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100 QuestionsShoxxBis - December 2003

1. Birthday
Ruki:
February 1st, 1982

Uruha:
June 9th

Aoi:
January 20th

Reita:
May 27th

Kai:
October 28th

2. Blood type
Ruki:
B

Uruha:
O

Aoi:
A

Reita:
A

Kai:
B

3. Hometown
Ruki:
Kanagawa

Uruha:
Kanagawa

Aoi:
Mie

Reita:
Kanagawa

Kai:
Tokushima

4. Height / Weight
Ruki:
I don't know. I'm not saying.

Uruha:
177cm, 62kg.

Aoi:
171cm, 55kg

Reita:
172 cm, 55kg

Kai:
172 cm, 55kg

5. Shoe size
Ruki:
25.5 cm

Uruha:
27.5 cm

Aoi:
26 cm

Reita:
26.0 cm

Kai:
26 cm

6. Family Structure
Ruki:
Me, mother, father, older brother, dog

Uruha:
Father, mother, 2 older sisters, 2 nephews

Aoi:
Father, Mmother, older sister, older brother, me

Reita:
Grandmother, mother, older sister

Kai:
mother, grandmother

7. What is your first memory?
Ruki:
Swinging around an Ultraman vinyl doll.

Uruha:
I often hid inside my mother's skirt.

Aoi:
The place where I ate snacks with my relatives.

Reita:
Falling from the shinkansen vehicle.

Kai:
Bumping my head to the corner of the shouji-screen.

8. What did you want to be as a child?
Ruki:
A fireman

Uruha:
A football player

Aoi:
A bike racer

Reita:
A soccer player

Kai:
A soccer player

9. Childhood nickname
Ruki:
Takachan

Uruha:
Shima (note: stripe? island?)

Aoi:
I didn't have one

Reita:
Uechan

Kai:
Yukkun

10. What was usually written on your report card?
Ruki:
¡°Cannot hold composure.¡±

Uruha:
¡°Do the best even at your worst subjects.¡±

Aoi:
¡°Because there are a lot of things you forget, take care not to forget these things.¡±

Reita:
¡°Does not have composure.¡±

Kai:
¡°An energetic and a good child.¡±

11. As a student, what was your music report?
Ruki:
2!

Uruha:
2 in 5th grade

Aoi:
4

Reita:
2 in 5th grade

Kai:
5

12. Strongest subject in school?
Ruki:
English and Japanese

Uruha:
Art

Aoi:
Home economics

Reita:
Japanese

Kai:
Mathematics

13. What clubs did you belong to in school?
Ruki:
Golf (there is a reason)

Uruha:
Soccer

Aoi:
Baseball

Reita:
Soccer

Kai:
Soccer

14. What kind of person do people frequently say you are?
Ruki:
Nervous

Uruha:
At my own pace

Aoi:
They don't discuss it much¡¡

Reita:
Kind, restless

Kai:
Interesting person

15. What kind of animal do you compare yourself with?
Ruki:
Is it a dog? I'll shake my tail for you.

Uruha:
A duck or a dog

Aoi:
People have said that I'm like a fox.

Reita:
Cheetah

Kai:
Monkey

16. Strong point and weak point
Ruki:
Too many

Uruha:
Both at my own pace

Aoi:
Strong point: looking after, helping / Weak point: getting sulky

Reita:
Strong point: gentle / Weak point: stubbornness

Kai:
Strong point: Being positive / Weak Point: Forgetting things

17. Something you don't want to lose to
Ruki:
Everything in regards to that feeling

Uruha:
Street Fighter II

Aoi:
A live

Reita:
Face wrapping

Kai:
A bullying character

18. What do you notice about someone when meeting them for a first time?
Ruki:
Face

Uruha:
Mind/Heart

Aoi:
Face and clothes

Reita:
Whole figure

Kai:
Mouth

19. Who/what is your rival?
Ruki:
Remarkable person

Uruha:
Myself

Aoi:
My father

Reita:
All the other band-members

Kai:
Reita

20. Do you have a hero?
Ruki:
Kewpie

Uruha:
Ultraman. Baltan alien (from Ultraman)

Aoi:
My parents

Reita:
Takanori Hatakeyama (Japanese boxer)

Kai:
My mother

21. Pick-up line
Ruki:
I like you a lot! Kehe.

Uruha:
I like you!

Aoi:
I like you!

Reita:
Since I like you a lot, will you go out with me?

Kai:
Stick with me! (*laugh*)

22. If you could be another member for one day, who would you choose? And why?
Ruki:
No one.

Uruha:
Kai, so that I could make bentou (box lunch) for everybody.

Aoi:
Me. It's good being me.

Reita:
Aoi, because he can speak 3 dialects.

Kai:
Ruki, I want to mess up his room.

23. Habit?
Ruki:
When I don't realize that inside I am smiling bitterly

Uruha:
Looking at people's faces and grinning

Aoi:
Playing with my sideburns

Reita:
Hitting the drum

Kai:
Using make-up

24. Favorite phrase
Ruki:
Did you lose it? Hahaa?

Uruha:
Eh? You¡¯re being serious?

Aoi:
No.

Reita:
BTW¡­ (note: I couldn¡¯t translate the rest of the sentence)

Kai:
Ha! What's this! I wonder what it is¡­

25. Interests at the moment
Ruki:
Collecting hats, turning my room into a zakkaya (a shop)

Uruha:
Playstation 2

Aoi:
Shopping anywhere, and a lot

Reita:
Collecting Sex Pistols-items

Kai:
Kopan (a pastry)

26. Something you¡¯re known for among the members
Ruki:
Winning Eleven (A Soccer-game for PS2)

Uruha:
Teasing Kai

Aoi:
Winning Eleven

Reita:
Winning Eleven

Kai:
Food

27. Favorite color
Ruki:
Black, shocking pink

Uruha:
Silver

Aoi:
Black, white

Reita:
Red, white, purple

Kai:
Black, red, white, gold, silver

28. Cigarette brand
Ruki:
Salem Pianissimo, Marlboro Menthol Light

Uruha:
Marlboro Menthol Light

Aoi:
Marlboro Menthol

Reita:
Mild Seven Light

Kai:
Marlboro Reds Box

29. Favorite clothing brand
Ruki:
shocker, THE GAMBLERS, (Pink Dora)

Uruha:
PPFM

Aoi:
Froid Tideur, Ozone

Reita:
Back Street Crawler, Ozone Rocks

Kai:
I don't have one

30. What cologne are you wearing now?
Ruki:
CK-One

Uruha:
I don't really know (souvenir from America)

Aoi:
Anything for men by Davidoff

Reita:
Bvlgari Pour Homme

Kai:
Jaguar

31. Things you are collecting?
Ruki:
Hats, patterned shirts

Uruha:
Accessories

Aoi:
Sunglasses, cologne, clothing, accessories

Reita:
Everything that has something to do with Sex Pistols, like DVDs

Kai:
Zippos

32. Things you like to eat
Ruki:
Spaghetti

Uruha:
Origin bentou's mentai kurokke bentou

Aoi:
Things made with love

Reita:
Kit Kat, tarakosupa (some sort of noodle-dish)

Kai:
Bananas, Kopan (a biscuit), nattou (fermented soybeans), mayonnaise (note: nattou is said to be the most horrible food in the world. Oh well¡­ ^^

33. Foods you dislike
Ruki:
Peppers, strawberries

Uruha:
Olives

Aoi:
Nothing

Reita:
Vegetables, mushrooms, shellfish, Kai's cooking (note: aww ;_

Kai:
Eggplant, taro root

34. Cooking specialty
Ruki:
Spaghetti

Uruha:
Taco rice

Aoi:
Boiled rice

Reita:
I cannot cook!!

Kai:
Doria (baked rice, vegetable and cheese sauce casserole), omelette rice, pasta

35. What items do you have always in your refrigerator?
Ruki:
?

Uruha:
Cola

Aoi:
I don't have a refrigerator

Reita:
Mugicha (barley tea), pudding

Kai:
Mayonnaise

36. Favorite book
Ruki:
WORST
Uruha:
Silver Accessory Magazines

Aoi:
Guitar books to increase knowledge

Reita:
Kewpie

Kai:
Hunter X Hunter, One Piece

37. A movie that impressed you?
Ruki:
From the north country

Uruha:
The Pianist

Aoi:
Some movie about New York

Reita:
John Q

Kai:
I am Sam

38. Drama by which you were deeply moved?
Ruki:
Hakusen Nagashi

Uruha:
Furikaereba yatsu ga iru (old, from 1993)

Aoi:
I haven't seen any

Reita:
Tokyo Love Story

Kai:
101 kaime no puropozu (101 Proposals)

39. Favorite season and why?
Ruki:
Winter, because then I can make songs

Uruha:
Spring! It's toasty warm...

Aoi:
Winter

Reita:
Spring, since it's easy to spend time in the climate

Kai:
Winter, because I like Christmas

40. Every day necessities
Ruki:
Cigarettes, cell phone

Uruha:
Clothes

Aoi:
Sunglasses, cologne

Reita:
Vitamin pills

Kai:
Carrying...... mayonnaise?

41. What do you wear when sleeping?
Ruki:
Soccer uniform

Uruha:
T-shirt and boxers

Aoi:
T-shirt and Jersey pants

Reita:
Underwear

Kai:
Naked, when no one¡¯s around

42. What kind of driver¡¯s license do you have?
Ruki:
Motorcycle

Uruha:
Standard driver¡¯s licence

Aoi:
Medium-sized automatic 2-wheeler, general automobile

Reita:
General licence

Kai:
None

43. Up until now, the most expensive item purchased
Ruki:
I can't remember

Uruha:
Guitar

Aoi:
Motorcycle

Reita:
Car

Kai:
Computer

44. If you weren¡¯t a musician, what would you most likely be?
Ruki:
Clothing shop-clerk or helping at a general store

Uruha:
Gamer

Aoi:
Carpenter

Reita:
Candy maker

Kai:
Working at a restaurant

45. If you won the lottery, what would you do?
Ruki:
Shop till I drop.

Uruha:
Clone myself! Uruha number 2.

Aoi:
Buy a Mac and turn my house into a studio

Reita:
Return money to my parents, after that buy equipment.

Kai:
Save it

46. Until now, what is the biggest practical joke you done?
Ruki:
Shoplifting

Uruha:
In elementary school, I snuck into a fishing shop early in the morning.

Aoi:
I gave my friend a "kancho" and it made me excited. (note: Kanch¨­ is a game or trick often played in Japan by young school-aged children; it is performed by clasping the hands together so the index fingers are pointing out and attempting to insert them into someone's anal region when the victim is not looking. ^^;

Reita:
I threw trash under Ruki's bed.

Kai:
I lied about my birthday.

47. Stage drink?
Ruki:
Pocari

Uruha:
Sport drink

Aoi:
Water

Reita:
Some kind of sport drink

Kai:
--

48. What is your most frightening memory?
Ruki:
Spirit video. Curse video.

Uruha:
Being chased by the Yakuza (Japanese mafia)

Aoi:
The time I photographed at hospital ruins

Reita:
Watching a curse video

Kai:
Being frozen by fear

49. Favorite motto/saying?
Ruki:
---

Uruha:
In order to change, change

Aoi:
Believe in yourself

Reita:
If you try hard, you can do it

Kai:
Killing two birds with one stone

50. Something others say that makes you happy?
Ruki:
"You're a good guy..."

Uruha:
¡°If you can accept me, I am happy¡±

Aoi:
¡°Nice guitar playing¡±

Reita:
¡°He's wonderful, isn't he?¡±

Kai:
¡°You're the best!¡±

51. Experiences or things that made you emotional?
Ruki:
Singing Okuribi sometimes I fills me with joy

Uruha:
At the one man live where everyone joined hands and jumped

Aoi:
When everyone sang "Wakaremichi" at the live

Reita:
The first time I saw myself in a book

Kai:
When I was hospitalized, I received 1000 cranes!

52. Type of woman you like?
Ruki:
Cute child. Cute child. (note: Ruki has a habit to call people ¡°ko¡± which means child, so he¡¯s not necessarily meaning a child here.)

Uruha:
Person who holds me perfectly.

Aoi:
A person to laugh with

Reita:
Someone to settle down with together, devoted, giving, kind , ladylike woman.

Kai:
Short cut, black hair, interesting person

53. Type of woman you dislike
Ruki:
That one. Worthless person

Uruha:
Selfish

Aoi:
Person who cools down quite a bit

Reita:
Bad person who uses vulgar language

Kai:
A girl wearing too much decoration

54. Treasured item?
Ruki:
Band. Fans.

Uruha:
My guitar.

Aoi:
Band members and fans.

Reita:
Fans

Kai:
Band members

55. Your current worry
Ruki:
My sofa is broken.

Uruha:
I am trying not to worry.

Aoi:
Making noise

Reita:
I am trying not to have any worries

Kai:
None

56. Time when you feel happy
Ruki:
Feeling the winter breeze is a good feeling.

Uruha:
When I am in love.

Aoi:
Making music

Reita:
When I hear music, at lives

Kai:
At lives

57. Number one place to relax
Ruki:
Room

Uruha:
Countryside

Aoi:
Stage

Reita:
My own home

Kai:
My own room

58. Place you dislike
Ruki:
Tour bus

Uruha:
City people's trash

Aoi:
A place where ghosts get out

Reita:
Appearing in public

Kai:
Place with a lot of people

59. Number one place in Japan you want to go
Ruki:
Local area

Uruha:
Sense forest area, sea of trees

Aoi:
Top of the scene

Reita:
Yamaguchi-prefecture

Kai:
Okinawa

60. Number one foreign location you would like to go?
Ruki:
London Nights

Uruha:
New York

Aoi:
Singapore

Reita:
France, Italy

Kai:
France

61. Right now, the person you want to meet most
Ruki:
Dog that passed away

Uruha:
Bob Sapp (comedian/pro wrestler)

Aoi:
Friends (note: I think he means his hometown-friends.)

Reita:
My deceased grandfather

Kai:
First love

62. If you could change, would you be born as a man or woman?
Ruki:
Man!

Uruha:
Man! Because I am not disliking being a man

Aoi:
Man! It's fun being a man after all

Reita:
Man is good. Because it seems womanly relations are slushy

Kai:
Man! I want to be in a band again (note: and women can¡¯t be? ^_^

63. If you were given 3 wishes, what would you ask for?
Ruki:
Give me money, give me love, fulfill my dream.

Uruha:
I want to make my parents happy. I want to see the northern lights. I want Doraemon's pocket.

Aoi:
Give me a Mac! I want to enjoy the current time more! Make everyone happy!

Reita:
I want a laptop. I want everyone to know about Gazette. I want to like vegetables.

Kai:
Money, I want a "dokodemo doa". I want to return to the past

64. Worst mistake of your life?
Ruki:
Causing trouble for my parents

Uruha:
License photograph (note: xD)

Aoi:
Wasting time

Reita:
Taking out a lot of loans.

Kai:
I don't have any...

65. Out of the dreams you've had, what is the strangest?
Ruki:
I was almost killed by a cat.

Uruha:
Been shot (many times).

Aoi:
I had a dream that at the Nagoya port 4 corpses floated up! On top of that the corpses were laughing.

Reita:
I was the vocalist... I sang with Ruki in a twin vocal... it was fun...

Kai:
The dream where Reita was my mother (note: awww)

66. Something you were happy to receive?
Ruki:
A wallet

Uruha:
Accessories, clothes

Aoi:
Clothes

Reita:
Letter, cigarettes, (joint) letter I received for my birthday

Kai:
Clothes, Zippo, accessories

67. What kind of part time jobs have you done?
Ruki:
Denny's, Royal Host

Uruha:
Vegetable store

Aoi:
Convenience store and a Wedding Hall

Reita:
Bread shop, Sweets shop

Kai:
Restaurant, cleaning

68. What has been on your mind recently?
Ruki:
What's left of my room¡­

Uruha:
North Korea

Aoi:
Gazette from hereafter

Reita:
How long I will bandage my face.

Kai:
The lack of Reita's nose. (note: okay, he has a nose, so don¡¯t believe Kai. ^^

69. How do you spend your days off?
Ruki:
In my room doing nothing

Uruha:
Idling

Aoi:
Casually playing the guitar

Reita:
It's great just to sleep... after that play games and such

Kai:
Watch videos, making songs

70. Person whom you respect
Ruki:
Parents

Uruha:
Sugizo-san

Aoi:
Parents

Reita:
Takanori Hatakeyama (Japanese boxer)

Kai:
Mother

71. Artist you like right now
Ruki:
King Giddra

Uruha:
King Giddra

Aoi:
No one especially

Reita:
Rappa Gariya

Kai:
Dir en grey, Hi-STANDARD

72. Your favorite CD right now
Ruki:
Right now DJ Krash - Mirai

Uruha:
Saishuuheiki

Aoi:
Ayumi Hamasaki - I am

Reita:
Gazette of course...

Kai:
Marilyn Manson

73. Artist who has influenced you
Ruki:
LUNA SEA

Uruha:
LUNA SEA

Aoi:
Quite many

Reita:
LUNA SEA

Kai:
LUNA SEA

74. Artist you would like to have a session with?
Ruki:
Collie (note: I¡¯m not sure about this. If somebody knows what it is, feel free to send me the correct option.)
Uruha:
Sugizo-san

Aoi:
Metallica

Reita:
Gracious (note: again, not sure about this¡­)

Kai:
Gackt

75. First record/CD purchased
Ruki:
m.c.A.T's "Bomb A Head"

Uruha:
B'z ¨C Risky

Aoi:
Odoru ponpokorin

Reita:
Checker's The Broken Hearted Lullaby

Kai:
Lindberg's "Motto aishi aimashou"

76. First live you went to
Ruki:
X Japan

Uruha:
Friend's live

Aoi:
I went to see an event at Mie (note: not sure about the place)

Reita:
Hiroshi Itsuki-san

Kai:
SMAP! (*laugh*)

77. Live you want to go to right now
Ruki:
none

Uruha:
Gazette, because I can't watch

Aoi:
Metallica's tour in November

Reita:
Mad Capsule Markets

Kai:
Marilyn Manson's live

78. Song you copied in the beginning?
Ruki:
Sex Pistols - Bodies

Uruha:
Luna Sea - In My Dream

Aoi:
X - Kurenai

Reita:
LUNA SEA - Precious

Kai:
Luna Sea - Jesus

79. Describe first time you played in front of an audience?
Ruki:
3rd year of middle school, at a camp

Uruha:
3rd year middle school Bunkasai

Aoi:
Around middle school in the local gym

Reita:
In my 2nd year of high school on Oct. 28th at a local livehouse

Kai:
1st year of middle school at my mom's piano recital

80. Live show that left an impression? When? Where? Why?
Ruki:
None yet. In the future.

Uruha:
Area One-Man! It was fun.

Aoi:
September 6 Gazette Area One-Man. Until then I hadn't done any lives that left an impression.

Reita:
Area One-Man! It was the first time I saw just Gazette fans.

Kai:
July 22 Cheetah. It was my first live after getting out from the hospital.

81. Which of your songs suits you most?
Ruki:
Okuribi. Ito. Juunana Sai. I think those were good.

Uruha:
Okuribi

Aoi:
Wakaremichi

Reita:
Ito

Kai:
Haru ni chirikeri, mi wa kareru de gozaimasu

82. Where would you like to play live?
Ruki:
AREA

Uruha:
AREA

Aoi:
Takadanobaba Area

Reita:
AREA

Kai:
Urawa Narciss

83. To what do you pay attention in the sound?
Ruki:
Don't go off key. Put feeling into it.

Uruha:
When the sounds of five people are layered, is everything blended well.

Aoi:
The best environment for creativity

Reita:
The drums

Kai:
The rhythm

84. What do you enjoy on tour?
Ruki:
District laws

Uruha:
Meeting Gazette fans from all over the country

Aoi:
Meeting fans from all over the country

Reita:
Food. Then the impressions of fans from various places.

Kai:
Conversation inside the tour bus

85. On tour, what is worst?
Ruki:
District laws

Uruha:
Almost becoming homesick

Aoi:
Travelling around

Reita:
Not enough time to sleep. Driving.

Kai:
Being sleepy

86. On tour, what needs do you pay attention to?
Ruki:
Local food. It doesn't mess up your stomach I think...

Uruha:
Not having accidents

Aoi:
Management of equipment

Reita:
Always all my power!!

Kai:
Even if every place seems to be the same, having a great live-performance

87. What do you do before a live?
Ruki:
Smoke a cigarette

Uruha:
Warm-up exercises, stretch

Aoi:
Convince myself "Ore, Saikou!" (I am the best!)

Reita:
Stretch

Kai:
Take a deep breath

88. What do you do after a live?
Ruki:
Smoke a cigarette

Uruha:
Drink cola, get a smoke

Aoi:
Mouthwash

Reita:
Guzzle drinks

Kai:
Smoke a cigarette

89. How do you relieve stress?
Ruki:
Smoke

Uruha:
Playstation

Aoi:
Games

Reita:
Knock out in the car

Kai:
Games

90. Your superstition?
Ruki:
None

Uruha:
The more modest a person, the more people will be drawn to that person. ¡¡

Aoi:
Because I believe in myself, nothing in particular

Reita:
I only believe in myself

Kai:
None

91. What is your musical point you do better than anything else?
Ruki:
Show my will

Uruha:
Expressing emotions

Aoi:
Steady effort

Reita:
How can I express that myself?

Kai:
Being pleasant

92. Something fun the band does?
Ruki:
The band is fun.

Uruha:
Not having a destination point.

Aoi:
Doing music

Reita:
Everything is fun

Kai:
Live shows

93. What things are tough when being in a band?
Ruki:
There is nothing.

Uruha:
If you advance towards the goal and reach it, you still feel it¡¯s moving away.

Aoi:
Because of living time of the day, it's disconnected

Reita:
Life is disordered

Kai:
None

94. Personal success?
Ruki:
When I reach my limit....... thinking about it.

Uruha:
Burning out things I like! Persisting until the end

Aoi:
Time when I was able to accept people all around me

Reita:
Satisfaction with myself

Kai:
Time when I am able to shine

95. Message to yourself now
Ruki:
Do your best!! If you do the best, you will be ok!

Uruha:
You are still the baby bird who wears a shell...

Aoi:
Only you can do it!

Reita:
Can't you try harder?

Kai:
Try harder!

96. What would you say to yourself 10 years from now?
Ruki:
You have grown haven't you?

Uruha:
---

Aoi:
Remember the old days!

Reita:
How are you? Are you doing music?

Kai:
---Are various meanings all right? (*laugh*)

97. Message to each member
Ruki:
Uruha, Reita, Aoi, Kai : Let's all (of you) become happy.

Uruha:
Ruki: You believe and we follow.
Reita: Thank you always.
Aoi: Together let's do our best.
Kai: Nice mood maker!

Aoi:
To all members: When there are five people it's ok! Only then we can do it!

Reita:
Ruki: I'm always staying over, sorry
Aoi: Aki ga koyanshi
Uruha: Onibaku "demon bomber"
Kai: Bentoman

Kai:
Ruki: Clothes please!
Uruha: Stop telling lies! (*laugh*)
Aoi: Let me borrow game software
Reita: Let's still be friends!

98. Outlook from here on?
Ruki:
Take the whole country...

Uruha:
Secret 3

Aoi:
--- I'm unable to say here!

Reita:
Let's grow with force!!

Kai:
Making Gazette live in history.

99. Message to your fans
Ruki:
Look and see sent from heaven... Thank you

Uruha:
Whenever, forever, believe and come along!

Aoi:
Thanks for always supporting us!

Reita:
Follow us

Kai:
Isn't Gazette the best!?

100. What does Gazette mean to you?
Ruki:
Dream.

Uruha:
We constructed life's rails with our will¡¡

Aoi:
The best partner

Reita:
Youth.

Kai:
Life!!

Uruha dainuoja Linda Linda xDDD

http://www.mediafire.com/?gt2xufplj4c

musiQ vol.13 Aoi Interview


Theme Interview - 1
"Friendship"

- Are you the type of person who has a lot of friends?
No, I don't think I am.

- Has it always been that way?
Not exactly. I think when I was in school everyone was friends with each other. So basically I just stayed with the crowd. There were three middle schools in my town, but the grade you were in didn't matter, and for the most part neither did the school you went to. Everyone had known each other since they were little, so we all called each other by our first names instead of last names.

- Do you keep in contact with your old school friends now?
There are some that I keep in touch with, but everyone left Mie and are all spread out, so I've lost track of where some live.

- What is your definition of a friend?
A friend is someone who you don't have to be careful around. I always watch and think about what I say, so if I could just be like, "You hungry? I'm gonna go get some food." kinda thing. I think a friend isn't someone you say "Let's be friends" to, but someone who you all of a sudden realize has always been there.

- So are the other members different from friends, then?
A little different. There are times when I'm careful around them, when things are hard to say, and times I wonder what they're thinking. And I don't go "Hey, hey!" kinda thing. I started thinking that maybe if you can talk to someone too easily about anything, it might start affecting our work....Also, I'm too embarrassed to talk with them about a lot of things.

- Then, do you have any friends living close by?
I don't think there's anyone living in Tokyo that I can say is a true friend.

- Isn't that lonely?
It is lonely. But I don't leave my house that often, either. And I can't go out to eat alone. Even during tours I just go to the convenience store....I meet up with my friends whenever I go back to Mie, because when I go back there I want to go out to a bunch of different places. I don't like crowds, and since I am from the country it's hard to get used to Tokyo.


Theme Interview - 2
"Love"

- What are you like when you're in love?
I'm always careful (laugh)

- I think that men and women are careful about different things, so what are you careful about?
Everything (laugh)

- So, are you really kind?
I just get tired. I really don't like doing anything. I love just lazing around the most.

- So do you like girls who aren't that careful?
No? Because I'm careful around everyone. Though I don't know how it would be after being together for 10 or 20 years.

- Are you careful about saying personal things like, "You don't look so well"?
Ahh, I would say that. So much that it would get annoying (laugh)

- Would you like it if a girl payed a lot of attention to you?
Not really. I would want her to hold back on the "Ne, ne!" sort of thing (laugh). In a way I would want a kind of distance, I wouldn't want her to always be concerned about me. Like, to live using her own strength (laugh).

- So an independent girl, then?
Yes. That would be the most comfortable. So not someone who doesn't have a job (laugh).

- Or a part-time job?
I would want her to have a job four days a week (laugh). Since there'd be a lot of times when I'm not there, being together all the time would get tiring. I think someone who is independent, would give me space and have her own opinions about things would be perfect.

- Then, even if she was really strong-willed?
That's perfectly OK. Though always wanting to fight would get annoying (laugh).

- So someone who works a lot?
Well, if it was six days a week that would be hard. Wouldn't it be lonely to never be able to see each other?

- (laugh) You're difficult, huh?
I'm waiting for that person (laugh)


Theme Interview - 3
"Family"

- Please tell us who is in your family.
My father, mother, older sister, older brother, and me.

- Are the ages between you and your siblings very far apart?
They are. My sister is nine years and my brother is six years older.

- What makes you like being the youngest?
I don't really know myself, but it seems like even if my dad gets mad at my brother and sister, he doesn't get very mad at me (laugh). He told me, "At least go to high school.", and I did go, but even when I quit after one term, he didn't say anything to me.

- So you grew up in a loving environment?
I guess so, yes. Because our ages are different, when I entered middle school my sister was already out of the house and my brother had also started living on his own. My dad had gotten a job transfer, so he only came home on the weekends. So it was always just my mother and I.

- Are you closer to your mother, then?
Ahh, I'm not sure about that. I like both my parents.

- Do you think you're a good son?
No, I still don't think I completely am (laugh)

- Do you call them every once in a while?
I do. When our final live was in Tokyo I stayed with them.

- Isn't that being a good son?
Well, whenever I go home there's more food, so I'm like "Yes!" (laugh)

- Does your mom read the magazines you're in?
She does. Our home has gotten pretty amazing. When you walk in it's Gazette. There's posters on the walls, and signatures.

- Then, say something to your mother here.
Mom, thanks for everything (laugh)

----------------------------------


- In what way do you think the fans see you?
Eh? Well, I think I'm different than how they picture me. They think I'm really serious....

- Too serious?
Yes, yes. They might have the image that when I'm making music I don't move from my PC. That's not true (laugh).

- That's different from reality?
Totally different (laugh). It's probably because I never talk about anything else during interviews. It seems like I'm always making songs.

- So, actually?
I am in front of the computer a lot, but I take a break about once every hour (laugh). I have bad concentration. I work really hard for a while, then it's time to drink coffee or something.

- I understand. You want to rest as soon as possible.
When you're resting all the time, the day goes by fast (laugh). And I can't get anything done unless it's right before the deadline. That hasn't changed from when I had to do homework over the summer.

- So you were really rushed around the 30th or 31st of August, huh?
Yes, I was. I'm always saying how I stay up all night a lot, but it's always because of that last stretch. I'm in the middle of making songs now, but I can't get the engine running. So I'll just think about it for a while.

- Really?
All I do is space out while watching TV, though (laugh). I can't do anything unless the image I have has taken shape. I hate trying to make something without thinking, when it isn't consistent. It really irritates me if even one part doesn't sound good.

- That might go along with that serious image. Do you have a way of relaxing at home?
Whenever I'm not at my computer (laugh). Before I had my living area as a working space, but when I turned around I could see the bath, so there would always be that temptation. So now I have all of my equipment in the most boring looking room next to the entrance.

- The bath is a temptation?
Baths are the best. Isn't it refreshing? I like that, but most of the time after a bath I drink down a beer. Then the only thing to do is sleep. But, a lot of my songs get started while I'm taking a bath.

- That must be a great place, then.
It is, but there are dangers to it, so it's a double-edged sword. Though it is while I'm taking a bath that I'm the most high-spirited.

- High-spirited...
My brain is, anyway. It's not like I'm dancing in the bathtub. I just replay really exciting lives in my head. Of course starting with the new songs.

- I see. So you have that listlesness and a unique feeling that past rock musicians had, huh?
I'm half-hearted? (laugh)

- No, no, not like that. For instance, how you learned guitar from your brother.
Yes, I did. When my brother was at his most rebellious in high school, he played guitar in a band. It seemed fun, and I wanted to join in, but I was chased out (laugh). In return, he gave me a guitar and a book of chords and lyrics and was like "Here, I'll lend you these so practice downstairs" (laugh). Then I started practicing in about middle school.

- What kind of songs did you practice?
I practiced chords of X [Japan]. But it was a classic guitar, so it wasn't rock at all (laugh). Then when my brother graduated high school I asked him for a guitar, and even though it was my first electric guitar, it was broken.

- It wouldn't play when you plugged in into an amp?
I had my dad take me to get a small amp. I bought it with the money I had saved from New Year's gifts. When I brought it home and it wouldn't play, I just started crying.

- (laugh) You were shocked
But from the end of elementary school to my third year of middle school I had a newspaper delivery route, so I bought my own electric guitar in middle school. I was like, "This is the best!", and I was so into it I would even sleep holding the guitar. But I was so busy during that time, I would wake up, deliver papers, go to school, and since I was in the baseball club I would go to that after school, then at night play the guitar, then go to sleep. So I didn't have time to do homework.

- You just didn't have the energy, huh.
No, I didn't. Kids are busy (laugh). But after I quit high school I didn't play the guitar. I wanted to become a pro, but my brother told me that reality was hard, so my dream was sort of broken. Actually, my brother really loved music, but he ended up just getting a normal job, so I thought that was just how it went.

- You thought you'd take a different route, then?
After being lazy for a while, the brother of the girl I was going out with was a surfer.

- (laugh) Another brother, huh.
Yes. I can't do anything without other people's help (laugh). Then, when I tried it I thought it was really fun. Most of the time when you first get on the board you can't stand on it, but I was able to stand up from the start, so I thought I had the talent for it.

- Like, "Okay, I'm going to be a pro surfer!"
I did aim for that. The thought of being a pro just sounded really cool. Baseball players, too.

- Did you want a job where you could be in the spotlight?
Kind of like that (laugh). Then, I entered in a surfing contest. So the first magazine I was ever in was a surfing magazine (laugh).

- About how long did you do that?
Maybe two or three years. At that time I had plenty of physical strength, so I would go to the beach in the morning, take a nap in the afternoon, go back to the beach in the evening, then go to work at night.

- Busy as always.
I was busy. I was living like that, but one day when I was watching TV in the middle of the night, there was an indies band on. I thought, "I could be better than them", then while mistakenly thinking that sort of thing I was eventually like, "I'm going to Tokyo". (laugh)

- But you weren't in a band, right?
No. I figured if I went to Tokyo, something would happen. I went and told my parents that day. But I couldn't quit work that fast, so I worked for about a month, then was like, "See you". During that month I practiced the guitar as much as I could.

- Pretty reckless, huh?
It was reckless. Even I thought I was being stupid (laugh). Like, "Don't get the wrong idea".

- No, but that's important.
It's fine now that it's turned out like this, but if it hadn't then I'd just be an idiot (laugh). I did get to Tokyo, but I had no money or a place to stay. I was thinking that I'd just get another paper route and live at their place, but someone I knew asked if I wanted to be introduced to their sister and her husband living in Tokyo. I was like, "You don't even have to ask" (laugh). Then I was able to find a job, and while I was doing that I formed a band, and it was with the former drummer of Gazette.

- That kind of seems like a rock musician sort of lifestyle.
Well, when I think about it now the parents who let that sort of kid go to Tokyo rocked the most (laugh). They gave me money for a ticket back home, but they probably thought I would come home pretty soon. Then after 7 or 8 years, I'm where I am now (laugh).

- So what does the brother who taught you to play guitar think about you being in a successful band?
He didn't say anything at first. But his wife showed me some videos she secretly took, and he's been copying Gazette's songs (laugh).

- (laugh) The places have been switched.
And he's really good. He might be a little better than me (laugh).

- Hahaha. So, what do you think the members think of you?
I wonder. I don't really want to ask, and part of me doesn't want to know. I don't want them to think of me badly.

- (laugh) But you're always careful, so don't you think about that kind of thing?
I often do (laugh). For some reason, Uruha has been kind of distant to me lately. I don't know if it's because I'm older or because we both play guitar or what. Of course, when we're working we talk a lot. But normally we don't. That sort of bothers me (laugh).

- A strange feeling of distance?
Yes, does it have to do with our group photos? (laugh). But I guess he's within reachable distance. Before, we would often share the same hotel room, so we would have conversations like, "How do you want this to sound?" kind of thing. But now we stay in different rooms, and I don't talk to him as much as to everyone else. I'm lonely (laugh).

- Why can't you just talk to him?
There's nothing to talk about (laugh). And he always looks like he's having fun talking with everyone else. I'm thinking, "That's not fair" (laugh). A while ago, even though I was embarrassed I called him and asked how to work the digital cable. Then he was like, "You should just ask the electrician." (laugh)

- You look embarrassed
I'm not gay or anything (laugh).

- (laugh) I didn't ask that.
Well anyway, the person in Gazette who is on my mind the most is probably Uruha.

- But when you're talking you seem kind of shy. Like you don't want to be taken too seriously.
Shy has a good ring to it (laugh). I think all the members get embarrassed easily. When we're working we'll share opinions, get angry, and say whatever we want, but other than that we can't even say, "Let's go get some dinner". Wouldn't it be a shock if they refused? (laugh). So I invite the manager a lot, but when he refuses it makes me mad (laugh). Like, "You don't have the right to refuse" (laugh). But I really do want to go get dinner and talk with everyone. So I guess I'm just embarrassed?

- Then you end up on your own?
Yeah. I actually might not like being alone so much. Maybe it's just that it always ends up that way (laugh). Am I lonely?! I guess when this magazine comes out I'll buy it at the bookstore and secretly deliver it to the members' houses (laugh).

- (laugh) Got it. Lastly, Gazette is in the middle of working on something new, right?
We're completely focusing on it. Our last single, "Guren", was made while we were on tour, but this time we're in an environment that we can concentrate in, and some powerful songs are coming along. Not as far as the melody goes, though.

- Is the power you recieved from the tour reflecting in the songs?
There is that, but right now the band is in a really aggressive mode. We're getting sharp, and if you're not careful we might knock you off your feet, kinda thing. Like, it might not be a good idea to underestimate us. We're all heated up at the moment. So if this turns out to be a complete ballad, I'm sorry (laugh).

- Hahahaha
But I'm really looking forward to it. We're putting all of our energy into making this. Because of that everyone is getting stoic, and when we clash in the studio, it might get intense. Anyway, I plan on going at it with intensity.

- Even though you're normally careful
I can't be careful like that when we're making things. I think when it comes to music, once you give in it's over.

- So you also get a lot of feedback about the songs and phrases you come up with?
When I'm making something basic I'll take in opinions, but when I've advanced past that I present it like, "This song is like this, with this kind of feeling." Though especially with Uruha I get nervous. So if he tells me "This is pretty good", I'll do a little "Yes!" pose in my heart (laugh).

- And you also have a live on August 23rd at Fujikyu Highland Conifer Forest
That's right. Since it's our first outdoor live in two years, we want to make it like a festival. Because last time at Tokyo Big Sight we had fireworks and food stands up. This time at Fujikyu we're going to have a live with different scenery and we're looking forward to it, so you guys are too, right? Like that.

- Then, I think you should hurry and finish your homework.
I guess so. If I don't keep doing it until the 30th, I won't be able to do it because of the effects of the live (laugh).


----------------------------------


The interviewer's review:
Aoi-kun from Gazette's first solo interview. He describes himself as someone who is careful of what he says and does, and just like that he answered the questions looking embarrassed, but made me laugh and was very aware of the atmosphere around him. Though even so, he didn't really have a guy next door sort of feeling, and I was impressed that his aura of a unique and glamorous rock musician never faded. I knew that when it comes to music Gazette can have some intense debates, but I was suprised to hear that when they're just talking normally they can't even say "Do you want to go get some dinner?" (laugh). And was the shy guitarist's message (request?) to the members explained in this interview received!?

Yamamoto Hiroko

Neo genesis 32 - Ruki Interview

All of the three songs recorded along with the new single are eventually written by Ruki. Within these three songs he was searching for an ideal shape. With [Distress and Coma] he is, after a long time, expressing a certain gentleness, which makes the heart sway. Also the gap between this and his miserable episode of Valentine’s Day, when he was in first grade of middle school couldn’t be more [aggressive] (?!) and should be emphasized here.

- Let’s start with the title song, which would be [Distress and Coma].

[Actually I wrote this as a coupling song for [LEECH]. Out of the feeling I really would have liked it to be the lead song from among the three songs. However, I couldn’t get this plan through with it. There was a tossing between [Let’s take it as the new single] and [NO, I want this as a coupling song!] In the end it became the new single. (laughs)]

- As a song from the emotional heavy rock genre, it is in its very own way a very beautiful song.

[At the very beginning, there was simply this melody floating about. I created it from there. Honestly, I wanted it to sound a bit more like the European Goth music. Yet, as we kept working on it, it turned out heavier than that, but occasionally a song like that isn’t bad, is it?]

- The lyrics are in their dimension, also pretty different (from the usual), aren’t they?

[After all this is a song about a trauma. There is a always the link to something very real, however, this time, I wrote it more like a story (being old).]

- The person at which the lyrics are directed would be the “(my) dear bride” then?

[Yes. It should be towards the bride.]

- It does feel a bit like a fairytale now, doesn’t it?

[At first there was this image of a sleeping princess. However, I thought that the story wasn’t erfect to be directed at someone sleeping.]

- That really would have been like a fairytale, then, maybe too much, even.

[In that send, probably so. Therefore, I went with the image of a dancing girl or a ballerina, who I dancing throughout the dream. I also thought that if I wrote this merely about that trauma, it wouldn’t fit the song and so, I wrote it more like a story.]

- So is the trauma the wounds caused by her past love relationship, then?

[That, and how she is drawn back to this memory and it is always catching up again, in the state of things. It is like her love from reality and the one from her dream are correlating and eventually she can’t tell which one is real and which isn’t. The main character in this is portraying and singing his feelings towards the so called [bride]. Therefore, within the title [I] would be [Distress] and [she] would be represented by [Coma].]

- The words you are using are unusually gentle in this.

[I thought, for a fragile feeling like this it would suit them well.]

- When Ruki-kun is writing lyrics like this, the feeling is really dancing in them.

[Well, deep within me, I am that kind of person (laughs). Absolutely gentle.]

- The end of the story is actually a pretty sad one, isn’t it?

[In the end it is within the illusion of the story, left to everyone’s imagination, whether she woke from the dream or not, as an epilogue.]

- The second song, [Headache Man], is sound-wise and lyrics-wise pretty intense…

[I wanted a song which is heavy from the very beginning to the very end. It had always been a point I regrettably looked back upon the songs we had written in the past. We always wanted some heavy songs, but in the end, they turned out differently. It is the same with the [thickness] in sound, which came out like a blow (this time). The mastering was also pretty difficult, but it turned out like I had imagined it, eventually.]

- Those lyrics are really also full of anger, aren’t they?

[This time, amusingly, I used them to make fun of someone. Well, there was this course of anger in the lyrics, however, they are different to those of [LEECH]. It is purely an imaginary person.]

- It is? What about the [double faced dad]?

[I can’t say anything about that in detail…(laughs)]

- There seem to be a lot of [friends] around Gazette, who become the subject matter of all those emotions in your songs.

[That’s something I’m grateful for.]

- And lastly [Without a Trace]. As it is written by Ruki-kun, it is of such beauty…

[It is like a compilation of my desire to sing ballads just now. Within this universe of ballads, I wanted to do the utmost, same with the sound and such…just like that. I couldn’t quite do it with [Guren] and for an album, too, it is a song I couldn’t quite produce (as of yet).]

- So this is close to your ideal?

[Pretty close. As for the content of the lyrics, it is about a fan…someone who died, someone I couldn’t save. I couldn’t do anything myself…still, there are people only living off our music…it’s painful.]

- The own helplessness is something regrettable, isn’t it?

[It is difficult in general. To save someone just with the music…but if you say this aloud, you (come to realize) you aren’t actually saving anything. There are fans, who are bullied, those who are not loved by their parents; times, when there really is no one around to worry about them. Even as there are these people we can save, if there is just one person we can’t save, then we just can’t. This is the feeling put together in this song...and I am not saying that I am actually saving anyone with this song.]

- I’s difficult, isn’t it.

[I don’t think, I am actually killing anyone with my songs, but saving someone, maybe… To know the importance of life is the only support. Still, this song isn’t saying [Please, know how important your life is!], or trying to push anyone’s back. It is just saying that I do understand this pain just a little…I think.]

- The next would be, and it is really painful to ask this after such a serious talk, more of a [service topic] concerning the introduction headline. (laughs) Please let us hear one of your Valentine’s Day episodes.

[Oh! That was sudden(laughs). Well, let’s see…The one I remember best is the one about me being 1st grade in Middle School and the girl from 3rd grade Middle School.]

- Ah, the girl you dated more out of force than anything.

[Well, as I had just graduated from Elementary School and gotten into Middle School, she was someone I could hardly say NO to. It was really scary…Like I was called into the 3rd grader’s class room ad was surrounded by girls.]

- (laughs)

[I had no idea of love or relationships at that time and it was not in the least enjoyable - a very troubling feeling. Somehow going home together was the worst.]

- Embarrassing, wasn’t it?

[Everyone walked home with their friends. It was just me who accompanied that girl, who was also pretty tall. What was I supposed to do? This was just wrong. For valentine I got a bracelet and chocolate or a cake. And a scarf or something and then we broke up at (her) graduation.]

- So about one month after Valentine’s Day you broke up, then?

[Don’t the girls usually get the second button of the 3rd grade boys then? I really didn’t understand, why she had to take mine, as a first grader. I was shocked, sort of…Well, there’s only bad memories concerning that. (laughs)]

Pasiskaitykit ypac apie Without A Trace... As vos neapsizliumbiau... As nemoku apsakyti, ka db jauciu Ruki... Visus graziausius jausmus ♥♥♥♥♥

Peace & Smile Carnival Interview with the GazettE

Following the PSC 10th anniversary Peace & Smile Carnival, the GazettE granted us a special interview! Just two days after the concert itself, we asked for their thoughts while the excitement of the event was still fresh in their minds. They spoke with us about their unique costuming and their interest in their own staging. Of course, we were sure to ask about their 7th anniversary concert and upcoming single that they announced at the event. It’s exciting! This cool, serious band who leads the J-ROCK world and is still aiming for more reveals their sense of humor in this exclusive, valuable interview! Enjoy!

-First of all, congratulations on the great success of the PS COMPANY 10th anniversary concert, Peace & Smile Carnival. Today, we’d like to look back the event, which is still burning in our minds, and ask about the GazettE in 2009. Thank you for giving us this interview today.

”Thank you, too!”

-First, please tell us how you feel now, just after the 10th anniversary concert.

Reita “Well, right after the event, I felt like “I’ve done it.” In both a good way and a bad way…(Laughs).”

-Tell me what you mean exactly by the “good way”.

Reita “We’d thought about wearing traditional New Year’s clothing and playing hard… but it was much harder than I thought to play in hakama. But, anyway, the fans were really glad to see us in our costumes, so it was fine.”

-I see. Then, what about the bad way?

Reita “The bad thing was, you know… I stepped on my hems a lot and my sleeves touched my guitar. The costume obstructed my performance. (Laughs.)”

Aoi “(Laughs)”

Reita “Well, it was New Year’s Day, so, I couldn’t do anything about that. (Laughs)”

-Yeah. It was a special occasion. (Laugh) How about you, Aoi?

Aoi “Ummm. I think it was a great honor to perform with so many other artists on the same stage.”

-Then, Ruki?

Ruki “Well… We haven’t had this kind of event for a while, so I enjoyed it a lot. But, how can I say this? I just think we could have done something more interesting. Something more…”

-Do you mean something more for your performance on stage?

Ruki “Well, like, something more musically… I just think I could play more with other bands. I know it may not go well, but, ummm. For the most part, I would be able to enjoy it.”

-Then, we look forward to your collaboration with the other bands during the 20th anniversary event.

Ruki “20th anniversary… We are over 30, but I hope we have that much energy at that time. (Laughs.)”

-Then, how about you, Kai?

Kai “As for the event itself, I was able to enjoy it a lot. But, to be honest, it was New Year’s, so we couldn’t prepare much. It was too hard to have rehearsal. I was relieved when we finished, the moment when we had done our performance.”

-Lastly, you, Uruha.

Uruha “It was our first event in a long time. We were not able to have much time for that, so I feel like it finished very quickly. We’ve been doing one-man shows for a while, so I felt 30 minutes was too short. Like, I could do more, starting now!!”

-About the staging, it was different from other concerts-- 13,000 people surrounding the stage at Budokan from all directions. On such a stage, did you notice anything of special appeal to the GazettE itself?

Ruki “Well, what. I didn’t look back much. I didn’t feel anything special. “

Aoi “I tried not to go on the catwalk a lot, or to be too excited.”

-Not to be too excited?

Aoi “…Well, how can I say this… If I go on the catwalk too much, the band will lose coherency. The audience has to look around the stage. I think it’s not like the GazettE. I want the audience to see and listen to the music our 5 members put together. That’s it.”

-It was a real sight to see all 5 members headbanging in a line together. Did you see the audience headbanging all around you?

Uruha “Uhh, when they headbang, usually we are doing it, too. (Laughs)”

“(Laughs loudly)”

-Certainly…! You shook your heads, too. (laughs)
As Reita said before, wearing hakama was a bit of a mismatch, but somehow suited to you; it turned out great. How did you decide what to wear?

Aoi “Actually, we didn’t have anything to wear at the time. (laughs)”

“(laughs)”

Uruha “Sweatshirts or hakama (laughs)”

Aoi “Since we had to choose from those two… then, hakama. (laughs)”

Ruki “We only had two choices. (laughs)”

-Then, you played, despite knowing it may be difficult to play in hakama..

Aoi “It was nothing but difficult to play in hakama.”

Uruha “We should have worn sweatshirts…”

Kai “You’re a real stickler for these things. (laughs) Anyway, we had a huge impact.”

-That’s right. All the people in house felt that the GazettE had done something special.
What about your set list? As Uruha said, you only performed 5 songs in 30 minutes. How did you choose those songs?

Ruki “There was the limit on time, and ballad songs take too long…but we expected that when we knew what the event was going to be like. There were other bands, too, so we had to make sure to do something that was unique to our band. You know, that’s the kind of event it is. So… we chose songs that would add some spice to the event itself.”



-By the way! Who would you pick if you chose the MVP of the GazettE from January 3rd?

Aoi “An MVP amongst the members? …Definitely, it’s me.”

-Wow! Yourself!

Reita “So, OK.”

(Everyone laughs)

Aoi “…But, no. I can’t decide by myself! (laughs)”

(Everyone laughs again)

-Oh, didn’t you choose yourself? (laughs)

Aoi “Well… It may be the audience.”

-Wow! Thank you for such a perfect comment. (laughs)

Aoi “Um? (laughs) …Right? Each member has their own role in completing the GazettE… Please make that sentence bold. (laughs)”

-In bold (laughs). Adding “said Aoi.” (laughs)

Aoi “Right. I said so.”

-Any objections? (laughs)

Reita “Nothing at all.”

(Everyone laughs.)”

-You must have had a good start for 2009, spending New Year’s Day with your fans. Please tell us about your schedule from now on. First, you announced a concert at Makuhari Messe on March 10th. Could you tell us about the concert? Why did you schedule this concert?

Ruki “No special reason. We won’t have concerts for a while. (laughs)”

Aoi “Our bank accounts are running out of money…”

Reita “Hey! (laughs)”

“(laughs)”

Ruki “We’ll release our single around that time, and it’s just our 7th anniversary, anyway. Well, it’s before the release of our single. We thought that we could only do one concert before the release.”

-Do you have any special plans for your 7th anniversary?

Ruki “No…. We don’t have any special celebrations planned, but it may turn out that way if the fans celebrate it. We are not the type to celebrate ourselves by ourselves.”

-As you mentioned, you’re going to release your new single “DISTRESS AND COMA” on March 25th. What kind of songs does it have?

Ruki “Ummm. We can say that it is the GazettE if we like. But it’s little different from our former works. It contains 3 songs, and there are songs from various genres, something we’ve had in the past as well as totally new sounds.…uh… I think we produced something new.”

-What does the title “DISTRESS AND COMA” mean to you?

Ruki　“I just wanted to sing about trauma. I was thinking about the story of the song.”

-What inspired you when you wrote the lyrics?

Ruki “Well. Lyrics? I usually write about my own real-life experiences. But, this time, I expressed trauma from a different point of view. So, when I say it’s like a coma, I mean that it’s not the usual coma that comes about as a result of sickness, but rather the feeling that one can’t escape from trauma. In that sense, I chose the word “COMA” this time.”

-I heard that you wrote your last work “LEECH” based on your real experiences, too. Ruki, do you usually write lyrics from your own experiences?

Ruki “At its heart, it’s hard to write something that you’ve never experienced. It lacks substance. I mean, every single thing in life has a deep meaning, no matter how small of a thing it actually is. So, I took up something like that in my work.”

-Then, what kind of year do you want for the GazettE in 2009? Please talk about it one by one.

Reita “You mean, what do I think 2009 is gonna be like?”

-Yes. You can say something like “I want to make this year….”.

Reita “Well… OK. (laughs) Ummm. I want to get going more than ever. I always say something like “I want to establish our style”. But there’s no way to know how much I can do in terms of establishing our style on my own. So, all I can do is just strive to do more and be more. As for the rest, nothing is more valuable than good health. Taking care of yourself.”

-Thank you very much. Then, Aoi. What is your year gonna be like?

Aoi “Uhhh. I want to release an album by the end of this year.”

“(laughs)”

Aoi “I know you must have dimly perceived that we have to make a new album at last. (laughs)”

-…Now your accounts have less money? (Laughs)

Aoi “That’s it! I want my account to be loaded. (Laughs)”

Ruki&Kai “hahahaha!! (laughs)”

Uruha “A loaded account!” (laughs)”

Aoi “I want to go on vacation. I wanna have a fulfilling year.”

-Do you think you can have a fulfilling year?

Aoi “Yes. Yeah. I’m feeling strong in the wallet. (Laughs)”

-Much stronger?

Aoi “Yes. And I also want a rich sprit.”

“(laughs)”
Aoi “…I’m kidding! If I emphasized it, you may want to make it bold type. (Laugh)”

-Do you have any new challenges you want to take on?

Aoi “Nope, nothing! Just not to be left behind by the other members! Have to hang on to them. (laughs)”

-What about making an album? Do you have anything you can say right now?

Aoi “No, we haven’t done anything with it. Everything begins now.”

-We’re looking forward to it!

Aoi “Yes, please do. I hope it’ll come out. (laughs)”

-Yeah. (laughs) Thank you very much. Then, how about you, Ruki? What’s your 2009 gonna be?

Ruki “Well… We came here doing what we wanted. We kept doing that, aiming for perfection. You know, not everything goes better. Make everything good. I think my all time theme is to go to the highest level we can without losing ourselves. …That’s it. I want to do everything to the utmost. I think like that.”

-For us, it seems you move forward eagerly and everything goes perfectly for you. Isn’t that so?

Ruki “Ummm. Well, It’s not like everything goes perfect all the time. Uhh. I want to make it better. Make it as we wish it would be, or more than we can hope.”

-When do you feel this way?

Ruki “You know. In everything we do. Lyrics for a song, PVs, or jacket shootings. It’s the same as having something that really gets to us…I think we’re a band who hates to be imperfect. On that score, I want to be selfish.”

-Selfish in a good way.

Ruki “Yeah. … For us, it’s in a good way, but for others, it may be the worst way. (laughs)”

-No way!

Ruki “Really (laughs)? I want a year like that, where we fly the flag when we should.”

-Then, Kai? What will your 2009 will be like?

Kai “Well, I won’t change my basic spirit, but I will be improving myself. For all that, if the band as well as the people around us have the same goal or the same notions and go forward with me even if it’s just little by little, it will be a good year.”

-Who are the people around you?

Kai “The fans and everyone else. All in all, to have the same notion is the most important thing.”

-Lastly, Uruha, please.

Uruha “In 2008, I found out a lot about our sound, so, in 2009, making the most of it… then, well, I don’t want to compromise this year.”

-Thank you very much.
Then, lastly, please send a New Year message to fans overseas one by one.

Reita “Well. A happy new year. the GazettE has been welcomed by fans outside Japan in these one or two years, and I want to go outside Japan someday. But sadly, the schedule hasn’t been decided yet. If we have time, I want to visit many countries, so please wait for that moment to arrive.”

-Which country do you want to visit the most?

Reita “I especially want to go to the US. … But actually, I don’t wanna go there.”

-Which? (Laugh)

Aoi (whispers to Ruki) This guy isn’t funny!

Ruki (to Reita) This sick guy!

“(Everyone laughs.)”

Aoi “Anyway, do your best.”

-(laugh) Fans in the US must be waiting for you.

Reita “Yeah. Go to the US, and “Yes, we can!””

(Everyone laughs.)”

Aoi “…Nocchi!”
(musicJAPANplus note: Nocchi is a Japanese comedian who became famous as a look-alike of US President Obama during and following the US Presidential Elections.)

Reita “I’m not Nocchi!”

Ruki,Kai, & Uruha (all laugh)

-(laughs) Aoi, please.

Aoi “Yes. (laughs) A happy new year. …As he said, I want to go to many countries.”

Reita “Yes, we can!”

Aoi “As Nocchi said.”

Reita “Hey! (laughs)”

Aoi “Yeah. (laughs) We’ll do our best!”

(Everyone laughs.)

-Then, Ruki, please.

Ruki “A happy new year. So, like they said, I want to visit many places. As for CDs, if we release our album, I want to release it overseas the same day as in Japan. We’re going to be releasing an album, and having concerts. Yeah.”

-Kai, please.

Kai “A happy new year. Umm. Please listen to the GazettE this year, too. As we said before, I think we’re gonna release our new album, so please wait to see the new world of the GazettE..”

Aoi “(Whispers to Reita) He said the GazettE is going to release their new album!”

Uruha “Was it OK to announce that? (laughs)”

Ruki “If we don’t release it this year, we won’t release an album for another 3 years. (laughs)”

(Everyone laughs.)

Ruki “How long does it take to release it?! (laughs)”

-Uruha, please send a message to fans overseas.

Uruha “Compared to before, compared to the past, I feel that people living in countries overseas are closer to us. Nowadays, the Internet is very common.”

Uruha “What days are you living in?”

“Hahahaha(laugh)”

Uruha “In the past, we never dreamed of going abroad, but now, that possibility is getting closer. We’re not just close in that way; fans overseas can always see us through the Internet. So, know about us through the Internet, and someday, I hope you can see the GazettE with your own eyes.”

-OK. Then, that’s all for today. Thank you very much!

“Thank you very much!”

Thank you, the GazettE!

Fool’s Mate I.S. No. 003 – April 2009 – Ruki Personal Interview

In March 2009 Gazette were able to look back on seven years (of band history), which seemed to be a road of success only, without any hardships along the way. However, behind all of that there had been plenty of distress. Still, they were able to break loose even of those thorns, and even more so and due to that are able to pursue their own free selves in music and vision.
In this issue for the personal interview it is Ruki, who chose this suit for the photo shooting just as freely, and he talked about his own fashion-taste, as well as the things which changed within Gazette, compared to the old days.
A modern counterattack in arts.

- Lately, whenever Ruki-kun comes here for an interview, your clothes seem to be really distinct. Has it always been like that?

[No, it hasn’t.]

- Certainly, I think it was in April 2003, when I met Ruki-kun for the first time at some venue, I remember how you wore a checkered jacket with tons of buttons attached to it.

[Ah, it must have been like that. During that time I usually wore a lot of very showy/fancy clothes. Back then I really liked [Hama Mike], who had been played by Nagase Masatoshi, hence I came to wear those patterned shirts, as he had been a big influence on me.]

- When did you start to get interested into fashion?

[It must have been around the third grade of Middle School. That was the time, when I started to listen to hide-san’s and Kiyoharu-san’s CDs.]

- During that time, I believe, hide-san’s and Kiyoharu-san’s styles were both pretty extreme, weren’t they?

[Yeah, while hide-san wore flower-shirts and tulip hats, Kiyoharu-san wore suits and Air Max shoes. Their style was completely different, but I really like this kind of eccentric fashion. At first, I was kinda cosplaying them. I bought a leopard-print Casquette –hat, the ring with the eye-ball and such…]

- So to speak, you were the typical Rock-Kid, weren’t you? Have there been other artists you looked up to concerning their fashion?

[Someone who had been influencing me fashion-wise would have been J-san. It was the time, when Luna Sea’s album [Mother] had been released, that he wore a lot of rubber bands around his arms, which I would imitate, or the ring holding a bug or the one with the letter A in it, also that Celtic cross he wore…such things.]

- You did see a lot of things. (laughs) Did it happen a lot that you got interested in/started to like those artists with such a unique fashion sense?

[If anything, it was those eccentric and individual styles, besides, even now there are quite a few people who are told to be fashionable. During Middle School I also liked the SEX PISTOLS, however I lived pretty much in the countryside and I really didn’t know where I could buy those Gauze-shirts or any punky clothes. Also I didn’t have the money to do so, therefore I would tear off the posters and try to sew those shirts and things like that by myself a lot.]

- And speaking of which, this is also how hide-san created his very original style, by using those punk-influences.

[From there on my way of getting interested in things changed a little, as I became interested in those hardcore (bands) like SOBUT’s Motoaki-san, who was their guitarist. It was that Rockabilly-style I really came to like and I tried to dye my hair red and such. Or Hi-Standard, that was the kind of style I liked then. It was the time when half-pants and ankle sock where quite in fashion.]

- That was somewhat a weird style, wasn’t it? (laughs)

[Yeah. Once into Visual-Kei I got rid of that completely. However, during High School my hair was pretty short. I liked bands like [Nunchaku] or [KEMURI] with their Japanese-core music style. Speaking of which, during that time I really wanted to become a tattoo-designer.]

- A tattoo-designer? Did you consider getting a tattoo?

[No, but the bands I listened to back then used a lot of illustrations for their CD jackets, which had been drawn by tattoo-artists. It was the same with that band, which’s live I went a long with. They used those traditional Japanese design and gore-pictures as illustrations for their CD jackets, which had been made by their families. My friends even wore T-shirts with those designs, which showed pictures of how they had been deceived, like those holding the neck of a defeated samurai and the letters reading [Trator!] I thought that was extremely cool! From there I started to draw pictures myself.]

- To express your own emotions with those pictures.

[Yes, like that. Somehow I wanted to become a tattoo-artist, to get down to the root of these pictures. However, thinking about it thoroughly, I really didn’t know how to become a tattoo artist, and when I was old enough to get a job, I was only told, that there wasn’t such a thing as [tattoo designer]. (bitter laugh) I was also in a band then and I had been pretty lost concerning my future.]

- Since you wanted to become a tattoo artists, have you been satisfied with the illustrations you drew therefore?

[The school I went to was actually an art school. I knew no one there and the pictures I drew were actually a good chance to make friends for me. There was an occasion, where the guy sitting in the last row would draw a picture of Jean Simmons (KISS), and while I was drawing something else, I would start a conversation like [Do you like that band?]. And that’s how we became friends.]

- There were no friends from Middle School left?

[The school had been in another prefecture, so there wasn’t a single person left.]

- During that time, what kind of fashion did you like?

[Pretty usual as I had to wear a school uniform, just without a neck tie, since I really didn’t understand why neck ties were in fashion. It was also the time of somewhat punky fashion, therefore we stuck safety pins to out uniforms and shoes, sometimes even to our skinny pants and neck ties. With our uniforms the outer wear was extremely tight and those pants were pretty hard to wear. However, at that school there were also people liking hippie fashion, with psychedelic-patterned scarves and bell-bottom pants. This was going into various extreme directions and those liking bands would be the Yankees, with their blond hair. However, separated from all of that were the Anime-Otakus. Actually those Anime-Otaku were the ones interested in Visual-Kei and use Shitajikis (vinyl boards to put under drawings) with their pictures. Once we would see those photographs, we would all say [Wooooaaah! That’s terrible!]…I really didn’t see it coming that, today, I would be like that. (laughs) Anyway, most of my Sempais at that school had been punks so actually the rate of spiky hair was pretty high. I was also one of those using Gatsby hair wax. (laughs) Because I would be scolded, if I had prepared my hair like this at home, I would do it in the bathroom at the station, but then I would be told to get it down again by the teachers. So actually the only time I could have my hair all styled up, was on my way home. Also once you’d shave your eyebrows, you’d like get them drawn back on with permanent marker by the teachers. (laughs) There was also one of my Sempais who got suspended from school, because he had bleached his hair to blond.]

- Such art school can be really strict, right?

[Our school had been especially strict. You weren’t allowed to have a single piercing, but since that was the time, when I wanted to open my piercing wider, I planned this really carefully to not get caught.]

- How long did it take until you got it open completely?

[I had it opened at once completely. I thought that out of all the guys I really wanted to have the widest whole (in my ear). Anyway, there was also a guy who had like a hole of 2 cm in diameter in his lower jaw .]

- That sounds like food could spill out of it…

[It actually did, like Miso-Soup and such. (laughs) That was really an idiotic thing!]

- So in High School you were a punk-kid like that.

[Yeah, like in the era of punk and hardcore. (laughs) Most of us were like that and somehow all my friends (including myself) dropped out of school, since going there was boring. At our school, being late or not going to our cram school had been an absolute NO GO. Anyway, I didn’t really want to go, so I didn’t go for like two week and in the end my credits weren’t enough. Therefore, during the summer of my third year in High School, I dropped out. That coincidence was just bad…]

- You did that although you would have been able to graduate if you had been patient for just another six months?

[Well, I borrowed a year book from one of my friends after their graduation and out of my class of 30 people, only 10 had been left. There had been people who left after the first day, also there had been some lethal incident during the second day already and that was basically the kind of school it had been. (bitter laugh) When I told my friends in Middle School that I’d be going to that school, they repeatedly asked me, whether that was some kind of punishment game. Even when doing the preliminary survey, there seemed to be plain resentment in most faces, just like in [Be Bop High School (Manga/Dorama)]. (laughs) Getting into that school was kind of unexpected and somewhat normal.]

- Well, that probably wasn’t very normal. (laughs) So why exactly did you leave this school?

[There was nothing more for me than being in a band. I had been invited right away to do the support for one of my friends’ band, which was actually a Visual Kei band. I think they are still active as a band today. Already in Middle School I had been using make up and played in a copy-band.]

- During that time, was it LUNA SEA you copied?

[Yes, we did. We thought about copying every single song. I think that was the band where I first used make-up with. When doing that, I thought it was very interesting and from there on that had been deeply implemented.]

- So you stopped having that punky spiky hair?

[Yes, I dyed it a really shocking pink (instead) – that so called “Visual-pink”. However, it was also the time when I dyed my hair in many different colors.]

- Was that still the time, when all clothes had been black?

[Since that was about 10 years ago, it must have been and gradually it all became really maniacally. I liked that music, which was basically putting a curse on you with its darkness.]

Tesinys

- Again, that was a pretty extreme direction you had been taking. (laughs)

[I had wings attached to my black costume and my face was all white. (laughs) I wanted to do something really original, when I was the drummer in the band [Mikoto]. However, I went with the guitarist of the band I had been supporting prior to that, to a CD shop, since we thought about forming a band together and there we saw a flyer of another band. They looked really cool, so we went to see them for their next live.]

- What did you look like, when you went to that live?

[It was basically my pink hair combined to a white shirt and a black neck tie. It wasn’t very normal. Basically I looked a lot like the fans today. However, since [Migoto] was pretty similar in atmosphere (compared to that band), Uruha, Reita and I came to form our band [Karasu] as guitarist, bassist and vocalist. We thought we were really cool. Since we called ourselves [Karasu] (crow), we wanted to create music as if being the counterpart to [Swan Lake]. However, that band was somewhat cursed itself, because it wasn’t at all popular.]

- (burst of laughter) It wasn’t…???

[Absolutely not. At that time, when still being the drummer, I was the girly character of the band…]

- The girly character? I really can’t imagine that from today’s point of view. (laughs)

[I had my hair in pig-tails, blond and with feathers and there were leaves around my drum set and such. (laughs) At that time, we were told, that since we were just like the band before that, they weren’t really expecting anything. (bitter laugh) From there on we have changed our style more and even though we were able to draw up to 90 people together, we eventually broke up again…around that time there was also this other band [Kar+te=zyanose] forming, where Uruha asked me to join if I agreed to be the singer. That is when I changed from being the drummer to being the vocalist. That was, by the way the time when bloody shirts and gauze were in fashion for costumes. (laughs) That band also broke apart after only three months and that was also, when Uruha, Reita and I decided to form our last band together, which would be today’s Gazette.]

- Was there an overall concept you were following, when you first formed Gazette?

[Well, at first, we just went with what was in fashion. (laughs) Around that time it was those bands sounding like those popular during the Sho-wa Era. (1926–1989) We just went along with that. After that we thought about doing something nobody else did, like thinking about using school bags even…………that was the root of all evil. (bitter laugh).]

- But somehow you still went along with that style, didn’t you?

[However…it didn’t match. Also, it wasn’t popular.]

- (laughs) At that time all of you had names written in Kanji, right?

[Reita had been [Reiki], Uruha’s name was [Kyouki]. At first, mine was [Kirihi], when I thought about changing it into [Rukia], there had already been someone with this name, so I stuck with [Ruki]…and I thought it was cute.]

- These days, cute wouldn’t be so favorable, now, would it be?

[(laughs) At first [the Gazette] had been written in Katakana, too, basically, because names written like that were really rare.]

- After you lay down going along with those things in fashion, did your band image deepen?

[At first we changed our rout, and then stayed with that a little until we met our stylist, who made our costumes for the first time. Still, our popularity was declining and we couldn’t bring out a CD, and before we had been leaving our label of that time, we had been falsely informed, that PS Company had been interested in Gazette. (bitter laugh) And when we went to PSC just like that, they were kinda looking at us, asking if we were serious…]

- However, luckily, eventually that might have been the reason, why you got into that company. Do you remember what kind of ideas you put into making your costumes at that time?

[The first (real) costume we ever made was used for our photograph on a flyer PSC used, and it was the one where I had that bow around my collar. And then it was the one with the Kanji written in it, which we used for [Cockayne Soup]… I really wonder what kind of fashion that was back then. I think that was also the time, when we attached that [Dai Nippon Itan Geisha] phrase to our image. It was a little like a right-wing party…]

- It was a strongly opposing image, wasn’t it?

[At that time we released [Cockayned Sout], [Spell Margarita] and [Akuyukai], which were completely different regarding their content, nonetheless we thought about combining them into one alum. It was around that time, when we started to say that we don’t have a concept…because actually, we didn’t.]

- Speaking of that, you really kept people awake with what you began by releasing pictures. Be it your costumes, your hair, no matter waht you always had this very original touch to yourselves.

[Well, it couldn’t be helped that we actually liked having our pictures taken and therefore we wanted to do something different every time. Which still doesn’t mean we had a concept.]

- So whenever you designed something, did you all match your ideas?

[No, we didn’t, we actually just did this freely just everyone by himself.]

- Ruki-kun’s private clothes also changed quite a bit, didn’t they? Back then, you, wearing a knit hat would have been quite unimaginable.

[It would be basically any kind of hat, really.]

- In what way exactly did your clothes change?

[Basically something that wouldn’t suit anyone else is what I am thinking of…]

- Among you and the band?

[No, also among other bands…however, I can’t really explain why. I did wear that read checkered jacket quite a lot. (laughs) Ah, I remember, back then I only wore stuff from ALGONQUINS…certainly my way of thinking about this issue has changed quite a bit. After that PPFM had been released…although at that time it had had way more of a Rock-image, and after that I had like SEXY DYNAMITE LONDON…]

- That’s pretty much the style of Marui-One (department store) today.

[Yeah, pretty much like that. (laughs) However, I still wonder why I would have changed after that……..at that time I wasn’t into leather jackets either. Maybe only after releasing [Madara] did I change from the more normal clothes to those with more of a Rock-image.]

- So what’s your recent boom?

[That’s a good question. Until now I hadn’t been wearing suit much, so I wanted to try wearing them more, just like the one today. I got bored with the overly showy style, which is also reflected in my private clothes. Wanting to do this photo shooting in a comfortable way, I chose a suit to do it.]

- For a suit worn by an artist it is way more casual, yet it’s order-made in length and fits way better than a branded item. How did you get interested in this suit?

[It’s like a suit by Tanaka Nojimi. Also, it fits extremely well and tight, which I really like these days. It’s not just about how this feels directly, but I like that loose image of a suit and a simple shirt. Usually, I don’t even wear suits.]

- And you are not thinking about designing your own fashion any time soon?

[Not really, just T-Shirts is fine.]

- Those T-Shirts that had been sold at the Budokan Event in January, among the Gazette good, had been T-Shirts designed by Ruki-kun.

[Yes they were. Until now, I am doing all the T-Shirt designs for our tour goods. I think, designing costumes is one thing, but normal fashion is pretty difficult. Even when I go shopping for my own clothes it’s like I take shirts of that brand, pants of that brand, jackets of that and shoes yet of another.]

- That sounds quite luxurious. (laughs)

[Usually I go from shop to shop and chose from lots of different thing…which is the reason behind my vanishing money. (laughs) But I think it is bad for me to choose from only one brand let alone using a catalogue.]

- In case you had to say [This is in fashion for the season], what would it be?

[…probably nothing in particular. (laughs) According to the year, it could be depending on the brands, but I’d just wear, what I want. Lately fur coats are back in fashion, but I am not really interested. In case I really like something I don’t care about how much it costs. There are not many people wearing brands from Japan and I really like those emphasizing one’s silhouette…that’s how I think. As of late it seems that movie directors and photographers have an incredible eye for fashion. I like those things which are somewhat casual and yet totally stunning to wear.]

- However, lastly, what is Gazette’s next style you are going to show us?

[Lately I am totally into Daft Punk and I like this cyber image, like from a near future…]

- So are you going to take this onto the live stage as well?

[Yes. I think there’s going to be parts of it, too. I hope I can create something even newer in its sensation. I have to think about how I can still create something heavy, yet even just a little digital all at once. In the stage setting as well, I really want to do something which couldn’t be felt until now….well, it’s going to be difficult.]

- I think the stage director and your lighting-crew are going to give their best just as always.

[Yeah, because we usually decide things after talking everything through very thoroughly. Our lighting crew is really amazing. The stage setting is like…a battle of calculations. Even as we decide to use LED’s there still might be things we can’t think of just yet. I would like it to be even wider in range. That’s something that’s troubling me. I want to take this into making it the definition of what Visual Kei is today…and that is my thinking behind all of this.]

arena special 7/09
RUKI'S 100 Q & A

1.What was the first thing you did when you woke up this morning?

Smoked

2.Compare today's mood with a colour?

BLUE

3.What did you do yesterday?

I was floating in the sea.

4.Recently, what's the most interesting thing?

The ocean was blue.

5.Recently, something that made you cry?

Salt water got into my eye.

6.Recently, something that offended you?

The sunglass shop lady's bad attitude irritated me.

7.Favourite movie?

It's not a movie, but "24"

8.Favourite book (manga is ok)

Lately it's ”AKIRA".

9.What's your health barometre?

凸 Yes we can!

10.What's something you do to take care of your health?

Drink water? I guess.

11.Favourite season?

Fall

12.Please tell us one thing you're proud of.

I sleep more deeply than someone.

13.Where is the place that calms you the most?

Home.

14.Favourite animal?

Dog.

15.The animal you compare yourself to?

Dog.

16.When you were a child, the hero you admired?

Shocker.

17.Something that was often written on your report card?

Too excited.

18.When you were a child, the most important toy?

Mini 4wheeler.

19.What is your most treasured thing right now?

There's a lot, so I don't know.

20.What was your favourite anime, manga?

Chinyuuki.

21.Anime (manga) character you really want to be?

Dorami-san.

22.Favourite food?

Sushi.

23.Disliked food?

Shiitake.

24.Lately, something you can't help feeling
EDIT: Recently, something on your mind that can't be helped
* it bothers him, but he can't do anything about it

This reply isn't that interesting.

25.Things that remind you of summer?

Wind chimes

26.Memory of summer vacation that left an impression?

I can't remember.

27.If you had 1 day to rest, what would you do?

Without thinking of anything, I'll do it slowly.

28.If you had 1 month to rest, what would you do?

I'd go on a trip somewhere.

29.If you had 1 year to rest, what would you do?

Look for a job.

30.Charm point?

None.

31.Strong point?

Stubbornness

32.Weak point?

Stubbornness

33.Special skill?

I can't say anything by myself.

34.What's your favourite dish?

I can't do it.

35.What 3 CDs would you take with you to an unpopulated island?

I'd bring my iPod.

36.Sport you want to do?

Ice hockey

37.Image of guy you think is cool?

Nagasema Satoshi

38.Image of girl you think is cute?

YOU

39.Favourite town/street?

Ebisu

40.Country you want to try going to?

Taiwan

41.Average hours of sleep?

3~4hours

42.Dream that left an impression?

Lately I've stopped seeing it at all.

43.Ideal hours of sleep?

24hours

44. Recent MY BOOM?
* MY BOOM = current obsession

[ Nothing in ] Particular.

45.Something you always carry?

Wallet, phone, cigarettes.

46.Favourite brand?

WJK

47.Favourite perfume?

Bottega

48.What kind of time causes mental strain?

When I'm not self-confident in myself.

49.Your weakness?

Feeling sluggish

50.The number one world news on your mind right now?

What Japan has become

51.You've finished half the enquette/survey. How do you feel now?

I'm disheartened.

52.Wish you will write on tanjaku for Tanabata?
* Tanabata is the Star Festival in July, & tanjaku is the narrow card that is given at the temple with wishes written on them.

I don't want to be disheartened.

53.What's your keitai ringtone?

Vibe sound
* vibration

54.What's your keitai standby image/wallpaper?

Marble

55.Favourite [ video ] game?

I HATE them.

56.Favourite sensation?

Munimuni
* squeezing something soft...

57.Disliked sensation?

Nurunuru
* slippery sensation...

58.Person you respect?

There are many.

59.What's your solution when troubled?

Even then I keep worrying.

60.Hairstyle you want to try?

Fluorescent colour

61.In janken, what do you often throw out?

Choki
* janken is rock-paper-scissors; choki is scissors.

62.Favourite flower?

The shape & colour of higanbana

63.Favourite hiragana?

* the entire k row in hiragana; ga, gi, gu, ge, go.

64.Favourite 4-character kanji phrase?

None in particular.

65.It's your very last supper, what do you want to eat?

If it's the last one, I don't want to eat.

66.Something you want right now?

Bag.

67.When you were a child, what you played often?

Dorokei
* Cops & Robbers

68.When you were a child, something you collected often?

Bikkuriman stickers.

69.If you weren't a vocalist, about this time, what do you think you would've been?

I don't know... but I feel I would've done something in music.

70.If you had a time machine, which era would you go and what would you do?

I don't really want to go.

71.What kind of time raises your tension the most?

It rises considerably when a positive event happens to me.

72.What kind of time gets you down most?
* thanks to foccacina for pointing this out to me.

When things don't go well, and when I don't understand.

73.How many times can you do push-ups?

I don't know.

74.How many times can you do sit-ups?

I don't know.

75.What kind of time is your happiest moment?

When something I've wanted to do is finished.

76.You just finished humming a song to yourself, what's the song?

New song

77.Favourite motto?

Do it when I/you do it.

78.Is your body soft? Is it tough?

Ordinary

79.The best/highest scenery you've seen until now?

I can't say.

80.First CD bought?

m.c.A.T

81.First live you saw?

X JAPAN

82.First artist you copied and the song?

Sex Pistols 「Bodies」

83.Now, an artist you're into?

MOTLEY CRUE

84.During tour's off day, what do you spend it doing?

Basically, I'll stay at home.
* much thanks to kisekii for helping me on this :)

85.If you could return to being a child for only a day, what would you do?

I might not want to change with what's now.

86.If you could be female for only a day, what would you do?

I don't want to be one.

87.If you became an invisible person for only a day, what would you do?

Walk around naked.

88.If you became another member for only a day, who would it be, and what would you do?

[ Noone in ] particular.

89.What score would you grade your current self? And the reason?

I don't know what score, however despite this I'm still certain. I'm never going to be satisfied with myself.

90.Please ask yourself one question.

How are you lately?

91.Please answer that question.

The best!

92.[Starting] From which part of the body do you wash?

Head

93.Favourite kanji?

Nishi
* a small, spiral shell, with or without the snail :/

94.Energy source?

Red bull

95.Favourite actor

Keifer Sutherland

96.What is the pattern on the Yukata that you would like girls to wear?
* thanks to kisekii for pointing out i had the wrong question here :)

Something like morning glory?

97.One word for the world?

POISON

98.One word to the members?

Please don't change.

99.One word for the fans?

Take a rest occasionally.

100.One word to yourself who finished the 100 Q & A?

Is it really.

Uruha Arena Special July 2009

Symbols:
# - interviewer
麗 – Uruha
() – Just something that was being explained In the text, explanation notes
[] – my humble comments and explanations 

# Right now, it is announced that on the 15th July The GazettE are releasing the DIM album, so to start off, [I’d like you to] to clarify the direction of the band that we’ll see.
麗 – By the time we started choosing the song compilation for the album the title DIM had already appeared. The image is: ‘dim/gloomy’, ‘shadow kind of feeling’ [he’s explaining the kanji here], because of the importance that will flow, and the choice of songs with such a meaning has probably been a little different until now.
# Even the under-kind [underground] of tendency of songs that have been produced until now, they were the dark- sound kind of productions, right? So those [new songs] that will be included will have a little different nuance?
麗 – Exactly; even though every song direction was kind of gloomy, there was a feeling that people enjoyed them. Every member, of course when speaking of making music literally, it seems they had fun while making music. That’s why I can’t really call it dark, right? I’d say things done in a great season [of making music] have a feeling of a mess .
# That’s a very interesting talk. So, for Uruha-kun the extreme ‘music period’ as you called it, what exactly is it?
麗 - In the old times, there didn’t seem to be much imagination, and now there is me wanting to do it. For example, in the past I regularly wanted a sound that was cool to come out, I thought like that; but lately ‘This will probably not be good. If I do it like that, I’ll regret it!’ – kind of mode of work has become quite frequent. And, at such times of work I really enjoyed it (laugh)
# In short – you’re steadily heading to a maniac direction.
麗 – What’s that supposed to mean? Whether a maniac or not I don’t really know, but I thought I wanted to make unique things. The difference between now and the past is that when I think ‘Is that ordinary?’ I’ll cross such a thing out and I’ll have to change it greatly.
# From the emotion on your face, now you’ve gone into the attack motto right?
[I’m not really sure that’s what he wanted to say, but I was laughing my arse off when I read: SEME-MOTTO. Yup, that kanji here is the SEME we have all known from various fanfics about the guys (and the general knowledge of the world), ne~ Uruha…seme motto … XD]
麗 – That’s a little strange, this interview and this photoshoot has a special mood that’s visible. I mean the black hair, this makeup. There wasn’t such a thing until now, was there?
# It’s probably original. By the way, about that black hair…
麗 – Wig. The whole thing’s a wig (laugh)
# As it’s called – a wig guy, right? About this photographing concept, if you could use a word, what would it be?
麗 – Well, it’s related to the music concept we’ve talked about. I wanted to try different things, that’s the point I meant. Because of this photo session, after this (explanation note: at the time of this, the makeup’s finishing touches are being made), the photo-taking time will have a little original feeling with the white eyelashes, I thought I’d try it. The lipstick, it’s rare red, I thought I’d try that, kind of feeling.
# Deep crimson lipstick! You don’t see it in the fashion world yet.
麗 – I thought it’s ordinary. Bright red one, isn’t it gross now?
# If you use the plain deep crimson lipstick, you’re in the granny age world and occasionally you happen to see it there (laugh).
麗 - Really? (laugh) Speaking of, I’d like to try that one too, I wonder what it would be like - kind of challenge. Well, if it was gross, I’d just stop (bitter smile).
# So sportsmanlike, ne~
麗 – Speaking of, it’s kind of unexpected but important I think. The main point is, it’s not just saying to do something well. Of course, I want the attitude to do something to be important, but actually/practically trying to get into it properly is rather important.
# And this way of thinking, you apply this rule when you go to make music, right?
麗 – Yeah, that’s right. It’s not only thinking with your head, first I try everything, and then the way of deciding how to do it will be happening all the time at this point. Thanks to this, it’s hard in the studio.
# And what when the equipment breaks?
麗 – When we’re testing/collecting the equipment [for the live/tour] it’s impossible that we go without checking everything thoroughly. So, ‘That – no’, ‘That will do’, ‘So, which one?’ goes repeatedly. (laugh)
# With this said, has Uruha-kun’s personal music taste/preference changed?
麗 – Ah, yes. Explaining it in words is difficult, but if I have to use an easy way of speaking to make people understand as much as possible, until now I didn’t pay attention to the limits of the music that was made…I started liking the secrets/the know-how/the ropes of music. So, am I giving it [to you] in an easy way??
# No. [XD] Somehow or other I understand the nuance.
麗 – How to say that? Probably, ‘I can’t do this like that ’ strange kind of fixation I think will not happen. My field of vision got wider because my way of thinking got flexible, for example, if until now I thought it a cheap sound, ‘if it’s like that, I’d better get into it!’ I started feeling something like that.
# Wonderful.
麗 – Still, the surrounding (staff) seems great. Even making music, and the entire attempt, on top of that the care to choose the music and the labour, doesn’t it take a lot of time? The socialising done right after...And yet, there are sometimes moments when after attempting something, I think ‘It’s just as before’.
# There is no compromise, right?
麗 – Right. If I do something, only after [I do it] I can neatly go to the next one. If I think the staff was bad/poor, the possibility of going as far as possible [in the music sense] would not be possible and if that happened it would be tough in the future. When accepting things like the songs, ‘This, what is this wind [he uses the kanji for that, but I think he means the direction] here?’ we’d hear, ‘Well, that’s to be safe...’ wouldn’t it be said? (laugh)
# You’re thinking that far??
麗 – I am! It seems we have to deal with [making sure that] the next album’s collection would keep its confidence. (laugh)
# Preparing the music for DIM, I think Uruha-kun of course as a composer has also had a death ratio [of songs], but this time how many songs did you enter? [how many songs were made by Uruha]
麗 – Two songs. To explain it shortly, those two pieces were greatly dark and greatly changed. Relating to the latter, during a meeting when we were choosing songs, from a certain person something like that came out: ‘I don’t really understand the merit of this song’, it seems maniac (laugh).
# Huh? (laugh) So this song was nicely put into the album, right?
麗 – We pushed it into the B-sides. Later we talked about the pros and cons [of the song], there was one person who said they didn’t understand [it] but there were many people who said it was great, so we put it in.
# It’s problematic because of the variety/This is a story of sorts. This has been very exciting.
麗 – I personally saw it like that from the beginning. During a live you must also include the echo/reverberation/the impression it makes [I found a few meanings for that kanji and I don’t really know which to use in the translation, so here you have those I thought might be the right ones]. Until then, here only the band could make it [choose the right songs], and now inside it [the band] there is the real feeling of wanting to pack in/cram in songs, and I am very satisfied.
# If this is what Uruha-kun sees, when the others from the band wrote songs, what direction did they show?
麗 – It was good. Seriously. Aoi-san and Ruki did them too [strange that Uha refers to Aoi with the ~san and Ruki is just plain Ruki; perhaps because of the age difference between Uha and Aoi...], and the music that was made has personal tastes because we opened and 100% came out. Still, when the recording was halfway through (explanation note: the first ten days of May were the collecting time) and work still remained, the trial and error still continued because certainly mistakes were coming out as expected.
# And also, for a long time you continued with the work to pack it in [the songs into the album] , weren’t there things that you were boiled down by?
麗 – At that time I rested with all my strength, and while watching internet sites with anime/animations I did nothing but drink beer (laugh)
[URUHA~~~!!! You adorable drunkard!! XD]
# You don’t really go out, do you ?
麗 – Not quite, lately I had some time off during the Golden Week [Thank you all for the GW explanation :)] and returned to my parents’ home, and since my parents said they wanted a barbecue I did it with them.
# That’s healthy and sounds fun, right.
麗 – Yeah, but I wonder if I can go back. I thought about it. The intimacy continued in the home garden when I brought the charcoal. I really enjoyed this awesome little structure (laugh).
# By the way, when you complete the DIM album, the next thing is going to be the Saitama Super Arena on the 5th September, the DIM SCENE tour will start, so regarding the GazettE, it seems this year you’re going to be hot and the summer is going to be hot too.
麗 – It seems I said it the previous time too, this time because of the making time [of the album], the live’s place and the songs you’ll see, it’ll be really great. Still, there are going to be some crappy things. To be honest, this time it seems the costumes will benefit the heat. Well, because of summer, I regretted it (laugh).

終 – The End

Arena37°CSpecial 07 2009 – Ruki Interview


[…Like [What do you mean? What’s a pro?]]

- I see. So you haven’t thought about this as a professional, in that relation.

[Yes, yes. For me, I just like being in a band and making music and as such I am simply a band-man, like that. In that sense there is no awareness of this as a profession. Of course, for me being in a band has become work as well, but I really don’t want to think of it like that. Honestly, I’d really just like to be a band-man like that.]

- I understand. Until now, living as you are, have you experienced that at some point you have been saved by those song lyrics? Or maybe how they had a big influence on you?

[Ah, well, no that hasn’t happened. I have never thought about how lyrics might have saved me. Moreover, I think I am more the type who is pretty much the opposite and not expecting lyrics to contain any form of redemption, also I am more the one to like lyrics that don’t do that. (laughs) I really like lyrics I can thoroughly sink into a lot. This is the sort of charisma which I also like about Visual Kei, I think. It’s not completely normal and you can feel the charm of its underground-ness, like liking the bad side of yourself. (laughs) It feels good to think [Ah, I’m just a little evil like that]. (laughs) The lyrics are about my lonely self, which I can write and which are spitting out a bit of my insides. Isn’t this just a bit what Visual Kei feels like? A little like an illusion, whether this is the real world or whether this is a world of lies or, just one we don’t really know, like this? There is this mystery about how we seem to produce some kind of western image and yet we are completely Japanese, aren’t we?]

- Certainly. Of course there are specialties about Japanese Gothic-culture as well, but there are certainly a lot of bands, which insert western elements into their visual style. It is certainly a unique point how this mixture is created.

[It is. This is certainly very unique.]

- Yes, very much so. And in this relation it seems really uncertain, whether this is a world of lies or the world of our present.

[Yes. Well, within the Visual Kei scene there are certainly different types of bands, but I like those, which surprise me and those which challenge me with unseen things, those that have that certain atmosphere, the most. If I was to divide this into [light] and [dark], I’d say I prefer the darker ones. Among those Visual Kei bands there are also some which don’t have these underground elements and which are more the lighter type of a band. There are people who like them and I do understand why they come to like them even, however, personally, I don’t understand this kind of music. I don’t really understand why they concern themselves with Visual Kei on the one hand and yet are of the type to be so happy-go-lucky on the other with their music. However, it is not like I am against the kind of people who ask for that in music, and I see that it is necessary to have this kind of music and this kind of lyrics as well. Still, I don’t really understand it. I’ve said this before, but I think, there is a difference in making everyone happy with those lyrics or evoking emotion with them. I think it is hard to describe with words.]

- I understand, though. I think there are people who become happy by this positive way of thinking and being pushed into that direction. However, I’m not this type either, rather the opposite. I guess I am more the type to change through struggle and negativity. Maybe this is some evil spirit in heaven, but I prefer to think that not everything is good. (laughs)

[Ahahahahaha. Yes, yes. I understand. (laughs)]

- However, there is this one argument again, that it is also one of the things which are in fashion at some point. In this world it is one of the things which is popular at some point and when it’s becoming fashionable for the lager crowd.

[I think it’s certainly like that. Within the visual Kei scene this is something which can also be felt. When there are popular bands those people, who are imitating that style are increasing and they are going with that flow. If those bands however, get through with this until the very end, they will be something individual again, which I think is a good thing. Presumably this is how things are going as well. Honestly, I had been thinking about how this would be, as well. In case you really like something that much, I think it is good to do it persistently on the band’s side as well. On the other hand, when you are only an imitation and do this solely because it is in fashion, maybe because you think you will sell with it, it seems your inner most (self) isn’t connected to it. It will all end with only being an imitation and nothing more. It doesn’t matter how long you do it, it will never be individual. That’s what I think.]

- Yeah, it’s really like that. I think so. As of now, what is a live performance for you?

[A live? Well, it is similar to the feeling of going out to eat together. For me, this is a thing and a place we share just like that, I think. Something we enjoy together. It’s a place where we together are having fun. Like a club, or so.]

- Only the sound source is different?

[It’s because we are not just listening to the music in this case, and we are actively influencing the music in our playing. However, there is also the plus of “sight / being seen” at the live, and with these two [sight and sound / seeing and hearing], it is what we are leaving those people with, who are stepping along with us, I think.]

- A live is a place where people are led to feel certain things not only by their hearing. It is kind of bare and an instant which is only there at that time.

[It is. It can’t be remade with the same atmosphere. Impressions which are made there, are extremely strong.]

- Alright. So, I think I would like to talk a bit more about what the person Ruki is like on his insides. What do you think you are yourself?

[Just myself?]

- hehehehe (sniggers)

[Huh? What, what is it? (laughs) Why are you laughing? (laughs)]

- Nothing, really, I just though, that the way you said [Just myself?] was really manly. (laughs)

[Ahahahahaha. More like [I am a rather clumsy man…] (laughs) Ahahahahahaha. Well, I am…I am rather selfish. I am someone talking only by sensations/feelings. And I am not very good in maths either. (laughs) It’s all just from my own feelings. So from time to time, things I say are different (according to how I feel.) However, I am not saying things (differently) because I lied, after all, I think I am someone who is taking words to action. In that sense, I am really selfish.]

- So if you were a different person, would you like to be friends with Ruki-kun?

[I think, I would. (laughs) Well, I think it would be interesting. (laughs) Actually, I think the people I am good friends with these days are all a lot cooler than me. For me, I really can’t get a hang on people, who are not interesting.]

- So, how do you feel, who is an interesting person and who isn’t?

[For example, there are bands which seemed to have improved so much, however, actually, it’s just those people who have a real passion in their hearts. Somehow, I am really interested in people playing in bands, when they are making cool music, I am into them. I would really like to know who they really are then. Even if they might not make the music with their band I prefer, I am interested in those people with a certain atmosphere, someone who is part of the band and yet seems not to belong there. (laughs) I am drawn to those who really are themselves. I am not someone to be best buddies with everyone; I’d just want to be friends with the people I am interested in. Even if they might be someone who is changing regularly - I usually only make friends with people I am interested in.]

- Yeah, I totally understand.

[Even though they might be in a band, and as such we would be having a rivaling heart in that aspect - making it a little hard to be companions - for example me, SID’s Aki and Nightmares Hitsugi, we are always congratulating each other, when we get into the upper positions of the Oricon charts. By mail, mainly. (laughs) Somehow, it is a rather strange feeling, in which we just don’t fight, which I think is good. It’s the same with my sempais. Be it Kiyoharu-san, Glay’s Teru-san or Ryuichi-san – even when we talk there is so much logic in what they are saying and they are very gentle people. During live they are playing extremely aggressive rock music, but once you get face to face with then, there seem to be no heard edges to them and they are really nice people. Nonetheless, you can still feel the greatness of their abilities and I think that is just amazing.]

- Certainly. People with great abilities do not need to show their greatness more than that, as their natural self reveals this spirit and their face just like that. Even so, they can be still very gentle people. It’s not just a bluff put on. I think, that is what they really are. Do you think you want to be like that?

[Yes, I do, certainly. It’s something to always long for.]

- It seems like it. It’s something people would always try to gain. Anyway, I think you do know yourself the best, so what would be things you like or dislike about the way you are?

[There are (things I like and things I dislike about myself). (laughs) Something I REALLY dislike is how I am totally lazy sometimes.]

- Lazy???

[Yes, yes. (laughs) I’m pretty lazy. And it really doesn’t matter what things I am doing. At first I am really reluctant to do anything, basically. (laughs) I am someone who thinks of things as bothersome a lot and I am not really getting my ass up for things. It’s the same with lyrics, which I usually can’t write until last minute. It’s like I am boasting about that a bit even. (laughs) I usually write the lyrics not until the day before recording. (laughs) And because I am doing it like that a lot, I regret it afterwards. Like [It would have been so much better, if I had done it earlier… …] But the ignition wouldn’t go on. And then, how things are changing according to my mood. (laughs). However, despite those things I don’t like (about myself), there are actually things on the contrary, which I like. (laughs) There are also times, when I am pretty good with what I am like. More than getting something (first hand), (this applies to the times,) when I get a pictures drawn correctly and something just turned out really cool rather unexpectedly.]

- You are rather sensible towards things like that, aren’t you?

[I am. (laughs)]

- However, actually, this isn’t really anything you could do (consciously) just by getting things done.

[That’s right. I think the sensation of something is an important thing. Those things that are just suddenly floating in my head are very precious to me.]

- It is. Earlier, you already told us, that there really isn’t a difference between [Ruki] and the person you normally are, however, there is probably something great to being the vocalist anyway. Even among the members there have probably been people, who saw a big difference between your normal self and the person Ruki - after all, being able to use words like that and write lyrics is something great, isn’t it?

[It is, I think. Still as I said, I can’t just write about lies or imaginative things within my lyrics. It has to be about something real. Certainly I think that’s a big deal. Even I, if I wasn’t the vocalist, would have to set this apart (from who I am).]

- Yeah. Well, as Ruki of the Gazette, what would you like to be like.

[I just want to be myself completely/naturally. Even as I am saying this right now, I don’t change who I usually am. Occasionally, for example at the tour final (at Yoyogi) during the MCs I would just say things which I am not even aware of. Like I wouldn’t even remember, and just shout the things I felt at that place. Nonetheless, I believe that this feeling is a very important one, which I treasure a lot. Even if it was things I absolutely, normally wouldn’t have said and things which weren’t very nice, even, (laughs), it had been unaware like that. Still, there are no lies. As these things just leave my mouth like that, I believe this is truly from my heart.]

- I see. Is this a bit like a curse to you?

[Hmm…no, it isn’t. I am one to rather not count on prayers and god’s help.]

- Are you not incanting anything to ease any sort of stress?

[No, no I don’t (laughs) Still, there is this habit, that before a live, I would turn towards the stage and fold my hands together. That doesn’t mean though, that I am speaking any sort of a prayer, nor does it mean I am not going to possibly fail. I do lives badly quite a bit. ahahahaha]

- Ahahahaha!!!

[However, it might just last until the first song. If I am satisfied with the first song of a live, I can say, that it is going to be a rather good live overall.]

- That’s it.

[That’s it. (laughs)]

- If one gets excited too much about the live, one might fail at that point and then you can’t really go on better, can you? Then, what would be one of your motivations, where do you take them from? I think a great part of the motivation might come from the people (around you), even as you said, that some of them are very much like you, and yet they are complete opposites. So…if your partner was to be a woman, what kind of person and what of her features would get you interested?
[First of all, her face. (laughs)]

- Huh? (laughs)

[Huh? It’s not that? (laughs) Are you saying, the first thing about a woman you’d notice is not the face? (laughs)]

- Ahahahahaha. That’s pretty honest. (laughs)

[It is honest. (laughs) However, of course only by talking you will be able to know whether you can share the same sentiments, or get to know what her innermost (thoughts/feeling) are like. Nonetheless, it’s all starting with her face. (laughs) Ahahaha, however, as I am more of the person with a rather complicated home environment, I am looking ahead and working hard for thing and I am rather attracted to this kind of desperation and hard work.]

- You would like to protect someone, then?

[Nope. Rather the opposite.]

- hm?

[I am more the one to be completely under the woman’s thumb. (laughs) Therefore, I am not much of the protector-type. (laughs)]

- Isn’t that a bit of a contradiction? (laughs)

[It’s more of a reverse. (laughs) It’s more of an ideal, which I have. (laughs) Actually, though, a woman, who has to be dragged along like that, is a real no-go. Therefore it is better if she’s taking the lead then, and even though I might still protect her, I’d rather be lead by her. (laughs)]

- Ahahahahaha, so you really would like to be under such a woman’s thumb then?

[Yes, yes. I’d totally like that. (laughs) Saying this, though, it is impossible, if she’d want me to be totally attentive, when talking (and getting things unsaid). I’d hope she’d just tell me things really frankly. I like people with a rather bad character. (laughs) And women who have a strong character. For example, if I ever cheated on her, it had to be someone who be like [Oh really? Well, it can’t be helped… …] (laughs)]

- Ahahaha, because there is probably never a good opportunity to talk about it.

[Right. (laughs) Well, on the other hand, I also think that if there was a reason to be jealous and she wouldn’t be, that’s also bad. I think there is no need to overdo this kind of jealousy, still if there is a reason to be jealous and yet she isn’t, something’s wrong. [It’s not good if you can’t burn in the heat.] I’d say as Ruki. And as that is including myself, I say that, too.]

- Perfect! That’s a very good saying. It really is like that. [It’s not good if you can’t burn in the heat.]. That expression is very satisfying. Very artistic. It’s really a no-go, otherwise. I think because you have this kind of thinking, it is just natural, that you have such a natural, multicolored personality. You are very colorful as a person and I think that is very satisfying, too.

[Ahahahahaha, so I am a very colorful person? (laughs) Looking at myself, I can’t really comprehend that, though. (laughs)]

- Yes, yes. Well I guess that is something one can’t really grasp about oneself. (laughs)

For someone who has never heard about the GazettE, how would you describe your music, image, and message?

KAI: Hmm, We have a mixture of everything. *laugh* That's how I see it. I think we are a band that is able to do all genres of music. Sometimes when making new songs, there are times when we think, "This is quite new for us," but once we actually do it, somehow it always end up sounding like our music, that when the five of us do it together, it will turn to the GazettE's music. That's why I think we are able to cover all types of music.



How did you become the leader of the GazettE?

KAI: *Laughs* About that, to tell you the truth, we asked for a volunteer. We asked each other, "Who wants to be the leader?" so I said, "Ok I'll do it."



Were you the only one that raised your hand?

KAI: Yes. I think the others thought it'll probably just be troublesome work. *laugh* But naturally, a drummer's position is the only position that can oversee the whole audience and the whole band at the same time. So in that sense, I feel that I would like to support the members from behind; that is why I volunteered to become the leader. When I said "I'll do it!" nobody else raised their hand so...



Maybe they wanted to, but were just shy?

KAI: I thought so too, I thought at least two or three of them would want to be the leader *laugh* but nobody raised their hands, so I said I'd do it.



So you want to support the others from behind, that's like YOSHIKI.

KAI: Eh? No, no, I'm not that good *laugh*.



When making music, do you start with the music first or the lyrics? How does each band member contribute?

KAI: RUKI covers all the lyrics; music-wise, the five of us would compose tunes, select one together, and then arrange it together. We start with the music, well, RUKI would add the lyrics and the melody later on, so I guess we start with composing the music first.



So you compose the songs together?

KAI: Yes.



The musical direction of STACKED RUBBISH is very different from that of NIL. Some fans even say that parts of it sounded more hip-hop. Was this a conscious decision on the band's part or did it just happen?

KAI: For us, when we make an album, we don't decide on a set concept. When making a single, since there are only a few tracks on a single, we have to use the leading track to present our view, and the image of the CD. But in an album, the first thing we think of is that we need to have variations in music, so we try to cover a range of types of music. So in NIL, that presented the challenges we had at that time, and the new album, well to say hip-hop, there was only one track that was like that. But it was new to us, so for us we feel like it has opened up a new door for us. We did not exactly aim for the hip-hop sound, though.



Speaking of releases, you will be releasing a new single next year. Could you tell us about it?

KAI: Yeah well, the release date has not yet been decided. But right now the music is coming together bit by bit, we are discussing let's do this, let's do that, so we can't really tell you anything because well, it's not complete yet. It's a secret *laugh*.


*Everyone laughs*


Top secret!!


In DISORDER, the song "Saraba" had a very strong anti-war message. Are there any songs such as ones from STACKED RUBBISH that raise strong political or moral questions?

KAI: I don't think so, anything politically. According to RUKI, all the lyrics he writes are from things he's actually experienced. He's the only one that writes lyrics.


Have you ever attempted to write lyrics?

KAI: There was once, a while back, RUKI asked us to contribute some lyrics to a song. It was three lines, and he asked us to write whatever we felt like. I did and he laughed at what I wrote. *laugh*


Where those lines used at all?

KAI: No, actually, yes, REITA's lines got used, in "ITO."


Now that you mention him, why does REITA wear the handkerchief on his nose?

KAI: Oh, that's like his trademark now, it's like a part of his body. That is REITA.


Does he wear that normally?

KAI: *Laugh* No, but as the bassist of the GazettE, that is the way REITA is.


Isn't it hard to breathe like that?

KAI: Well, I guess since he's still alive it mustn't be too bad.


*Everyone laughs*


If we think about it, we do start wondering, but since he hasn't complained about it I guess it's alright.


Do you design your own costumes, or do you let the stylist design for you?

KAI: We work with the stylist to come up with the design. We would draw up a design of what we imagine ourselves wearing, and then the stylist would suggest "Wouldn't it be better like this?" afterwards, so we design together.



That's really interesting to hear about the creative process that goes into your image. So, to digress a little, you have just completed a live at the Budokan this year. Last September, you also did a live concert there. What was the biggest difference, experience-wise?

KAI: Definitely. This time around, we know what we are doing and how we are presenting ourselves. We are able to look at ourselves objectively, since it's our second time performing there, and I think that's the biggest difference. It really applies to all the concerts we did in this tour.



At the Yokohama and the Budokan concerts, all of your parents were there amongst the audience. How did that make you feel?

KAI: You mean how it felt to perform in front of our parents? It was a happy experience, it wasn't really like repaying them, but when we first started the band, we had to go through a lot of difficulties and they helped us a lot. Finally now we are at a place where we can, not just substantially repay them, but emotionally as well, and I am really happy about that.



Was there anything that presented itself as a challenge during your tour this time?

KAI: Hmm.. challenge. It's not as much of a challenge, being that I think we have discovered new things that we can work on. When doing a live, we come to know what we are lacking, and what we need to do to change that. So, at the next live, or even at a recording session, we can find ways to overcome the problems. We basically found new things that we need to work on, and didn't really have much opportunity to face new challenges.


Last summer, you played your first show in Europe. What was that like?

KAI: The biggest difference to Japan was that it was unrestricted and had an open feeling, the fans were too, and they show how much they are enjoying the music with their whole body. To non-Japanese fans, it might be just something natural that they do, but since we'd only done concerts in Japan, it was a quite fresh experience for us. Surprisingly we felt that it was close to what we expect from our fans, in regards to the relationship and their response. In that sense, the Japanese fans are a bit more restricted, so I think it's a good thing that the overseas fans don't have that restricted feeling. Music is not something that you have to think about or consider while listening, right? I think it's meant to be experienced subconsciously.


Was there anything unpleasant, or something that surprised you?

KAI: Nothing in particular but, probably food. We are so accustomed to Japanese food, so food there was very different and some didn't cater to our taste *laugh* But the beer was good. And sausages. The rice was very different from Japanese rice. We were surprised. *laugh* We ordered rice and were surprised by what they brought out. *laugh*


You will soon be departing to go to Europe to do your PULSE WRIGGLING TO BLACK tour. Are you excited about that?

KAI: Yes, I am really looking forward to that.


It will be your second time to Germany, and first time to London, Paris, and Helsinki. How do you feel about going to perform in those new places?

KAI: Yeah well, this is totally unrelated, but I love soccer, and so does my manager. *laugh*


Did you play soccer?

KAI: Yes, in elementary school, junior high, and high school. So to me, France is like the holy ground for soccer, so I am really excited about going there. Although that's totally unrelated to what you asked *laugh*


*Everyone laughs*


In regards to this European tour, how did that come about?

KAI: Last year we attended ANIMAGIC there, an anime convention, and at the same time we were asked if we would like to perform in Europe. A bit prior to that, we had already contemplated with the idea of doing concerts overseas, so we took that offer. And we have gotten hooked on doing concerts overseas *laugh* It was really fun. So after the first time, we already thought that we would like to do more, even though we didn't get the new offers yet. We talked amongst ourselves that we would like to do lives in more countries. We thought we would like to take any chance possible.


Do you plan on doing tours in other countries, or release CDs there?

KAI: In Germany, well, in Europe, our CDs are already being sold there, I saw it myself at the stores there. NIL was being sold *laugh*


What about other countries?

KAI: If we have the opportunity, we would definitely like to go.


What about Asia?

KAI: Asia‚, nothing so far. We haven't been to Korea, or America, for that matter, so if we decide to do concerts there, I think naturally the CDs will be sold there, too.


You will be spending your birthday (October 28th) this year in Europe. Are you planning to do anything to celebrate your birthday?

KAI: Yeah *laugh* I think we will end up doing nothing *laugh* I think we will be too busy. We will probably be moving to a different location that day. But I think it will be quite an experience, since we don't normally get to spend our birthdays overseas. We might be crossing national borders at that time.

*Everyone laughs*


I don't really have the need that I have to spend my birthday in Japan.

What is the most fun song to perform at a live, and what is the most difficult song to perform at a live?

KAI: The most fun song would be "LINDA," and the most difficult one would be the song in our new album, "GENTLE LIE" I think, because we put in a lot of phrases that I am not so good at. Well it's not so much as,"Oh let's just put those in," but I wanted to make it more challenging for myself. So it's the most difficult.


What direction will the GazettE take on from here, and how would you like to grow as a band?

KAI: Hmm, we would really like to have more people listen to our music. Of course, there are a lot of people in the world that don't know about us. We would like to have them know us, listen to our music, and if they don't like it, then that's fine. We don't want to be judged because of our appearance when they haven't even listened to our music. So the first thing would be to have more people listen to our music. We would also like to expand our activities to overseas.
Since you joined the GazettE in 2003, is there something that changed for you individually?


KAI: There are countless changes. For example, I probably shouldn’t say it myself, but I think I have become more considerate of others. *laugh* Because the staff, and a lot of people that we come in contact with while working, all work as a team to make things happen. It’s like a happy thing to see happening. So naturally, I’ve gotten better at human relationships, and although it’s not a substantial thing, it is definitely a treasure to me.



That’s great to hear. the GazettE is very well known amongst fans for reading fanmail. Is that true?


KAI: Yes, we do read fanmail. Fanmail from overseas fans have also increased recently. The ones that go on and on in English are of course, very hard to read, but now there are translation websites that can convert a whole text of English to Japanese, so we input the text and the site would translate it for us. In that way, we can read it. Some of the English mail, since my mother can read and speak English, she translates them for me *laugh*


Have you ever replied to fanmail?


KAI: We cannot reply to emails. A lot of people write, “I will wait for your reply!” But we cannot reply to them. It’s set up so we cannot reply mails. Even if we want to we cannot. As for hand written letters, we used to do those a long time ago. To everyone.


Around 2003 or 2004, I would reply to all the fanmail. Then my mom said, since I kept on writing the same thing to everyone, and I would continue on in the same position, I would get tendonitis, and it would be stupid to get that through writing replies to fanmail. She said she can understand if I get tendonitis through playing drums, but to get tendonitis from writing mail would just be silly. So I decided to stop replying to mail. Also since I can’t just reply to one person and not the other, I stopped writing altogether. But I still do read the mail.


Were there any letters that really moved you?


KAI: Hmm… letters that moved me… Yeah, there were a lot… there were a lot of sad letters, or letters that left a strong impression. For example, there was one fan who wrote that their friend really liked us, but got into an accident the day before our concert, and passed away. When we got that mail, since it was the day before the concert, although we weren’t really dedicating it to that fan in particular, we felt that we wanted to perform as if they were there with us. Of course there were also a lot of happy letters, such as one fan who wrote that, since she has five kids, she named her kids after our names. The ones she named KAI and REITA were twins. The other three were just RUKI, URUHA, and AOI. *laugh*


How do you feel about the growth of popularity of Japanese rock music in foreign countries?


KAI: I think it’s great. It’s great that without having to change the visual scene, Japanese music is gaining recognition and popularity overseas.


What do you think of Jrock Revolution, the idea of gathering different bands and presenting them to a foreign audience? And would you like to be a part of that in the future?


KAI: I think it’s great since as a band, we have been doing one-man lives for a while, and haven’t been doing concerts or appear in festivals with the other bands, so it would be nice to see what the other bands are like, and we can learn from them, too. I think it’s a good idea.


the GazettE has performed with other bands from PS Company. Are you friends with the other bands as well?


KAI: Well… we don’t usually go beyond exchanging “Happy birthday” messages. Even though we are from the same company, we are all quite different so… Hmm… what was it again? *laugh* Interacting with the other bands? Well, I guess there is something; as a company we have an annual bowling contest.


Bowling contest? Not soccer?


KAI: Yeah, I don’t know why it’s not soccer *laugh*. We have a bowling contest every year, and we get to talk to each other about things besides music as well. So we do interact with the other bands.


You are a LUNA SEA fan, right?


KAI: Yes.


Are you planning on going to their live on December 24th?


KAI: Yes… I would absolutely like to go.


How did you feel about their resurrection?


KAI: I am sincerely happy, since they inspired me to become a musician, to start in a band. I am very happy about the fact that I can see them on stage together again.


Have you met any LUNA SEA members?


KAI: Yes, we’ve met them at radio shows and such.


Who did you meet?


KAI: Their bassist, J, and support guitarist, INORAN, and also RYUICHI sends us flowers often when we have concerts. We have also met SHINYA because he worked with Miyavi once. I haven’t met SUGIZO yet. Next time if there’s a chance I would definitely like to meet him.


Are there any questions that you would like to be asked, but have never been asked in an interview?


KAI: A question I would like to be asked? What a question… *laugh*


Isn’t that a good question? *laugh*


KAI: Like, a question I would like to answer? Hmm… well generally I don’t reject any questions, so you can ask anything *laugh*


Is there something you would like to share with us?


KAI: Things I would like people to know I’ve probably already expressed somewhere. So I guess there’s really nothing left. *laugh*


No secrets?


KAI: Nothing in particular… For example, any information regarding the band would be announced officially, and when we are being interviewed, everyone including myself, we would say however we really feel. There are several places for us to speak our minds, such as on our diaries (on the official website), so we do say whatever we want to say.


You seem to be quite good at cooking.


KAI: I like cooking. Whether or not it tastes good, I like working in the kitchen… I used to work at a restaurant, and I enjoyed cooking there, so I like cooking a lot. I like to do creative cooking, adding different things thinking that they’ll probably go together.


Do you still have time to cook, with your busy schedule?


KAI: At home, sure… I do have some time to cook.


In your profile it says that you don’t drink. Is there a reason why?


KAI: Oh that… I don’t dislike drinking. In fact I sort of started liking it again, and sometimes I drink at home too. But when we drink together, we have so much fun that I tend to over-drink, I would feel the need to release... hmm how should I put it…


MANAGER: Just say you behave badly when you drink!


*Everyone laughs*


KAI: That’s not true! I don’t behave badly when I am drunk. But when I get drunk, it’s more like, *he gestures, his hand traveling upwards before suddenly “crashing” downwards*


Do you start crying?


KAI: No, but tension-wise, I start to feel low. So there was a period that I really didn’t like that about myself, so I decided to stop drinking. It’s been about two years. Recently I started drinking again, though.


Then you probably need to update your profile.


KAI: *Laugh* Yes.


What alcohol do you like?


KAI: Hmm… I like beer, and there’s one from Okinawa called Awamori, I like how it tastes.


What world or Japanese issues are very important to you or the band? Do you use your music to convey a message in regards to those issues?


KAI: Well, I think most of our messages are in the music. Since RUKI is the only one that writes the lyrics, all the messages are directly from him and indirectly from us, since most of the time the five of us think alike. If there is anything we think is troubling, RUKI would put it in the lyrics.


What are your wishes for the future, both personally and as a band?


KAI: Personally… I would like to live happily. *laugh* It sounds easy, but happiness, it’s hard to attain.


How do you plan on attaining that happiness?


KAI: There are many ways. For me, I would like to one day own a big house. *laugh* It’s quite a humble wish. For the band, as I’ve mentioned earlier, we would like to see how far we can go, and would like to reach as many people as possible with our music. We would like to go to all sorts of places.

Interview by Kuri
Translation and Transcription by Christina Fang
Additional questions contributed by Raz and Michelle Friendlander

[Radio] RADIO JACK [2009.07.17]

K: Yes, hi, good evening, this is Kai from the GazettE. It's started again for this week, Radio Jack. So today, it's straight after we've released something, so I've called in someone from the GazettE to help me. And it's this person.
R: It's Reita. (laughs)
K: Again. (laughs) Well, we're pretty familiar with each other, but...
R: Yeah, well, we're familiar.. so like, I might s-stuff up my words.
K: (laughs) Yeah, you're right.
R: Like right now. (laughs)
K: Yeah, because you're an MC.
R: You know, I heard a rumor that there was going to be a new, unknown MC next week and look, here I am. (laughs)
K: Just taking advantage of what I said.. (laughs)
R: Yep, taking advantage. (laughs)
K: We'll keep overtaking each other as MC then. (laughs)
R: (laughs)
K: But we're pretty familiar with each other, so I wonder what tonight'll be like? Will we be able to do a vigilant talk?
R: Well you're the leader.. I'll say "please look after me" once.
K: Yes, please look after me as well!
R: Yes!
K: Ok, our progress at the moment.. actually, we've just released DIM, but actually, we're starting our tour tomorrow... (laughs)
R: Yeah, that's right.
K: Do we have time? (laughs)
R: We don't.
K: We don't have any at all. None at all. (laughs) Um, up until now, well, we've thought about this next thing a lot, haven't we?
R: Yeah, we have.
K: We've done a lot of different things, and... we've had rehearsals from April 3rd, right?
R: Right.
K: But.. we went through our normal rehearsal schedule, and we've got lives starting from tomorrow. (laugh)
R: Yeah, but this'll be full of new challenges and we don't know what'll happen, but.. we'll be taking a good step forward.
K: Ah, you think so? With the tour starting from tomorrow.
R: Yep.
K: Yes, ok, well we're at the point where we have to play a song--
R: Yeah, that's right. But like, even you're listening to the single song.
K: Yeah, it's like, haven't you already released it? People are saying "we want to hear about the other songs." So we'll go straight to the other songs here. So, the song that's been chosen is A MOTH UNDER THE SKIN. What does this mean? Reita?
R: It's meaning?
K: What does it mean? What does "moth" mean?
R: Ah, that's "ga."
K: Ah yeah, that's "ga," isn't it?
R: And "Under the Skin?" That's "hika no shita no ga."
K: Ohhhhhh, I see! (laughs) I guess this is..
R: It has a deeper meaning, so I think you would enjoy the song more while reading the lyrics.
K: And also, it's who we are isn't it? Like, when we explain this song in interviews, like in magazines, we say that if you read the lyrics while listening to it, we think that it might be a little different. So yes, we'd like you all to listen to it here. So please listen. This is A MOTH UNDER THE SKIN by the GazettE.

===SONG===

K: Yes, the song you just listened to was A MOTH UNDER THE SKIN by the GazettE. Ok! This is the program RADIO JACK that Kai--
R: and Reita
K: are bringing to you. Ok, the fact that Reita is with me--
R: Ah, sorry.
K: means that we took applications for questions on the OHP before. So, we'll be doing.. "Kai and Reita's--
R & K: "Quick Answers!"
K: A-ah, thank you very much. (laughs) S-saying that just now. (laughs) I was a bit surprised just then though. (laughs)
R: Sorry. (laughs)
K: No, thank you. (laughs) Ok! Let's get onto it. We received a lot of questions... so I'll start by introducing some of them..
Radio Name: Konyo. Nice to meet you. I'm always supporting you. I was just wondering if you would help me with something. I'm finding it harder and harder to relate to people at work, and I'm fighting as hard as I can to repair this. It's hard to relate to people, isn't it? When I was younger, I always thought this kind of problem would go away when I grew up. So I was wondering if I could hear you tell me "good work" and "good luck" with my job and having children. If you can do that, I think I'll be able to be strong. Thank you. (bursts out laughing) This really isn't something we can answer quickly. (laughs)
R: Yeah, we can't, but... well, even though you think that kind of problem is going to go away when you grow up, it does appear again when you are an adult.
K: Yeah, that's right.
R: Because your position changes, doesn't it? In different environments.
K: Yeah.
R: I'm sure we'll keep being worried about a lot of different things, right?
K: I wonder. I wonder..
R: So, really... good work.
K: Yeah, good work..!
R: Please do your best.
K: Please do your best!
R: Well.. if you listen to our music, as a diversion, that'll make you happy.
K: Ohh, you tied that in well. (laughs) You're different from last time~
R: I'm the unknown MC.
K: (laughs)
R: Ok, the next one. Can I read it?
K: Yeah, go ahead.
R: Kai, good evening. Ah, their nickname is Youkan. I listen to your show every week. While saying that, I've listened to it quite a lot after Kai became the host.
K: (bursts out laughing)
R: OI!! You can't say that!!
K: That's ok~ (laughs)
R: Before, I thought Reita's voice was really nice, but I ended up liking Kai's voice more after he became the host.
K: Oh!
R: Reita's voice is really low. Really low. Kai's voice makes my heart twinge. (laughs)
K: Oh my God.. (laughs)
R: That made me wonder what I like and dislike about a man's voice. I was wondering if Kai had any likes and dislikes in regards to women's voices. Please keep trying your best. "We Rock."
K: Their voice?
R: Yeah.
K: Their voice... Ah, but, it's pretty important isn't it?
R: What kind of voice do you like?
K: What kind... A calm voice? I probably like that.. Like they don't...
R: Scream a lot?
K: Yeah, scream a lot. I... like that the best.
R: Hm.. is that so..? (both burst out laughing)
K: I don't know what you're getting at there. (laughs) What about you?
R: Um, I... well, I don't really worry about a woman's voice, but... I worry about their use of words?
K: Yeah, that's true. Women.. shouldn't really say things like "Crap!" (laughs) Like, you don't want them to say those kinds of things.
R: And if they say "Bastard!"... (laughs)
K: (laughs) Yeah, that's true.. But well, it's all personal.
R: Yeah, well voices change, don't they? So yeah.. I don't worry about them.
K: Yeah, I don't worry about them at all.
R: It seems like a lot of women do though.
K: Yeah, women.. probably like low voices.
R: Yeah, I go to voice training for that.
K: You don't need it. (laughs)
R: (laughs)
K: Ok, next! Their radio name.. nick name is Nimuro. Kai and Reita, good evening. I know this is sudden, but I have a problem. What do you call the machine where you put in two 100yen coins and a capsule comes out? I call this a "gachapon," but my friends seem to call it a "gachagacha," so I've come to deny that I call it a "gachapon." Is calling it a "gachapon" weird?
R: Um.. by the way, what do you call it?
K: I call it a "gachapon."
R: Ah.. I get it now. (laughs)
K: (laughs)
R: I call it a "gachagacha."
K: But, hey--
R: A "Chaa-ga, chaa-ga"
K: But I've always.. like, Muscle Man toys were in those machines right? Wait, they probably weren't called "gachapon"?
R: They're "gachagacha."
K: But "gachagacha" don't come out. The machine rattles, like "gacha," and then the toy pops out, like "pon!" So that doesn't make sense. That's why they're called "gachapon."
R: Yeah, but it doesn't rattle and then pop out... It rattles.. like "g-gacha"... "pon." (laughs)
K: (laughs) With "gachagacha".. there's no "pon". It doesn't come out. That's why I say "gachapon."
R: Well I say "gachagacha."
K: Well..
R: By the way, everyone in Gazette has one of these - a memory stick, like a USB--
K: Yeah, yeah.

R: And we all call it a "gachakon." (laughs)
K: Yeah, a "gachakon." (laughs)
R: We made it a "gachakon."
K: "Gachakon"... Why that? (laughs)
R: Yeah, I wonder why.
K: I wonder why.. But they're pretty rich, aren't they? People with gachakon.
R: Yeah, they are.
K: Well, probably. I guess.. the people you think wouldn't say it.. actually call it a "gachakon." (laughs) Really... I've heard that a lot. (laughs) But yeah, either's ok. (laughs) You can call it a "gachapon."
R: Yeah, the fact that we realised we say say it differently here means that it does have two names.
K: Yeah, it does. So yes, please tell your friends. You should tell your friends.
R: Yes.
K: Yes. Ok! With that, we're going to play one more song--
R: Yeah!
K: from DIM--
R: Yeah!!
K: So please listen - this is Shiroki Yuuutsu by the GazettE.

===SONG===

K: Yes, the song you just listened to was Shiroki Yuuutsu by the GazettE. Ok! This is the program RADIO JACK that Kai and Reita.. (laughs)
R: are bringing to you. (laughs) Yes. ..How rude! I didn't even get to say my name! (laughs)
K: (laughs) Yeah, you're right. Why did I say Reita? (laughs)
R: This is Kai and Reita's--
K & R: "Quick Answers!" (both burst out laughing)
R: Yes.
K: Radio name: Rapisu Raspberry. I love DISTRESS AND COMA.
R: Ah, thank you very much.
K: When I bought it, I had fallen in love with someone, and a lot of things happened and I ended up burdoning their parents. At the time, my feelings and thoughts linked to the lyrics and atmosphere of the song and I really related to it. (I studied classical ballet for around 10 years, so I thought the lyrics of the bridge really matched the music. And at the same time, I felt like I could finally be accepted. Also, Kai's smile helped me. ..What the? (laughs) It's written there! (laughs) Thank you very much. (laughs) Ok, here's the question. What kind of gestures do you like and dislike (in regards to women)? I'm looking forward to your answers.
R: Gestures I like? I dunno...
K: Gestures I like...
R: I said this ages ago, but I like when girls puff out their cheeks... but.. there are hardly any that do that nowdays.
K: Yeah, there aren't!
R: So if I imagine it, I think it's cute.
K: (laughs)
R: But I haven't seen any do that. Puff out their cheeks..
K: Yeah, I haven't seen any. Definitely. Hm.. gestures I like. Well, this might sound a bit perverted.. (laughs)
R: Go ahead. I love perverted things.
K: (laughs) Um, when a woman drops something, um, I like it when they don't pick it up by squatting... Do you know what I mean? (laughs)
R: Like their hands are super long?
K: (laughs) No, no, no. How should I put it? (laughs) Um, well I can't show you even if I do it here, but like, not picking it up by squatting, but.. how do I put it? Like, picking up something by bending and lowering your back.
R: Like women who wear skirts do?
K: Well, mostly OLs.
R: Ah, I get it.
K: But like, when they do it, for some reason..
R: It's perverted. (both burst out laughing) Yeah, that's perverted.
K: (laughs) I kind of like it. Seeing it, that is. But like, I don't try to look up their skirt or at their chest--
R: Yeah, but even though you're not saying anything, just telling everyone is like you're trying to get in their good books.
K: (laughs) But I'm not saying that looking at their breasts or underwear is good. I like their posture.
R: Ah, I see.
K: I like it a lot. A lot.. Ohhh, this is good! We waited for 12AM, so it's a good time for this now--
R: Oh, I'm turned on.
K: (laughs) Ok, the opposite now - gestures you don't like.
R: Gestures I don't like? Uh... sitting cross-legged?
K: Ah, if a woman sits like that on the ground?
R: Yeah, sitting cross-legged...
K: Yeah, I hate that too.
R: I wonder why.. Like.. it's a bit immodest?
K: Yeah, it's immodest.. Well I.. what I dislike is... argh, I wonder what. Surprisingly, I see a lot of girls going like "ahhhh" with their mouths wide open.
R: ... You don't see any at all!
K: (laughs) You see it a lot in dramas! It happens a lot, it happens a lot. Like when they're using chopsticks... I don't like them with their mouths open... I guess I hate it..
R: You hate it?
K: Yeah, that's a bit...
R: ...N-no one's making you! (both burst out laughing) No one's forcing you, but you say you hate it? (laughs)
K: Ok, ok. (laughs) No, I hate it, so I have no choice but to struggle with it.
R: Ah, ok.
K: It's ok. But like, it's a bit rude, right? I just feel that when I see it.
R: Like, they're childish?
K: Like, they have bad manners. I can't help but feel that.
R: Ohh, someone's a bit straight-laced, aren't they? (laughs)
K: (laughs) Well, um.. this was meant to be "Kai and Reita's Quick Answers," but we didn't answer any of the questions quickly.
R: No, we didn't.
K: Yeah, we should make this "Kai and Reita's Two Cents." (laughs)
R: But you can't talk about a lot with that.
K: Yeah, you can't. (laughs)
R: It'd be like "you're saying too much." We'll never be able to stop.
K: (laughs) Yeah, that'd be good.
R: Yeah, that's good.
K: Ok, we're running short on time, so we'll end this corner. And we'll go onto another song. We've had enough of this talk, so we have to go onto a song.
R: Yeah, we've waited for it.
K: Yes. I want to play another song, but you know, I thought a lot about which song to play here. And.. I chose a song based on my own judgement of what would be good. Uh.. I chose another song from DIM. So, please listen - this is IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS by the GazettE.

===SONG===

K: Yes, the song you just heard was IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS by the GazettE.
R: It's pretty cool, huh?
K: Yes! Ok, this is the program RADIO JACK that Kai from GazettE and....
R: ..Reita. (laughs) That was a long pause.
K: (laughs) Well, unfortunately we've come to the end of our show, but how was it after not doing it for a while?
R: The radio show?
K: Yeah. On radio... how do you feel coming back?
R: Well, I feel like I've finally found where I belong.
K: Ohhhh.. Really... You know, it's not like they're going to say "we'll just have Reita from next week" after you've finished all this fake etiquette. (laughs)
R: No, I don't mean that. Now you're putting pressure on me. Completely.
K: (laughs)
R: You're depriving me of a job, jeez.
K: Yeah.. With this vigilant talk.
R: But, next week....
K: Yes?
R: Can I come again?
K: Oh! Of course!
R: Really?
K: Will you come?
R: Of course!! (both burst out laughing)
K: Ok, please, come again next week then, yeah?
R: Yeah, thank you.
K: I'd like you here! Ok! We're waiting for all your mail here. We're also waiting for your thoughts on DIM. And we're currently collecting messages with the theme of experiences, or your first experiences.
R: Leader will like those~
K: (laughs) No, no, no. "First experience" doesn't mean that! (laughs) Anyway, please send your messages to ps-jaz@bayfm.co.jp. Please include your radio name, full name, address, and email address. The people whose messages are chosen will receive a signed head, drum head, as a present. That's for 2 people.
R: Yep, we'll be signing them.
K: And you can listen to this broadcast from any computer around the country. Please access it from Bayfm's homepage with the internet radio program there. After the end of today's broadcast, you'll be able to access it again until next week from the website. And! A message from the GazettE. For the people who still haven't heard our new album DIM, please check it out. Um... we played 3 songs from it today, but there are a lot more new songs, and we rerecorded some songs as well. Yes, so please listen to it. And we'll be starting our nationwide tour tomorrow, the GazettE 09 DIM SCENE tour, but we'll also be going to Bay Area.
R: Yeah, we will. Because we're also "bay."
K: (laughs) Yeah. We'll be going to Ichikawa Shibunka Kaikan on July 20th, Chiba-ken Bunka Kaikan on August 24th, and a lot of different places around the country, and our final is at the Saitama Super Arena, so please come and see us.
R: We're pretty close to Chiba, aren't we?
K: Yeah, we are. We're going to places where the most people who want to see us can, so please come. Information about the GazettE can be found at our OHP: www.pscompany.co.jp/gazette. Or, you can just search for us and it'll come up. Please look at all the details there!
R: Oh.. the force of your bias is scary! (laughs) Yes, please look, please look. (laughs)
K: Yes.. (laughs) Ok, with that! Um.. RADIO JACK... (laughs) This was RADIO JACK with Kai from Gazette and..
R: Reita!
K: Yes! Your hosts today were the GazettE's Kai and
R: Reita!
K: Ok, see you next week~! Bye bye!
R: Bye bye~

~~~

Notes: The term "first experience" in Japanese can also mean first sexual experience. Hence Reita's joke.

2009 - 08 CD DATA - Gazette Self Liner Note on [DIM]
the members' thoughts in each song on DIM.



01. [剥離 – peeling-off]

[This is the opening of the album, still it’s not meant to be connected to the second song. Meaning-wise it is the same as shedding one’s skin and letting if fall off. It’s supposed to be like spitting everything out from there on with that meaning. (Ruki)]

02. [The Invisible Wall]

[First of all, we wanted to make a song with a difficult drum-beat. (Ruki)]

[There are very different elements inserted into this and the recording of all of it took quite some time. (Kai)]

[However, I think this has turned out to be the most distinct song of all - it is good in that position. (Aoi)]

03. [A Moth Under The Skin]

[We made this song with the thought of putting in more features of our bassist. (Aoi)]

[This seemed like my time to be and eventually bathe in the spotlight. (laughs) I think it is good, how it came out crisp and clear. (Reita)]

04. [LEECH]

[Unchangingly the A-melody is straining the song quite a bit, but that is how we had recorded it during the time of the single (at first). We tried to get back to that again, and rather than being a new version, it became more of the original version again. (Ruki) ]

05. [泣ヶ原 – crying fields]

[For this song, too, I still think we could have done this even better when looking at it now. (Ruki)]

[I was wondering how much of an emotion I could produce just with the guitar. I looked (towards making this song), thinking, that it would be great to express this with that song. (Aoi)]

06. [エ リ カ-- Erika]

[This is the continuation of [泣ヶ原 - Nakigahara]. Erika is also the name of a flower. In the language of flowers it stands for [Loneliness] and in that context, it includes the bad feeling of it being a woman’s name, too. I made this sound to produce just the worst feeling, too. (Ruki)]

07. [HEADACHE MAN]

[This is the ending theme of that movie coming out this fall. (Aoi)]

[When the director got to know us, we did have a couple of songs to choose from, however, this one was chosen, because we, ourselves, did not seem very aggressive as the Gazette. (Kai)]

08. [紅蓮 – Red Lotus]

[I think it is good, how we were able to make this not sound like it is actually one year and a half old already. (Uruha)]

[The singing part was actually only redone in one single part. There was this one part which I frequently changed during our lives. (Ruki)]

09. [子宮 – Uterus]

[This is supposed to be the 3rd-person-view on [紅蓮 - Guren]. I made this thinking [What would a theme-song for this story be like?] The title is printed reversed as the sounds are also all played reversed. (Ruki)]

10. [13STAIRS[-]1]

[The original melody was produced by Uruha, and I believe, that its lethargy actually turned out pretty good. (Aoi)]

[It’s a pretty maniacal song, but I think it is good, that the greatness of it is still brought across somehow. (Uruha)]

[During the lives, I’d really like to do this song without the clicking-sound. (Kai)]

11. [DISTRESS AND COMA]

[It is this song from which we actually started into [DIM] (Reita)]

[We caught on from something at that point, bringing it all along the album, stretching it even more and could see even further up from there. (Uruha)]

12. [感触 – Sensation]

[This is like a prelude to [白き優鬱 – Shiroki Yuutsuu]. Still, it’s like a scene of a memory. I thought that inserting this into the album would make it easier to listen to and that it would deepen the album as one.]

13. [白き優鬱 – Blunt /White Melancholy]

[This is really a song much like Aoi’s. (Ruki)]

[I wanted to create something with a motive, which is not like our usual color, however, at its completion with Ruki’s lyrics added, it solely became a very Gazette-like song. (Aoi)]

14. [IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS]

[From the approach of the guitars it is greatly a song of ours and I think I was able to create this sense of existence and let it be felt. (Uruha)]

[This is a great feeling to the song and lately I can go totally crazy over it playing it over and over. (Aoi)]

15. [朦朧 – Diffusion]

[This is the intro to [OGRE], like the person turning into a demon. It is as if there was a bug, something that is changing me from the inside and the resulting trance of that. (Ruki) ]

16. [OGRE]

[This song felt like [Are we actually doing this at last?!] (Uruha)]

[At first this song had been pretty fast, even to the point where I would just say, I couldn’t do it. So we tried to lower it a bit, but actually, it is still as fast. (Ruki)]

17. [DIM SCENE]

[More than making this a ballade, we really wanted to make this to show a very dark side within ourselves. (Uruha)]

[The lyrics are also very appropriate for this song and in a good shape we were able to let this be the end of the album, I think. (Reita)]



Translated by kouri0201 on LJ

"07. [HEADACHE MAN]

[This is the ending theme of that movie coming out this fall. (Aoi)]"

Apie kokį filmą jis čia kalba?!

KERA - Nov. 09 The Gazette

Interviewer
The guys answer in exactly this order...:
RUKI
URUHA
AOI
REITA
KAI
() - explanations in the text
[] - my comments & explanations :)


First off, what was your first impression when you heard the original melody of the new song BEFORE I DECAY?
RUKI: Since the album is heavy and there is a lot of suspension, I thought about doing a simple and speeding song next. Personally, we made a minor song with a very good meaning (laugh).
URUHA: Since there wasn't any speed feeling in the new album, the power could be felt [from this new song].
AOI: I also thought that it would be cool to have some speed.
REITA: Honestly, it's cool. I wanted to play it at a live as fast as possible. We couldn't do it at the tour.
KAI: The rhythm of the highest point was original/new and I thought it was interesting.

What was the reason for your decision to put the song into the title of the single?
RUKI: Because it was made with that intent, it was that kind of state (laugh).
URUHA: The GazettE's typical-ness and simplicity was what we wanted to do and I think that was an important reason.
AOI: Because there is vigour, right.
REITA: After DIM, we're going for songs with impact in the single and I thought it was good. I wonder if you can get into it.
KAI: I thought it had a straight feeling and we chose it for the single.

Were there any problems during recording? I thought that perhaps that was work that you did while touring, between time and money, or from the performance side, the arrangement side, moments when there are going to be hardships, please tell us.
RUKI: First off, the song-making took a lot of time. It got quite numb there. Also, we barely made it in time with the arrangement. With the work done until that moment I haven't thought about it since.
URUHA: Because even if we worked on accumulating the sound during the recording, there were important things to realise from the beginning (bitter smile)
AOI: MA (mastering - finishing touches work) took super long!
REITA: Making the sound right! It was especially hard!
KAI: Because we made the main sound with an ANBI mike [some sort of equipment, I think but I'm not sure], the severity of the play made us numb.

About the coupling "tricks". Please tell us about the impression you had when you listened to it for the first time.
RUKI: It's been a while since making a song with such a feeling (a song as if on the edge). And also, I think we made quite a good tension in it. Not too much pop, not too much rock, it was an important point that we made it like this.
URUHA: Something faintly nostalgic (laugh)
AOI: I also had memories of old times.
REITA: There was an impression of listening to it easily. The phrase was also interesting.
KAI: It's the opposite with me, the rhythm, the song, the melody too, there was probably a fresh feeling.

About the "tricks", from the work point of view, what were the troublesome parts?
RUKI: Well... actually the time... more or less. But the bass person was trying really hard (laugh).
URUHA: BEFORE I DECAY was like that. At the beginning the sound assembling part was very important.
AOI: Song-making!
REITA: For me the arrangement of the highest poit of the song was troublesome.
KAI: The basis of BEFORE I DECAY was the same, but I did a little more rough way of hitting the drums. That was difficult.

So, since it's autumn, if you think about autumn, what associations do you have? Please tell us about the autumn related memories if you have any. For example, you didn't like it that it was the new school term, you were an athletic festival star in reality, you made journeys to Kyoto to look at the autumn colours...etc (laugh).
RUKI: Autumn... . Well, I like the idea that winter will come soon. I want to go out for strolls more often (laugh).
URUHA: If we talk about autumn, the image of grilling matsutake mushrooms [pine mushroom - check wiki for more info :)] in an earthen charcoal brazier ... .
AOI: Pacific saury [type of fish - check wiki for more info :)]!
REITA: I didn't like the summer holiday homework (laugh).
KAI: My first live was in autumn~. Or should I say, it was the day before my birthday! (laugh)

This autumn, is there a fashion that you want to challenge yourselves with?
RUKI: Yeah~... . I'm thinking of a loose feeling this autumn. Even more loose.
URUHA: Cowboy hat (laugh) [XD]
AOI: I'm fine the way it's now.
REITA: I'm ok now too...
KAI: Speaking about fashion style, about the hairdo, cornrow (during the Saitama Super Arena a beautiful hair style was shown).

The last one, in the second half of this year, one thing you'd want to realise...
RUKI: Move house!
URUHA: I want to be able to speak about 5 languages!
AOI: I'll do my best at different things.
REITA: Work on my body!
KAI: Me too, I want to get more muscular (laugh). Remodel my body!

Credits to guren_void

Fool's Mate - Aug. 09 Ruki

Interviewer
R - Ruki :)
[] - my explanaitons

At the stage of song-making, it was said that it would be a dark and maniac album, you probably became experienced with such work.
R - It's not that we intended to harden such songs, we went with the flow of DISTRESS AND COMA, and probably that's the feeling that we had.

Was it like that for the whole band?
R - Well, everyone got to that place naturally without thinking about it ... I think.

Ruki-kun, was there any particular consciousness during the song-making stage?
R - There was probably a feeling remaining in the melody, this time. It's a different feeling every time.

A different feeling?
R - What was made this time, I'd say had a similar atmosphere to the things that the GazettE was doing before as a band. Even now I'd say there are melodies that I like to sink in. About my own songs, rather than adapting something new, I'd say I was looking again at the songs from the very beginning.

Ruki-kun was doing songs as dark as in the the times of the old band?
R - Yes. So to say, those were songs with a more dark feeling. Gothic style ... though it wasn't really the Medieval Europe times feeling.

Arrival at the decision to revive the origins, did you do something that added to the result, it seems it made a full circle?
R - I wonder. Kind of "Where's the origin?", it was probably close to my own preference. It's not that I got tired of the melody I was doing, those were the songs I though were the best, it's like that now too ... but this time I did the compilation of songs with such a feeling.

Surely, there is a different atmosphere this time than in NIL or STACKED RUBBISH, it also became more aggressive, I noticed that you introduced some flexibility there.
R - Yeah, hmm. The songs we were doing in the past, when we make songs now it has a certain part of it.

The aim that you mentioned now, did you also say it to the members?
R - No, even when I didn't tell it, such songs were made. The songs that didn't fit into this album, even if we don't use them now I think it's ok, because we can do something with them in the end.

So about the lyrics, was there a constant theme?
R - It didn't change since before, at the time of writing I wrote about things that were happening in my own vicinity.

While there were entirely feelings of despair and loss, it got the kind of being alive wish somewhere in it.
R - It can be said that this album has even more than despair and abyss, it's on the edge of an abyss, on the verge of death.

But the death there, isn't it positive?
R - Hmm. Rather than a song connected to death, until the point when you arrive at it I'd say there is a story. This is a true story for all the lyrics, and there things represented there are the thoughts that piled up in the me then. I was probably very particular about the representation method for words.

The song from the previous single was edited too, but did you rerecord it entirely?
R - In GUREN we only recorded one part again from the live version, but after that the sound and the effects had chaned mixing. But I'm not sure if it was greatly changed.

Probably, if it changed you'd hear it. The mastering for this work was done entirely overseas right?
R - In any case, in whatever environment you listen to it, it will be good, I don't suppose it's going to be bad. Whether you listen to it on a cheap radio-casette player or a high class audio, I want people to listen to good sound. That's why if the sound is too good, it's bad.

For the children of a young band, it's been asked "The Gazette kind of sound's feel of material, how can it be made?"
R - This... because it's made with the utmost effort! (laugh)

Isn't it difficult to make a sound that is without too much beauty yet not overtly cheap?
R - We also had the "Luna Sea kind of feel of material we want to do" kind of era of thinking. But, however we did it, it never got the same. That's why there was no other way but to pursue our own sound shape. Even if we worked with the same engineers, it never became definitely the same. Even if we insisted on having the same producers and doing whatever it takes, I think we still wouldn't be able to make wholly the same sound quality.

I understand. You conveyed it like that. The album's leading song, right after the first SE is THE INVISIBLE WALL, but is it correct to think that it's the album's core?
R - Well, THE INVISIBLE WALL, rather than the core, it has its neutral existance in this album I'd say. It's heavy and dark and melodious... I'd say this song holds all the components. Since other songs are more one-sided, this one is probably the album's symbol.

You had an inspiration for THE INVISIBLE WALL from a scene [picture], right.
R - I sketched the scene of the emotions for this song's lyrics.

Ruki-kun, did you have the feeling of "a wall you can't see"?
R - Many times! Also when I didn't even really see where the Gazette was going to.

You mentioned that before too.
R - Yeah. If it was the opposite situation and I'd have seen it, it would've been boring. Whenever I'm fighting with a thing I don't see, I plunge into the thing I don't see and I have the feeling of going for it. You perceive "A wall you can't see" with different meanings.

The world of the lyrics is steadily becoming deeper.
R - That's why in the Japanese language there are plenty things you can't express in words. Because of that I'm stuck with English. Well, the judgement of this situation also depends on the recording company.

It's not good to have the representation regulated.
R - It was also like that once with doing the jacket, and there were also moments when we were stuck with the PV.

There's always a fight about this. NAKIGAHARA is the song where the old Gazette is recalled.
R - The NAKIGAHARA called place exists in reality, but it's not in the lyrics, when I was writing about the internet society image, where it's natural to corner a person whose face you don't see, it's a steadily becoming destorted world. You spill it out, and it's the kind of song... where people with similar feelings come together to hurt [others].

The last "there is the killed you" words in the line give a greatly dreary feeling. BATH ROOM had it too, it was the kind of "in" song, but because of the bounce in it, it had the rescue feeling, but this song...
R - It has the depressing feeling. As if it was really returning... *because it's done in this cheap way*. If you only listen to the story, the way of perceiving/capturing the internet society is surprisingly simple, but immediately I got the feeling of deeply-rooted things [in the song].

Because in reality there is the Net, and because there are also many crimes commited via it, right.
R - That too, because there is the Net, there are probably a lot of people getting hurt. The Net, now it's the system that can be used by anybody, right, and it's scary.

I realy think it's scary.
R - In these times, the world is abandoned in distortion.

13STAIRS[-]1 too, it seems as if there are warning lyrics.
R - This one, I was thinking "What is rock?" from the beginning. Basically, in the times right now the thing called "rock" doesn't exist, but that's what I was thinking.

With the emotional part?
R - The "rock", in a way I started to think that for the society it's a backlashing mental dispute. But even if I thought about "rock", some people probably won't think of it as "rock", even if someone thinks "he rocks, that person", aren't people's reasons different? If something is called "rock", even in the middle of this major scene there are different shapes of it in reality, but there are also things which I don't think of as "rock". Contrary to what is said, I think that rock's fundamental emotions are in punk more than in hip hop.

In the middle of the scene with no rock, what is the GazettE's stance?
R - We mistook it before as well, there were times where we thought "we rock everywhere". But now whether we're called the Visual Kei or not, however we're going to be called, it's perfectly fine with us.

If we can do the things we want, we don't care how we're called, you mean.
R - Yeah, it doesn't need an explanation.

But it's difficult to give a name to the genre of music of The GazettE.
R - Yeah. That's why whether we're called "That's Visual Kei", whether they call our hard songs "crumbling metal", whichever is fine. That's because we only do the things we love.

Isn't that the basis of rock!
R - I think so, probably.

But people confuse it.
R - That kind of songs (laugh)

Clear understanding! (laugh) A MOTH UNDER THE SKIN...
R - A smoothing song, isn't it.

This simply given solution is enough? (laugh)
R - (laugh) Well, it's parodying a butterfly and a moth resembles it. Even if you change into whichever shell, you are who you are. There's no criticism, it's only a song like that. You imagine a heavier matter when you look at the title, right? (laugh)

Certainly. Such cynical words I think are new.
R - Yeah, the way of writing them was different. I thought that a moth and a butterfly are similar. When you look at them quickly, you don't know [which is which], but the treatment is too different I'd say.

OGRE, the kanji enumeration makes very dreary lyrics...
R - It's got the biker gang cheek (laugh). I think it carries different meanings, but to give it a big name, "there's no god".

How did you decide on the atmosphere of this song?
R - Rather than the atmosphere, it was the rhythm. Another: what's the rhythm you can ride to? I/We have always ridden to English, but this time I wanted the kanji's seriousness to come out.

The kanji lyrics have the correct interpretation, right!
R - English interpretaiton is minute, but with the kanji words it's called correctly, and also it fits neatly. Because the contents differ from sentence to sentence, it's interesting and should be pretty good too.

Ruki-kun composed it?
R - Yeah, unexpectedly such a song too (laugh).

It doesn't seem likely that NAKIGAHARA has the same composer (laugh). In SHIROKITEKIYUUTSU, the "優" was used instead of "憂".
R - Everyone was like "the kanji, isn't it wrong?", but I was like "it is wrong!"(laugh)

The kind of feeling of loss flows about this song... .
R - It's not the kind of inside the hospital talk, but I'd say the first impression seems to be as if you lost something. The lyrics were troublesome, I wondered what representation to use. I wanted to make a sadness carying feeling.

IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS is the only speeding song in this album.
R - It's refreshing, isn't it. It was an independent world I drew myself. When you get to know Visual Kei, when you wake up to music and you're standing on the stage ...

You want proof. Also, the last, DIM SCENE. The reality is really in Japanese words in this one, the last "la la la...", the ending kind of remains in your ears.
R - Probably, I wonder if this song hasn't become the album's core. The lyrics were an obsession, in writing this time I put it all into the lyrics of the highest point of the song.

That's true. It's amazing!
R - The last "~my time~" words in the sentence, it's not revealed, but I wanted to write a song that would be as if old roadie's child died. That's why DIM SCENE is the kind of song with encompasses the whole album.

I remeber that the ending of DIM SCENE is looped with the beginning of THE INVISIBLE WALL.
R - It resembles the world overview too.

Well then, in the lyrics this time "iki [Jap.]", "breath" word is used a lot.
R - Now that you mentioned it, it's true. And "kyomu [Jap. nihility]" is uesd a lot too. That was an accident (laugh).

Wasn't the fact that you struggled with those words in the time you had for the work this time the reason?
R - Taking all things into consideration, there was "emptiness". I thought a lot about it.

In Ruki-kun's case, because of the circumstances you mentioned, you were able to make songs, right?
R - Yeah. I couldn't help it but I wrote it in my journal. I made my own problems and unhappiness into lyrics and songs, that's the reason why I make songs.

Now that you've completed it, from Ruki-kun's prespective, how do you perceive DIM?
R - Probably just like I mentioned before, there's also the loop feeling. The loop and the edge of the cliff... it's strange, but it's got the at the last moment kind of feeling.

For example, this "at the last moment feeling" image, personally you are feeling it for whichever single you make, right.
R - This "bang" kind of hardening feeling. There is a reason why it happens like that... I'd been thinking about the album's image long before. This at last coherent feeling. I'd say I finally managed to do the "that's what I wanted to do". Even if I took this melody once, there is a feeling of completion stronger than with anything we've done so far. Because of the SE put in, it will be something difficult to listen to to an ordinary person (laugh).

You're steadily becoming a band not aiming a tthe charts! (laugh)
R - (laugh) Well, but it's difficult... I think GUREN is a good track, it's catchy.

But you don't really feel the catchy-ness when you listen to the single (laugh).
R - Yeah, it's a dark song.

Still, I understand the meaning of the origin of this album's "good track".
R - I want to introduce it, this side. It seems people generally face into the direction of popular, but I didn't know about it from the beginning when I was making [songs]. Because I wanted to introduce "this music" to the world/public and not to make money, if it sells, there'll be money, it will probably acquire status and prestige too, "please make such songs" was also said to us... but the GazettE that would become like this wouldn't receive such fascination and it's better that it does. Even until now we're creeping up to doing the things we want to do. Because there are things for us to protect, we must be strong, and however the surroundings look at us, we're going to continue going through it.

Even in the past, when the ballad single sold, "tragedy/disaster!" you more or less declared, right (laugh)
R - It was CASSIS, wasn't it (laugh). That image of the GazettE being considered popular was bad. I wanted this song to sell, but it wasn't why I made it, still I thought it was a good song and that's why we released it, but that the GazettE as a whole would be considered like this, I was greatly irritated by it. That's why the singles after that were the opposite [to CASSIS] and aggressive songs were released. Ballads were made, I love such beautiful melodies as I mentioned, but we simply didn't overdo it in one song. This time, rather than an album following one main thread, we wanted to make an album that would be rich in composition variety.

NIL and STACKED RUBBISH were also albums with very thick centres, but the depth there, it increased in DIM for sure, it is correct to say that it symbolises the GazettE's true intention.
R - Yeah. That's why even if you only listen to the songs, it's ok, but because the substance too is very frank, I want people to read the lyrics too.

You'll probably restrain yourseves from excessive in this summer's tour promoting the album, but what will the next stage be like?
R - I can't say anything about it yet, but I want to make the kind of "we'll show you" live, with the way of using LED that no one has done before. Like the image of the album, I want to do a live with a film-ish drama nature.

Credits to guren_void

Neo Genesis #40 Gazette - All-Member Interview

The new single [Before I Decay] has just been finished, as we encounter the Gazette, who have quickly began to face their next step. As the curtains of Saitama Super Arena close, not too many days in between with this tour still reverberating, they looked back upon this for us. In stark contrast to how thoroughly they talked at each of their solo interviews, there have been plenty of laughs during the talk with all of them.

-After the show at Saitama Super Arena, did you have at least a little time to rest?

Aoi [After the live immediately…well, we had to clear up our equipment, had to put it back in the shelves and into the storage room. There was quite a bit to do.]

Ruki [(laughs)We quickly cleaned up the backstage room, didn’t we?]

Reita [(Also we had to clean up) all the glitter tape (which had been shot out during the show) (laughs)]

Ruki [Everyone cleared the bentou, too…]

Reita [Actually it wasn’t bentou, was it. (laughs) At Saitama Arena it had been the catering.]

- From the very start of this interview you are all telling lies with such straight faces…(laughs). All in all, when catching on to that, it’s amazing how the members of Gazette are doing such things all by themselves, too, aren’t it!

Aoi [Of course we do! Since this has been our stage, moreover we work hard with our own hands until it’s all finished…]

Ruki [Eventually we saw the event manager of, as we had finished the live.]

Kai [And we left the venue as the last people.(laughs)]

Uruha [We turned off the lights and locked the doors. (laughs) ]

- You had the keys to Saitama Super Arena, isn’t that amazing?! (laughs)

Ruki [Yes, we had it, the magic key! (laughs)]

- And with that magic key you are able to open the doors to all the locations in Japan… well, well, well. (laughs) Ok, that was a joke for the moment, so, how was it when you started the tour? There had been a lot of songs from [DIM], which you had to present for the very first time. I imagine that the tension was pretty high then.

Aoi [Rather than tension…This was more like we were heading for our dream stage.]

Reita [There are still resources to lies. (laughs)]

Ruki [Shouldn’t we slowly take a more serious turn? (laughs)]

Aoi [(laughs) The day before, we had been rehearsing at the venue. There we checked, what it would be like… However, really there was not much time to (build up) any tension. We’ve been busy the whole time.]

Ruki [Haaaa… It’s really been like that. During the rehearsal we were kinda asking ourselves, why we were actually doing it like that. We felt like the rehearsal wasn’t really ever ending. (laughs)]

Aoi [Exactly. Once we went into rehearsal, Mr. Stoic – Uruha- certainly just wouldn’t let us go home. He was like [Next I would like to play that song.] and he kept going on and on like that.]

Kai [And then he was like [Let’s all go to the studio!]]

- (laughs) I never knew that Uruha-san was called Mr. Stoic.

Uruha [Well well well. (laughs) Basically we are all like that, though. However, it wasn’t quite right. I felt like it wasn’t enough, still.]

Reita [However, how long had you wanted to continue that? For like 11 days or so?]

Ruki [Yeah. Like a whole series…]

Uruha [Well, in such sequences it would have been pretty hard.]

Ruki [On the first day I was thinking [Eh? (Is he serious?)] (laughs)]

Reita [Well in the end, we did it for only one day. There had been band members who needed to work.]

Aoi [Besides there was the radio and such.]

- Because there were probably a lot more things that needed to be done apart from producing and preparing the live, weren’t there? Still, it also included the most recent material. Since it would be the first time to play the album’s songs, one might want to do it thoroughly, too, wouldn’t you?

Reita [Yes, with the new songs certainly.]

Aoi [Since we never really got past being in the studio, we couldn’t actually recapture that sensation…We basically started from there. At the beginning, the feeling (of rehearsing for a live) didn’t really come up. Suddenly there was just this really loud sound, which would make my ears hurt... ]

Ruki [Your ears would be like [wooooaaaah…]]

Aoi [Yeah. As the rehearsal continued, bit by bit we would get used to that sensation.]

Ruki [Also…for this tour there had been a (certain) image. For that reason, we needed to see what it is all about and really had to practice to the highest amount possible. Until the day prior we had basically been standing on stage to confirm all of this. Well, anyway… Arranging the songs from what was there of this image, a lot of things had been quite exhausting.]

Uruha [And if we consider all of this, it was really necessary to have that much of rehearsal.Because at first we had been doing the rehearsal without that certain image, we couldn’t actually realize how to do this on stage, which was in most parts exhausting as well.]

- During this time’s tour a lot of that image seems to have been taken from the first song [The Invisible Wall]. We had been writing a live report as well, and when it comes to songs that would leave an impression with their atmosphere concerning the stage production, it would have been [Nakigahara] or [DIM SCENE] as well. This is including light effects and stage setting.

Ruki [Yes, it’s like that. The LED, too. We had been using those for the first time at Mukahari Messe Hall. It was then, that I said, that I wanted to use them. I wanted to create a stage set, where the images in the back would form the silhouettes of the band members in that shape.]

Uruha [We wanted to do it the whole time. Still, it is pretty difficult in different circumstances.]

Ruki [The thing with the set was pretty exhausting. Depending on the stage, there had been different restrictions. During this tour from the very beginning I had this image of piling up a lot of TV monitors on stage. However, with LEDs set in fixed rows, I was told that it is not possible to arrange them in diagonals. Therefore we changed the plan to creating just one large LED frame in the back… Then suddenly it was like “Wait a second!” Maybe it would have been ok to do this just the normal, more common way. However, I had gotten pretty tired of this thing, which you had seen and taken in as normal on so many different stages already. Therefore I wanted to create something more individual, discussed that and in the end we got what it turned out to be.]

- If it is Gazette, then not being able to show such a stage seems pretty meaningless. This time, speaking of the tour… I was surprised to see that Reita-kun had been injured. Was your finger OK then?

Aoi [That had actually been part of the performance.]

Ruki [Efficient, wasn’t it?]

Uruha [His nose had been injured as well. (laughs)]

Reita [(laughs) My nose had been injured, too…Like it would have been OK if I broke another 3 to 4 fingers.]

Kai [In the end, we would have just glued you pic to the thumb. (laughs)]

Reita [(laughs) Well, but it was OK. However, it had been hurting from the very first day in Toda… I went to the hospital in Tochigi, I think (The performance was on August 2nd in Tochigi-prefecture Sougou Bunka Center Main Hall)]

Ruki [Sometime he had to turn to the back and have his bandage fixed in the shadow of the amp. For me, seeing that had been a total shock…It was not very nice to look at and I felt a bit miserable…]

Reita [Well, it couldn’t be helped. The first day, when I had that finger bandaged, it would get all messed up. (laughs)]

Uruha [Don’t you wanna tell, why it actually hurt?]

Reita [Aaah…no I won’t tell.]

Aoi [(In a powerful voice) Why wouldn’t you tell us, why it actually hurts???]

Reita [I. Won’t. Tell.]

Kai [(laughs) Not even if you are asked that nicely?]

Ruki [Maybe because he was the one who caused it himself?]

Reita [(laughs) Well…I had been throwing my bass, I missed it, it fell and hit my hand…]

- Uuuwaaah! That must have hurt!

Aoi [Actually, the pure action of throwing an instrument…]

Reita [I felt sorry… (laughs) Really, for a long time already, I had been told by almost everyone that it was pretty dangerous and that I should rather stop doing it. But I only said, that if I did it, it would be always successful. The contract when using a guitar said that, too. (laughs)]

Aoi [There is no contract about throwing guitars!]

Reita [I’m really sorry…]

- Please be careful. Honestly… Even if we need to stick to the rules of that contract. (laughs) Alright, so we want to hear about the live a little later on, now I would like to hear a bit more about what had been going on backstage. Something that people not really get to see about you, and I think the fans would be also interested in that.

Ruki [There is… Nothing to be shown!]

- (laughs) There has to be something. Before the live, when there was a little free time, what did you all do? Did you get something from other people, did you go anywhere, any kind of sightseeing, or I’ve heard that you had gone to the onsen (Hot spring) (laughs).

Ruki [Aaah…How to say…Pretty much, we didn’t really do anything. (laughs)]

Aoi [We are pretty stoic as that, when it comes to going sightseeing and such…]

Reita [Mr. Stoic (laughs)]

Ruki [However, really actually…wasn’t there really anything? Did we have any days off?]

Reita [No, there were none. (laughs)]

Ruki [Well, yeah since we didn’t take any days off…]

Aoi [Even the days we would be returning (to Tokyo), there had always been work. No matter how often we actually did return.]

Ruki [There had been the recording and such…]

- Ah, I see. So you did the recording of the new song during that time.

Uruha [Yes and we also recorded the PV for it during that time. Whenever it was a day of returning to Tokyo, in the end there was work, and I didn’t really wanted to return. (laughs)]

Kai [Only when it was a day where we would only be moving from one place to the next, there was a little free time. The first time we did that was from Kanazawa to Hiroshima, wasn’t it?]

Ruki [However, when we were going from one place to the next, we would arrive at a time, when it was already dark, so we couldn’t really do anything anyway. (laughs) During the tour, we did the recording, the mixing… Even the final arrangements for the mixing, we actually did that at the venue. That was about it. It was passing by rather [DIM] days. (laughs)]

- Dim (laughs). Rather deep kind of days…So, it was probably a mistake to ask about things like sightseeing and such.

Aoi [No, no, it’s ok. (laughs) Well, if you ask what had been going on backstage, it was basically hair, make-up and sexual harassment. (laughs) That’s been more on Reita-kun’s turn though.]

Ruki [He’s really a living beast, isn’t he!]

Reita [That story is not all about me!... (laughs) But honestly, what else have we done?]

Uruha [Our leader had gotten really violent!]

Kai [What? Me?]

Uruha [(laughs) Our leader was, well…Concerning the destinations of the tour, our event manager was asked to prepared various tasty things at each point for us. When he didn’t care much about that, though, he got into trouble.]

Kai [That was not the reason…]

Uruha [So you didn’t throw that plate?]

- Please let’s not come up with false accusations! (laughs) But anyway, speaking of the different regions, I am sure you were able to enjoy the meals in the various locations.

Kai [We often ate at the venue, though. During this tour, there had been quite a bit of preparation at the venue. More often, actually, than we had been eating out.]

Aoi [Oh, where was it, that we ate Yakisoba?]

Uruha [Aah! You mean those mixed by hand?]

- Yakisoba mixed with the hands? What’s that?

Uruha [(laughs) Where was it? They do exist and they are famous. Fuji-something…]

Reita [Ah, I know. Wasn’t that in Yamanashi?]

- Ah, you mean Fujimiya Yakisoba? That’s pretty much Shizuoka, but Yamanashi is close.

Uruha [I don’t know where it really was…It was basically Yakisoba put into something like a small plastic bag, you would put in the sauce and then knead it thoroughly and then eat it like that. (laughs)]

Ruki [That scene really left an impact…]

Uruha [I thought it was extremely delicious. (laughs)]

Kai [However, somehow…whenever there was a live that day, I couldn’t bring myself to eat. I really didn’t know why, though. Before the live I hardly ate anything, but as soon as the show was over, the appetite was kicking in.]

- It was probably the tension, as we discussed before. That came probably from the situation before the live, as you weren’t putting much interest in eating.

Ruki [I don’t think the tension was strong to that extend…The real tension was just coming in right before the show, probably…Until the playing of the SE (intro for the show), it was still in the normal proportion and then, when the curtain would fall it was like [Bang!] It’s that moment of switching to [Yay, let’s go!]]

Uruha [However…when we form a circle, it is already rather tiring in itself…]

Reita [Aah…you mean that half-rising position…]

Uruha [My hips would start hurting. (laughs)]

- The fans certainly can’t imagine that in spite of doing such hard and exhausting lives, these scenes would unfold. (laughs)

Reita [It’s because we’re old men…(laughs)]

- If we continue this, we would probably crush a lot of dreams, so let’s change the subject. (laughs) During this tour there had been a lot of new songs, which had been presented (to the audience), but what song would leave the strongest impression on you in particular?

Uruha [Something with a deep impact… This tour was certainly made to let people see and listen to all of the songs, therefore in my case each song on its own has left an impression on me. We’d go on with songs that have these elements; they wouldn’t grow flat like that. Therefore, even those songs, which were easy to relate to, left a deep impression…For me [DIM SCENE] hat this kind of open feeling in that sense. When arranging the melody of the song, it is sort of pulling along as the image is changing. As we put this together in the very end, the full extend of the song could eventually be seen.]

- on the very first live, that song had been in the middle of the setlist, but for the rest of the tour it was always set at the end.

Uruha [Yes, as it came into that position, the vastness of it could eventually be felt. To have this song facing the end at last, I think, that it is showing the magnificence of Gazette really well.]

Kai [For me [DIM SCENE] has this kind of feeling for me, too…We played [Guren] during this tour as well, and I came to think again, that it is a really great song. Even though we had played it even before we added the instrumental song [Shikyuu] to it, there is a lot of feeling to it. It had been a finished track as itself, when released as a single, but during this tour with the arrangement like that, it was yet again a different and new form to let it be heard, it seems.]

Reita [For me it would be [Headache Man]. The first time we played it was at Shibuya AX on March 25th. At that time, we had it done for the first time with the feeling of celebrating the release of the new single. Now, when having done this for the tour all over again… Well, it was definitely exhausting! It is an aggressive song from the very beginning, there is very little time to catch your breath, during the bridge and the chorus. (laughs) And then going straight back from that to being so aggressive is really tiring.. However, I really like that. It’s like cracking a whip. (laughs)]

- The excitement boiling up during that song is really nothing ordinary. The shaking of the audience seats is incredible.

Reita [At the beginning of the song I am also spinning my head, therefore I can’t really see, what the fans are doing themselves. However, during the bridge of the chorus I am facing forward and can see it pretty well…Certainly, that is a brilliant deed (laughs), absolutely cool!]

Ruki [For me it is [13 Stairs [-1]], because I think until now, we didn’t have a song quite like that, which is good. For me to have a song like that to play during lives has always been a wish of mine. It’s not pushing straight forward right away, it is rather calm, yet heavy, which I think is good. Not all of it is completely aggressive as it is, with that rhythm. It is something with a very strong image, especially, when we did this at the very first live in Toda, it was just like that. With the LEDs we used it became even more stylish, yet, it still has this smell of mud to it on the contrary, which is nonetheless a cool feeling.]

Aoi [I think it is really good how even the new songs are so familiar, and they really are. All the songs everyone has named are included (in that sense) Still, although the old songs are old, I feel it is not like they are actually losing their color… [Cockroach] is really a song from so many years ago with that certain mood to it, yet it is still working hard for us. (laughs) Somehow, it is…like unnoticed it has installed itself permanently, and it is still growing with us, isn’t it?]

- With the new [rookie]-songs and the (older) [veteran]-songs, it is like weaving up to a good feeling. As you are still giving your best with the older songs, I think it is making the fans, which are with you for longer, very happy, too…The most memorable thing for those fans was probably the MC directed at them where you [could call each other idiots]. (laughs) I think it’s great that you actually use the word [idiot] to praise each other.

Ruki [(laughs) You think so?]

- Yes. (laughs) It’s also those words [The good things between us and you all is that we trust each other.] One could really feel the depth of the trusting relationship in that. It is a good situation.

Uruha [For me…it’s a strong feeling like friendship, somehow.]

- Like friends where is doesn’t matter what you say.

Reita [But sometimes I really think one should be a little bit more careful with what is said! (laughs)]

Aoi [Really so! After all we are still older than most and they should pay us a little respect as such!]

-(laughs) But actually, I think only like that, lives with that high a level of enthusiasm are actually possible. Only when people trust each other and are willing to bare themselves like that, there can be lives to the proverbial idiotic extent - in a good way of course.

Ruki [The response is, well…The things we do is what each of us is just doing at a certain momentum (laughs). However, honestly…there is this mood. We could actually put a much larger space between us. We could get a lot more into that [Band vs. Fan] thing, and if we got a little more of that distance, it might be a little more relaxed… But we came to live with this feeling as it is, from the very beginning, with the fans are still excited. Pretty sticky even. (laughs) It seems however, that this certain mood is actually a good thing; not to think about this kind of [distance].]

Aoi [Ruki-san is such a good person…when he talks about his thoughts like that during his MCs.]

Uruha [(laughs) He is talking for us, and if he didn’t bring across what we are thinking, we’d be in trouble.]

Aoi [Sometimes though, when it is something essential, he’s skipping between [us] and [me]…Then we feel like [But we think the same!]]

Ruki [(laughs) I’m sorry! I’m sorry about that… Well, it’s OK, though. I’m saying [us] in between, too. Also, when I’m writing [I], just read it as [Gaze] (laughs).]

- (laughs) So, that is a consensus between all the band members, certainly. With that, you have come to create this really hot and exciting tour of this time, and I would be grateful if you could sum it up once again.

Ruki [What I was thinking was… if it is only 20 live performances, this feeling of having done something great, has not yet kicked in. It seems we are still in the middle of it. Also there was this one live which had been put off due to myself…(on August 31st Ruki’s physical condition had been so bad, that the live at Fukuoka Sun Palace had to be postponed.)]

Uruha [In many ways, this tour really had something to it, it seems.]

Ruki [The peculiarity was extreme! We really just couldn’t keep hitting the lives like we usually did. That was something which I had said from before the tour already, though. We would changed many things, I said. Really those words weren’t a lie at all with this tour. To have a very heavy song as our first track in the arrangement was something within me, that I really couldn’t abandon. With [The Invisible Wall] I already had the feeling that it would be the first song (of a set). The first song really was supposed to be like a [BANG]. And because I was thinking that, I had really accomplished that with that song, I could do the live shows just like that.]

- Wasn’t it very positive that you actually took this new approach to this challenge? I mean, how things have been shown and how the margin turned out.

Ruki [I think there are pros and cons, though. I was wondering whether the mood wasn’t just only lukewarm, or was is all much heavier than I thought, was it not…the response of people had been very widespread during this tours, but that was what I had been worried about.]

Aoi [Well, still…I think you have only said that at the very beginning.]

Ruki [Probably. From that it had actually been too heavy just as always and so exhausting.]

Uruha [Yes. Really exhausting.]

Ruki [But I really, really like that about it. This was quite a nice sensation for me during this tour.]

Kai [In that sense, there is actually something this makes me think about…Eventually, in the end, it has become the live which make me realize all of this. I want to continue playing live and on the other hand, I have to play lives to continue…It is like the conversation we just had, the response to this is a very individual but playing live, we are a band. While going through a lot of trial and error phases we continue as we do, with good things, with new things and showing those…]

Reita [(Like during the Tonnoruzu-show, with the voice imitation of Mr. Ishibashi, he said: ) Shut up, IDIOT!(which has everyone burst into laughter)]

- That was way too sudden, I was surprised…Why did you do it right now?

Reita [Well…Somehow the atmosphere had gotten way too heavy, I thought. (laughs)]

Aoi [Anyway, it did not sound like that (show) at all!]

Reita [But I just felt like it……. (laughs)]

- (laughs) As the punishment for busting the atmosphere like that…Reita-kun has to sum it up nicely now. So please go ahead.

Ruki [Certainly! We cannot have this end with [Shut up, IDIOT!]]

Reita [No…(laughs) As we came along all these different places, the people who came to see us also increased, which we came to realize there. They are all like [friends]. to repeat Uruha-san’s words. From here on with the next lives we would like to continue to get along well with everyone, so we can create even better lives, I think…This year it has come a little bit more to the end, nonetheless, continuing from here, I thank you for the support!]


The End

1. ZAKURO KATA NO YUUUTSU

~ Hospital ~

Aoi: I've been treated in hospital with the flu as an out-patient, but I've never been hospitalized. So I don't have any such experiences. Only that there was a hospital behind our house.

Uruha: I had a huge wart on my neck when I was small. It got taken off when I was 8. I got painkillers but I could see the doctor cutting it off with scissors. It was quite scary. You can still see the scar a little bit.

~ Letter ~

Aoi: When I get rice or veggie juice from home there's sometimes a letter in the parcel. When I read it, I really feel like going home and seeing my parents.

Uruha: I used to have a very bad relationship with my older sister when I was a teenager. We used to have very violent arguments. Then she graduated from high school and got a scholarship in the States. Once a letter came and she wrote that she was worried about me, something she never ever would have said to me. I felt very grateful. She got a child and came back to Japan. Now we're just like we were in the old times.

2. ZETSU

~Eros~

Reita: When I look at a woman, first I look at the back of the knee, the shoulders and the wrist. Also, recently I find photos of women holding a cherry in the mouth erotic . [Are there so many photos like that? XDD] They are quite artistic, but I feel attracted by such erotic photos. I'm also someone who gets photographed often, so I also look at them from an experimental point of view.

Ruki: To me naked women['s photos] are not erotic. [Really? XD] I check photos of models a lot, but it's simply that women are more beautiful than men, so I see those photos as art.

Uruha: That I don't find naked women erotic either...is not true! But I think it's more erotic when the [female body] is hidden. It's something that inspires your left brain. The more you can't see the more your imagination gets active. So to me 'eros' is a world of wild ideas and imagination. (laughs)

Aoi: Women are very picturesque, whatever they do. In the PV of 'Zakuro kata no yuuutsu' there's a scene with a woman crying. Just looking at her expression and her figure you feel tenderness. You want to hold her. It's something mysterious in humans.

Kai: To me eroticism is like Pandora's box, you're not allowed to open it.

Reita: But you open that box every night.

Kai: That's true...

Uruha: So it's not 'Pandora's box'?!

Kai: I think eros is the weak point of men. When they see a woman they find her erotic.

All: That's only you!

Kai: I find shy women erotic. I think some people know what I mean. I always feel this mysterious attraction towards shy women. Then the world of imagination takes over, like "I'd like to do this or that".

- What exactly would you like to do?

Kai: I'd like to keep that to myself.

- It's better, ne. Before you become a criminal.

Kai: What???

~ Anger ~

Uruha: What makes me most angry is the lack of respect for life. There are many people recently who kill themselves so easily. I feel anger towards these people. I feel like telling them my opinion, not just leaving them alone.

Aoi: I don't get mad.

Ruki: How about the construction site next door?

Aoi: That you can't help, even if you keep getting mad about it.

Reita: I think that you are usually grumpy so you just don't notice anymore.

Manager: Yes, you get mad quite fast.

Aoi: I don't!

- Oh, he got mad!

Uruha: He's very hotheaded.

Aoi: When everybody's attacking me like this, I do get mad!


3. MISEINEN

~ Future ~

Uruha: I like to think about the future. I always try to imagine what happens next. It's fun. Or let's say, I have hope in the future.

Aoi: Nobody ever 'sees' the future, still everybody knows the meaning of that word. I feel the mystery of this universe in this word.

~ Youth ~

Aoi: It's about how much you can achieve. Regardless of your age, youth is the time when you shine the most.

Uruha: Just like the way the word is written [with the kanji for aoi = "blue/green" and haru = "spring"], you do things in your youth without understanding. [Japanese also use the word "aoi" for "rookie"] So right now is not what I consider my youth yet. When I'm a gramps, I will probably see it that way though.

Sikart toks funny interviu
Kai tai unreal "Kai: To me eroticism is like Pandora's box, you're not allowed to open it."