I have to be very original and have a strong musical voice. I don't want to be a copycat of anybody.

I have always liked black and white! It is simple and the colour of the piano.

Nobody wants to experience sad events but people like to listen to sad songs. That's the beauty of music.

The way to respect all the people I love is to eat the music, have it in my blood and bones, and try to explore it in as much different ways as possible to create my own identity.

Every day is different and improvised. Sometimes, a song can lead to a completely different adventure. You can't control it.

I started to listen to Japanese jazz musicians when I went to high school. Some people I listened to were Yosuke Yamashita, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Sadao Watanabe.

Work hard! Just keep working hard until you can do something you want to do! We all progress at different speeds and in different ways, so be patient and keep working hard!

The beautiful thing about music is that even so-called negative emotions like anger, sadness, frustration, when they come through the filter of music, they all become beautiful.

Everybody improvises without noticing it. Life is about improvising. You can't control what happens in your life, I mean, you don't know what can happen in your life today. So you somehow improvise.

Challenges are the key in life. You always have to challenge yourself and try to get to different states.

Everything is inspiring! It could be fine art or a conversation I have with somebody!

Wherever you are, be there with love.

Desire urges me on, while fear bridals me.

Work is a vehicle with which man chases some fleeting destination called a full tummy.

He will protect me if it is his will. It is not up to me whether I live or die. Either way, Heaven is what'll wait for me - the light at the end of the tunnel.

A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny.

All hunt for fame, but most mistake the way.

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.

They’d played “Sweet Home, Alabama” so many times I wanted to crash the party, kill the radio, and knife whoever was selecting the music.

God was in Christ, reconciling the world.

Coming back to Yes is like never having left. Even when I have not been in the band, I have always felt part of it.