The Past: The duo known as PuffyAmiYumi consisting of Yumi Yoshimura and Ami Onuki. Two women who came out of nowhere in May of 1996 with their debut single titled "Asia no Junshin" (True Asia) and continued to dominate the Japanese music charts in the mid to late 90's with their unique style of music with songs such as "Kore ga Watashi no Ikiru Michi", "Circuit no Musume", "Nagisa ni Matsuwaru Et Cetera", "Mother" and much more. To add to their popularity was the duo's unique fashion style which consisted of used T-shirts, blue jeans, sneakers and puffy hair. This started a new fashion trend among young girls in Japan who weren't comfortable with the other Japanese entertainment inspired fad called the "Amura" (inspired by singer Namie Amuro) which consisted of mini skirts, died golden-brown hair and knee high go go boots.    

     The Present: While many Japanese groups, especially female groups, aren't featured in the limelight for a long period of time, PuffyAmiYumi has survived that challenge. Five years after their first CD single release, the duo has released over seven albums, over a dozen CD singles, several videos and a Sony Playstation videogame.   Although they no longer sport the fashion style they inspired when they first debuted, the girls continue to remain stylish in their own way. Their music style has gone through what would seem like an experimental stage with songs like "PUFFY de Rumba", "Sumire" and "Boogie Woogie No. 5" and their various styles of music continue to draw new fans. The duo's variety show "Pa Pa Pa Puffy" can be seen on TV Asahi in Japan along with a variety of their commercials. They have now released their first US album titled "SPIKE" under the Sony Music Imports label.

     There is no question that in the last decade PuffyAmiYumi has made an impact on the Japanese music industry.  Of course it helps when you have a veteran musician and composer such as Tamio Okuda (lead vocalist of the Japanese rock group, Unicorn) producing your album and a collaboration with many artists such as Pizzicato Five's Yasuharu Konishi and Andy Sturmer (Jellyfish, Beatnik Beatch).

     However, what made PuffyAmiYumi so popular is their non-conforming style. In many songs you can hear a little of the Beatles, the Who, Velvet Crush, Stray Cats, Electric Light Orchestra, Unicorn and other groups. With each song you get something new, from "Circuit no Musume" (Race Circuit Girls) which sounds like a song from a racing video game, "Nagisa ni Matsuwaru Et Cetera" (About Nagisa, Etc.) which uses a disco theme and "PUFFY de Rumba" which uses a rumba theme.

     When I last interviewed Ami and Yumi in February 2000 the girls were preparing for their first performance in the United States at the SXSW Music Festival in Texas for a special "Japan Not For Sale" performance featuring Sony Music Japan artists.  After their successful performance in Austin, the group had to change their name to “PuffyAmiYumi” in the US because of a cease and desist letter by Sean “Puffy” Combs lawyers for the use of the "Puffy" name.  

     Over the years, many fans have wondered if PuffyAmiYumi would release an album in the United States.  In May 2001, fans outside of Japan got their wish with the release of "SPIKE" which features thirteen Japanese. It also contains two bonus tracks, "Love So Pure" (an English version of the song "Sumire (Violet)") and a remix of their popular Japanese song "Circuit no Musume" by Pizzicato Five's Yasuharu Konishi.

     As I prepared for the second interview with Ami and Yumi, I wanted the interview to cover the Japanese entertainment side of PuffyAmiYumi with a non-Japanese perspective.  With the large Japanese entertainment fan base increasing throughout the world, it was important for me to show the duo that their popularity outside of Japan is not brand new but the fan support has existed since their debut in 1996.  

     I recently had the opportunity to interview the duo through coordination with Yuriko Inagaki of Sony Music Japan and with interpreters Tomoko Yamamoto and Mika Kawai.

DENNIS: What was your reaction when you found out that you would be releasing an album in the United States?
PuffyAmiYumi:  We are really grateful for this opportunity to be able to introduce our music and have people in the US listen to our music.

DENNIS:  I know Andy Sturmer (Jellyfish) has worked with your producer Tamio Okuda in the past.  How did it feel to work with Andy Sturmer and to sing an English song like "Love So Pure"?   PuffyAmiYumi:  We've worked with Andy several times and always enjoyed working with him.  It was our first time to try an English song ("Love So Pure") with Andy.   DENNIS: Was it difficult or was it easy for you to sing in English? PuffyAmiYumi:   It was really hard work, but we thought our efforts were rewarded when we listened to our finished outcome.

DENNIS:  You worked with Yasuharu Konishi for your bonus track "Circuit no Musume/The Readymade JBL Mix '99".  What was it like working with him?
AMI:  We didn't exactly work with him in a studio for this track because it is remix work, but Yumi has worked with him on her solo track "VACATION" a long time ago.  
YUMI:  He is a very intellectual person.

DENNIS:  Are both of you big fans of Pizzicato Five?
PuffyAmiYumi: We love their music because it's so cute and sweet.

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