Thanks so much to Yuichi Abe for the interview! I wrote a few weeks ago about Archaic Smile on the blog and thanks to some twitter Japanese friends I was pointed out to Yuichi. Happily Yuichi was up for answering my questions and finally I get to know more about his terrific band. Archaic Smile only released an album back in the day on the Blackbean and Placenta Tape Club and appeared on a few compilations. Then the band just went silent. For those in love with Japanese pop, definitely have a read and a listen!
++ Hi Yuichi! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you? Are you still based in Japan?
Yes, I have been living in Japan.
++ Are you still making music these days?
No. I am very busy these days because I am a pediatrician and a neurologist. But I often play the guitar at home.
++ Let’s start from the beginning. What are your first music memories? Do you remember what was your first instrument? How did you learn to play it? What sort of music did you listen at home while growing up?
When I was in my early teens, I was interested in Yellow Magic Orchestra. They looked unconventional and cool and were very popular in Japan. And I also loved Culture Club, A-ha, and so on. In my late teens, I become aware of Punk Rock and new wave music such as New Order, the Smiths, JAMC, and Japanese Punk Bands. When I was twenty years old, The Flipper’s Guitar made their debut and looked very cool. So I became a lover of pop music released by independent labels such as Sarah records, Cherry Red, Rough Trade and so on.
The first instrument I played was a guitar I got from the garbage, and I taught myself guitar.
++ Were you involved in other bands before Archaic Smile?
When I was a university student In 1991 in Yokohama, Japan, the first band I joined was called Je t’aime, this band played original songs in Japanese. Next in 1993, I played bass guitar in a band called “the South pole the third”. In this band, I met Osamu Sakai, he became a member of Archaic Smile later. In the fall of 1993 in Fukushima, Japan, Osamu and me got together with Archaic smile!!
++ When did the Archaic Smile start as a band? Were you based in Tokyo or which city?
In 1993, Archaic Smile started as a band covering songs of “Bridge”, one of the popular bands in Japan. Archaic Smile consisted of Miyuki on vocals, two guitar players Osamu and Tada, keyboards by Kumi, drums by Toshi, and bass by me. We were classmates of a medical university in Fukushima, Japan. We soon played our songs. Soon after I was wring songs for Archaic Smile, and we began to play them. We made two original tapes (in 1995, 1996). After that, unfortunately, this first version of Archaic Smile disbanded in 1996.
I was at a loss as to what to do, but Osamu, Kumi and me restart Archaic Smile in 1996. During this time, we wrote some songs and made self-released tapes and CD-R. In addition, our song “And birds ARE singing” was packed in “Pop Japanese Style” (Flavour of Sound, 1998). During this time, we had an offer from Blackbean and Placenta Tape Club by Mike, and he kindly released CD, “In This Night…” and made a video clip of “ Square Love” which was included in a compilation video. In 1999, we had to be medical physicians, and the 2nd version of Archaic Smile came to an end.
In 1999, I moved in Tokyo and I began to play again solo. And in 2001, I started to play with Yoshie, a new member of Archaic Smile. We had played in Archaic smile from 2001 to 2003. In 2018, we remain on a break.
++ What bands do you liked?
I like bands and labels: Aztec Camera, The Smiths, Joy Division, New Order, JAMC, My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Bell and Sebastian, Softies, Friends, McCarthy, Stereolab, Tiger Trap, Sarah records’s bands especially BlueBoy, Heavenly, Another Sunny Day, CherryRed, Rough Trade Tallulah Gosh and more. Of course, The Flipper’s guitar too.
Now I like: Swimming tapes, Luby Sparks, Cornelius, Day Wave, Radio Dept. and more. Recently in Japan, many music festival were held in every summer, and I often go to see and enjoy many bands.
++ Why the name Archaic Smile?
As said above, I was inspired by Miyuki’s smile which looked like Buddha’s smile, so the name “Archaic Smile”.
++ I noticed all of you wrote the songs. How was the creative process for you?
I was inspired by my experience and my day-to-day life to write songs.
++ Where did you usually practice?
I did at home or studio in our university.
++ And who would you say were influences of the band?
As written above. In addition, some titles of our songs were derived from my favorite songs: “And birds ARE singing” was inspired from “And the birds aren’t singing” by Heavenly, and “The boy wounded in his side” was named after “the boy with thorn in his side by the Smiths.
++ What would be your top five Japanese indiepop bands all-time?
800 Cherries, Luby Sparks, Bridge, Luminous Orange, Daffodil 19, Three Berry Icecream
++ Do tell me too why did you prefer to sing in English and not in Japanese? Did you write any Japanese songs?
In the past, I had written some songs in Japanese. Of course I love Japanese, but always write a song in English because I wanted to play for listeners in the world.
++ Someone that surprised me was that you released your album in the USA and not in Japan. Was there no interest in Japan for your music? Or you liked the idea of releasing abroad perhaps?
I don’t know why is that. Perhaps this is because we played in Fukushima where it is a rural city in japan, we sang and played in English, so maybe that’s why an overseas label gave us this chance.
++ And how did you end up releasing with the Blackbean and Placenta Tape Club? How was your relationship with them?
A Japanese band “Aikagi” introduced us to the owner of BBPTC, Mike Landucci.
++ Before recording the album had you made any other recordings? Perhaps demo tapes?
As mentioned above, we made and released several tapes and CD-R.
++ Where was the album recorded and who produced it? Any anecdotes you can share from the recording session?
We were making, producing, and recording our songs by ourselves using “VS-880” by Roland.
++ Why the name of the album “In This Night, The Red Guitar Whispers”? What’s the story behind it?
I had and played a red guitar, Tennessee Rose, G6119 made by Gretchen.
++ One of my favourite songs in the album is “Makes Me Blind”. What inspired this song?
I have no idea because this song was written by Osamu.
++ And for you, what would be your favourite song by Archaic Smile and why?
I love all songs but especially like “And bird ARE singing???” I don’t decide one.
++ You contributed songs to various compilations, but one that surprised me is the one called “A Young Is…” as it was a Hong Kong label that released it. Hong Kong wasn’t and isn’t much of an indiepop country, do you remember who were behind it? And how did they find you?
One day, all of sudden, I had their offer. I think wherever we go there are people who love guitar pop musics.
++ How come there were no more releases by Archaic Smile?
There ware some old tapes and CD-R you don’t know.
++ Are there more unreleased songs by the band?
Some songs remain unreleased.
++ What about gigs? Did you play many? What were the best gigs you remember?
Our last gig was held in 2003, in Tokyo.
++ And were there any bad gigs at all?
In a gig, Viva pop vol. 2, held in Fukushima in 1998, I made a mistake at the beginning of the song called “Behind Your Eyes”.
++ When and why did Archaic Smile stop making music? Did you continue making music after? I noticed you collaborated with Three Berry Icecream and also did solo gigs, right?
The last gig was held in 2003 and since I usually play guitar at home. As my other activities, I was a DJ in clubs and a DJ on Radio. I am often playing guitar but I have no time to make songs because I am a medical physician in a national hospital for children. Three Berry Icecream by Mayumi is a friend of mine. In addition, Tomomi from Red Go-Cart and Usuda from Dronjo kept by 4 were friends of mine.
++ And what about the other band members? Were they involved in other bands?
The last member, Yoshie makes musics for Anime. Everyone else of all members don’t play music because they are all medical doctors.
++ There was also a video recorded for the song “Square Love”. Where was it recorded? How was that experience? And will it be available in Youtube someday?
That video film was recorded in Jan 1999. It was just before the time when we took the national exam for medical doctors. Film directors listened our song before they made our video. I don’t have the soft in digital file.
++ Did you get much attention from the radio or press?
Around 1996 and 1998, An local FM radio and a local TV featured Archaic Smile. After that, I became a DJ on a local FM radio. The radio show was called “Fukushima neo-acoustic night”
++ What about from fanzines?
Some fanzines and music magazine featured Archaic Smile.
++ And today, aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?
My hobbies are: Playing guitar, Fishing, and playing with a robot dog, “Aibo”.
++ Looking back in time, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?
A song called “And birds ARE singing was included in a compilation CD, “Pop Japanese Style” in 1998.
++ Never visited Japan. So maybe I can ask for some suggestions? Like what are the sights in your town that I shouldn’t miss? Or the traditional food or drinks that you love that I should try?
I recommend places to visit in Japan such as Asakusa, Akihabara, and Marunouchi and Ginza around Tokyo station (Tokyo), Nikko (Tochigi, a little far away from Tokyo), Kamakura (Kanagawa, nearby Tokyo), and Kyoto (Kyoto). You can eat many various Japanese foods in Tukiji Jogai (near Ginza, Tokyo), and Asakusa. I think you will like Sushi, Tempura, Soba, Udon, Okonomiyaki, Ramen, Yakitori, Gyudon, Edamame, Tohu and more.
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