How do you think the Japanese music industry will change?

A: That’s a simple, but very difficult question.

K: Like I said before about our mothers and fathers, I think there’s a huge shortage of music for adults. If you search closely, there are probably many songs that can reach into our hearts, but like “Senaka”, it’s becoming more and more difficult to find them. Before, if you switched on the TV, there would be enka, new age music, idols, harder rock, all appearing next to each other, but now, they’ve been separated and dispersed.

A: There’s so many more means of media…

K: You can choose if you want to, but it’s difficult to figure out how to choose. The record stores are becoming increasingly dominated by the huge chain stores where you cant be bothered to browse through, and the internet allows you to order whatever you want from home, maybe closing off other potential genres.

But I think Junray is in a unique position in this music scene.

A: I don’t like categorisation, and I tend to find what’s “in” at the moment “out”. I have an aversion to what is fashionable, and I run away from that centre. Maybe it’s a bit warped, but I just think that I’m purely doing my music. I just thought of this now, but what’s common between Koizumi-san and Junray could be their unchangeable existence, how there’s no predecessor or successor.

A: Maybe we’re isolated.

K: I don’t think isolation is a bad thing. There are people who feel the need for a scene, but I think it’s brave to take an isolated stance. I also think that it’s necessary to express yourself, to have a strong presence in the absence of a movment.

What do you consider as important, in this day and age?

A: That’s difficult to say. It’s difficult to find. And we probably wouldn’t be seeing these sorts of times if it was found. There wouldn’t be war if the answers were there. But if one thinks that far, one wouldn’t be able to carry on with these expressionist activities. So you just have to do the best you can so that your audience might feel some happiness, or be moved.

K: If I were to say something for the youth, I’d say there are too few adults to respect or look up to. So I feel like I have to try. I want there to be dignified people around, so I feel like I have to try and step up to that.

A: You’re about 400 million times stronger than me. (laughs)

K: (laughing) 400 million times! I think my friends are becoming more aware of that, and maybe we can. Like with Asa-chang, we think we can do things together, even if we look like we’re struggling on our own. But I think we can become dignified adults.

Finally, is there a favourite episode that was borne from the collaboration?

A: Oh yeah, the day I received Koizumi-san’s vocals was the day before my birthday.

K: Ah, that’s right.

A: And I went out for dinner, and day broke, and it became my birthday. Old friends that I hadn’t seen for ages celebrated with me, and I was overjoyed, but then I drank too much and I can’t remember anything about it (laughs)

K: (laughs)

Do you have a message for our readers?

A: As I said before, I’d like for moms and dads and people who usually listen to SMAP to hear this record, and I feel that Koizumi-san’s opened this up for the track. I’d like it if you could listen to the song without being misled by the atmosphere of the sounds.

K: When I collaborated with Ska-Para before, my fans became interested in Ska-Para and vica versa. For those listeners out there, I hope this could be another chance encounter, or the start of something new.

Thank you very much.

Completely natural whilst at the same time radiating a strong presence, the world that they have realised seems to express perfectly the quietly but surely changing pop scene of Japan, and is a fitting release for the beginning of a new year. And where will Asa-chang & Junray go now? Stuffed with poignant, beautiful and sweet particles of sounds, “Senaka” is the world of Junray meets Kyoko Koizumi.

“Senaka”
Asa-chang & Junray feat. Kyoko Koizumi
Released on 28th January 2004
Track listings: 1. Senaka 2. Parlor 3. Senaka (instrumental)
CD extra: “Tsuginepu to ittemita” PV
IDCV-1003 Mu-On ex Hot-Cha
Price 1,260 yen (include tax)