Mr. Taro Hakase, a violinist, is the first guest in the dialogue project to learn from top-class people on various fields in order for Kawashima to become a company that pursues high quality.

We asked Mr. Hakase, who released his new album “SONGBOOK” on August 18, 2021, about his work, his life, and his commitment to manufacturing.

Simply make the person in front of you or your favorite person happy

Mr.Isosaka: It’s been 6 years since I became CEO, and based on the past that my seniors have made wonderful efforts, what should I do with the company for the next 100 years, whether it should be an extension, what should be changed, I’m trying to find out what shouldn’t be changed.  

Mr. Hakase: I see.

Mr.Isosaka:Mr.Isosaka: Now, rather than making the company bigger, if we pursue to be happy with the colleagues we work with and to become a company that can provide high-quality manufacturing, it will be possible for the next 100 years. I’m thinking.

At that time, I encountered the proposition “Then, what is good quality?”, But I invited Mr. Hakase to get a hint through a dialogue with a first-class person who embodies high quality.

Mr. Hakase: Thank you.。I can’t talk about the management of the company in detail because I leave the calculation of business money to the staff, and I can’t even keep my passbook in my wife and transfer money to the bank.

What I do is always to make good songs together and to make good stages.This is the same regardless of the budget or the number of customers, whether it is 10 people or 10,000 people.Every time I finish one song, I get applause and I live with a single heart that I want to be praised in a word.

Mr.Isosaka: I can understand that feeling very well.Before I say what to do with company management, I always think that the essence of working is to help people and make them happy, and as a result, it becomes a job. I think it will be a company.

Mr. Hakase:Then, “Who is that person?”In my case, if there were 1000 guests at the concert, of course, I couldn’t see the faces of all the guests.
So, I’m more limited and I go up to the stage and play with the idea of ​​”making my favorite person happy”.It is simple and easy to understand.

Mr.Isosaka:You mean you’re focusing on making the people you meet today or who are in front of you happy.

Mr. Hakase:Yes! There’s nothing better for the person than the driving force.Someone thinks the person of children, or other people think theperson of companies or women…,Anything is fine.The performance I’m doing is also the one at that time.
Perhaps running a company isn’t much different because it’s about creating something with your favorite friends and contributing to society or someone.

Mr.Isosaka:As I always say at work, for example, just asking a colleague “What happened today?” Is to make the other person happy and to help others.I think that the sum of the feelings of individual compassion leads to a good company.

Discovering fun every day, not doing everyday

Mr.Isosaka: In the case of Mr. Hakase, various musicians gather for each tour and stage, and the sum of them takes shape, aren’t you?

Mr. Hakase:That’s right.The concert is the epitome of that.Even if there are about 10 people on the stage, there are dozens or hundreds of staff around them, and there are thousands of customers, creating a single space.

Mr.Isosaka: I have heard that this new album “SONG BOOK” was recorded by the members who accompanied the tour last year (2020).

Mr.Hakase: Even though it’s a band, it’s like playing a classical orchestra.
During the last tour, I decided to “record all the songs for the next album with this member”.A member with an average age of 57 years!
But musicians don’t care about their age, so 20-year-olds and veterans are no different.I’ve been playing for 30 years, but I’m still nervous about going on stage every time.
On the other hand, as I often say to our staff, my concerts are rather serialized.The members are also fixed, and if you are an experienced performer, you will be able to perform well, or worse, you will feel like “Last year’s feeling is okay”.
I was impressed of that.Because the score is the same, last year and this year are not the same.

Mr.Isosaka:I understand.I often tell my employees, “Don’t go as usual.”That’s the most boring thing.

Mr. Hakase: Yes.I want to say “Don’t do it!”It’s the same with toothpaste, but it’s interesting to discover “how to brush like this” in the same thing every day.
For example, when I take a bath at home, I go around for the time being.’How long will your breath last?’In the summer, I recommend putting a cool and tingling shampoo on your whole body and lowering the temperature of the air conditioner to the limit after taking a bath to see how cool it is.

Mr.Isosaka:You’re youthful and innocent

Mr. Hakase:Do you praise me?

Mr. Iwasaka:Sure.I think innocence is really wonderful.It is important to go beyond prejudice and common sense in your daily life and work, and try something first.

Passion for the end of manufacturing

Mr. Hakase:For this album, I dug up the song I made a long time ago and rearranged it, but the song I made 30 years ago has a lot of “accessories to the song”.If there is only a gap, there is something like Huru Huru Huru, Dokhan, Don Titta, Don and Barn.Looking back on those days, I wonder if I was afraid of the time.

Mr.Isosaka:When we are young, we tend to think not only about manufacturing, but also about fashion and lifestyle.The less confident the contents are, the more the viewpoint may be dazzling.When I decide to compete in the essence, I realize the importance of pulling and sharpening rather than adding, and I think that the ones that spring up in the essence are cooler now.

Mr. Hakase:Yes.It’s fun to add, but it’s very important to pull, sharpen and refine. Many arts and products have a long expiration date and are timeless, so there is no waste.It’s a trial and error process to add and subtract every time.
As you can see from the president, if you stick to manufacturing, you won’t have a sharp edge, and if you start doing it, you can go anywhere.

Mr.Isosaka: That’s right.I didn’t want to compromise in the pursuit of perfection, so I became president and set our slogan as “Do it that far, one after another,” as the title of the book says, but I’m not always satisfied.

Mr. Hakase:When it comes to releasing an album like this time, the release date is decided first, and it is common to write and listen to songs about a year ago on average.From the staff’s point of view, the deadline is strictly adhered to.But I can’t compromise because I’m leaving a CD with my name on it until the last generation.
It’s always a fight with the staff, saying, “Let me try again!” Until the very end.

Mr. Isosaka:We’re not satisfied for the rest of our life, right?
We are not always satisfied with the current situation, and having a commitment to learning and improving will lead to the quality selected by our customers, and we will not compromise, but rather impress our

Mr. Hakase:That’s wonderful, isn’t it?It’s really difficult to be satisfied.In my case, once I deliver it, I can’t mess with it anymore, so I won’t listen to it until it goes on sale.Whenever I hear it, I want to retake it.
Also, every time of interview, I’m asked “Which song do you like the most on this album?” I want to do it.”Let’s make what we start tomorrow our favorite song.”
I think you’ll write the song until you die in this series.

Mr.Isosaka:I think that manufacturing is a continuation of that.

The talk spread about the common hobbies of shoe shining and fashion, and the conversation was very lively.

[Continued on the latter part]
In the second part, we will ask about universal manufacturing that will remain 100 or 200 years later, as well as Mr. Hakase’s unique outlook on life and education.

TARO HAKASE
Violinist 　
Taro Hakase Official Site
Born January 23, 1968 in Osaka Prefecture.
Debuted in 1990 as a violinist for “KRYZLER & KOMPANY”.Co-starring with Celine Dion makes him a global presence.
In 1996, started solo activities after the dissolution of “KRYZLER & KOMPANY”.In 2002, he established the level “HATS”, where he is the general music director.
In the fall of 2007, he moved to London with the theme of returning to the origin.
2020, 30th anniversary of debut.
Released the album「SONGBOOK」on August 18, 2021.
Starting from September 11th in Chiba and Matsudo,「“Taro Hakase Concert Tour 2021ー2021～SONGBOOK～」(national tour 38 venues 43 performances)will be held.

Picture:Takahiro Yamada
Text:Cross Media Marketing