Lounge
May 14, 2015
An Interview with Tohru Kenjo, Supporter of "more trees"
An Interview with Toru Kenjo, Supporter of "more trees"
I want to make this something I can't let go of.
“more treesI owe Ryuichi Sakamoto a debt of gratitude for starting it. He used to live only for himself (laughs), but his awareness changed quite early. He feels a profound urgency about the global environment, seeing it as a problem of his own life, a matter of existential reality; without addressing it, his life would lack fulfillment,” says Toru Kenjo, President and CEO of Gentosha, a publisher that handles everything from literary works to magazines and comics. Kenjo, a close friend of Sakamoto’s since his days as a renowned editor at Kadokawa Shoten, explains the reason for his “gratitude.”
Photo by JAMANDFIX
"more trees"—Yes, the name is good.
—What prompted you to become a supporter of "more trees"?
Fundamentally, I support everything Sakamoto does; we are irreplaceable friends. Therefore, being a member of "more trees" like this is very good for my mental well-being. While I've been aware of environmental issues, I had never actually taken any action.
—Why couldn't you take action?
Ultimately, I had a strong sense of futility, thinking, 'What difference can I really make if I do something alone?' Or perhaps, I felt it might seem hypocritical. But the idea of 'as long as I'm alive, things will be fine' is something I now find embarrassing to hold onto, especially for the next generation. I believe the environment has worsened to the extent that I've started to feel this way.
—Do you feel the environmental degradation in your immediate surroundings?
My throat and nose feel worse than they used to. I'm unwell year-round. The air quality has deteriorated, and I feel like my allergies have increased. Also, the summer heat. It’s so hot, I wonder if it’s always been this way? The weather is truly strange. I think we're in for serious trouble if this continues.
—And then "more trees" started, just as you were feeling this way?
I've lent my name to various causes before, but to be honest, "more trees" is the first one I'm truly engaging with. It's the first step. So, I want to make this something I can't let go of. It's about continuing this effort. Humans are small, but nothing begins without each individual taking action. That very act is what brings about change; perhaps sharing this awareness can make a difference. "more trees" has a good name, it's easy to understand, and it feels good.
It feels like Sakamoto pulled me along.
—What was your impression when Mr. Sakamoto first told you about "more trees"?
We used to go out drinking until morning, but he really managed to shift gears (laughs). He developed his awareness of the issues quite early. For Sakamoto, the phrase 'for humanity' might feel awkward, but when it's 'for the Earth,' his perspective changes. He has that sense of reality. I think he's felt this strongly particularly over the last decade or so.
—Do you believe that sense of reality is important for environmental issues?
Frankly, I have no idea what to do on my own, so I'm just following Sakamoto's lead, watching his back. However, I do feel a sense of urgency. An urgency that things can't go on like this. In that context, "more trees" helps me update my perspective and serves as a catalyst to move forward. As with anything, going from 0 to 1 is incredibly difficult. Going from 1 to 100 is much easier if you can get into the flow. For me, "more trees" was that '0 to 1.' The transition from 0 to 1 is crucial, and it feels like Sakamoto pulled me along.
—Do you have a message for Professor Sakamoto?
I have so much to thank Sakamoto for. Environmental issues were also a world unrelated to me. This gratitude towards him is the greatest I've felt in the last two or three years.
—Thank you very much.
Gentosha Official Website│http://www.gentosha.co.jp/
Commemorating the 15th Anniversary of the Launch of "MEN'S EX"
YAHOO! JAPAN × MEN'S EX × more trees
Celebrity Daily Charity Auction
A charity auction to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the men's fashion magazine "MEN'S EX." With the full cooperation of more trees, led by Ryuichi Sakamoto, and featuring actors who have graced the cover of M.E. over its 15-year history, as well as contributing writers, we have gathered 30 distinguished individuals.
Furthermore, this event features a "timed auction" where one item will be sold each day at 5 PM. The auction will run from Monday, April 7th, until the final bid at 5 PM on Wednesday, June 4th!
(Participants *in order of appearance*)
Ryuichi Sakamoto, Ken Ogata, Shiro Sano, Ryū Murakami, Toru Kenjo, Itaru Hiamama, Hitoshi Koizumi, Shinichiro Arakawa, Yoshiko Kannazuki, Masaki Takimiya, Naoki Sasaki, Mitsuhide Funaki, Tadashi Inamoto, Akihiko Ishimaru, Norio Osumi, Tom Brown, Yasushi Akimoto, Takuro Tatsumi, Takaaki Enoki, Kiemon Nakamura, Kyōzō Nagatsuka, Gōshi Naitō, Takeshi Matsuyama, Gorō Yamada, Makoto Ayukawa, Seiichi Kanzaki, Emily Nakayama, Emilie Yamano, Rentarō Mikuni, Kentaro Matsuo (Editor-in-Chief, MEN'S EX)