INDEX
No Quick Results, Daily Accumulation Matters
Celeina: In your letter, there is a line that says, “I think it’s good to hate the ordinary, and I think it’s also good to believe somewhere in your heart that you can do it, even though you’re not a genius. I think the power of believing that you can do it is very important.
I believe it’s fine to maintain the attitude of embracing challenges fearlessly, be it in cooking, music, the different jobs you’ll come across, or your hobbies. Questioning the concept of normalcy, even disliking it, and having that underlying feeling that, although you’re not a prodigy, you can still succeed—it’s a mindset I find quite valuable.
Excerpt from Kento Nagatsuka’s (WONK) letter (“#WordsIWantToSendToMyselfFromBackThen” presented by FRISK)
Nagatsuka: I genuinely like music and cooking a lot. Every day when I wake up and spend time alone, I sing out loud and listen to a lot of music. I cook meals every day, and I like to touch the ingredients. I like to think about what I’m going to serve at the restaurant next. Because I love what I do, I feel like everything is moving forward, isn’t that right? Because you like it, you naturally study and want to learn. I think, “This is going to be good, isn’t it? “I’m making good food, so it must be okay, right?” I think that’s why I’ve been able to come this far.
Takano: I think it is important to find what you love and go for it, without being conscious of words like “normal” or “usual.
Nagatsuka: When I think of someone as attractive, it is when I think of what they like or how they value and walk through life. I think that is someone who is continually striving to be better today than they were yesterday. So they take care of their beauty, go to the gym, work hard. I don’t know, but there is something about people who do that, it shows in their words, it shows in their expressions, it shows in their looks, and their clothes are definitely different. People like that are naturally, not normal.
Celeina: In other words, if you pursue what you love, you naturally come to affirm that you can do it.
Nagatsuka: I think that makes me very happy. I was able to find what I liked from an early age, and I am extremely grateful to my parents for letting me meet them, but it is good to be able to find such things.
Celeina: What song of your own would you like to give to yourself at this time?
Nagatsuka: There is a song called “Small Things. Now that I think about it more strongly, I realize that there is no such thing as an immediate result. Unless you are overwhelmingly lucky. Every day, we accumulate something, and we go forward even though we don’t know if we are making progress or not, and even though we don’t know if we are evolving or not. Everyone says that you can’t get results unless you keep doing that every day, and I think that’s what it comes down to. But for me, that has not been realistic for a long time. It was like learning to cook because I liked it, and learning to sing because I liked it. I was thinking about what I needed to do to achieve that, but recently I started going to the gym, and I started to realize how much I really wanted to do that. I strongly felt that if I did it, the results would come, and that I am not a talent.
Celeina：That’s why you chose “Small Things. Lastly, do you have a message for those who are at a crossroads in their career and life, just like you were at that time?
Nagatsuka: The message is difficult [laughs]. It’s okay to be selfish. When in doubt, I think you should properly choose the one you like. It’s okay if it’s the word of someone you trust, but when you’re struggling, the result you get from following someone else’s words will never satisfy you. It may be a little subtle, but you will have no regrets if you make your own choice, and I have experienced that the accumulation of such choices will surely produce a good result. I can’t say anything great about it, but I thought it was important to find my own words.
#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.
Kento Nagatsuka
Vocalist of WONK. As an individual, he has participated in the works of Tomita Labo, King Gnu, millennium parade, Ryohu, elephant gym (Taiwan), and others. He also has a side as a chef, and started training under a famous Italian and French chef while he was still in college. After graduation, at the age of just 24, he was involved in the launch of a bistro in Tokyo as head chef. Currently, he continues to develop products and hold events based on French cuisine. He also produces original coffee blends “Introspection” and fragrances “Moon Dance” under his label EPISTROPH.
http://www.wonk.tokyo/
