Tatsuya Kitani & Silica Gel on What Comes After a Border-Crossing Musical ‘Hug’: Billboard Japan Monthly Feature Interview
Categoria: Musica
Billboard Japan had the chance to talk to them on the day of their show, before they performed their sets.
Por Billboard | 11/09/2026
Billboard JAPAN’s “MONTHLY FEATURE” series spotlights artists and works that have caught its attention. This month’s focus is on Tatsuya Kitani and Silica Gel. In July, the genre-spanning Japanese singer-songwriter invited the four-piece band at the forefront of Korea’s indie scene for a joint performance in Tokyo at Hugs Vol. 6 , the latest installment in a multi-artist concert series organized by Kitani. During the show, the two artists from different countries stood on stage together to introduce themselves to each other’s fans. The night was almost like a musical “hug,” befitting the event’s name. In stark contrast to the rainy weather outside, the venue was filled with expectation and energy. We had the chance to talk to them on the day of the show, before they performed their sets. From left to right: Tatsuya Kitani, Kim Han-joo (vocals and keyboard), Choi Woong-hee (bass), Kim Geon-jay (drums) and Kim Chunchu (guitar and vocals) How did you two meet? Tatsuya Kitani: I’ve been a fan of Silica Gel for a long time, and when I visited Korea on my Asian tour (in May 2025), my team asked me, “Are there any Korean artists you’d like to meet?” They said we might be able to arrange a discussion, as a promotional event. I told them I wanted to meet Silica Gel, and even though the discussion didn’t end up happening, they came to see my show, so that’s how we met for the first time. Han-joo: Needless to say, I love Japanese anime and culture. I first learned about Kitani through “Where Our Blue Is,” the opening theme to Jujutsu Kaisen ’s “Hidden Inventory / Premature Death” arc. After he invited us to play at this show, I set out to learn a lot more about him, and I found out that he has really rich musical sensibilities. That got me to explore even more, and I discovered just how talented he was. I became a huge fan. Geon-jay: I went to talk to him after his show, and when we met, I remember saying “You’re the real deal!” Twice. On stage, he just radiated charisma, and then when I met him in person, despite being tall and slender, he was really adorable. That contrast really drew me in. Kitani, this is your sixth Hugs event. What’s the concept behind it, and how did it come to be? Kitani: I didn’t start out as a member of a rock band, I was a solo artist putting my music out on the net. I felt like people looked down on me a little as an artist who started online, and I wanted to stop that. I wanted to prove what kind of show I could put on, and also to cross scene lines to meet artists I respect and become friends with them. I wanted us to become close—so close it felt like we could hug. That’s why I started the event. I didn’t just want the artists to make connections, but also for the fans to become friends with each other. This is the first Hugs to go international with Silica Gel from South Korea and Iruka Police from Taiwan, so I’m looking forward to doing shows with even more artists that I haven’t met before. ❤️