82-year-old Japanese dumpling maker turns into DJ at night

Record ID: 652881

  • Title: 82-year-old Japanese dumpling maker turns into DJ at night
  • Date: 11th April 2017
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) SUMIKO IWAMURO'S BROTHER, MASASHI IWAMURO, SAYING: "I have no talent in that field, so we just let her do what she wants to do." SIGN READING (Japanese/English) "GYOZASO MURO SINCE 1954" (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) SUMIKO IWAMURO, AKA DJ SUMIROCK, SAYING: "When I spin the tables, I just want to match the beat, choose the right music, but the best thing is
  • Embargoed: 25th April 2017 09:48
  • Keywords: Japan DJ Sumirock Tokyo club elderly music scene
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • City: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Music
  • Reuters ID: LVA0066BYFDJT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:EDIT CONTAINS PROFANE GESTURE
    Sumiko Iwamuro, whose moniker is DJ Sumirock, is a hit on the Tokyo club scene, spinning records for a crowd some 60 years younger than she is.
    At 82, DJ Sumirock, performs once a month in the heart of Tokyo's red-light district.
    She took up turning tables in her 70s, after spending a year learning the tricks of the trade at a DJ school.
    On the dance floor, she's gained the approval of many club-goers.
    "She's got this energy that goes beyond age, that can equal any young person's here. She's really cool," said 25-year old club-goer, Fuminari Fujii.
    Iwamuro says her music fuses techno with jazz, French chanson and sometimes classical music.
    Ever curious and never one to give up her dreams, she hopes to one day debut on the New York club scene.
    "When I spin the tables, I just want to match the beat, and choose the right music, but the best is if my audience are just enjoying themselves," Iwamuro said.
    In the meantime, she has a day job -- making gyozas, or dumplings, with her brother, Masashi. They have been doing so for over 60 years at the restaurant they inherited from their father.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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