Passion for sound

First-time listeners of the Saxophone Samurai often say to me, "For some reason, tears started to well up." This is a reaction born not of amazement at the technique, but of a touched heart. That is precisely the response I have always aimed for.

On this page, IWhat kind of sound are you aiming for, and what are you thinking about while you play?Please let me talk about this for just a moment.

I don't blow difficult phrasesNOT ABOUT TECHNIQUE

The saxophone is an instrument that can also captivate listeners with fast phrases and dazzling technique. But I,I'm hardly conscious of it.

Complex phrases certainly make people think "that's amazing." But when passers-by stop in their tracks, close their eyes, and shed tears, it is usuallyA very simple single noteIt is time. Showing off technology and touching people's hearts were two different things.

I taught myself the saxophone, so I still can't read sheet music and don't know much about music theory. It might seem like the long way around, but because of that,I have crafted sounds guided solely by what feels good to the ears and the heart.I think that, as a result, that became my sound.

Our top priority is the tone.TONE IS EVERYTHING

So what are they particular about, then?timbreThat is the single point.

Even with the exact same note, how you play it completely changes the sound. A thin, clear sound; a rich, warm sound; a sound that fades away into nothingness. I believe it is precisely those subtle differences that directly touch the emotions of the listener.

So much of the practice time is not spent learning the songhow to play a single noteI use it for. How to choose mouthpieces and reeds, how to blow air into it, how to end notes. It's a pile of unglamorous work, but it's the one area where I don't want to compromise.

How to play a single note. That is where I spend the most time.

Play as if singingSINGING, NOT PLAYING

What is always on my mind while I am playing isSongIt is. It might be close to the feeling of using the saxophone not as an instrument, but as your own voice.

Playing J-POP songs, which originally have lyrics, using instruments without any lyrics. Then, strangely enough, the listeners will find themselvesYou overlay your own words and memories.Even when listening to the same performance, the imagery that comes to mind differs for each person. I think that is the richest thing about instrumental performance.

Breath control, timing, and how phrases end. I strive to transfer what naturally occurs when a person sings directly onto the saxophone.

Sounds that comfort sorrowTO STAND BESIDE YOU

I first became truly aware of the role of my sound during the early days of our activities, on a day when I was playing at Ozone Station. A woman was listening to me with tears in her eyes, and she said this to me:

I couldn't say anything. But as I thought more deeply, I realised."My sound is one that can resonate with people's sorrow."And.

Not a sound that cheerfully encourages, but one that gently nestles up to sadness and heals it.Concepts of music therapyBuilding on that, I want to deliver performances that quietly sit beside those carrying various worries and anxieties—that remains the core of my sound-creation, unchanged even now.

Read more about this day

The song I'll choose is a gentle ballad.Repertoire

The songs we’ll be playing are ones that everyone, across all generations, can hum along toClassic J-pop balladis the focus. It isn't a song selection intended to astonish with flashiness. We choose tracks that help relax the heart of the person right in front of us and allow them to take a deep breath.

Putting my heart into every single noteONE NOTE AT A TIME

My policy is very simple.To play every single tune and every single note with all your heart.That is all.

Since standing on the street corner in July 2020, the number of performances hasA total of 1,300 timesexceeded. I've played the same song hundreds of times, but for those listening,That day was the very first timeThat’s right. Notes played out of ‘habit’ come across with surprising honesty.

I play today in this place, directed at the person right before my eyes. I believe that cherishing that unrepeatable moment ultimately leads to the best sound.

Have a listenMOVIE

It might be quickest to just listen to the actual sound rather than me trying to explain it in words.

A glimpse of the actual performance

Our aim is to deliver performances that will sustain us into the futureFOR YOUR TOMORROW

When the performance is over, we receive applause, and that's the end of it. I think that's a bit of a shame.

What I really hope is that those who listenedMaking the next day just a little bit easier to live throughThat’s how it is. On mornings when I dread going to work, I suddenly recall that sound. On days when I’m undergoing gruelling treatment, that melody gives me a boost. In that way,Music that lingers even after the performance has endedI want to be.

In fact, we receive many such messages every day. These words are the greatest source of motivation for us to continue our work.

Read more of everyone's feedback