Exclusive Interview with Yoji “Pop” Asano, contestant on Season 10 of American Idol(1)

America’s most-watched reality talent show, “American Idol,” started out their tenth season this year with two new judges, Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler, and singer/actress Jennifer Lopez. The highly-anticipated first audition stage broadcast across America introduced the nation to many talented (and not-so-talented) performers, but among these hopeful contestants one young man stood out. Yoji “Pop” Asano’s audition, and his display of his unique talents, delighted the judges and viewers across America.

Only the following day of the broadcast, newspapers, radio shows and other media outlets ran stories on him. Video footage of his audition was uploaded multiple times to YouTube, garnering hundreds of thousands of views that continue to increase.

TVGroove.com was granted the privilege of an exclusive interview with Mr. Asano, in which he discussed his background, his American Idol audition, and his musical activities.

(Interviewer: Yuichi Shimizu)

★★DO NOT miss the special video message from Yoji "Pop" Asano at the end of this article!

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Journey to America: “The Statue of Liberty was smaller than I imagined”


Q. Tell us about yourself.

A. My name is Yoji Asano. I’m 25, and I’m from Osaka, Japan. I’m living in New York now, studying English and music. I’m mostly focusing on music studies.


Q. Is it true that you’ve been impersonating Michael Jackson since “before you were born?”

A. Directly after birth, I don’t think I was aware of him, or what an amazing artist he was. I think it was just that when I saw him, I was captivated and couldn’t tear my eyes away. I was just like, “Wow! He’s awesome!” I think because he was around since I was born, constantly present, it felt like he was a parent. So it’s natural that he has always been a part of my life.


Q. There’s a video of you playing drums on YouTube. Are you actively playing drums now as well?

A. My goal was to play drums in a band, but I’m the type who wants to be noticed. I want to be front and center stage, and the drummer is always in the back. So, I decided to concentrate on becoming a singer.


[VIDEO]YOJI POP SUPER DRUMS !!


Q. When did you leave Japan for the U.S.? What motivated you to go?

A. I got here in 2008. I thought that my particular style might not be understood in Japan, and that by going to the U.S., I had a better chance of success.


Q. In what way did you think you wouldn’t be understood in Japan?

A. Well, I don’t think that Japanese really get artists like Michael Jackson or Lady Gaga. They’re popular artists, so they jump on the bandwagon. Something like that, maybe. There is some discrimination in the U.S., but Americans are typically accepting of your good points, what talents you have or what you want to do. I think that Japanese are lacking in that sense and that’s why I came to the U.S., because I thought it would be faster for me to get into the industry. I don’t have anything against Japan; I just feel that way regarding the Japanese entertainment industry.


Q. When did first set your sights on America?

A. In 2006, I came to New York for a week. I remember thinking that the Statue of Liberty was smaller than I had imagined, and seeing that I started to feel like I could make it here. The Statue of Liberty is the symbol of America, of its role as a powerful nation. Yet, looking at the statue it’s actually not so big. So, America seems big and formidable, but actually isn’t so scary! Recently, while auditioning for Idol, I saw the Statue of Liberty again. Seeing it up close I realized…it’s actually pretty big!

I came close to getting into American Idol, but didn’t make it in the end. I realized that just as America was bigger than I thought, getting into Idol was also harder than I thought. Not impossible, but it is difficult.

After that, I came back again in the winter of 2008. While here, I went to the biggest dance club in New York. The floor was jam-packed with people, and I had no space to dance. So I just went up on the stage and danced there! The club’s manager noticed me, and told me to come again, whenever I wanted.


Q. So because of that, you decided to try living in the U.S.?

A. Yes. I felt that I would be accepted. If I’d done the same thing in Japan, jumping on stage like that, I would most likely get pulled off stage and forcibly removed. I did something reckless, thinking I would fail, but in return I was accepted. Because of that, I decided to try my luck in America.




Post-arrival in America: Performance at the Apollo Theater


Q. So after you went to America, you became a dancer at a club. There’s also a video of you singing at the Apollo Theater on YouTube.

A. That was 2009. I was there singing for Amateur Night. I figured I’d try out my skills, but I got booed off the stage. That’s all part of becoming a legend though!


[VIDEO]Amateur Night Contestant: Yoji Asano


Q. Could anyone apply to participate in Amateur Night? Or were there auditions?

A. There was an audition beforehand. They auditioned on the same day as the performance, and there was a huge line. I think about one hundred of the three hundred who auditioned were chosen to perform.


Q. The Apollo Theater is in Harlem, so I assume that the audience was mainly African American. Were you nervous about being the only Japanese there?

A. I was more nervous about performing on stage than I was about being a different race from most of the audience. No one there had high expectations of me, but I had high expectations for myself so I was really feeling the pressure. I was pretty nervous.

NEXT:(2) Road to “American Idol >>

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