Kento Matsunami

Name

Kento Matsunami

What do you do?

Actor.

Where are you from?

Tokyo.

What's the best gig you’ve ever been to?

If we are talking about the generation we live in, then I'll say One Direction — even though they are not all from the UK. To begin with, I didn't listen to them as a pop band as such. I was more fascinated by the fact that people of a similar age meet for the first time at an audition and manage to form a cohesive group, even though they are all very different individuals. And then they became huge in the entertainment world. I watched their documentary film, 'This is Us', which had many clips from their live shows. I can't narrow it down to a single performance, but their freewheeling and carefree attitude remains with me.

Which sub-cultures have influenced you?

Fashion. I was born and raised in Japan and have lived in the US and Canada — so I'm conscious of different fashion styles. For me, the UK is all about tight, clean lines. Even if you take something from a brand like Onitsuka Tiger, it can be worn very stylishly the UK way, with quite a different feel from the US and Japan.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?

I was all into football during sixth form and had no real interest in live music venues or clubs. However, when I was in LA for college, I had some good experiences at several small live music places, so it’s hard to pick out a specific venue. I also vividly remember watching a really swinging jazz gig in a live music club in New Orleans — that has really stayed with me.

If you could be on the line up with any band in history?

I'm sure you get this answer all the time, but I'm going to say The Beatles. I can't play any instruments, but I can use my experience playing football to imagine this situation. I was a defender, so I'm used to supporting my teammates from the back. So, based on that, I'd like to be on the kit, drumming to 'Here Comes The Sun.'

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?

Harry Styles from One Direction. I’d like to hang out with him at a cafe — somewhere like the doughnut shop he used to work in before he became famous through the audition programme — and have a casual chit-chat about acting and fashion and stuff.

Your greatest unsung hero (or heroine) in music?

Peter Andre — someone I have on my playlist, but I don't think he's well-known in Japan. I first heard of him when I saw a video of David Beckham playing the track 'Mysterious Girl' at his home party. I would also add the rock duo Salmon Pink. They are my colleagues at 'chotto,' the shisha cafe where I work in reload Shimokitazawa. They only have two songs on Spotify, but I like their super emo style and cinematic music videos.