"commmons: schola" - All 10 Volumes Now Available

The "commmons: schola" CD series has been released across a diverse range of themes, including Bach, jazz, and drum & bass. Its appeal lies in inviting unique curators, each with a deep connection to the specific theme of their volume. It's an ambitious project aiming to build new standards by exploring outstanding music from the past.

NIGO®"I bought them."

Ryuichi Sakamoto"Thank you. Volume 10 is film music. This project began in 2008, and honestly, after four years, we've finally reached this point. As it's also a type of compilation album, we needed to license tracks from other labels, which took considerable time. Especially for this film music volume, some film companies had already gone bankrupt, and for films from the former Soviet Union, it was unclear who held the copyrights. We had a lot of trouble finding the rights holders."

NIGO®"I haven't listened to all the volumes yet, but when you have all 10, it looks like an encyclopedia I read as a child, and it's wonderful. The booklets included with each volume are also substantial, and the interviews with the curators are incredibly in-depth."

Ryuichi Sakamoto"I hope people can listen and read them whenever they like. Please, take your time to read the interviews too (laughs)."

Encountering Globe-Trotter

The talk show proceeded amiably, with listeners enjoying the film music featured in the 10th volume. The conversation gradually shifted from Globe-Trotter to England.

Ryuichi Sakamoto"Like this Globe-Trotter here, objects are wonderful, aren't they? I'm weak to trends, so I've been trying things like 'decluttering' recently, but somehow, the more I try, the more things seem to accumulate."

NIGO®"I also try to buy music on CD as much as possible. As for vinyl records... about 50,000? What, 50,000 is a lot?"

Ryuichi Sakamoto"That's incredible. What about Globe-Trotter?"

NIGO®"I wanted one. After actually touching it today."

Ryuichi Sakamoto"I first encountered it over 25 years ago. It was purely by chance; I was in London when my suitcase broke. I went to a department store to buy a replacement and found Globe-Trotter. I really liked it from the start. It's light, sturdy, and easy to use. I've been using them ever since."

NIGO®"They're stylish, aren't they?"

Ryuichi Sakamoto"They are. They have a retro feel, like trunks from the era of ocean liner travel. I own them in various colors – black, green, gray. About last year, something happened at Newark Airport when I was picking up my gray Globe-Trotter. A certain Hollywood actor walked right up to me. I was preparing to greet him, thinking he'd recognize me as Ryuichi Sakamoto, but he asked, 'Where did you buy this suitcase?' I was taken aback."

NIGO®"Since it's a British brand, perhaps Americans aren't that familiar with it?"

Ryuichi Sakamoto"Perhaps not."

A Distinctive British Chic Felt in the Streets of London

Ryuichi Sakamoto"Have you been to England?"

NIGO®"Yes. London was the first foreign country I visited."

Ryuichi Sakamoto"And when was that, approximately?"

NIGO®"Around 1989, I believe. It was my first time abroad, so I was deeply impressed by many things... I love that the old townscapes are preserved. Now, I go to Savile Row to have suits tailored. I want to design truly stylish suits, so I'm studying the craft."

Ryuichi Sakamoto"I see. Indeed, the old townscapes are wonderful. Because houses are built with stone, buildings that are 100 years old are commonplace, yet within such historic settings, you might find a door painted bright red. That's the kind of sensibility that makes me feel England. They have a knack for using red, or perhaps they just like it. It's used in the flag, of course, but you'll see an old man wearing a red cardigan walking down the street."

NIGO®"The Queen's Guard at the palace wear red uniforms, don't they?"

The "Schola Special" model, created at Mr. Sakamoto's request, features a gray exterior but a vivid red lining. This is, of course, no coincidence. This model, which perfectly stores all 10 volumes and which NIGO® aptly described as "a beautiful object just to have on display," might be teaching us the joy of ownership. In an era where music is predominantly distributed digitally, owning CDs to listen to occasionally, perhaps storing them in a Globe-Trotter and displaying them, offers a tangible presence that enriches the soul just as much as the music itself.





Globe-Trotter Japan
Tel. 03-5464-5248
http://www.globetrotter1897.com/japan/