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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Oct 21, 2011 22:08:58 GMT -5
To start with, I should say that I can't find the notes I took last night; so, I'll have to do this by memory; fortunately, even I can remember 4 questions and the answers (Note to self, buy a voice recorder for the next time you try to interview someone). I might not get all the questions in the right order, and maybe this won't be "word for word"; but, it will be close enough~! During the second band's set I decided to go visit Miyoko and Atsuko working the sales booth (I really didn't care much for the 2nd band of the night)...I waited until the lineup at the booth ended and decided I would ask Atsuko a few burning questions about her and the other retired member of the band, Michie. Atsuko, looking wonderful in a black 30th ann t-shirt , was extremely sweet and gracious, she is STILL the chamingly innocent Atsuko of the "Blast Off" days and, though we'd never met before, it was like talking to an old friend; she made me feel totally at ease. The band was playing extremely loud and sometimes we had to litterally yell into each others ear, but, i managed to get answers to all 4 questions: Me: Atsuko-san, I've been wondering, which do you prefer playing, drums or the bass? Ats: I play bass now, my arms are getting too small to play drums...(She points to her biceps).... Me: Well, what I really want to know is, which instrument do you PREFER to play? Ats: Ah...bass (The answer surprised me, I must admit) Me: There was a rumour on You Tube that you had a baby since moving to LA; is this true? Ats: Oh, no, I have not had a baby. Me: That's what I thought, but, I wanted to know for sure. (Later it occured to me that someone on You Tube probably heard that "A former SK drummer [Etsuko] recently had a baby" and assumed it was Atsuko, rather than Etsuko.) Me: So, Atsuko-san, what are you doing now? Are you still playing music or just being a housewife? Ats: I play bass and tennis. Me: Ah, so you are still playing in bands? Ats: yes... Me: In LA, I take it? Ats: Yes, in LA! (Ok, maybe that WAS a stupid Q, but, I'm fairly new at this interviewing stuff)Me: One last question; almost every SK fan that I know is wondering: What is Michie doing now? Atsuko looked at me, sort of quizzically and answered: We don't know, we have tried to contact her, we send her many messages, but, she never replies! Me:Oh...ok...oh well...Well, thank you for answering my questions, Atsuko-san! Ats: It was no problem. She smiles and I go on my way, as it's nearly time for the SK part of the concert. ENDWell, I hope you enjoyed that, I've never really interviewed anyone before; but, I hope it kept your interest- Mikey ps: I also managed to get the answer to another Q, Atsuko's age... 47; litterally, she is the same age as my brother, and Naoko is the same age as I am
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rocket
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by rocket on Oct 21, 2011 23:49:12 GMT -5
those were good questions....Is atsuko at all the shows on this tour?
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Oct 22, 2011 1:08:08 GMT -5
those were good questions....Is atsuko at all the shows on this tour? Yes, she will be taking Miyoko's place at the souvenir stand; unfortunately, she won't likely be singing though.
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Post by sasquatch on Oct 22, 2011 1:50:54 GMT -5
Great interview, I'm SO jealous!! I think the mystery of the sasquatch will be solved long before the mystery of what exactly is Michie doing now!! Perhaps she's hanging out in the forest with the sasquatch!!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Oct 22, 2011 13:13:50 GMT -5
Great interview, I'm SO jealous!! I think the mystery of the sasquatch will be solved long before the mystery of what exactly is Michie doing now!! Perhaps she's hanging out in the forest with the sasquatch!! hahahahahahhahhahaaha!!!
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Post by ljerk on Oct 23, 2011 6:36:13 GMT -5
Big thanks for interview !
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rocket
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by rocket on Oct 23, 2011 15:05:28 GMT -5
How was her english? When i tried talking to her we were having trouble with the noise. I told her I liked her work on genke shock.It seemed so wierd seeing her there and not on stage. As for the merchandise,I liked the road to ruin artwork poster.They didn't have rock animals,so I bought a cd of Jap bands doing sk covers,and another one I don't know what it is yet.Oh yeah,got the osaka cd also.
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Post by lazybone on Oct 23, 2011 21:45:11 GMT -5
Nice interview - thanks for sharing!
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Oct 23, 2011 23:29:55 GMT -5
I'm glad you guys enjoyed it, seriously, if there is a nicer person than Atsuko, I have never met them; anyway, her English is still rather hesitant (Surprizing, considering she's been living in LA the last 5 years or so); there were times when she didn't understand what I was saying, but, fortunately, Miyoko's English is much better and she was able to repeat what Ats-chan didn't understand, in Japanese (Ok, actually, Rob and Miyoko are also really nice people...the Knife are in good hands ).
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Post by SirReal on Nov 3, 2011 18:05:42 GMT -5
Does anyone know how to find out whether the band will be doing any public appearances before the Chicago show, such as a book store or music store?
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Post by servo1056 on Aug 25, 2012 1:03:17 GMT -5
I'm glad you guys enjoyed it, seriously, if there is a nicer person than Atsuko, I have never met them; anyway, her English is still rather hesitant (Surprizing, considering she's been living in LA the last 5 years or so); there were times when she didn't understand what I was saying, but, fortunately, Miyoko's English is much better and she was able to repeat what Ats-chan didn't understand, in Japanese (Ok, actually, Rob and Miyoko are also really nice people...the Knife are in good hands ). just read this post for the first time and wanted to say that i met Atsuko in rochester new york recently and her english was fine. I asked her a few questions about the tour and told her some of my favorite old songs (queen of darkness,chinese disco) i also told her the story of how i obtained a legit copy of "live in osaka" She was so friendly and welcoming. After we were finished with our chat i actually went over to the parking lot where i parked my car and had to catch my breath and check myself because meeting Atsuko was a dream come true. she is truly a delightful person to have a conversation with.
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Aug 25, 2012 7:28:00 GMT -5
I'm glad you guys enjoyed it, seriously, if there is a nicer person than Atsuko, I have never met them; anyway, her English is still rather hesitant (Surprizing, considering she's been living in LA the last 5 years or so); there were times when she didn't understand what I was saying, but, fortunately, Miyoko's English is much better and she was able to repeat what Ats-chan didn't understand, in Japanese (Ok, actually, Rob and Miyoko are also really nice people...the Knife are in good hands ). just read this post for the first time and wanted to say that i met Atsuko in rochester new york recently and her english was fine. I asked her a few questions about the tour and told her some of my favorite old songs (queen of darkness,chinese disco) i also told her the story of how i obtained a legit copy of "live in osaka" She was so friendly and welcoming. After we were finished with our chat i actually went over to the parking lot where i parked my car and had to catch my breath and check myself because meeting Atsuko was a dream come true. she is truly a delightful person to have a conversation with. She certainly is delightful; so sweet and genuine...if everyone was as nice as Atsuko, the World would be a much better place
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socalopus
New Member
A world without pantomimes would be a beautiful place.... dare to dream!
Posts: 14
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Post by socalopus on Jul 12, 2017 10:12:16 GMT -5
Very entertaining, um, "interview." I can still see that there may have been some 'lost in translation' moments there. She may have been living in LA for a number of years at the time, but that doesn't mean much as far as someone's English improving or even beginning. Many immigrants here are rather isolated within their own communities, and it's very possible Atsuko-san only ever has interactions with other Japanese in the area. But, it did provide a bit of information upon the question that burns my soul: what has become of Rock Goddess Michie Nakatani? Not a very satisfying answer, but probably the most we'll ever get. Michie-san has always been a bit enigmatic, which is why she's my favorite, even though I adore every member of Shonen Knife, past and present. And hey!!! where's the Let's talk about Michie thread? I wanna talk about her!! Why I signed up here, damn it!!
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Post by tangerinesun on Jul 12, 2017 13:33:12 GMT -5
Very entertaining, um, "interview." I can still see that there may have been some 'lost in translation' moments there. She may have been living in LA for a number of years at the time, but that doesn't mean much as far as someone's English improving or even beginning. Many immigrants here are rather isolated within their own communities, and it's very possible Atsuko-san only ever has interactions with other Japanese in the area. But, it did provide a bit of information upon the question that burns my soul: what has become of Rock Goddess Michie Nakatani? Not a very satisfying answer, but probably the most we'll ever get. Michie-san has always been a bit enigmatic, which is why she's my favorite, even though I adore every member of Shonen Knife, past and present. And hey!!! where's the Let's talk about Michie thread? I wanna talk about her!! Why I signed up here, damn it!! Howdy, nice to have you along. — Where is the Michie talk thread?Here, it's one of kind of too many stickied threads in the Shonen Knife subforum: shonenknife.proboards.com/post/925/thread
It suffers from a 17 year lack of any actual news. — Atsuko's big interviewThe younger Yamano hasn't troubled herself too much about correct English, but I don't know that she misses a lot. She never seems at a loss for idiom. Her home up in the hills somewhere looks anything but ghetto. Those are sure some interview-like questions. I'll bet you one mass-autographed guitar pick that if you tossed them at Naoko she would weasel out of answering. But her kid sister answered quite clearly. She might have imagined the conversation would stay in Vegas, so to speak. — Michie, what became of her?Nobody that would know wants you to know. As you're probably aware, showbiz people of her generation hold that any personal info is personal, period. SK was unusually open about serving up items like last names, birthdays and baby pics... but band members have only ever divulged something like marriage when they were leaving. Naoko has acknowledged that she's got a daughter Emma, but I don't think I've ever seen where she offers a word about being married. Conventionally, that's bad for business. Public info about Michie's withdrawal is hearsay from people talking out of turn. There was no statement from the departing member, which is actually appalling manners. I take that as a sign of real turmoil and bad feels. Naoko would only allow that she and Atsuko tried to change her mind, and couldn't, amen. George Ojisan of the SK Nexus hinted that the whole business was an upsetting end to an upsetting story, and better left alone. Uncle George is band-first, not fan-first. Things that have trickled out at various times: In 1991, a writer for SPIN put it in print that Michie had married a guy from the Boston-area lo-fi rock band Expando Brain. That feels like a bit of journalistic betrayal of trust. Details, such as they are, here: shonenknife.proboards.com/post/14982/thread The grapevine says, the particular EB member was their former bass player. Like attracts like. Then, according to rumor, the trans-oceanic relationship turned into a source of stress. Then: • Michie might have quit Shonen Knife to move to Boston. • She might have held a publishing job there. • She might have gotten divorced. • She might have returned to Japan to care for elderly parent(s). • She might have entered a Timeless Zone. I want her back and everything, but she disappeared herself, and either likes it that way or thinks she's passed the point of no return.
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Post by mikado-AKA-Shoknifeman on Jul 12, 2017 22:48:01 GMT -5
Very entertaining, um, "interview." I can still see that there may have been some 'lost in translation' moments there. She may have been living in LA for a number of years at the time, but that doesn't mean much as far as someone's English improving or even beginning. Many immigrants here are rather isolated within their own communities, and it's very possible Atsuko-san only ever has interactions with other Japanese in the area. But, it did provide a bit of information upon the question that burns my soul: what has become of Rock Goddess Michie Nakatani? Not a very satisfying answer, but probably the most we'll ever get. Michie-san has always been a bit enigmatic, which is why she's my favorite, even though I adore every member of Shonen Knife, past and present. And hey!!! where's the Let's talk about Michie thread? I wanna talk about her!! Why I signed up here, damn it!! Welcome to our little club (We can't say "fan club", as we aren't official, in any way).... I don't know why her English isn't better than it is, since she lives in LA with her American husband... but, we managed.
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