An Interview with ASUKA at Japan Expo

ASUKA, a band that uses traditional Japanese instruments to play more modern music, attended Japan Expo to spread their art. JaME was able to sit down with them and talk about how they met and their music in general.


Could you please introduce yourself to our readers who are unfamiliar with you?

Kazuya Kujime: My name is Kazuya Kujime. I play an instrument called the hichikiri, a short double-reed oboe made of bamboo, and the piano. I also work in a Shinto temple.
Yoshimure Naoya: I am Yoshimure Naoya. I play a kind of flute called the ryūteki, which is a traditional Japanese flute made of bamboo.
Naitô Asako: I am Naitô Asako. I play the ryūteki, as well as the shō, a Japanese mouth organ. I also dance with Mami Hirosaki.
Mami Hirosaki: Mami Hirosaki; I dance, I sing, and I play the shō.

How did you all meet?

Kazuya Kujime: Yoshimure Naoya is my brother. Our family plays gagaku music, which is traditional music that uses the instruments that we play. So we've learned this music since we were children.
Naitô Asako: We all studied at a university for music. I met Kazuya Kujime and Yoshimure Naoya at this school. At the time, I was playing occidental flute. However, after meeting them, I started to become interested in traditional music.
Mami Hirosaki: I met everyone during university. I come from Nara, a very traditional city where gagaku music is played, which led me to make traditional music with them.

What was your musical experience prior to ASUKA?

Kazuya Kujime: Before beginning ASUKA, I played the piano.
Yoshimure Naoya: I love rock music, so I played guitar and drums.
Naitô Asako: I played piano, but then in junior high I started to play the flute.
Mami Hirosaki: I also started playing piano when I was very young and then took up the flute. During university, I started to sing.

Can you define what "Progressive Gagaku" is?

Kazuya Kujime: We use instruments that have existed for 1400 years, so they're very traditional instruments, but the music is very modern. We hope that this combination will be accepted by many people.

How did you come up with the idea of mixing traditional music with more modern genres?

Kazuya Kujime: I am the composer, and I was inspired by occidental music that used the organ for religious music, but also for more modern music as well. This is the kind of music that inspires me. Since we use traditional instruments, I would like to make it easier for people to listen to our music by mixing it with modern music. I think it's easier to accept for most people, but we also enjoy it very much.

You've collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto - how was it like meeting such a famous composer?

Kazuya Kujime: Ryuichi Sakamoto played a piece called Tong Poo in Yellow Magic Orchestra. I admired this piece, and we were successful in contacting him and a collaboration was born.

Leiji Matsumoto, the creator of the series "Albator," designed the cover of your next album. How did you come across this opportunity?

Kazuya Kujime: Our manager is personally acquainted with Leiji Matsumoto.

Your music approached this particular universe of animation?

Kazuya Kujime: There are anime and video games that deal with historical events, and the music is very close to what we make.

How do you reconcile your life within a sanctuary with the world of music?

Kazuya Kujime: Like in the Shinto temple, I use my instruments. When I work at the temple, I use them, so there isn't really a big difference. During concerts, we use sound effects as well, unlike at the temple, where we only use our instruments.

Some of your concerts have been broadcast on television. What kind of experience was this for you?

Kazuya Kujime: Before, there wasn't traditional music that was well-known. Since we were broadcast on television, it was a good way for us to become recognized.

Do you want to pass some kind of message through your music?

Kazuya Kujime: We express nature in our music; for example, we want to show the beauty of the four seasons, which is something that is very much appreciated in Japan.

What projects do you have planned for the future?

Kazuya Kujime: In Japan, there will the festival season during the summer. Each of us is going to be performing for these festivals.

Do you have a message for your listeners?

Kazuya Kujime: It might be difficult to understand all of Japanese culture through our music, but I think it can at least be an opportunity to discover and experience a part of it.


JaME would like to thank the group ASUKA, as well as their manager and the translator, for taking the time to make this interview possible.