How About...Musicians? - Blues, Specifically

[IppikiOkami]

This is likely thoroughly improbable, but it's an area I never hear people talk about: music.

There've been stories about non-Japanese musical genres in Japan like American country and, oddly enough, a dedicated subculture of guitarists who emulate Django Reinhardt, but what about American-style Blues or Blues-Rock? Is there any Blues scene in Japan to speak of?

More generally, I'm wondering if the musical profession is as much a "starving artist" proposition in Japan as it is in America.

I suspect it is, but I'm curious anyway. Also, assuming it would be a viable way to live and work there, would a job as a musician require a 4-year college degree like any other Gaijin job in Japan?

Thanx for any input anyone has...

 

[Glenski]

Entertainer visa.
1 year, 6 months, or 3 months.
Requirements to fulfill are here.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/05.html
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/appendix1.html#8

And, not every foreigner needs a 4-year degree to get a job or visa. Work experience and schooling can substitute.

I can't give you firsthand info on whether it's a starving artist profession, but I can tell you a couple of things.

1) Bands come and go. Even professional ones. Japanese talent has a predilection for an extremely short lifespan in many fields. Months, not years.

2) Colleague of mine moonlighted in a band for a couple of years. He even knew quite a bit of Japanese (something you'll need to make contracts and discuss business). He is stil here, but teaching Engish and moonlighting as a fake wedding minister now.

 

[IppikiOkami]

Cool - thanks for the info & links Glenski!

 

[Mars Man]

Give me a twelve bar shuffle in A, and I'll get my mojo 'a workin!

Oh yeah, I've done the music scene...and still have a gig every now and then. Of course, just as Glenski has pointed out, the wave that one may, or then again may never, catch a ride on will eventually hit the beach--and usually much sooner than you'd like it to.

I never shot for the professional scene, but did do a number of public scenes, and still get asked by some of the old local boys (who, by the way were once pro) to do a stage for some of the local festivals. The guy I had 'worked' with had made every effort to go pro...and his insistance on that is the main reason for our break-up back in '98. Needless to say, he never made it past that first CD which just didn't catch on.

I will never forget that one good Celtic group, Hardwood whose singer had even backed up Sting. Boy did they put down some foot stompin' numbers. They had approached me because I had been doing a radio show at that time, and I did pass on some demos, but...nope...the Celtic scene was not ready to be supported by the public's 'yen vote.'

There is a big Blues Festival each year in Tokyo, and some big names come. I have seen a few of the die-hard blues artists come here to Matsumoto for some small restaurant gigs...usually not big money.

To make a living here in Japan in the music scene, I'd say that you'd have to be a studio musician, you'd have to know Japanese pretty well, and of course, be very good on that instrument you play.