We interviewed AYU, a disc jockey of radio program “Record Cafe”.
– How did you become a radio disc jockey?
I was not a main announcer, but a reporter and an assistant originally. I’m from Ibaraki. I wanted to get a job as a speaker, so went to an announce school between the lectures of the university. I joined a cable TV company in Tokyo, and worked in a local cable TV and radio station as a freelance. As I worked, I thought that I want to be a speaker connecting local people. I was asked to be a radio personality three years ago, and it’s my current job.
– That’s why your pronunciation is so clear.
Not really. I corrected my intonation little by little.
– Was it difficult to correct the dialect of Ibaraki?
It was easy basically but I struggled to correct the detailed differences of intonation.
– What do you think about dialects as professional speaker?
We should protect dialects from extinction, I think. Actually, the corner which the personality speaks only the Ibaraki dialect are so popular. The listeners feel the local atmosphere. We are probably the last generation which can speak the Ibaraki dialect.
– By the way, what the difference of the reporter and disc jockey in speaking?
The reporters report the fact, but the disc jockeys speak their thought and values. DJs make the script but it has no details, so their humanities are tested.
– Do you prepare some topics before the programs?
Of course. In addition to that, I choose the songs to play.
– Please tell us about your record collection.
When I was in elementary school, I asked my parents to buy my own mini-component. I want to play the music when I like. The first record I bought was probably Pink Lady’s one. In my junior high school days, some rental record shops opened so I stop buying. Time passed, I became the disc jockey of “Record Cafe”, I start buying again.
– How do you know the good music?
By the radio.
– Did your way to listen to the radio change before you became the radio personality?
Not so much. I’m a pure listener when I’m listening. However, encounting good music on the radio, I sometimes play them in the program.
– What do you value when you play music in the program?
The order. I play various kinds of songs, so the order is important.
– Are all the records including the song you choose in the radio station?
Of course not, but if I really want to play the song, go to the record shop. It’s much fun for me. This got me addicted to collecting records.
– Is there female customers in the record shop?
Almost not. They are gradually increasing, but still few.
– Why do you think that is?
I think they are busy. They listen to music, but it is important for them to easy to listen. They think listening to analog records is something special. Females give a priority to fashion and cosmetics. Besides, not all the males like analog record. In the situation like that, it’s difficult for females to buy records as a hobby.
– What do you think should we do?
We provide the opportunities they can touch on the records. In fact, some females coming my events say “I’m glad to find my new hobby.” So I want them to have the experiences listening to the sound of records from speakers. For example, playing in a fancy clothing store, sophisticated girls get interested in records.
– How do you make a distinction between CDs and records when you listen to music?
I listen to CDs when I want to listen to a certain song easily. I often cook playing CDs. I play records when I have a time. Listening to that, I drink coffee or beer, or read a magazine.
– What do you want to do from now on?
I want females and young people to listen to records and feel fulfilling in their busy lives. Now we can play favorite music so easily, the time to play records is precious conversely. The time like that is like that of making coffee. I want them to know the fun of putting some time.
– What is analog records to you?