(the) Road to the Deep East

R246 STORY – it's not a self-mocking title of a censored lolicon story which people under 246-years-old can watch it without any restriction. Actually, It's a title of an omnibus movie which will be released in this August in japan. 'R' just stands for 'root' route.

In this movie 'R246' , 6 Japanese artists from different fields challenges to movie directingr, using this 'R246' as the common motif. Six directors selected for this omnibus are: Nakamura Shidou(Kabuki Actor), Asano Tadanobu(Actor), IL MARI from Rip Slyme, VERBAL from m-flo, Yusuke Santa Maria(ex-musician and talento), and ex-mixed martial artist and UFC Japan Chamipion , Sudo Genki.

(official site)
http://www.r246s.jp/

How these 5 artists or 1 common people (Yusuke) will struggle with movie directing must be a interesting theme. Sudo Genki's film is a kind of epoch-maiking one. As far as I can remember, this short film will be the first movie in the world directed by a mix martial artist. IL MARI's love story about a young high school student who debuts in a club is also intriguing. Above all, personally, I was intrigued by Verbal's documentary and its theme.

'Is there any future left for Japanese Hip-Hop?' It seems it was a kind of long standing question for verbal.

According to him, Japanese hip hop has already established a certain position in Japanese culture. But what the leading authorities of this genre are thinking about now? In this film, he actually interviews some Japanese representative artists, and ask them about the future of Japanese hip-hop.

He is explaining about this theme and situation in details on his blog.

When verbal visited the anniversary concert from LOAD FINESSE at Shibuya AX days back, while he enjoyed the concert itself, he couldn't help minding about the audience gathered there. Almost all of them were males, and over misoji(30 years old), or boys who were with young girls looking bored. Then verbal thought: “Has hip-hop already become a genre for オッサン(ossan, middle-aged men)?

He also worries that the reference from classic like Notorious BIG or 2pac has already become classic, but anything innovative wasn't born after them, and artists have to refer the trucks from them. Then he says he is longing for a new innovative hip-hop artist who can create the own style which can be rooted among Japanese and influence the next generation.

(report from his blog)
http://ameblo.jp/m-flo-verbal/page-3.html
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...Ironically, the feeling verbal felt at this concert is exactly same as the one I felt whenever I visit idol-pop concerts. Seeing a lot of aged audience there, 'Has Idol pop already become a genre for ossans?' Listening a boring idol pop, 'Aren't there any new artists who can be loved by the next generation?' ... Then I left there, and took a refuge at hip-hop world instead. But it seems this genre is also agonizing with aging society.

As far as I read those notes, at this point, I think Mr verbal is worrying too much, though. Certainly, as as I coincidentally discovered, many active Japanese hip-hop artists are not at the age which can not be called young. And it must be true that fans of them are also aging. Regarding the pioneers of this genre like ZEEBRA or Rhymester, this aging problem of members and fans must be more serious, too.

However, on the other hand, Mr verbal might not recognize them as hip-hop units, but hip-hop-esque ballads from Ketsumeishi or Funky Monkey Babies are selling pretty well, and those groups have certain number of fans from younger generation. And we should not overlook there are some idol boys who can rap naturally, like Tanaka-kun from KAT-TUN. So, just like rock music 40 years ago, hip-hop has already now absorbed in JPOP culture, very naturally. And one of the groups he discovered, SOUL'd OUT is now creating its own world without depending on classics. Classic

Japanese hip-hop may die out, but this JPOP arranged one will survive then. And in the future, the one evolved uniquely in JPOP may be exported just like some visual-kei rock musicians. And just like Kiss becomes X Japan, and X Japan becomes Luna Sea, and Luna Sea becomes Dir en Gray　or L'arc en ciel, that unique style may be handed down from generation to generation.

But that's just my idea, and Mr Verbal won't be satisfied with it and the future I predicted. I'm very interested in what answer will this living legend of Japanese hip-hop lead in this documentary film. If I could keep my memory until then, I'd like to check this movie out in this summer, as a ossan, and hopefully a young lady looking bored with me.