Question 1

Who is Peter Barakan?

Accepted Answer

Peter Barakan is a London-born broadcaster who has lived in Japan since 1974. He worked for a Japanese music publisher and then for Yellow Magic Orchestra's management office before going freelance in 1986. He hosted the Japanese edition of 60 Minutes for 26 years and has presented Japanology on NHK World for 23 years.

Question 2

What did Peter Barakan do for Yellow Magic Orchestra?

Accepted Answer

He wrote the English lyrics for "Thatness and Thereness" on Ryuichi Sakamoto's 1980 solo album B-2 Unit, then spent five or six years in the band's management office handling work that needed English.

Question 3

What does kusare-en mean?

Accepted Answer

In Peter's words, kusare-en "means you've been with somebody or somewhere for so long that you know each other inside out, and at times you hate each other's guts, but you survive anyway." He uses it, together with sumeba miyako, to describe his relationship with Tokyo.

Question 4

What Japanese music does Peter Barakan recommend?

Accepted Answer

Music that "could only exist in Japan," such as the Minyo Crusaders, who play Japanese folk songs with salsa, afrobeat, and reggae arrangements, and Amami singer Anna Sato.