KITARO is one of the international musicians Japan ever produced. He lives in California, USA now. Sometimes he seems to come back to Japan for concerts and recordings.
KITARO’s name is known to Japanese music fans. Yet, if compared to the USA or other countries, KITARO might be less popular in Japan. He nominated as Grammy award many times, and actually got Grammy award when he composed the songs for Oliver Stone’s Movie, Heaven and Earth.
Kitaro gave many concerts over America and made great success each time.
Kitaro is certainly known in Japan and his music is used in commercial films or TV program theme music. Most of Japanese are sure to have ever heard his music somewhere without knowing. The biggest hit in Japan is, I think, Silk Road. This was made forJapan’s National TV station’s program, Silk Road. This was his first success in Japan.
After that, Kitaro kept on making his records, but not big hits. The next breakthrough he made was in the USA with the new contract with Geffin Records.
I think he has great talent. At the same time, he had luck. If he didn’t got the luck to connect to the USA music market, his success has not been so big enough in spite that he could produce fantastic music.
When Kitaro started Synthesizer music, Japanese music industry was not matured. Cash chance for the record companies in Japan then was idols’ records. Smiling pretty face topped anything. Singing talent was not more important than the idol faces. Fans followed the idols, rather than good music. Records were made for the idols.
Under that circumstance, I think it was really natural Kitaro chose America for his next music place. It’s certain that now Japanese people have still better music mind than when Kitaro played in Japan. But still not enough for real musicians.
As known now, Ryuichi Sakamoto, also chose the USA for his play ground. Probably he was also right with the same reason as Kitaro’s. Otherwise, he had to form another Yellow Magic Orchestra for money. Joe Hisaishi is still playing in Japan but his case is rare, he found the best co-workers like Hayao Miyazaki or Takeshi Kitano. Joe worked in movie music, and Japanese movies or animation works began getting world wide popularity when Joe Hisaishi started.
Many of the talented musicians more or less work overseas. It still shows the Japanese music fan’s standard. Japan started producing international rock bands recently as Japanese POP culture gets focused in the world. It may be a new chance for Japanese music fans to step up as they start to think on the world standard.
Silk Road is still masterpiece for me. It still moves me. When I listen to Silk Road of Kitaro, a certain image of Kitaro comes up in my mind. It’s the scene Kitaro walks on the long long road to unknown destination.
I think it’s Kitaro’s Silk Road he has been walking on.
