Interview with KOHEI at Anime Messe Babelsberg 2023

This year, singer-songwriter KOHEI was invited as a musical guest of honor for German convention Anime Messe Babelsberg for the second time. On this occasion, he brought his two new singles, Danshari and Vision, for his fans and impressed the audience during his concerts at the open-air and main stages. Right after his performance at the opening ceremony of Anime Messe Babelsberg 2023, KOHEI took some time to answer JaME Germany's questions about his experiences, his numerous appearances at conventions and his work as a musician.

Hello KOHEI! Since this is your first interview with JaME, please introduce yourself.

KOHEI: Thanks for having me. I’m singer-songwriter KOHEI. At first, I was in a Japanese band, but four years ago I quit. That’s when I moved to Switzerland. There, I started my career as a singer-songwriter, singing my own Japanese songs.

It is your second time at Anime Messe Babelsberg and your fourth time performing in Germany. What were you expecting when you first came to Germany and Anime Messe last year? And what were your expectations this time?

KOHEI: Coming here for the second time, things were going a lot smoother for me. Last time, I was pretty overwhelmed, like "Wow, Berlin! Babelsberg! Amazing!" (laughs) I was pretty nervous. But this time, I was a bit more calm, because I could already see all kinds of things. Also, I was able concentrate on my performance a lot better this time.

Looking back on last year and this year, you had the chance to perform at conventions all over Europe and even in Egypt. What makes these performances special? How do you feel being on stage there?

KOHEI: All these conventions in various countries each have their own character and are, in fact, very different. But wherever I go for a convention, there are things which are always the same. Everywhere, people are so emotional and full of energy, it's gorgeous. Also, everyone loves manga and anime so much and the atmosphere is so free and amazing. I am always very happy to be there. That's actually why I really like festivals like anime conventions: I always feel peaceful there. It's like there are no borders or barriers in this culture, globally. It's absolutely the best.

You've lived in Switzerland for a while now. What is it like living and working there as an artist? Are there situations when you miss Japan?

KOHEI: Of course I'm longing for Japan, as it is my home country. The thing I miss the most is Japanese food. I really want to eat it everyday! (laughs) That's why I asked my family, who are living in Japan, to send me some food. Especially miso soup, cause I love it so much. (laughs) But since last year my first child was born and I have my own family here, rather than missing Japan and dwelling on this feeling, I try to adapt to living in Switzerland more. Even though Swiss and Japanese culture are so different, I really like it here.

You released your new single Vision in February this year. Please tell us more about this song and its meaning.

KOHEI: The meaning behind my song Vision is to "chase a dream you once gave up". Speaking about myself, I was wondering why I gave up one or another dream in the past, music-wise and also others. But deep within, I was still longing for this dream to come true. So I tried to slowly pick it up again. On the way I realized that there are many experiences that eventually turned into treasures for me. So this time, I really want to walk slowly towards my dream again and treasure the things I experience along the way. Also, I want to encourage others to pause and look back on the dreams they once gave up and to try to chase them once more.


What is it like being a "do it yourself" artist and doing everything from writing lyrics to arranging and producing by yourself?

KOHEI: As a singer-songwriter, naturally I am doing everything myself, from composing to recording. And even though it's quite hard, it also gives me a lot of artistic freedom. I can control everything on my own and do it in my own style as a musician. So that's why it's also very interesting. Actually I love instruments a lot and I like to incorporate them in my songs. Because of this, creating an album and recording takes a lot of time, but it's incredibly fun for me to create songs and music in general. I think, being a singer-songwriter is a great job and I love it. The main thing is to have fun and do it at your own pace, that would be my message. Maybe I'm a total "at my own pace" person. (laughs) But that's really important, not comparing yourself to others and not to rush.

By the way, how many instruments do you play yourself?

KOHEI: Oh, I can play the drums, piano, bass, guitar, and of course, I sing. I guess, that's it, mainly.

Sounds like you can do a lot!

KOHEI: It does, right? (laughs) That may be the case, but many artists can actually do that.

Speaking about other artists, you also work with many international artists like musicians, photographers and designers to realize your musical works. What is that like and what advantages do you think these collaborations bring?

KOHEI: There is a lot I can do myself, especially music-wise. But of course I cannot do everything. Therefore, it's great to have experts for photography and design by my side and occasionally work with other musicians. Actually, one advantage is also the costs. (laughs) The most amazing thing is inspiration, though. For example, if I have a designer from the Philippines, a Swiss photographer and another designer from Indonesia, there are people from many different countries working together. They all come from different cultures, so there might be input from those cultural backgrounds as well. Communicating and working with people from many different countries is definitely a huge inspiration and a lot of fun to do.

You released your latest album No Regrets in 2021. What is the general theme of the songs on this work?

KOHEI: All of the songs are based on my own experiences. For example, if there are problems with the administration of a country, for example, regarding residential permits, then I also process all those experiences and feelings in a song. So, all my songs are based on facts and my personal experiences.

Can fans expect a new album soon? What are your future plans?

KOHEI: Honestly, I have only a little time to create music right now. Because I have a little kid, I absolutely want to spend a lot of time with my family. That is my top priority right now. Besides that, I will also try to create new songs. Like I said earlier, I will go on at my own pace, one step at a time. But of course I will do my best to bring you a new release as soon as possible!

Since this is an anime convention, what is your favorite anime or manga series? Are there any all-time-favorites or series you recently discovered?

KOHEI: My all-time favorite series is "Slam Dunk". Do you know it? It's a series about basketball. I love it! As a kid, I really loved music and basketball and in that time, I absolutely adored this manga. Also, my father was a "Slam Dunk" fan himself and insisted that I should absolutely read the manga series. That's why I started reading it and came to like it so much. Concerning recent anime and manga series, it's so hard to choose one! I like "My Hero Academia" and "Naruto" - though this is a bit older already, isn't it? My favorite character of "My Hero Academia" is probably All Might (laughs).

Thank you so much for the interview! Do you have anything you'd like to tell your international fans?

KOHEI: I really did my best work on a new album and I'll be releasing it soon, so please look forward to it. (laughs) I hope to have the opportunity to play concerts in many different countries from now on, too. I hope we can meet there, I'm already looking forward to that day. Also, if you came to like Japanese and start learning the language, I wish all of you the best of luck!

JaME would like to thank KOHEI, Anime Messe Babelsberg (especially main organizer Michael Klement) and Tuan for making this interview possible.

If you want to listen to KOHEI's songs, check out his Spotify account or his YouTube channel and follow him on Instagram or Facebook.

KOHEI's new single Danshari can be streamed below: