Brother Tom

As long as I live, I will continue to leave my works to the world.

Musician, actor, and entertainer Brother Tom

■ Profile

Date of birth: February 23, 1956 / Blood type: A / Born in Maui, Hawaii
He is currently active in a wide range of fields as a musician, actor and entertainer, appearing in films, TV, stage, radio, live shows and lectures.

"WON'T BE LONG" is a song that has been passed down through the ages, from the Heisei era to the Reiwa era. Many students have likely heard this song at least once. Brother Tom, the artist who created this classic, is currently active in a wide range of fields, including as a TV personality, actor, and writer. With so much experience in the entertainment industry, he talks about his approach to music and his way of life.

I've loved musical instruments since I was a child, and after graduating from high school I worked at a music store. I then studied at the Kawai Musical Instrument Piano Tuning Technology Training Center and worked as a piano tuner. My love for musical instruments began when I was in elementary school and received a guitar from my mother. From there I dove into the world of music and continued playing in a band from junior high school onwards. Music has always been at the heart of my activities. The reason I continue to work is because I believe there are stories and works that will never be born into the world unless I create them. While I'm alive, I want to pursue what excites me and leave stories and works behind for the world.

◾️The trigger for a leap forward

His entry into the entertainment industry actually came from appearing on a comedy show. He was invited by a band member to audition for the show, but his partner suddenly withdrew on the day. He ended up appearing alone, and that was the start of his public recognition as a comedian. In 1983, he formed a duo called the Bubblegum Brothers and released "WON'T BE LONG." This influenced him to broaden the scope of his work while still focusing on music. However, the number of jobs decreased due to the COVID-1 pandemic, and he began to think about taking on a new challenge. This is how "MOUCHABoooK," a comprehensive kids' entertainment program streamed on YouTube, was born.

◾️About "MOUCHABoooK"

"MOUCHABoooKThe reason behind the creation of "Mocchabuku Island" was the lack of children's programming in recent years. Compared to the past, there are far fewer songs that mothers and children can sing together. I wanted to create a music-based work that children would simply enjoy watching. I wanted to make it fun and make their hearts dance. The story is set on the actual island of Niihau, off the Big Island of Hawaii, which I named "Mocchabuku Island." Niihau is currently home to only 170 people, and no one outside the island is permitted to enter. As a result, no one outside the island knows what the island is like today. In other words, everything about Mocchabuku Island is fiction, a fabrication I came up with (laughs). When writing the script, I was conscious of the characters' nationalities. By deliberately including characters with different skin tones, I hoped to convey the idea that multinationality is the norm. My greatest wish is for content to spread globally, regardless of language. From my experience, music, in particular, inherently doesn't require words. There are no rules in music, and you can sing and dance freely. What's needed isn't words, but the emotion of excitement. I have a strong desire to have more Japanese children experience pure excitement through entertainment.

◾️Living like the flow of a river

Lately, I've been feeling that it's not a bad thing to be swayed by those around us. In my teens and twenties, I thought it was right to not be swayed by those around me and to stick to my own beliefs. However, even when I try to cast a rod into the river myself, it feels like the direction I'll end up is pretty much predetermined. Of course, the outcome of the choices I make will depend on my own efforts. However, when making a choice, even if I just let myself go with the flow, things often turn out well. I feel like God is probably orchestrating it so that we meet the people we need when we need them. Just being aware of this might make life easier for some people.

◾️Message

I feel that university is a place of freedom. I hope that you will use that freedom to pursue what you love to the fullest. Many university students feel anxious and impatient when they are not sure what they want to do or study. However, I believe that it is only by trying a variety of things that you will finally understand what you want to do and study. You just don't know or understand because you haven't experienced it. First of all, look back on your university life so far, and if you feel that you have wasted your time, I urge you to take action. It's okay to take as many detours as you like.

Student Newspaper Online August 29, 2023 Interview by Miyu Ito, 4th year student at Keio University