The renowned Japanese musician and singer-songwriter Kiyoharu He made strong statements in a recent interview, after finishing his tour with the band Boris. His comments resonated with the Japanese music industry and sparked a debate about the authentic essence of rock and its representation in today's culture.

In the interview, Kiyoharu expressed his admiration for Boris, a band that has been taking its music to international stages for years. He suggested that Boris be the headline band at the Fuji Rock festival, representing Japan. This statement highlights his opinion on the lack of recognition for true talents in the Japanese music scene.

Kiyoharu continued. criticizing the way Japan treats musicianshighlighting that in the country Mediocre musicians tend to be more valued than those with real talent.. For him, this trend is leading to the decline of rock music in Japan. Furthermore, he highlighted that rap has surpassed rock in popularity, reflecting a disconnect between rock's authenticity and what the public perceives.

One of the most notable points of his criticism was directed at the relationship between music and the anime industry. Kiyoharu mentioned that some rock bands gain international fame because one of their songs becomes a hit thanks to a popular anime. He criticized how these bands use their success in anime to promote themselves as if they had a consolidated international fan base, calling this practice “truly regrettable” and reflecting on how the music scene works in Japan. Bands gain recognition not for their genuine talent, but for their association with popular entertainment products.

In conclusion, Kiyoharu emphasized that the essence of rock is being perceived as false for those seeking authenticity in music. He noted that audiences can detect a lack of authenticity in contemporary rock music. Kiyoharu's statements generated an intense debate in the music communityand many are wondering whether these criticisms will lead to a change in the way music is valued and promoted in Japan.

• «King Wildebeest, huh?».
• «Today's rock bands lack appeal in the lead singer's voice».
• «Stupid Japanese people love popularity abroad».
• «There is no choice, because without deriving from anime songs there is no success abroad».
• «I thought they were saying more old-fashioned things, but they're actually saying something very reasonable. The success of anime songs is due to the power of anime. Artists are overrated because of anime, but they're confused about it. Who knew we'd get to this point?».
• «It's brave. Saying it now makes young people criticize him out of envy.».
• «The problem is that this person doesn't realize that the illusion of "authenticity" is disappearing. He should be alone in the "authentic city."».
• «Not just rock bands».
• «Almost everything he sells is anime music.».
• «Nowadays, anime music is the main battleground».
• «The focus of anime has changed, now they think about international distribution from the beginning».
• «I've heard that even when they perform abroad, most of the attendees are Japanese. Festivals and concerts abroad are heavily influenced by anime.».
• «Is this comment from this year? It's shocking».
• «Even outside of anime songs, animated music videos are gaining more attention. It seems that the combination of animation and music is becoming increasingly important.».

Source: Rolling Stone Japan