Peter Barakan
{{Short description|English DJ, broadcaster, and author (born 1951)}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|8|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = London, England
| education = SOAS, University of London
| occupation = Radio Broadcaster
| years_active = 1984–present
| television = {{hlist|Begin Japanology|Offbeat & Jazz}}
| spouse = Mayumi Yoshida
| children = 2
| family = Shane Fontayne (brother)
| website = {{URL|https://peterbarakan.net/}}
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Yellow Magic Orchestra}}
}}
}}
Peter Barakan (born 20 August 1951) is an English DJ, freelance broadcaster, and an author of books on music and English language education. He is best known as the presenter of Begin Japanology and Japanology Plus on NHK World.{{Cite web|date=2020-05-31|title=Interview: "Japanology" Host Peter Barakan—Japan's Accidental Ambassador|url=https://www.cinemaescapist.com/2020/05/interview-peter-barakan-japanology/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Cinema Escapist|language=en}}{{cite web|date=7 September 2012|title=BEGIN Japanology|url=http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/japanology/|publisher=NHK World TV|accessdate=9 September 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227050327/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/japanology/|archivedate=27 February 2017}} In Japan, he is known as the radio host of "Barakan Beat" on InterFM,[http://www.interfm.co.jp/barakanbeat/ "Barakan Beat"]. InterFM.co.jp. Retrieved 9 September 2012. "Weekend Sunshine" on NHK FM,{{cite web |url=http://www4.nhk.or.jp/sunshine/26/ |title=番組情報 |publisher=NHK-FM |access-date=13 November 2018}} and Lifestyle Museum on Tokyo FM.{{Cite web|title=Tokyo Midtown presents The Lifestyle MUSEUM - TOKYO FM Podcasting|url=https://www.tfm.co.jp/podcasts/museum/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=www.tfm.co.jp}} Barakan also curates "Live Magic!", presented by CreativeMan Productions, Tower Records, and InterFM. It is a two-day festival intent on promoting obscure western artists to a wider Japanese audience.{{Cite web|last=Hadfield|first=James|date=2015-10-18|title=Radio personality Peter Barakan brings the world to Tokyo for Live Magic!|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2015/10/18/music/radio-personality-peter-barakan-brings-world-tokyo-live-magic/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=The Japan Times|language=en-US}}
Early life
Peter Barakan was born in London, England to an Anglo-Burmese mother and a Jewish father of Polish ancestry, and raised with his younger brother, musician Shane Fontayne.{{Cite web|date=2020-03-12|title=Tokyo DJ Peter Barakan on His 45-Year Career, Why He Quit Twitter, and Sharing Music Taste with Bowie|url=https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2020/03/tokyo-dj-peter-barakan-on-his-45-year-career-why-he-quit-twitter-and-sharing-music-taste-with-bowie/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Tokyo Weekender|language=en-US}} After attending junior high school, he graduated from SOAS, University of London.
Career
= Early career (1974–1988) =
Barakan moved to Tokyo, Japan in early 1974, after accepting a job offer as a clerk at a music publishing company in Japan. In the early 80's, after his departure as a clerk, Barakan began contributing to magazines and hosting a radio show as a freelancer,{{Cite web|title=74 Peter Barakan（Broadcaster）|url=https://6mirai.tokyo-midtown.com/en/interview/74/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=ROPPONGI MIRAI KAIGI -In the city that connects the people and the Art Design-|language=en}} as well as writing lyrics and handling international marketing for the Japanese band Yellow Magic Orchestra.{{cite web|last=Matsutani|first=Minoru|date=17 February 2009|title=Job taken on a whim leads to 35 years in Tokyo|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2009/02/17/our-lives/job-taken-on-a-whim-leads-to-35-years-in-tokyo-2/|publisher=The Japan Times Online}}{{cite web|url=https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-1661938/peter-barakan-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people |title=Peter Barakan on Myheritage.com |accessdate=25 October 2018}} In October 1988, with his start as host of the late-night weekly TBS program "CBS Document" (a Japanese edition of 60 Minutes),{{Cite web |date=31 July 2020 |title=Peter Barakan I want to provide the listener with a selection of songs to face life. {{!}} SIGMA meets SEEKERS |url=https://www.sigma-sein.com/en/seekers/peterbarakan/ |access-date=2021-07-11 |website=SEIN {{!}} SIGMA |language=en}}{{cite web|last=Betros|first=Chris|title=IN PERSON - Voice of reason|url=http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/528/interview.asp|publisher=Metropolis Tokyo: Issue 528|accessdate=9 September 2012}} Barakan's popularity grew, especially among Japanese eager to study English, and among Americans starved for broadcasts from their home country.
= Radio (1980–present) =
Barakan was the host for a radio show in Roppongi for approximately 9 years. Starting in 1996, he was a host for 3-hour slot named "Barakan Morning " on InterFM radio which ended in 2011.{{cite web|title=Barakan Morning|url=http://www.interfm.co.jp/barakan/|publisher=InterFM 76.1 FM|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724091811/http://www.interfm.co.jp/barakan/|archivedate=24 July 2011}}[http://mediatectonics.com/film/are-you-ready-to-stage-a-media-coup/ "Are You Ready to Stage a Media Coup?"]. Media Techtonics. 13 August 2010.
He is currently hosting "Barakan Beat", a live show on InterFM, "Weekend Sunshine", a freestyle program on NHK FM, and Lifestyle Museum, 30-minute weekly interview programme on Tokyo FM.
= Television (2003–present) =
Barakan's broadcast experience eventually led him to NHK's Japanology in 2003, where he is more well known internationally for exploring aspects of traditional and contemporary Japan, including interviews with experts in various fields. As the show progressed, he eventually became the sole presenter where he is more able to express his creative freedoms.
He also acts as a presenter alongside his Japanese co-host for Offbeat & Jazz, a monthly show on satellite broadcaster WOWOW, featuring live performances by mainly jazz artists.{{Cite web|title=オフビート&JAZZ{{pipe}}音楽{{pipe}}WOWOWオンライン|url=https://www.wowow.co.jp/pg_info/detail/051508/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=WOWOW|language=ja}}
Social issues
During the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, Barakan was prevented from playing a nuclear protest song, because it could "create '
Similarly, in 2014, Barakan was pressured by two broadcast stations (other than InterFM) to steer clear of commenting on nuclear power issues.{{Cite web|last=Otake|first=Tomoko|date=2014-01-22|title=Barakan says broadcasters told him to avoid nuclear issues till after poll|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/22/national/barakan-says-broadcasters-told-him-to-avoid-nuclear-issues-till-after-poll/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=The Japan Times|language=en-US}}
In 2012, he led a U.N. sponsored multi-city mayoral panel discussion on community rebuilding following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.{{cite web|date=24 May 2012|title=City Leaders discuss Tohoku's future after tsunami|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-290583377.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611022355/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-290583377.html|archive-date=11 June 2014|publisher=U.N. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat (UNISDR) (HighBeam Research)|accessdate=9 September 2012|agency=States News Service}}
Personal life
Barakan is married to Mayumi Yoshida, and has a son and a daughter.{{Cite web|title=Peter Barakan|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2738991/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=IMDb}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1984
|In A Forest of Feathers |Various |Video Short |
| 1984
|YMO Propaganda |Soundtrack | |
| 1983
|Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence |Prisoner (uncredited) | |
| 2005
|The Old Crocodile |Narrator (English version) |Short |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2011
|Yellow Magic Orchestra Live at NHK |Soundtrack |TV movie |
| 2014
| rowspan="9" |Self / Presenter | rowspan="4" |TV series documentary |
| 2008 |
| 2003 |
| 2009 |
| 2019
|The Best Hit USA | rowspan="5" |TV series |
| 2015
|Morning Cross |
| 2010
|Schola: Sakamoto Ryûichi ongaku no gakkô |
| 2009
|The Golden Hour |
| 2004
|Eigo de shabera-night |
Bibliography
{{Inc-lit|date=October 2021}}
- Taking Stock (2020)
- 新版魂（ソウル）のゆくえ (2019)
- Cotton Fields (2020)
- ロックの英詞を読む—世界を変える歌 (2016)
- ピーター・バラカンのわが青春のサウンドトラック (2013)
- ピーター・バラカン音楽日記 (2011)
- ラジオのこちら側で (2013)
- ぼくが愛するロック名盤240 (1998)
- ジャズ・ロックのおかげです (1994)
- 200CD ピーター・バラカン選 ブラック・ミュージック (2009)
- ピーター・バラカンのわが青春のサウンドトラック (2009)
- 猿はマンキ お金はマニ (2009)
- 魂（ソウル）のゆくえ (2008)
- ロックの英詞を読む (2003)
- Love Songs – A Kiss Is Just A Kiss (1993)
- ミュージック捜査線 (1993)
- 魂（ソウル）のゆくえ (1989; republished in 2008)
References
External links
- [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=RM&p_theme=rm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4D87B66F3F522&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Japanese viewers may want their MTV, but they won't be getting it"]. Rocky Mountain News. 25 June 1991. Billboard
- [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2738991/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Peter Barakan] on IMDb
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barakan, Peter}}
Category:Alumni of SOAS University of London
Category:British emigrants to Japan
Category:English expatriates in Japan
Category:English male non-fiction writers
Category:English people of Burmese descent
Category:English people of Polish-Jewish descent
Category:English writers about music
Category:Japanese television personalities
Category:Japanese radio personalities