Kohaku Utagassen 2017

The 68th edition of Kohaku Utagassen went by on a rather conservative and predictable note. This year, the men (white team) won but as is my impression in recent years with every winning team, they won for the lack of better competition from the other side.

This year the highlights go to the opening of the program with an interesting use of the whole of Shibuya to feature the artists disguised in common, every day places. I have never seen anything of that magnitude done previously and for this I thought we were set for a good ride. Later on, reality settled in.

As the night progressed the peering of the teams was somehow predictable and not-exciting. The generally old men sang old songs that were mostly at least 15 years old. The women had better and newer songs, but in general weak hits. The unbalanced match between old guys and young girls made the girls look uninteresting, perhaps unattractive.

All things considered, the stars that shone are: Mai Kuraki, Superfly, Perfume, and an impeccable Namie Amuro on her way out from the music industry. On the side of the men, I was only impressed with X-Japan and Ken Hirai with a song I thought was out of the ordinary and quite motivational.

The sad reality of the Japanese music industry continues on a rather somber note without new shinning starts coming in to actually shine. It is not that I don’t think there are good artists out there who can revive the industry and change its reality, what I see that this is merely happening because the industry itself is literally growing old and old executives seem to have lost their interest or appetite to discover the new stars.

Year in review 2017

January, sometime in the morning of the early days of 2017, I am sitting by the pool in my home at Ho Chi Minh and I was stricken with the idea of reading The Art of the Deal by Donald Trump. Despite the initial realistic confrontation with the fact that this book is not for everybody, I decided that I wanted to make it work for me. Later in the year this proved to be a right move.

Off I went mid January and so on onwards with the idea that I can put together, close and execute the best win-win deals in advertising while growing my companies. In that favor I started working with my people providing the best possible experience on the ground on all the many countries where we do business. All this while, I wasn’t really spending much time on the ground and focusing on the core of what runs my business, flying.

With more than 100 individual flights this year I have been and done business in 10 countries. While now officially living in Japan, Singapore and Vietnam, I have also strengthen the likes of the UK and France, re-endevoured myself in the beauty of Malaysia, continued to grow my presence in Hong Kong and China and then returned to the place that has a special place in my heart, The United States. In addition I also made a stop-by to Canada for also other projects that occupy a place in my heart. All in all, I have met many diverse kinds of people, created unique networks of highly influential individuals and consolidated my position as an internationally acclaimed professional in advertising beyond my local surroundings. I have made of myself somebody who can make anything happen anywhere for any commercial reason that requires that a product or service is advertised. And more importantly, I can do this cross-boundaries.

On the personal side of things, life continued on the high motivational pace, sometimes pulled back by the sadness of not being in Japan as much as I wanted for my daughters. All things considered in perspective however, this sadness didn’t last long since it is all driven by them, and let’s face it, otherwise I could not be doing what I do each month, day, and second of my life.

As 2017 comes to a close, I can proudly said that I have cracked the hidden code in The Art of the Deal. The powerful message reserved to the few who can understand it, has given me a better approach to feelings applied to the work place, how to communicate with people, how to literally deal with them and fundamentally, it has made me a better business leader and dealer.

Kohaku Utagassen 2016

The year 2016's 67th edition was once again won by the ladies (Akagumi) in what I have to call, a very disappointing win.

I am traditionally more leaned to the performances of the ladies and while this year the gentlemen did not do great, a win was clearly defined on their side. But, the judges thought otherwise.

This time I was finally under the solid impression that NHK took things seriously in digital with well used projection and reality enhancement technologies as well as with offering people the ability to vote after each individual competition. This latter new feature I thought was really good since it kept people engaged and watching the show.

Performance wise, I have to say that 2016 was a year when the Japan music scene didn't grow. There were almost no new artist and really no impressive big names. Apart from AKB 48 with a very digital touch that involved people defining their performance, all else was on the expectable side.

AKB 48 had the most mature performance ever, E-girls was also good with more grown-up girls on stage. The usual suspects on the side of the ladies did well with Utada Hikaru, Nishino Kana and others. The gentlemen had a few shiny moments with AAA, J Soul Brothers, Arashi, and Radwimps. In all, nobody really stood up on either side.

All the way to the end and despite the fact that the gentlemen (Shirogumi) won by a margin of more than 2M votes from the audience at home and more than 400 votes at the NHK Hall, the judges gave the win to the ladies. All said, I have nothing else to say but, what was the point in giving power to the people if this power was going to be absolutely ignored?

In a way I am pleased to see a changing show, at the same time I am left with a bitter feeling that I am sure most people share with me today.

Year in Review 2016

This year has been great in many respects on the professional side of life, or on the life side of work. Yes, it gets a tiny bit converged to both sides for somebody like me, with no clear distinction or sense of work-life and needless to say, absence of balance.

In another 12 months I travelled internationally in average twice a month, I also covered many domestic miles as well. With a total number of more than 60 individual flights, it is safe to say beyond any expectation that flying became a good commodity defining my life in 2016. Added to the mix, the affordable fares we enjoyed this year have helped the growth of my companies and this is something I particularly appreciate, especially when my companies pay for my tickets.

A process of decentralization of business that started after 2011 has seen me travel progressively more over the years. In 2016, Adrian Roche Co., Ltd has strengthen its presence in all the countries we do business in with a more consolidated regional zone in Asia. This year, we grew in all our major countries and entered others which once were likely seen as difficult. We have acquired new relationships and now, my companies work with the talents of about 20 people who do their best and deliver their best on a daily basis. They work with us due to a style that keeps them fascinated, that relates well to all they do and helps them grow professionally. We are now companies that attract people in several countries.

Along the way I must say that while we created good relationships there have been some sour moments, but that’s OK, success is not created without struggle and when enemies arose, they were clearly identified and gracefully lead in their own direction. When and where they thought they were causing harm to my companies, we knew and looked at them with maturity while being elsewhere they don’t know or suspect. We learned in my companies that fighting fights against enemies doesn’t return good results so, we let them go their own ways and allowed them to take care of themselves.

Personally, in all the travel covered, my driving principle has always been the same “Land, get the job done and fly.” This constant iteration of motivational passion has exceeded the level of expectations of the people who need me and has driven me to go beyond the extra mile. Yes, once again I have worked very hard and this year was a year when absolutely no effort was spared in the pursue of solid quality. Doing what is right for clients took a new dimension and investing in growth by recognition of effort was never questioned. This year, I said thank you as much as I could, even when I didn’t have to and it is due to this reason that in 2016 I stand prouder than ever for all achieved.

Leaning towards the life side of things I must say that the year went fast, perhaps faster than previous years. With no difference between weekday and weekend, life was a healthy mix of great moments intermingled with work. I have no clear recollection of having taken a vacation, but there were vacation-like moments in work moments that amounted to the same outcome and provided some rest.

Seeing my daughters grow another year and planning for the next steps in all dimensions of life around a multidimensional work reality, has given me great joy. Whenever I had a moment to look at life in my half-day off Saturdays I did and reflected on a future that continues to deliver happiness to all my valued people in life. They are my highest motivation to keep going, keep flying and keep developing great thinkers who deliver great work.

As 2016 gives way to another year, I am grateful to all people who have been with me this year and who read me for all their many reasons. Whatever they may be, thank you.

Kohaku Utagassen 2015

The 66th edition of Kohaku Utagassen was won by the ladies (Akagumi) after four years of losing to the guys (Shirogumi).

We are in a time in Japan when there are no majorly outstanding stars in the music scene and both teams had to play strategically to make the most out of their chance to win. With the lack of new talent, once again the reliance on the long-standing stars was the only resource both teams had at hand.

The show started with an immediate loss from Shirogumi when Go Hiromi took the stage and was paired with Sakurako Ohara. If there were major highlights, this was a moment to point out. A 19 year-old girl took winning points from a long-standing veteran.

As things continued, Shirogumi recovered and gained some ground in the first half of the show, but they did so with no highlights and while using the boy bands with boys who are no longer boys. Kyoshi Hikawa scored with a good performance and everybody else didn't stand out apart from Arashi who did well.

On the side of the ladies there were a few performances that scored the winning points. Kana Nishino, Nogizaka46, and Miwa provided that overall higher ground Akagumi needed to win, but the people in charge of delivering the win are: E-girls with a good performance that could have been better, Ikimonogakari, and NMB48. Perfume can counted in the winning team, but they could have delivered a better performance with a better song. The definite moment when Akagumi won was when AKB48 performed and brought back Atsuko Maeda and Yuko Oshima. Everything else is really history that was enhanced by Seiko Matsuda and Akiko Wada as the show came to its final stages.

Other highlights that are important and worth mentioning are, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi in the stage as occasional MC and the Anime Kohaku which is something quite innovative for a show of this magnitude. This was a very good move that caught the attention of animation fans and therefore more votes.

A good strategic game dominated the whole show and in a way this year's Kohaku was matched in favor of the changing social reality of Japan. It was thought out to drive people to vote with timings that matched when both young people and the elderly were going to be in front of the TV with their remote control to vote. In a country that has more women than men, getting them to swing their vote to Akagumi was key for the latter to win. All timings were provided equally to the two teams at all the different stages of the show giving the highest moments of opportunity to vote for one or the other team. A good combination of young and old stars at strategic times during the first and second half of the show with a heavy focus during the golden time drove the overall activity towards deciding the win of Akagumi. At the end, especially the last hour, it was almost not necessary to watch the show with all the stars from 35 years ago performing and this is what made the decision in favor of Akagumi peak before the show concluded.

Congratulations to the ladies for winning the show and for doing so strategically and carefully turning obstacles in their favor.

Year in Review 2015

This year is all about numbers and meaningful statistics that have seen me in the air very often.

In 2015 I lived in many countries for short and long periods of time. With a total of more than 200 nights at hotels and over 6 months outside of Japan, I have been in Singapore, Hong Kong, The US, The UK, The Philippines, Malaysia and also in Korea.

With more than 80 individual flights boarded, 165,000 miles flown and 23 times outside of Japan, I can say that this is the year when my company has become truly global.

Looking after client relationships in many countries has opened new horizons that followed my overall trend in personal perspective and for all of you who know what I mean, changing places is not something I refer to as an unusual trend in my life.

As 2015 transforms itself into 2016, I here thank all of you who have made my own transformation possible. Both good and not so good relationships established this year allowed me to conquer the enormous achievements of 2015 that now take me to a new perspective in life.

Kohaku Utagassen 2014

For as long as there are more women than men in Japan Shirogumi is likely to continue to win, but this doesn't mean they have what it takes to do so.

This year's Kohaku can be defined in two ways. Originality and new songs in part of the ladies behind Akagumi and old songs represented by the gentlemen's side which at times resembled the return of the walking dead due to how old some of the selections made for them where.

The highlights were delivered by Yuriko Yoshitaka and her brilliant MCing for the ladies and all songs played by them. In a year where Ayumi Hamasaki was not in the show, the 48 formula delivered in all its variations was great. In addition, Miwa, E-girls, Ikimonogakari, Kana Nishino, Sayaka and Carry Pamyu Pamyu carried all scores.

On the men's side the only few highlights were delivered by Sekai no Owari and AAA. All else was old and boring.

The downsides and the wrongly done. Nagabuchi and his disaster appeals, Hiromi Go.....Why? Yakishimaru Hiroko...Why? And more importantly why was Seiko Matsuda paired against Arashi at the end of the show?

While rather entertaining, the 2014 edition of Kohaku tells us that the ladies drove the music industry in Japan last year, but once again the effortless have been rewarded for not having done much with a great appeal to the mass of voters.