Turning excitement into art. What excites Takada Fumi right now? "Listening Museum #19"
"HERALBONY TONE FROM MUSEUM ~Listening Museum~" is a podcast that launched this spring and focuses on artists contracted to the welfare experimental company Heralbony.
Sara Ogawa, an actor, filmmaker, and writer, and Takaya Matsuda, CEO of HERALBONY, will be the interviewers. As they listen carefully to the art, they will touch upon the personality and life story of this "unique artist" that can be seen beyond his work.
This time's guest is Fumi Takada, a unique artist who draws motifs of things that excite her, such as idols and sweets. Her daily enjoyment is girl talk with her good friend, Furumai, a staff member at the facility. This time, we asked the two sisters about everything from their work to the content of their girl talk.
#Beloved by handsome men
Takaya: Today we have an artist called Fumi Takada from Atelier Bravo, a welfare facility in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Takada's work is also featured on the T-shirt that Sara is wearing right now. The title of her work is "Fireworks + Beer Beer Garden Boys Gathering."
Ogawa: Amazing!
Takaya: What's great is that it's a "men's gathering"!
Ogawa: In this picture, there are only fireworks and lots of beer, but from the title, you can imagine the lively boys around them. I bought this T-shirt at the exhibition "ART IN YOU Art is inside you (※)" by Heralbony, and I really wear it myself, but it's perfect for summer!
(*) Exhibition held from May 20th to June 17th, 2023
Fumi Takada "Fireworks + Beer Beer Garden Boys Gathering"
Ogawa: Fireworks! Beer! It was like that.
Takaya: It's like she's saying, "I love beer!"
Ogawa: Just wearing it makes both the person wearing it and those who see it happy. It's my favorite T-shirt.
Takaya: We have been working with Takada Fumi on various projects. We are connected to Fumi and the welfare facility Furumai !
Furumai-san: Nice to meet you!
Takada-san: Thank you very much!
Takaya: Fumi-san, it's been a while! How are you?
Takada-san: I'm fine!
Takaya: Recently, we rented out Hotel Mazarium in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, where Hair Art is employed , and held a party called "Unconventional Thanksgiving" to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Heralbony, and both Furumai-san and Fumi-san came to join us. They were the biggest party girls! Are you used to parties, Fumi-san?
Takada-san: I went to the birthday party of Kazumi Saito, a SoftBank player. I had fun then too, and this time I went to Iwate Prefecture and had fun.
Takaya: You're really used to parties! That's nice. Did you enjoy the Heralbony party?
Takada-san: It was fun talking to different people!
Takaya: Fumi-san was walking around with a camera hanging around her neck.
Takada-san: Hehe!
Takaya: Everyone he meets he says, "Let's take a photo!" It seems he's used to beer gardens being a "men's gathering place."
Furumai-san: Hahaha!
Ogawa: That's great! I heard that you also enjoyed the sauna and ice cream, and really enjoyed your trip.
Furumai: Yes.
Takaya: You also had fun taking photos at the hotel with Furumai, right?
Furumai: I had a lot of fun with Takada-san.
Ogawa: The closeness between you two comes across on screen, but how long have you been with Atelier Bravo?
Furumai: Takada has been with us since 2005, when he was 18 years old and had just graduated from high school.
Takaya: Amazing! You're already a great senior at Atelier Bravo. Do you feel like you've been teaching Furumai a lot about the Atelier Bravo style?
Furumai: Yes, it's the staff more than me!
Takaya: Ahahaha!
Ogawa: Amazing!
Furumai: He's a very experienced person and is also the head of the sales department.
Ogawa: Mr. Takada, had you been drawing pictures all this time before joining Atelier Bravo?
Takada: Yes, I drew buildings and animals.
Ogawa: I see! So did your drawing style change after you joined Bravo?
Takada: The pictures keep changing.
Ogawa: Wow! How did it change?
Takada-san: I went from an animal to a building to an animal, and now I'm a human.
Ogawa: I see! Is the painting hanging behind you also by Takada?
Takada-san: There are lots!
Takaya: Could you please explain it to me?
Takada: It's my favorite idol group.
Ogawa: What kind of group is it?
Takada: "NEWS."
Ogawa: NEWS! There are a lot of idols standing against a blue background. Is there anything special about this picture?
Takada: Each person's face is different.
Ogawa: You're right, the expressions are different!
Takaya: That's nice. You really do love Johnny's and good-looking guys, don't you?
Takada: I like handsome guys, but I also like older guys (laughs).
Takaya: Ahahaha!
Ogawa: What kind of uncle do you like?
Takada: I like Kanji Ishimaru. He is active in stage plays, TV dramas, and movies.
Ogawa: That's amazing! You watch a lot of different types of entertainment!
Takada: Yes.
Ogawa: Have you actually gone to or seen live shows?
Takada: I actually go to a Johnny's concert.
Ogawa: That's right!
Takaya: Even at the party in Iwate the other day, between me and Fumito (Takaya's twin brother and co-representative of Heralbony, Matsuda Fumito), she openly declared in front of everyone that she preferred Fumito (laughs).
Ogawa: Oh really?
Takaya: It was a humiliating experience (laughs).
Ogawa: Takada-san, what do you think is your preference for Fumito-san?
Furumai-san: Do you remember? Are you embarrassed to say it?
Takada-san: It's not that I feel embarrassed... well, well, I guess it's easier to talk to (Fumito)?
(Everyone laughs)
Takaya: Are you okay? I'm going to talk to you for about 20 minutes! I'll try my best to make up for it and make you feel comfortable talking to me (laughs)!
#BloomingGirlsTalk
Ogawa: I'm already drawn into Takada's world, but in addition to the beer works, there is also a wonderful painting titled "Enjoying a trip to France in search of wine and cheese." Have you seen this arrangement of drinks lined up somewhere before?
Fumi Takada "Enjoying a trip to France in search of wine and cheese"
Furumai: When you saw SMAP going to France, you wanted to draw wine, right?
Takaya: It was inspired by SMAP.
Takada: Yes.
Ogawa: This is also from an artist! It's very stylish, colorful, and the work would be exciting to have on a T-shirt or in your everyday life. How did you feel when you were drawing it?
Takada: It will be fun.
Takaya: This work, "Enjoy a trip to France in search of wine and cheese," will be distributed to millions of customers as a sleeve for in-flight meals in economy class on JAL's first international flight to Japan from August 2023. Congratulations!
Ogawa: It's wonderful. It's the kind of illustration that really enriches your trip.
Takaya: Is there any particular type of person you would like to eat it? NEWS?
Takada-san: No! I want people from overseas to try it.
Ogawa: That's great!
Takada-san: I've been abroad before. I went to New York.
Takaya: New York, huh? That's great. It's really wonderful. People who go to New York will definitely eat the in-flight meals that feature Takada's work. I'm looking forward to it.
Ogawa: Are there boys around this painting of wine as well?
Takada: There are women too.
Takaya: There are women here too!
Ogawa: It kind of makes me imagine what's outside the painting!
Takaya: Fumi-san also answered in the questionnaire that she loves girl talk. Do you often have girl talk with Furumai-san?
Furumai-san: That's right! You often talk about the future.
Ogawa: Oh, you look embarrassed.
Takaya: I'd like to hear as much as possible. I'm curious.
Takada-san: Celebrities and female artists. Well, I don't have a boyfriend either.
Takaya: Even Furumi-san's details have been revealed (laughs). Are you okay?
Furumi: Sorry (laughs) We were both thinking, "What if we were to marry this celebrity?"
Takaya: You'll be talked about!
Ogawa: By the way, what kind of people will be appearing?
Takaya: I’m curious.
Takada: For me, anyone would be fine.
Takaya: Eh? Surely not just anyone would do?
Takada: Ikuta Toma?
Ogawa: Ikuta Toma! He's married now...!
Takada: I'm fine with getting married!
Takaya: I think it's fun to fantasize about it. It's cool.
Ogawa: I can see how you two are always having lively conversations like this! What else do you do at Atelier Bravo besides drawing?
Takada: That's right.
Ogawa: What kind of things do you do?
Takada-san: I haven't tried pottery yet. I'd like to try it. There are workshops and things like that.
Takaya: Ceramics, huh? What kind of ceramics have you been making up until now?
Takada: Turtles and the Eiffel Tower, for example.
Takaya: The Eiffel Tower. It's really stylish.
Ogawa: Something from overseas.
Takada: I also made some tableware.
Ogawa: It looks like Furumai-san is going to bring it now.
Takaya: Yes, I'd like to see it for real.
Takada: I also wrote a picture diary of Iwate Prefecture.
Ogawa: Illustrated diary!
Takaya: I'm intrigued! Please show me.
(Takada-san shows the picture diary on the screen)
Takaya: Can you move closer to the front?
Takada-san: This is an airplane.
Ogawa: There's a human face drawn on it.
Takada: Me and Furumai.
Ogawa: That's true! On the windows and seats of airplanes. It's a fun picture diary! Oh, Furumai-san brought some of his work.
Takaya: Turtles and the Eiffel Tower!
Ogawa: So cute!
Takaya: This is great. Yes. The Eiffel Tower is so cool!
Ogawa: Turtles are also really cute.
Takada: The Eiffel Tower sold really well.
Furumai: Hehe (laughs).
Takaya: It's cute!
Ogawa: It would be nice to have it placed in the entrance of your home.
Takaya: Fumi, how do you decide on your subject matter? How do you decide what to draw or create?
Takada-san: I use pens, pencils, and ballpoint pens.
Takaya: That's what you use. I see. So when you feel like making something, how do you decide whether or not to make it?
Takada-san: I'll decide between red clay and white clay.
Furumai: How do you decide what you want to draw?
Takada: Yes, I do choose the items myself, but I also discuss them with my staff member Matsuo.
Takaya: We discuss it and decide. I see.
Ogawa: Do you often remember places you've been to or things you've seen, with the intention of drawing them?
Takada: Not really... (laughs).
Ogawa: Not really. But I do write about my memories of the trip in my diary.
Takada: Actually, I drew the hotel as well.
Takaya: Is the hotel called "HOTEL MAZARIUM" in Morioka Heralbony? Thank you. How was it? Was the room good?
Takada-san: It was a really nice room.
Takaya: That's great! If there's anything I can improve, please let me know. If you have any suggestions for adding this, etc.
Takada: It would be nice if there were floral patterns.
Takaya: That's true. There are a lot of plans for girls' trips these days. Let's try it, with Fumi as the producer!
Ogawa: It sounds like it will be a wonderful trip.
Takaya: That's right.
#The person I want to see most when I'm tired
Ogawa: In the profile I have for you, Mr. Takada, there's a lot of information about his past hobbies.
Takaya: Various hobbies. Speaking of which, he always drinks Oronamin C at events.
Ogawa: That's true.
Takada-san: Hahaha! Not at all (laughs).
Takaya: Oh, is that not the case?
Takada: I haven't been drinking lately.
Furumai-san: Lately it's Kewpie.
Takada: I've been drinking Kewpie tubes lately.
Ogawa: Drinking it makes me feel like I can do my best.
Takada: I drink it when I'm tired, like when I'm working on Monday.
Furumai: Before the event, everyone drinks a lot of Fumi's recommended nutritional drink to get pumped up and then gathers up.
Takaya: I see.
Ogawa: How do you spend your time when you're not drawing?
Takada-san: I watch videos on YouTube.
Ogawa: Wow! What are you looking at there?
Takada-san: I watch Johnny's, of course. And Junretsu's group too.
Takaya: It's spacious.
Ogawa: You really love male idol groups, don't you?
Takada: I like women too.
Furumai-san: I was watching AKB and stuff yesterday.
Takaya: Furumai-san, from your time with Fumi-san, are there any unforgettable episodes or words that she said to you that have remained etched in your heart?
Furumai: There are so many. Takada-san is a really considerate person with a spirit of service. When I'm tired, the person I want to see the most is not my family or friends, but actually, it's Fumi-san.
Ogawa: Nice.
Furumai-san: So, he usually acts considerately and gives words of encouragement, but when I make even the smallest mistake at work, he doesn't hide his feelings and instead expresses them in Atelier Bravo. When I say, "Oh no!" or "What should I do?", Takada-san says, "It's okay!" and plays the role of Namie Amuro, my favorite singer.
Ogawa: Wow!
Furumi: In that respect, I think I've learned from Takada that I want to be someone like Fumi, who is always able to offer love and compassion.
Takaya: That's nice.
Ogawa: What was your feeling, Fumi, when you reached out to Furumai?
Takada-san: I had dinner with her once. I was a bit worried, but she was just too cute for me.
Takaya: It's kind of nice. It's like a documentary!
Furumai-san: Hehe.
Ogawa: They're so cute! They're like sisters, which is wonderful.
Takaya: Yes. I'm really glad that both Fumi and Furumai had such a wonderful encounter.
Ogawa: Is there anything you two would like to try together in the future?
Furumai: Wow, there are so many! It's hard to choose. Takada-san often says she wants to have a girls' get-together at a cafe.
Ogawa: Nice.
Furumai-san: And they want to do art shows together. I'm a staff member, but we can do it together. And we can do jobs related to tea parties and girls' nights together. They ask me to do the sales and get the jobs (laughs).
Takaya: That might be a good idea! It seems like it would work.
Ogawa: If Takada-san and Furumai-san were to have a girls' get-together, I'd love to join in too. I'd love to expand my fantasies together!
Furumai-san: Please come in (lol)!
Ogawa: Yes, please! Thank you.
Takaya: A girls' get-together! Let's do our best.
Ogawa: By the way, is there anything you want to do with Heralbony in the future?
Takaya: It's now available as in-flight meals, on T-shirts and even as a pouch.
Ogawa: It seems the T-shirts are sold out. I'm glad I bought one.
Takada: Well, I'd like to collaborate on an illustration project with the Matsuda Brothers.
Furumai-san: (laughing)
Takaya: With us? I can't draw at all, so what should I do?! I'll do my best (laughs)!
Ogawa: But I'd like to see photos or pictures of the Matsuda brothers partying (laughs).
Takaya: That's true.
Takada-san: There's a picture of my brothers over there.
Takaya: Yeah! Oh, you're right! I wonder which is which?
Takada: It's this way (pointing).
Takaya: Right! I see! Please take a picture of it later!
Ogawa: This is a rare portrait.
Takaya: Thank you for drawing it!
Ogawa: Today was so much fun, it felt like I was part of a girls' get-together! Thank you very much!
Text by Tomoyo Akasaka
Fumi Takada
Born in 1986. A member of Atelier Bravo, Art Department, JOY Club. Recently, she has had more opportunities to work on large-scale artworks. She is good at sweets, rooms, buildings, and clothes. The Eiffel Tower, a motif she repeatedly draws, is perfect for her girlish heart. She loves zoos where all the animals are like family, and says she wants to draw creatures and animals living comfortably in nature. However, her dream is to perform a painting performance behind the stage of Arashi. She especially wants to collaborate on painting with Ohno.
"HERALBONY TONE FROM MUSEUM ~Listening Museum~" is now available for free
Based on the concept of "imagining the history of an unconventional artist through his art," this program listens closely to the art and touches upon the personality and life story of one "unconventional artist" that can be seen beyond his work.
The two MCs are Sara Ogawa, an actor, filmmaker and writer, and Takaya Matsuda, CEO of HERALBONY. Each episode focuses on a writer under contract with HERALBONY, and welcomes intellectually disabled writers, their families and welfare facility staff as guests.
It is available every Sunday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
You can also enjoy back issues for free.
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