Galileo Galilei Interview

Galileo Galilei is a four-piece rock band hailing from Hokkaido that began its career in 2008. Their very first song, Kanseitou, was adapted into a movie of the same name and debuted internationally at film festivals in the United States and the United Kingdom this year. The band recently released a new single titled Sayonara Frontier and are in the midst of recording for the next release.


Can you please tell us how the band was founded?

Hitoshi Sakou: Our vocalist and guitarist Yuuki had been playing the guitar since he was young, and he invited me, who was a childhood friend of him, and another friend to the band. I was invited as a bassist and the other was for guitar. Plus, Yuuki invited his younger brother, Kazuki, as the drummer. This is how the band was formed originally. Then, the guitarist quit and we invited Fumito Iwai, who used to play in a different band, as the new guitarist.

Why did you choose the name “Galileo Galilei”? How does it relate to the band?

Hitoshi Sakou: We hadn’t really decided the band name until we applied for the Senkou Riot audition festival. But, to apply for the festival, we needed a name – so we came up with several names and chose the one by lot. At that time, there happened to be a textbook in our room which mentioned “Galileo Galilei,” and we picked up that name without much thinking… And, so it was picked. (laughs)

In 2008, you performed at a teenage music event called Senkou Riot, which was essentially the start of your career. When you performed at this event, what were your expectations? Did you think you would become famous nationwide in Japan?

Hitoshi Sakou: During the event, we never thought that we could be the finalist or even win the audition. So, we didn’t really have any kind of expectations… We just did what we had been doing. Now it’s very surprising to us that our name has been known nationwide, and of course, we didn’t imagine this while we were performing at the event!

In the past three years, Galileo Galilei rose to fame very fast. How can you sum up the past three years?

Hitoshi Sakou: It were three very “dense” years with lots of learning. We learnt a lot about how to professionally manage the band for a year since we moved to Tokyo to prepare for our major label debut. And, from this spring, we moved back to Sapporo and now we are learning about the music itself – our own music style.

With your ages being between 18 and 21, you are all rather young. What were some of the reactions you received from the people around you when you decided to focus on a music career instead of going to college? Did you receive positive reactions?

Hitoshi Sakou: There were not really any “pro” or “con” reactions. We are young, but everyone around us just let us do whatever we want to do.

Yuuki and Kazuki are brothers. Would you say it is different to be in a band with two brothers? Do they ever have any arguments?

Hitoshi Sakou: Yeah, they have quarrels so often (laughs). But it’s not really like a serious argument on their opinion about music… it’s more like all-too-common fights between the brothers, such as, the older one forces the younger one to do a chore, and the younger one kicks against it. (laughs)

How did the opportunity to turn the song Kanseitou into a movie arise?

Hitoshi Sakou: Director Takahiro Miki came to our gig and he liked the song Kanseitou, which is the first song we wrote. Then, we received an offer to make a movie out of this song. We felt honored.

We understand the movie is not focused on the lyrics of Kanseitou but rather on the band’s history. Can you explain which elements of your past have been used?

Hitoshi Sakou: It actually does relate to the lyrics, too. But the lyrics are written based on our past feelings and experience… So, in a sense, it would also relate to our history. Before going into production, director Miki had a conversation with us, and we talked about the places we used to go to in Wakkanai, for example, the road to our school, the park nearby, and other places with good atmosphere etc. When we saw those places in the movie, they looked beautiful and dreamy, and we even felt like we had never been to the places before.

What were your first reactions after watching the movie?

Hitoshi Sakou: We thought that the scenery of Wakkani and the atmosphere of the film matched surprisingly well. The movie mentioned Galileo Galilei in a very subtle, hidden way, and we felt director Miki’s playful mind.

Seeing as your movie has debuted overseas in the United States and the United Kingdom at film festivals, does Galileo Galilei also intend to debut overseas as a band?

Hitoshi Sakou: Yes, conductng overseas activities is always the dream of musicians, and we hope we can do it in the near future. But we also want to brush ourselves up as a professional for a little while more… And we want to go overseas full of confidence!

If you had the opportunity to play anywhere in the world, which country/countries would you choose?

Hitoshi Sakou: England, definitely!

How do you usually compose your songs? Which of the band members write the songs, and do you have any protocols you follow?

Hitoshi Sakou: We originally created songs through studio sessions, or, Yuuki would create a demo and the band developed it while actually playing together. However, we recently started trying a new style, which involves two members partnering up and creating a demo together. Then, other members join the discussion to finalize the song based on the demo.

You recently released the single Sayonara Frontier. Can you tell us what the title track is about, and what inspired you to write it?

Hitoshi Sakou: We had a demo in the very beginning stage with half-written lyrics, and at that point, we received an offer of writing a song for the drama “Arakawa Under the Bridge.” We thought it would match well with the atmosphere of “Arakawa Under the Bridge,” and decided to make a song out of the demo.

The cover of the single is a little bit unusual, featuring an owl which has clocks for eyes. Why did you choose this cover and what is the meaning of it?

Hitoshi Sakou: We wanted to make the cover which makes people think “Why did they choose this design?” A strong impression is important. (laughs)

Galileo Galilei was a physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. If all band members would have to choose one of these professions, which would suit you best?

Hitoshi Sakou: I think “physicist” would apply to me.
Just by guessing.

You all grew up in the city Wakkanai, Hokkaido. For any fans visiting this area, do you have any sight-seeing recommendations?

Hitoshi Sakou: We recommend Soya Misaki. This is the northernmost point of the island of Hokkaido, and is very windy and cold! You should experience it some day!

What are your plans for Galileo Galilei’s future, both short-term and long-term?

Hitoshi Sakou: We are now recording for the next release. I hope we can deliver it to you soon. Long-term goal is… Well, to do a gig abroad!

Lastly, please give a message to the overseas readers.

Hitoshi Sakou: And, hopefully, we can see you all when we realize the overseas gig in the future. See you then.


JaME would like to thank Tom Smith of Twisted PR and Sony Music Japan for making this interview possible.