Introducing the Members of 20th Anniversary Project Vol.5

For this album I’ve asked Akira Inoue to arrange 3 songs, and we just had the recording of one of the songs called “Tsumiki” This time our band consisted of two violins and three cellos. I got teary and goosebumps when all the talented musicians got together and started warming up. I’d like to introduce all those who participated in this recording! -Asuka Kaneko (Violin) “Kaneko Asuka Strings” is a well known team of string instruments that represents Japan. I grew up listening to them so I’ve really admired their music. I worked with her for the first time in tour of Fukuyama Masaharu. She was very friendly to me and we were even joking around when we were touring. She was cute like that but when she played the violin she was so cool and I really admired.. Whenever I listen to her violin, I think she truly is an “artist.” And this time as well, she played violin for my album with her great taste. -Chieko Kanehara (Violin) “Cheko Kanehara Strings”, is also what I’ve looked up to growing up because their name is almost always on the credit of the CDs I’ve listened to. They are essential to Japanese pop music scene today. She worked with me in “Katharsis” and since 2015 we’ve worked together for Fukuyama Masaharu tour. Last year she even joined my tour, so she has been very important to me when it comes to music. She has a great personality too and I respect her in that sense too. She’s cute to begin with, fun to drink with, and cool when she plays violin. I feel even jealous because she is so perfect! Lol I really love the passionate sound of her violin. In this recording I got teary because the sound and the posture when she played the violin was so beautiful. I still get teary when I remember the scene.. -Ayano Kasalara (Cello) I’ve known her name from long time ago. I’ve been to her concerts and thought she was such a rock and dedicated artist. I’ve always wanted to talk to her but I was kind of afraid to do so because she has an aura about her. But that’s why I was surprised by how friendly she was when we grabbed a drink for the first time. Cello is very important for this song. And it starts with the cello which she plays, so please pay attention to the intro part of this song too! -Shinichi Eguchi (Cello) It was my first time to work with him. He listened to “Tsumiki” really closely before the recording to have his own understanding of the song. I especially remember he said to me before the recording that he thought it was a really emotional song. And his interpretation of the song really showed in how he played the cello for the song. Please pay attention to the emotional cello sound in the song, too! -Yuki Shinozaki (Cello) It was also my first time to work with her. She keeps her serious face all the time, and is known to be a serious and hardworking artist, so I was very nervous at first. However, she was actually a very friendly person! She executed the emotion I wanted to depict with the song, which is “I love you but goof bye”, really well with her passionate yet soft sound of cello. Each one of the musicians played the instruments very artistically, and when they play music together, it becomes a tremendous energy. Sound is a powerful way of expression. I cannot thank Mr. Inoue Akira enough for arranging for strings. I was actually burnt our for a little days after this recording, but I take it as a good thing, like catharsis effect, maybe. I will try my best to complete this song!