Musician DJ KOO

The right answer is not the only right answer, follow the path that suits you

■ Profile

Born August 8, 1961 in Tokyo. DJ and leader of the dance and vocal group TRF, which has sold over 21 million CDs in total and continues to be loved by many people. As a solo artist, he plays a wide range of music in a DJ style, from dance classics and EDM to J-POP, anime songs, and game music, under the motto "Make people who come into contact with energy, vitality, and smiles!", and has gained sympathy and approval. Since 2017, he has been actively working both domestically and internationally to promote Japanese culture through collaborations with Japanese cultural traditions such as "matsuri" (festivals) and "bon odori" (bon dance). He has also appeared on numerous variety shows, and has gained a wide fan base.

DJ KOO is still loved by many people 30 years after his debut as a DJ for TRF. He is not only involved in music, but also in a variety of other work, including variety shows and radio. In August of this year, he also published a health book, "DJ KOO's Way to Balance Your Mind, Body, and Brain." We spoke to him about his work and his passion for music, which you don't see on TV.

■ I found my place as a DJ

　When I was in elementary school, I admired Kenji Sawada and decided to aim to become a musician. At first, I wanted to be a guitarist, but there were no vocational schools at the time and I didn't know how to become a professional. It was difficult to do it on your own, and I think it was the most difficult time to aim to become a professional musician. After that, I gave up on being a guitarist and my life revolved around rugby and rock, and I went to vocational school to find out what I wanted to do. When I turned 18, I started spending all my time hanging out and going to clubs, and it was there that I first encountered the profession of DJing. I was attracted to the idea of ​​having my own place in the world and became a DJ.

■Meeting Mr. Komuro

　Although I became a DJ, at the time I couldn't make a living from DJing alone, so I worked part-time as a cleaner. One day, Yokohama Bayside approached me because Tetsuya Komuro needed a DJ for an event. When I went to say hello to Komuro with the other members gathered for the event, my outlook on life changed dramatically in an instant. Komuro has a strong belief that "it's cool when everyone has fun" and "the important thing is how many people you can move," and I felt a huge difference between us. After that, I started going to Komuro's place every day for six months, and I started participating in his activities, and gradually my recognition as a member of TRF began to grow.

■ Be proud of the choices you make and enjoy them.

　COVID-19 has restricted activities, making it harder to create hit songs. When I think about which songs to play at an event, I try to be proud of the choices I make. There's more than one right answer. Skill is important in the DJ's job, but it's also important to stay in tune with the times and current events. Because DJing on-site is fundamental, relying on intuition can be dangerous. People come to clubs not to DJ, but to have fun and have fun. The atmosphere and the audience are different every time, so you have to make various choices, such as when to create the peak. That's why I try to experience a variety of things and jam. It's only by delving into the genre that you can discover what's emerging. I also ask my daughter to introduce me to popular music (laughs). Because the audience is the star, I work every day as a DJ, hoping to give them the confidence to give it their all tomorrow.

Recently, I've been getting more variety work, but at first, I wasn't sure where I belonged. But variety shows are made through teamwork, so I thought I had to be part of that team, and I started to get involved myself. It made me realize that what I thought was cool wasn't cool. Through these experiences, I've often come to realize that connections with people create the environment. A study environment where you're surrounded by teachers, friends, and people you can talk to honestly is extremely important for personal growth.

New book: "DJ KOO's way of balancing your mind, body and brain"

　For a time, I thought being unhealthy was cool, but when I suffered a cerebral aneurysm five years ago, my family and I felt that we needed to cherish the life we'd been given. At the same time, I realized that taking care of my body is the same as cherishing my colleagues and my work. So, with the desire to help everyone feel better, I decided to publish a book. This book isn't based on "you have to do this" but on suggestions, asking, "How about this?" Unlike typical self-help books, it's not a "must-do" kind of book; instead, it's more like, "Here's a way, but please don't push yourself too hard." Rather than pushing yourself too hard and giving up, thinking about the next step without pushing yourself too hard will lead to more conversations. There's no single right answer. I think the reason this book is based on suggestions is because everyone's thoughts and what suits them are different.

■The accumulation of each piece creates a shape

　Right now, I want to promote Bon Odori. In the past, I felt inferior about other countries, but I don't think people feel that way these days. There are a lot of Japanese content, like anime, that are gaining attention overseas. So I think it would be interesting to be able to promote Bon Odori as something new to the world. Because it's a traditional culture beloved by the Japanese, I research its history, play J-pop, and think up choreography that young people can dance to. By digging deep into it, ideas for what to do next will spread, and it's a process of building up. If we rush, we'll miss things, so we take each step carefully. When it comes to bringing something to life, it's okay if the schedule and process don't fit. Even if things go overboard, it's important to keep refining and creating.

■ massage

　Due to the effects of COVID-19, university students are likely living in unusual circumstances, but I hope you can find things to enjoy and things to cheer you up, even during this time. Also, when you enter society, try to be open-minded. Seniors in society have a wide range of experience, so they will be more accepting. You may worry about what others think and wonder if you're okay, but if you can be yourself, I'm sure people will start to see and interact with you differently. There's no need to worry about failure, anxiety, appearances, or your own capacity. Just try to express how you feel.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on August 10, 2022 by Daiki Shimada, a third-year student at Kokugakuin University