THE Masayuki Paradise

  Momo no Hana [桃の花] - Let's unravel the thread of the author's thoughts. There is that stylish and charming one-story shoe store. As I stood in front of a show-window, a springtime nursery rhyme came down on me. The lady who just started strolling somewhere under a tree with the sound of her mild footsteps waited for the scent of spring. Nine blocks west, thirteen blocks east. My melody came down on me. My song came down to me. Fukkyuu Okaeriman no Uta [復旧オカエリマンの歌] - I want to apologize for the cancellation of the Kyoto performance, I was shivering at my own incompetence sitting in my car without my instrument. The crumpled buildings must have been reflected in the muddled waters. The news flashed through the train windows, and before long, time had eventually passed by. Now is the time I'll be saying these words: recapturing those smiles with its powerful resonance as we sing along with the bass line. Sengoku Jandararin Mikawa Monogatari [戦国じゃんだらりん三河物語] - The Mikawa [p...

 Here's what Masayuki Yamamoto had to say for each album in the 10-disc box set released in November 2000. Disc 1: Masayuki Yamamoto '88 -- This was the real dream. Ever since the era of Moeyo [Dragons!] , Uguisudani [Music Hall], Hirake [Tulip], or when I began to sing with [Time] Bokan , I wanted to produce an LP record where I would sing all my songs myself....an ALBUM ! In 1975, when I was an executive [producer] at Majinsha Ongaku Kubo to promote my rival colleague's debut album, I went to Nagoya, bowed to the people involved in the past and vowed "Remember S-kun", then walked to the broadcasting station, the store, the sales office while drenched in sweat. Thirteen years later, Tomato paved the way, and Kawase shed the light on me. Here is my - Masayuki Yamamoto - album. I've gathered so much fun. I invited Kawase to my place and selected only the most upbeat songs. I couldn't help but have so much fun. And it sold very well. New Masayukists starte...

It all started with a phone call from Mr. Takagi at the Ishibashi Music Ochanomizu branch, "Mr. Yamamoto, I'll be transferring to Tsudanuma branch effective November 1st." From this point, he had been promoted as a store manager. I could either say, "Would you rather have some tea?" or on the contrary, I would also say, "Let's go grab a bite", or would I rather also say "Then I'll thrown in 10 picks and an extra harmonica"? Instead I'd say, "Alrighty, I'll take back Y10,000"; I doubt I would surely do it, but more importantly, I could have a leisurely conversation with Mr. Takagi. With the material sources for the guitar I'm aiming for, and the differences in how sound resonates on the edge and inbetween the floors, I could occasionally enjoy glancing at Takagi's grandmother, without relying on the time, because he's the store manager after all! The Ochanomizu branch is a lean, narrow and old building, a ...

 Today, November 2, marks the 23rd death anniversary of Masayuki Yamamoto's mother. On late November 2002, he shared a long but poignant obituary, including his experiences on his "New York Walking Tour", on the Bella Beaux website. This was when he announced a tribute concert that would later be held in April 2003. Good day. This is Masayuki Yamamoto. I just returned from New York yesterday (November 26, JST). I have a sudden but sorrowful announcement to make. On the evening of November 2nd, my mother, Fuki Yamamoto, beloved and adored by all her friends as 'BABAR', had passed away. Right now, I am in sincere sadness and loneliness.  With every step I take, I remember my mother's smile; with every breath I take, I remember my mother's voice. I'm in tears even as I'm typing these words. I couldn't stop crying. On November 3rd, 11PM New York time, the phone in my room at Riverside Drive rang, and my wife's voice called. "I just got a c...

  It's now been around 12 years, in late summer 1988, that I made my album debut with ' THE Pokopokkon '. My beloved admin from the Nakano-sakaue corp called from beneath the window of my workspace. "Oy, Mr. Yamamoto, are you awake?" It was 2:00 at dawn. I think I was probably in the middle of composing for the History Series. I pulled the curtains, opened the window, and popped my head out, "Yeah, I'm awake, what is it?" The elderly hurled something about the size of a softball, "Look!" (my workspace is on the second floor) I hurriedly held both hands out to take it. It was a  Häagen-Dazs ice cream. The elderly was staggering around, his face red. He was in good spirit. "Thanks, man. Wanna bite?" "It's alright, I'll eat with my mom" The elderly grew up downtown and used to be a construction worker in Kiba. "Mr. Yamamoto, you wouldn't be able to do that anymore", the elderly's scaffold, a courty...

  I don't frequently go to 1st and 3rd Streets. 4th Street is Washington Square; 14th Street is Union Square; 29th Street is where the Bencoil residence lives, and 33rd Street has subway station 6. I take so many steps. Hmmm, I don't like the "district" wording, let's stick with the real "street" wording. 42nd to 48th Streets are courtyards. Pass directly beneath Chrysler, past the soap store, the gift shop, the pharmacy, optical outlets, McDonald's, general goods, deli, lingerie store, Wendy's, another deli, the glitzy Roger Smith Hotel, a drugstore that is similar to that of Kiyoshi Matsumoto, and finally, to Radisson Hotel.  Until last year (1999), that place was named Lexington Hotel. Time flies. The historical Lexington Hotel that You Yamamoto and I stayed in 1984 no longer exists. There wasn't a Beekman diner on 1st Street. Not even Paparazzi Morning Star on 2nd Street either. Time flies relentlessly. There, in front of the west end of ...

  Hey everybody! I went to an autograph session! -- Osaka , 80 people, including 4 women (5% on sales tax) -- Kyoto , 71 people, including 5 women (amongst, 1 attended with a child - a male) -- Nagoya , 30 people, including 3 women (10% as expected from a local) -- Tokyo , 116 people, including 6 women (plus an anonymous maid in a yukata) -- Hakata , 38 people, including 9 women ( amongst, 1 attended with a child - another male ) Total: 335 attendees, including 27 women. Oh man! All I saw were guys! I arrived at the new Osaka Station via a Shinkansen [bullet train] at midday, August 4th, where it was a scorching 38°C. I got interviews for a town magazine and Osaka Shimbun [now Sankei Shimbun] before taking the JR train to Kobe in the evening. After abandoning my luggage at the hotel, I had dinner at a Chinese restaurant catered at Chinatown; it was light and tasty. At 9:00PM, I entered Radio Kansai. Iwachan [Kazuo Iwasaki] and Kaorin [Kaori Minami] greeted me with a grin. Tomoko...

  Summer vacation was almost over. I had promised myself that year I would do five pages a day without hoarding any homework, but it was no good. I took a peek at my sister's weather [report] in her picture diary, I was able to duplicate Keiko's record of morning glories from a Katomotor [vehicle brand], Yu helped me with more than half of my work, yet I was  able to complete a traffic volume survey in front of the town hall and the station, which I had decided to do as a freeform assignment. Every day we went to inspect them by bicycle. Nobo was very skilled at the trumpet, Hisa played the contrabass, and I played the clarinet. While there was no training camp, we went to the music room every 6 in the morning to practice Over the Rainbow . The reed cut my lips as it pierced painfully whenever I drink miso soup. Should I buy a guitar? I mustn't break it this time. It's not a yakuza song; it's the Beatles. I went to stay at Ken's residence in Izumi-cho. My uncle...

  Susquehanna-gou no Eikou VI: Showa no Hanabira [ サスクハナ号の曳航VI 昭和の花びら ]  - The intro part, events from an underground diner at the Grand Central Station in New York, up to 10 minutes and 36 seconds into the song, is entirely a true story. This is also true, in detail, with an elderly Latino group bringing tissues and a lady leaving a bottle of water. In fact, I experienced something similar to this 12.3 years ago, though not very intensely. The location in an underground diner in Grand Central is very similar, but the tables were different, even though the building was spacious, and for some reason, an old woman sat down in front of me. I knew during that time, we started eating what seemed to be homemade cookies. She looked at me while chewing from time to time. I love this event, so I handed her a paper napkin and said, "" mom, [I] could use this ". Then the old woman replied, " thank you ". That was the voice of my mother, who suddenly passed away while I wa...

  A few years ago, I felt enthusiastic on grabbing points from a camera in Yodobashi. Cassette tapes, video tapes, fine items, expensive ones, Yodobashi has it. On the other hand, the employees at Yodobashi don't have a good altitude, their customer service is so rude. Moreover, a random employee in the audio section in the 5th floor of a general building told nonsense to the customers. "You can't connect a DAT to an MD", he said. I replied, "I'd like to take this Marantz [audiovisual company] amp off because it wouldn't fit the side rack". He told me, "Don't worry, you can easily remove it by uninstalling 4 small screws". I nearly bought it, but then thought, "Uhm, wait, let's go to the other store". When I went to Sakuraya and got a glimpse closely, the screws were removed from the side racks but they were perfectly secured. Even then, I still go to Yodobashi for the points, but with how much of a benefit? Buy for 10,00...

  To my niece Miho, "This is the Kurama Tengu"; to my nephew Takao, "This is Hiroto"; to my BABAR with my Jijy impression, "Hey Fuki, I'm calling you from the heavens"; to my apprentice JALLA, "This is the Nakano Police Department"; to Kawase, "Ooh~~ Kawase, it's the professor"; to Ikuro in my Ikuro voice, "Hello, this is Fujiwara"; and this is to an extent where I keep my name for myself. Otherwise, I would never use a pseudonym, add a certain number of strokes, or anything else. Even when I stay at an hotel for an affair, I simply write as Masayuki Yamamoto . Perhaps. And now, analog letters. Stamps are wonderful, especially regular stamps. I was a stamp collector in my youth. I wanted to read the letter I received as soon as possible, so I tore open the seal. A stationary paper popped out from the inside. Hmmm...that handwriting, could that be his handwriting~? Whaaat??!! He's sick!?? I got worried. Okay, so tha...

 In 1986, I met two of my friends at the 57th NIPPONCLUB Gallery. As for its surroundings, this is where senior artist Goroh Saitoh held a solo exhibition in New York. We were seated for the commemorative exhibition party on the first day: many Americans, a couple of Chinese and us Japanese. One of them was Newsweek journalist at the time, Durian Bencoil. When he attended an interview, I got introduced to him, and I never thought we would become good friends. The next day, Bencoil accompanied Goroh to a radio station where he was tasked as an interpreter, and I was the photographer to document it, then Bencoil recommend us a restaurant for a hearty brunch. That was all.  The other was the UN desk, MISS  Kumi Yasui, Michiyo Yasui's daughter, the producer for Goroh Saitoh's solo exhibition. She was interested in me as a composer and we gathered about talking for 15 minutes. That was it. Time had passed, and it was June of 1989. I arrived in the US alone, unpacked my luggage...

  Today, July 5 [2000 as he posted this chapter] completes the production for Moeyo Dragons! 2000 . Yet, they lost 13-0, but that's alright. It seems that it would be significant to present this musical piece every year now that it has become more important in recent years. My favorite Dragons warriors are, in order: 1. Tatenami. I love that man's attitude; timid but wonderful. No matter how well he does, he takes no guts (apparently my least favorite word in the world right now). Only when he receives a timely hit in a tremendous pressure does he runs for it small, under the waist, for a moment, and that's swell. Tatenami should be THE Mister Dragons. 2. Gaillard. He's just beautiful. The Dragons blue [uniform]  looks good on him and he delivers the scent of America to home base with a swoon with every pitch. Anyways, it's got an imperial atmosphere to it. I wish he had been registered as Gaillard   (different kana spelling) . 3. Yoshihara. I watched the CS Western...