INDEX
When the little things don’t have to mean anything—now that’s fun
The beauty of enryo no katamari is that it creates a shared understanding, allowing you to easily bond with strangers. You traveled to local spots, directly asking people “What do you think of this?” It’s a grounded approach, and the way you let those real-time conversations and connections gradually shape your work feels so genuine.
xiangyu： I’ve been tuning into conversations from complete strangers and random voices in restaurants, absorbing them and transforming them into my own interpretation in songs. For me, that’s a form of communication too. And I think that was key in creating this album.
More people have been tagging you on Instagram when they find something that’s been left behind, right?
xiangyu： Oh, totally! It’s definitely increased. One person told me, “Ever since I heard your song about lost things, I’ve started looking down more when I walk!” I was not sure how I felt about it, but it really made me happy [laughs].
I don’t really make music to send a specific message, but what I want to say is that even the small, seemingly insignificant things in life should be able to exist freely. If the world can’t just accept these little things as normal, I don’t think I’d be able to live in it. This album is probably the most carefree one I’ve ever made, and I’m so happy that it actually works as a piece of art. I’ve even felt down before when someone said, “What’s the point of a leek on the sidewalk?” But when I see a leek on the street, I feel something—so I want to keep that mindset. I’d much rather live in a world where people can say, “Hey, I saw a leek on the road!” because that’s just more fun, right? If we could all share those little “I like this” moments in such a simple way, that’d be absolutely amazing.
These days, it feels like every minute is consumed by ticking off tasks—absorbing fleeting bits of knowledge, replying to emails, and so on. In a world that’s all about efficiency, I think there’s something truly rich in being able to embrace the trivial and the silly.
xiangyu： At some point, we stopped playing tag with our friends, right? We used to spend hours running around, but now, if you want to hang out, it feels like you have to grab food or drinks. I really admire people who can still enjoy those carefree, childish moments, no matter their age, and I hope to keep that spirit alive in myself too.
