[Currently the time stamps are just estimates]
Phill 0:05
Yo, so I've known this guest before most people had flat screen TVs. From doing 10k runs in Isesaki to late nights in izakayas with his Nomi-Bu crew, to making mochi in Osaka with his family, to driving her to basketball practice bumping A Tribe Called Quest, to his wedding ceremony. Over the past 14 years, it's been ill while watching him accomplish so much and watch his family grow. I would like to welcome a hero I call by their first name, Paul.
Phill 0:37
What's going on, man.
Paul M 0:39
What's up, Phil? It's been a minute. It's been 13 years.
Phill 0:45
A long ass minute, man. But yeah, man, it's so good to catch up. I know we spoke a little bit before we started but yeah, this is actually the first time we actually speaking with each other, in real time, in like 13 years, man. It's nuts. It doesn't feel like that though.
Paul M 1:03
Yeah, 'cause we've been, we've been chatting here and there, like on Facebook. But I was just saying, I've been meaning to get on like a video call with you. And then this podcast thing came up and then I was like, Oh, I guess we'll just we'll catch him live on the podcast.
Phill 1:21
Yeah. Yeah, man Awesome, man. Yeah, man. So as you know, like this podcast, you know, I just kind of started it as a way for students to use as a learning resource to just hear people just, you know, just chop it up using English. And then I, you know, provide a transcription and then, you know, if they have questions they can ask me and stuff or like, put it in the comments. So, thanks. Thanks so much for doing this. I really appreciate it. And, yeah, man, I mean, that's this is how we kind of met for the first time- so some of my guests I've known, you know, for a very long time, well, we each other for a long time as well. But I've since high school, but we didn't meet until our 20s in Japan through teaching, so yeah, yeah. So that that's, you know, so he like your you have teaching experience as well. So yeah, I'm sure that you know, you know how much a challenge a challenge it is to get like authentic English to some students, right.
Paul M 2:24
Oh, yeah, totally.
Phill 2:27
But yeah, dude, so yeah, so before you came to Japan? Yeah. Can you just can you share a little bit about that? I know that you know that you you studied design and that I think you studied abroad in the UK, right?
Paul M 2:42
Yup.
Phill 2:43
Right? So yeah, like what were you doing before Japan? Like what what got you into design because that's like, you know, one thing I've always admired about you is your I for, you know, for design and just for like dope stuff.
Paul M 2:56
Yeah, man. So I grew up In Chicago in the US, and yeah, my mother was from Japan. My dad's from Hawaii. I have an older brother. So yeah, I just kind of started drawing at a young age. I don't really know how I got started. But I think a lot of kids kind of just start drawing when they're young. I just kind of kept at it. And I kind of realized I was good at it. Or maybe my parents realized I was good at it. So I just kept doing it all throughout elementary school. You know, I was kind of known as like the art kid of the school. So whenever the school needed something, it would be like, hey, Paul, could you draw us this thing for this magazine cover or for this poster or you know, and then that kind of, you know, that kind of stayed with me through high school. It's funny because in high school, I kind of wasn't really doing so well in school, I was kind of, I don't know what happened, I kind of got distracted with my other studies. But, you know, art was always still like my main thing. So I just kept focusing on art. And I wasn't even thinking of going to art school for college. I didn't really even know. You know, that was something I could do.
Phill 3:59
Really?
Paul M 4:09
Yeah. So, I mean, I just thought I was gonna go to like, some regular university and just get a regular degree and whatever, you know, but, I started looking into art schools, and I was like, Oh, I could study art, you know, every day all day, like, Okay, cool. So I enrolled in art school. So I first started at a smaller art school for my first two years. And I just focused on drawing and painting. And then I took an elective graphic design, and I didn't even really know what it was. I just knew, you know, we were gonna maybe use the computer a little bit. And then, you know, I kind of realized what it was, which is basically, it's kind of like using words with images, you know, together to make, you know, to, like, communicate, basically. And when I started doing that, it just kind of clicked like, oh, like, this is what I've been meaning to do, like my whole life.
Phill 5:26
Oh dope, man.
Paul M 5:27
You know, because I mean, like, I liked art and drawing and painting, but I wasn't super interested in becoming like this realistic painter or, you know, that kind of a thing. Like, that wasn't really, I wasn't, that wasn't the goal for me, I guess. And I didn't I didn't know what it was. I wanted to be more expressive, I guess.
Phill 5:49
Okay.
Paul M 5:49
And so when I found graphic design, it was kind of like, Oh, I could do that with words and images, you know, together and I felt like that just kind of clicked. So, yeah, so I went, you know, so I went to art school actually transfer it to like a bigger art school. It's the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. It's kind of well known. And then there it was a little more, you know, conceptual and kind of more about the theory behind design and art, and I really liked that part of it, too. And then I decided, I guess I've heard people were studying abroad. But there wasn't really like a clear program or like, way to do it. I think people were just finding schools on their own, emailing them and saying, like, "Oh, can I join your program?" It was kind of discouraging. I was like, "Huh, you know, are they even going to answer me like?", I don't know. But eventually I got into a program in London, at St. Martin's, which is kind of a well known We are at school there. And I was like, "Yeah, let's go." It's like I just went It was funny because the way that they the way that they teach over there is so different from the States. It's kind- out
Phill 7:14
Yeah, yeah. Can you flesh that out a little bit?
Paul M 7:16
Yeah. So it's unstructured basically. So you kind of meet with the you know, Professor like once a month and then you kind of just work on your projects on your own like you don't even have to go to the school.
Phill 7:34
Okay, yeah, so it's like full on like what autonomy like learner autonomy. Oh, yeah, this Yeah, we do.
Paul M 7:40
And it's funny because like, I wasn't used to that I was used to the American style of like, you go to class every day from this time to that time. You check in with the teacher every day, you know, you make sure you're on track. And like, at first I was like, "oh, like what is this?" you know?.It was cool because their whole philosophy was like sink or swim, you know, like, if you're gonna do good work, you're gonna do good work. It's not because the instructor is going to make you do it. So I actually kind of like, fell in love with that kind of thing, you know, and then that kind of, like, shaped how I look at my work now it's kind of like, you know, you gotta, you got to kind of do everything yourself and motivate yourself to do things you can't sit around and have people tell you what to do. So I think that really shaped you know, how I became a designer and like the kind of designer that I am now, so.
Phill 8:39
that's dope, man. So that's, that's a dope trajectory, man. So like, you just kind of, you know, always had this kind of skill of, you know, like this artistic ability, I guess we can call it and then, you know, you just kind of found that, "Oh, wow. You know, I can study this and you know, in this in college" then in college, You took that elective and then that elective, you know, kind of opened this design world to you. And then that clicked, right? That was like something that really clicked with you. And then yeah, then you just kind of found this other opportunity to go to a bigger well known school and then then you end up in London, man, that's, so you just kind of just took lots of chances. Right? It seems that you just kind of like, you know, yeah, that's-
Paul M 9:31
I've always I've always been that way. I was kind of like, I don't know, I guess I was just very optimistic about everything. You know, like, I always felt like things would work out. If I just worked hard, like, things would just kind of work out wherever I went, like, I'd be fine. And yeah, I just kind of followed that feeling. I guess I just went by the feel, not by like is this logical to do you know.
Phill 10:00
Just like that a Bruce Lee movie right don't think feel
Phill 10:03
Exactly, that's so true.
Phill 10:31
Kangaeru na. Kajirou.
Bruce Lee 10:32
Phill 10:39
Dope man. That's awesome man. So yeah, man, I mean yeah was there anything like in your life, in your home that kind of like drew you to- like that inspired you to fall into design or like, was it lots of stuff In Your House has anyone in your family into it? Or do you have any like friends? Or?
Paul M 11:05
It's funny? Not- not really. I mean, I didn't even know, it's funny, I didn't even know what graphic design was until I took that class. Like, I don't even know it was a thing.
Phill 11:16
Yeah.
Paul M 11:18
Yeah, I can't really think of anyone or anything that I was kind of like looking at and being like, Oh, I want to do that, because I didn't even know it was a thing.
Phill 11:28
Yeah. That's interesting.
Paul M 11:30
But I guess you know, graphic design is like, all around you.
Paul M 11:34
Yes.
Paul M 11:35
You just don't know it. Like you see it on TV, advertising, CD covers, you know, it's like, I mean, you see it all day, but you don't really- I'm assuming some people don't know like, you know, people have to design all that stuff. You know, even if it's something bad. Someone has to sit there in front of the computer and design that out and like make those choices make those font choices make those color choices choose that photograph to put it you know what I mean? Like Yeah, yeah, you think of it that way. I mean it's everywhere you look you know, there's something designed, so.
Phill 12:14
Yeah man and I just- yeah that's something like that I met- when I met you and you kind of told me that that kind of like clicked with me I was like, "Oh shit yeah, man..." you know, like yeah, there's a lot of shit that goes into it. I- you know, and I've always had done little projects and stuff but um, it never really clicked that, like every everything like literally like- I get everything is has been designed in some way whether it's good or bad and like, even making like this kind of logo I did for the for the podcast, you know, thinking about you and I did it. I was like, "Oh man, I hope it's not too wack. Then Paul's gonna be like, 'Yo Phill, man, like the fonts are too small, son. Like what are you trying to express with...'" Yeah, you know, and I watched some videos and stuff. YouTube about font and stuff. Yeah Nick fonts give you different feelings and how you know this the serif fonts and all this other things. You know, and there's like the joke- I think one joke everybody gets is like never use was that the
Paul M 13:14
Comic Sans.
Paul M 13:15
Yeah, Comic Sans and Papyrus.
Paul M 13:21
Everyone says that but I'm just waiting for that one designer that's gonna take Comic Sans and like make it like, look so dope. Just like flip it around. Like, I'm just waiting for something like that.
Phill 13:34
Yeah. It's gonna happen, man. It's happen, dude.
Paul M 13:39
So that's interesting. So like, when you made the logo for the podcast? What's your process like? What goes through your mind? Like, how do you even choose the fonts, you know?
Phill 13:51
Well, like first I started with the with the color. So like the main theme is kind of like brownish, yeah, you see the document, like kind of like brown- So I kind of want to give like a coffee vibe like something that's really relaxing for the for like you guys who who see the document like alright, you know kind of a calmning color I don't know. Um, and you know I didn't want to do any kind of like, I guess yellow is a kind of a primary color, but I didn't want to do anything that's too bright just kind of more relaxing feeling right and then with the "i", call my heroes by their first name, I didn't want myself to be like highlighted so I made it lowercase. And just kind of like "Heroes" I tried to make more central in like the logo. But yeah, it's a lot- it's a long-ass name. So I was like, maybe it's not the best name to the coll a podcast, but it you know, I just wanted to stick with it. So I kind of tried to make like, like a hanko something that's Yeah, that's you know, that I can just use in various contexts that gets it across. Yeah, that's, you know what I did it- as for the font. I just tried to get something that was, you know, kind of like, what's what's the apple font? I can't pronounce it "Helvetica" or whatever is called.
Paul M 15:06
Helvetica?
Phill 15:07
Yeah, yeah, but it's actually "Oswald" but I don't know if that's a good- Yeah. And I just kind of stretched, stretch some of them out and stuff just to kind of give it a like a non intrusive. I don't know, I never studied design but yeah, so that was my process.
Paul M 15:20
It's funny. I mean, it's funny you say that you that you never studied design, but like, you could totally verbalize your process of like, how you came up with that. Like, I think that's pretty cool. Like, sometimes I can't verbalize how I got somewhere with a basic design. Yeah, I mean, but the fact that you were, you were intentional in like, the feeling and the look and like, why you chose the font and the color is like, I mean, that's pretty impressive to like a designer. Like, usually it's like, "Oh, is the first font in the list and yeah, I like red and that was it." You know, but like you kind of had a whole like, path to like how you got to the end results, so.
Phill 16:05
Yeah, thanks to you, man. I mean, I thought about you the whole time. And I was just like, "Alright man, I know-". I was eventually asked you to come on I was like, "Alright I got to make this logo as dope as possible." And also, you know, like making the websites that did my website a couple years back, and thanks for all that help with that.
Paul M 16:22
Oh, yeah.
Phill 16:22
I actually I guess I did kind of study design, like web design, and I watched hours and hours and hours of
Paul M 16:28
Oh, yeah,
Phill 16:29
web design videos and stuff. So I guess, you know, kind of stuck with me for this.
Paul M 16:33
I mean, you can learn a lot of that. I mean, yeah, you can learn a lot of that stuff right now. I mean, just by looking at things and just- I'm sure on YouTube, there's so many, you know, tutorials about how to design and like, I mean, it's just- and just just looking at things, you know, looking at everyday things you can learn so much, you know, so.
Phill 16:56
Yeah, man.
Paul M 16:57
That's pretty cool.
Phill 16:56
And so like, dude, thank you, man. Like that would- I still remember that conversation that we had. I was like, "What are do gonna you what do you do with design, man?" You were like, "Dude, everything is design." You just like started of pointing out shit I was like, "Oh yeah, like yeah-" I felt like a dummy, man it's like, "Oh yeah man it's so true." Yeah so thank you for that, man, definitely, you know added to my life, man, and it still does, man, I'm always, you know, just have like an eye for so much stuff now I just always think every time I see something like, "Oh, that's dope" and I think, "Oh yeah, like. yeah Paul like oh, that's what Paul does, man that's like his thing." So yeah, man. Okay, so, you have like this kind of, you know, awakening about design you go to London, you kind of have this kind of really like autonomous learning. That's kind of like actually, what we do for my job as a learning advisor here. You know, we kind of push this kind of autonomous- like learner autonomy. It's kind of giving students the freedom in the way that they want to learn English and empower them and they just kind of, you know, do what they want to we kind of support them. But-
Paul M 17:48
That's awesome.
Phill 18:07
Yeah. So yeah, you do all this design stuff and then you teach English in Japan. Yeah, that that was a bit of a that was a bit of crossover-
Paul M 18:17
Yeah,
Phill 18:18
fake
Paul M 18:18
that was something that I was not expecting at all. So at the time, you know, I was getting ready to graduate I was already interning at advertising agencies like, starting when I was like a sophomore, so I was just, I just couldn't wait to just start working full time. Like that was, you know, I was just so excited to like start working in the real world. So then, I don't know if this is part of it, but I watched Lost in Translation.
Paul M 18:51
Oh yeah, 2003.
Paul M 18:52
2003 it came out and like, I honestly didn't know too much about it. I just knew it took place in Tokyo and it kind of looked cool visually. I didn't know the story or anything, so I watched it in the theater. And it like, blew my mind. It's like one of my favorite movies of all time.
Movie 19:23
Lost in Translation (2003)
Phill 19:54
Yeah, really stylistic? Isn't it? Like?
Paul M 19:56
Yeah,
Phill 19:57
I like the the karaoke scene. I really- it always stuck in my head. Yeah, like just the lighting and her wig and stuff was really- yeah anyway, sorry go on, man.
Paul M 20:05
It's funny how they, they kind of captured. They really did capture how it is sometimes, like when you're in- when you're in Tokyo for the weekend, you know what I mean?
Phill 20:14
Yeah, it does.
Paul M 20:15
Just that whole vibe, but I don't know, I kind of saw that. And I was like, man, it'd be so cool to live in Japan, you know, but, you know, it wasn't like a serious thought it wasn't like I had no way to go there and live, you know. So my cousin did JET, years ago before that. She was in Yokohama.
Phill 20:39
Oh, wow.
Paul M 20:39
She did two or three years there and- so I knew about it but you know, I kind of thought, you know, like, why would they hire this art school graduate to teach English? Like I have no experience, you know, I don't even like being in front of class. I was like, "Nah..." and then um, so my buddy Josh- you remember Josh
Paul M 21:03
Yup, yup.
Paul M 21:05
He was a JET in- on Sado
Phill 21:07
Sado, yeah.
Paul M 21:08
Yeah, but he was he was applying and he was like, "Hey, we should apply together."
Phill 21:13
Yeah, he was doing like, like, video game stuff, right? He's doing like animation.
Paul M 21:17
He was doing animation. Yeah. So we met in college. Yeah. So he was doing animation and stuff. And I was kind of just like, "Nah, like, I'm gonna start working" like, "I kind of got a good start", you know, like, "I want to just, you know, be heads down on my job and stuff." But he was kind of just like, "Come on, come on, come on." So then I remember, it was like the last day that you could mail out the application and everything. And I was at work and I was finishing it up at work. Putting it in a FedEx thing at work like using all the work supplies. Barely like mailed it out on time, and I was- even I was thinking like, "Oh, it's probably too late." Like it's not gonna make it. Hmm. So yeah, long, long story short, I became an alternate at first. You know, and I was number I don't know, like 100 and something so I was like, "Oh, they're not gonna, they're not gonna call me", you know. But yeah, so I was at work when I got the call and this woman calls me, Japanese woman, and she's just like, "Okay, so we have a spot for you. You have to let us know by tomorrow". And she was like, really mean, and she was just like, "So many people are waiting, like, just tell me tomorrow if you're going or not. Okay, bye." And she just like, hangs up and I'm like, I'm at my desk at my job and I'm like, "What am I you know, what am I gonna do?". So then I called my mom first I'm like, yeah, "So I got it." And she's just like, you know, "So what are you gonna do?" and I was just like, "I don't know". And then I was just kind of again, just going with feeling right? Like, this is probably not the logical thing to do. I'm already at my job. And so I was just like, "Yeah, I mean, I gotta do it. Like, this is a chance to live in Japan like, I gotta do it." So I think it was that day, or the next day I just told my boss like, yeah, I'm gonna go to Japan. He's like, "What?" Like, "Yeah, kind of a chance of a lifetime. And you know", at the time, I thought, "I'll just go for a year and just come back", you know, just make it like a vacation and just come back and start working. You know, but yeah, as you know, it ended up being three years.
Phill 22:19
Yeah, man.
Paul M 22:50
Got married there. Yeah, the whole thing, so.
Phill 23:42
Yeah, man, it worked out for you, man.
Paul M 23:45
Yeah, I mean it was the best- the best decision of my life for sure, so. Seeing how my life turned out.
Phill 23:54
Yeah, man. So yeah, dude. Yeah, I remember meeting you, man. You wrote it down here like, yeah. I remember day meeting at Isesaki station and yeah, I don't know it might get me in trouble. But I remember like, going to meet you and I was like, "Oh wait, man. He's Japanese, how am I gonna know who he is?"
Paul M 24:17
You're like tapping every guy on the shoulder like, "Are you Paul?"
Phill 24:23
Yeah, I remember, we went- I think we went to the Kencho. We got- I think we got like curry or something.
Paul M 24:28
Yeah. Oh, yeah.
Phill 24:30
Yeah, it was a good time. And I was like, alright, man, yeah. So, yeah, and then um-
Paul M 24:36
Before you say that. So, I never told you this but when I met you- so I got to Japan. I got to Gunma. It was August. It was super hot. I didn't have a car. I didn't know where the supermarket was, I had like no friends. I was kind of freaked out and in my mind, I was thinking, Okay, like, in a couple of weeks or so I'm gonna just pack my bags and just go home."
Phill 25:07
Word?
Paul M 25:08
Yeah, I was thinking that I was like, "I'm just gonna like one day just like, go home and like, not tell anyone." I was freaked out, you know? Yeah, you know, and I was, like a big part of it was the job. I mean, you know, I had never taught before. I didn't do well in English class in high school. I don't like being in front of class, you know, I wasn't like an outgoing person or anything like that. So I was kind of- I was a little freaked out about the job too. And I was like, how am I gonna do that every day, you know, and, I mean, we can, you know, get into it later, but I eventually just, you know, became to love it and like, it just became natural to be in front of the students and teach and be pretty comfortable and actually have a lot of fun with it, so.
Phill 26:03
Yeah, maybe we can talk about it now if you want, man.
Phill 26:05
I'm glad I stayed.
Phill 26:06
Yeah, because I mean, you, you know, I think, you know, you ended up making like lifelong friendships with some of this kids that you taught, right? I remember, you end up doing really well at the job and you remember, you designed lots of, like cards and stuff with the students.
Paul M 26:19
Oh yeah. So, yeah. So, you know, I was I was kind of thinking about, you know, how do I keep, you know, designing while I was in Japan, because I wasn't working as a designer. So actually, at first, I was kind of just trying to pick up freelance, you know, gigs, online, from like, whoever, you know, just doing whatever. And then, you know, and I didn't think about how I could use my skills for school for, you know, teaching and I remember one time one of the teachers asked me to, like, edit, you know, like a worksheet or something. So, I was sitting there like using like whiteout and like, you know, scotch taping this like worksheet together, fix it or whatever.
Phill 26:19
Yeah.
Paul M 26:23
I was just thinking like, I could just, you know, design this whole sheet like from scratch, like we can just make it say whatever we want, you know, whatever we're teaching we can, you know create. And so I just kind of did that once and then I think the teacher, like she couldn't believe it. She was like, "Oh, you like made this?" I'm like, Yeah, I just, you know, that was kind of what I did, you know, graphic design, so it was really easy too. And so like that just started and then I eventually just started, you know, designing everything that I used for class.
Phill 27:46
That's so dope, man.
Paul M 27:47
Yeah. Because you know, because we'd have these sheets from like the 80s. Like, "Joe and Bob are going to the store" you know, it was it was just boring. So what I did was, like, I took that sheet, and then from the ground up, I redesigned it. And you know, with these- they were a junior high kids so it's like, whatever was cool at the time. I could just put in there so I could their fav-, you know, like their favorite actor or actress or cartoon. Like, I just put it in there. And they were like, the kids are like, "Whoa, this is cool." You know, I can tell when they like- But it came to a point where when I handed out a worksheet, they were all like, they couldn't wait to see what was on it.
Phill 28:33
Awesome, man. That's so dope, dude.
Paul M 28:35
And I would even put my my self in the worksheet or the teachers.
Phill 28:38
That's right! I remember you showing me this.
Paul M 28:41
And they were just blown away and then it just clicked like, "wow, like the power of this skill". Like I could just- because the things that's so cool about is like, I can make something out of nothing.
Phill 28:53
Yeah.
Paul M 28:54
You know what I mean, and so whatever the teacher was teaching, I would just create like an A whole new worksheet and like, make it applicable to the kids and, you know, like current events or like, whatever, you know, so it's just more interesting. And it's more current. So I just felt like, "Wow, like there's a lot of power in design right there". You know?
Phill 29:16
Yeah.
Paul M 29:17
So, yeah that was pretty cool.
Phill 29:19
Yeah, that's awesome, man. I'm glad you decided to stick it out, man. Like, it kind of worked out for you. I think-
Paul M 29:27
it was funny. 'cause like, when I was- So after my third year, when I was leaving, like one of the teachers was like, it's like, "Oh, man, like, What a waste. Like, you should have taught graphic design as like an elective at the school" and I was just like, "Oh, man. that would have been so awesome." And like, I didn't even think about that, you know? Yeah, that was even possible. Like, I could have started like a graphic design club or something, you know?
Phill 29:57
Yup.
Paul M 29:59
But Yeah...
Phill 30:01
That's- Yeah, I mean, you know, even though you probably didn't get a chance to do that, I'm sure you know, designing those those handouts and and just kind of raising students awareness that, you know, things can look cool and things can be designed, right? It was in itself a lesson I think, you know, possibly right? Because they're like, oh snap like, "My teacher made this you know, like, I could probably do something cool with it too" you know. But yeah man. Wow, that's awesome, dude. Yeah, so you were able to kind of use you know, something that you were just really passionate about at the job. And yeah, so what what ultimately just kept you here? Was it like, you know, like, what- When did you feel like, "Okay, I you know, this this is this is pretty dope", like when you are in Japan like during your first year or?
Paul M 31:00
No, I mean, it was actually pretty quick. It was like, it was a combination of- So we had a good crew and Isesaki like, yeah, you and Joe and like, the whole group, like everyone was pretty cool. And that helped a lot. And then, you know, like I said, school, like, I started to really enjoy it. And the students were just like, really nice and like friendly and like, all the teachers were really friendly. And, you know, I just got into the groove of teaching. And I think that helped it a lot. Like I enjoyed going to class and teaching. Yeah, and then you know, I just made friends outside of that Japanese friends and you know, it was just- it was a blast like everyday man, like, you know, every minute you know, it was just it was just really fun and like, I was so glad I didn't just pack my bags and leave because it was probably like the best times of my life. I don't know.
Phill 32:05
Yeah, man. No Same here, man. It was, um, it was just a very unique, you know, I think you know, uh, you know, I haven't left.
Paul M 32:12
Oh, yeah.
Phill 32:13
But uh, yeah, it's, uh, yeah, definitely, you know, it was a great time, I think was a really cool time to be here. And like you said, like, the people that we had around us- the community that we had was really, it was really dope, man. I mean, it was, it was mad fun. And yeah, like, you know, you being you know, you know, Japanese American, but still having, you know, family here and a connection to Japan, for me, was really, you know, like, it really helped me feel more connected, you know, because like, not that I did, not that I didn't respect Japan, but like it like, you know, thank you for your- You taught me a lot just about existing here as an American, you know, but also like, a lot of the small, customary things because like one thing that was really cool. How, you know- I came to Japan, I didn't know any Japanese, right? I just was like, you know, whatever. And then every time I met someone who wasn't,, you know, who learned Japanese outside of Japan, they would translate things and explain things from a very like, what's a good word like a very curated kind of- not professional- but this kind of very, like cold way, like a very, you know,
Paul M 33:48
Like a textbook kind of way.
Phill 33:49
Yeah, like textbook, very removed, you know, kind of like a like observing like a different culture. But like when you would translate stuff, you'd be like, "Ah, yeah, Nah, man. She was like, 'Nah'", or like, or like, "Oh yeah, yeah, man he's just saying like his, you know, he's like, 'it's aight'" and like how you would translate how people were communicating was very kind of real. Like it was, "Oh ok". Because everybody was like, "Oh, you know, she said to not place the chopsticks", you know, I'm saying? And then you's be like, "Ah Nah, man, he was just like, 'don't put the chopsticks there'". And, and that small thing, like something clicked. And that really helped me. You know, it's like, you know, be here for so long. Just like seeing everyone has just like regular-ass people, rather than this textbook kind of way of looking through Japan. Does that make sense, man? I mean,
Phill 34:44
Yeah, that's interesting. Like, I never thought of that, but I guess it might be because, you know, like, I grew up with my mom speaking Japanese So- but my Japanese was like really broken like, because I would I would use Japanese and English mixed, which is yet to do. Yeah. So when I got to Japan, I could kind of get by, but like, I knew my Japanese was rough. And on top of that, I was speaking like Kansai at first.
Phill 35:21
Ah, yeah, Kansai-ben,
Phill 35:23
but I remember talking to some of the teachers at school and they were just like cracking up because then they're like, "Why do you talk like that?" And then I was just like, what like, this is I thought that was normal Japanese, you know? It's like, no, it is it was because it came from my mom, you know? I was saying like, "Akan" and stuff like that and they were like, "What?" and stuff like that. Then I kind of figured out Oh, everyone's speaking you know, like, quote unquote, like regular Japanese. Yojimbo and why Yeah, once I learned to speak like that, I was like, "Oh, Okay, I get it. I get it now, so."
Phill 36:05
It's mad funny remember that- kind of fast forwarding a bit, but I remember at your wedding I spoke to your mom and you're like, "You speak English mom?", you like mad surprised your mom was like, just like kicking it with me in English. Or something like that.
Paul M 36:23
Yeah, it's so funny because I think I think my mom avoid speaking English in front of me and my brother 'cause I would- like I don't know if I've heard her speak 10 words of English, you know? And it's funny because my dad couldn't really speak Japanese. So I wondering isn't like, how did they communicate so well?
Paul M 36:43
Through love, man.
Paul M 36:45
Yeah, that's all they needed, right? It's all good.
Phill 36:50
So yeah, man, I was- really, yeah, it was funny though. Remember that? You were like you speak- like you were just like, "Dude, I never heard my mom speak English, man."
Phill 36:58
Yeah. For real.
Phill 37:01
That's a funny moment. But yeah, man, um, yeah, like, um, yeah, just wanted to, like touch on just the, you know, kind of life, you know, in Japan like we, we spent a lot of time together like, especially like your last like year and a half year, like kind of last two years here.
Paul M 37:20
Yeah.
Phill 37:21
And just thank you, man, I remember. You know, you started running and stuff and playing ball and like, you know that that really helped me form friendships with a lot of Japanese people. You know, so yeah, thank you for that, like introduced me to like, Masamichi and stuff. And, you know, I still talk to them today and stuff, and that's awesome.
Paul M 37:41
Well, I mean, yeah, yeah. You introduced me to a lot of people to like, you know, like the Harlem crew.
Phill 37:47
Yeah, from Mets.
Paul M 37:48
That was like the basketball team. Yeah, those guys and I mean, like, to me, you were you were like the OG. That was kind of like showing us the ropes when we out there, so.
Phill 38:01
Yeah, we'll do one year longer, which is funny, man. Yeah, it was weird. Yeah, I was already acclimated.
Paul M 38:07
Yeah, you knew where you were going. You were speaking Japanese. You had Japanese friends like, you were kind of like the chill, like, wise man. You know what I mean?
Phill 38:20
Yeah. Looking back I don't know where that came from. Yeah, just, you know, I just clicked when I got here, it was just like a chance. I think I never had a chance to really, you know- there was no cops trying to fuck with me and shit. Like, you know, like, I had to add money that goes get paid and stuff. Yeah. You know, so yeah, I just took advantage you know? Maybe that's not a good word. I just, you know, I just flourished man, because it was like, "What? like, people are cool?" Like, I don't got to worry about like some bullshit. I could just like work, come home and you know, like, just exist. It was such a- Japan such a great place for that, you know, it's not perfect, but definitely, it was, um, Isesaki man, I think was a special placement. I think- I meet, a lot of people have different areas. It had an edge to it. You know I mean?
Paul M 39:19
You know, we were lucky because weren't we one of the few places where there were two ALTs per school?
Phill 39:27
Yeah, that's right.
Paul M 39:28
I think that was a huge I mean, you know, because I had Joe and like, that was a huge help for me, because you know, Joe's cool. You know, kind of similar to you, like, very chill, very knowledgeable guy, and it was just like, you know, he, I mean, I think he was there like a month or two before me, but he was already
Phill 39:50
He was in it.
Paul M 39:51
He was already showing, yeah, he was already showing me the ropes and where things were, how does school work? You know who's who so Just having that other person and be there with you like that, that helps a lot, so.
Phill 40:04
It's true. Is that- Yeah, maybe because we're both from New York so we gotta represent.
Paul M 40:09
You got that New York vibe, flavor.
Phill 40:14
But yeah, man, Awesome, man.
Paul M 40:18
Speaking of Joe, I actually hung out with him a couple times since Japan. So, I went to New York a couple times. A few times for work and like, we actually met up and, you know, like, met up at an Izakaya. And it was just like old times. Yeah, it was. It was so fun. It was so cool but...
Phill 40:41
Yeah, man. Yeah, I gotta say, what's up to him.
Paul M 40:43
Shout out to Joe..
Paul M 40:44
Shout out to Joe, man. He has a daughter too, right?
Phill 40:47
Yep.
Paul M 40:47
Yeah, yeah, he's a librarian?
Phill 40:50
I think so. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I should hit him up yet because I kind of dropped off-
Paul M 40:54
He's doing really good.
Phill 40:55
That's great. That's great to hear.
Paul M 40:56
And that's funny. That's so that reminds me of another thing. So I think it was last year or like two years ago, one of our former students reached out to us and, you know, they were doing their 10 year reunion for the junior high school and yeah, she wanted us to make like a video message for the ceremony or whatever, like, oh, like, you know, she was just like, "Oh, this is like a surprise for everybody and blah, blah, blah". So I was I was super excited. I was like, "Oh, hell yeah".
Phill 41:29
Yeah.
Paul M 41:29
So like, we made this like slideshow of like photos from back then with, like, music and everything. And we both did like a little video message, you know, with our kids there to install. You know, it was fun, whatever, you know, I was just happy that they asked us to do it. And then I kind of forgot about it. And then all of a sudden, I was getting messages from like, some of the teachers there were
Phill 41:57
No way!
Paul M 41:58
One of the teachers was like, "Oh, like I saw your video and like, I was so happy and everyone was so happy to see it and surprised and blah, blah blah" and like, they were just really thankful and everything. I was like, "Whoa!", like, you know, that's dope man that made me feel really good. But um, yeah, that was that was pretty cool that they that they actually reached out to us, you know? yeah like I don't know I thought they would just forget about us teachers you know, but
Phill 42:21
Yeah man you guys you guys were cool man guys are special, man I remember you guys you know- at San-Chyu, right? That's where you guys worked right?
Paul M 42:34
Yeah, yep.
Phill 42:35
Yeah you guys you guys went in hard minimum you guys did a lot of planning- even like we'd be out drinking and you know you and Joe would kind of even still talk about class and stuff you guys were really involved. It was a it seems like, you know, definitely made an impression.
Paul M 42:53
Yeah it was definitely a really good group of students. Yeah, they were just excited. And when we came to class and, you know, it was just fun. I don't know, I felt lucky. Like, I can be a teacher, but I could kind of be like a friend almost too. So it wasn't like super serious. I could like have fun with the kids, but they're still kind of learning from me, so. Yeah, it was pretty cool. It was fun.
Paul M 43:21
Yeah, man. Yeah, just yeah, it was- just keeping it real man. This kind of, you know, no bullshit, you know, it's just like, "Yep. You know, I'm just here trying to help you learn, you know, and yeah, let's do it", you know?
Paul M 43:35
Yeah, we and we cared, you know, like, we like we cared about the students and the school and the teachers and yeah, we were pretty invested in it. So. Yeah.
Phill 43:46
Yeah. Oh, yeah. So, dude, man, I tot-. You wrote this in the notes, man. I forgot that you were kendo. Yeah, so
Paul M 43:54
I totally forgot about that.
Phill 43:55
So, this is a funny story- So me and Joe, you know, like school would kind of end at like 4 o'clock for us. And, you know, we could just, we could just go home or whatever, but we'd kind of, you know, most days we would kind of like walk around the school. And so, for the listeners, like in Japan, like all the kids, they're in a club, whether that's a sports club, like, mainly sports clubs, right? So, uh, I don't know, we would just pick a club and just go and just watch their practice or whatever, you know, and the kids would just be like, so excited that we come, but um, you know, sometimes we had to be careful because, like, if it was serious, you know, we didn't want to be like a distractions.
Phill 44:39
Yeah, yeah.
Paul M 44:39
We had to make sure we weren't like,
Phill 44:42
like, in the way like jama. Right?
Paul M 44:43
Yeah. Because I think we never went to baseball because they were really serious. They were like, top in the, in the state or whatever, you know, in the, you know, prefecture. So we kind of like, you know, didn't really go there. But um, yeah, we started going to kendo and, you know, like, I knew what it was, and it was just really fascinating. And so like, the teacher was kind of like, "Paul, Joe, do you guys want to try it?" And we're like, we're like, "What?" Like, we weren't expecting that at all. Yeah, we just kind of looked at each other like, "Well he's offering, man, we can't say no". So then we started going, like, we started going, like almost every day at one point. Like it was- Because the teacher he was the Japanese teacher. And he was real cool with us but you know, he was it was pretty serious. So he'd be every day like at four he'd been like, "Paul, Joe going right?" Like, "Uh, yeah..." It's like, we were gonna go drinking but yeah, we're gonna go to kendo, too". We just started going. And yeah, we just started being like- I almost became like, like an honorary like third, you know, like coach for the team or whatever.
Paul M 44:55
Wow, man.
Paul M 45:55
I would even go to their like, you know, tournaments and stuff.
Phill 46:05
Yeah, yeah, I remember that.
Paul M 46:06
Yeah. And then, yeah, like I mentioned this too, but I actually got my first rank for kendo, the 1 Kyuu. I went to take a test and everything and I passed and
Phill 46:18
Wow, man.
Paul M 46:19
Yeah, it was intense, like I was going every day.
Phill 46:22
That's awesome, dude.
Paul M 46:23
Yeah, it was such a cool experience. Like, I'm glad you know, we did that. And like, there's some videos around of like me and Joe like, battling each other. Pretty cool. The kids were going nuts, man, like when they sat me going at it. Like, it was pretty cool. Yeah, but that's, that's like one of those experiences where like, when are you gonna have that kind of experience? You know what I mean? Like, so I'm just so glad we did it.
Phill 46:54
Yeah, that's dope, man. Yeah, that's Yeah, totally forgot about that man. You had the gear and everything man. It totally slipped my mind. Yeah, man, so all right cool man so Yeah, dude. I mean thanks for sharing so much about you know like your experience your teaching and stuff and about design. We've been talking about 45 minutes already mounts wow it's flew flew by so much. Yeah. So um yeah one thing I wanted to give a shout out to also is that your Nomi-bu boo man your drinking club.
Paul M 47:25
Oh yeah.
Phill 47:26
Yeah man so how did that get started man I you know,
Paul M 47:31
I actually met so I met Manami through Bob and I think-
Phill 47:38
Oh yeah,
Paul M 47:40
I think you were there too. We went to London Bus. So there was this bar in this London- like an actual London bus in our city.
Phill 47:49
It's still around, man.
Paul M 47:50
Is it? Wow. But I- yeah, we went I think i think we met up with him and Manami was there and we were just, you know, chatting and hanging out. And then I don't know, we just started hanging out more and more. And then it just became like, almost like an every weekend thing. And then she had some friends and I would bring Joe and you guys and like, I don't know, we just like, made a crew I guess. I don't know.
Phill 48:22
That was so much fun, man.
Paul M 48:24
It's pretty fun. Yeah. And like, that was a big reason why my Japanese got so much better is it was just chatting with Japanese people over drinks, you know?
Phill 48:33
Yeah.
Paul M 48:33
That was the best way.
Phill 48:35
Yeah, it was man. Man. And just like yeah, I think you know, also like, culturally, I learned you know, also like the language but also just how, I hate to say "how to be Japanese", but just like what, how the humor worked and what flew, what didn't fly. You know, how to how to integrate better, you know, kinda like, you know, just making friends, man. It's been so important, I think.
Paul M 49:05
Yeah, 'cause there's, I mean, there's so many, like, there's so many social roles, you know what I mean? Yeah, that like you have to be aware of. And that's, I mean, it's hard to learn that without like, seeing it, you know. I know. I know, you know what I mean, but like, it's just those like nuanced things that you have to keep in mind, I guess.
Phill 49:33
Yeah, it's kind of you, you really have to just live it. You know, you can't observe it. You can't read about it. You just have to be there. It's funny like one of my nicknames that I used to like try to call myself- give myself a Japanese name like Hiroshi because
Phill 49:49
Yeah, I remember.
Phill 49:51
Yeah, one day they I wrote it on the bottle in katakana like, shi and tsu look very similar.
Phill 49:58
Yeah.
Phill 49:59
I wrote- like I tried to write it on a bottle because in Japan, if you don't finish your bottle of alcohol or like of Shyochu or something, you can write your name on the bottle and they'll keep it until you come back next time to the to the same shop. Yeah, I don't know if- they do that in the States?
Phill 50:20
No,
Phill 50:21
No, right.
Paul M 50:21
I think that's a strickly Japanese thing. Yeah for sure.
Phill 50:25
It's smart because you're gonna go back like, "Yo, I got I got like, two bottles still let you know at this place. Let's finish them up". But um, but yeah, like, and I wrote it and then I think Chiemi was like, "Hirotsu!" wrote to me, and I was like, "Oh, shit...", and I just it just stuck with me. I even found kanji for it as well, like, I used that name for a while.
Paul M 50:46
Yeah, I remember that night too, like, vividly. Like, I remember they were just cracking up and like roasting you about it.
Phill 50:55
Yeah.
Paul M 50:56
That's such a good story.
Phill 50:57
Yeah, man, fucking classic man. Yeah, so, so, so many good memories, man. That was really cool that you were able, you know, you and Manami, we were able to like kind of form that that group because I've never seen anything like that since. Unless I people are like doukyuusei I mean, I guess they would do que se Yeah. But um, you know like yeah man like I you know, I've always tried to like you notice that you know or see that kind of crew in that that never really formed where I haven't noticed it be you know after that fact like just like yeah, it was really good times. Yeah, I was
Paul M 51:37
I mean, I was really lucky to meet them and like, that definitely made the time special. You know what I mean? Just was like, I don't know, just having that like, having like the local, like, view. of living in Japan, you know? It was just kind of I thought that was really cool. And oh, it's funny, so I actually saw Chiemi like she had to come to Chicago for work.
Phill 52:05
Oh, wow.
Paul M 52:06
I mean, this was early like this was like, maybe like, a couple of years after I moved back like it was right away. But yeah, she was- she came and like we hung out and, you know, we got pizza and beer
Phill 52:21
That's dope, man.
Paul M 52:21
Yeah, it was it was really cool. And then
Phill 52:24
She's in Okinawa now, I think.
Paul M 52:26
Yeah, yeah, I think so. And then Manami's friend actually moved to where I live out in the suburbs.
Paul M 52:37
Oh wow.
Paul M 52:38
One of her friends Yeah, I haven't met up with her yet but I've been just chatting with her like on Facebook and stuff. But yeah, it's just like, small world I guess
Phill 52:47
It is. Awesome, man. Yeah, dude, it was- Yeah, man, so many great memories and I just learned so much it was- because I think you know, people, you know, out here like you can make friends and usually everybody is trying to either like learn English or they're already English speakers but it was not like that with with that crew man. It was just you're just out to chill like and just learn from each other like I learned so much. In you know, just- yeah, man it was so like thank you for including me in that group man. It was such a great experience, man.
Paul M 53:14
Yeah, it was fun. Do you remember? I think it was my birthday. I had like a party at my apartment. And, man, there must have been like 100 people there.
Phill 53:37
I think I remember this night.
Paul M 53:39
I think I just invited basically everyone I knew.
Phill 53:43
Yeah. Yeah.
Paul M 53:44
Like whether it was you know, like the teachers from the school like you guys.
Phill 53:50
Was that when might showed up in his suit.
Paul M 53:52
I think so.
Phill 53:52
Yeah.
Paul M 53:55
Yeah, I think he was I think he was coming back from like a teaching lesson or something like that.
Phill 53:59
Yeah. Yeah, I remember this.
Paul M 54:02
Yeah. And I just remember being like, I remember- I remember being in the kitchen and just kind of like looking around and being like, "I don't know, like half these people. But like, everyone's having such a good time." Like, like, there was no space on the floor like the people were sitting- And it was so cool to see like friends from, you know, different groups like mingling.
Phill 54:27
Yeah, yeah
Paul M 54:28
I kind of felt like, oh, like, this is cool. Like, this is this is what I wanted, you know, to happen. Like I wanted, like the worlds to kind of, you know, collide and like, you know, friends from different places kind of become friends. I don't know, whatever. But uh, I don't know. I just thought that was that was pretty cool. And you know, pretty unique that that happened in Japan and especially, so.
Phill 54:52
Yeah, man. Yeah, dude, you definitely brought a lot of people together and yeah, you always had really, you know, you I always had like these really cool parties like the Halloween party as well. And yeah, man just lots of good memories, man and yeah, I remember like the- you know, after you met your wife and stuff, well at that time your girlfriend, I remember we would go running man. The 10k runs man. Some of my best memories, man. Probably the best sha- the best shape of my life, dude, We were running 10k everyday dude,
Paul M 55:25
We were man. We were doing that, we were playing basketball 3 days a week. I think we were going to the gym probably too.
Phill 55:34
Yeah, man
Paul M 55:35
Jiu Jitsu. Yeah, that's right. You do. You're doing Jiu Jitsu as well. I was playing- I played lots of soccer with the kids after school.
Paul M 55:41
Oh, that's right.
Paul M 55:43
Yeah, that was- yeah, man. We were on it, man.
Paul M 55:46
I've been running now ever since lockdown. Like I've been trying to run every day like three or four miles and I
Phill 55:53
Oh, nice man. I kind
Paul M 55:54
I kind of envision like Isesaki streets when I'm running but it's not the same.
Phill 56:01
Yeah, man it's definitely not the same, man. Yeah I do the same thing I get to get like a 30/40 minutes in a day. But it's not- I live in the mountains now so it's it's not those those hostess clubs streets and stuff. But all right, man. Cool dude so all right, dude, so yeah man yeah we can go on and on and on and on talking about this or we can if you want if you want to come back again and we could do this again but
Paul M 56:29
We cab do Part Two just Memory Lane
Phill 56:32
Yeah yeah definitely. Yeah man so like okay so let me just like sum it up so like in Japan three years, you know made lots of, you know, lifelong connections, friendships even your students even today you know are getting in contact with you. I know one of the students visited you in Chicago I think as well-
Paul M 56:51
Oh, yeah.
Phill 56:51
at some point. And, you know, you ended up meeting, you know, like your wife out here. And then I remember man like you kind of, you know, you got married and you left. So yeah, how did that go? I mean, you know, that must have- Was it a tough choice? So I know you were looking for design jobs in Tokyo as well, but it was, yeah, it was looking pretty tough. Yeah,
Phill 57:20
I was- So I actually signed up for the fourth year.
Paul M 57:24
Okay.
Phill 57:26
Yeah, I had that I kind of agreed to do the fourth year and then what was it like me and Yuka I think we visited Chicago during spring break or whatever. And we were just sightseeing and stuff and like having a blast, and we just kind of looked at each other, like, "Should we just do this like now? Like, should we just go back to Chicago and just like-", do you know like, what's the point of waiting one more year, you know, I mean, like I thought- because like, at the time I mean, you know, the job was still cool, but I kind of felt like- I kind of, like maxed out, you know, like, I kind of went all out on the job. And I was kind of, I wasn't burnt out, but I was kind of like, you know, I kind of knew what I was doing. And it was kind of redundant, I guess, to be honest. Um, and it's like, you know, what's the point of waiting one more year, when we know that we're going to move back to the states and like, we got to get our life going, you know, and, that was, you know, I was a little, I wasn't scared again. I was just kind of like, moving with optimism, I guess, you know, you know, because it was when I went back, it was 2008.
Paul M 58:46
Yeah, the financial crisis, man. Yeah, it was stuff that's why I didn't go back.
Phill 58:50
There were like no jobs, you know? Now I was going back into that, you know, and like basically having to support Yuka when she when she comes over and like, makes the you know, transition now that's going to be hard because she didn't really she didn't have any friends or anyone here. So I was like, "Oh man, this is going to be tough". So basically, I went back looking for a job like furiously It was pretty tough you know, but I got something eventually at like a small you know, design shop out in the suburbs. I was just taking whatever I could get.
Paul M 59:29
Yeah.
Phill 59:31
Found an apartment found a car got it all set up. And then you came. I think she came in like October or November. Yeah, and it was like Yeah, but she I mean, yeah, she was a champ like she made friends like started working like was just, you know, she's like a go getter. So I guess you Yeah, I wasn't really worried. You know, she wasn't going to just like sit at home all day and like, you know, she was going to school for a little bit for English.
Phill 1:00:06
Yeah, that's right. That's right.
Paul M 1:00:07
You know, doing her thing and then, yeah, like, fast forward. You know, five or six years later, she's got more friends than I do. She has an awesome job at this Japanese preschool, you know,
Phill 1:00:25
Dope.
Paul M 1:00:25
like, I mean, yeah, she's like, killed it. And-
Phill 1:00:31
It's nuts because I think I've seen her like two or three times over the years.
Paul M 1:00:36
That's right.
Phill 1:00:36
Every time she goes back to visit I was like, "Yo, Yuka what's good?"
Paul M 1:00:39
Yuka and the kids go back to Japan about once every two years or so. I haven't been back yet but, yeah, man. Yeah, Will is 10. Now, Haru is seven.
Phill 1:00:52
Wow.
Paul M 1:00:53
They're all grown up.
Phill 1:00:55
Yes. Awesome, man. Yeah, dude. So yeah, so like Yeah, if you want, like, Can you share anything about like, how like your- how this design life is like, how things changed a lot? Like, Oh- well, okay, so you come to- you leave away from away for three years, come back. And then I know that a lot of design kind of kind of gotten- got merged with web design, right, they kind of become one of one in the same. Well, at least that's what I kind of got when I was teaching myself how to how to build websites and stuff.
Paul M 1:01:34
Yeah, totally. So when- So, you know, I studied as a traditional graphic designer, so when I didn't really know anything about web design, I wasn't even interested in it, actually. So when I started working, you know, like, I noticed it, it was like, everybody wanted a website, every you know, every project had, you know, like a digital, you know, component to it, and like I was trying to learn it at my job. I remember buying, like a web design book, and I was trying to read it, you know, and that was- it just wasn't sinking in.
Phill 1:02:10
Nah, man. I mean, that's like the worst thing you can do.
Paul M 1:02:13
You know, it's like "HTML, page one".
Phill 1:02:16
Oh my god, your eyes start bleeding, man.
Paul M 1:02:19
Yeah. I was like, I can't do this, So after that job, I actually got a gig downtown at like a digital web design agency. And they knew I didn't have experience with web, but they just took me on because they really liked my my design skills. And they said it would just translate so they weren't really worried about it. So I was really lucky that they took a chance on me, because I learned so much there. And everyone was really cool. And I would always just, you know, bug people like, hey, how did you do that? Or like, how do you know and I just learned that way. So I did that for like, three years. Then actually moved on to like a tech company, which was like another new thing for me. You know, I'm like this whole tech world and this whole tech boom. Yeah, so it's doing that. So I was doing that for- so then I got into like, actually, I got all the way to like, learning how to code websites, you know, from that, so, yeah, so it's just, I was there for like six or seven years. And then. So just last October, a coworker and I, we were just kind of sitting around and we were just kind of thinking like, "Oh, you know, what do we want to do next in our careers?", and we were just kind of, we weren't joking, but we were kind of just like, "Oh, it'd be it'd be cool if we like started our own thing".
Phill
That's dope man. I like that man. I like that man and yeah, dude that's that's awesome man so- yeah man yeah you're like kind of optimism, you're you know, you know just "feeling", just is going on your instinct and just feeling things through and obviously hard work and skill like you know, I remember just you know, you had your Mac Mini and you will always doing like stencils and stuff. So, like, you know, you'd like you obviously have, you know, did lots and lots and lots of output and you've always kind of been, you know, design- doing the design stuff for those actors, remember that?
Paul M
Oh yeah, yeah,
Phill
Yeah. So you know, you will always on it man and it's so awesome to see you know everything just kind of work out for you, man. It's dope man just yeah dude, inspirational, man like it's you know very inspirational and then like even throughout the years like you- you had the children's project and you hooked us up with some designs and stuff.
Music
The Uchujins [The 宇チューJins] (Electro Lovematic Quantum Condition)
Phill
You worked with my friend Lee making the website and stuff Yeah, yeah, man so yeah, like over the years, man, like, thanks for just, you know, supporting and just- Yeah, man just been awesome, dude. It's so cool, man.
Paul M
It's funny though, 'cause, you know, it's, I mean, I guess one of the reasons why I'm drawn to this field is that, you know, I get to work with people on their vision, right? So I think like an artist kind of, they kind of have their vision and then they have their output, right? But for me, as a designer, it's kind of like, like, so, like the musical group, right? They were doing shows they needed like posters. And it was like, their vision. Like, I get to visualize their vision, I guess. And of course, I bring I bring, you know, my vision to it too, but I enjoy just like helping someone else. You know, kind of like make their vision visual, I guess. Which is fun for me because, you know, if I, I mean, very rarely do I kind of make projects for myself because I want to make things but, you know, if I meet someone like you like you're doing music or whatever you need, like an album cover, it's like I get excited because I get to, like, learn about what you're doing.
Phill
Yeah, yeah,
Paul M
You know, get inspired by that. And then that kind of makes me create something that I would have never made on my own but it's just through what you're doing. And you're kind of vision with mine, like mashed up and then I make something new, you know, so that's-
Phill
Yeah.
Paul M
That's what I love about it so much, so.
Phill
It's a dope- a dope collab man. Like this collaboration. Yes, dope, man. Yeah, and, you know, I like doing that with music a lot. If- I like working with people.
Paul M
Yeah, by the way, that that, uh, that beat you made for this podcast. I love it, man.
Phill
Paul M
Is that from is that from one of those gangster movies or those samurai movies? How did that come about?
Phill
Yeah, yes. From the exploitation film? Yes. From Girl Boss Gorilla.
Paul M
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I think we watched that together one night at your place.
Phill
Yeah, man. Um, they they had- they still sell the soundtracks. So yeah, I found it. Yeah, just sampled it.
Paul M
Yeah, that's so awesome, man.
Phill
Yeah, thanks, man. Yeah, and you did. You did the album cover for that as well. I changed it though because my face was on it. Yeah. And I was like yeah, "I don't look that young anymore let me uh...". So I just threw together something else but it can be fun to open up with a new album cover for that. I'll be dope. Yeah. Yeah, man. Yeah, man. It's dude, man. It's so good to talk to talk with you and Thanks for sharing so much about like, you know, your like your life trajectory and yeah man it's just very inspiring man. Yeah. Dude, so cool man. I'm just I'm so glad that you know you and Yuka you know made it and then no you have two beautiful kids, you know, and yeah man I know and you know I don't want to give out personal information about you kids or anything but it's cool to see, you know, your kids doing music together and stuff.
Phill
Yeah.
Phill
So it's awesome man. It's uh yeah was look forward to seeing what you guys share.
Phill
You'll probably see them soon. Maybe next time. Hopefully by next summer if we can get out to Japan, dude.
Phill
Yeah my try to come on we can finally have that- have have those Chu-His in front of a 7-11
Paul M
Yeah, tell everyone what my what my number one thing is when I get to Gunma.
Phill
Your number one thing when you get to government is what? Is going to be like drinking outside the 7-11?
Phill
Yeah man
Paul M
Yeah man meeting you at 7-11, getting a Chu-Hi, and drinking it on the street on the curb.
Phill
Yeah, yup, yup. It's such a pas- .Iit's an art. It's an art form.
Phill
Yeah, Gunma style, man.
Phill
Gunma style, man. Get some get some sebei too in the little packets man.
Phill
Yes
Phill
Much on the those.
Phill
Nikku-man
Phill
Yeah, nikku-man, yeah man. Yeah, man. It's hilarious, somewhat, yeah man. So it's hilarious how you know that. That's what I love about Japan, man. like some thing's will never changed. And like, yeah, man, 7-11 nikuman and drinking outside, man is still. It's still possible people still do it.
Phill
The trifecta of Gunma living.
Phill
Yeah, man. But alright, man. Yeah, we've been talking for an hour and 10 minutes. The last kind of last question. I guess. And I, you know, says this is I kind of based on you know, let language learning and and stuff so, yeah, so do you speak any of- I mean, I know the answer but yeah, these speak any other languages other than English and if so please share.
Paul M
Yeah, so speak a little Japanese, actually know a little German- I actually studied German from kindergarten to eighth grade.
Paul M
Oh wow.
Paul M
Back in the day, but I mean, I didn't I only remembered like some words. But it's funny because recently my son Will was interested in German so he started taking classes
Paul M
Wunderbar
Paul M
Yeah, wunderbar. So I've been kind of trying to teach him every morning. Like we got these like German workbooks and stuff so we kind of go through them. It's pretty amazing.
Phill
My wife speaks German. Yeah.
Paul M
Oh, really?
Phill
Yeah. She studied in- for college. Yeah.
Paul M
Oh, wow,
Paul M
We, um- it's funny we actually- so we have a friend that used to live here. They're from Japan, but they moved to Germany to Munich. Okay. And two years ago, we actually went out to Europe as a family for like a family trip and we actually went to visit them, but uh, yeah, that was pretty cool. I think that's where my son got inspired by it, so.
Paul M
That's dope, man. Yeah. So okay. Oh, let's see. I will say, Okay, first Japanese, let's see. Konichiwa Maya Porter, this graphic designer this Mr. Americano at no issue needs in the mass euroschool. Basically, Hello, I'm Paul Maeda. I'm a graphic designer. And I live in Illinois, in America. So in German, that would be Hello, if I somehow explain I'm graphic designer. Ivana in America. In Illinois updation is spoken and in that end is Have a great weekend.
Phill
Dope, man. Dope, man. It's, great that graphic designer is easy to learn in English (German) and Japanese.
Paul M
It makes it a lot easier.
Phill
Dope, man. Oh, yeah, man. So thank you, dude. Man. Thank you so much. Is there anything that you'd like to plug?
Paul M
Yeah, just a shout out to Phil for this podcast and all our friends from Isesaki in Gunma. I hope everyone's doing well and hope to see you soon.
Phill
All right, Paul, man. Thank you so much for today. And yeah, you are a hero that I call by their first name, bro.
Phill
Thanks man.
Phill
And yeah, when you come back to Japan, if our bodies can handle it, we'll run 10k, and then get some Chu-His and drink them in front of the 7-11- if our kids let us and our wives let us do it.
Paul M
We got sneak out. We got to do it though.
Phill
Yeah, let's do it man. Let's do it.
Paul M
Alright man thanks, Phill.
Paul M
Peace. No doubt.
Music
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