Kazutoshi Sakurai of the popular band Mr.Children will appear on the March 22nd broadcast of "Sunday's First-Time Learning" (MBS/TBS, Sundays at 10 PM). He will talk about everything from his thoughts on music to the changes in his outlook on life.
Sakurai will appear in "Interviewer Hayashi Osamu," a popular segment where Hayashi Osamu interviews "charismatic figures of the times." The interview will be a long one, lasting two and a half hours, and will be broadcast over two consecutive weeks.
Sakurai reveals the story behind the lyrics of "Tomorrow never knows," a mega-hit released in 1994 that sold 2.76 million copies, which were hastily written the day before a live performance. He also shares how the lyrics that resonated with young people came to him in an unexpected moment, and reveals the unique "working title" of the song, which is unimaginable from the song's title. Furthermore, he shares the story behind the lyrics of "Nameless Poem," a masterpiece that boasts the second-highest sales in Mr. Children's history, and anecdotes about "Innocent World," which originally had a different title.
He also revealed a comment his older sister made to him in junior high school that made him decide to become a professional musician, as well as the lessons his mother taught him that are reflected in the lyrics of his songs. Sakurai took a break from his activities at the age of 32 due to illness. He also revealed how his approach to being a musician has changed since his illness, and the names of popular artists of the Reiwa era whom he admires as singers.
Furthermore, he spoke about his interactions with a top musician who helped him when he was overwhelmed by a sense of stagnation during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, "I really felt powerless."
