REPORT | Dream Return to Itoshima

Text by Yuki Kawasaki
Photo by Hinato Nishitani

Co-Write DAY 2023 was a co-light camp held in Itoshima, Fukuoka in September 2023. The event “Dream Return to Itoshima -” to commemorate the release of the song that was born at that time, will be held in Taipei and Tokyo. In Taipei, the first was to perform at the B1 of Tsukimi Lu Junsov in Taipei in February, and the Tokyo performance was held at Aoyama Tsukimi Lu Junsov on Thursday, March 6th.

Through this camp, Taiwanese rapper, singer and multiplayer VUIZE (Wang Zhong Yu) and Japanese SSW/producer Ai Kakihira released two singles. Despite feeling the language barrier, he created “RHAN” and “Super Auto-bike~”.

“RHAN” means “connection,” but exactly as the word means, the solid connections through music led the two to Taipei and Tokyo. In addition to the two, the lineup will be held in the lineup: HUGEN as the opening acts, and Carlos Ma-chan, bisshi and Ben Inui as DJs. In addition, fragrance artist fragrance mona was the director of the incense.

In addition, between live shows, there was a talk event and a screening of a short documentary as an epilogue to “Co-Write DAY 2023.”

“If I had an interpreter, I might not have been able to do as pure music.”

Opening DJ bisshi woven an ambient that quietly set off the opening. He was once a member of PAELLAS and other teams, and is currently skilled not only as a bassist but also as an engineer and producer. As the spatial sound echoed through the floor, audiences were gathering one after another.

And then HUGEN started off as a live act. The four-member band, mainly track maker/vocal TP, produces an extremely indigenous sound. A glimpse of the original Japanese landscape is a glimpse of its post-classical/electronic nuance. Furthermore, the origin of “MAYA” comes from the name of the daughter of TP. Just like with “RHAN” and “Super Auto-bike~”, the music created by HUGEN is also rooted in everyday life and is full of blood.

Sakuragengo appears as a festival motif, but the authentic saxophone and bass are covered in the edges of drums and Japanese taiko drums. At this event, which is deeply rooted in local culture, it is hard to imagine an artist who will be more suitable as an opening act than they do. That was such a great performance.

Shortly after HUGEN’s turn, Vuize and Ai Kakihira, Sven Liu, who served as director of the short documentary, and Takanami Yutaka (NAMY), the creator of “Co-Write DAY 2023,” held a talk session. The story behind the events and the background of the production were discussed.

“Co-Write DAY 2023” is a story about Asian and Japanese artists living together in Itoshima and co-written songs. One of the players selected there was Vuize (Taiwan) and Ai Kakihira (Japan).

Ai Kakihira reveals, “I can’t speak English at all, so I was all worried at first.” Still, it seems that Vuize and Takanami have dispelled this. Vuize also said, “I had no idea how to write songs at first,” but as they spent time together, they gradually began to develop an image.

Sven Liu, who watched the scene up close, recalls, “We not only did our best to meet faces in the studio, but we also did a lot of things. We went to the beach and interacted with locals. Vuize and Ai made a song about what we had experienced there, and I took a video of them.”

The project has leapt farther than anyone involved imagined. In addition to the Taipei performance in February, it appears that he will also be performing live locally. Takanami says with excitement, “I hadn’t imagined this much either. I was hoping something could happen, but more is happening around the two of them than I had imagined.”

What really struck me when I was mentioned about the song was that nonverbal communication worked. Ai Kakihira said, “We had no choice but to communicate by relying on sound and senses,” and revealed, “If the interpreter had an environment where he looked after him from morning to night, I don’t think it would have been a perfect music. At least we wouldn’t have been able to do ‘RHAN’.”

Vuize also strongly agrees, “If we had an interpreter, we might not have been able to produce such pure music. Being able to create while communicating through trial and error was the best experience for the music producer.”

The documentary was then screened to check the answers for this talk session. No, it might be more accurate to say it’s footage of evidence. The two are depicted in great detail as they try to communicate despite their hardships, and the early days of their time in Itoshima could be felt as if they were feeling anxious through the screen.

Still, as the days go by, her expressions become brighter, and Vuize’s talkativeness accelerates. He even said, “I’m sure this project will work out.”

At the end of the documentary, Vuize will never forget the scene where he asks Takanami, “What would we have done if we couldn’t write a song?” In response to this question, he replied, “It can’t be helped. How do you say it in English? …That’s life!”

The video ends there.

A happy ending in a movie or a sense of happiness that is like the last day of a local festival

The second DJ was Carlos Ma. Inner Science songs were played all the time, attracting the audience into the world of colorful electronic sounds. I think there were many songs from the album “LUSTER,” released in 2024, but this album is also an organically touch instrumental music. It smells like earth, and the somewhat biological ambient music feels like the worldview that Nishimura Naomi, also known as Inner Science, has been creating up until now. I think Carlos Ma-chan’s song selection also had a solid concept for the day.

And finally, Vuize appears on the stage. He claims to be “loving chatting,” and while singing the song, he talked about his roots and other things during the MC of the stage. He says that he is “Hakka Taiwanese.” They are tributaries of the Han people, and they have their own language and customs.

As we paraded around the stage, Vuize taught us. “Have you ever been to Taipei? It’s the same big city as Tokyo, but it’s a very kheotic town.” “There’s the word “Chengmong” in Hakka. It means “thank you” in Japanese. I hope you will remember that today before heading home.”

“Inception,” performed on this day, is a song that empowers the listener while focusing on his own identity. In a completely different way from when he tried to interact with the floor in a calm tone, he showed off a terrifying flow. What is spoken in English and Hakka is a sincere message: “Life is just a game. Spread the dice quickly!”

One of the leading characters of the day will be the finale of the live act. Ai Kakihira appears on stage and weaves a romantic sound image in Haussie. “Ameagari no I Miss You Pt.2” has a pleasant percussion, while “Kiterutsu” takes the audience to the spurt of psychedelia with oriental vibes.

He has a strong affinity with Tsukimi Ru-Kimoufu, who has a somewhat ethnic atmosphere, and was a performance worthy of an artist who will direct the climax of this event.

As the song “Coreite” with Vuize is finally being performed, Ai Kakihira looks back at the background of the production. “The first day (of camping) was really hopeless. I couldn’t do anything and it was devastating, but the next morning Vuize opened the window and said, ‘It’s like FKJ (referring to the studio environment surrounded by greenery)!’ That’s how I felt I got a grasp of something.” This is what was performed by “RHAN” which has a gentle sound. The blinking bleep sound was like a Morse code that complemented the language.

Another crystallization of sweat and tears, “Super Auto-bike~” was also shown, and while using the iconic bike in Taipei’s everyday life as a motif, we were able to pull our minds in a thrill. It felt like a happy ending in a movie or the last day of a local festival.

And then, the authentic last batter, Ben Inui, appears at the DJ booth. The ambient folk/indie folk project by Inuishun, who was once a songwriter/vocalist for PEARL CENTER, has concluded the performance with a cold beat.

It seems like the ambient nuance was so strong that it can be speculated that the DJs on this day had a common theme. This also highlighted the unique local culture.

Before I knew it, the night had already deepened. The story, created by the talents of two people, both Japan and Taiwan, was settled as a grand finale. It should be emphasized that this narrative is still in the process. I look forward to the next season.

[Event Information]

“Dream Return to Itoshima -“
Date: Thursday, March 6th, 2025
Venue: Aoyama Tsukimiru-kunsoufu, Tokyo
Cast:
(LIVE)
Vuize Wang Zhong Yu From Taiwan
Ai Kakihira