Public eye #34

Shujiro Fukami, company employee

Where are you heading to today?
SF: My company. I’m often at the office if I feel like being there, whether it’s the weekend, or a day off, or not. Despite the way I look, I’m just an ordinary salaryman. [Laughs] On weekdays I come to work in the morning, and at night I go home.

You seem, well, sort of like you’d be in a profession with more freedom, I guess.
SF: People say that to me a lot. [Laughs] Well, my company is probably more relaxed than the average [Laughs], but I’ve also always been in a band, and that has probably had an influence on me too. It’s called Unrealtribe, and we get together at least once a week and practice.

Is that after you’ve finished work?
SF: Yeah. I’ll leave work just a little earlier than usual. On other days I’ll eat out with my co-workers, or I’ll just randomly drop in to a shop I’ve never been to before.

Is there anywhere you’ve discovered recently that was really good?
SF: The Planetarium Bar in Shirokanedai was really good. It had, well, really stylish interior decoration (laughs), and on top of that all of the stars are projected onto the ceiling. I’d been looking for a planetarium close to my house, and just by coincidence, I happened to pass it.

Where do you live?
SF: In Ebisu. I only just moved recently though. There’s so much excitement in a place where there are so many people, so it’s fun. There are also a lot of shops, and they’re open until late too.

So it’s convenient too?
SF: Right in front of the station there’s a Mont-bell store. I’m quite a large size [Laughs], so having an outdoor shop like that close by is a big help.

Where were you living until now?
SF: In Chitose-Funabashi. There weren’t so many tall buildings, and it was really quiet. I lived there for quite a long time actually. About ten years, I’d say.

Why did you decide to move from a place you’d lived in so long to such a busy area?
SF: Because I’d never lived in a place like that before - somewhere busy, or lively. Well, I think I’ll probably end up going back to somewhere that’s quiet anyway [Laughs]. I just wanted to experience it at least once.

Where are you from?
SF: Kumamoto Prefecture.

Why did you decide to come to Tokyo?
SF: I wanted to be a rock star, so… [Laughs] Basically, I can keep playing my music here, and that’s a good thing.

More from Shujiro

‘I have this body type, but I don’t actually eat much white rice with my meals. People always tell me that it’s surprising.’ [Laughs]

‘It seems that restaurant Hooters has come to Japan. I’m a little interested in going.’

‘Out of all of the countries I’ve visited, Mexico was the best. Everything was amazing. The chicken stewed in chocolate is my only bitter memory of it…”