Miki's Fat City

I don't remember the last time it rained but it's raining this morning. Nice moisture after having days of warm sunshine smiling on cherry blossoms to wake up. Seems to be sunny this afternoon. Good for those who visit their family graves today. It's a Japanese tradition on Equinox days in Spring and Autumn. I got a nice book from one of my favourite journalists, Mr. Bonzai, last week. It's called "MUSIC SMARTS" in which there are many great excerpts from the interviews with music creators he has done. I read it while commuting on the subway to my office lately and haven't finished reading it but it gives me a smile whenever I find inspiring words. I'm aware of some people around me on a train glancing at me curiously when I smile reading an English book but I just can't help myself smiling. It's a wonderful book and I really want everybody to read it! It gives you new perspectives on your favourite musicians. Well, at least I get inspired. Tha...

I had only 3 face to face interviews in February, Fall Out Boy's drummer Andy, Franz Ferdinand's bass player Bob and an art photographer Roe Ethridge, although I became pretty busy translating already recorded interviews for monthly magazines and a long text for a book to be out in March. It's not bad for me because I was trying to get back in harness especially after crazy 2 weeks in mid-late January. I wasn't interested in Fall Out Boy, nor Franz Ferdinand, before I actually listened to their albums for preparation. They are good, I mean, they are better than I expected. It doesn't make me their fan but knowing their music is good. Roe Ethridge, however, is a nice surprise for me in terms of interviewing someone whom I don't often have a chance to work with. I somehow found something congenial when I first met him. At the end of his interview, I found out why. He played the guitar and sang in rock bands when he was younger. No wonder! He has this musician-...

Had the annual business trip to Anahiem, CA, for the winter NAMM show as usual. It's always the big thing at the beginning of the year. I met some great people there in addition to my buddies, Rob and Ernie. I always love you, guys!!! It was nice to see Neil Zlozower again for the first time in 3-4 years. You still rock, Zloz! Daisuke, one of my party members who met Zloz for the first time, says he is so cool. Yeah, he is! Take a look at this. I also had a chance to see Marty Temme for the first time. He gave me the same impression he always gives me through his emails. Very friendly and sweet! I was totally exhausted when I saw him and look so ugly but here is a photo taken with him. Thanks for the photo, Marty! The last day of NAMM, an intresting thing happened. A guy suddenly spoke to me on the street asking if we speak Japanese. I was with a guy from Keyboard Magazine and sure we did speak in Japanese. He says his brother is really into Japanese anime and he al...

I got it from a business associate in Taiwan, Allen. He and his lovely wife Tina came to Tokyo for the 1st Rhythm & Drum Magazine Festival in January. Allen and I have been working for a couple of years now but it was the first time for us to meet in person. Tina took a picture of Allen and me during the festival and they ordered this neat doll with the picture. It's cute and looks way better than real me. Thank you so very much, Allen & Tina! Coincidentally I'm into Taiwanese TV dramas and pop groups last few months. First, I liked a TV drama called "惡作劇之吻2" last autumn which is based on a Japanese manga. In that drama, a cute looking guy Jiro (汪東城 from 飛輪海) caught my eye. Then, I saw another TV drama "花様少年少女" which I initially got interested in because of Jiro. But Ella from S.H.E who plays 盧瑞莃 in it looks so cute and discovered S.H.E sings the theme song. So I got one of their albums "PLAY" on iTunes Store right away. It was played a ...