In 2015, from May 24th to 26th, Raft performed a live debut in 3 houses. What changed from the Maiden voyage? No one knew about them. What kind of results did they get as complete strangers? Now let’s take a look from the beginning.

In 2015, May 24th＠PLAY YARD

When they arrived at the house, an unexpected surprise was waiting for them. The quality of equipment and instrument was totally low level. Especially the Drums and cymbals were cracked and broken. Koura got nervous. When in Rome do as the Romans do. Even if you know it, it’s hard to accept it. So many Japanese musicians have given up on making it big without showing their true talent. How you deal with it is the key to success overseas. Usually it’s never asked in Japan.
As time went by, people started paying attention to their performance. After the performance, most of the people gave a big round of applause. That was the moment. People was impressed with their music. Chon-Kiow! – Cheers in Thai. They’re so happy at the wrap up party.

The live at “PLAY YARD”was great but they’re not completely satisfied. On May 25th, Fujioka, Koura and Fujita had a meeting at the hotel, discussing the feedback, improvements and the next task. There’s a saying a live debut usually ends with successful result. It means the next live show at “Studio RAM” must be the place to show their true talent. It’ll be a battle of bands with local musicians. People have high expectations for music. What will people think about them?

By watching the YouTube video (2:31-14:33), it’s unnecessary worry. They truly enjoyed their music.

In 2015, May 26th＠STUDIO LAM

The live at “PLAY YARD”was great but they’re not completely satisfied. On May 25th, Fujioka, Koura and Fujita had a meeting at the hotel, discussing the feedback, improvements and the next task. There’s a saying a live debut usually ends with successful result. It means the next live show at “Studio RAM” must be the place to show their true talent. It’ll be a battle of bands with local musicians. People have high expectations for music. What will people think about them?

By watching the YouTube video (2:31-14:33), it’s unnecessary worry. They truly enjoyed their music.

In 2015, May 27th＠FATTY’S BAR

On the last day, the live performance was a bit different. In addition to Thai, there’re also European tourists coming. Compared to last two days, it’s different. “They changed the music they used to play, and enjoyed the unexpected moment” people responded with a great reaction. You can see on YouTube from 14:34 until the end. Fujioka says “I was so happy when a German man said our groove was awesome!”

In 2015, May 28th, they came back to Japan. They moved on to the next step. Yes, this Maiden voyage was the first step to the next project. The next will be in 2015, from Sep. 30th to Oct. 5th. They’re all set with a new singer!

After the show, everyone could know what a great time audiences and “Kumejima no Kaze”themselves had.
First,”Hiroshi Kamesaki”as a percussionist says “It was the great show this year as well”
Actually his action carried the show out.
First time Kamesaki met Higa,he was interested in the introverted character and beautiful voice of Higa.
And he connected Osaka and Kumejima by their bond.
At the rehearsal he always listened all the member’s opinions and led the band more accretive.
Of course He is the one loves “Kumejima no kaze” and also loved by locals….

Another percussionist “Ryota Yamaguchi”.
The first word he said after the show was”it was dope”.
Because of the dancing audiences he felt more excited.
He said ” I’m so happy and I feel really blessed to be a musician now”.
Speaking of his episode,when he first came to Kumejima as a part time worker,
he decided to live as a percussionist.
And he was easy to get along well with Higa and other members.
He has joined from the first show of “Kumejima no Kaze” and is already thinking of next show coming up next year.

And there’s a one we can’t forget.
One of the happiest audience Mr Morishima from the reggae bar “spiral “.
And he gave a opportunity to Yamaguchi to become a percussionist.
And also Nakanishi and Kamesaki,Higa and members of “Shima gururu”,he connected all the people subconciously.
He gave us some words when we had a secret interview.
“Echan,Naoki,Kamechan,Ryota,members of “Shima gururu”……
It’s like a miracle they encountered .
I really love their music.
I really want more people have opportunities to listen to their musics,and want to cheer Kumejima people up.
They must say “We don’t think in that way,we just enjoy the music.”
But I’m sure your music have a power to make Kumejima’s future great.
What kind of “spiral” does the show in westernmost discribe?
It has just started.

But he even didn’t know that playing SHAMISEN will be major influences in his life in that time.
He says it was impossible to meet Ekkosan（Etsuko Nakanishi／sax),Kamechan(Hiroshi Kamezaki/percussion) and Ryota(Ryota Yamaguchi/percussion) as a members of “Kumejima’s window”without folk songs and Shamisen.
This encounter made me find new goals.

First I am going to have a show in Sendai.
In Sendai,there is a man I know well always takes care of me very well.
When I had a show in Osaka,he came to see me with his wife all the way from Sendai.
So I deeply felt if I could do something for people in Sendai when we had the great east Japan earthquake.
Another thing is releasing the CD.
I want to tell many people how wonderful place Kumejima is!
If I could call people to Kumejima as many as possible by my song.
Nothing better than this if my music could touch those people.

I am eager to put one special song in this CD.
The song is called “Island’s window” written by Kamechan.
When I have checked the rylics of this song,I’ve been confident that I can tell my feelings to everyone by this song.
I believe these two goals will be achieved someday.
If I keep my storing will,the idea becomes real.
I’ve just wanted to play with Ekkosan and Kamechan and Ryota in Kumejima very much,and this feeling pushed me a lot.
At the beggining some people weren’t acceptable,but now many people are asking “When is your next show??”.

There are some people called “reaction entertainer “in Japan. Eating “Oden” scalding hot on purpose or nipping own nose by a crawfish etc… They are holding out as much as can. And they are doing just anything for the sake of laugh. I didn’t have a heart to do like them before I went to Thailand. Actually, I’m rarely in work. I just thought that I want to increase the drawer through session with various people. But, I was staying motionless. The Thailand travel is became a silver bullet to change myself. I had a session jump in live house in an unknown country. It was 3nights4days and I had amazing experience which be closed to the best in my life. The local musicians I play together was pleased me. The audience also gave enjoying. I wonder why I haven’t done to take a drastic action until now.

I want to try more in many places. I hope to communicate with many people and increasing my elicitations which a new perspective. Even now, my feeling has become strongly day by day after returning my home. Not only Thailand, I want try to go New York alone. However I should be better prepared than ever for the next. It’s very frustrating two days without readiness…. You can check out my failure in the movie below.

On the first place I plunged, I asked to play on the stage. The musician told me that “the next song is Hotel California.”It’s very famous song in the world. But I don’t know it that time. So I was taken down from the stage I less than 5seconds.
Finally, I had been playing on the stage at another live house and I had deep interchange between the local musicians. My emotions got between happiness and regret that time. If I was studying the world music on a daily basis, I would have succeeded to play at the first place. So, I began to study many kinds music such as jazz etc…I’ve been learning English since returning from Thailand. For never repeat the same mistake.
That’s goodness of reaction entertainer to prepare shrewdly so that fan whatever happens.

Sometime, if I have flew to the United States in the future. It’s not only enjoying to have a session. I want put my life at risk to play the music. I believe when I take the higher risk, I get the bigger fish. So, I began a boxing as okay even in the fight with someone in U.S.A. To the contrary of the picture I had painted in my mind, I broke my body as early as these days already…

Few people who get offended said to be “You are earnest person. “But this word sting me. It’s sound like “No sense of fun and timid person “for me. Honestly, I was hating myself who have such of one side. Until now, while I know these were turning points. But, I haven’t taken the step many times. Because, I was scared to make a mistakes. At one time, I had tried to think it “It’s ok. I’m just me. Can’t be anyone else.” But now, I think I should change myself for living as a drummer. For this time, I felt I will get something opportunity to change myself by absorbing roughish style of Thailand.

It was a short stay of three nights and four days, But It was more than imagination occurred change and evolution in myself. It’s clear as day when comparing from standing on the stage to begin to play between hard rock on the first day and improvise session on the last day. The first day, I was exchanging to the pedal that I bring and adjusting the cymbals too carefully.
But, the last day was beginning to play immediately after up to the stage without bring anything. Actually, it was hard to tread the others pedal. However I thought I could get by somehow. Might be I’d fail and embarrass myself. ”that’s ok. Only end up laughed at.”
I haven’t given a thought about it before I came to Thailand.

After returned home, I’m feeling it might be have stayed in my mind which the feeling of “Something might be worked out.” When I joined DOOKIE FESTA. Nevertheless I have teamed up with other band, my heart captured by DOOKIE FESTA’s live. I jumped into the dressing room and directly appealed “I want to join in to your band” Because I thought
”It’s is one chance in a million. “
When I heard the words from MC that “Now, this drummer is only supporting their band.　 He is just temporary. As a result, my drummer life has changed dramatically. I feel that awaken me to make a good decision efficiently smoldering in myself by virtue of challenge in Thailand this time. I’ll make sure to able to get a good turning point of a number to greet in the future. And It has become not know my future in a good meaning.

I decided to aspire to musicians when I was a high school senior. I had a mysterious self-confidence.”I absolutely, stand in the stage of festival which boasts 10,000 scales. It’s not a dream even world tour.”Yes, I’m super positive person.” When, I’m playing base also in the same way. I can do it well. I have never felt my limit. Until 2013 the end of the year…

When we were recording a new song of DOOKIE FESTA. “Am I okay?” ” Is there someone instead of me in my position?” Uncontrollable anxiety and doubt in my mind. I don’t know what it is or seems to me even considering the phrase. Repetition of trial and error…So I was groping blindly in the dark for a while. But, suddenly turning point came in. When I saw the live DVD of one musician, I was stopping to shake my mind by the hard fisted sounds. That’s exactly” A bolt from the blue”. Which places am I going to?
There is always a bigger fish. Actually I believe I have a infinite possibility right? I was getting back the passion when I decided to compete on the base. It’s from deep within my mind little by little. .

Once we get back to my start line. That’s this time of Thailand’s project which floated think as a method. Originally World Tour is one of the targets since I was the third year of high school. I haven’t been to go abroad to play the music. I don’t want to compromise no matter what pull myself. And, I was approaching my dream at that time even a little.
There was a short stay of three days. But, there were a lot of valuable harvests. I felt the powers which bridge a language barrier by hard rock music. Also I had the wonderful feeling through an improvisation session to interact with foreign peoples in the music.
Thanks all of them, I got back the mysterious self-confidence. At the same time, I founded my new challenges that I want to.”Now expect the bassist Mr. Yoshiyuki Fujioka!” Even I do say it myself.