Some of the best images of my time here in Nagoya are memories of hot club nights surrounded by droves of ecstatic Japanese girls swaying to the tropical sounds of booming reggae music. Used to be a time when almost every Nagoya dance club featured dancehall reggae music in it’s mix. Fact is, all over Japan, reggae is still extremely popular and Satoshi Takeuchi is a major reason for reggae:s popularity here in Nagoya, and, quite honestly, worldwide.
Takeuchi, aka “G Conkarah”, aka “G Governor”, presided over the reggae scene here like a king for numerous years, and still. Conkarah organized massive events such as “Reggae X-Plosion” where literally thousands of reggae fans from all over Japan would converge to experience live internationally known artists, DJs, and musicians on a regular basis. Those times were massive, memorable, and as lively as the music itself. Conkarah also DJ’d in clubs all over Japan and gained an impressive following.
Today, Conkarah no longer organizes events, but he is still a force to be reckoned with on the local and international reggae scene, producing music for famous artists such as Luciano, Sizzla, Sugar Minott, Spragga Benz, Anthony B, and many more, including yours truly, MADDLOVE SPITFIRE (“Fulltime Hustler”), from right here in Nagoya.
After run-ins with the law, fistfights with music partners, family issues with ex wives, and going damn near broke trying to accomplish his goal of spreading reggae music to the masses, G Conkarah is still a soldier. Those crazed hey-days of club nights spent ‘mashing up the dance hall’ now behind him, Conkarah has somewhat mellowed with a few years under his belt. He’s a proud man with a regal countenance, but low key and soft spoken, his words a choppy mix of seriously fucked up broken English, messy Jamaican patois, and of course, Japanese, but his music speaks louder than anything he himself could ever say. Conkarah comes off like a Japanese version of Jimmy Cliff’s character in ‘The Harder They Come”, a Japanese ‘rude boy’ to the fullest.
Reggae may not be as popular in the clubs as it once was, but there is still a massive following for the music here and abroad, and G Conkarah is one big reason why.
The Governor Speaks…
1. How did you become a music producer?
By Divine guidance. I started as selector (Reggae DJ) in the early 90s, same time I did the dub session with many artists,
many engineers in Jamaican studio such as King Jammys, Black Scorpio, Record Factory. Studio vibes I felt at that time taught me the joy of making music.
Ever since I visited Jamaica, I kept looking to “how to make a good reggae music” in my brain.
Then I tried making original songs by own beats since 2002.
2. What is the job of a good music producer?
Producer has to keep an effort to making good music to impress people and must find potential talent of artists.
3. How did you get involved in reggae music?
The Clash and Rolling Stones playing reggae style was the first clue for the journey of Reggae music, and also through the original reggae music like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff in late 80’s, then the Dancehall movement. It was very exciting culture that taught me that people can enjoy the music more easily even if it’s not in the form of bands. That means musician can create music with few equipment like some drum machine and keyboard.
I also started more deeply involved into the reggae business by simple equipments.
4. What do you like about reggae music?
That unique rhythm and life-size values for the people…
5. Where are you from originally?
The Earth. Here in Nagoya…
6. What was the reggae music scene in JAPAN like 5 or 10 years ago?
Well…I think at the time the scene was hotter than now. A lot of Japanese artists were rising up and overflowed with positive energy in the scene.
There was a feeling of excitement that something fun starts from now…
7. Why is reggae so popular for Japanese?
Probably Ja-Ja thing (Jahmaica-Jahpan) is the key…
8. What is the best moment of your career as music producer?
When people enjoying my music…It is the best moment…
Because I don’t want to make music for the money only…I want to share more joy, more strength, more love with more people… that’s all.
9. What is a ‘bad man’? Are you a bad man?
It’s very difficult question to explain my feelings. A man who not afraid to cross the border line of society is the bad man I think, just like a bad man for justice. Of course I am a BAD MAN in that meaning, but don’t mix up bad man and wicked man…bad man has a good meaning in a Babylon system…just like a warrior or soldier against corruption.
10. How can we make NAGOYA’s music scene grow bigger?
I think we will be bigger If can enjoy the music to the fullest more than now. Plus to love your neighbours, respect for seniors and elders, and keeping a pure mind will be the key.
Ah Japan mi livin’ yuh kno…undastan yuhself deh…But one ting mi affi tell people seh great Bob Marley preach “More people smoke di herb, more Babylon ah fall-”
…SALUTE!!!
