
Nomura:Does this kind of girl thing affect your work or something?
Barry:Of course . . drawing and all that.
Nomura:In what way?
Barry:. I don't know if it's a matter of loosening everything up, but there are some very good parts. But there are also some very good parts.
Nomura:But it also motivates you to start something new, doesn't it?
Barry:Yes, of course , of course. I don't know if I'm just doing it, though.
Nomura:But you feel the change.
Barry:. yes, I play with young kids (laughs). I get new ideas from them. It's not an exchange, but it's great.
Nomura:Do you still meet up with old artist friends? Or do you tend to hang out with younger kids more often these days?
Barry:You have a lot of young kids. Is that bad?

Nomura:No, I don't think so at all , I'm the same way.
Barry:What is the ratio in percentages?
Nomura:The youngest kids I hang out with every week are like teenagers. . but that's what makes it so much fun. I get to see really unexpected questions and reactions, and it's really refreshing. . Every time I do this, it offers me new values and new ways of looking at things. When you've lived this long, you feel like you know a lot, so you don't really try to learn anymore. But when I play with young people, I find that..,
Barry:So those values are blown out of the water.
Nomura:. yes. So, personally, I prefer playing with young girls much more than going to a business dinner with some CEO. But that's the same for Barry, isn't it?
Barry:Yes, they are teaching me, and I want to be taught by them.
Nomura:Do you ever meet interesting scenes or young people outside of Tokyo ?
Barry:Tokyo is really nice. I'd say elsewhere, like Brazil . Have you ever been there?
Nomura:I've never been there.
Barry:Let's go together on your 50th , my 70th birthday.
Nomura:(Laughs) . I really want to go there, but . I hear there are a lot of beautiful people there (laughs).
Barry:Yeah, I'm sure it's too much .
Nomura:When you go, are you going to Rio? Or Sao Paulo?
Barry:. everywhere. Sao Paulo was very good.
Nomura:You like that kind of locality in a city, don't you?
Barry:Maybe so, but I think they like places with good energies as much as they like to play with young girls.

Nomura:But how do you keep in touch with your friends who have been playing with you since you were young and have grown up? For example, my friends in my band started out having fun and playing with good energy, but as soon as they started selling and money started coming in, they started playing only with people who had the same kind of money and ease as they did.
Barry:I know, I know, it sucks .
Nomura:. yes, I do. . that's why I think people like you are rare.
Barry:Having money is not a bad thing. . but what I'm looking for is very little, being near the ocean and having friends to go to the ocean with me. It's very simple. I have a very small space to paint.
Nomura:. my space is very small, too.
Barry:What's in it for you?
Nomura:The table is big , but the space for stuff is too messy and only enough for a notebook. What I need is coffee and cigarettes. . I still smoke two packs a day.
Barry:Wow.
Nomura:33 years .
(High five!
Barry:You have a nice voice.
Nomura:I just rattle on because I went to karaoke very late two days ago.
Barry:Do you ever see Frances McDormand, who was a voice actor in Inugashima? Whenever I see him, we always talk about Kun. Were those recorded in separate studios?
Nomura:. actually only a few of us recorded it in the studio.
Barry:Was Kung recorded in Tokyo?
Nomura:. I recorded my part in New York. . but I did most of the casting for the Japanese, and more than half of it was recorded on my iPhone.
Barry:You're kidding, right? That's the best.
Nomura:I would go into some building, go into the bathroom, and turn off everything, and it would be very quiet. I also went to Yoyogi Park at 3 a.m. to record the parts I wanted to record outside. . it was a lot of fun, but I don't think I'll ever do it again (laughs). It was a lot of fun, but I don't think I'll ever do it again (laughs), because it took three years. Wes (Anderson) was in Paris, production was in L.A., my assistant was in New York, and the Muppet production was in London. So, of course, when we have conference calls, we don't care what time it is in Japan. We had to call at 3:30 in the morning or something. So I would go to the bar until that time and then come back to the office and make the call. I'd go to the bar and come back to the office to make the call, because my daughter would get mad at me for being too loud at home. She would say, "Dad! What time is it? . (laughs).
Barry:(Laughs) . Kids are really nice. I too would say, "Don't text while driving! I'm going to kill you!" I used to get angry with them.
Nomura:Sometimes I come home late, drunk, and I really want to listen to a record, so I listen to Miles Davis or something at a low volume, but he immediately runs into the living room and gets angry.
Barry:Do you still think they look like you?
Nomura:. think.
Barry:That's really great, isn't it? No matter what happens, he's still my dad. It's a very special thing.
Nomura:Yes, why don't you bring him to Japan . You can work at Luli's place.
Barry:Great, I think I can cut avocados and stuff like that.

Nomura:Just avocados? (Laughs) . Why don't you come back in the summer?
Barry:Yes, I would like to . But it's the 2020 Olympics. Do you have any plans?
Nomura:I'm not pro-Olympics , so I've turned down most jobs that involve the Olympics.
Barry:I see.
Nomura:Will you be back in Japan again by then?
Barry:Yeah, I think so , I think so.

Nomura:Please do something. Also, one last question: where did you get the title of this exhibit, "Potato Sack body"?
Barry:Have you looked at your body in the mirror lately?
Nomura:I haven't looked at it lately because I'm afraid of it (laughs). Why do you look at it so often?
Barry:No, but if you look at the flanks and stuff, you know what I mean by this title. And I just don't like wearing clothes .
Nomura:(Laughs) . I'm the same way. . but they always tell me to wear it.
Barry:How do you sleep?
Nomura:Before the kids were born I was naked , now I wear underwear. The kids can't sleep alone yet, so they sleep in the same room with me. Even when I go to the bathroom after 8:00 p.m., I say, "Dad, I'm standing right here! Stand right here," and the door is still open (laughs).
Barry:(Laughs) . Kids really are the best, aren't they?
Nomura:Also, I'd like to talk to you about this "Beams" collaboration. . of course, I think I drew it up as I felt like it that day.
Barry:Yes, exactly! It's really just something I drew up as I felt like it that day.

Barry:Hmmm , then again, this T-shirt sample is large!
Nomura:Indeed (laughs).
Barry:I know the bigger sizes are making a comeback , but I'm not ready for it yet (laughs). . but it's nice.
Nomura:Did you even choose the colors of these prints yourself? How did this collaboration begin in the first place?
Barry:I don't know .
Nomura:Don't you understand? (Laughs) You mean you don't remember?
Barry's manager:. the colors were originally this color, and I adjusted them after printing on clothes and looking at the original.

Barry:Now that I remember, this is a "Beams" celebration .
Nomura:Is that the concept?
Barry:. a little bit. Because isn't it nice to celebrate company?
Nomura:. Yes, I have. Have you ever been to Beams?
Barry:Of course! I used to work for "2K by Gingham," too.
Nomura:[Claire] "2K by Gingham," right?
Barry:Did you like that one?
Nomura:, I'm glad to hear that. . I thought it was unusual to have not one but many graphics on one T-shirt this time.
Barry:We didn't have this much space before [laughs]! . because the big sizes are back.
Nomura:. and there were also so many drawings (on the tote bag).
Barry:. I drew it as if I were a child, just going on and on.

Nomura:You always make tote bags, too, don't you? Do you have any special feelings for them?
Barry:Yes, there is .
Nomura:What is that? Because I've never seen Barry carrying a bag or anything except a ZO BAG .
Barry:I'm anti-plastic. . I was born on the earth , and I want to save it. I met a lady on the street the other day with a really nice tote bag, and I said, "What's wrong with that?" She said, "What's wrong with it? Isn't that wonderful? . I haven't used a plastic bag for shopping in 40 years.
Nomura:That's great. And the longer you use it, the better it is for the environment.
Barry:This "beams" bag I made would be perfect for newspaper delivery. I think it can be attached to a bicycle as well. It's just like when I used to do it.
Nomura:What, did you do newspaper delivery?
Barry:Yeah, for about a month. I quit without most of the papers being delivered, though (laughs).


Nomura:(Laughs) . But this bag is cool.
Barry:It's like a junk food bag with all the fun graffiti. . and of course we're celebrating "Beams" too. They wouldn't let me make something like this anywhere else.
Nomura:Just "beams"?
Barry:Yes, I think it's just "Beams" .
Nomura:Nice, very cool . I don't do newspaper delivery, but I think I might have one , lol.
Barry:. because it fits the handle perfectly.
Nomura:Can you draw something on this for me?
Barry:Anywhere?
Nomura:. yes.

Barry:(Running pen smoothly)
Nomura:What are you drawing?
Barry:Siberia.
Nomura:Why Siberia again? (Laughter)
Barry:I don't know , but it sounds good, doesn't it?

Nomura:By the way, what are your plans after this today?
Barry:. now I have to set up the exhibit.
Nomura:What about the evening event ("Beams" reception party)?
Barry:Event? Oh, it's that day already? Yes, of course . But I'm also a little scared. I'm not very good at that kind of thing . I hope it will be fun and relaxed. Also, there are so many boys at the event! That's my only complaint (laughs).
Nomura:When I party, it's mostly guys.
Barry:You're kidding, right? That's not good! It has to be at least half and half.
Nomura:I know you are busy , but thank you for your time today!
Barry:. it was really nice to meet you. (looks at the staff) Thanks for choosing Kung as your interview partner!

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