Making Music and Movie Magic

MIYAVI is making waves on both sides of the ocean in the music and movie industries. Born in 1981as Takamasa Ishihara in Osaka, Japan to a Korean father and a Japanese mother, the singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer and actor took on the stage name MIYAVI. Known for his unconventional style of slapping the guitar rather than playing it with a pick, his international fan base has nicknamed him the Samurai Guitarist. He has four world tours under his belt with over 200 shows in 30 countries across North and South America, Asia and Australia. He has collaborated with X Japan’s Yoshiki and SUGIZO in the supergroup S.K.I.N., Boøwy’s Tomoyasu Hotei, Pizzicatto Five’s Maki Nomiya and Good Charlotte. In 2014, MIYAVI debuted as a Hollywood actor in Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken, playing the notorious and sadistic World War II internment camp guard Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe, the chief tormentor of American Olympian and POW Louis Zamperini. MIYAVI shows no signs of slowing down in 2015 with the release of his new album in April, The Others, and a world tour to Hong Kong, Thailand, the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Russia and Finland. He has also successfully combined movies and music by reworking the classic theme song for Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, the fifth installment in the Tom Cruise-starring series. Tokyo Journal’s Executive Editor Anthony Al-Jamie talked to MIYAVI about his multifaceted career.

TJ: Were you apprehensive about accepting the role of Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe in Unbroken?
MIYAVI: Actually, I was not sure if I was capable. I had no experience. The Japanese casting director came to our office and told me about the project. She asked me a couple of questions such as what kind of music I play, types of films I like and who my favorite actor is. I answered, “Angelina Jolie.” That was the best answer and I got cast (laughs). I heard Angie found me on the Internet, contacted the Japanese casting director and came.

TJ: What did you enjoy the most about filming the movie?
MIYAVI: The experience of working with professional people like Roger Deakins, the casting director and the AD (assistant director). One day I asked the AD, who was taking care of me, “Who have you been working with?” He said, “I’ve worked with Leonardo DiCaprio on The Great Gatsby, and after that Hugh Jackman for Wolverine and then you.” I thought, “Oh! Not bad…” (laughs). I learned many things from the experience.

The complete article is available in Issue #277. Click here to order from Amazon.