Behind the Scenes: BELONG Writers Share Their Stories

Last Updated on 2025-12-14 by a-indie

Hello! This is the BELONG Media editorial team.

To you, who always read our articles: Have you ever wondered, “What kind of music do the people writing these articles like, and what do they talk about?”

We deliver articles centered on indie music, but we haven’t shown much about who the staff members are as individuals or what kind of exchanges we have with each other.

So this time, staff members yabori (moderator), Takita, and Wakiki, who is participating for the first time, decided to have a thorough conversation with a “nice to meet you” feeling.

The purpose is to get to know each other’s personalities and approach to music.

First, as a starting point, we’ll discuss the theme of “What have you spent money on lately?” and talk about our respective values and daily lives.

And once again, we’re delivering content full of insider vibes in the following three parts✨️

1️⃣ Wakiki Goes on a Shopping Spree💨

2️⃣ Takita’s Ruthless “Lottery Prize” Battle🎯

3️⃣ yabori Buys a Translation Doohickey Thing🤖

Participants: yabori (moderator), Takita, Wakiki Original illustration: Furidashi Taro

Reunion After 13 Years! Wakiki’s Epic Career

yabori

So today, let me briefly introduce Wakiki.

Please do.

Wakiki

yabori

Wakiki is a former colleague from my previous job. We met at a company that handles music for wedding receptions. And just recently, I got back in touch with Wakiki after 13 years.

Yes, it was about 13 years.

Wakiki

yabori

I received an email from Wakiki who wanted to be a writer. It wasn’t a full name, but I thought, “Wait, could this be?” And sure enough, it was Wakiki (laughs).

I thought I was hiding it, but was immediately found out (laughs).

Wakiki

yabori

Even back then, I heard you loved music, and our music tastes seemed compatible, so I really wanted you to write! And Wakiki, you like Nordic music, right?

That’s right. Regarding Nordic music, I don’t have a specific artist I love, but I’ve been listening to playlists of Icelandic music quite a bit.

Wakiki

yabori

Come to think of it, Wakiki, you’re living in Mie Prefecture now.

That’s right, that’s right.

Wakiki

yabori

When we first met at that workplace in Osaka, you said “I’m going to work at a factory” and went to Aichi Prefecture. That was the last time we talked.

I went to Aichi Prefecture.

Wakiki

yabori

You were talking about living in a dormitory, and I thought, “What’s gotten into this person?” (laughs)

Right? (laughs) I wanted to go overseas but didn’t have money. When I researched quick ways to earn money, I found information that Aichi Prefecture has lots of automobile factories where you can earn well. So I said “I’m off” and quit the previous company.

Wakiki

yabori

And after that, you went to Australia, right?

I did, for 2 years.

Wakiki

yabori

Yeah, I didn’t know the story after that. It’s been about 10 years.

That’s right. I was in Australia for 2 years, came back, and I’m doing similar work again.

Wakiki

From Reader to Writer: Takita’s “Coming to Tokyo Story” and Life at a Rapidly Growing Venture

yabori

Okay, next can I ask Takita for a self-introduction?

Yes, I’m Takita. My relationship with yabori has been about 7 or 8 years now. Originally, I was a reader from when you were doing the free paper. I lived in Hokkaido, so I purchased 2 or 3 copies of the free paper.

Takita

yabori

You were still in Hokkaido back then.

That’s right. I remember transferring the BELONG free paper fee to the bank.

Takita

yabori

Yeah, I remember you buying them.

At that time I was probably 22 or 23, so about 11 years ago. I loved The Novembers at BELONG and was reading the articles. From there, after I graduated university, I worked for 2 years, then came to Tokyo to re-enter vocational school at 24.

Takita

I see.

Wakiki

I worked at Tower Records while attending vocational school, and after graduating, I couldn’t get a job at a music media company, so I got employed at Tower Records. Six months later, I got a job at another music media company.

Takita

yabori

That’s right.

However, it was so tough that I quit after half a year, running away… I remembered something from that time—I got tickets for Utada Hikaru at Saitama Super Arena, but couldn’t take time off work and couldn’t go. I thought, what’s the point if I entered because I love music but can’t go to concerts…

Takita

yabori

Ah, I see.

After that, I went back to Tower Records. Around that time, I was telling a writer I met at my previous job that “I want to become a music writer.” That person was running a music media site on the web themselves, and I got to do Vtuber interviews via email there. That was the trigger for me to write reviews for Tower Records’ in-house stuff too. Around that time, I probably applied to BELONG.

Takita

yabori

Yeah, I remember you sending me a review.

That’s right. Then I got a reply from yabori, and that’s where I’ve been in your care. Now I’m mainly doing interviews, but thanks to that, editors from other magazines have also contacted me, and I’ve been getting magazine work too. Thanks to that, my dream is now starting to move forward.

Takita

yabori

And that’s Takita’s coming to Tokyo story! Wait, I’m missing an important part. The place where Takita works now is an amazing company.

At the time it was about 30 people, but now the entire group has exceeded 500 people.

Takita

Wow! How many years did it take to reach that number?

Wakiki

The company was established in January 2019, and I joined in July 2021. This happened in these past 2 or 3 years.

Takita

It’s grown rapidly in just a few years. Amazing.

Wakiki

I try to forget about work as much as possible during private time (laughs).

Takita

yabori

Okay, let’s leave the self-introductions at that.

Wakiki Goes on a Shopping Spree💨

yabori

So, in the sense of finding common ground with each other, I’d like to talk about “What have you spent money on lately?” First, can I hear from Wakiki?

Yes. Just when I was thinking about saving money. When I was remembering what I spent money on, I made a last-minute trip to Sapporo in November.

Wakiki

yabori

Oh, Hokkaido!

It was 1 night, 2 days. There, it’s really like a typical travel thing, but I spent quite a lot on souvenirs.

Wakiki

yabori

Like crab?

Fresh items, yes, and sweets too, and it became “this and that,” and I think my shopping basket was the most packed of anyone in the store. It was about to collapse, like some wealthy big spender (laughs).

Wakiki

yabori

Do you have that many people to give souvenirs to?

I have a habit of buying this and that for close friends and family. As a result, it was about 30,000 yen for souvenirs. More than the hotel cost, really.

Wakiki

yabori

You buy so much!

Usually you think “1,000 yen is expensive,” but at a travel destination, it feels super cheap, right?

Wakiki

That’s right.

Takita

I thought I was under some kind of curse. A curse of “buying too many souvenirs at travel destinations.”

Wakiki

yabori

Like the thing where you buy a ton at festival stalls.

Ah, that might be it too. A justification like “because it’s a festival” or “because it’s a trip” loosens the purse strings, probably.

Wakiki

Takita’s Ruthless “Lottery Prize” Battle🎯

yabori

How about you, Takita?

This month I spent about 50,000 yen on crane games…

Takita

yabori

Here it comes, crane games! How much do you use at a time?

The other day I spent 20,000 on crane games, and on that same day, there was a HUNTER×HUNTER lottery prize event.

Takita

yabori

Lottery prizes are the dangerous pattern!

I’m hooked on figures from crane games, so I really wanted the lottery prize items too.

Takita

yabori

This time it was the Chairman Election arc.

This series of HUNTER×HUNTER lottery was super popular. It sold out in 30 minutes or 10 minutes instantly. When I went to a place selling from midnight, there were already 5 people lined up 10 minutes before…

Takita

Super popular!

Wakiki

My friend didn’t get what he wanted, so we decided to go to a pharmacy near my house that was doing it again from 10 AM the next day, and I went first. The purchase limit was 10 times, so I was first in line and bought 10 times, but didn’t get what I wanted.

Takita

yabori

That’s the pattern where Takita gets fired up!

The person next to me won what I wanted. But there was a Last One Prize similar to what I wanted. In lottery prizes, if you buy the very last one, you get the Last One.

Takita

yabori

Wow, that’s a strategy to get you to buy till the end.

So at that point I’d already spent about 8,000 yen😅 After that I lined up again, bought 5 more times and didn’t get it, and when the Last One was finally in sight, the guy who bought after me and got what I wanted was continuously winning the remaining figures.

Takita

yabori

It’s heating up!

That guy was trying to get the Last One too. Then when it was my turn, they told me “11 left.” The purchase limit is 10. So if I bought even 1, he’d buy and take the Last One.

Takita

What a development!

Wakiki

From there, a staring contest began, and the only way it would move is if one of us cracked and bought, or a third party came and bought… Then, finally, my friend arrived late!

Takita

yabori

He came!

My friend was like “Alright Takita, leave it to me.” You buy the remaining 1, he said, and I finally got the Last One!

Takita

yabori

What a turn of events!

So that friend felt like a hero coming to save me when I was dying (laughs).

Takita

yabori

Like when Gon is dying in HUNTER×HUNTER and Killua comes to save him!

And my rival guy went home disappointed.

Takita

yabori

Amazing story! You won the ruthless battle! Actually, Takita has stories like this, which is why I made this the topic today.

After buying the lottery, I went to Fuchu where there’s the place with the most crane game machines in Japan, and spent about 20,000 more on crane games, so I’ve completely lost it (laughs).

Takita

yabori

Your sense of money is warped (laughs).

I tried decluttering and counted them—I have over 40 figures (laughs).

Takita

yabori Buys a Translation Doohickey Thing🤖

yabori

Okay, we only have about 5 minutes left, but for me it’s not what I bought but what I want to buy.

Oh.

Wakiki

yabori

There’s a product on crowdfunding—a smartphone ring-type translator. It can translate in real time.

A smartphone ring becomes a translator?

Wakiki

yabori

Right. It looks like a smartphone ring, but when you download the app and pair it, it becomes a translator.

That’s how it works.

Wakiki

yabori

Recently, I’ve been using Discord a lot, and exchanges with overseas people have increased dramatically. When it comes to speaking in English, the hurdle is really high. I can speak in broken English, but can’t have fluent conversations.

Right.

Takita

yabori

With that smartphone ring, the app translates in real time, so for example what you say in Japanese gets converted to English and transmitted to the other person as audio. And what they say in English appears translated into Japanese when you look at the app. I’m thinking maybe I could interview overseas artists without an interpreter.

Ah, for sure.

Wakiki

yabori

I don’t know yet if it can do that much, so I’ll try talking with English-speaking people I’ve become friends with first, and if it’s okay, I’ll try it with overseas artists without an interpreter and put it into practical use. With the early bird discount, it’s about 25,000 yen.

I see. If it can also do transcription, you could use it for interviews.

Takita

yabori

Transcription too, probably possible.

Technology has evolved so much.

Wakiki

yabori

Just like Doraemon’s “Translation Konjac” (laughs). Well, even if I can’t use it as an interpreter for artists, it’ll be quite useful when talking with overseas people. I’m thinking it’d be nice if I could have conversations with people I met on Discord.

Editor’s Note

So, how was it?

This was our first meeting where a reunion after 13 years and a first-time meeting intersected.

Through this conversation, we hope you were able to feel a bit of the true faces of the editorial team members who are usually behind the scenes of the articles.

In particular, Wakiki, participating for the first time, was a person with an unusual career who experienced factory work and Australian life while harboring a longing for overseas and a love of music.

And Takita came to Tokyo from Hokkaido and continues to pursue his dream of being a writer, now living busy days balancing company work and writing.

All three of us have the same passion for music and are involved in different ways.

This time Marilyn was absent, but next time we’ll include Marilyn and talk about manga we want to recommend.

From now on, we’ll continue to show you our true selves while conveying the appeal of indie music, so please keep an eye on our future if you’d like!

BELONG Media Editorial Team

A music media specializing in indie rock, covering music from Japan, the West, and Asia. Published 26 issues of the music magazine “BELONG Magazine” themed on “roots rock.”

In 2021, appeared as a guest on J-WAVE’s SONAR MUSIC. In 2022, launched English sister site A-indie.

The editorial team members’ nutrition source is mainly obtained from shoegaze and dream pop.