Looking Back on TAKURO's "President's Leadership Theory"

In May 2014, around the time GLAY celebrated its 20th anniversary since major debut, an interview with TAKURO was published on Walkerplus. In it, TAKURO, who also serves as president of the talent agency loversoul, spoke candidly about his philosophy as a leader. This article looks back on that interview.

The Details

"Now, at 20 Years, We Talk About It! GLAY's TAKURO and His 'President's Leadership Theory'" was an article published on Walkerplus on May 26, 2014. The GLAY official website also announced it on the same day. GLAY had just celebrated the 20th anniversary of its major debut on May 25 of that year, a band that had by then racked up numerous achievements, including a live show that drew 200,000 attendees and a best album that sold over 5 million copies.

In the article, TAKURO, touching on his role as president of the talent agency loversoul, said, "The reason I became the leader was simply because I was the one who said, 'Let's form a band.'" This explanation—that it wasn't a title but rather the first words spoken that led to his position as leader—conveys the calm composure of someone who has supported the band for many years.

Furthermore, in the smartphone magazine "Shukan Georgia," over three installments on May 26, 28, and 30, TAKURO spoke as president about "why he bows his head to others," as well as his feelings about "GLAY EXPO," scheduled to be held on September 20 in Miyagi Prefecture, three years after the Great East Japan Earthquake. It was an occasion where his perspective as a business manager and his perspective as a band member overlapped.

Playback!

GLAY made their major debut on May 25, 1994, with the single "RAIN." Five years later, on July 31, 1999, they held the legendary concert "GLAY EXPO '99 SURVIVAL" on a special stage set up in the parking lot of Makuhari Messe, drawing an audience of roughly 200,000 people. The "live show that drew 200,000 attendees" mentioned in this interview refers to that day.

In 2005, TAKURO established his own personal management company, loversoul, where he serves as president. Since then, he has supported GLAY not only through music but also from a management standpoint. The words he spoke as "president" in the interview are an extension of this journey.

Then, on March 25, 2014, a press conference announced the holding of "GLAY EXPO 2014 TOHOKU 20th Anniversary," aimed at commemorating the 20th anniversary and supporting recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake. The feelings expressed in this interview are precisely about this concert, held at Hitomebore Stadium Miyagi on September 20.

One More Thing

For those who want to read more of TAKURO's own words, the essay collection "胸懐" is also recommended. It captures the feelings behind his days supporting the band's activities, offering a clue to understanding the "president" side of him discussed in this interview.

Past interview articles remain archived on the GLAY official website even now. It might be worthwhile to revisit the words spoken at this 20th anniversary milestone once again.