What was your first gig?

I started my career in 1978 working at MOD Studios in Meguro/Tokyo.  I worked on a Tokyo Rockers project who were on Telegraph Records.

After that, I met Mr. Michiro Endo and got involved in recording The Stalin.

Of the people you’ve worked with, who has left an impression with you?

Michiro Endo

Kioshiro Imawano

The Mad Capsule Markets

Although I’ve been fortunate to have worked with many fantastic artists, the three I’ve mentioned above have been very influential in the development of my career.

Share with us an unforgettable work story.

I have a lot, but I suppose a story that evinces KURID is most appropriate:

The first ProTools mix with MAD.

I was mixing the Mad Capsule Markets 1999 album, “OSC-DIS”, using ProTools for the first time because we didn’t have time to record or mix onto a PCM-3348 and SSL like we normally would have.

Kusama and I were trying to test out how far we could take ProTools while we were mixing. Now that I think about it, it was like we were in uncharted territory. There were only 32 channels/tracks and the hard disk only had 4GB.

On top of that, the plug-in RedValveIt was full of bugs, which made it that much more difficult.  But Takeshi liked how it sounded so we spent a lot of care and time bouncing mixes.

Who are you recording and/or mixing now?

Right now, I’m doing mix work for AA= and Rize.

If you had your choice, whom would you like to work with?

I’d like to work with B.B. King.

And, although deceased, John Lennon, Frank Zappa and T-Bone Walker.

What are your hobbies?

I gave up pachinko and betting on horse races when my daughter was born,

so… setting up my DVR to record TV shows, I guess.

What’s currently your favorite item/plug-in?

For outboard gear, I like the DS King, 78 King, VU King, and the LA King.

(Author’s note: the above hardware were all developed and created by Koni-young)

As for plug-in EQ’s, I like the Waves API series and for compressors the Waves SSLs.  I also really like the McDSP MC2000 plug-in.