In this episode of "Fateful Encounters," we ask today's most popular actors and artists about the people who influenced them. This time, we interviewed singer Kondo Masahiko, who turned 60 last July and held a hugely successful birthday concert at the Nippon Budokan (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo), about his meeting and relationship with the late writer Ijuin Shizuka, who wrote the lyrics for Kondo's hit songs such as "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku" (1981) and "Jounetsu☆Neppu Serenaade" (1982) under the pseudonym Date Ayumu.
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He passed away over a year ago (November 2023), but I was greatly taken care of by Ijuin Shizuka ever since my debut.
Ijuin wrote the lyrics for "Honmoku Rat," which was what used to be called the B-side (coupling song) of their debut song "Sneakers Blues" (1980), and they also sang songs with lyrics written by Ijuin at various milestones, such as "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku" and "Gokusha" (1987).
Even in my personal life, I consulted with Ijuin-san when I got married, and he helped me when my mother passed away. He always showed up and helped me at important times.
We weren't overly attached, but had a really good, friendly relationship. We even went to Las Vegas together.
We had a pretty deep conversation. Ijuin-san also likes alcohol a lot, and we talked about life while drinking. When he asked me "How are things going lately?" and I asked for his advice, he would say "I see, I see. You should give up on that" or "Maybe you should do it this way," and we talked like that... It was very easy to talk to him.
He was more than 10 years older than me (14 years older than me), so he was like an older brother to me, and sometimes like a father to me, and to me he was something of an "adult" I could look up to.
Speaking of "adults," I turned 60 last year, but I don't feel any different. The reaction of those around me was, "What? Matchi is already 60?"
At her birthday concert last year, she wore a red costume, but realized later that it was because she was turning 60 (laughs).
I think turning 60 now is just a passing point. My body is still perfectly capable. So I want to tell people of my generation that we're just passing points, so let's continue to work hard together and stay healthy.
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Kondo Masahiko Born July 19, 1964, from Kanagawa Prefecture. In 1979, he made his entertainment debut in the drama "3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi Sensei" (TBS). In December 1980, he made his debut as a singer with "Sneakers Blues". In 1981, he won The Japan Record Awards for Best New Artist with "Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku". In the same year, he made his debut at the "NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen". Since then, he has produced many hit songs such as "Gokusha" and "Midnight Shuffle", and appeared in dramas and movies as an actor. Since 1984, he has also worked as a race car driver, and in 2000, he formed his own racing team "KONDO RACING". He is currently working as the owner and manager. From April 2023, he will serve as the chairman of the board of directors of Japan Race Promotion, which operates Super Formula and other races. He held a birthday concert at the Nippon Budokan last July. He will be attempting his first musical in 30 years in the play "Dream High," which began performances on April 11th of this year.
*"Kondo Masahiko & Maeda Nobuteru: Two Men's Adventure in Thailand - Feeling the Wind and Songs," a trip to Thailand with Maeda Nobuteru from "TUBE," is currently being broadcast on SKY PerfecTV! "NTV Plus Drama, Anime, and Live Music" (CS300). The next episode will be broadcast on April 20th at 10:00 AM (new episodes broadcast every other week, 6 episodes in total). The next episode of "Kondo Masahiko: A Soaring 60-Year-Old's Challenge: A Story Connected with Unreleased Scenes" will be broadcast on the same channel from 10:30 AM on May 25th.
