Being the DJ of my radio program is my main project, and I also do voice work for anime and games, narration for TV commercials and the like as well as DJ the occasional business event or fashion show. Recently I’ve been writing columns and interviewing musicians, actors, creators and fashion designers for magazines more often, too. What makes each of these projects fun is that they are all different and thus very satisfying, but if I had to pick one I liked the most it would have to be live radio broadcasts.

Lots of guests come by for interviews, which allows me to approach each show with a fresh attitude. The other day I had a real guitar legend at the studio and play there right in front of me. I love music in general, and am very interested in narration and other forms of vocal expression as well. My voice is my stock in trade, so each morning I make sure to drink warm tea and then take lemon tea with honey in it to the studio. I don’t smoke cigarettes, but I do love a drink, so it’s hard to hold back there sometimes (laughs).

I mostly take it easy on the weekends, but I love the streets of Tokyo, so I go out for walks each week to try and find new attractions. The other day I went to “Oku-Shibu” (Inner Shibuya) and found it really interesting, so I spoke about it on my radio show. My favourite neighbourhoods are Harajuku, Omotesando and Aoyama, but it’s hard not to include Yurakucho in there. I absolutely love the izakaya with red paper lanterns that you find under the tracks there. My line of work also means that I go to live music events. I’m a huge fan of summer festivals and make it out to Summer Sonic and Fuji Rock each year. This year we have some major artists like Eric Clapton and John Mayer come over to do solo performances, and the rest of the line-up is pretty amazing as well with Two Door Cinema Club at Summer Sonic and The Cure at Fuji Rock. There are many other live shows with a luxurious and fun lineup.

The most important thing to me is that the item be functional. When it comes to design, I like simplicity with like a single interesting point, but I value that it has the features that suit my life. I also prefer natural materials like cotton or leather to synthetic fibres. My document case, wallet, and small shoulder bag are all leather, and one thing I like about such items is that, even if they’re stiff at first, they soften up and begin to fit their owner more they are used. Maybe they’re kind of alive in that sense. You spend time with them, building up a relationship until they’re like a companion or a part of you. That’s what makes them fun.

Glenroyal is from Scotland, just like me, and many of their designs are both simple and functional, which suits my lifestyle perfectly. I picked up this clutch bag about a year ago at British Made Aoyama. I don’t like having the pockets of my clothes filled with things, which is why I was on the lookout for a nicely sized clutch bag. My favourite thing about the bag is the way it can hold so much while still looking sleek.

While it is handy as a clutch bag, I think I probably end up using it as a document case more often. I’ve been thinking of putting together a musical recently, and I’m writing down most of the sketches for the set design and other ideas by hand on paper. Having a special case to hold important documents like this helps get me psyched up, too. That’s why I put my notes in this bag and carry it around with me every day. It also fits perfectly in the basket of my bicycle, so it truly is just the right size for my lifestyle (laughs). It’s so great because it’s a functional bag that can adapt to any time, place or occasion, whether it’s carrying papers I need for a meeting, or my glasses and folding fan if I’m going out on the town.

My cuff links that I received from my uncle at a family gathering in Scotland when I was in my thirties. I love that they have a design that resembles the Japanese flag even though they were made in the UK. They’re made of silver, pearl and ruby, and are sort of an heirloom that’s been passed down in my family for three generations. I also have an antique clock I received from my grandfather, furniture and similar items back home. These cuff links are the only of these items I brought with me to Japan, but they hold a lot of memories for me. Just looking at them makes me feel the presence of my family with me and the connection we share.

I love products from the UK, maybe because I’m “Made in the UK”, too (laughs). All jokes aside, I think it’s maybe due to the fact that the UK makes a lot of things that can be used with care for many years. We live in a consumer society now, but I think many of the products we have that are passed down through history and the generations originate in the UK. The reason for this is that these products have history and the story of the brand behind them. What’s more, there’s also that sense of craftsmanship like you get with artisans in Japan that allows the UK to produce high-quality goods. Cutting edge items are all fine and well, but it’s those good quality items with history and tradition that are wonderful enough to be cherished for a lifetime in the truest sense of the words.