On the eve of its French performance on September 4th at the Trianon, our team had the chance to talk with Jean-Ken Johnny to discuss his vision of the world as well as the future of MAN WITH A MISSION!
KRM - Hello, and thank you for taking the time to talk to us. Your new European tour, “MAN WITH A MISSION UK & EUROPE TOUR 2024 Kizuna no Kiseki” has just started. How does it feel to be back in Europe?
Jean-Ken Johnny – We are always happy to come to Europe. It is so exciting to travel and perform in different countries. Thanks to everyone who waited for us!
KRM - Your last European tour was in June 2023. Why did you choose to come back so soon?
JKJ - What are you talking about... (Laughs) It’s because we love coming to Europe so much!
KRM - This tour is named after one of your latest songs, which you composed and performed as the opening theme for the anime Kimetsu no Yaiba. Should we expect any surprises during these new performances? Like maybe... milet on stage!
JKJ - We have been performing this song by ourselves for quite some time. milet is a very busy person but we would be so happy if she had the opportunity to join us on stage to perform the song in its original version. We hope that this will be possible one day soon!
KRM - Throughout your career, you have composed and performed numerous anime themes, from the first for Hentai Kamen to Kimetsu no Yaiba. In between, you've created themes for The Seven Deadly Sins and My Hero Academia. All these works have certainly contributed to your international recognition. How do you perceive the excitement surrounding the world of anime and manga? Do you think you can reach new audiences through this medium?
JKJ - I am a big fan of Japanese culture, the history of manga and comics, so I really appreciate this craze. In a way, I am very proud of the huge influence it has around the world today. It is indeed a very rich and diverse culture, so I want it to continue so that everyone can access this fabulous culture that was born in Japan. I also believe that the huge market contributes and creates many opportunities for Japanese music to spread around the world.
KRM - There are quite a few similarities between the universes of some successful animes and the current international context. Like anime, music is also an art form that allows audiences to find a means of identification. As beings who are half-human, half-wolf, do you find inspiration in current events? How does this context influence you?
JKJ - This is a very good point and a great perspective to think about! I totally agree with that, and even though we are wolves, we are very similar to you humans. What happens in the world inspires and influences us.
KRM - On a lighter note: three questions related to some of the animes you've worked on.
● If you were a hero from My Hero Academia, which one would you be and why?
● Likewise, if you were one of the Pillars from Kimetsu no Yaiba, which one would you be and why?
● Finally, if you were one of the Seven Deadly Sins, which one would you be and why?
JKJ - In order: Shouto Todoroki, Muichiro and Ban… All three for the same reason. I tend to particularly like psychologically disturbed and destroyed characters… The anti-hero type in fact! (Laughs)
KRM - Let’s go back in time. From its inception, MAN WITH A MISSION has taken the path of international stages. You performed in the USA in 2010 and for the first time in France in 2012. Not all bands have the chance or the desire to expand so quickly. Was it by choice? By opportunity? Do you think your career would have been different without this international presence?
JKJ - Since I started music, and especially since I joined a band, playing all over the world was already a goal! Maybe even a dream that I wanted to pursue. We wanted our music to be “international” since our beginnings. We wanted to be like all bands, to make music that could touch and move people all over the world, without borders. So I can’t imagine not doing it that way.
KRM - Today, almost fifteen years later… What advice would you give to the young wolf you once were if you could talk to him for a few moments?
JKJ - You buy too many comic books and CDs but eventually it's all gonna be able to fit in a tiny phone that everyone carries.
KRM - As mentioned earlier, your first appearance in France was in the summer of 2012 at Japan Expo. What memory or memories do you have of that first time? Was there something that struck you about the French audience during that initial encounter?
JKJ - We had heard about the huge hype around the event, and we were very aware of it… But the energy was so huge. It hit us so hard that we still remember it. Another reason I remember it so well is because there was this kid with such an avant-garde attitude. At Japan Expo, everyone wore costumes, mostly very elaborate and meticulous, but his was just a brown cardboard box. That was literally all he wore. He just wore a regular, untreated cardboard box with “ガンダム” (Gundam) written on it. I still can’t quite figure out the message or the story behind it, but he definitely caught our attention.
KRM - Since then, you have returned to Europe almost every year: 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and finally in 2023. The longest gap was due to the global pandemic of 2020/2021. Many bands reported difficulties during this period. How did MAN WITH A MISSION get through this ordeal?
JKJ - It was indeed a tragic and difficult time. But I guess it made us open our eyes and reconsider how important and precious it is to enjoy or even live our normal life. It also made us think about a new way to spread music, like live streaming. It also made us focus more on an alternative way to communicate, even create, compose music. Not only the pandemic, but whenever you are faced with evil, there is always a way. It may not seem bright, but there is always something beyond the bright side of things.
KRM - Let’s talk about the future: next year, you will celebrate your fifteen-year career! Congratulations! Have you planned any special surprises for your fans? Your last releases were in 2023, and it would be fair to say that this 15th anniversary would be the perfect time for a new announcement…
JKJ - I can't promise you anything and I don't want to spoil any surprises, but we're sure we'll have plenty to come...
KRM - To conclude this interview, do you have a final word or message for your fans who are reading this and for those who are discovering you today?
JKJ - We truly appreciate everyone who listens to our music, who has found us, who shares the love of music and bands. Thank you all, everyone out there in this sometime cruel but beautiful world, we are the MAN WITH A MISSION, and we are always there waiting for you.
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