1 – group_inou. With a bullet. Since their soft breakup some, jeez, 9 years ago I have been hoping to get a chance to see them again (or at least more than the one song they did at AC部’s expo 85, but I digress). They are simply one of the most energetic, fun and creative live acts around. They also have the best projected visuals, bar none. Thanks again AC部. If you were able to stay up until sunrise to see them on the first day of the festival I’m sure you would agree with me.
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2 – Summer Eye. Had no idea what to expect, they just seemed like a good band to cover. Like a good journalist, I did no prior investigation. The good news there is I was pretty floored with how much I liked the set! It was was like Okinawan beach bum punk. I will definitely be going to see them at a regular livehouse at the earliest opportunity, hopefully while the weather is still warm and the summer sun is still shining.
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3 – Cho Co Pa Co Cho Co Quin Quin. Other than group_inou, this is the show I was probably most looking forward to. I like their recent debut album quite a bit, and was curious how they were live. The good news is they were great. It was a fun, eclectic set and seemed very, very promising for a new band. Let’s see where these guys end up in a few years! Hopefully back at Fuji Rock!
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4 – Kraftwerk. I mean, of course. Without Kraftwerk think of all the things we would be without! YMO prime amongst them! Speaking of, the Ryuichi Sakamoto tribute mid-set was stunning. I also love the way their visuals look straight after a 1997 point and click computer game. I am honest when I say I love that. Please never change it. Also hearing Kraftwerk so cleanly out of such massive speakers was a treat. Danke schön gents!
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5 – bongjeingan. This one really, truly surprised me! It was my last show of the festival, and I was really hoping to end it with something unique and special. And Christmas came early. This Korean band was wildly fun, erratic math-y changes all over the place and just a really solid band presence. My only note would be maybe go a little easier on the guitar shredding my dudes, but even that bit was honestly a bit of fun. It was apparently their first show in Japan, and here’s hoping they come back a bunch more times!
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Honorable mention to Kim Gordon, Shibusashirasu, Ohnuki Taeko, Tokumaru Shugo, Sampha and, of course, the buskers. Until next time y’all!

FR: This is not your first time performing with ROUTE 17 Rock’n’Roll ORCHESTRA, right?
Gotoh: No, It’s the second time. The first time felt a little more like being a cover band. Today, the character was a bit different.

FR: ROUTE 17 Rock’n’Roll ORCHESTRA has a slightly different atmosphere every year, doesn’t it?

Gotoh: Yeah, ROUTE 17 has a theme every year.

FR: What was this year’s theme?

Gotoh: I talked with Ikebata (the drummer) about playing songs that are related to our roots. It was about performing music we loved as students, like becoming a child once again.
I chose to cover John Lennon for this show. But then I really thought about the meaning of a Japanese person playing Western rock at a Japanese festival. So, I thought it was necessary to perform “Imagine” in Japanese so I could convey its message in our words.
It’s very difficult to know what to do these days, but standing with the people of Gaza at a festival in the far east of Asia and sending a message to the world that we see the ongoing violence and think it’s a problem is very meaningful to me. Solidarity across distant places is needed, and having a generational connection really gives power. It’s something that needs to be done, and this terrible violence must be stopped.

FR: Asian Kung-Fu Generation has more of an international focus when compared to other Japanese bands, you have lots of fans overseas. It is hard to explain, but perhaps this helps give you a greater sense of global artistic responsibility.

Gotoh: When I started playing music, I admired artists like John Lennon and Patti Smith, who didn’t separate music from society. Their messages became their music, and their way of life became their music. I think it doesn’t matter if it’s Western or Japanese music. There are many people in Asia who share the same thoughts..

FR: If you could choose the lineup for ROUTE 17 next year or the year after, who would you choose?

Gotoh: I think it would be great if younger bands performed. For example, Vaundy or King Gnu. If those young bands played music that reflects their roots and blended it well with the band’s veteran musicians, it would be amazing to show off Japan’s wonderful rock culture.

FR: The connection between new legends and old legends.

Gotoh: ROUTE 17, like Fuji Rock, includes both Japanese and international bands, creating a more global community. There are cool bands in Asia like South Korea’s HYUKOH or Taiwan’s Sunset Rollercoaster. I think it would be great to interact on stage with these kinds of bands and share our common mindsets and souls.
I feel that music helps us realize that borders are actually fictional. We can easily understand each other through music and we can all move our bodies to the same beat. This potential should be reflected at festivals, and I hope these special events can become places that embody that.

FR: ROUTE 17 Rock’n’Roll ORCHESTRA（以下：ROUTE 17）の出演は初めてではないですよね？

Gotoh: 2回目ですね。1回目は、覆面バンドみたいな感じで出たので。今日とはちょっとキャラクターが違うというか。

FR: 毎年ちょっと違う雰囲気があるのが、ROUTE 17 Rock’n’Roll ORCHESTRAですよね。

Gotoh: 毎年ROUTE 17にはテーマがあって。

FR: 今年のテーマはなんだったんですか？

Gotoh: 池畑さん（ドラマー）と話したのは、僕のルーツにあるような楽曲を演奏したらいいんじゃないかという話で 。学生とか子供の頃に好きだった音楽をここでもう1回演奏するみたいな。

Gotoh: 今回選んだThe Whoとジョン・レノンは僕から提案しました。でも、日本人が欧米のロックを日本のフェスで演奏する意味っていうのは、ちょっと考えなきゃいけないなと思って。だから、 イマジンを日本語でやったのも、自分たちの言葉でやらなきゃいけないなって気持ちがあったからなんです。

Gotoh: メッセージを、ちゃんと自分が歌う2曲の中で作らなきゃいけないなと思ったから。 最初の曲は、My Generation。僕たちの世代、何をすべきかと考えて、 真っ先にパレスチナが浮かんだんです。もうこれは絶対に終わらせなきゃいけない。だから、プラカードを友達のアトリエで作って、持ってきて掲げて。

Gotoh: 何ができるかっていうのはすごく難しいけれど、でも、こうやって アジアの一番東のフェスで、僕らがガザの人たちと共に立っているみたいな、 今行われている暴力をちゃんと見てるよ、ちゃんと問題だと思ってるよっていう意思を世界に発信することはすごく意味があると思う。いろいろな場所で連帯していく必要があるし、そうやって、ジェネレーション的な繋がりを持つと、本当に力を持つというか。 もしかしたら、このひどい暴力が止められるかもしれない。そして、止めたいという気持ちがあるというか。

FR：アジカンは、他の日本のバンドより海外に向いている印象があります。海外の人気もあるし。そして、このような考え方って 海外のマインドだからか、伝えにくいけど、ちょっとわかります。

Gotoh:　でもね、やっぱり音楽を始めるにあたって、ジョン・レノンだったり、パティ・スミスだったり、 音楽と社会を切り離さないで、メッセージが音楽になって、 生き方が音楽になっている、アートとライフが切り離されていない表現者たちに憧れてきたから。洋楽だからとか、日本だからとかって全然関係ないと思う。アジアにも同じことを思ってやってる人たちはたくさんいるし。

FR:　 例えば来年、再来年とか、自分がROUTE 17 のライナップを決めることができたら、誰を選びますか？

Gotoh:　僕はROUTE 17の演奏でもっと若いバンドが歌ったらいいと思うから、例えばVaundyとか、King Gnuとか。ああいう若いバンドたちが自分たちのルーツの音楽を演奏して、 ちゃんと融合して、日本の素敵なロックのツリーが見せられたら最高なんじゃないかなと思います。

FR:　ニューレジェンドとオールドレジェンドの繋がり。

Gotoh: ROUTE 17もそうだけど、フジロックは日本だけじゃなくて、海外のバンドも入るからもっとグローバルコミュニティな感じになる。韓国のHYUKOHとか、台湾の落日飛車とか。アジアにもすごいかっこいいバンドがいるから。そういう人たちと交流しながら、 同じマインドとかソウルとかシェアできたらすごいいいなって思います。

Gotoh: 音楽って多分、実はボーダーっていうのがフィクションだってことを 認識するためにある気がするというか。ほんとに簡単に俺たちって音楽で分かり合えるし、同じビートで体をゆすれるし、でもこれって可能性だから、 それをフェスっていうのは体現していってほしいし、そういう場になっていってほしいという気持ちがありますね。

PHOTO BY宮田遼