Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Japan's Jazz Kingdom
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In the world of jazz, America is the holy land and empire, while Black people can be called the saints of jazz.
So what about Japan?
Japan, which brought jazz in early, had blended it with its own culture over a long time, developing it to the point where they even coined the term "Japazz."
It was no exaggeration to say it was the place where jazz had advanced the most in Asia—the kingdom of Asian jazz.
Their love for jazz was so intense that, based purely on consumption rates, they were called the world leaders, surpassing even America.
Where there's demand, supply naturally follows.
Japan's jazz scene had produced that many world-class jazz artists.
Uesugi Himari was the prime example, but there were countless others on her level.
Before her, there was the band Orion, which had dominated the U.S. jazz charts, and even now, there were pianists, drummers, and all sorts of session musicians active worldwide.
They took immense pride in their domestic jazz scene, but ironically, the most talked-about figure in Japanese jazz right now was none other than Yuin—Yeonwoo.
A stone that had rolled in from Korea—weren't they rejecting him?
They couldn't reject him if they tried.
He was the grandson of Heo Ok, who had endured all their rejection yet started in Japan, succeeded in the U.S. market, topped the all-American charts, earned respect from Orion, and was unhesitatingly called Himari's one and only teacher and mentor.
He was the one who had influenced her compositions so profoundly that Himari herself called him her student, colleague, and teacher.
He wielded absolute influence in Japanese jazz and rock, was the beloved child of Tatemura Shuji—the godfather of Japanese genre music and head of a massive agency—and the head of a JOP-affiliated label.
Just those three connections alone made it impossible for any Japanese jazz artist to shun Yeonwoo.
He was truly the blood of the bloodline.
In fact, that wasn't even the whole story.
The Japanese jazz world was also losing its younger generation, turning into a niche genre for the youth.
They desperately needed some rising stars to break that trend, but charismatic talents were few and far between.
In the midst of that, Yeonwoo—who carried the ultimate jazz pedigree—couldn't help but look appealing, even though he dabbled in various genres.
Because every now and then, the jazz he showed drew people in who then took an interest in the genre.
And that Yeonwoo...
"Hey, did you hear? Yuin's doing a jazz orchestra at Uesugi-san's concert?"
...had started reaching out to people with some fame in Japan.
It was an invitation to recruit instrumental session musicians, excluding vocals.
How could anyone not be interested?
It was already an honor to share the stage at Uesugi Himari's concert marking her 20th debut anniversary, but to breathe the same air as Yeonwoo on that stage?
It was a performance loaded with meaning in so many ways.
There were plenty who wanted in—to celebrate Himari, to make a meaningful memory for themselves, or just out of curiosity about Yeonwoo's genius.
True to his words, the jazz world welcomed Yeonwoo with open arms.
And to join them, Yeonwoo boarded a ship bound for Japan.
At first, he wandered around outside, gazing at the sea and exploring.
But that didn't last.
After staring at nothing but ocean for a good while, he got bored and retreated to the cabin to roll around with Grandma and Dad.
Yeonwoo looked over the list of jazz artists from JOP who wanted to work with him and asked his grandmother,
"Grandma, anyone you've got your eye on these days?"
"In Japan?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm... the young ones these days... Oh, right, Hashimoto Atsushi—that kid was pretty good."
"Ah! I know him too. He plays piano. Auntie Himari said he's good as well."
"Really?"
"But there's only one piano spot..."
"Why? Got someone in mind?"
Yeonwoo nodded eagerly.
"Auntie Himari should do it."
"The guest using the lead as a session player?"
"Oh, is that weird?"
Heo Ok chuckled at Yeonwoo's innocent question.
"It's not impossible, but usually, when the guest comes on, the lead takes a break and preps for the second act."
"I see. Then piano's this guy!"
Yeonwoo checked off Hashimoto Atsushi.
"Anyone else?"
"Hmm, this old lady tends to only care about pianists."
"Yeah, then what about from Korea?"
Deep down, Yeonwoo wanted to include some Korean jazz musicians too.
"Jazz, huh..."
Of course, Korea had jazz musicians too. They were even quite active.
But their infrastructure couldn't compare to Japan's.
With so little demand for jazz in Korea, the supply was inevitably limited.
Even those who started in jazz switched genres or only dabbled on the side. Pure jazz specialists were rare.
Why?
Because making a living off jazz was brutally tough.
Successful jazz musicians were like lottery winners—a tiny elite. Landing a lecturer or professor gig at a university counted as success, and appearing on a late-night terrestrial TV show introducing niche music genres made you a successful jazz singer.
That was how underdeveloped it was in Korea.
To exaggerate a bit, to most Koreans—who weren't hugely into music—jazz was on par with classical music.
Heo Ok shook her head, thinking of Korea's current jazz scene, which had burned bright briefly with its first generation before leaving only ashes.
"No idea. Don't know where or how they're active these days. It's been ages since I've had ties to Korea."
Fair enough. Even checking on her disciples in Japan and America took time, so Korean jazz—which she'd long lost touch with—might be hard for even Grandma to know about.
"Just ask Himari."
"Auntie?"
"Yeah, she seems to exchange with Korean jazz folks sometimes."
"Okay, I'll ask when we get there."
As he said that, Yeonwoo looked at his dad.
"Dad, what're you doing?"
"Dad's... seasick."
"Seasick?!"
"Yeah, haven't been on a boat like this in ages, and wouldn't you know, it hit me this time."
Jihoon was seasick on a ship this big.
Feeling queasy, he went limp.
"The best thing when seasick is to sleep it off."
"That's what I was gonna do... You guys sleep too, Dad."
"Yeah, Dad."
Jihoon passed out just like that. Yeonwoo gazed at him for a moment, then carefully tucked him in.
"Dad must be tired from driving us everywhere every day."
"Makes sense. He's been driving and guiding nonstop since taking leave."
Yeonwoo nodded.
"Auntie Himari said eel is good for you, so when we get to Fukuoka, we gotta eat tons of it."
"Trying to nourish Dad? Good boy."
"Yeah."
Yeonwoo grinned.
Next time they went, he'd ask Auntie Himari what else was good for you besides eel and stuff Dad full of it.
* * *
Uesugi Himari took Yeonwoo's proposal with great interest.
Truth be told, jazz orchestras weren't nonexistent.
Every so often, they'd put on massive events like that.
But the one leading it was none other than Yeonwoo.
She didn't know if he'd conduct or join as a session player herself, but anyway—since Yeonwoo wanted to do it, she told him to go for it however he liked.
No, she straight-up laid the groundwork.
Through JOP, she compiled a list for Yeonwoo to pick orchestra members from, and for those who absolutely had to be in even if he didn't choose them, she personally reached out ahead of time, saying Yeonwoo might put you in, so get ready.
She had senior figures above her, and she herself had only recently hit her forties, but in the current Japanese jazz world, Himari was an absolute powerhouse.
No one refused her word.
No, people even showed up at her door after hearing the rumors.
But this time, the visitor was someone even she found a bit intimidating.
"Let us in too."
"No way, seniors... Weren't you retired?"
"Hell no!! Not even sixty yet—what retirement? No one's calling us to active stages, so we're just twiddling our thumbs."
As if.
Himari quietly eyed the four sitting before her.
They were none other than Orion.
That's right.
The legendary jazz band from the generation right before hers that had rocked America.
Seniors she couldn't treat lightly.
But they hadn't done anything notable in the past decade.
Rather than performing as Orion, they'd each pursued their own paths.
Guitarist and leader Takahashi Shigeru was active as a music director, bassist Maeda Nobuo was a university professor fostering the next generation, keyboardist Kobayashi Naomi ran a flower shop and had quit music entirely.
And drummer Mori Takeo had gone into full seclusion—unlike the other three, whom she occasionally emailed, Himari hadn't heard from him in nearly twelve years; this was their first meeting since.
She'd heard they barely kept in touch with each other, yet here they were, gathered to see her.
It was astonishing.
"What's the reason?"
"Never done an orchestra before—thought it'd be fun."
"Shigeru here sweet-talked me into it."
"Fondling flowers all day made me miss the keys... or something."
"...Sick of boats."
Excuses varied, but Takeo—you sailed around?
Not the point...
"Ah, well, thanks for the enthusiasm, but I can't decide this on my own. Yeonwoo—er, Yuin—he has to approve."
At that, Takeo slammed the table.
"No need for the brat's permission!!"
Classic Takeo—usually taciturn but hot-blooded.
But Shigeru immediately smacked his bald head.
"You know that brat's the boss of this orchestra, right!!"
"If we wanna do it, we do it! Why grovel to some punk?"
Naomi cut in coldly.
"Try saying that in front of Jade-senpai."
Takeo flinched and rubbed the back of his head reflexively.
Shigeru smirked at the sight.
"Old wounds throbbing, huh?"
"Sh-Shut up. Damn old hag—that spot you hit still aches when it rains."
Oh, right.
Heo Ok's cracked pots weren't just Tatemura Shuji.
Takeo—hot-tempered even now, but a demon rivaling young Tatemura Shuji back then—had once mouthed off to her and gotten his skull cracked.
"Come to think of it, what'd she hit you with, Takeo-senpai? Beer bottle?"
"What? Beer bottle? No way, even Jade-senpai wasn't that bad. Drumstick, I think?"
"Nah, guitar. Snatched mine and whacked... Man, terrifying. Jade-senpai's one scary lady."
Well, at least not a beer bottle like Tatemura Shuji—small mercies?
"If you scare that kid, the teacher might crack your heads open."
"She's still that fierce?"
"Well, even without her, President Tatemura might fold you."
At that, the four Orion members shut up.
Remembering the yakuza-esque muscle monster nearing eighty sent chills down their spines.
"That guy's a real yakuza. Look at the scar on his forehead—menacing."
"From fighting off eighteen attackers single-handedly, right?"
Himari averted her gaze as they whispered.
She couldn't very well say it was from her own teacher cracking him with a beer bottle.