Dialogue - Arisa Kawai -

Arisa Kawai is someone who creates expression without creating barriers, through her work in areas such as making accessories and running a gallery.

What does it mean to "value purity" when engaging in artistic activities?

Immediately after finishing recording, we spoke to them about the process and thoughts that went into creating their first album, "○."

Try to put into words the emotions that arise

The origins of Arisa's creative activities date back to her student days.

At the time, he felt that his classmates would not understand what he was feeling, so he spent his days simply doing what needed to be done, trying to turn off the emotional faucets as tight as possible to stop his emotions from leaking out.

However, even if you continue to ignore your emotions, they will not go away.

"When I was a student, I didn't have a safe place at home or at school, and things just didn't seem to work out. I don't want to make anyone sad or hurt anyone, but I'm hurting too.

I couldn't tell anyone what I was feeling.

I was writing poetry alone in my own world, never showing it to anyone. Looking back now, I think I had a strong desire to "protect myself" by expressing myself.

Expressing yourself allows you to live.

This sentiment is at the heart of all our activities."

Believe in the "primal landscape" that moved you

"I started expressing myself using my own voice about two years ago, and various sounds and poems started to emerge out of me."

Arisa first began singing and reciting poetry after performing with her friend, musician Haruka Nakamura.

After he started living on Irodoriyama, he began creating original songs; the music he started making at that time was a natural product of the feelings, customs, and lifestyle of living in this area.

"If I don't have a background in music, I might as well express myself to society, which would just be self-indulgent."

Arisa recalls that initially she never even imagined singing or reciting poetry in front of people.

He says that experiencing a concert where inner conflicts and subtle emotions were expressed brought about a change in his way of thinking.

"I was moved by the fact that even when emotions are expressed so vividly, and even if it's not meant for anyone in particular, it can still move people's hearts."
"If you're interested in something, just try it out." What had previously felt like something from a faraway world began to become something that concerned her personally, and Arisa began spending her days making music with the guitar.

Through encouraging words and connections from trustworthy people around me, I have been able to hold poetry readings and concerts in galleries in each prefecture.

The starting point of Arisa's creative endeavors is her desire to simply live in the present with pure feelings, just as plants live as they are.

“No one knows the process of growing seeds. I believe that by working with a high level of purity among various connections, someone will definitely notice and it will lead to an unexpected future.”

Cherishing the things and connections that come naturally

The album also includes the poem "Beautiful Person," written in memory of Saori Tashiro, a permanent member of the Utsushiki staff. "The poem came to me while Shota-kun was drawing a picture. Rather than me writing it, I think Tashiro-chan was conveying her feelings for her daughter, Nonohana-chan, through me."

The album "◯" is Arisa's first attempt at a new challenge. It is not hard to imagine that she has put in a lot of preparation.

"My sound is not sophisticated. I don't have any advanced techniques. I'm not a musician. But it is filled with the true, unadulterated essence of what I have lived in the past, in the present, and for the future. I hope that my sound can reach someone's heartfelt voice."

After this conversation, I realized that "living true to yourself" means respecting "you can live true to yourself" ── Looking back at Arisa's path, I realized that every event in life is connected to the present. The songs, filled with the beauty that can only be born in this moment, are scheduled to be sold as a CD album "◯". I hope you will take this opportunity to pick it up and listen to it.

[Interview -Waratatsu・Arisa Kawai-]

Dialogue - Smile and Arisa Kawai -

Since 2017, the married couple, Ekata and Arisa, have been gradually clearing land and are living on a mountain they have named "Irodoriyama" as their permanent home.

[Interview -Arisa Kawai-]

Dialogue - Arisa Kawai -

Arisa started making accessories using plants around the time she quit her job as a company employee.

Interviewer and writer: Yoshiaki Ono