Testimony 3Yosuke Kubozuka a.k.a Manji Line
(Actor, reggae DJ)
When I heard that Deli was running for office, I thought, "I have to support him.
Kubozuka-san, I have seen you wearing NITROW in magazines from time to time since you were in your 20's. Were you already interacting with NITRO members at that time?
Yosuke Kubozuka (Kubozuka):Yes, that's right. I don't remember exactly, but around the beginning of the 2000s, when I was going to Urahara and Harlem, I used to go to the stores, offices, and houses of the older members I used to hang out with. Sometimes they would be there, and I would say, "I'm DABO of NITRO," and we would meet one by one, one by one. I was about 21 or 22 years old, and I think that was when they were just starting to become known to the public. I think I was the senior of them, and they were the junior of me, so it must have been a little difficult for us to work together. (Laughs)
Were you aware of your activities as a musician at that time?
Kubozuka:Yes, I did. Until then, I had seen groups like Thunder (Family), but I was not used to seeing a rap group with a microphone, so when I saw them on stage, I felt their power. . It had an impact, and the atmosphere they all had was unique. I saw them collaborate with NIKE after that, but before that, there was already NITROW, and I thought it was cool when I saw the sharp designs they were putting in every time, but I had no chance to wear them, so I was wearing SUPREME, (5O) DUPPIES, MASTER PIECE, and so on. But then one day, Mr. EIGHT (aka Mr. EIGHT) came to me and said, "I'm going to wear this. But one day, EIGHT-kun (an artist who did the graphics for NITROW and NITRAID) invited me to visit his office, and I went to their office in Sendagaya at the time. That was the first time I went to visit NITRO by myself, and after we had a friendly conversation and I received a T-shirt, I started to wear the same T-shirt when I appeared in magazines. I still have that T-shirt.
Do you have any memorable episodes with NITRO or its members?
Kubozuka:What remains strong is DELI's (Matsudo City Council election) candidacy.
Did he tell you that?
Kubozuka:Yes, Deli contacted me and said, "Can you help me? I was like, "Can you help me? At first I thought, "What? But at the time, it was after 3.11, and there was a lot of talk here and there about "we're in trouble if we don't do something serious, right? I felt as if DELI-kun had appeared after the fermentation of the conversation, and I felt that I had to support him. I thought that a rapper participating in politics was like something out of a comic book or a movie, but DELI-kun has made it a reality, and although it must be difficult to continue, he has faced himself with sincerity and is still going strong. I am amazed.
. It's one example of their energy being expressed in a place that is neither music nor the street.
Kubozuka:I thought about this at the time of 3.11, but as far as I know, the first people to act at that time were defectives. They were the ones who went to help people and deliver relief supplies. We brought supplies, but people thought we were just trying to steal things and told us to go home. But in the end, I heard or saw stories of how the people in the disaster areas trusted me and thanked me for my work. When I started reggae music myself, I heard stories of tough-looking soundmen saying things like, "How many people would never betray their friends? or "If you love your mother, you should listen to this! I was really shocked to hear him say, "How many of you betray your friends? It's not a surprise that they sing about bad things because they are delinquents (......), but I think it's cool that they convey in their own way what is important and what is kind to people. I think that DELI's activities are the best example of this, and are at the sharpest point. Instead of "changing things on the street," he embodies "going out from the street to the other side and changing things," and shows it to the younger generation as well as the older generation and convinces them of it. I feel a lot of potential in him, and I am attracted to his strength to take a stand and stand on the front lines like that.
Since this activity was born out of such a crazy group of people, it must have had a great impact on them.
Kubozuka:I just think it's amazing. If the outside is the outside of the inside, then the fact that 8 people who look so different can be united by music and rapping, and can make each other recognize themselves and each other, is truly a great love. I am looking forward to seeing them continue to rap with their mature mic skills.
