"Shiosai RADIO" is a playlist curated by musicians and DJs, featuring songs related to the ocean.

Volume 11 features DJ KIRAYAMA. Originally from Toyooka City, Toyama Prefecture, he lived in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture for over ten years after attending university, and currently resides in southern Kanagawa Prefecture. What have he felt living so close to the sea—Toyama Bay, the Pacific Ocean and East China Sea in Okinawa, and Sagami Bay? He has selected some unexpected tracks for us.

Even though I'm nearby, I don't go to the beach.

Do you go to the beach often?

Up until now, I've hardly ever gone...especially Okinawa, which I think is symbolically associated with the image of the sea, but I haven't been there even once a year.

—Since you've lived near the sea for so long, I assumed you must love the ocean.

I ended up living where I am by chance. I didn't choose where I was born (Toyama), I went to Okinawa for university, and moved to Kanagawa for personal reasons, so it was only when (the interviewer) mentioned it that I realized I've lived near the sea.

This playlist mainly consists of songs I listen to at home, rather than songs you'd hear in a club. I also decided on a title (theme) for the playlist, which is "Not Going to the Beach."

—Even though you're nearby, you don't go to the beach. That's something you've experienced yourself, isn't it?

I like the vague image of the "sea," so I've gathered songs that evoke the sea or water. (For the second to last song) I've also chosen "James" by the Pat Metheny Group, a song that doesn't seem to have anything to do with the sea.

By the way, the first track on the album "Offramp," which includes this song, is "Barcarole," a title that means "barnacle song" in Italian.

This is a song that Brazilian percussionist Naná Vasconcelos co-wrote and participated in, right? I like it and often play it when I DJ, so maybe I should have chosen this song, but I chose "James" instead.

Okinawa has its own unique "pension culture." Unlike on the mainland, where pensions are generally perceived as small accommodations, in Okinawa, pensions are more like rental villas or Airbnb-style accommodations that college students can rent for short breaks. Multiple people split the cost of accommodation, bring their own drinks and food, and have fun together.

I started living in Okinawa when I went to university, but I had a rather gloomy adolescence, and I didn't do any of the upbeat activities that students usually do. I longed for it, and there were times when I would listen to "James" at home and dream about staying in a guesthouse.

The second track, Alvarius B.'s "Mosquito," is an instrumental track featuring guitar and harmonica. It has a somewhat distorted sound, and the title translates to "mosquito."

Okinawa is very humid, and you can still find mosquitoes flying around even during the New Year's holiday. So, I thought "mosquito" would be the theme. The album cover also features a cloudy beach.

The humidity carried by the sea breeze can be felt even if you're not by the coast. Okinawa doesn't get as hot as people imagine; even when I lived there, the highest temperature was only around 33°C. However, it was a kind of heat that felt like being constantly in lukewarm water... The nature of the climate really does influence people's behavior and way of thinking.

—You've selected modern jazz and R&B-related tracks, such as Jamie Leeming's "Shore Embrace (feat. Laura Misch)" for the third track and Liv.e's "You the One Fish in the Sea" for the ninth track, but there seems to be a somewhat languid mood to the album.

Both Masumi Hara's "Living by the Sea" (track 5) and Arthur Russell's "Let's Go Swimming (Live 6/24/84)" (track 7) give off an impression of a "reflective sea," which I find relatable.

The tenth track is "Heal Yourself And Move" by Theo Parrish, a DJ/producer based in Detroit, USA. While it is dance music, it's not an easily accessible, upbeat track.

This is another song I've listened to a lot over the years, and I chose it because it evokes a feeling of the ocean. On the inside of the album cover (for the album "First Floor," which includes this song), there's a bathtub full of records, and a person is soaking in it. That image might have contributed to the feeling of water and the ocean.

The sound itself is unsettling and full of uncertain elements, giving the impression of being submerged in the deep sea.

Theo Parrish does play upbeat sets as a DJ, but when I bought and listened to this album in my hometown when I was around middle school age, I was shocked to think, "There's such dark music in the world." This song is nearly 10 minutes long, but it doesn't have the exhilarating feeling of surrendering to pleasure; instead, it has a sluggish, drawn-out development, and the long, drawn-out feeling is reminiscent of the sea. It's like drifting on without ever feeling good. The next track, Feist's "Get Not High, Get Not Low," as the title suggests, is neither high nor low, and its wavering melody is also reminiscent of the sea.

—For the final song, you chose "Let's Go to the Sea" by Makiko Yamashita.

Since my daughter was born last year, I've started watching children's programs on NHK's "E Tele" channel. "Let's Go to the Sea" is a song from the program "Inai Inai Baa!". I chose it because I really liked its simple, sing-along tone.

—To our listeners: When do you think people would enjoy this playlist the most?

Perhaps it's for those times when you want to go to the beach, but at the same time don't want to... Summer is really hot, isn't it? I'd be happy if you could listen to it whenever you like, whether you're relaxing in your room or when you feel like heading to the beach the moment it gets a little cloudy.

Thank you so much for today!

TRACKLIST

Kath Bloom & Loren Connors – We're On Our Way
Alvarius B. – Mosquito
Jamie Leeming – Shore Embrace (feat. Laura Misch)
Plaid – Uland
Masumi Hara - Living by the Sea
Sun City Girls – Garuda’s Playhouse
Arthur Russell – Let's Go Swimming (Live 6/24/84)
Rei Harakami – jellyfish love
Liv.e – You the One Fish in the Sea
Theo Parrish – Heal Yourself And Move
Feist – Get Not High, Get Not Low
Fabiano do Nascimento & E Ruscha V – Bio
Caetano Veloso – Louco Por Você
Satomimagae – Wave (feat. duenn)
Pat Metheny Group – James
Makiko Yamashita – Let's go to the sea

Profile

KIRAYAMA | Kirayama

Originally from Toyama Prefecture, I lived in Okinawa for 14 years before becoming a resident of Kanagawa Prefecture.
Recent major regular appearances include being a resident on NTS Radio's "From Sun City" (April 2017 - May 2025).
Deep listening party "ideala" @ Hatagaya Forest Limit, bimonthly regular event (December 2023 - February 2025)

IG: @kirayama__

Interview and text by Hanazawa Ou
Illustration by Oki Masahide