Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal Vol. 77 - Interview with Japan’s Leading Guitarist, Kazumi Watanabe, Part 1

My Musician Interview: Japan’s No.1 Guitarist, Kazumi Watanabe

In previous installments of Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal, I covered the synthesizers and speakers I purchased from Sound House.
This time, I will share my musician interview notes. Although this series is about keyboards, today’s focus is not on a keyboardist but rather Japan’s top jazz guitarist—Kazumi Watanabe.

The TV Project: A Soundscape

At the TV station I worked for, there was a popular news segment called A Soundscape. Television is primarily a visual medium, but this project focused on sound, making it a fascinating concept. For example, it might emphasize the murmuring of a stream or use the noise of a city to frame a story.
By highlighting the sounds that fill the world around us, the program aimed to reveal deeper truths—placing a high demand on the interviewer’s creative vision.

Kazumi Watanabe Comes to Shizuoka!

Since music also falls under A Soundscape’s theme, the perfect news came in while I was brainstorming ideas.
Kazumi Watanabe and Shinichi Fukuda were scheduled to perform a duo concert at Shizuoka Music Hall AOI.
I had previously covered jazz pianist Mal Waldron at AOI, as well as the duo of Gary Burton and Makoto Ozone, and the Yoshihiko Katori Orchestra. It’s a small but acoustically beautiful venue—ideal for an acoustic guitar duo. From a TV perspective, this was a perfect fit.

Kazumi Watanabe & Shin-ichi Fukuda’s Rehearsal

Kazumi Watanabe, born in Tokyo in 1953, is one of Japan’s most renowned jazz guitarists.
Debuting at just 17, he has been a leading figure in the Japanese jazz scene ever since.
Shinichi Fukuda, on the other hand, is one of Japan’s top classical guitarists.
Their rehearsal began with a performance of “The Fool on the Hill” by The Beatles.

A Successful Report Needs a Draft!

When conducting an interview, preparation is key. This means setting a clear theme, structuring the content, and drafting a script in advance—what we call a planned draft.
Without one, you may go to a location and capture footage but miss the essence of the story.
Without direction, you won’t be able to capture meaningful images.
For this report, I wanted to highlight the contrast in sound between the two guitarists, explore their backgrounds, and capture their thoughts on music.

The Theme of A Soundscape for This Episode

Whenever I cover a music-related topic, I always make sure to film the rehearsal.
While the main event is the live performance, simply broadcasting it isn’t enough.
The key is capturing the theme I set—one that will resonate with the audience.
Rehearsals often hold valuable fragments of insight. By recording their conversations, facial expressions, and subtle interactions, I aimed to capture the deeper essence of their performance.

The Importance of Perspective in a Report (and in Music!)

When I was a rookie journalist, a senior colleague once asked me:

Senior: “What did you capture today?”
Me: “A concert.”
Senior: “Is that all? Then anyone could have done the same report. What did you discover? What did you see? Where do you stand?”

This applies to music as well.
A good report must filter events through the journalist’s unique perspective.
Music is the same.
For amateurs, simply copying their favorite musicians can be fun—and that’s perfectly fine.
But for professionals, doing the same as everyone else won’t cut it.
A musician must ask: “What do I want to express?” “How will I achieve it?” “How will I play it?”—These answers are personal to each musician. To stand out, they need a powerful, unique perspective—something others cannot imitate. It’s a simple idea, but few truly grasp it.
There’s no need for a second Aimyon, Ryuichi Sakamoto, or Eric Clapton.

Journalism and music share the same principle.

■ Recommended Album: Kazumi Watanabe - Guitar Is Beautiful KW45 (2016)

A guitar duo album created to commemorate Kazumi Watanabe’s 45th anniversary in music. The album’s theme is “duo”, featuring the smallest possible ensemble, with Watanabe collaborating with close guitarist friends from both Japan and abroad.

Recommended Track: “Triste”

A masterpiece by Antônio Carlos Jobim, performed as a duo with Japanese bossa nova guitarist Goro Ito.
In Jobim’s legendary album Wave, the melody was played on the piano. Here, however, two guitarists deliver a beautifully flowing performance—like crystal-clear water running without stagnation. Kazumi Watanabe’s improvisation is rich with intricate chord work.

Next time, I will share the coverage of A Soundscape and an in-depth interview with the incredible Kazumi Watanabe.
Through our conversation, I’ll uncover what makes him Japan’s top guitarist. Stay tuned!

Musicians, Albums, and Tracks Featured in This Article

• Musicians: Kazumi Watanabe, Shinichi Fukuda
• Album: Guitar Is Beautiful KW45
• Recommended Track: “Triste”

⇨ List of Pianos/Synthesizers

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