Sean Lennon made a surprise visit to Japan. He was there as a special guest at the launch party for the bilingual music and art magazine "nero Vol. 8 Art & Romance Issue," held at TRUNK HOTEL in Shibuya on July 21st. He also appeared in a talk show with the magazine's editor-in-chief, Yukiko Inoue. As a surprise, he also performed a live session with French singer-songwriter soko, who starred in the film "The Dancer." The latest issue of nero features a portrait of Sean Lennon and his mother, Yoko Ono, taken by photographer Greg Kadel, a friend of Sean's, on the cover, and also features a portrait of the couple, "looking like a queen and a prince," according to Editor-in-Chief Inoue. The lengthy interview, while already highly acclaimed as a contemporary artist and activist, explores the value of Ono's work as a musician, which has not received the recognition it deserves. It also explores the Yoko Ono Reissue Project, which Sean is currently working on.
The following day, at a talk event held at Tsutaya Bookstore in Ginza Six, Sean shared little-known details, such as his childhood memories of the Ono family home in Karuizawa, where he and his mother spent time, and the influence of his mother Yoko on art.
Furthermore, after the magazine photoshoot, the National Music Publishers Association awarded the newly established Centennial Song Award for "Imagine," released in 1971. The news that Yoko Ono's name would officially be credited alongside John Lennon as lyricist and composer also became a topic of conversation during the talk show. Until now, she was credited as a producer alongside Phil Spector, but Tatsuya Noda spoke from his own experience of being present at the time about Yoko Ono's talent and influence as a producer, citing her father's statement that, "At the time, my father (John) himself said that, due to his macho male mentality, he didn't include his wife Yoko's name in the songwriting."
The party on the 21st featured live performances by Maika Loubte and DYGL, who are featured in the latest issue of nero, as well as DJ sets by YYOKKE & YAKK and Milo Oyamada. The party, held at the popular TRUNK (HOTEL), brought together people from the fashion, music, and magazine industries across generations, creating a real sense of modern Tokyo.
Text: Tatsuya Noda
