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cheerful02_ivyKen Miyake Determination and readiness as an idol
Ken Miyake made his solo debut two years ago, and will soon be celebrating his 30th anniversary since his debut. Having released a new album and breaking new ground, Miyake-san now talks about his pride as an idol.
Ken Miyake made his solo debut two years ago and will soon celebrate his 30th anniversary. He talked about the thoughts behind the new album “THE iDOL” released on June 5, 2024, and his commitment to becoming an “idol” who feels limitless possibilities. He said he made this decision because he`s active as a solo idol.
Occupation : idol. That's how Ken Miyake calls himself in his Twitter (now X) profile, which he opened two years ago when he made his solo debut. It was a declaration of his determination to continue living as idols even though he`s no longer in a group.
“When I decided to go solo, I thought about who I wanted to become, and I thought calling myself an “idol” would be the most appropriate. At that time, I looked up the word “idol” again, and found that it had many various meanings, including “figure” and “fantasy”, and I interpreted it as [someone who can become anything].”
1st Interview
Ken Miyake, who celebrating his 30th anniversary since his debut, talked about his determination to become an idol.
“When I decided to go solo after transferring…”
Ken Miyake made his solo debut two years ago and will soon celebrate his 30th anniversary. He talked about the thoughts behind the new album “THE iDOL” released on June 5, 2024, and his commitment to becoming an “idol” who feels limitless possibilities. He said he made this decision because he`s active as a solo idol.
“I want to develop the potential of an idol”
Occupation : idol. That's how Ken Miyake calls himself in his Twitter (now X) profile, which he opened two years ago when he made his solo debut. It was a declaration of his determination to continue living as idols even though he`s no longer in a group.
“When I decided to go solo, I thought about who I wanted to become, and I thought calling myself an “idol” would be the most appropriate. At that time, I looked up the word “idol” again, and found that it had many various meanings, including “figure” and “fantasy”, and I interpreted it as [someone who can become anything].”
What he`s looking at is something much broader than himself; the concept and existence of "idol". This is his respect and gratitude for the world that has inspired him to dream, aspire and drive him forward for the 30 years since he entered the entertainment industry at the age of 13.
“Many idols who have led the way up to now have expanded their possibilities little by little as they've gone on to various successes, and I believe that I`m here today thanks to that. Besides, I've gained a lot from my 30 years of activity, and that has given me some confidence. Based on that, I realized that I must be the one to pave the way for those who follow me as an idol, and I also wanted to pursue broadening my own potential😉”
The ability to transcend borders is an idol's special quality
Nowadays, idols have become multi-talented figures who are active not only in singing and dancing, but also in various fields such as acting and variety shows.
“I think the ability to transcend borders is a defining characteristic of idols. When I say borders, I don't just mean working in various genres that aren't limited to singing and dancing, but also in a broader sense, such as crossing national borders and cultural barriers. In a sense, this can be called transparency, like the ability to take on any color.”
On the other hand, when it comes to idols, many people still have the impression that they`re incomplete in society. That is why they`re sometimes called "artists". “This is just my opinion, but…”.
“I think an artist is someone who creates something from scratch. Although I produce the music, but I don't write the lyrics or compose the music; I'm simply the one who is provided with the songs. But I don't have any negative feelings about it. It's up to me to decide how to express and produce the songs I collaborate with the artists to create🙂 So by being influenced by something, there`s a great deal of potential for it to become something new, which means it's genreless. That high level of freedom is what makes being an idol so attractive🥰.”
These words also contain a deep respect for artists who create things from scratch.
“I think it's no easy feat to create something from nothing. There`re many creators close to me who do this kind of work, and because I know how difficult of creating something, I don't want to take them lightly and I want to show my respect for them😀.”
Enjoy chemistry with various artists
This time Miyake-san moved his activities to a new place and released his first album. The title is “IDOL”. A diverse range of artists with different genres, careers and backgrounds are participating in the song provision, from veterans like Micro, who established a new genre called Hawaiian reggae, which combines elements of Jamaican and Hawaiian music; SIRUP, who is attracting attention for his sophisticated songs that fuse soul, R&B and hip hop; WurtS, who is currently attracting attention by making waves on YouTube and TikTok; and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Miyake Buki, a current university student who is garnering attention for his unique worldview that mixes pop and surrealism. It`s truly a diverse and gorgeous album.
“I communicated very closely with each of them, and I was able to convey in great detail the kind of song I wanted them to make. Its wasn't just an exact request, but each artist created something even better than the reference I provided.”
I put my current thoughts and feelings into the lyrics
Among the songs included is "iDOLING" by Micro, former member of Def Tech, which was released digitally in January of this year. This is a sequel and updated version of 「Kanashī hodo ni a. i. do. ru”〜 garasu no kutsu 〜」, a solo song released in 2010 which was also produced by Micro. “If 「Kanashī hodo ni a. i. do. ru”〜 garasu no kutsu 〜」 is a song that captures the reality of that time, then “iDOLING” contains thoughts and hopes for the idol's life up to now, the past, the present , and a future that can never be separated, as well as the life of idols to come.”
“At the first, the song 『Kanashī hodo ni a. i. do. ru”〜 garasu no kutsu 〜』 was about my views on love and idols at that time, and 『iDOLING』 was about my true thoughts and feelings now, more than a decade later. Before we started production, I had many long discussions with Micro, and then he wrote the lyrics. He was able to sweeten my frank words, while still retaining the feelings that were spilling out of them, and he ended up creating something that exceeded my expectations, including the way he rhymed. The way he handles things so well makes me think he`s truly a magician of words. The way he handles things so well makes me think he is truly a magician of words.”
He has been at the center of the great whirlpool of the times and has been active as an idol in glamorous places since an early age. However, he seems to be calmly looking down on himself and the situation he finds himself in. That's why we'd like to ask the following question: What do you think is Ken Miyake's selling point as an idol?
“It's quite difficult for me to say it myself. But if you listen to this album, I think you'll understand (LOL)😂”
2nd Interview
“I'm who I am today because I admire SMAP.”
Ken Miyake talks about “what he wants to do for his juniors” on his 30th debut anniversary
The person that Ken Miyake has always followed
Ken Miyake talks about “what he wants to do for his juniors” on his 30th debut anniversary
The person that Ken Miyake has always followed
Even as he ages, he continues to maintain her beautiful and sophisticated looks, and is also known as a "professional idol" due to him stoicism in never neglecting lessons and preparations to always deliver a perfect performance on stage, and his fan-first attitude. So Who is Miyake-san's "eternal idol"?
“Everyone would agree that SMAP is one of Japan's most representative super idols. I grew up admiring those people and that's what has made me who I`m today, and we`re the generation that has truly benefited from them. I think idols have developed their potential beyond just singing and dancing…..So I respect them a lot. That's why I hope that one day I can become someone who can pave the way for those younger than me🤗.
Many of his juniors work at the current agency, TOBE. His interactions with his juniors can be seen in the variety show "Tobeban," which is streamed live on YouTube, and the in-depth variety show "TOBE’s Summer Vacation," which aired on Abema in January this year. It is impressive to see Miyake-san kept his own pace, sometimes making fun, sometimes nagging, and creating a gentle atmosphere that allowed his juniors to behave without feeling intimidated.
“I'm thinking about what I can do now, not just for the TOBE artist, but for all everyone involved in the work of being an idol in the world of entertainment😊”
The determination and readiness I felt as a teenager to cherish my fans
What is conveyed through every word is him respect for idols and his being an idol. He said that it was thanks to the fans that he was able to view his idol Ken Miyake in a positive way.
“I think the act of falling in love with someone requires a huge amount of energy. When I do these activities, I often feel a variety of different emotions from different people...sometimes they`re happy, sometimes they`re sad, and there`re many other emotions that I'm exposed to. For example, I think many people come to concerts to take a break from everyday life. During the encore, when the lights came on and the venue brightened up, I could see the faces of the audience well, and while some people are smiling and looking like they're having fun, others are so moved they're crying, and some people are holding portraits of people they've lost, whether they're family or friends. When I saw those fans in my impressionable teenage years, I felt a sense of determination that I had to cherish the people who supported me like that, and that hasn't changed even now😀”
I want to continue evolving while also listening to the thoughts of my fans.
While he has his own sense of beauty, taste, thoughts, and intentions, he also has the flexibility to change and commit to the feelings of his fans and the trends of the times. That's why we wanted to ask him about the one thing he won't compromise on.
“The most important thing about my work is whether it moves me emotionally. On the other hand, I don't want to do anything that doesn't move me emotionally, and at the same time, I don't want to do work that I don't put any emotion into. Sometimes it's just an intuitive feeling like I'll enjoy it or something I'm not good at, But when I create something, whether it's a song or a live performance, I also have a strong desire to leave behind something that I put my heart into. I`ve unwavering feelings for the fans who have always supported me all these years, and I think that making those people happy is my number one priority.”
After saying that, there was a short pause and then he said, “That's a difficult point, though…”
“I don't want to leave everyone who has supported me up until now. The reason I feel this way is because I feel that I`ve received something so great.”
“Because I know that there`re people who look forward to my activities and who find meaning in their lives. That's why it's not a just one-way, but I also have to think about my fans... I think I`ve to think about each other's lives. That may be one of the things I want to convey to my juniors. I'm sure each of us has built relationships with our fans, so I want them to maintain that relationship well.”
The new path that Miyake-san is taking is one that no one has ever walked before, and it is a path that is unique to him. We look forward to seeing the views it will show us from there.
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KEN MIYAKE/三宅健
Born on July 2, 1979. Kanagawa Prefecture.
Announced as the first TOBE artist in July 2023.. As an artist, he announced that he would challenge new forms of entertainment and envision a new "idol image."
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Date: 2024-07-21 12:05 pm (UTC)I love what Ken-kun talks about his fans <3
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Date: 2024-07-24 10:22 am (UTC)