Thanks so much to Miki and Koichi for the interview! I discovered not too long ago The Vegetablets, the band they have these days but before that they had been in a few bands, one of them being Bitter Cherry Jam, which was a terrific Nagoya band from the first decade of this century. These days they have a very good compilation that could be a great introduction for anyone curious about their music: “Road to the Vegetablets“.
++ Hi Miki and Koichi! Thanks so much for being up for this interview! How are you?
We are excited!
++ You are making music these days with the band The Vegetablets, what is new with the band? Any new releases coming up? Or perhaps some gigs?
As the Vegetablets, we released two cassette tapes in 2017, and now a CD including all songs in the tapes is available. And we think we will make a new mini album this year. We’ll do a gig with the Caraway, Red Go-cart and Three Berry Icecream in Nagoya on July 14th.
++ 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 we were children, we were listening to Japanese popular songs. Those songs were composed by real composers, not rock artists. And began listening to rock music when we were teenagers.
Koichi: My first instrument was piano, but I didn’t like it and learned for only a few month. I bought a guitar when I was in college and learned it myself.
Miki: My first instrument was also piano. I learned to play until high school. I bought a bass when we just married and decided to start Cherry Letter.
++ You were involved in the band Cherry Letter before, right? How different was this band to Bitter Cherry Jam? Was it the same lineup? Was the sound similar or not?
A drummer Masafumi Hiramatsu was also a member of Cherry Letter. We wanted to be a live band, so most songs were recorded live.
++ When did Bitter Cherry Jam start as a band? And how was Nagoya back then? What were the venues to play or catch good bands? The good record stores? Were there many like-minded bands that you were friendly with?
When we started Bitter Cherry Jam, we were in Nara. When Miki was in a hospital because of joint disease, we couldn’t continue the band and Masafumi left us. And we planned a new unit in the hospital room and named it Bitter Cherry Jam. It was in 2001. But Nagoya is Koichi’s home town, so we sometimes came back to Nagoya. Galaxy Train was an important label and Toru was a friend of ours. They released good records of like Flower Bellcow, Tricorollars and so on.
And there were two important record shops in Nagoya, rail and arch records. They were selling good indie music. After they closed, File-under is an important record shop. Recently the owner of arch records started a new record shop called Andy 10 years after arch records closed.
++ Why the name Bitter Cherry Jam?
We wanted to leave the word cherry. And basically our songs are sweet, but sometimes they get bitter.
++ How was the creative process for you?
Cherry Letter was a live band, butBitter Cherry Jam was not. We recorded songs track by track. We could use more instruments other than guitar, bass and drums. It was fun.
++ I notice you have songs in both Japanese and English. Do you have any preference? What is easier for you?
Of course Japanese is easier. But sometimes English is suitable for melodies.
++ Where did you usually practice?
In our room, and sometimes we used rehearsal studio.
++ And who would you say were influences of the band?
So many. We were influenced by music of Brian Wilson, Mari Wilson and Tot Taylor, Todd Rundgren, Jellyfish, Dukes Of Stratosphear, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Burt Bacharach, Tony Hatch, Sly and the Family Stone, and many more.
++ What would be your top five Japanese indiepop bands all-time?
We don’t know well, but our friends are making good songs. Red Go-Cart, the Caraway, Shino Kobayashi, Dronjo Kept by 4.
++ I’m aware of your releases on Galaxy Train and Tulip House. I believe your first releases were on Galaxy Train, so wondering how did you end up releasing with this label? How was your relationship with the label and also the bands in the label?
No, our first release was a split 12″ with Cherry Letter on Tulip House, our own label in 2001. And then Galaxy Train released a CDR called Departure in 2002. Then we released 6 CDRs on Tulip House before 2012. I think our relationship with Galaxy Train was good until we and Takayuki broke up. But still members of Red Go-cart are our good friends. Recently members of Dronjo Kept by 4 are also friendly to us.
++ The first release I’m aware of was the “Where Does the World Exist?” tape in 2014. Did you find out the answer for that question? Where does the world exist?
So “Where Does the World Exist?” was the first release after Takayuki joined us.
Yes. The world you see exists in you.
++ Some songs on the tape were recorded at K.D Japon, August 2013. What was this event?
It was fun. After Takayuki joined us, our sound became more alternative rock style. So we used live tracks.
++ The next release was another tape called “In Your Own Space” that came out also on Galaxy Train. I wonder why most of your releases came out on tape? Perhaps it is your favourite format?
We also like tapes, but Toru, the owner of Galaxy Train, loves cassette tapes more.
++ And this tape has a song called “Akashic Records”, which really strikes me. These are the record of a soul’s journey, is that, right? I don’t know much about these theories, but I do wonder if you are into it?
Yes, some people say all information in the world are recorded in Akashic Records. We tend to think everything is controlled by us, individuals, but recently we feel we are more controlled by the universe.
++ Then there is another tape called “Sayonara”. And with that name it does feel like a goodbye. Was that the intention? That these 4 songs were to be the last release by the band?
Yes, it became a goodbye to Bitter Cherry Jam.
++ I got introduced to the band thanks to the compilation “Road to the Vegetablets” that was released by Tulip House Records. Is this a full compilation with all of your recordings? Or is it a selection of yours?
A selection between 2003 and 2012. Actually most songs were recorded before 2006. In fact there were also dark songs because Koichi was depressed then, but we didn’t want to make the compilation album dark, so we excluded those songs.
++ This is a great compilation, I really loved it. One thing that caught my attention was the great art for the cover. Who made that?
We made it. Koichi was also an engineer and he made a laser cutting machine. So we could cut felt cloth with it.
++ This album has so many favourite songs, for example “Strawberry Taste”, which might be my favourite. If it is not much to ask, what’s the story behind this song?
Strawberry Taste was a song by Koichi’s solo unit called Chain Letter before Cherry Letter. We re-recorded it. It is too old, so I don’t remember well. BTW, the caraway, a friend of mine Osamu Shinada’s band, also covered this song. This song seems popular. Osamu also played drums on a song called Love Each Other in the compilation CD.
++ And if you had to choose one Bitter Cherry Jam song as your favourite, which one would it be?
Maybe “She is my POP star”.
++ There is another tape called “2012” on your label that was actually a re-release of a 2012 CDR. Who released the original CDR?
We, Tulip House, released it ourselves.
++ And there are other releases prior to this one, right? I saw a photo of a vinyl record dating from 2001that was Tulip House #10. What was this release? Can you tell me a bit about it? How many songs were included?
Yes, the 12″ was a split album with Cherry Letter. 7 Cherry Letter’s songs, 4 Bitter Cherry Jam’s songs and one cover version song.
++ And how come there’s a Todd Rundgren cover? What other cover songs did you use to do?
Because we are big fans of Todd Rundgren.
I Saw The Light of Raspberries. Not Todd’s one. It was included in Bitter Cherry Jam’s “I just want to call you up ep” CDR in 2003.
Thirty-one Love of Tot Taylor. It was included in Bitter Cherry Jam’s “live for love ep” CDR in 2004.
On Christmas Day of Brian Wilson. Included in Bitter Cherry Jam’s “she is my POP star ep” in 2006.
We also played Chega de Saudade of Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim in 2001.
++ And Tulip House Records, that is your own label isn’t that right?
Yes.
++ How come there were no more releases by Bitter Cherry Jam? Are all of the tapes and CDRs I mentioned your full discography?
Bitter Cherry Jam’s first release was a split 12″ in 2001. Then Galaxy Train released Departure CDR in 2002. And we, Tulip House, released a full album CDR “restaurant” in 2003, “i just call you up ep” CDR in 2003, “live for love ep” CDR in 2004, “like a show ep” CDR in 2005 and “she is my POP star ep” CDR in 2006 and “2012” CDR in 2012.
++ Were there any compilation appearances by the band?
We don’t remember all but,
Bitter Cherry Jam’s “Sentimental Journey”, my charm ornament #6 voyage a la mode
Bitter Cherry Jam’s “Our Brand-New Old-Fashioned Show”, “headstart for happiness” compilation on TKO label
Cherry Letter’s weekend song, “Pop Jingu 3” compilation on Clover Records, and “boys (& girls) wonder” compilation on TKO label.
Cherry Letter “First Christmas”, galaxy Xmas on Galaxy Train.
Chain Letter’s “How Long Can I Be With You”, “picnic basket” compilation on Shelflife Records.
Chain Letter’s “spring is here”, 9 pieces of BROWNIE compilation on Brownie Records.
++ Are there more unreleased songs by the band?
No.
++ What about gigs? Did you play many? What were the best gigs you remember?
Not many. Recent The Vegetablets’ performance was the best.
++ And were there any bad gigs at all?
Most gigs were not satisfying. We were not good at playing in front of people. But nowadays it is fun.
++ When and why did Bitter Cherry Jam stop making music? Was there a break in between Bitter Cherry Jam and The Vegetablets or did that happen immediately after?
Takayuki liked more alternative rock style. Loud drums and noisy guitar. And we prefered more pop style. In rehearsal Miki’s voice was always hoarse because drums were too loud. Our direction was different. He seemed to have his own style, and we thought the style was not suitable for us. We didn’t want to argue anymore. We started to make songs just after Bitter Cherry Jam broke up.
++ And what about Takayuki? Was he involved in other bands?
He was also doing a band called Blue Tapes and now he is doing a band called Furnas.
++ There was a video for the song “ゆめはあしもとに“, where was this recorded? And are there more videos by the band?
It is the only music video of Bitter Cherry Jam. We recorded it in Kamiishizu, Gifu, Miki’s home town, with help of Galaxy Train.
++ Did you get much attention from the radio or press?
I didn’t think so, but recently Pitchfork introduced the vegetablets’ song called “まぜるなきけん Don’t Mix Danger”. Then some radio stations around the world played it. Recently KEXP-FM played “それもまぼろし It’s also Fantasy”.
++ What about from fanzines?
When Koichi was doing Chain Letter and Miki was doing Cherry Honeymoon before Cherry Letter, many fanzines were interested in our songs.
++ And today, aside from music, what other hobbies do you have?
Koichi: My hobby is making electronic things, and it’s getting my real work. I also make games for old video game consoles.
Miki: I’m making handmade crafts and have a brand called Happy Time.
++ Looking back in time, what would you say was the biggest highlight for the band?
We wanted to make real pop songs. We recorded a song “I just want to call you up” in 2003 and continued to make pop songs until 2006. That period was the biggest highlight. So you can enjoy them with the compilation CD.
++ Never visited Nagoya. 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?
We don’t go out so often, so we can’t make a good suggestion, but Nagoya Castle will be rebuilt in the future. It was destroyed in WW II and now it is made of concrete. And it is going to be rebuilt with wood again.
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