Hong Kong is a place brimming with talented and intriguing people from all over the world. In our 27 Questions column, we get up close and personal with these notable personalities, learning about their whims and aversions, pivotal life moments, and hopes and dreams — all in roughly the same duration of a casual speed date. Our next segment of 27 Questions brings us to Miyavi, aka the “Samurai Guitarist” as he prepares for his one-night concert at Carlyle & Co. with The Macallan.

27 Questions: Miyavi

If you’re into the JRock genre or play guitar, then you will be familiar with the name Miyavi. With a career spanning over two decades, Miyavi has captivated a generation of fans with his unique guitar-playing, impeccable personal style, and bold tattoos. Leaving home at a young age after the death of his close friend, Miyavi moved from Osaka to the city (Tokyo) to pursue the rockstar life.

Through persistence and hard work, Miyavi’s inventive sound, inspired by the traditional Japanese instrument, the Shamisen, spread to a bigger stage and he was soon performing in stadiums and touring the world. While our recent Tattoo Talks explored the deeper meaning behind his largest tattoo, this 27 Questions uncovers much of how Miyavi lives his life, his philosophies, and much like his upcoming album, the duality of being both a father/husband and a rockstar.

As life gets busier for that artist, adding Sake brand owner, actor, and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador to his resume in more recent times, Miyavi welcomes all challenges ahead as he sees it all as personal growth. In fact, he reveals that his biggest fear is complacency and lack of motivation. Perhaps that’s why he continues to surprise fans with new albums and film/TV appearances, all the while learning new languages.

Head below for the full 27 Questions interview with Miyavi, and check out the embed above for the full video interview.

Name: Miyavi
Age: 42
Neighbourhood: Tokyo, Japan
Occupation: Musician

1. What do you think of the city of Hong Kong?
Crazy. I love the speed of the city because it’s like Tokyo, New York, and London. I get fascinated every time I get to the city. I also love the kind of the mixture of Western and Eastern cultures.

2. How did you first encounter The Macallan and what’s your first memory of it?
Early in my career, we’d celebrate with our band members but we couldn’t drink the expensive stuff so we’d be drinking cheap beers and wine, but there was this older guitarist who I really looked up to, and he put me on to whisky. This guy went against the grain, and he was the one who taught me to drink The Macallan on the rocks.

3. What’s your favourite version of The Macallan?
Of course the 30-year-old. Imagine being in the barrel for that long. There’s something both masculine and sexy about The Macallan.

4. What does a typical Sunday look like for you?
I usually go to the gym and also I just go to the park with my kids. You know, I just play with my baby. I’m always traveling, so the time I spend with my kids is really crucial.

5. Are you a night owl or a morning person?
I’m both. I think I’m one of the earliest birds in the rock industry. I wake up really, really early in the morning, but at the same time, you know, if I go late, I go hard. Really late. I like to feel the power of the sun. Especially with three kids, you have got to wake up and do your things before your kids wake up.

6. What’s the first thing you do each day?
I check my emails and then meditate, and then teach my kids Japanese. I always have a routine.

7. What’s your life motto?
Just keep growing until you die. Just keep improving until the last moment in your life. As long as you’re evolving, you can enjoy the process. So keep growing until the last moments in your life.

9. What’s one of the most important things you’ve learned in life?
Language and communication. I was not able to speak English until I was 25 years old. I was able to do a Hollywood film, model, and even visit a refugee camp as an ambassador. I’m learning Chinese right now.

10. Who was your role model growing up?
Nobody. Maybe my mom. The way she taught me. The way she raised me was inspirational. I didn’t have anybody. I packed up one day and just left. I wish I had somebody who could be my mentor or someone I could ask for guidance.

11. What was your first job?
Music is my first job. I didn’t have any typical first job. I still remember the first moment I got on stage in Tokyo, the first moment that fans called my name, and my first fan letter.

12. What’s your guilty pleasure in life?
Munching on my baby’s cheek while he’s sleeping. I know I shouldn’t do that too much. But yeah, he’s just so soft and cute.

13. What’s one movie that everyone should see?
I was just simply amazed by Dune II.

14. What’s your favorite memory in my life?
When I was a kid, I played a lot of soccer. I would practice all day, and this one time after training for an entire day, I was made captain of the team. I realised that the more you do, there’s no denying that you will get better and that people will notice you and your efforts. From that experience, I learned to trust myself and the process of work.

15. What’s your biggest fear?
Running out of motivation. That’s really, really scary, you know, especially the older you get. There’s less motivation the moment you feel satisfied. I’m scared of this feeling.

16. Which moment in life that you want to relive again?
I think the moment that I had our first baby, I mean, first baby and second baby and a third baby. And every single time when we witness the moment, the life, that moment is really special. You start living for somebody else, not only for you. So it’s also it’s really spiritual.

17. Where do you go when you want to be alone?
The gym or I just lock the doors, put on my headphones, and make music.

18. What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
There was an earthquake in Japan in 2011. It was pretty bad and we had to take the stairs to evacuate. I took our two babies and had to leave by the stairs but it was impossible for my grandpa to go due to his age. He told us to go without him. That was a very scary moment and showed me how cruel life can be.

19. If you could do something over again, what would it be?
I wish I could have gone to music school to learn how to play the guitar. Like really learn how to play the guitar. I mean I am happy with the way things turned out but I’d like to have the basic skills as a guitarist. The foundation.

20. What was the best gift you received?
The freedom from my mom. I lost my friends when I was 17 years old. I wasn’t escaping but I felt like I needed to move to Tokyo. I bought the bus ticket and called my mom to tell her. I know she wanted to stay in Osaka and just said to be careful. I respect that because it must have been hard to let me go, and that’s how I am raising my kids.

21. What are you looking forward to in this performance at Carlyle & Co.?
Energy exchange. Especially in this intimate space. I was fascinated by the story of this club, you know, from New York, and it started in 1920. It’s such a pleasure to be on stage, especially with The Macallan. They really respect the art and the artist.

22. What song do you currently have on repeat?
Nothing but thieves – Welcome to the DCC

23. What about your job energises you?
Fans. Especially when I see them surprised.

24. What is something fans do not know about you?
I travel with boiled potatoes.

25. At what point did you feel like you made it?
When I performed at a refugee camp. It was in a dangerous environment and these kids have been through a lot. When I played the guitar, the kids went crazy. I then understood that there was something I could do through music. When I came home, I received an email telling me that the kids loved it and were inspired to pursue music. That was one of my “I made it” moments.

26. What is your proudest achievement in your 20+ years as an artist?
It was probably defining my guitar-playing style. I wasn’t the first person to do this but for my style, I was heavily inspired by the Shamisen, a Japanese instrument. That helped me find a style as a Japanese artist. That helped define who i was as Miyavi the artist.

27. How do you balance work with family?
Prioritisation and explanation. If I can’t be there, I have to explain to my family. Even to my three-year-old child. I explain everything in detail.

Bonus Questions

What’s your favourite guitar/gear you own?
The whammy bar on my Fender Telecaster. Having that is like a big no-no in guitar culture but for me, it works in with my play style. Fender has been accommodating in making it happen. The CEO of Fender Japan told me that it is their mission to help me produce whatever sound I am hearing in my head through their guitars.

What’s next for you?
It is time to drop my two-part album Lost In Love, Found In Pain. It explores duality. It is split up into two parts, so Lost in Love will come out first. The Japan edition will come out first, followed by a global release.

Video: Ryan Putranto
Interviewer: Ambrose Leung
Venue: Carlyle & Co.
Special thanks to The Macallan and Carlyle & Co. For more 27 Questions, click here.