『My Freedamn! Vol.6』 is Complete! (3)

『My Freedamn! Vol.6』 Is Complete!

And My Thoughts During the Production Process... (Part 3)

This is the final installment of the special interview commemorating the completion of 『My Freedamn! Vol.6』. As the American landscape, the very origin of this era, is fading away, in what direction will the country head? And what ideals are driving Mr. Tanaka's book creation? The conversation unfolds towards such a future.

interview & text by TAKEUCHI Toranosuke (Citywrites)

From 『My Freedamn! Vol.6』 P17

America Shouldn't Rule by Its Past

── In our previous discussions, you mentioned that the 1950s landscape, which formed the basis of modern Americans, is disappearing from America...

Tanaka RintaroNot just the scenery, but people embodying the spirit of the fifties are gone. I think the 20th century, symbolized by the fifties, has just ended in America. However, I'm actually looking forward to America's future. I want to see how they overcome this, and I believe it's a country with the potential to do so. True culture, after all, matures when the economy declines.

── What kind of future do you anticipate?

TanakaI don't have any specific hopes, but one thing I would say is that I hope they don't repeat trivialities and end up disappointing us. America's greatest appeal has always been its lack of rigid rules, given its youth as a nation, and I feel America's potential lies in that. Therefore, I sincerely hope they don't make the events of the 20th century into America's rules. As long as they avoid that, I believe interesting people will continue to emerge.

For example, in music, I believe truly great music emerges organically, with people gathering to play, and then others joining in, creating a synergistic effect. Like the people in New Orleans, just casually playing music together. I think interesting things are born from such spontaneous interactions.

『My Freedamn!』 Stance: A Book as a 'Decorative Object'

From 『My Freedamn! Vol.6』 P39

── What are your thoughts on the future of 『My Freedamn!』?

TanakaThe themes for the next issue and the one after are already decided. Beyond that, it's undecided, but in any case, I simply want to continue creating good books, one by one, with care. After all, these aren't items that can be mass-produced, and I don't think best-of compilations are necessary. My goal, both past and future, is to create books that can be kept on hand as coffee table books. Books that are not just read for information and then discarded, but rather like 'decorative objects.' Perhaps you could say it's a stance of a book as an ornamental item. In fact, I feel exactly the same way about vintage clothing and books; I feel a sense of pleasure when I see a beautiful old book. I hope my books can become such an existence.

── Thank you for sharing so many wonderful insights this time.

TanakaThank you as well.