Kitaro

Very Happy Man 1987

Kitaro, Katsu Restaurant, LA 1987

What did your parents give you as a child?

My parents were farmers and I lived in a regular farmhouse. I don’t have one particular image, but I lived close with nature every day. My parents watched after me gently, but I can’t point to one particular gift.

Did they encourage your music?

Not at all. When I was a child I liked sports—I never thought about making music.

Can you remember the first music you heard?

The first music I heard was folk songs, traditional music. When I began to hear popular music, I became interested in the guitar and wanted to learn how to play. I thought The Beatles were great, R&B—my favorite was Otis Redding.

Kitaro means “very happy man”?

Yes. It was a nickname I was given in high school.