#(I can’t process lyrics. this all depends on when the lyric transcription is released I might interpret it a whole different direction then)

[whatareyoudoingwithamaserati]

GODMODE album has been out for 33 slutty slutty minutes as of writing this and it is already shaping up to become one of my favourites. I haven’t even gotten to the ice nine kills collaboration track yet (once I do it will all be over I will be dead and dead and dying my two favourite bands on one song is too much)

[mashalocked-blog]

[Translation] Talking FM - 18 Nov 2017

It’s the Tomoe Gakuen special! I finally subbed and timed something, so I’m pretty proud of myself... it’s really time-consuming though. Credits to elegantias on Facebook for their Chinese translations!

LINK TO SUBTITLES (.SRT FILE)

~

The full transcript follows:

I'm honoured to be directly invited by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi to compose, arrange, and write lyrics. It was a harder process than my normal process of writing songs. I did it over again because I wasn't satisfied. At first, I thought it was the last version, but I took another month to edit it. This song was the theme song for a drama, but even after a short part was played on TV, I still continued to edit it. This song is the theme song for Asahi's new noontime drama, Totto-chan. This is my last song for this year, 'Tomoe Gakuen'. It's the first time in the universe! It will be broadcasted!!!

Good afternoon! I'm Fukuyama Masaharu, the new song in your heart. This song was released 18 years ago, it's Fukuyama Masaharu's 'Heaven'.

It's 18 November 2017, 2pm on a Saturday. So, it's been 18 years since 'Heaven' was released. The me 18 years ago would never be able to imagine the me 18 years later. Today is the day of the first broadcast of 'Tomoe Gakuen', and before I played this song, I played 'Heaven'. Once again, I discovered that I have a lot of flexibility to challenge different song genres. I don't place a limit on my own style. In fact, I enjoy mixing different genres together. How does one person mix various genres? It depends on his level of creativity and how he accepts and understands these different styles. 'Heaven' originated from 'Buena Vista Social Club'. It's a famous Cuban song. I think he's a blues guitarist in the US? It's a band that Ry Cooder founded. When I went to Mexico to film, I visited Latin America and got inspired by their music. After I understood it, I wrote my own type of Latin music. 18 years after that song, how did I start to write 'Tomoe Gakuen'? This is the 'Tomoe Gakuen' special on this week's Fuku no Radio!

18 November, the first broadcast date of 'Tomoe Gakuen', the last new song of this year. After listening, do share your thoughts on social media! I rushed to edit the lyrics until recently, why did I have to constantly edit it? I kept thinking, how did this song resonate with me as a person? I couldn't make up my mind. I've said this before, the song I recently released, 'Sanctuary', is written for the main character in 'Leather Notebook'. Motoko Haraguchi, played by Emi Takei, is an imaginary character, so I was able to imagine her image and adjust my attitude to suit it. Because she is not a real person, on a certain level, I can imagine and explain with my own thoughts and opinions, thus writing the lyrics with certainty. But this time, 'Totto-chan' is the real story of Tetsuko, and she's still active onscreen now. It's difficult for my own thoughts to match with Tetsuko, a person who really exists. It's difficult to resonate with someone else's thoughts, and judge what Tetsuko will do or think. Even if I've decided how to write the lyrics, if it doesn't reflect reality, I can't say that this song has been completed. When I wrote the lyrics, I kept in mind what I thought Tetsuko would do, what I hoped she would be, and how I wanted to be someone like her. That's how I completed it. Enough talking, let's play the song first!

There are several key words in this song, but what I want listeners to notice most is the word 'freedom', the last line in the lyrics, 'Look, I'm very happy and free now'. Although Tetsuko has never said this before, but I feel this way when I look at her. Of course, I'm not clear whether she's really happy since it's her choice. But when I was writing the song, I thought 'freedom' was a very important point. Before grade 2, Tetsuko studied at Tomoe Gakuen, an elementary school at Jiyugaoka, where the headmaster, Kobayashi, brought in eurythmics as a teaching method. The predecessor of Tomoe Gakuen was Liberal Hill Academy, which was built during the Taisho period liberal education movement. This school was not only built in Tokyo, but all over Japan as well. 'Liberal education' is very different from modern Japanese education. Their concept of education focuses a lot on the individual, and it hopes to cultivate people with great tolerance. Goo.gle teacher says that the nearby subway station changed its name to Jiyugaoka due to the creation of the school. The headmaster made a huge impact on Tetsuko in Tomoe Gakuen, after it was built. So if I want to write about Tetsuko and Tomoe Gakuen, I have to mention Sosaku Kobayashi's teaching ideals. Afterwards, when I thought deeply while writing the song, I finally found the main point. Originally, I wanted to write about Tetsuko herself, and I thought it was a difficult task. So what should I write? Finally, I thought of writing about Tetsuko from my viewpoint. The finalised topic became, "What makes people feel happy and free?" What is freedom? Why do I feel that Tetsuko always gives off this feeling of freedom? It's because of Tomoe Gakuen, because of its education policy. Where did Tomoe Gakuen's education policy come from? It was from Kobayashi himself. I thought this song was a difficult one to write, until I finally arrived at the question, "Fukuyama, what is freedom to you?" After becoming an adult, asking myself "what freedom is" can be a very hard question. But if I cannot think of what freedom means to me, if I cannot write about what my freedom is, I can't complete this song nor can I understand Kobayashi's education policy. Midway through the song, there is a line that asks what freedom is - it means to accept differences. Kobayashi seems to persist in affirming each student. Even if every student is different, that's alright, in fact it's even better. I think that acknowledging our differences and accepting them is freedom. In elementary school, Tetsuko was forced to quit school because she was seen as an atrocious student. Actually, I don't really know the extent of it, she just said that the elementary school told her, "We won't accept students like you!" and then she moved to Tomoe Gakuen. After she enrolled in Tomoe Gakuen, she met Kobayashi and he told her, "You're actually a good student." Because of his belief in her, she was able to establish her existence.

So that's freedom. When I started writing Tomoe Gakuen, I was encouraged by myself when I wrote, "what is freedom?". Imanami hasn't made a sound, what are you doing? What the hell? You're crying the moment you open your mouth? I: Once I talk, I'll cry... Your reaction is so supportive. You have to say something. I: I'm really going to cry... Hahaha, look over here.

The last thing I wrote about was Kobayashi's teaching method. With Tetsuko's direct invitation to write this song, it felt like an exam question from both Tetsuko and Kobayashi, asking me, "To you, what is freedom?" This is also what made Tetsuko who she is now, a person who has been entertaining audiences for a long time. I think only Tetsuko and Tamori are able to talk to so many different people. Every guest that goes on the show is very different, and what the guests understand, what they'll say, how to talk to them, how to express it, it all differs from person to person. But these two people are able to do all that, and even make it entertaining for audiences. To do that, they have to be able to constantly accept everyone's personality and understand them. I think this is what I learnt from Kobayashi's teaching. Imanami, how do you feel about this? I: The lyrics doesn't mention Tomoe Gakuen's name, but it's clear to the listener that this is Tetsuko's story. I: Yet all children, including my own childhood and all the children now, they probably have the same feeling, and they have their own Kobayashi that belongs to them. I: So...sorry. Thank you for your reaction, it's the best reaction and the best thoughts, thank you Imanami. I: When I was young, I never thought about what freedom was. I: But now that I think of it, many people created freedom for me, that's why I became an adult who possesses freedom. I: Just like what Fukuyama said, to think of what freedom is now is actually quite hard. Tetsuko has gone through a lot in life and seen so much, and she's given the audience so much information. She's even started using Instagram, I think Tetsuko lives with a free heart everyday. Music-wise - sorry about the sudden change in topic - I used the string quartet. Tetsuko's father is a violinist, and earlier on I went to watch Tetsuko's musical, called 'Quartet of Memories'. She really likes the performance style of string quartets, so when I wrote Tomoe Gakuen, I suggested using the quartet. The string quartet is accompanied by classical guitar, played by me. I wanted to be a part of her longing for her father. The people who appear in this song are more than the usual, since it includes the teacher and friends, her parents, and Tetsuko's own memories. The timeline goes back and forth. Initially it starts in the modern period, from Tetsuko's memories. Then, it moves on to the children in Tomoe Gakuen and herself. Finally, it returns to who she is now. "Look, I'm happy now" affirms her own differences and her own self. To humans, it's difficult to be affirm oneself. To be able to acknowledge that the me now is happy is a life I yearn for too, but I don't think I can do it. I think Tetsuko is this kind of person, which is why she's able to make other people happy too. I've said a lot in this special episode on 'Tomoe Gakuen'. Have I said too much? But these words have to be said. I'll play the song again at the end of the show, please look forward to it! I can't forget this too. I have to say this once more, to remind everyone. This will end on 19 November, 2359. Everyone, you can find the links to the priority ticketing for the 4th males-only concert on Talking FM and TOKYO FM's website! The deadline is tomorrow. I'll definitely sing 'Tomoe Gakuen', there's no way I won't sing it. Since I've written it, I've got to sing it. What will happen when male listeners listen to 'Tomoe Gakuen' together? Will you cry like Imanami? You guys can't cry! Why not? Because you'll make me cry... I'll cry too. No, no, no, no!!!!! I can't wait for the males-only concert on 23 December. The priority ticketing on the radio's website is up till 2359 tomorrow, please support it! The director, Shimizu, has a theme song for the males-only concert, which really matches my feelings too. I'll play it. This is Fukuyama Masaharu's 'Get The Groove'! Shimizu says that he matches well with this song. This song really does match with his mindset now, and his mindset as a performer. Last week, he talked about natto beans, it's sticky...never...never...NeverEnding Story (t/n: neba neba means sticky, it sounds similar to Never) Natto means sticky, sticky strings, NeverEnding Story (1984 film). He constantly does this, it's unforgettable. The priority ticketing for the males-only concert ends tomorrow, please don't forget it!! Imanami, we're going to play 'Tomoe Gakuen' again, please cry once more. I have a big announcement, 'Tomoe Gakuen' will be available for download on RecoChoku, iTunes etc from 1 Dec onwards!! I: How fast~ It's because I want to release it while the drama is still airing, this isn't especially fast, I think it's rather slow. It's due to the fact that I haven't been able to write any lyrics. Yes, December 1, Friday, it'll be available for download. If you want to be as touched as Imanami today and cry, you've got to download it. In other news, the music video for 'Tomoe Gakuen' will be released on 24 November, please watch it. But right now...it's not finished yet, because...I haven't finished writing the lyrics so I can't film it. The lipsyncing won't match, so I can't film it yet. Anyway, I have confidence that the future us will be able to complete it before the deadline, so I'll set down this prophecy! It's a prophecy! I: After this prophecy is broadcasted... After this prophecy is broadcasted, I'll definitely finish it successfully! I think I can confirm that it'll be released on 24 November. (t/n: it was released on 28 November lol) Where will you be able to watch it? I predict, other than my own website, you'll be able to watch it on other websites too!