Cool quotes from Japanese (J-pop) artists and musicians
Many great songs are born from a wide range of artists.
Not limited to music, we’re often struck by words spoken from perspectives different from our own and by the richness of a broad sensibility.
The allure of nuanced Japanese.
The ways artists and musicians live and think.
From a single line that makes you think, “Alright, I’ll do my best,” to big phrases that can serve as signposts in life, we’ve picked out a diverse array of cool, memorable quotes.
You’ll surely end up loving those artists even more.
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Cool Quotes by Japanese Artists and Musicians (11–20)
You don’t have to become a professional; you’d sing in the bath anyway, so please let music be your friend forever.Chie Ayado
The line between professional and amateur is really blurry; there are plenty of wonderful musicians who don’t make money from music, and the reverse is also true.
Rather than focusing only on whether you can earn money through music, Chie Ayado seems to be saying that it’s important to keep music close at hand, to occasionally take it out, remember it, be healed by it, and get excited by it.
Music is something to take seriously, but it should also be more casual, shouldn’t it?
Even with something like “thank you,” I think the word itself is basically just a symbol. But by depicting who says it, when, in what situation, how, and to whom, a worn-out phrase can truly carry meaning. If I could write songs that way, I think that would be really great.Toshihide Baba
For a singer-songwriter who creates and shares songs, the power of words is surely very important and precious.
The words of Toshihide Baba, a singer-songwriter, carry real weight.
You can compose a song just by lining up pleasing words, but rather than singing lyrics that are merely strings of symbols with no substance, he must know from experience that lyrics filled with feeling and compassion have a powerful persuasiveness.
Those who listen to such lyrics will be truly moved.
In everyone’s heart, there is surely a god hiding.Kentaro Obuchi (Kobukuro)
Kentaro Kobuchi, who writes most of Kobukuro’s lyrics and music, is said to have lost his mother when he was young.
For someone like him, observing people’s hearts must have been important.
No matter who they are or what kind of world they live in, everyone harbors a tiny conscience, and perhaps the joy lies in finding it.
A person’s way of life and perspective are strongly reflected in their works.
Through Kobuchi’s creations, perhaps we too can find the little deity that resides within him.
Geniuses are created by their times. I think great works are born when an individual’s vibration and the era’s vibration align perfectly.Yumi Matsutoya
Yumi Matsutoya, who continues to build her own world with incredible taste, speaks with real conviction.
No matter how talented someone is, if they aren’t accepted by their era, they won’t be called a genius.
She herself must deeply feel that one’s existence is validated by those who accept them.
On the flip side, there are people who are confident yet not recognized and say things like, “Finally the times have caught up with me.” There are also cases where a person’s talent is only understood after they’re gone, which shows how difficult it is to be recognized in real time.
I think Japanese musicians shouldn’t just play it safe—having an aggressive side is important too.Keisuke Kuwata
Keisuke Kuwata of Southern All Stars made a sensational debut with “Katte ni Shindobaddo” and has enjoyed a long musical career.
While he continues to create songs that resonate with listeners, his stance has been consistent since his debut, with hints of a desire to upend conventions.
From his perspective, the Japanese music scene may well appear to be playing it safe.
The rock-minded belief that staying on the defensive all the time won’t produce new music is something many can relate to.
Even if people say I’m ‘weird,’ I always thought it was only natural to be different.Akihiro Miwa
Miwam Akihiro has long been called unique and unusual since childhood, and even now is considered “different” by conventional standards.
While an ordinary person might be discouraged by such remarks, Miwa reportedly chose to believe in his own talent and kept standing up to his critics.
He also wondered what could be wrong with activities that transcended gender.
Miwa’s steadfast way of life may have prompted others to question things and, in turn, helped to break down society’s conventional wisdom.
People who hold firm to their convictions are admirable.
Cool quotes from Japanese artists and musicians (21–30)
I think a poem that resonates when you’re feeling low is a good poem. It surely comes along in just the right shape—a little bump that fits snugly into your dent.TAKUMA（10-FEET）
TAKUMA’s quotes, no matter which ones, really resonate with the heart.
I believe even TAKUMA, who constantly tells us to “always be someone who never gives up!” has fought through many worries and struggles.
This quote, I think, is one that makes his lyrics and 10-FEET’s songs feel even more wonderful.