EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ATSUMI JIRO

by Sanae Ishiguchi

 

The following are excerpts from an Eye-Ai exclusive interview with Atsumi Jiro.

 

E: I heard that you grew up with people who sang in bars, what kind of influence did that have you your life?

 

AJ: When I was small, the people around me were men who could play the guitar and sing (enka). By the time I was in junior high school, I was already able to sing dozens of songs from memory. Because I was raised in that sort of environment I continued in that direction, so it’s not as if I studied how to sing that way but naturally I developed and went in that direction.

 

E: In junior high school you could play the guitar but at your recent concert you played the drums, piano, and shamisen. How many instruments can you play now?

 

AJ: Piano, shamisen, mandolin, guitar, flute, drums. Piano took the longest to learn. It took me three to four months to master. The other instruments, I could play after about one month. From long ago I played the guitar and so it’s easy for me to play stringed instruments.

 

E: When you were a bar performer who sang customer requests, what are the good memories and the not-so-good memories?

 

AJ: In the beginning, I was always disappointed when I was not able to sing what the customer had requested. It was tough, and so when I could not sing what was requested I would later try hard to learn the song, and I memorized three to four new songs each day. I found that I could remember the melody easily but the words were difficult. I made my own song study book and listed the songs in alphabetical order. As for good memories, I was most happy when I could make the customer happy, and when they said: “Today was really fun!” I was extremely happy. As far as the good times, there were rainy days when I would not be invited into the bars to sing, and so I would have to stand outside with my umbrella and my hands would be cold, and my suit would be soaking wet, and I would have to sing, and then at last the bar owner would call me and say: “Please come in and sing.” Then after I would finish singing and the customers would say: “I enjoyed myself today”, then I would forget all the previous pain and suffering.

 

E: You have produce many big hits such as “Yume Oizake” and “Pusanko he Kaere” how have you and the people around you changed, and how have your circumstances changed?

 

AJ: When I first dreamed of becoming a (professional) singer, my first goal was to produce a hit. Then after that my next goal was to do a concert (at Asakusa Kokusai Gekijou), then I was even able to have a concert at the Koma Gekijou for one month. In the past (in the early days), I was performing for small numbers in bars, but now I’m able to perform in front of large numbers.

 

E: During the time of your debut, it seems that many people from your neighborhood in Kita Senju (a district in Tokyo) supported you, as well as other people you used to sing enka with (in the bars).

 

AJ: Around the time of my debut, I remember many of my friends and neighbors in Kita Senju supporting me. I first sang at “Yoru no Hit Studio” and 40 to 50 people played in a band behind me. Then I sang “Yume Oizake” in a live broadcast of the show “Best Ten” which was on location in Kita Senju. At that time also there was a large enka band backing me up. Many people say they remember that show and were impressed. Me and my neighbors are happy that I was able to produce a hit.

 

E: In 1989, you had an operation for cancer and the doctor ordered you to go on a special diet and do weight training. Do you still do those things?

 

AJ: For 13 years, once a week I go swimming and go jogging 5 kilometers. When I have time, I do dumbbell training.

 

E: In your book “Namida no Hana” toward the front there are two pictures of you with your shirt removed. Why did you choose to include these?

 

AJ: I am the type who looks thin, especially when I wear clothing. Many people know that I was sick before and were worried about me, so I wanted to show people that even though a person may have had cancer or have had their stomach removed (like me), especially those who have had cancer or their stomach removed, I wanted to show them that they can be healthy.

 

E: During your concert, when you are talking to the people, you share that if one is positive they will receive power and will recover from their sickness. Have you understood anything about yourself through your sickness?

 

AJ: I no longer take it for granted that one will automatically be healthy. When I had cancer I was only 37 and I did not think anyone could help me. Since recovering from cancer it’s been 13 years and it feels like life is a special bonus, and so I live every day realizing that life is precious. If the discovery had been one month later, I would not have made it. Being healthy is nothing to take for granted – I’ve felt this. I have this wonderful thing called a stage. I am able to perform on a stage so I’m very happy. Everyday I hope to meet people and create good memories.

 

E: After your operation you went to Hawaii for a concert. Can you share with us some of your feelings toward Hawaii?

 

AJ: Things were difficult for me at that time. But in Hawaii I appeared on a radio program for KZOO and was encouraged by many phone calls. Because of that encouragement, I was able to perform the Hawaii concert. Actually, it was because I had had the goal of doing a concert that I did a lot of rehabilitation after my operation. I did not want to go on stage looking pale and gaunt, so I made sure to eat enough food and do rehabilitation training.

 

E: Do you have any future plans for other concerts in Hawaii?

 

AJ: I have not done a concert in Hawaii since 1991, but if I’m invited I would not mind doing another.

E: Do you have any message to your fans in Hawaii?

 

AJ: Thanks in part to you, I was able to celebrate my 25th year in show business, and hopefully I would like to celebrate my 30th year. I’ll do my best so please support me.

 

E: I hear you have a fan club. Are people overseas or in Hawaii able to join?

 

AJ: People anywhere are able to join whether they are in Hawaii or anyplace. Whoever you are and wherever you are, I always give a call to my fan club members. Even if it is only once, I want to talk with each member. Every year, as my birthday approaches, we go on a trip together, and also we have a Christmas party.

 

E: Nowadays, how many concerts are you doing?

 

AJ: About one per month.

 

E: Every year you hold a charity concert for the victims of the Kobe Earthquake. This year will you have one again?

 

AJ: My home town is Suginami Ward, and every year I have had one there. We’ve done it for seven times already and so when the time comes around, people say “Is not it time to have the charity concert (Ninjin no kai)?” This year we’ll be having it on May 14.

 

E: Why did you decided to write a book and is there any benefit you feel you received?

 

AJ: There were some things written about my childhood, and I was able to know myself once again. Originally, in one of the newspapers in Japan I wrote a series about my life, and it eventually became a book.

 

E: Last year you changed record companies and released the song “Otoko no Kouro”. Please share you excitement and feelings.

 

AJ: I was with the same company for 25 years, and so now I feel fresh. I really want to produce a new hit with this new company. It’s my 25th anniversary as a singer and this change is good as an inspiration and as a first step toward my 30th anniversary. This change has been good to stir me up so the change has been good. Though this change in companies, I have met many new people, and to work with them makes me feel fresh.

 

E: What is your most important goal?

 

AJ: To make “Otoko no Kouro” a hit song. Singing is the only thing I can do, and so to be able to have as many of my songs to be remembered as famous songs is my hope. I want to leave songs that remain in the heart of everyone.