Interview with DOPING PANDA

Not long after their appearance at the J.E. Live House at the Japan Expo in France, JaME met up with the rock/electro band DOPING PANDA for a relaxed interview.


Yutaka Furukawa: (in French) Hi, how’s it going?

Very well, thank you! Could you briefly introduce yourselves?

Yutaka Furukawa: Yutaka Furukawa on vocals and guitar.
Taro Houjou: Taro on bass.
Hayato: Hayato on drums.

How have you found the reception since your concert? Have you enjoyed it?

Yutaka Furukawa: Yes, it was very warm!

You’ve played together in the same group for more than ten years. How did you all meet each other?

Yutaka Furukawa: Taro is a childhood friend and Hayato joined us later.

What motivated you to start a band and where did you get the idea for the name?

Yutaka Furukawa: It was a spontaneous decision for the three of us start a band. The name doesn’t make any sense. (laughs)

Don’t you like pandas?

Yutaka Furukawa: No… Actually, I would say yes, I really like pandas. (laughs) But that doesn’t really have anything to do with it.

You made two songs for the Disney universe for your debut. How did you get this opportunity and what kind of experience was it for you? Did you choose to do songs for “The Little Siren” and “Hercules” yourselves or was it by chance?

Yutaka Furukawa: It was an offer. They called us and we accepted it. It was a really great experience.

There’s not much information available addressing your indie days. Has going major changed your musical life?

Yutaka Furukawa: No, it hasn’t changed anything about our music.

And in your everyday life?

Yutaka Furukawa: There have been some changes but it’s a little difficult to explain…

In 2005, your album High Fidelity was released. Was there some kind of link with the film of the same name?

Yutaka Furukawa: Not at all, sorry. (laughs)

You have no less than three albums with the word “high” in the title. Is there a reason for that?

Yutaka Furukawa: No, not really. (laughs)

Your music combines lots of different sounds, be it jazz, rock or electro. How would you define your music? Is the mixing of all these genres indispensable for you?

Yutaka Furukawa: I’ve always mixed genres. But now, what we want is to make music with our origins, our history, which is to say, Japan. For us, the genre doesn’t have much importance. What we do is Japanese rock.

Who is the band’s composer and how do you make the songs?

Yutaka Furukawa: We all make our music together.

You've collaborated with m-flo for a number of times. How did you meet and who came up with the idea of the exceptional collaboration on majestic trancer?

Yutaka Furukawa: It was m-flo who had that idea and he came to us.

You’ve already been to England in 2008 and you’re playing throughout many countries in Europe this time. Do you think of this as a “miracle”, like the name of your tour?

(All laugh)
Yutaka Furukawa: Ask him, it was his idea. (points at their manager)
(Their manager explains that Miracle is his favorite DOPING PANDA song and for him, it represents the opportunity they’ve had to do the tour.)

You will be playing at several big conventions and festivals and little rooms like the boat in Hamburg. Do you prefer the big venues or more intimate concerts?

Yutaka Furukawa: We don’t really have a preference… We play music and that’s it.

You videos are always really original, funny, colorful and artistic. Who's in charge of those? Do you already have an idea or concept in mind for those videos, or is it just an excellent art director?

Yutaka Furukawa: Thank you! Actually, we have some good art directors but what matters is doing it together.

Are you already planning a compilation of your music videos?

Yutaka Furukawa We’d really like to. But you can already find them on some of our singles.

What are your projects for the future?

Yutaka Furukawa: We’ll be releasing a new album and we’d like to come back to Europe.

Where do you see yourselves in ten years?

Hayato: I hope I’ll have a baby. (laughs)
Yutaka Furukawa: I want to spread Japanese music to the world. I hope it will be more recognized in ten years.

And a last message to finish up?

Yutaka Furukawa: Hi, how’s it going? (laughs)


JaME would like to thank the Japan Expo, the members of the band and translator Jay for making this interview possible.