– tetsu-san, do you believe in fortune telling, such as for blood types?(1)
[Hmm, there are so many different kinds of fortune telling, so as a general rule I don’t. I’m more likely to believe something with figures behind it. Blood types are like that, right? I only found out my blood type about five years ago, though.]

– That recently?
[It was the first time I had a complete physical. When sakura got arrested for drugs. Of course, we were all suspected too, the band members. So they had us take a physical examination. Well, part of the physical was taking a blood test, a urine test, and so on. That’s when I first discovered I had type A blood.]

– So you never got tested as a kid.
[They didn’t do that in my area. Wonder why not?]

– What were your thoughts when you found out you were type A?
[My parents’ children are all either A or O, so I had thought I’d be type O.]

– Why was that?
[It’s just… I kinda don’t like type A (laughs).]

– Ahaha! Because it’s the most frequent in Japan?
[Yeah. Besides, they’re said to be methodical and precice, right? I don’t like that description.]

– Which blood type would you rather have?
[Type B (laughs).]

– Ahaha! I think I understand.
[Well, I’m not really sure what they say about type B, but to me type B means being able to say and do as much you want, that sort image. I’ve been envious of that.]

– I see. But if you were type B, then that would mean you weren’t one of your parents’ children.
[That’s true. That might actually be kind of cool. There’d be a reason for it? Or something. (laughs)]

– Ahahahahaha! I can kind of relate to that. So then, since you found out what blood type you are, are you more aware of blood types than you used to be?
[I guess I am. There was something I saw on TV before, where kids were sorted out by blood type by letting them play freely and seeing if any characteristics popped out. And then, as expected, the type A kids played politely, lined up everything in neat rows whether it was their toys or their shoes (2). Compare that to the type B kids, who tossed their shoes wherever, scattered their toys, and were generally the noisiest. That’s pretty much what their blood types predict, isn’t it? I thought it was quite accurate. I don’t have any reason to criticize type B, do I?]

– You’ve admired it so long, too.
[I did. I like the concept of type B. It’s interesting in ways that type A isn’t. Type A and type B don’t generally get along, right? I think I can get along with type B people. I’ve got a lot of type B people around me. That might mean type B people are more fun. If I think “Oh, this guy must be type B,” then I’ll say somewhat intense things around him (laughs).]

– That sounds a bit worrisome (laughs).
[Yeah, yeah. I must say about twice, three times as much stuff, and it’s more fun that way.]

– By the way, what do you think of type O?
[I don’t really know. To me, type O and type A aren’t that different.]

– How about type AB?
[It’s a mystery. Because it’s a combination of type A and type B traits. They change every day. They probably change every three minutes.]

– Is there anyone like that? Around you.
[But, maybe AB people aren’t all like that. All the type AB people I know are, though. A lot of them are friendly, so they’re easy to approach.]

-Interviewer : Harada Sachi
Translated by Natalie Arnold.

1. It’s a common superstition in Japan that a person’s blood type is a predictor of their personality type. Roughly, Type A (the most common in Japan) people are detail-oriented, studious, and orderly. Type B people are creative, unconventional, and sensitive. Type AB people are imaginative, natural leaders, and organized. Lastly, Type O people are entusiastic, good at sports, and idealistic. For more info, see ABO World. Go back.

2. In Japan, one is expected to change shoes a lot. Kids have school shoes, outdoor shoes, slippers for home, and most homes even have different slippers for the bathroom. Go back.