01Profile
A Misaki Takagi Photo
Misaki Takagi
Optician shop staff — Aichi Prefecture
03Interview
Name
Misaki Takagi
What do you do?
Optician shop staff.
Where are you from?
Aichi Prefecture (central Japan).
What's the best gig you've ever been to?
The pop band Superorganism's first tour in Japan in around 2019, I think. It was before I'd moved to Tokyo, so I was still in my hometown. Local radio stations were playing their music a lot, so I went to see them at NAGOYA CLUB QUATTRO. They were the only band on the bill, and the show was really short — I don't think it was even an hour long. But it was my first time at a gig by an artist from outside Japan, and I loved it.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
I'm fascinated by the history of UK spectacles culture. For example, the iconic round glasses that John Lennon wore were initially handed out free of charge by the NHS. I read that John Lennon first started wearing glasses for his role in the film 'How I Won the War.' To begin with, the glasses were not a brand or high-fashion item — anyone could get them if they had poor eyesight. However, the story goes that John Lennon was the catalyst for people who didn't have eye problems to start wearing glasses. High-end brands then caught on to the buzz surrounding the NHS specs and began to sell similar glasses with better specifications. This proved to be a massive boost to British eyeglasses culture, with the trends continuing today. It’s fun to learn this kind of history.
Of all the venues you've played, which is your favourite?
I'd say either CLUB ROCK 'N' ROLL in Nagoya or Shangri-La in Osaka. CLUB ROCK 'N' ROLL is a pretty small venue but incredibly vivid, with massive wall paintings floor-to-ceiling. When I used to go, the decor was bright red with images of angels, which left a real impact. Shangri-La has huge chandeliers near the stage, and I like the feel of that place.
If you could be on the line up with any band in history?
It's a group I have on my playlist: Penguin Cafe Orchestra. In my mind, I'd be playing the castanets at a live music venue in the late 1970s, around the time their debut album 'Music From The Penguin Cafe' came out (laughs). I'd want to be tucked away in a quiet corner of the stage, just enjoying the music.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
He's Dutch rather than British, but the painter Vincent van Gogh. He was never appreciated during his lifetime, so I'd like to travel back in time to when he was alive and buy some of his paintings. Then we could talk for an hour about what is so remarkable about his paintings (laughs).
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?
It's a Japanese artist named MOTHERCOAT. I went to see a band at a music venue in Nagoya and they happened to be playing on the same bill. They do things under their own steam, and I just like the overall feel of the group.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
What is the concepts / important points of the playlist?
I love music, but I rarely listen to anything by what you might call "Western" artists. However, I wanted to make the most of this opportunity, so I looked up various artists that shared a connection with my favorite artists and then made a playlist. I chose the Rolling Stones because of the track by Kegawa no Maries. I like Tadanori Yokoo, so I picked out the Beatles album that inspired him to visit India.
The first track you played on repeat?
As I just mentioned, I have never listened to Western music, but I got to know Queen through the movie 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' I like that kind of androgynous look, so I included old songs from their debut period — the heyday of glam rock — in my playlist.
A song that defines the teenage you?
The Japanese band 9mm Parabellum Bullet and their track 'Black Market Blues.' I used to listen to it a lot when I was in my late teens. I wasn't the active and cheerful type when I was a student, so I thought the depressing, dark tone of the song and lyrics suited me perfectly (laughs).
One record you would keep forever?
I'm going to choose Santana's album 'Amigos.' He is not from the UK, and I'm not even that keen on the music, but I love the album cover, designed by Tadanori Yokoo.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
The Japanese artist Yasuyuki Okamura and his track 'Ai wa oshare jyanai (love ain't sophisticated).'
Best song to turn up loud?
My Generation by The Who. I happened to watch the film 'Quadrophenia' while I was making this playlist, so it was on an endless loop in my brain for a while. I found myself singing, or rather, humming the song.
A song people wouldn't expect you to like?
I know nothing about it — and it's another Japanese artist — but THA BLUE HERB '3DAYS JUMP (2001 Earth Journey)'. I stumbled across it in the Japanese hip-hop section of a record store and bought it.
What new bands are you are listening to now?
Penguin Cafe Orchestra. I discovered them through the process of making the playlist, and I played 'Music From The Penguin Cafe' over and over. I recommended it to my colleagues at the shop where I work — they said listening to it made them sleepy (laughs).
03Interview
Name
Misaki Takagi
What do you do?
Optician shop staff.
Where are you from?
Aichi Prefecture (central Japan).
What's the best gig you've ever been to?
The pop band Superorganism's first tour in Japan in around 2019, I think. It was before I'd moved to Tokyo, so I was still in my hometown. Local radio stations were playing their music a lot, so I went to see them at NAGOYA CLUB QUATTRO. They were the only band on the bill, and the show was really short — I don't think it was even an hour long. But it was my first time at a gig by an artist from outside Japan, and I loved it.
Which sub-cultures have influenced you?
I'm fascinated by the history of UK spectacles culture. For example, the iconic round glasses that John Lennon wore were initially handed out free of charge by the NHS. I read that John Lennon first started wearing glasses for his role in the film 'How I Won the War.' To begin with, the glasses were not a brand or high-fashion item — anyone could get them if they had poor eyesight. However, the story goes that John Lennon was the catalyst for people who didn't have eye problems to start wearing glasses. High-end brands then caught on to the buzz surrounding the NHS specs and began to sell similar glasses with better specifications. This proved to be a massive boost to British eyeglasses culture, with the trends continuing today. It’s fun to learn this kind of history.
Of all the venues you've played, which is your favourite?
I'd say either CLUB ROCK 'N' ROLL in Nagoya or Shangri-La in Osaka. CLUB ROCK 'N' ROLL is a pretty small venue but incredibly vivid, with massive wall paintings floor-to-ceiling. When I used to go, the decor was bright red with images of angels, which left a real impact. Shangri-La has huge chandeliers near the stage, and I like the feel of that place.
If you could be on the line up with any band in history?
It's a group I have on my playlist: Penguin Cafe Orchestra. In my mind, I'd be playing the castanets at a live music venue in the late 1970s, around the time their debut album 'Music From The Penguin Cafe' came out (laughs). I'd want to be tucked away in a quiet corner of the stage, just enjoying the music.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
He's Dutch rather than British, but the painter Vincent van Gogh. He was never appreciated during his lifetime, so I'd like to travel back in time to when he was alive and buy some of his paintings. Then we could talk for an hour about what is so remarkable about his paintings (laughs).
Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?
It's a Japanese artist named MOTHERCOAT. I went to see a band at a music venue in Nagoya and they happened to be playing on the same bill. They do things under their own steam, and I just like the overall feel of the group.
04Playlist Notes
What is the concepts / important points of the playlist?
I love music, but I rarely listen to anything by what you might call "Western" artists. However, I wanted to make the most of this opportunity, so I looked up various artists that shared a connection with my favorite artists and then made a playlist. I chose the Rolling Stones because of the track by Kegawa no Maries. I like Tadanori Yokoo, so I picked out the Beatles album that inspired him to visit India.
The first track you played on repeat?
As I just mentioned, I have never listened to Western music, but I got to know Queen through the movie 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' I like that kind of androgynous look, so I included old songs from their debut period — the heyday of glam rock — in my playlist.
A song that defines the teenage you?
The Japanese band 9mm Parabellum Bullet and their track 'Black Market Blues.' I used to listen to it a lot when I was in my late teens. I wasn't the active and cheerful type when I was a student, so I thought the depressing, dark tone of the song and lyrics suited me perfectly (laughs).
One record you would keep forever?
I'm going to choose Santana's album 'Amigos.' He is not from the UK, and I'm not even that keen on the music, but I love the album cover, designed by Tadanori Yokoo.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
The Japanese artist Yasuyuki Okamura and his track 'Ai wa oshare jyanai (love ain't sophisticated).'
Best song to turn up loud?
My Generation by The Who. I happened to watch the film 'Quadrophenia' while I was making this playlist, so it was on an endless loop in my brain for a while. I found myself singing, or rather, humming the song.
A song people wouldn't expect you to like?
I know nothing about it — and it's another Japanese artist — but THA BLUE HERB '3DAYS JUMP (2001 Earth Journey)'. I stumbled across it in the Japanese hip-hop section of a record store and bought it.
What new bands are you are listening to now?
Penguin Cafe Orchestra. I discovered them through the process of making the playlist, and I played 'Music From The Penguin Cafe' over and over. I recommended it to my colleagues at the shop where I work — they said listening to it made them sleepy (laughs).