The new song "Puppets Can't Control You" by rock band ONE OK ROCK is the theme song for the Sunday Theatre drama " Mikami Sensei " (TBS, Sunday 9pm) starring actor Tori Matsuzaka . When it was announced as a surprise in the first episode, it caused a big stir, especially on social media. Vocalist Taka and producer Iida Kazutaka had a conversation. In the first of two parts, Taka talked about why he accepted the offer and the thoughts he put into the song title.
The drama is an original "great reversal story of education revival" in which Takashi Mikami (played by Matsuzaka), a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, who wants to change the Japanese education system, takes to the podium at a private high school and stands up to authority while guiding 18-year-old high school students living in the Reiwa era.
◇Taka talks about his music production policy
Iida: I first encountered ONE OK ROCK's music when Takeru Satoh introduced it to me. I started listening to them around 2013, and before I knew it, it's been 12 years. In the midst of all this, I watched the video of "18 Festival" (2016) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was moved by the sight of 1,000 young people crying and screaming with all their might. And when I saw the members' expressions as they watched the audition video and stood on stage, I could see them watching over the young people as their seniors in life. I felt that there was a message of respect and support that went beyond the relationship between 18-year-olds and adults. I wanted to create a drama that was packed with all of these feelings, and I came up with the plan five years ago. Finally, I was able to make it happen.
Taka: That must take quite a bit of time! It might take as long as it takes us to produce our album.
Iida: I really wanted to make it happen, so I persisted. And I really wanted to ask ONE OK ROCK to do the theme song, so I approached them with a feeling of giving it my all. I don't think I'm suited to be a producer, but I'm not good at expanding my personal connections, so I always made casting offers with just the feeling of "I absolutely want to ask you!", so thank you for accepting my request...!
Taka: It was an honor to receive the offer. To be honest, we don't often get offers like this directly (laughs).
Iida: Oh! Is that so?
Taka: It's become a little more accepted now, but we say things that shouldn't be said, so a while ago we were treated like a hot potato. That's why I'm really happy to have been approached. I've had an allergy to TV since I was young, so I don't actually say no to offers like this. However, the most important thing is to be able to stick to our policy as a band.
Iida: What kind of policy is that?
Taka: It may not be familiar in Japan, but in America, we make songs by gathering several staff members and having a session. While it is easy to bring in new winds, it is clear that some people get along with others and others don't. It is a matter of personality, but what purpose the person came here for also has a big influence. Do they want to do good work together, or do they want to use us to sell? As we continued to produce, I realized that better songs are born when we value the vibe of the place and make them positively, rather than gathering hit makers and putting pressure on them. Therefore, the most important thing is a relationship where we respect each other and aim for something better. There are people in the world who prioritize money and fame, and there are people who simply want to make good things. I think both are necessary, but I would like to choose the latter. This is a way of thinking that applies not only to music but also to my lifestyle.
Iida: Even in the world of drama, in Hollywood, it is common for a scriptwriter to work together to put together a story while exchanging opinions. On the other hand, in Japan, it is common for one scriptwriter to be in charge, and the overseas style of bringing together people with diverse perspectives for the pure purpose of "making something good" is rare in the Japanese drama industry. We want to incorporate that little by little. I feel like I have learned a lot from Taka's ideas. But it takes courage to accept others, doesn't it?
Taka: Everyone has their own way of life, but I think that the older you get, the more balanced the way you live is to let go of the desire for approval. But that's not possible for everyone. Ideals and reality are different, so it's difficult to achieve 100% of the life you want. That's why I think communication skills will become more important in the coming age. Communication using words is something that only humans can do. The same words can hurt when written down, but not when spoken in person. I feel that the power that humans possess is incredible.
Iida: With the spread of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, I feel that the decrease in face-to-face conversations has led to more misunderstandings and miscommunications. Although there are benefits in terms of an efficient way of working, I sometimes wonder if communication is really being conveyed. I wonder if we are being blinded by the convenience. I feel even more keenly the importance of communication in drama production.
Taka: I think the role of creators, including us, is to create communication between people. Even in a simulated world, viewers can compare it to their own lives. This can lead to new realizations and deepen discussions. Just as records continue to be updated in the world of sports, human wisdom also evolves with the times. It is important to continue to communicate in response to those changes. That is why I think what we can do is to convey the importance of this through music.
◇The true meaning behind Taka's song title and stylish direction
Iida: Can you tell us again about the thoughts you put into this song?
Taka: When I read the proposal for this work, I felt that it was very linked to the theme of the album "DETOX" that we were working on at that time. I was a little unsure about how far I could go, but I thought this song would fit the worldview of the drama the best. The title "Puppets" means dolls, but here it refers to the president or CEO, who comes out and takes responsibility when something goes wrong. But there is a much greater power behind it. The change of "Puppets" temporarily calms people's feelings, but they will no longer be fooled by such a system. It is filled with the idea that they will not listen to what the dolls you have prepared say. It is strong in Japanese, but I thought it would be conveyed differently in English (laughs).
Iida: So there was such a deep meaning behind it. I'm embarrassed because the only image that came to my mind was that of a "person without a will".
Taka: No no! By the way, at first the lyrics were all in English, but someone said it would be better to include Japanese for the theme song of a drama. It's rare for our songs to start with Japanese lyrics these days, so I thought that this might please the production team. It may be a bit of a stretch, but we wrote the lyrics in words that we considered in our own way.
Iida: What did you think when you saw it actually playing along with the drama?
Taka: I realized the power and influence of collaborating with a great work and releasing it to the world. I sometimes play it for close friends during the production stage, but it seems that it's hard to imagine the song on its own. Maybe the meaning of the song expanded when it was played along with the drama, but friends who I'd played it for many times contacted me and said, "After watching the drama, I wanted to listen to it again!" or "It was a perfect match!" I thought, "I played it for you before..." (laughs). But when I saw the ending myself, I felt, "This song is so good."
Iida: I'm relieved to hear you say that. Sunday Theatre has an image of being a "warm, family-friendly production," but this time I wanted to break that image, and decided from the beginning to go with hard rock, which is not usually chosen. I think that the ending of the first episode made the cast and staff, as well as the viewers, feel the goodness of TV dramas. We just want to deliver the best entertainment to the viewers, sincerely. ONE OK ROCK's music was a perfect fit for the final piece to achieve that. It was a moment when I realized that TV dramas can still create heart-touching content. In fact, I had kept it a secret from the students...
Taka: Oh, is that so?
Iida: That's right (laughs). I was watching the first episode with some students at the filming location, and the moment the intro started and I heard Taka's voice, I was surprised and said, "What?!" and "You're kidding!"
Taka: Seriously?! That makes me happy. On the other hand, had no one ever asked you who was singing the theme song?
Iida: They asked me, but I replied, "Try and guess" (laughs). But I told them from the first meeting that the project was started because of "18 Festival", and I even had some of the lyrics engraved on the small items I gave to the students, so I had scattered quite a few hints.
Taka: I also saw on social media that you were using rubber band merchandise as keychains on students' bags! That was some great foreshadowing.
Iida: After the first episode, the students came running over, saying, "That phrase...!" (laughs). So I replied, "You said that from the beginning, didn't you?" The reaction of the students and the reaction of the world was really big, and I was reminded of the power of ONE OK ROCK.
