Given your recent actions, do you think it is your duty as a celebrity to give back to society?
That is a difficult question. As a person who makes music, society is closely related and not something that can be ignored.
I don’t feel any attraction to entertainment, which is an art that turns a blind eye on society and reality.
Today in Japanese society, there is pressure, apathy, and division. The number of suicides is still high. I would like to see this change.
What else have you been doing to keep busy during the coronavirus pandemic?
Housework! I have to do it because I can’t call the housekeeper.
I’m also making music and immersing myself in it.
How do you feel about the state of hip hop in Japan? What can be done to make the genre more popular?
This is also a diffcult question. The rest of Asia is exciting right now. I think if a rapper is active in Japan, they will find their audience. There isn’t a need to worry.
Commercial rap, underground rap, rap that sells, rap that doesn’t sell… I think we need all of it, just how it is overseas. I think it wil be like this.
I think it’s important that each rapper stay true to their own style.
How do you feel about the anime rappers of Hypnosis Mic? Do you think it prevents human rappers from having success?
I know some people who have worked on Hypnosis Mic songs.
As I said above, I think it’s okay to have this kind of thing, and I think it’s okay if somebody doesn’t accept it.
I don’t particularly like or hate it. I’m interested in why it has become such a big movement. I don’t feel any disgust at all, but I don’t think it’s something to pay attention to.
Are you still in contact with the former members of AAA?
I contacted them more when we worked together. I’m not saying that there is currently no reason to contact them. I do watch their Instagram Live videos.
What will be the hardest part about AAA going on hiatus?
It’s a difficult question. But don’t you think it’s better to say that we’ve spent 15 years together, since we aren’t a permanent band?
Do you think AAA will reunite in the future?
I think so. I don’t have any negative feelings about the break. I think it’s something positive. I do see us getting back together in the future.
