"Whatever it is, have a strong genre."
This is what producer T-san told me when I was still a student and working as an assistant director for a radio music program.
At the time, I was a 19-year-old college student and didn't have much knowledge of music.
To be a music program director, you need to know a wide range of music. But that's not enough. You have to choose one genre and dig deep into it. For example, if you like jazz, listen to a lot more jazz than other people and memorize information about musicians, history, transitions, subgenres, etc. Then, when the meeting is about "Which director should we entrust with the next jazz special?", your name will be brought up.
"Have a strong genre" was an expression of Mr. T's love for me, as he wanted me to be able to get work.
However, in the end, I was not able to create a stronger genre than others until I went from AD to director, and then quit being a director (although I'm confident that if it was a band, not a genre, I would be able to win in my feelings for RADWIMPS). And Mr. T, who had given me such loving words, passed away six months before I opened the store. Unfortunately, I was not able to show Iwasu a strong genre.
Hmm. Why couldn't I create a strong genre?
I've been thinking about this for a while, and only recently did I discover the reason.
This is probably due to the influence of the National Center Test for University Admissions.
The Center Test is an exam where you have to score evenly across five subjects. I was not good at math, and math always dragged me down in my mock exam results. So I went to a cram school, took correspondence courses, and studied math day and night. I managed to get into university, but I think the obsession with "not having any weaknesses" and "having to do everything evenly" ingrained itself in me during my exam studies. Even now, I find myself suddenly muttering "I have to study math" and it scares me.
I actually wanted to study English more, which I like. But if you're good at English, you won't pass the exam. It's more important to eliminate weak areas than to create strong areas. I strongly imprinted that in my brain. As a result, I became someone who was bad at making things sharp. I'm just a clumsy person. What do you think?
But over time, I've changed a bit.
Now that I'm older, the curse of having to do everything perfectly is finally fading.
When I started my wine shop 12 years ago, I was pretty well balanced and stocked wines from all over the world.
However, after my cousin who lives in New Zealand told me about the greatness of New Zealand wine, I gradually started to lean towards it, and my love for it deepened as I visited local wineries. For the past six years or so, the main focus of my shop has been New Zealand wine. I have also made more acquaintances through New Zealand. Two years ago, I launched the New Zealand Wine Lovers website, and next month, I will be launching an online shop for New Zealand wine.
More and more people have told me things like, "You're doing something specialized," or, "I came to drink New Zealand wine." I've noticed that I'm a bit edgy. I think I can say that this is a strong genre, right?
Mr. T, it's taken me 25 years since then, but I think I may have finally got something strong!
I would like to continue digging deeper so that people will say, "If you want to know about New Zealand wine, ask Iwasu."
This week's wine and snacks
SILENI ESTATES CELLAR SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2020
This is the Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc, a standard product of Sileni Estate, a New Zealand wine that is extremely well-known in Japan. It is imported by Enoteca.
The great thing about this wine is that it has three great qualities: it's reasonably priced, tastes good, and is easy to obtain.
With a suggested retail price of 2,090 yen (tax included), this flavor is worth it. I drink it every year, but I feel that the 2020 is particularly excellent. The citrus aroma is clear and the refreshing fruitiness is irresistible. With this quality, I would be willing to pay 2,500 to 3,000 yen.
Of course, it is sold at Enoteca's stores and online shop, but I was surprised to find that it was also available at my local supermarket, Nafco. Nafco has great taste.
A hint for pairing this wine is to think of it as a citrus dressing. It can be paired with a wide range of dishes, such as salads, marinated vegetables, carpaccio, salt-grilled white fish, pork with ginger, pizza, and so on.
I tried it with chicken nuggets. Of course it was a perfect match. Good job, Sileni.
