03 : Interview with Tomoyuki Tanaka Motivation in the name of greed returned after the Corona disaster.
PROFILE
Under the name "The Fantastic Plastic Machine" (FPM), he has produced and remixed many artists in addition to his original works, and has played in Japan and abroad as a DJ. He was the musical director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. He is also known as a collector and enthusiast of vintage clothing.
Instagram: @tomoyukitanaka
What will you be introducing this time?
Tanaka:. a vintage bag, vest, and bench warmer coat. The bag and vest were picked up just yesterday in Nagoya , Japan. The coat was also bought in Numazu in October or so, so it really is a reward for a recent purchase.
Is this a military bag?
Tanaka:Yes . I think it is a special bag to put some kind of machine in. . It has an opening in the bottom for wiring. I happened to find it at a store and bought it because I tried it on my shoulder and it was the right size.
This shoulder bag was purchased at a vintage store called "mitsuru" in Nagoya. The bag has a military look, of course, but its exquisite size, which is neither too big nor too small, struck a chord with Mr. Tanaka.
The store owner didn't know what it was made for?
Tanaka:He said he had never seen it before. My guess is that it is from the first half of WWII or even earlier. The parts are from the U.S. Army. When I see a military bag that I have never seen before, I am tempted to buy it. I also have a case for carrying a cannon. Since these bags are special, they are produced in small numbers and in limited condition, so they are hard to find on the market. I thought this bag would also be good as a camera bag for holding lenses and cameras, and it was also perfect for holding headphones and USB devices when DJing, so I thought, "This is great," and bought it (laughs).
. Then, you also bought this vest at the same store, didn't you?
Tanaka:. I think there is a pattern in vintage clothing, where you find something you've been looking for forever and something totally unexpected. In that sense, this vest is the former. I was looking for something in good condition and in my size. It's from a brand called "Blue Bill," probably from the 1950s or so. . And it has a price tag on the string, so it is probably dead stock.
This is also a hunting vest from a brand called "Blue Bill" that he got at "mitsuru" in Nagoya. Mr. Tanaka says he really wanted a large size, but "I could just barely wear a medium.
And here is the coat.
Tanaka:This one is of the meet-and-greet type. It is a coat worn by athletes on the bench and is a 40's item in my opinion. If you look closely, the herringbone pattern is vertical on the shoulders and horizontal below that . . The fabric itself is bonded and the back side is brushed.
There was an Indian motif printed on the back, and I doubted for a moment that it was current because it was in such good condition, but the owner said it was from that time period. . when I looked it up, it was an American high school sports team. Items like this often use lobster hooks on the front, but this one has snap buttons, which is unusual.
I like coats and jackets that can be thrown on with a bang, and this one has more presence than most I've seen so far.
. obtained at "JOUJOUKA" in Numazu, Japan. This coat has an unusual pattern, with the shoulder area and the body separated, instead of set-in sleeves. . The shape is beautiful, and the silhouette is so modern that it is hard to believe it is vintage.
Due to the nature of vintage clothing, do you feel more like "going to look for" rather than "going to buy" a prize?
Tanaka:Yes, I do. I think it is very fortunate to find an item that you like. . It is not something that you can always get just because you have accomplished a big job. . It's hard to recognize it as a reward, though, because the first thing you have to do is to meet the person you are meeting (laughs).
However, I haven't been able to go to the thrift store much because of my corona disaster for the past few years. I had a big job, but I didn't have the time or the space in my mind to do so, and my mood wasn't that high. After all, shopping is fun when you are in a good mood, isn't it? So, going shopping itself is a reward for me.
And to get good secondhand clothes, you need a kind of divine power, a "pull," or you won't find anything good. It is a kind of "pull" that brings you to the right place. In this sense, too, it is important to have a good feeling.
Is that why you are in such a good mood this year?
Tanaka:Yes, that's right. I bought quite a bit this year, like I've had enough (laughs). . I think shopping is a creative activity for me, and I am motivated by my desire to buy things. I think shopping is a creative activity, and my motivation, in the name of greed, has returned.
. In the meantime, I was able to get what I was aiming for this year, and it was a nice reward.
Tanaka:As I mentioned before, feelings are important, but when I want something, I search everywhere in the store. For example, when it comes to pants, if you are looking for this model, this age, and in good condition, you have to go through many piles of pants in the store and search hard, even though you may not be able to find what you are looking for. If you don't have the desire, you may not be able to find what you are looking for even after 10 years. So you have to keep hoping and searching for what you want.
. I guess it takes a lot of motivation and perseverance, doesn't it?
Tanaka:Yes, it is. The desire for something is important. That was fading at Corona, but it is finally coming back. I'm still happy when I get something unique, and I rather like to discourage the stranger than the one that everyone wants. . so I'm happy when I come across a piece that no one has seen before. Even if it is an expensive item, I think it is also a pleasure to be able to indulge in the self-satisfaction of thinking, "I must be the only one who buys this kind of thing" (laughs).
. So it is a reward that includes such feelings.
Tanaka:A reward is a really great excuse (laughs).
. Lastly, what kind of year was it for you this year, and what kind of year do you want next year to be?
Tanaka:This year was a year in which I was able to take on new challenges, such as being a visiting professor at a university and helping out in the food industry.
Musically, I have more time to work on my music than before, and I have been able to try many different things. It takes a lot of time and effort to turn zero into one, but this year I was able to do it. As an artist, I am very happy to have been able to do that this year. I was able to create something that I am satisfied with, and I would like to output it in 2023. Music is entering an era in which it is very difficult to monetize, so I would like to take my time and think about how to do that.
Normally, I would earn money from the sale of the music, and I would buy expensive vintages, but I have decided to skip that and just buy the music because it is so good (laughs).
. I hope we can recoup that amount in 2023 (laughs).
Tanaka:That's right (laughs). But I think I will go around to the thrift stores I like next year with the excuse of turning the economy around, and if I find something good, I will buy it again. If you interview me again next year, I'm sure I'll have more new material (laughs).
