I’ve created my first short film! Written, directed, produced, and starring Dan Mitchel! (Oh, and I did the theme song too, haha.)
This project started as a stage play last fall. After plenty of ups and downs, we finally shot it in May. Somehow, all the dialogue ended up in English. The night before filming, I got an unexpected late-night call, pulled an all-nighter, and even ended up acting as the driver.
Despite all the challenges, we were blessed with great weather and an incredible crew, and I’m proud to say we completed the film.
My main focus throughout was “capturing the acting”. Being both the director and an actor, I believe this is something only I could achieve, and I made it my top priority.
There are plenty of behind-the-scenes stories, but I’ll save those for later. Haha.
This film represents my full power at this moment, so I’d be thrilled if you’d take a look.
In the future, I plan to use this film as a calling card for film festival competitions, launch my next project, and further expand my theater activities (yes, as an actor too!).
So, please check out my YouTube channel and give it a watch!
I believe that all the truths and essences of the world are simple. But that doesn’t mean they’re easy. Precisely because they are simple, understanding them fully requires deep, profound thought.
That’s why the word I despise the most is “easy to understand.” There’s no phrase more insulting to human intelligence. It’s nothing more than a rotten excuse people use to justify their laziness.
As a result, there’s even an embarrassing study showing that the average human’s concentration level is lower than that of an orangutan. I have no intention of becoming Dr. Dolittle.
What I hate most of all is half-measures. Because there’s nothing beautiful about being halfway. Once you abandon your pride, it’s all over. But that doesn’t mean you have to be pessimistic or drown in self-denial.
Life will continue from here on out. There’s always more to come.
This is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, but now I’ve come to the conclusion that seriously pursuing immigration abroad is the most realistic and humble way to protect my peace of mind.
If possible, I’d like to aim for Texas, but I’m not sure if I can go there right away. My language skills are still lacking, and I don’t feel confident about obtaining a work visa. Therefore, I realize I need to establish a scheme where I can earn a minimum living income through full remote work from Japan.
I plan to continue with the company I established over the summer.
Someday, when I return to Japan, I hope to bring back undeniable personal value that allows me to build a modern-day “Tokiwa-so” in Tokyo. The tenant selection process will be based on my own discretion and judgment, and the living room will double as a filming studio.
The selection criteria are as follows:
1. Talent
2. Intelligence
3. Aesthetic sensibility
4. Initiative
5. Sociability
6. Altruism
7. High level of independence
8. Open-mindedness
9. International perspective
10. Patriotism
In short, I want to create a community for fostering philosophers and facilitating connections between like-minded individuals.
For now, it’s still just a distant dream.
But the work of a dramatic artist is to create miracles,
which means constantly taking risks without hesitation.
In Japan, we just had an election, but seeing voter turnout barely reaching the 50% mark feels a bit disappointing. It would be nice if people felt passionate enough to watch the results at a bar, like watching the World Cup, getting so heated that it almost leads to a brawl—although fights themselves don’t solve anything. Anger, however, is still a far more organic response than apathy or despair.
I have a hobby for analysis; I enjoy categorizing people’s actions and analyzing them mathematically, and it becomes clear that generational dynamics really do exist—even to an annoying degree.
One reason I don’t often share my age is to avoid being confined by those generational dynamics. In any case, I’m not looking to be a symbol of any generation.
One way to break free is by studying history, gaining a better understanding of other generations, viewing your own experiences from a broader perspective, and discarding all stereotypes.
As the saying goes, “If you’ve got energy, you can do anything.” A world filled with energetic, positive people would naturally become an energetic, positive world. In that sense, the only way to change society is for each person to consciously shift their mindset.
It’s about having the drive to create value yourself—not relying on safe, pre-existing templates or imitations, nor comparing yourself to others to feel superior. True originality is born when you have a solid foundation of knowledge and apply it through your own ideas. We need to find value in things that didn’t exist before, with more openness and flexibility.
This isn’t gambling; it’s taking a calculated shot. People with good taste are probably those who stay sensitive to these things, even if they can’t fully explain why. It’s that kind of sensibility that could shake up a stagnant world, not empty posturing and arrogance with nothing to back it up.
Now’s not the time to wallow in despair. And honestly, this isn’t a lecture; it’s almost like I’m saying it to myself.
Ideally, what’s great about corporations is that many people can come together with a sense of ownership under a shared vision. Anyone can participate if they own shares, and buying a ticket to attend a concert, depending on the organizer’s philosophy, might be somewhat similar to buying shares. Crowdfunding is quite like that in some cases.
The CEO, after all, is just running the business. Of course, since I’m also the owner, I wouldn’t hand over shares to someone who doesn’t align with my vision, so I have no intention of going public. But I want to find a way to gather people who naturally share the same vision and create value that transcends the economic dimension. In other words, it’s about what it means to be “wealthy,” which can’t be understood by just chasing numbers. Numbers can be a useful indicator, but turning “numbers” into just “numbers” is a symptom of the hollowing out of capitalism. They’ve become too powerful, disconnected from reality. We need to seriously rethink things now.
I’m a contrarian to the core, so when people ask me, “How’s it going since starting your company?” I often respond, “Nothing has changed for me,” and that probably leads to more misunderstandings. But I’m not lying. My own stance hasn’t particularly changed. I just thought having a separate legal entity might make it easier for people to participate. As an individual, I’ve become a bit cautious because too many people have left without a word.
As I said before, the keyword is “ownership.” When you get trapped in the economic dimension, that sense of ownership gets poisoned, and the desire for recognition starts whispering in your ear, “Look at all the work I’ve done!” When that happens, you not only fail to create value, but you often start dragging others down. But if you have a genuine sense of ownership, you naturally start thinking positively, like, “What can I do to help us reach the next stage?” At that point, effective communication becomes crucial to avoid playing solo.
I understand that many people dislike logical discussions. I get that, based on marketing and psychological theory, attacking from a different method might be more effective in reality. But at its core, that approach is no different from “mass manipulation,” and I have a visceral resistance to stepping into that territory. To break through all of that, what’s required is truly “genuine intellect” and “pure vitality.”
I’ll be appearing as a guest on the new show “Tokyo Music Lab,” which will be live-streamed in the Metaverse space “JYANNA WORLD” from 8:00 PM on Wednesday, September 4th!
It’s pretty rare for me to appear as a guest, so I’m really excited to see what kind of questions I’ll be asked!
My new single, “My Love Single Ver.,” set to be released on September 18th, will also be played during the stream ahead of time!
“Tokyo Music Lab” Date: Wednesday, September 4th Time: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM(JTS) URL: https://jyanna.jp/list-stream Note: After registering (free), you can watch the stream entirely for free.
This summer has been really hot, hasn’t it? I always thought I was the type who preferred warmer weather, but this year, it’s been getting to me a bit. This is Dan Mitchel.
Isn’t the sun being a little too intense? Has the distance between the Earth and the sun decreased, or has the tilt of the Earth’s axis shifted to make Japan hotter? Everyone, please make sure you’re staying hydrated and replenishing your minerals…
So, with that said, here’s a brief update on my recent activities. There are six items in total. The last one is especially important.
1.Videos of the April birthday party, which I completed with all my might, is now up on YouTube.
I’ve compiled a playlist with some highlights, so it’s a bit long, but please check it out! There are plenty of must-see moments.
2.Videos of the acoustic live performance I did recently at Bar LSD is now available, with all songs up for a limited time. I’ve also put this into a playlist! All the songs are improvised performances. It might be fun to compare it with the band setup from the birthday live show!
3.Thanks to the kind invitation of Mr. Donan Noka, the Director of the Kokuyo Innovation Center, I had the opportunity to give a short lecture. The theme was “How Adult Mathematics Education Can Enable Future Predictions.”
It was my first time speaking passionately at one of Japan’s leading companies, but it seems to have been well-received, and it was a great experience for me. For some reason, I danced to “Smooth Criminal” at the beginning, but I hope you’ll overlook that.
Mr. Noka, thank you so much for inviting me.
4.I’m taking on the challenge of making my first short film. The shooting is already completed.
It’s a love story based on one of my songs and a dream I had eight years ago, with all the dialogue in English. For this project, I entrusted the crucial role of the “sound engineer,” which is vital to any film, to Mr. Kokichi Komoda, an Academy Award-winning professional. The sound was recorded beautifully. I am truly grateful. I also want to express my deep gratitude to Mr. Maekawa, who always handles the filming, for introducing me to Mr. Komoda.
I expect to release it somewhere around autumn. Since it’s a special project, I’m considering submitting it to some international film festivals.
5.My 13th single, “Angel Heart,” was released on August 7th. This one is undeniably a new song—I wrote it in May.
It’s a Japanese dance-pop track that perfectly fits the summer vibe, and it’s also a breakup song. As usual, it doesn’t align with current trends at all, but it’s designed to feel better the more you listen to it.
Creating this company is, in a sense, a statement of my determination. I felt that I needed to enhance the social credibility of artists, and by establishing a corporation, a separate entity from myself, Dan Mitchel, I hoped to make it easier for more people to actively participate in projects.
And by “more people,” I mean not just artists.
After all, I want to continue to materialize my ideals as works and phenomena all over the world, because that feels like the purpose of my life. To achieve that, I’ll need the support of more people who share the same vision, and I believe that the energy we gain must be given back to the world in some form.
I thought that creating a company, a corporation, would be the ideal platform for this. The workload, including administrative tasks, will increase significantly, but I’m intentionally putting this pressure on myself.
The main business activities are as follows:
Planning, production, and management of music and theater-related events.
Planning, production, sales, and distribution of visual works, as well as accepting orders.
Planning, production, and accepting orders for music works.
Planning, management, online distribution, and event planning for STEAM education courses.
For activities (1) to (3), I plan to apply the know-how and experience I’ve gained by self-producing as Dan Mitchel—creating music, videos, and events from scratch—to give back to society more directly.
For example, in April, I had the opportunity to create the official theme song for Work Navi Co., Ltd. Through this, I felt a sense of fulfillment in creating and supporting projects that reflect someone else’s intentions or are made for someone else.
This isn’t limited to companies; I’m also planning a unique project aimed at individuals where I will create a song based on the life story of the person who commissions it—something that seems like only I could do.
Of course, the company will also function as the base for my activities as Dan Mitchel, and we plan to roll out various projects from our side as well.
One of the projects I’m currently working on is to create a brand-new event and export the entire concept worldwide.
For me, no matter what, the challenge has always been how to present my work to the world, but one of the themes I have in mind is how to preserve and carry forward the culture of “Japan” for the next 100 to 200 years.
That said, I don’t intend to express it through “obvious Japanese-ness.” Since “Japan” is undoubtedly a part of my identity, I think that alone is sufficient.
The theme of the event will likely be “dance,” and specifically, dance as a form of communication. It will be an advanced version of the Freestyle Session that I’ve been experimenting with since last year. In addition to that, I’m considering integrating video production and actively collaborating with travel companies. I’ll explain more once the project is up and running.
I’m also currently planning a video production that combines music and silent acting with physical expression, fusing it with fashion.
This, too, will be aimed at a global audience.
Now, it’s a little-known fact that I’ve been quietly running an educational business, and my online learning school, “DAN Juku,” is now in its ninth year. But what exactly is STEAM education?
According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), STEAM is defined as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) plus a broader range that includes art, culture, life, economics, law, politics, ethics, and so on.
I didn’t know about this term until recently myself, but it turns out that what I’ve been trying to do all along is essentially STEAM education.
It’s the kind of education needed to live the coming era with hope.
I’ve been involved in entrance exam education for a long time, and due to the nature of entrance exam education, where the sole aim is to pass exams, it inevitably strays from the true essence of scholarship in many ways.
While it’s extremely meaningful in the sense of experiencing serious effort to win in a competitive environment, it remains within the realm of “mental training.” I’ve seen many brilliant individuals become shells of themselves or lose their way after it’s all over, and as an educator, this has always left me feeling empty.
Especially with the rise of AI, I can’t help but think that there are more important things that talented people should be focusing on, and that is precisely what STEAM education is about.
So, starting in 2021, I began producing a video course called the “Advanced High School Mathematics Course,” which transcends the traditional demand for entrance exam mathematics.
This course is designed to address the structural flaws inherent in traditional mathematics education, which primarily serves as mere “mental training” for those who go on to study mathematics at university. This traditional approach has led to many humanities students abandoning mathematics, while also producing a surplus of “pseudo-scientists” who mistakenly believe they are good at mathematics simply because they excel at this mental training.
The curriculum I developed brilliantly resolves these issues by offering a revolutionary approach that allows even humanities students to achieve a fundamental understanding of mathematics, while still covering the scope of high school mathematics.
The idea of expanding this course to adults was the basis of my lecture at Kokuyo that I mentioned earlier.
Of course, when it comes to adults, there’s no point in revisiting entrance exam mathematics. However, when it comes to topics like statistics, which are often needed in professional life, a proper understanding requires knowledge of concepts like summation (Σ) and differential and integral calculus. If someone just wants to memorize without truly understanding, it’s more efficient to grab a reference book and attend a strict cram school that focuses on rote learning.
But if you’re seeking enjoyment and a sense of fulfillment, then a fundamental understanding is essential.
I’m currently working on the specifics of creating such a course.
As for art, since last year, I’ve been supporting an old friend, Andrew HK, with his project “Unmake Session.” My role has mostly been behind the scenes, introducing artists and staff, among other things, but I did manage to make an appearance at the end of last year.
Although this is Andrew’s project, I also want to share the life stories of artists with the world, not only to aspiring artists but to everyone else as well.
It might sound a bit controversial, but I want to convey that it’s not only the famous artists who appear on TV who are real artists.
I’ve been involved in planning programs and working as an interviewer on internet radio stations here and there since around 2020, so I think I could create a pretty in-depth video course.
Additionally, I’m considering creating specialized courses outside of mathematics, particularly in science. Recently, I’ve been reconnecting with elite scientists from the University of Tokyo, so I have some hope that we could create some really niche courses.
Though, I must admit, I’m a bit worried that my lack of specialized knowledge might become apparent. However, this might make me the perfect person to create courses for those who also lack deep expertise.
Anyway, that’s the general outline of the business activities. Of course, I can also design courses based on specific requests, and I’m looking to increase the opportunities for me to give lectures as well.
To those wonderful people who support my work, I’d like to share some specific ways you can do so.
The basic goals are the following three:
Increasing visibility
Enhancing social credibility or likeability
Achieving financial stability
Regarding number 3, it’s not that I want to live lavishly, but simply that creating high-quality works requires funding—it’s as simple as that. For example, the rehearsal for the April birthday party cost around 150,000 yen each time. Despite that, I couldn’t work with the sound engineers or dancers as much as I wanted, and time was limited, so we couldn’t fully realize our vision at the actual venue. This is the reality of the situation.
Currently, I’ve had to pause my voice training, and I’m feeling the impact as my singing ability gradually declines, which is a concern, but this too is due to financial constraints.
So, what are the specific ways you can support these three goals?
Watch my works and give positive reactions (likes, comments).
If you enjoy a piece, share it with those around you, even if casually, but with love.
Thank you, everyone. These two actions correspond to goals 1 and 2, and they are very important. They also hold the potential to eventually contribute to goal 3.
When someone’s passion begins to spread, phenomena start to occur suddenly. Each of your actions can significantly move the world. It’s probably easier than voting in an election. I want to create phenomena.
Next, let’s raise the stakes a bit.
Purchase my works or services.
Attend events where I perform.
This might seem like a significant step up, but it’s very important. When it comes to my works, although we’re in an era where music and videos are available through subscriptions, I do have some rather pricey merchandise in an online shop I set up on Base, but I haven’t put too much effort into it.
That said, the items are pretty unique.
To be honest, the high prices are because I don’t want to hold stock, which means the production costs are quite high, so there’s not much profit to be made. In other words, this also ties into goals 1 and 2, but I believe that physical items still have a significant impact.
If I can anticipate a certain number of sales, I could work with a stylish designer, hold some inventory, and offer items at a more reasonable price.
Right now, I’m not in a position to fully invest in merchandise.
And then, getting people to attend events is extremely important. If I seriously consider cash flow, the most realistic approach is to put effort into selling advance tickets, which is the most optimal way to go—if we stick to conventional methods.
However, aside from ticket prices, an event with a large crowd has the potential to create something impactful. In other words, it has value and influence. There might be a hint hidden in this.
Ideally, I’d like to make every event free, but that’s not feasible at the moment. The tipping system hasn’t worked out well, and there are limited venues where I can offer VIP seating. I’m desperately trying to come up with a clever system where, even in a welcoming environment with low barriers to entry, the event can still be profitable despite the expenses.
For instance, if we could get around 1,000 attendees at a free event, we might be able to secure corporate partnerships, and the event could function as a commercial, potentially even tied to the creation of a music video.
However, simply inviting a famous guest doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. It seems that grassroots efforts will be crucial.
I think the most important thing is to get people to attend and ensure they have a great time.
If there were a decent amount of goal 3, I could consider using funds for a big advertising push, but the question remains whether goal 1 or goal 3 should come first… Someone, please teach me TikTok.
As for services, I’m offering a variety of things beyond just my works. Many of these are higher-priced items. (Though, video production has high costs as well, not just in terms of profit margins…) As a company, it doesn’t matter where the revenue comes from; as long as the overall balance is positive, it’s fine. So, even if an event isn’t profitable, as long as the company’s overall finances are balanced, it’s okay. Therefore, commissioning a service or introducing someone to me would be immensely helpful.
And finally, the ultimate way to support:
Investment through stock acquisition.
This addresses goals 2 and 3.
It’s like buying a piece of a dream; you could buy a few shares, hold onto them, and work together to increase their value. This is one of the interesting aspects of a company that isn’t present in individual ventures.
And then, of course:
Receiving appearance offers.
This is a bit more limited in scope, so I left it for last. However, I don’t think I’m as difficult as you might think…
I don’t have a principle of only appearing in my own projects; if the conditions, purpose, and direction of the project are clearly outlined, I am very willing to work closely with the organizer and collaborate. If the project is just a replica of existing ones, it might not be a great fit for me, so that’s a significant challenge. However, if you provide clear direction and have some faith in me, I’m confident I can deliver outstanding results.
Despite how it might seem, I’ve navigated quite a few tough situations. I’ve often found myself in extremely challenging environments, and I pride myself on my flexibility. So please, feel free to send over those offers!
Now, speaking of the freshly established Dramatic Frontier Co., Ltd., I have to admit that, at the moment, we don’t have the financial capacity to hire employees. However, we are looking for talented individuals who can support me and the company through business partnerships.
Whether it’s through stock transfer, a percentage of sales as a success fee, or payment per project, the terms can vary depending on the individual.
The qualities we’re looking for in potential partners are, of course, not limited by education, experience, nationality, or gender:
Positive attitude
Lovable character
Sales copywriter
MC with a talent for speaking
A networking monster with connections across various industries
Designer
Highly motivated
Strong sense of responsibility
TikTok expert
Someone who thinks beyond the immediate future
These are the types of talents we’re seeking. Of course, everyone would want people like this on their team!
Dramatic Frontier has a real dream. That’s something that might be hard to find in today’s world.
If your intuition is sharp and you already feel a connection, please feel free to reach out.
Let’s sprint through the remaining three and a half months of this year!
Due to the closure at the end of this month, this will be the last Bar LSD performance (owned by book designer Hideo Shimada).
Thank you for all the wonderful encounters, Bar LSD. This time, I’ll perform new and cover songs in an acoustic style without backing tracks. Although I plan to stay still, I might end up dancing.
By the way, the curry here is delicious. There’s also a DJ TIME to enjoy drinks, ranging from sake to fine whiskey. I’ll be waiting for you in Shibuya on Wednesday night in two weeks.
The location is roughly behind Cerulean Tower. As usual, I need time to think about the invitation message, so please keep your schedule open.
The “Dandy Tonight Vol.4” event welcomed over 150 guests and concluded with resounding success. Thank you all so very much.
Today, I managed to acquire 600GB of video footage, and after reviewing it, I hope to provide a formal summary. However, the gratitude, excitement, emotion, and sense of accomplishment I feel are almost beyond words. The energy is immense.
Due to my struggle to find the right words, I have neglected our group LINE chat and have not been able to send out thank you messages properly. I missed greeting some of you in person due to make-up changes and meetings, especially during the early part of the event, which is something I regret.
Anyway, I am truly happy right now. As the event drew to a close, numerous unexpected happenings manifested my ideal vision at the venue. Indeed, surprises are crucial in drama.
This event was a creation made possible by all the attendees.
I aim to enhance such party events in the future, and I hope to continue doing so, though it won’t be easy. However, having made the impossible possible this time, I believe it can be done.
The preparation period was fraught with doubts about whether I could be fully prepared. The difficulty of communication was once again evident, and I was constantly reminded of my shortcomings.
The night before, I was up until 6 AM creating pamphlets, but I managed to get through the day fueled by adrenaline.
The beer and Miwako-chan’s food after the event were truly delicious.
My desire hasn’t changed much since hosting 29 Freestyle Session Parties last year. The concept may be hard to grasp for those not closely aligned with my sensibilities, and frankly, even some of the artists performing may not have understood what was going to happen until the day of the event.
The best way to understand is through direct experience.
That’s why this time, the theme was “Do everything Dan Mitchel can do” when planning the program.
It’s not that I’m trying to do something overly complex, it’s just hard to explain why.
There are indeed often difficult demands as a result…
In that sense, if this concept can spread thanks to the many truly lovable people who participated and were at the core of this, I would be very pleased.
For now, my mind is still somewhat blank, so I’ll leave it at that.