Questions from the MANGA.TOKYO readers dig deeper into Mr. Kageyama’s personality

Please answer some of the questions from MANGA.TOKYO readers.

Martina Trlica asks, ‘As anime are popular all around the world, some openings get re-done in different languages. I am mostly thinking about [Dragonball Z opening] “Cha-la Head Cha-la”. Have you listened to some songs in other languages and how do you feel hearing them being covered? Do you by any chance have a favorite version?’

Kageyama: I’m very glad to see ‘Cha-la Head Cha-la’ covered by different artists overseas. I know about them and heard of them being covered in various different styles too. For example, there are two different versions of it in Spain. I have even sung the main chorus in Spanish at my live concert in Spain. It’s great that ‘Cha-la Head Cha-la’ is exposed to many people in many countries in such a way.

Asma Reina asks, ‘Sir, is there any difference between singing an anime song and a usual song?’

Kageyama: Many of the anime songs I’ve done are cheerful and lively ones, so I try to sing them with feelings of strong passion. As for my original songs, I put more weight on my own feelings for each of them. But, for either one, I always keep in mind to sing in the way each of them sounds the best. Back when I started singing anime songs, I was often asked to sing them in a cheerful and up-front way. Although lately every singer sings while focusing on their originality and doing so has become commonplace.

Nnaemeka Madubata asks, ‘How do you keep your passion strong in your many interests, from music, to cycling, to voice acting, to food?’

Kageyama: Our jobs force us to have daily deadlines and irregular hours. We can’t rest from work even if we’re sick because our jobs won’t be done until we complete them. That actually makes it more fun, but also makes it very stressful. And I hate having such a stressful time. To recover or get relief from stress, I fully enjoy my time when I can and decide to do so. That’s what encourages me to go cycling and do such hobbies as scuba diving as of late.

I often go to Ishigaki island in Okinawa for scuba diving. Diving in the ocean really comforts me and heals me. I get really excited when I get to see a manta while diving! Having such a refreshing and enjoyable trip is important for me before going back to my work full of deadlines. So I’ve been repeating this cycle of hobby and work.

Are you the kind of person who gets hooked on something?

Kageyama: Yes, I think I am. I started cycling when I was in my 50s, and I got really hooked on hill climbing, a grueling uphill race where you simply cycle up a really steep slope. The other day, I joined an event of uphill competition for a 120 km length mountain road. The race was extremely tough and I was half dead doing it, but I got the greatest feeling from achieving the goal and that was worth everything. You can’t quit doing it once you learn that feeling, no matter how tough it is. [laugh]

Ronald Tain asks ‘From the many songs that you have sung, which one do you like the most?’

Kageyama: It’s ‘Cha-La Head-Cha-La’. Because that’s the song that made my life what it is. It gave me the opportunity to sing outside Japan and to become the leader of JAM Project. I owe it all to the fact that I’m the person who sings the theme song of Dragon Ball Z. This song led me to this current life of mine, so I should call it my most important song rather than my most favorite song.

（Next page: Thinking back at the days of debut）