Occupation:
Musician, guitarist and vocalist
Time in Japan:
All his life
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Tokyo.
What do you do?
I' the lead guitarist for the Bau Haus Band, an in-house band for the club Bau Haus in
Roppongi.
How long have you been playing at Bau Haus?
Ever since it opened in March 1983. A long time.
How did you start working there?
I met Ruriko mama when I was playing at a different club and she asked me to play at her
newly-opened club. We do five stages per night, forty-minute sessions each, mostly late
'60s and '70s classic rock like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Allman Brothers, Doobie Brothers,
etc. The audiences are mostly middle-aged salarymen who get nostalgic for this kind of
music, and foreign expats.
How old were you when you first picked up a guitar?
I think I was about fourteen. My mother taught koto and I was influenced by that. When I
first heard the guitar, I was really drawn to it. I never had a teacher and taught myself
everything I know about the guitar with the help of my friends.
Who was your biggest influence?
When I was in the fifth grade there was a movie called Eleki no Wakadaisho (The Young
General's Electric Guitar) starring Yuzo Kayama, and it was like getting hit with a
lightening bolt. That was when I really decided that I wanted to play and I wanted to play
well.
Has performing at Bau Haus changed your way of life?
By working here I've met a lot of people from all over the world and I really treasure
that. Eighty percent of our customers are non-Japanese. We were even in a commercial
during half-time of the Super Bowl four years ago. I was really surprised.
What is the best thing about performing?
It's not all the time, but there are special times when the audience and the band become
one. It's the best feeling in the world, and I'm hoping that every gig we do can be like
that.
What's your favorite area in Tokyo?
I live near Haneda and I commute every day on the monorail. The view is fantastic. I know
not too many people look out the window when they're heading for the airport but it's
really a relaxing time for me to just sit there and look out.
If you could change one thing about Tokyo, what would it be?
Bigger houses. All the rooms are really way too small.
What advice can you give to non-Japanese for living in Tokyo?
Because everyone has different cultures and backgrounds, people who experience living in
Japan should accept those cultures, and not criticize or compare too much with their own
culture.
What aspects of foreign culture would you like to see more of in Japan?
I don't know if this falls in line with culture, but I wish that Japanese schools would
teach some sort of social manners like they do in the States or Europe. For example, in
Western countries, there are many dance parties and proms where a guy escorts his date,
and there he learns how to escort a girl and how to behave in front of her parents, etc. I
wish that the Japanese would incorporate this into its schools as well because I think
that's really cool and it teaches kids social behavior.
If you could take one aspect of Japanese culture to another country, what would it
be?
I think I represent a good part of Japanese culture so if people can just get to know me
and understand, they can grasp what Japanese culture is like.
Bau Haus (tel: 03-3403-0092) is across from Hard Rock Cafe in Roppongi.
Shinagawa
LIFE IN JAPAN: