"FUKUYAMA MASAHARU LIVE FILM@NAGASAKI Moonlight - Always Connected to This Light," a film adaptation of Fukuyama Masaharu's free concert "Great Freedom," which he held as the opening night of Nagasaki Stadium City (Nagasaki City) on October 13, 2024, has been released nationwide since his 57th birthday, February 6. The film is billed as the ultimate "live performance beyond live performance," pursuing Fukuyama's vision of the "ideal live sound" and "ideal live visual world." Having celebrated his 35th anniversary since his debut last year, Fukuyama continues to be unrivaled in his energetic activities, not only in music but also starring in two films. We explored his state of mind and his driving force.
◇The city of Nagasaki changed with the live broadcast of "The Best Ten"
First of all, why did Fukuyama decide to hold the free live concert "Great Freedom" in his hometown of Nagasaki, which was the subject of the film? The idea was based on his memories of "The Best Ten in Nagasaki" (1983), which was broadcast live from Nagasaki when he was a junior high school student.
"The view of the city at that time was completely different from what I normally see, and it made a strong impression on me. When I was a teenager, I thought my town was boring for no apparent reason. But when the live broadcast of 'The Best Ten' arrived, the town suddenly became lively and the energy rose. I realized that the power of entertainment can change things so much. That impression was the starting point for this live concert, and I wanted to create a moment when the whole town would become really excited and excited."
The live performance was titled "Great Freedom."
"When I discovered the guitar when I was 13, I felt a great sense of freedom. I also experienced the suffocating and irritating feelings that are typical of adolescence at school and at home. But when I discovered rock music and the guitar, music freed my mind. By immersing myself in the world of music, I was able to release a variety of emotions, such as vague feelings, the bittersweet memories of love, and the adventurous desire to leave this city and go somewhere far away. I think it's fair to say that I 'felt freedom.'"
He also reflected the "sense of freedom" of his hometown, Nagasaki.
"At the time, I had no idea about the appeal of Nagasaki. But when I played Sakamoto Ryoma in the NHK historical drama "Ryomaden" (2010), I was able to trace back the history of Nagasaki, with Ryoma at the center. There is the history of opening up the country from the Edo period to modern Japan, and Nagasaki was the place where the concept of freedom entered Japan from Western Europe. I thought it would be good to connect the history of Nagasaki, a city that has embodied the changing times, with my own experience of discovering rock music and guitar during adolescence and becoming spiritually free. That led to the free live concert and this live film."
◇The belief that entertainment is the “infrastructure of the soul”
Fukuyama made his debut as a singer in March 1990. Last year marked his 35th anniversary, and in addition to his musical activities, he also starred in two films ("Black Showman" and "The Last Man - First Love"). He also visited the Galapagos Islands for NHK's nature documentary program "The Last Paradise of The Hot Spot " and served as a special navigator for the related project "The Great Extinction Exhibition." He has continued to be so energetic that it makes you wonder when he even sleeps. But what is his driving force behind this?
Fukuyama laughs and says, "It's our 35th anniversary, so we had to do this and that, and we ended up cramming everything into it."
"It was so full that it overflowed. To be honest, I messed up the schedule (laughs). But we only live once, so I think it's okay to give it your all, even if it means making mistakes. It was just a numerical milestone, but I was lucky to be able to experience being "busy as hell" at such a time. I felt like I had no choice but to do it."
When asked if, at the core of his belief, he believes in the influence that entertainment can have on people...
"I believe that entertainment is the 'infrastructure of the heart.' People cannot survive without infrastructure such as water, air, housing, and roads, but I am proud to say that I work in a job that is responsible for the infrastructure of the heart. I want to continue to be a necessary presence for myself, my fans, and society. I feel that strongly," he said forcefully.
(Interview and text: Naoko Hosoda/MANTAN)
