What does it mean to write? Writing is a very simple task one can do with only a pen and paper. And yet, the possibilities are endless. This popular series from last year comes back with a new lineup of interviewees. To everyone who is involved in writing on a daily basis, what does it mean to write?

What does it mean to write?

Gota Nishidera【１】
SEASON2 vol.2
Gota Nishidera

I continue to research no matter how long it takes, and write.
That’s where I find something new.

While being a musician himself for the band Nona Reeves, Gota Nishidera produces various songs for artists. At the same time, he’s a storyteller for musicians from the 80s, including Michael Jackson and Prince, and talks about their songs and episodes in various places. When storytelling, a notebook where he’s packed information in, yet is easy to read, is crucial. We asked Nishidera on what it means to handwrite.

ProfileGota Nishidera

Born in 1973, Tokyo. Brought up in Kyoto.

Formed the band Nona Reeves during university and is the vocalist. He also works as a songwriter and producer for various musicians. Is also a specialist in 80s music and has worked on official liner notes for Michael Jackson and Prince, and many others.

Publications include: New “Michael Jackson” School Books (Shincho Bunko), Michael Jackson (Kodansha Gendai Shinsho), We are the curse (NHK Publishing Shinsho), Prince Atheism (Shincho Shinsho), Janet Jackson and 80s Divas (Seikaisha Shinsho) and more. Also has a publication on his neat notetaking “Note-taking to convey your thoughts” (Small Publishing). A new book from this series “Beginners Note-taking Method” (Small Publishing) is planned to come out on May 28, with tips on taking notes to learn, convey thoughts and to come up with ideas.

Table of Contents

Three different ways to use a notebook.

――
Thank you for bringing in so many of your handwritten notebooks. There are pages you’ve written in and those that are blank… You leave quite a few pages blank as you use your notebook.
Nishidera
That’s right. I spent a long time searching for the most efficient way to use it, so it’s something I realized after a while. This might be the strongest characteristic of how I use my notebook. I get worried if I don’t have three to four pages blank between entries. For example, these are the pages where I previously wrote about Janet Jackson for a radio lecture. I have another opportunity waiting to talk about Janet soon, and because I’ve left a few pages blank, I can add on notes to this entry.
――
So you can add new findings for the same theme later on?
Nishidera
Yes. People tell me I write neatly but writing in my notebook neatly isn’t my number one priority. I write because I want to understand it fully and want people to understand it when I tell them about it.
――
Do you have a set writing tool?
Nishidera
I mainly use an HB pencil. I’ve engraved my name in the one I use now. I get a certain amount with my name engraved in at Itoya.
 
This is a Beatles ballpoint pen that was gifted to me by Inohara from the idol group V6. He gave it to me to celebrate my book coming out. Its serial number is 517 out of 1000. Inohara’s born in May 17th. I recently realized this, so I asked him if he gave me this on purpose. He laughed as he told me he never realized this. This is a pen I’ve used for a while too.
――
The notebook you have in your hands now looks quite old.
Nishidera
Yes, it’s my world history notebook from high school.
――
Wow!
Nishidera
I believe there are a few ways to summarize in a notebook. The first way is to write by “receiving” something, for example jotting down what the teacher says and writes on the whiteboard during classes. This world history notebook is a good example. I still take notes in this style when I watch documentaries and other informational content.

From "Note-taking to Convey Your Thoughts" (Small Publishing)

――
Yes.
Nishidera
In my case, there are two more ways to summarize in a notebook. One is when I’m giving a lecture. Recently, I’ve had more opportunities to give lectures at Waseda University - where I graduated from - but other than that I talk on radio shows or at my own talk events. There’s a radio program where I feature a single artist or theme for an hour, so I write so people will understand what I’m trying to convey.
――
It’s easy to read and understand. What you write in itself becomes a textbook.
Nishidera
The final way to write is as if I’m creating a map, and it’s for when I do creative work such as composing a song and writing lyrics and books. For this, I write quite messily. I rarely show it to people.
――
So this is more of a memo rather than writing in a notebook?
Nishidera
I guess you can say that. I doodle as I write, too. I haven’t decided that I’ll write by hand 100%, and there are times where I finish writing lyrics on my computer without scribbling memos. I constantly search for the best way to write, and it’s just that I find myself using a notebook most often.
――
So, writing in a notebook isn’t a necessity during your creative processes.
Nishidera
Exactly. With lyrics, if there're notes that are written halfway, it's easy to get confused, so for a lot of the times, I write in on a sheet of paper and throw it away. This means that there are ideas and words that I haven't stored.

For me, a handwritten notebook is the most convenient tool. But this doesn't necessarily mean that the best method is to handwrite. With creating lyrics and compositions, I heavily rely on my computer, and if it's more convenient to be able to copy and paste and update, I'll use a computer.

However, with the three methods I talked about, for when I write in information that I'm receiving on the spot, and when I summarize notes for my classes and presentations, it's more quick and easy to write in a notebook. It's become a habit to write neatly.
――
You use methods that are best suited for that situation, but you're used to writing by hand and so you handwrite to summarize.
Nishidera
Exactly. I used to handout my handwritten notes at talk events twenty years ago. Some people know about my notebooks and look forward to it too. However, I personally feel that we're in the transitional phase of going back to handwriting, after having shifted from handwriting to using a computer. There used to be a time where everything was handwritten. It was followed by an age where everything used fonts on the computer. So, I think a new era is coming soon. I think when you're proposing new projects and ideas, it's better received when it's handwritten.
 
This page has lyrics for the RishirieBoys. It's a unit formed by grandpas who are 80, 81 and 94 years old wearing hip-hop-like fashion to revitalize the town of Rishiri in Hokkaido. The vocals are obviously by me and my team members, but visually you see three grandpas who are fishermen. (Laughs) I wrote down memos as I talked to the staff about their second piece. Their accents are of Rishiri.
――
Wow!
Nishidera
Do you want to have a listen?
――
Can I? Are you sure?
Nishidera
Of course.

(Plays "Come on to Rishiri!")
――
What a tune!
Nishidera
I visited Rishiri for the first time towards the end of last November. The town is filled with posters of them. I was also able to meet the three members and the town mayor for the first time too.
――
It's exciting to see the lyrics you have written down has turned into a song like this.
Nishidera
Yes, this is one way of using my notebook.

(Continued)

SEASON 2

SEASON 1

photos:eric