When I met Jun, I was a bored 15 year old Italian kid attending a less-than-friendly private American high school in Brazil. I fantasized of greatness (like every kid) and was eager to discover my calling.
Jun was a regular Japanese kid... or so I thought. Shy, introverted, quiet... and irritatingly smart!

We were unaware of each other's existence.

So one day I'm riding the School bus home, and I decide to talk to the quiet Japanese kid sitting behind me. Expecting the usual thick accent, I wasn't planning on much of a conversation... but I figured I'd kill time and maybe learn a Japanese word or two.

This, in my mind, is the moment my life changed.

Jun had no accent... actually, I take that back. He had a British accent (6 years in England would do that to anyone!), and spoke English wonderfully. Our friendship beganat first with timid visits to each other's homes exploring the vast cultural differences, and then it developed into a strong bond that gave birth to the project that would forever change our lives... the IRA. But I'm getting ahead of myself... the IRA came later. First came the "tutoring". Jun was (is) an accomplished musician, and when I expressed an interest in the Art of guitar playing, he reassuringly said "you can do it... I'll teach you". Mind you, Jun was no guitar player, but music ran so deep in his veins that he could understand and apply his piano training to almost every instrument. Fortunately I had a classical guitar (left over from a frustrated attempt to learn years before), and that's where Jun taught me the first licks... the Beatles' "Day Tripper" and an obscure song by an even more obscure band... the Asphalt Pilots. Discouraging as it may seem, my absolute lack of coordination was no match for Jun's patiencealmost as if he could see the talent withinor maybe he was just a great guywho knows! Bottom line, the guy could play Mozart, but he stood by me as I struggled with the most idiotically simple songs... never giving up and continuously encouraging me.
Little by little, I fell in love with the whole "rock 'n roll" thing... and even though I still couldn't play a thing, I got ambitious. "Let's form a band!" I said, and Jun went along with it. So we talked to our friends and enlisted two more "desperados"... Andre' and Steve (bass and drums respectively).

At this point Jun had not one clueless musician wanna-be... not two... but three! I still wonder what motivated this guy, but somehow he managed to put his ego aside and devote himself to coaching an entire band ... from scratch!
Jun could have joined any band he wanted, but instead he went through years of frustration to try to make my dream a reality ... a rock 'n roll band!
Maybe that was his dream too... I don't know, I never asked him. Was it, Jun?
What followed is IRA history... a grueling rehearsal schedule and a variety of gigs, some brutal and some satisfying. But as well as some of the gigs went, I can't help but wonder how much more "glory" Jun could have enjoyed if he had chosen "real" musicians. The best IRA shows were still "barely decent", and I know he knew it. Yet for some reason, he stuck by me and kept "making it happen".

Sixteen years later, I have published music and written soundtracks for a variety of projects. People actually ask me to play with them, and I'm considered a talented musician/composer by my peers. There obviously was some talent in here, and I'm glad I found it. Music follows me, and thanks to it I'm never alone.

Things don't happen by chance, everything has a reason... and I was fortunate enough to meet Jun.
Unfortunately, Jun never got to play with Andrea the "good" musician (not yet!)... and he probably has no idea of the impact he had on me.
I don't know what he got out of me, but I got a lifetime of happiness from him. As I write this, Jun's wife is expecting a child.
All I can say is, "what a lucky child".

Jun, I hope you can get over your "chronic humbleness" and actually publish this (no editing!)on the IRA web site... people should know.

Speaking for all the IRA members, past and present... Thanks!

Your friend,

Andrea Luminati
IRA Lead Guitarist

P.S. Please forward any lawsuits or complaints regarding the IRA to Jun Honda. I think it's quite obvious whose fault it was :)