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While the conventional thing for Japanese music appreciators to do is to look to Japan for new artists, the answers fans may be looking for may be closer to home than they ever expected. This is part one of a series of articles that looks at Japanese artists based outside of Japan who are making a splash in the music scene.
 Today we’re talking with Tadahisa Yoshida, a Japanese solo artist who is based primarily in Hollywood, California. Known affectionately as ‘Tada’ to his fans, this young musician continues to raise eyebrows across North America with his solid D.I.Y work ethic and his distinctive array of sounds.
Boasting fledgling home town success as a guitarist in high school indie band ‘Crisis,’ Tadahisa Yoshida decided to relocate to America in search of fresh opportunities. Not long after unpacking his bags in his new home of Hollywood, Tada's musical career started to unfold in ways even someone with his ambition may not have expected. He soon racked up relationships with musicians and producers the likes of American heavyweights Jane’s Addiction, The Offspring and Alice in Chains, Tada formally began his solo activity in early 2007. Now establishing distinguished contacts in the American music scene, Tada went on to work with production staff who could name visual kei pioneer HIDE amongst the references in their glittering curriculum vitaes.
Donning vibrant and striking visual kei apparel, Tadahisa Yoshida is making quite the name for himself as a Japanese artist overseas—his blend of technologically powered electro-rock and grassroots relationship to his fan base could make this determined one manned project a force to be reckoned with.
I caught up with Tada earlier to ask him a few questions about his experiences as a Japanese musician based away from his native culture having transferred to pastures new in America.
JRR: First and foremost – tell us a little about yourself; introduce Tadahisa Yoshida to those who may not have heard about you.
Tada: Hello My name is Tadahisa Yoshida. I am a Japanese solo artist from Japan. I relocated to Hollywood, California to pursue my music career. I love avocados.
JRR: You’re a Japanese musician living and working in America. As an artist how would you compare the music scene in Japan to that in the USA having experienced both firsthand? When you first began your solo career stateside did you feel an element of culture shock in regard to the differences?
Tada: Basically, there are two types of Japanese musicians in Japan: first are the ones who simply love Japanese music, and second are the ones who are more into American, British or European music—I was more like the second one. I didn't have any culture shock playing guitar in America, but singing in Japanese in front of American people was a little bit difficult the first time because I had no idea how people would react.
JRR: As you have stated, even while operating in America you still sing in your native tongue of Japanese. Other aspects such as your emphasis on Visual Kei aesthetics help westerners to identify you as a Japanese artist. Do you feel that as an exiled Japanese artist it is important to maintain a strong symbiosis to your home culture?
Tada: No, I don't. [In terms of singing] it really depends on how I want to express my emotions through my words. It's like Japanese writing: we use hiragana, katakana, kanji and the alphabet. We use those sets characters to make sentences. When I sing, I have a choice: either Japanese or English. I can use either language however I want in my music, so sometimes I sing in Japanese, sometimes I sing in English. It really depends on the situation.
As far as Visual Kei goes, it depends on you guys. People call me Visual Kei, J-rock, trip hop, industrial, alternative, electro, cyberpunk etc. Personally, I don't think I'm just Visual Kei; I'm a mix of everything.
JRR: You have recently released a four-track CD entitled ‘Thalidomide’ after working in the studio with several noteworthy producers including Lee Popa who many HIDE fans may know as having previously worked with Zilch amongst others. Could you tell us a little about the album?
Tada: I actually produced this album by myself in my home studio in seven days. I met Lee in 2007 during the time that I was looking for a producer. When he saw my ad, he fell in love with my music and hooked me up with the original members of MINISTRY.
(Ed. Note: MINISTRY are an American hard-rock formed by Al Jourgensen, Zilch bassist Paul Raven was a member of this band at the time of his passing last year.)
We started working on my songs for recording at their studio in downtown LA, but unfortunately, Lee and my manager (tripleX) got really sick, and couldn't keep going. It was pretty sad.
 JRR: You have played at several anime conventions in the past and you’re currently scheduled to perform dates at ‘Supercon’ in Florida and Atlanta respectively. Is there an attraction to playing at conventions for an artist such as yourself? Do you feel that for a Japanese artist living in America they are a ‘safe ground’ to perform at in terms of the interests of the people who will attend them?
Tada: Personally, I'm trying to enjoy performing at conventions. Having conversations and taking pictures with my fans feels like Disneyland, and I'm one of the characters. (Laughs.)
I know lots of Japanese bands come to the U.S. and perform for the conventions and they get treated really well. Some of them are even more famous in America than they are in Japan.
JRR: Before you came to America and began your solo activities you played in an indie-label band named ‘Crisis’—could you tell our readers a little more about your musical past and background?
Tada: Let's talk about ‘TELEMAN’ first, my first American band. I was a guitar player at the time, and as a band we were so good. We worked with Dave Jerden, who had produced for Jane's Addiction and Alice in Chains amongst others. We were also broadcasted in a Japanese TV show called "I'm." I really had such a blast with that band
Crisis was my high school band. We started getting popular in my school first, and then my city but I was simply enjoying playing music with my best friends. At that point I didn't know this would become my career.
JRR: As a musician who lives in America what do you make of the ever increasing popularity of Japanese culture and music? Do you suspect any reasons for why it is becoming more popular?
Tada: These days people find practically everything through the internet: music, art, fashion, technology, food and much more. Japanese musicians have been producing lots of music for the world and now people are enjoying it.
JRR: You list your influences as being “Sex, drugs and electro/rock”— how do these influences fit with your music and your personality? Are there any particular bands and musicians, Japanese and Western, who have had a particular influence on you in the past or in the present?
 Tada: My music is like a beautiful tragedy - that's all I can say.
And yes, I'm influenced by SUGIZO from Luna Sea, who I met through my friends. His musical taste and vision is very similar to what I do and he is so successful in doing it. I am learning lots of stuff from him and building a good friendship at the same time.
JRR: And finally – what does the future hold for Tadahisa Yoshida? Could you tell our readers about some of your future plans and aspirations?
Tada: I just want to enjoy creating music and working with a bunch of great musicians. "Tada-Revolution"—that's what's going to happen.
You can catch Tada performing at Anime conventions across America; his next two ‘Supercon’ dates being on October 31st in Miami and November 21st in Atlanta. In the long term, we must wait and see what heights and direction his fledgling States-side career will take him. Buoyed by an ever-growing following of youth and age alike spear-headed by his self-managed MySpace page, make a mental note of Tadahisa Yoshida’s name, as you may be seeing it again soon as an emerging figure in Japanese Rock. For now, though, his self described ‘Tada-Revolution’ continues to take shape across America.
http://tadahisayoshida.com/ - Official Website
http://www.myspace.com/tadahisayoshida - Official MySpace
Photographs of Tadahisa Yoshida used with explicit permission from the artist.
Interview and article by Jamie Y.
Edited by Maria
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