. Talk show will be held.
Location: BONUS TRACK LOUNGE (2F BONUS TRACK central building tenant 2-36-15 Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo)
Date & Time:
Talk show by Ameiko Kodama and Megane-san” April 11 (Thu) 19:30-20:30 (doors open at 19:00)
Talk show by Ayuni D.” April 14 (Sun.) 14:00-15:00 (doors open at 13:30)
Seating at the venue is limited, so if you wish to attend, please register via the link below. Only winners will be notified after a drawing will be held. (Please set “@niew.jp” as a designated domain to receive emails.)
→Please check the NiEW special page for details.
Masaya Mifune
Born in Tokyo. Formed ROTH BART BARON in 2008. Currently based in Berlin, Germany and Tokyo, he will perform at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL for the second time in 2023, and in 2021, “BLUE SOULS” by A_o, a duo of artists with Aina the End, will be featured in Pocari Sweat. In 2022, he composed the music and theme song for the movie “My Small Land,” which won the Amnesty International Film Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. In the summer of 2024, they will hold their solo show “BEAR NIGHT 5” at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA (Shibuya Public Hall).
https://www.rothbartbaron.com/
