[ENGLISH TRANSLATION] MIYAVI × HIGHFLYERS Vol.4 INTERVIEW 2018

 

One cannot realize dreams that have not been dreamt of. Those who have passion and

determination, are generous and know the joy of sharing with others are those who will achieve

success.

For our final interview with MIYAVI, we are pleased to have him share his view regarding his

extensive activities around the world, his learning method for studying a foreign language, the

difference between Japan and the rest of the world, and also on the things that he finds necessary

today. MIYAVI, as a UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) ambassador, was able to experience being in close contact with children living in refugee camps. These experiences and the fact that he is a father of two daughters has made it clearer to him on how important it is to teach foreign languages and ethics as a means to create a future without conflict. We also got to hear

about his opportunity to reflect on various things, his successes, the people he believes to be the

most successful, and also on the dreams that he wishes to realize from now on.

 

Education is the most important thing to have next to life essentials. Japan needs more education

on foreign languages and ethics. Wishing for Japanese to go outside and taste the different flavors

and cultures of other countries.

 

What would you say is the most important thing for you as a guitarist?

Being one with the guitar. That’s where all my performances begin from.

Do you feel that the amount attachment between you and your guitar changes subtly by

the day?

The attachment that I feel is usually about the same though there was a time when I did feel like we weren’t one (laughs). I can’t remember though. Speaking of “becoming one with the guitar”, it was probably around the time when I first met BOBO, changed labels to EMI and released “WHAT’S MY NAME” (released in 2010), that I truly became so. Of course, as I’ve still got some ways to go with the guitar and also with my language studies, I’m always practicing every day.

 

Your English is very proficient that you sound like a native speaker and this is despite having started your activities overseas only after becoming an adult. How long did you practice your English for?

I really studied a lot (laughs). I went to America for 3 months when I was 25 and while I was there, I made sure to not hang out with Japanese people at all. Other than that, I made friends who are native speakers. In the end, be it with the guitar, soccer and also language studies, it all comes down to how much passion I am willing to put into it.

 

You are currently active in both Japan and overseas. What would you say is the biggest

difference between Japan and the rest of the world?

Even though you say “overseas”, it includes a lot of different countries. Mainly, the saying that “Japan is the best!” is not something that can be said when one has only ever been in Japan. I believe that one can only truly say for the first time, “Japan is nice” once they have really set out into the world and experienced the different flavors and cultures of other countries. We Japanese are living the peaceful life in a safe and rich country where everything is basically in order with trivial kinds of things becoming news (laughs). Therefore, we shouldn’t only be critical, we should also be thankful towards those who built this country, particularly our ancestors and also those who are working hard on the front lines.

 

What do you think of Japanese people nowadays?

I believe that we should raise the quality of our basic education. After being introduced by Angie(Angelina Jolie), I am now working with the people of UNHCR, an organization known as the High Commissioner for Refugees under the United Nations. Presently, for the people in refugee camps living in life or death conditions, the most important things for them are essentials such as food, water, medical care and sanitary conditions. Despite their circumstances, they still see education as the next most important thing after these life essentials. In Lebanon and Thailand,

the children in refugee camps are provided with education on philosophy and morals. This not only serves as an investment for their future but can also help as a deterrent for future conflicts.

Although it’s the same in Japan, Japan isn’t exactly ingrained with religious beliefs. Putting aside knowing what is right or wrong, I don’t believe that young people today have enough education on what is appropriate in forming their foundation as a person. Other than that, I also think there’s not enough education in foreign language studies. I definitely think that it’ll be better to increase education on both foreign languages and ethics.

 

Have you ever had thoughts like “If only the world was more like this”?

I’d, without a doubt, like the world to be a place without conflict. I’d like for it to definitely not be right to go to war for the sake of money and for that money to not hold the biggest value in a person’s life. I believe that this is all connected to education. It might probably be because there aren’t much opportunities to teach the values of what makes for a “decent life”. This is our

obligation as adults and for that reason, I feel that we should raise the salaries of educators. It’s not about paying them for the amount of effort they’ve put in in the difficult job of forming a person’s character. It’s a matter on a whole other level in the sense that these children will be the ones to build their countries’ future. For me, education is the most important form of creation. It is after all, what we would be teaching our totally pure children. If we teach them that it’s okay to kill another person, it’s only normal that things will become that way. It’s important that we teach them firsthand the definition of living a happy life even without having anything. If we don’t do so, we will never become happy no matter how much time have passed.

 

 You have two daughters. What is the most important thing when it comes to raising them?

That’d be communication. We really talk a lot. Children are always watching us and they feel

more than what their parents believe they do. It’s just that their vocabulary is still limited when it comes to expressing their feelings. That’s where we have to try to see from their perspective and listen to what they’re saying. It’s also important to properly explain everything to them. If we neglect that part, some issues will definitely arise somewhere.

 

You’re a great dad, aren’t you?

The time that I can spend with them is actually quite limited so I really treasure my time with

them. There are a lot of ways to raise children and I find fathers who come back home at regular hours and take baths with their children every day really amazing. Despite that, I’m really happy that I’m able to show my children the things that I do for work. They come to my live shows and I get to have them listen to my work. I’m really happy that I get to show them that their father makes a living by doing these things for the family’s sake and that their father is working

towards making the world a better place.

 

Well then, what do you believe is important in making one’s dream a reality?

Having dreams. If you don’t have dreams, you won’t be able to turn them into reality. You’d

have to have an intense desire to make them a reality and carry them out.

 

Then, what would you call a chance? And what should one do in order to not miss that

 

chance?

Chances are just chances. Although this is corny to say, in order to not miss a chance, one should habitually be prepared for it.

 

What is the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful person?

Whether or not one can in the end, stay generous. It’s something that I’m also trying to learn. I believe that the results of being able to share your happiness with others and combining this with passion and determination, will surely take shape in various manners. And while short-term

successes are probably something that everyone can acquire right away, for me, the true meaning of success is, more than anything, being able to stay generous, even in spirit.

 

In your opinion, who is the most successful person to you?

That’d be Grandpa and Grandma. They’ve already passed away but even though they were not well-off, they were very loving towards each other and laughed a lot until the end. I think it’s an ideal way of life and is the best. No matter how rich they became or famous they became, even while suffering and having people around them taking their own lives, they continued living their lives while leaving the rest to God’s will. It’s just ideal.

 

What is “success” to you?

Being able to ignite every passing second and well, being able to die with a smile on my face.

 

Lastly, please tell us if you have any dreams that you haven’t fulfilled yet. Also, when do

 

you think that you would be able to fulfill them?

Unfulfilled dreams… That’d be to have a world that is truly free of conflicts. But well, where

there is night, there is day; there are men and there are women; and where there is light, there is darkness. Sometimes when I ponder on it from that point of view, there are honestly some parts of me that are unsure on whether or not the day will come when conflicts will truly disappear. Even so, I wish that when I’m playing my guitar, I would be able to stop the fighting among the people around the world, even it’s only for a second, and also to be able to create a moment where they would be able to feel peace. In that sense, at least when I’m playing the guitar, the people in front of me are not in conflict with each other. I hope to deliver that to the people of the world and I’ll try to make it a reality until the day I die.

You’ll definitely be able to fulfill them.

I’ll work hard.