Life with Working People and Cats — The Case of Music Creator Hyadain and Pon-chan —

Life with cats brings healing and richness to our daily routines. A new series begins, featuring cat-loving professionals active in various fields, regardless of age or gender, to hear about the inspiration and creative sources they gain from spending time with their cats.

In our first installment, we feature music creator Hyadain. We asked him about the charm of his beloved cat, Pon-chan, whom he dotes on as a partner in his private life, and how living with his cat has brought changes to his creative activities.

Meeting my beloved cat Pon-chan during the recording of the TV show 'PON!'

— Hyadain-san, you are widely active, providing music for various artists and more. Could you tell us again about the specific nature of your work?

As a music creator, I work on making music, which includes songwriting, composition, arrangement, vocal direction, and production.

— That covers almost everything related to music production! Could you tell us about your encounter with your beloved cat, Pon-chan, who often appears on your Instagram and supports your busy days?

I met Pon-chan exactly 10 years ago. It started with the information program 'PON!' (Nippon TV), which was airing at the time, while I was promoting my own music. Since I had been telling people around me that I wanted to own a cat, there was a segment on the show where they introduced kittens from a pet shop... It's amazing to think about it now (laughs). Among the three kittens that came to the studio that day was Pon-chan, a Singapura.

— What was the point that drew you to Pon-chan among the three?

She was exceptionally energetic, jumping around the studio and disappearing if left alone. From the moment I saw her, I thought, 'Ah! This is the one!' and I took her home that very day. Since we met on 'PON!', I named her 'Pon'.

— That was quite a whirlwind day, welcoming a new family member after a guest appearance. Had you lived with cats before that?

My parents had a cat since I was 10, so I knew well the joy of living with one. Even after I started living alone, I always had the feeling that I wanted to live with something as cute as a cat. Because of my work, I do a lot of tasks at home, and I thought I would be able to be with her without making her feel lonely... and that's when this fateful encounter happened.

A child, a sibling, a friend, and a lover. The existence of Pon-chan, who embodies everything

— Pon-chan was a tomboy at first impression, but how did you deepen your bond?

At first, she didn't really feel like family, so there were a lot of fights, or rather, a lot of lectures.

— Lectures?!

Yes, lectures. Some people might have the image of cats as independent and indifferent, but not everyone is like that. My cat is a dependent, 'menhera' (emotionally unstable) type who really wants affection. That was especially true when she was small; she would follow me everywhere, so I would sit her down and give her a stern lecture, saying, 'That's not good. You have to learn to live independently.'

— So, while she is cute, you raised her strictly.

Of course, I want to spoil her, but if something were to happen to me, wouldn't it be pitiful if her heart couldn't handle it? That's why I kept telling her that she needs to acquire the strength to live properly even on her own, and recently she has finally started to understand.

— Pon-chan is smart. I felt a bond more like parent and child than owner and cat. What is Pon-chan to you, Hyadain-san?

She is everything. She is a child, a friend, a sibling, and a lover. She fulfills all the conditions. All the relationships I need are packaged into this one cat, Pon-chan.

— You truly are an ideal partner! Since you started living together, have there been any changes in your daily cycle?

Well, it makes being at home more enjoyable, so my desire to work from home has increased. Also, for better or worse, it gets hot. Since she comes to sleep next to me, I think it's "hot" in the summer, but now that the season is changing, it's becoming "warm," and those feelings lead to warmth in my heart as well. It's really all good things.

— It increases warmth both physically and mentally, doesn't it?

When I'm holed up in my room making music, she always stays in the same room, watching over me as if wondering, "What are you doing?" Also, sometimes I record demo vocals while working, and since I sing at a fairly high volume, she gets worried, wondering if I'm okay, and comes close while meowing. At times like that, I hold Pon-chan and we sing together.

— She is a kind and reliable presence.

My cat has been a "home security guard" for 10 years, so she's truly amazing. A professional at home security. Just the other day, a cockroach appeared in the house, which is rare, and Pon-chan was the first to discover it. She was scratching between the chairs, and when I asked, "What's wrong? If there's a bug, catch it," a really big one came out... I was so surprised that I screamed, "Waaaaah!!!" and Pon-chan got startled by my voice and ran away, so she couldn't catch it (laughs).

— That sounds like a comedy sketch (laughs).

After that, Pon-chan discovered it in a different place and kept hitting it with cat punches to weaken it, so I said, "I'll take it from here!" and finished it off with freezing spray, successfully exterminating it.

— That's a nice team play! I can feel the bond built over 10 years.

I was so excited that I wanted to high-five her at that moment. As a home security guard, Pon-chan has a strong will to never allow intruders.

Is their favorite game "Red Light, Green Light"?!

— Do you have any recent favorite games to play with Pon-chan?

Recently, we often play "Red Light, Green Light" together.

— With Pon-chan?

Yes. I'm always the one who is "it," but when I hide and say "Red Light, Green Light," she stops in her tracks, and while I'm saying "Red Light, Green Light" again, she approaches, and in the end, she actually tags me and runs away. It's just that loop over and over. Also, since I recently moved to a house with a terrace, she seems to like lounging in the sun on sunny days.

— It's amazing that you can communicate to that extent.

It's a nice change of pace, and humans wouldn't play along so conveniently. I can't ask them to play according to my time off. On the other hand, if it were a dog, I'd have to take it for walks, but cats don't require that. I feel that living with a cat is well-suited for a profession like mine, where I work from home a lot.

— Has living with Pon-chan influenced your creative work as a music creator?

Basically, Pon-chan is in charge of breaks. When I start working, I usually focus intensely for about 3 or 4 hours without a break, but she suddenly makes a sweet sound and climbs onto my lap. She looks at me as if to say, "Why are you ignoring me?" and inevitably forces me to take a break. It's like those announcements you often hear on car navigation systems: "Two hours have passed. Would you like to take a break?"

— So Pon-chan's timer tells you when to switch on and off. How do you spend your break time?

I get to 'cat-huff' Pon-chan to recharge my energy. She makes a very disgusted face when I do it, but she lets me get away with it one way or another. We also play 'Daruma-san ga koronda' (Red Light, Green Light) like I mentioned earlier. I wasn't very good at switching between 'on' and 'off' modes before, but spending time with Pon-chan helps me refresh, and I've become able to switch back to 'on' smoothly. She is also an excellent manager.

— I have an image of cats liking keyboards and wiring; how is Pon-chan with those?

She doesn't really do that. She never gets in the way of the keyboard or the computer keyboard, so she really is a well-behaved cat. I don't think she has ever once interfered with my work.

Constantly updating 'the cutest moment ever' based on the years spent together

— You have been producing music in that environment for many years, Hyadain-san. Do you have a song that reminds you of Pon-chan?

When Shoko Nakagawa lost her precious cat Mamitas, I wrote a song called 'Daisuki' (I Love You) that captured her feelings for her beloved cat. When I was recording the guide vocals for it, Pon-chan came in purring. So, we decided to have Pon-chan participate in the recording, and we recorded her purring sounds and actually used them in the song.

— So Pon-chan participated in the recording too. It has been 10 years since you started living with Pon-chan; was there a gap between the life with a cat you imagined 10 years ago and reality?

I was surprised that something could get cuter every year. Before I got her, I thought the peak of cuteness was when they were kittens, but in reality, she updates 'the cutest ever' every year. If anything, when she was a kitten, she wasn't affectionate at all and felt like a stranger. Because we have spent so much time together, she is the cutest she has ever been right now.

— So as the distance between you closes, your attachment grows more and more.

The relationship also changes from year to year. She wouldn't come to my bed before, but suddenly she started sleeping with me. Conversely, there are times when I realize she won't sleep with me during this period, so there are many changes, and I think that is similar to human relationships.

— Does Pon-chan have any favorite toys?

That also really changes from year to year. There were times when she liked cat wands, and times when she would react crazily to a toy from a certain manufacturer, only for her to suddenly act aloof one day as if to say, 'What is that? Please take it away.' There were times when I bought three of them because I thought she liked them, only for that to happen. It might be because she has gotten older, but for some reason, she now runs away when she sees those kinds of toys.

— She is unpredictable.

She seems to like plastic bags now. If I leave a plastic bag out, she gets inside it on her own, so we play a game where I hold the top and bottom of the bag and transport her from the second floor to the bed on the first floor. Seeing her eyes sparkle inside the plastic bag, excited about 'what's going to happen,' is unbearably cute.

— Finally, what kind of presence is Pon-chan to you, Hyadain-san, as a music creator?

She is the one who teaches me how to switch to 'off' in my creative activities. I can't create 'on' time without 'off' time, and she is a huge help, especially when I am working on multiple songs. By taking a 'cat break' after finishing each song, I can start the next task smoothly. Pon-chan is a precious presence who teaches me how important 'off' time is.

Profile
Hyadain
His real name is Kenichi Maeyamada. He started his music career by beginning piano at the age of 3. He taught himself songwriting, composition, and arrangement. While actively providing songs for idols such as Momoiro Clover's 'Ikuze! Kaito Shojo,' he also demonstrates his talent in a wide range of fields, including producing music for big artists like SMAP, Yuzu, and Hiromi Go, as well as anime songs, commercial music, and film scores, and continues to sweep the scene with his overwhelming worldview.

Staff Credits
photo: Kyouhei Yamamoto
edit&text: Mikiko Ichitani
Produced by MCS (Magazine House Creative Studio)