“I have been playing the drums since I was a high school student in Tokyo. In Japan, I was classically trained in piano and had taken lessons from a jazz drummer. Today I play Brazilian percussion, which is not exactly similar to what I used to play in Japan when I played rock drums. When I was a teenager, I was into rock music by Led Zeppelin and Cream but not anymore.

Jazz became more attractive to me when I was in university because it’s more sophisticated and at that time, jazz was evolving. Jazz-fusion, which is a mixture of rock and jazz with more electric instruments to it, was taking off, with music by Miles Davis and George Benson, for example. I also began liking traditional jazz and contemporary fusion such as Earth, Wind and Fire, Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder.

I found Brazilian music to be very sophisticated too. During the 1980s I saw the shows of some well-known and respected Brazilian musicians when they were on tour in Japan, such as Ivan Lins, Gal Costa and Djavan.

When I lived and worked in Brazil from 1993 to 1995, I started learning how to play Brazilian percussion. There are many good samba and bossa nova musicians there so I took lessons from a local percussionist. My favourite jazz drummer is David Weckl.

I moved to Malaysia in 2008 and found that No Black Tie was one of the best places to listen to music. I knew that there was a Brazilian music group playing at No Black Tie so I came to see it. When I told the bandleader Xiong that I played Brazilian percussion, he asked me to join them. I’ve been playing together with them since.

I have been working with Hakuhodo since 1980 but across different countries – in New York, São Paulo, Japan, China and Malaysia.  It was very difficult to get involved in the local New York music scene compared with the local Malaysian music scene that is more open to foreigners.

Luckily in Malaysia, I have had good opportunities to play locally. I was fortunate to be invited to join Xiong’s band, who are now my friends. They usually play every Thursday, and whenever they do, I’m willing to participate. Sometimes I play standard jazz and fusion music at Yoko’s Restaurant and Bar in KL. I used to go for jamming sessions with younger local musicians at places like Bangkok Jazz before it closed down, and Alexis. However, I haven’t gone jamming recently because I already have opportunities to perform regularly elsewhere.

Most of the Japanese in Malaysia like to play golf and while I also like it, unfortunately I’m a very bad golfer! Golf is my hobby too but I have to play somewhere nobody knows about! [Laughs] But playing music is something I can be proud of.

I’ve also been composing music – my latest album was released last year – it’s a mixture of Japanese music, fusion jazz and Brazilian music. I composed musical arrangements on my Mac, played the keyboard and invited good musicians and vocalists to collaborate – to me this is another way of playing music. I recorded four tunes in Malaysia and another six were recorded in Japan over a span of 10 years. This is my second album. The first album was cut in Japan and also took 10 years. These albums are not for commercial purpose but for fun and to give away to my friends. I don’t like creating music just for myself but for others’ enjoyment.

I like to create music. With my first album, I wanted to create something new and had to find good musicians to collaborate with. I even had to pay some of my professional musician friends but at discounted rates.

The tile of the album is Multilingual because it is a mixture of many music influences and lyrics from many countries. My musician name is Toninho, which is the Brazilian equivalent of the name Tony.

I’m very satisfied with my job at Hakuhodo as I enjoy working in the advertising line. Advertising is about working to create something but since I am managing the company in Malaysia, I’m not directly involved in the creative process, so I still need an avenue to create things. Advertising is very interesting because of the creative process but our main aim is to support our clients. Playing music has nothing to do with business or clients – it’s only for me to feel good, an outlet for creative expression.

Fortunately, I have very good local staff that don’t like the MD to work so late, so I can leave the office earlier if I am performing. I like to separate my work from my personal life.

Playing music also helps decrease my stress so I can be healthier mentally. I live alone as my family is currently living in Japan. My youngest son is now starting to play the guitar – maybe I had some influence on him.

In Japan, there are bars where the more experienced musicians go to jam. This coming Chinese New Year, I will be going back to Japan to visit my family and play jazz drums at a gig with some musician friends at Tokyo Shibuya.

I’m actually interested in playing Indian percussion but one of my Indian friends told me that it would take a lifetime to learn it!

Technically, I don’t think I am that good but I consider myself a music lover so I’m proud of loving music. Music is something that makes me enjoy life.”

This article appeared in Management@work, the monthly management pullout of The Edge Malaysia, Issue 844, Feb 7-13, 2011