FEATURE

Translated By DeepL

The artists look back on the events of the year.
2020 Year-End Meeting.

The artists look back on the events of the year.

The year 2020 was marked by the worldwide outbreak of the new coronavirus. How did HOUYHNHNM's well-known artists spend the year and what did they feel? Ken Kagami, Joji Nakamura, Masanao Hirayama, and Motoyuki Teifu joined us to reflect on the year with a Corona beer in hand.

  • Photo_Motoyuki Daifu
  • Text_Yuichiro Tsuji
  • Edit_Hiroshi Yamamoto

It's not virtual, it's always analog after all. (Kagami)

Hirayama: Perhaps this year is the time for the dawn of a new era.

Nakamura: It's the beginning of the 2020s. I hope things will get better from now on.

Kagami: There are many things that are bothering me, but in my case, they are what motivate me to create, so I just have to keep trying.

Nakamura: That is the most important thing. Ken is concerned about it, and that is why he produces good works.

Subject Office: Anger is important.

Kagami: Friends are still good (laughs).

All: LOL!

Kagami: Because we all think so, don't we? You haven't been able to see me for a long time. During the period of self-restraint, I missed you guys so much. I wanted to talk about trivial things, and I actually had a good time at the year-end party. I laughed the most this year. So "meeting" is really important. It is always analog, not virtual.

Nakamura: Meeting like this is already analogous to that.

Hirayama: I understand that some people are nervous because of the Corona, but the fact that we can meet like this means that we share some of the same feelings.

Kagami: I'll miss you if you get so anxious and withdraw from the world.

All: LOL!

Nakamura: Now I'm curious to see how the younger kids who have experienced these years will move on. I want them to make interesting moves. I think it's okay if they move in ways we don't understand anymore.

Kagami: Until now, you had a vague idea of what was going on in the world. But now you don't.

Nakamura: You thought you knew, you thought you knew. Never before have you been so unsure of what will happen next year and beyond.

Kagami: That's why I think you should go on the offensive. It is more interesting that way, and I am sure there will be people who will take to it. There is still a mood of self-restraint, and it will be difficult if we are beaten up, but if more people take the offensive in a way that doesn't lead to that, the mood will gradually improve.

Nakamura: It really is. If I may say something very positive, after such a terrible situation, I feel that good things are waiting for us.

Kagami: George, what a positive thinking thing for you to do, isn't it? I'd like to summarize this time by saying that I always want to be excited.

I think you've done a good job of putting it all together again. I hope this article will be one of those offensive moves.

Hirayama: Why don't you just write "Taken in 2019" on all the photos you took today? Isn't that offensive?

Kagami: That's good! The three of you were prophesying!" Like that (laughs).

All: LOL!

Kagami: Or, "Actually, these three were the ruling class!" How about that? (Laughs).

Nakamura: I don't know what's going on anymore (laughs)!