[Blog] Yamaguchi Ichiro 2014.11.04 & 2014.11.21

Yamaguchi Ichiro's blog post translations. These two posts are his thoughts related to songwriting and musical direction.

[Blog] Yamaguchi Ichiro 6/9/13

Friday 6th September 2013, 5:42am

Apartment Words.

It's already become empty.
I could say that of my apartment.*

But I will persuade the room with a light rearranging.
Please keep me company for just one more song.



When the music and words collide,
I start wanting to drink Pepsi.


In the midst of working hard with lyrics.


Ichiro.


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*He's previously implied in tweets that he's drained the apartment of creativity by creating a whole album in it, and he wants to move.

I may be translating more of his blog posts when I have the time. 

[Feature] Compilation of known musical equipment used by sakanaction

Ever curious about the instruments and equipment the members of sakanaction use? Even if you can't play any musical instruments, you might have wondered once or twice while watching them perform.

Hence, this post will be a compilation of known instruments that the members use.

Important notes:
- It is not a complete list by any standards. Some instruments may not be current since the band is always updating their equipment.
- If you know of any, please share the information. If I find any more, I will add them.
- I don't have any musical background, so I'm not the one identifying the instruments. The sources can be found at the bottom of the article.
_______________________________________________

[Feature] Sakana LOCKS - Love Philosophy Interview

This is a translation of a rather interesting/amusing interview of Yamaguchi Ichiro with a listener that took place on the Sakana LOCKS radio program a couple of weeks ago. The original Japanese transcript is up on the School of Locks website here.

If you're interested to know more about Yamaguchi and what he's like, this might be a good read!

*When reading this interview, note that all School of Locks programs play on a "classroom" kind of atmosphere with listeners being called "students" and each episode is a "class". Yamaguchi refers to himself as "sensei", and the listeners also address him that way.

Sake no Sakana 7th episode: Screenshot Gallery

For your viewing pleasure, screencaps and captions of the 2-hour Sake no Sakana stream on May 2nd. Some more detailed translations of what transpired during the show can be found on the site's Twitter account.

By the way, the #sakenosakana hashtag managed to claim top trend on Twitter in Japan.

Anyway, without further ado, please enjoy the screenshots for those who didn't manage to catch the stream!

[Feature] Members' blog posts on 6th album

One more day left to the release of the new album! In commemoration and as well as in the hope that it will spur those still wavering over purchasing the album, I've translated a few blog posts of the members that talked a bit about the album.

This goes in chronological order.

"Sake no Sakana" Mini Screenshot Gallery

Yesterday night, it was the "Sake no Sakana" Ustream. 

The two guys played games and answered questions from fans, and had their usual acoustic guitar singing corner, entertaining and indulging all the fans viewing.

The mini setlist for the singing section was:

1. Fukurou - Yamaguchi

2. Film - Hoshino

3. Boku to Hana - Yamaguchi

4. Yume no Soto e - Hoshino 

Oh, by the end of the program, they had hit over 70,000 combined total views, and the hashtag #sakenosakana was the top Twitter trend in Japan.

congrats!

And now, on to...Gallery - Lots of Yamaguchi and Hoshino fooling around. Enjoy!

Side note: Ugh, didn't capture the part where Yamaguchi was showing off his toned stomach muscles ._.

"Sake no Sakana" returns!

About seven months have passed since the previous "Sake no Sakana" on New Year's Day, and now it has been announced that Yamaguchi Ichiro and Hoshino Gen will once again get together to do the Ustream program!

This Tuesday, 24th July, at 9PM JST, they'll stream on Victor Music Ustream Channel. This time, in addition to the two just talking, there will be games during the show and also a Q&A corner for fans. The questions will be taken from Twitter. Fans can send the questions by mentioning @VictorMusic while using the hashtag #sakenosakana.

Fans have been anticipating the next "Sake no Sakana" for awhile, and just a couple of weeks ago, Yamaguchi and Hoshino were tweeting each other for fun and brought up "Sake no Sakana" and how they would like to do it again. They did a mini version of "Sake no Sakana" on Twitter, by playing shiritori with each other with the topic of "things you like". The game was cut off as Yamaguchi was tweeting during his break at a Sakanaction recording session and he was required back to work.

Yamaguchi Ichiro produces new song for SMAP!

Today, it was revealed that Sakanaction's frontman Yamaguchi Ichiro is the composer and lyricist behind the title song of the new single of longtime-popular Johnny's boyband SMAP!

The new single is called "Moment" and will be released on 1 August 2012. In addition, the song is also the theme song for Japanese television station Tokyo Broadcasting Station (TBS)'s telecast of the 2012 London Olympics. This program is co-hosted by SMAP member Nakai Masahiro. 

In short, the song will be getting a lot of publicity. You can hear a preview of it here, starting around 0:48. The video will be taken down soon so hear it while you can!

It's amazing to have Yamaguchi producing the song for SMAP. This marks the second time he has worked directly with SMAP, but this time the song will be more prominent because it is a single. Previously, he wrote and composed "Magic Time" in for SMAP's 2010 album "We are SMAP". 

Of course, not forgetting that Sakanaction was behind the theme song for the recently-concluded drama 37sai de Isha ni Natta which starred SMAP's Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, it seems that record label Victor Entertainment has decided to push Sakanaction by giving them these opportunities (the two bands are signed to Victor). Let's hope that Sakanaction will go even further!

"Boku to Hana" Release Commemorative Ustream Roundup

(I sincerely apologize that I did not manage to post about this prior to the stream. I try my best to keep up with the news but for this stream they did same-day announcement and streaming... I did not know about it until it had started, and I missed a huge chunk of it myself as I was working.)

Today it was announced that there would be a commemorative Ustream for the release of "Boku to Hana" at 9PM JST, similar to what Sakanaction has done before for the Sakanaquarium 2012 DVD.

Yamaguchi Ichiro to DJ in Sound Creators File for May

Radio station NHK-FM has revealed that Yamaguchi Ichiro will be DJ (host) for the month of May on their program SOUND CREATORS FILE.

SOUND CREATORS FILE airs every Sunday 9PM - 11PM JST except on the last week of each month, so we'll see Yamaguchi host the program a total of 3 times - 6th May, 13th May and 20th May.

This program features "sound creators"(musicians) of various generations to host the program, changing every month. Besides stories and influences concerning their works and music, it will also introduce selected songs of other artists which has caught attention of the host.

They are now collecting questions to Yamaguchi Ichiro. Whether your questions/ requests/ messages concerns music or things other than music, they are no problem and you can submit your questions here or tweet to @nhk_scf (in Japanese). 

*You can tune in to NHK-FM from overseas using a Japanese proxy, then going to this link. [corrected]

SAKANAQUARIUM 2011 DocumentaLy release commemorative USTREAM!

To commemorate the release of the Makuhari Live DVD/BD, there will be 3 upcoming Ustreams! Get ready to mark your calendars.

SAKANAQUARIUM 2011 DocumentaLy -Live at Makuhari Messe- is set to drop in the coming week, but before that, you get to enjoy the first Ustream on 24th March at 8PM JST and stave off your anticipation temporarily. This first Ustream will feature Yamaguchi Ichiro and guest, ROCKIN ON JAPAN writer Shiba Tomonori.

The second Ustream airs at 10PM JST on the release date of the DVD/BD itself, 28th March. It will feature Yamaguchi Ichiro as well as Team Sakanaction. Same goes for the third Ustream, airing also 10PM JST, on 30th March.

The Ustream channel is here!

source

Feature: Go To The Future Minisite Translations

Well, I had some time to finally do this. Presenting... translations of the GO TO THE FUTURE Minisite!

Take note that the original text was in 2007 and whatever is translated here is of them and their feelings during then, so it may have changed. However, the self-liners gives a nice insight into the album.

(It is always difficult to translate Yamaguchi's complex written thoughts, so sorry for any translation errors.)

Fishmans x Sakanaction on TOKYO FM

To commemorate TOKYO FM & JFN present EARTH×HEART LIVE 2012 at Saitama Super Arena, there will be a special radio program on TOKYO FM this Sunday, from 7PM to 7.55PM JST.

The program will have Motegi Kin'ichi of Fishmans (Motegi is also part of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra) and Yamaguchi Ichiro of Sakanaction, for the first time having a dialogue with each other. They will talk about the two groups' thoughts on the upcoming live, and Yamaguchi's influence from Fishmans. Shikano Atsushi will be the interviewer.

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Note: For those outside Japan, you can tune in to TOKYO FM by using keyhole TV (Windows, Mac, Linux).

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Yamaguchi Ichiro to be part of supersized collab song

Synthpunk rock band POLYSICS are releasing an album on 29th February to commemorate their 15th anniversary. On this album, there are several collaboration songs, but one of them stands out. Track 6 of the album 15th P, is a song called "Tomodachi Kecha featuring tomodachi" (友達ケチャ featuring 友達). In Japanese, "tomodachi" means friends, so "tomodachi" here is not referring to another artist, but rather, a collection of a mind-boggling 67 other musicians (counting each individual from bands and solo artists) who will be featured on the song.

As the title of this post says, Sakanaction's vocalist Yamaguchi Ichiro is one of those 67 people. Check out the list of collaborators below for this particular song! There will definitely be more than a few familiar names if you listen to a lot of Japanese rock.

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Tomodachi Kecha collaborators

Goto Masafumi (ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION)
Kinoshita Riki (ART-SCHOOL)
Kamijou Chihiro (9mm Parabellum Bullet)
Sugawara Takuro (9mm Parabellum Bullet)
Taki Yoshimitsu (9mm Parabellum Bullet)
Nakamura Kazuhiko (9mm Parabellum Bullet)
cp (group_inou)
Kurimoto Hiroko (ex. Kegawa no Maries)
Yamaguchi Ichiro (Sakanaction)
Hamano Kenta (SAKEROCK)
Kiuchi Yasufumi (Sambomaster)
Kondo Yoichi (Sambomaster)
Yamaguchi Takashi (Sambomaster)
Mizuno Masaaki (SPANK PAGE)
Ishige Akira (the telephones)
Okamoto Nobuaki (the telephones)
Nagashima Ryohei (the telephones)
Matsumoto Seiji (the telephones)
Ueno Kouji (the HIATUS)
Hosomi Takeshi (the HIATUS)
masasucks (the HIATUS)
Okamine Koushuu (THE BACK HORN)
Suganami Eijun (THE BACK HORN)
Matsuda Shinji (THE BACK HORN)
Yamanaka Sawao (the pillows)
Isobe Hiroyuki ([Champagne])
Kawakami Youhei ([Champagne])
TAKUMA (10-FEET)
NAOKI (10-FEET)
Oomori Hajime (Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra)
Katou Takashi (Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra)
Kitahara Masahiko (Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra)
Oki Yuichi (Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra)
Masuko Naozumi (Dohatsuten)
Hanaregumi
Kawazaki "FIRIPO" Hirotoshi (HiGE)
Saitou Yuuki (HiGE)
Satou "KOTEISUI" Kouichi (HiGE)
Sutou Hisashi (HiGE)
Abe Kousei (HINTO)
Itou Shinichi (HINTO)
Kakinuma Hiroya (BIGMAMA)
Kanai Masato (BIGMAMA)
Higashide Mao (BIGMAMA)
Yasui Hideto (BIGMAMA)
Riad Ibu (BIGMAMA)
Suzuki Keisuke (Flower Companyz)
Takeyasu Kenichi (Flower Companyz)
Mister Konishi (Flower Companyz)
TGMX aka SYUTA-LOW TAGAMI (FRONTIER BACKYARD)
Koide Yusuke (Base Ball Bear)
Ahito Inazawa (VOLA & THE ORIENTAL MACHINE)
MIYAVI
Takei Yasunori (MO'SOME TONEBENDER)
Fujita Isamu (MO'SOME TONEBENDER)
Momono Yousuke (MONOBRIGHT)
Izawa Atsushi (LITE)
Rekishi
Aida Shigekazu
Utsumi Youko
Okuda Tamio
Kuhara Kazuyuki
Smiley Harashima
Tabuchi Hisako
Hidaka Tooru
Matsuda "CHABE" Gakuji


Romanizing these names took me forever. Have fun spotting your favourite artists! 

[Random] The most precious photo you will ever see in your lifetime

A rare finding is about to be presented before your very eyes! Behold... 4-year-old Yamaguchi Ichiro.

Yamaguchi Ichiro to appear on NEWS ZERO

Just revealed a while ago, Yamaguchi Ichiro will be appearing on tonight(6th Jan)'s NEWS ZERO television program on NTV.

Yamaguchi appears on the program's culture corner "ZERO CULTURE". Things about Sakanaction's music, videos, collaborations, and activites up til now will be recalled in an interview.

The program airs tonight 24:28 - 25:28 JST (12:28AM - 1:28AM 7th Jan JST. Japan uses a 26 hour clock when listing TV programs.).

Comment from Yamaguchi, from NEWS ZERO Facebook Page:

2011年という年は、この時代を生きた人間、震災を経験した人間に
関わらず日本人が必ず振り返る一年になったと僕は思っています。
2012年、僕らは何を背負い何を感じて生きていくのでしょうか。
音楽というフィールドで僕らサカナクションが届けたいこと、
それはまだ煙の中ですが、来年の今頃は今よりもっと音楽が好きな
人達が増えているように活動していきたいと、心に誓っている次第です。

The year of 2011; the people living in this era, the people who have experienced the earthquake;
I think that it has become a year that Japanese people will always remember regardless.
In 2012, what kind of burdens and what kind of feelings will we be living with?
We as Sakanaction would like to reach out with the field of music.
Although it is still in progress, this year we pledge from the heart that
we want to be active more than ever to increase the number of people who like music.

サカナクション　山口一郎
Sakanaction - Yamaguchi Ichiro

source
source2

Yamaguchi Ichiro makes surprise appearance in Base Ball Bear's concert

update: news confirmed

I don't have an official source for this. I saw several accounts of it on Sakanaction's 2ch thread, and many more on Twitter have corroborated that this actually took place.

On January 3rd, Base Ball Bear held a live at Nippon Budoukan arena. During the concert, Base Ball Bear sung kimino-me, the song that features Yamaguchi Ichiro. Yamaguchi's part in the song starts after the first chorus, and right after the first chorus during the song's break, it was announced "Special guest! Yamaguchi Ichiro!". Yamaguchi then sang til the song was finished and that was it.

Many people on Twitter have tweeted things like "I have finally seen kimino-me done live with Ichiro-san", "During the BBB live, when I heard Yamaguchi Ichiro sing kimino-me, I cried tears of gratitude", "When Ichiro-san came out during kimino-me, I thought that I would get a nose bleed! I have seen great stuff~" and "I wanted to go to BBB's Budoukan live...I want to hear kimino-me live *cry*".

However, some accounts on 2ch say it wasn't really that great a performance, because Koide Yusuke of Base Ball Bear messed up some of the lyrics before Yamaguchi's parts, and also the microphone that Yamaguchi was using was in bad condition so his voice couldn't be heard clearly.

Whatever it is, I'm still glad to hear kimino-me was done live. Perhaps we'll be able to judge for ourselves in a few months, since I believe there's a DVD release planned.

New Year's Day Sake no Sakana (very) partial roundup

notice: I'm doing a horrible job of covering Ustreams, so if anyone has a reliable internet connection and wants to do so, please comment ;o;

Koide Yusuke and Hoshino Gen -- Photo from Yamaguchi Ichiro's Twitter

The stream started at 4PM JST today, but apparently I had an appointment set around that time and it wasn't nice to cancel it, so I thought I was going to be unfortunately missing the entire stream. I returned home at 7PM JST with zero hopes, but I opened the link anyway. Lo' and behold, the stream was still on air!

And at a nice time too - it was a black screen with the notice that they had gone for a short break. I took the time to read the tweet stream by the side and noted that Koide Yusuke of Base Ball Bear had shown up unannounced on the program earlier. The next segment was also the last segment which was the acoustic singing session. Many were tweeting that they wanted kimino-me (a very nice Base Ball Bear song featuring Yamaguchi) to be sung.

They reappeared onscreen without Koide. Then they started impromptu playing the guitar and sort of composing a relaxing sounding track which got everyone on the tweet stream excited. Until they started impromptu singing along with it as well. The lyrics made everyone laugh because it was just plain silly and it was like an ending theme for the Sake no Sakana program. The lyrics were something like... "Hoshino Gen... Yamaguchi Ichiro... lalala lalala Sake no Sakana".

Yamaguchi's silly laughing face.

Yamaguchi then proceeded to troll the audience by waving goodbye. Of course, it wasn't the end since they hadn't sung anything actual. Yamaguchi chose to sing Coelacanth to Boku. It was really good as usual. Halfway through, Koide popped up by the side and sat quietly, looking like he was genuinely enjoying the song.

After that, Hoshino sang Kudaranai no Naka ni. Check out the bromance as he sang the song:

Unfortunately, Koide didn't sing even though he was there. Yamaguchi said that he would have liked Koide to sing as well. I didn't manage to catch the reason why he didn't. Probably something like, Koide didn't bring his guitar or prepare anything.

All in all, though I didn't get to watch much, I'm just grateful to have caught the singing part. The bromance made me go "aww". I'm really glad that Yamaguchi seemed to have enjoyed the first day of new year with his buddies. And on that note, happy new year to whoever's reading this blog!

ps. What is that thing taped on Yamaguchi's MacBook Pro??
pps. Order links for Sakanaquarium 2011 DocumentaLy -live at Makuhari Messe- are up by the sidebar.

Sake no Sakana Ustream on New Year's Day

Just announced, there will be another "Sake no Sakana" Ustream on New Year's Day, 1/1 at 4PM JST. That's tomorrow.

This isn't a repeat telecast of the previous one but a new one! It's quite amazing that they would have another one so soon. This is the sixth time they're having "Sake no Sakana". As always, "Sake no Sakana" will feature Yamaguchi Ichiro from Sakanaction and Hoshino Gen of SAKEROCK. 

It would be a chill talking session and limited to Ustream only, unlike the previous time where they did it in front of an audience at Tower Records. 

Ustream link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/victormusicch

As a side note, it doesn't seem like they're ever going to repeat telecast the Tower Records one, which is a real pity because I really want to hear Ichiro's acoustic versions of Mikadzuki Sunset and Yoru no Higashigawa again.