Posted by: on: April 4 2008 • Categorized in: Tetsuyaku
This is the translation of the talk from Music Station’s three-hour special which aired on 2008.04.04. The theme was “origins” and special mention was made of the home prefecture of each artist. Like any television show, this is translated by ear so there may be some mistakes. In particular, technical difficulties on the part of Music Station made one of hyde’s lines inaudible.
BEGIN
Tamori : Next up, L’Arc~en~Ciel. Good evening.
L’Arc : Good evening.
Mariko : Here is L’Arc~en~Ciel, band formed in Osaka. It seems that they worked at various part-time jobs when they lived there.
Tamori : Eh? I’ve never heard this story. What kind of jobs?
tetsu : I worked in an accessory shop… and a record shop…
Tamori : Ehh… Accessory shop, selling rings and things like that?
tetsu : Yes, rings and like…
Tamori : Jewelry?
tetsu : Jewelry, yeah there was that too, I think.
Tamori : I see. And ken-chan?
ken : I sold rings too, yeah.
Tamori : You too? How come?
ken : Well, I couldn’t get any other jobs, back then.
Tamori : Is that so?
ken : Yes.
Tamori : …so the accessory shop was more lenient? Or what?
ken : Nah, it’s like… I looked dirty, back then. So the clothing stores all turned me down, but then this manager was like “I don’t care what you look like as long as you wanna work,” so yeah. It was a woman.
Tamori : Ehh…
ken : So yeah, I was surrounded by jewelry…
Tamori : Oh…
ken : Yeah.
Tamori : And hyde?
hyde : (technical difficulties, we cannot hear him except for the end)…ramen shop.
Tamori : Eh?
Crowd : EHHHH?
Mariko : Ramen shop?
Tamori : A ramen shop? So did you make the ramen?
hyde : Um, I served it.
crowd : Ehhh!
Mariko : So you were the server.
Tamori : Oh wow. Ehh…
hyde : Everyone else was so fancy.
Tamori : Yeah, they were. So why ramen?
hyde : Well I tried a lot of jobs but… I didn’t want something fancy, I guess. And there was a ramen shop I used to go to on the way home from school.
Tamori : Oh so that’s why.
hyde: It reminded me of that.
Tamori : Ehhh…. So what kind of lifestyle was it, when you were serving ramen?
hyde : Oh I was poor. Eating nothing but cup ramen.
Tamori : But you worked with ramen. Didn’t you get to eat there?
hyde : Well I did… Man I really loved ramen.
crowd : (laughs)
Mariko : Their new hit song right after this!
(Then comes a commercial break, followed by the performance.)
Posted by: on: March 19 2008 • Categorized in: Tetsuyaku
This is the translation of the interview with tetsu that appeared in MUSICA’s April 2008 issue as part of a series of interviews with the entire band. The interview itself was done in the middle of the THEATRE of KISS tour, but the articles were not published until the tour had concluded.
BEGIN
Interview with tetsu
During the tour, we had about two weeks of free time, so we did some recording downtown. We only recorded two songs, but it’s wonderful music, very well done. Incredible…… I’m confident.
-Today is February 13th. How does it feel to look back on the tour from this vantage point?
[I’m sorry to have to say this, but I’ve been sick for the entire tour. It was after that interview (in the same magazine, where all four members were present), but in Nagoya I had to be put on an IV. I had a fever too, but I don’t know if that was because of my cold…… In any case, I was sick the entire time.]
-Then, in order to overcome your poor health, you had to take things one step at a time, I imagine?
[Yeah, that’s right…… Yes, that’s the only way I think I can describe it (laughs).]
– When I saw the concert, tetsu-san, I thought you were remarkably steady in carrying out your part. I felt that you were incredibly leaderlike, playing very well and creating a great sound. This time, how did you face your job and position as the tour went on?
[I’m sorry to keep repeating the same thing, but I was really sick right from the beginning, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to give a very flashy performance. So I knew I had to concentrate on playing, since that’s the biggest part of it, right? Actually, I think that even when I’m being flashy, I should still focus on my playing… That’s the kind of band L’Arc~en~Ciel is, so it’s beyond obvious that I’m going to be doing that.]
– Did you have to go to the hospital after any of the concerts?
[Yeah, I did, I had a fever so I was taken to the hospital and given an IV. I went straight from backstage to the hospital (laughs).]
– Is that so? Did it ever seem like you would have to retire from the tour?
[Taking care of my health is part of my job… There were times when I worried whether I’d be able to play the concert despite my fever… That must have been… Nagoya, I’m pretty sure. I was sick in Osaka too, but… But, I have to carry on, you know? If we skip a live, that’s millions of yen going to waste, plus it would be a problem for the tens of thousands of people who came to see us, and I just can’t let that happen, I have to get up and play my part.]
– While all that was going on, it was decided that you would go play a concert in France. Considering that it was you who named the band, I imagine that you must feel quite strongly about it, but first may I ask how this concert came to be in the first place?
[I’m pretty sure our management started working on it years ago, and I think it just took this long for anything concrete to happen.]
– Have you always felt strongly about wanting to go there, tetsu-san?
[Yeah, even before it was a realistically possible, I thought it would be nice to go there, to Paris. Considering we’d never gone to Europe, I did feel that Paris would be a good place to go.]
– I imagine that since you’ve already done shows in Korea, China, and America, you must want to extend your experience to Europe as well, but I wonder if you have any particular, personal reasons for wanting to go there, on top of all that?
[No, nothing in particular, I just want to do a concert during my first visit to a place I’ve never been before… I do feel strongly about that. That’s what I like about the idea, basically. It’s fresh.]
– Previously, a video concert was aired there, at a gathering of over 10 000 viewers(1). How did L’Arc~en~Ciel manage to attain such a position?
[But, you see, that’s not because of anything we actually did. It’s just the way these things go, it’s about how things gain or lose popularity in different countries… and I calmly accept that.]
– Is it a side affect of the Japanese anime trend overseas?
[I think there are a lot of factors. It’s like, for example, how some Korean stars can get really well-known in Japan without the Korean companies doing any promotion. Sometimes that kind of movement happens in Japan and they just ride it. I think it’s the same thing for us. These days, Japanese indie bands can go to Europe and play crowds of thousands… so I really don’t think it’s anything that we did ourselves.]
– But, in your case, L’Arc~en~Ciel is expected to draw in several thousand people. Regardless of how long your band has been active, you’re stepping into a fresh, new area. I think it has to mean that the band itself is doing something fresh and new. Can’t you explain what that might be?
[But we don’t understand it, ourselves. We don’t know what’s going on around us, we only know ourselves, so… Shouldn’t you be asking the world around us? That’s all I can say.]
– Then what do you think is the cause of your freshness?
[Yeah, okay… It’s only just now, with you mentioning this freshness, that I realized it was there, so I really can’t answer you.]
– L’Arc~en~Ciel has always been able to keep producing something fresh for their fans. Certainly not via radical methods, and you have several elements that have never changed. Yet you are always fresh, that’s why you’re popular… I mean… yes. You don’t dirty yourselves. That’s what’s so wonderful. Even when seeing you play live, it is plainly obvious that you are continuing to build strong communications.
[Umm, well I don’t really know about communications or anything, but we just make the music that we think is good, we package that music and send it off to the world, and then even if there’s just one more person who picks it up and thinks it’s good, we’re happy, we’re thankful… Those people come to see our shows, so what are they looking for when we play for them live… I guess that must be it.]
– KISS is also a highly successful album, and as always the concerts caused a battle royale for tickets, so I think your band is in extremely good condition. How do you feel about that?
[Um… but I don’t think the album was all that successful, actually… Am I right?]
Staff : Taken a package, and given the trends of the world (in other words, the music market recession) the results have been undeniable.
– But you think otherwise?
[Well I guess I do, but oh well, it’s not bad, it’s just not so great that I’d call it successful.]
– I understand. tetsu-san, in what direction do you plan to take the band from now on?
[If I say anything specific, it will spoil the surprise, so I don’t want to answer any questions about what’s going to happen later on.]
– Then, what do you feel is the most positive thing about the band, right now?
[During the tour, we had about two weeks of free time, so we did some recording downtown. We only recorded two songs, but it’s wonderful music, very well done. The recording went extremely well, too. Incredible… I’m confident about those two songs. Does that answer your question?]
– Of course, that’s a wonderful answer. Did you write either of those songs, tetsu-san?
[I wrote one of them. The other one is by hyde, and it’s the other song that made me go “WOW!” along with “MY HEART DRAWS A DREAM”, I mentioned that before, right? That’s the song.]
– Ah, you sound so happy about that song (laughs). Is it finally becoming available?
[Well, we’re still touring so it doesn’t feel like a real recording… Even tours feel more tour-like when we’re tight, you know, like during the last hall tour. Recordings work that way too, when they last two, three months, then it really feels like a real recording.]
– Whether you’re releasing work or touring or promoting, it seems to me that L’Arc~en~Ciel is always a quick band to respond. I suppose that’s reflected in what you’re doing now, you can skillfully pull it off. If you stopped and said “We need time to clear our minds!” you wouldn’t be able to pull things off so quickly. Is that the origin of your professionalism?
[No, it’s more like, we want some proper time off as well as time to do solo work, so that’s our motivation? (laughs) It’s not like we have any other choice. That’s the reason we do things this way, probably.]
– For L’Arc~en~Ciel, along with the fundamental purpose of letting your musical personality resonate, I think you also have an important theme. In particular, your singles, the “hit songs”, have a core of quality. For your concerts, too, you get up and create a wonderful experience every single time, and I think that’s spectacular.
[Thank you very much.]
– That said, please take care of yourself, and good luck for the second half of the tour.
[Oh, yes. Well I hope I get better… Thanks again.]
– tetsu-san, is there anything that you use as the source of your energy?
[There is. There is definitely something that keeps me energetic. But, for work-related reasons, I must ask you to let me keep it a secret for this interview (laughs).]
Translated by Natalie Arnold
1.Refers to summer 2007, when the TV version of L’Anniversary was played at the Paris convention “JAPAN EXPO”. Go back.
Posted by: on: March 16 2008 • Categorized in: Tetsuyaku
Personal interviews for TOUR 2008 L’7 ~ Trans ASIA via PARIS ~
Only two months after the conclusion of TOUR 2007-2008 THEATER OF KISS, the follow-up TOUR 2008 L’7 ~ Trans ASIA via PARIS ~ is set to begin on April 19th, passing through the seven world cities of Shanghai, Taiwan, Paris, Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Osaka, spanning ten concerts in magnificence.
*****
ken
If there are people who want to listen, and if there’s a way we can head toward them, then of course I want to do it.
– TOUR 2008 L’7 ~ Trans ASIA via PARIS ~ seems like it will be quite the large-scale tour.
[Yeah, it’s about twice as big as last time, when we had a tour in Shanghai and stuff. I’m happy.]
– It will also be your first concert in France.
[“We are L’Arc~en~Ciel.” I’m not even sure we’ll be able to get that across…]
– You mean because your pronunciation isn’t correct?
[Yeah, yeah. Of course, it’s in French to begin with, but I don’t think they’ll understand with our accents (laughs). Oh well, it feels great to get to go somewhere I’ve never been before.]
– Do you feel you’d like to do more and more concerts overseas?
[If there are people who want to listen, and if there’s a way we can head toward them, then of course I want to do it. But, I think there needs to be a balance, too. I want to play in Japan, too, of course, but it’s no good if I get so tired that I can’t practise guitar. “Tour, tour, tour,” I’d like a chance to be creative, too, but I can’t create anything if I’m exhausted.]
– Your audience might be expecting some new stimulation, too.
[But, music and songs, I think your perception of them depends a lot on your personality, you know? To put it another way, no matter how much you try to cover something up, for some people it’ll always stand out. That’s why I need to play my music properly…]
– ……That’s deep.
[Once in a while, I’ll be playing my guitar and go “Oh wow! If I play like this, it sounds awesome! What a discovery!”. But then, if I stick with that discovery, then I’ll unconsciously forget how to do what I was doing before. That’s why I need to practise, after all.]
– But, performing is fun, too.
[It is fun. “At home or at the studio or on stage, it’s all the same,” that saying is true, in a way. It’s always special, but it’s all the same… That’s how I feel, now.]
*****
hyde
It’ll be a day that lives in L’Arc~en~Ciel’s history, right?
– How do you feel about this overseas tour?
[Naturally, I’m happy to get to go to places I’ve never been to before. When we went on tour before, a lot of fans asked “Why won’t you come to Taiwan?”. So I thought it would be nice to go there too, sometime. I felt bad because there are people there who’ve waited just as long for us, and to them it was like we were favouring the others. Then there’s Paris, of course. Our band’s name is in French, yet I’ve never been there (laughs). Not that I’m not interested, but I would rather go to Greece first, and England because we skipped it despite having done recordings there. I wonder how the timing worked out for us to go to France. It bothers me.]
– Are you nervous about taking your first steps there?
[I’m thinking about doing my MCs in French, so that makes me nervous (laughs). Will I manage to learn? ……. Yeah. It feels like it’s about time for it, so it’ll be a day that lives in L’Arc~en~Ciel’s history, right? I’m pretty sure I can say “We are L’Arc~en~Ciel” properly.]
(Both laugh hard)
– I’m sure it will be a historic moment (laughs). Is there any place you particularly want to visit?
[The Louvre museum. And some churches. I want to visit a lot of those.]
– Now what about Taiwan?
[It’ll be my first concert there. But actually, Taiwan is the one place overseas where I’ve spent the most time. I was there for a whole month and a half. There are a lot of fans there, and I think it resembles Japan. And so it always bothered me that we’d never gone there.]
– Are you thinking up your MCs for Taiwan?
[I can still remember all the Taiwanese I learned. I might just repeat all the Taiwanese I learned during that month and a half.]
– Any words for your fans waiting in Japan?
[The tour will end on our homeground, so that will be a nice sort of festival, won’t it?]
*****
tetsu
For a band like us, it’s complicated, doing overseas concerts.
– As the title of the tour, “TOUR 2008 L’7 ~ Trans ASIA via PARIS ~” suggests, this will be an amazing tour covering Asia and France, right?
[Well, it’s not just Europe, we’re going to Taiwan and Korea and China too, and it’s not like we can just say “We’ll go overseas”, there’s a lot to take care of. For a band like us, it’s complicated, doing overseas concerts. We need to have everything in place, or it won’t happen.]
– I see.
[For France as well as Asia, plans were being made years in advance. Now it’s done, the plans are made, and the timing worked out so that this is what we get. In France’s case, it was the European side that contacted us first, an agent of some sort made the connections, that’s how it got started. Of course, it took a lot of time.]
– Because you had to start from scratch?
[No, it wasn’t from scratch. L’Arc~en~Ciel already has fans all over the world. But even if they say “We want you to come to our country,” it isn’t that simple. It’s not like we can just get the members on a plane and forget about our equipment; talk is cheap. It can’t just happen, you know.]
– I see. Would it be okay to think of this tour as the start of new action for L’Arc~en~Ciel?
[….Well, as far as the things we’re doing for the first time are concerned, I think it’s okay to take it that way. It’s not that unusual for Japanese bands to play overseas, though, and I don’t think this tour is going to break new ground.]
– What do you have in mind as an image for this tour?
[No, nothing yet. We’ve barely started thinking about it. That’s coming later.]
*****
yukihiro
I want to do my duty to the fans who come to the concerts.
– How do you feel about the overseas tour?
[Well, you know, if we’re gonna do it, I’ll do it. I’d be fine if we didn’t do it, too (laughs). It’s just that what I do doesn’t change, no matter where we go.]
– Is there a place you’re looking forward to visiting?
[I’m wondering what Paris will be like. I’ve experienced Asia several times, but I wonder how it is in Europe?]
– Do you admire it?
[I really like British music, even more than American. So, I really admire England because of that. I’ve never been to Paris though. In a way, I’m looking forward to going.]
– But you need to work, and do the concert there (laughs).
[There are things I’m not looking forward to (laughs). Once we start, I’m fine, but I get really nervous until we do. But I’m not excited quite yet.]
– Are there any foods you want to try?
[No, I don’t understand food. I’m not interested in food. I don’t go sightseeing either…… (laughs). I don’t take many trips, even for fun. So I guess if it weren’t for this tour, I’d never go to Paris, or Taiwan or Hong Kong.
– In that case, it might be your first and last time in Paris.
[It might be, yes. But I’m only going for the concert.]
– Is doing a concert overseas any different from doing one in Japan?
[I don’t think it’s very different. Basically, it isn’t, but some things will be agitated, in the rhythm, in the instrument that is the drums. I think it’s necessary. I want to do my duty to the fans who come to the lives.]
– At the last show in Japan, will you be showing off how you’ve grown while overseas? (laughs)
[But I’m not going to (laughs).]
Posted by: on: March 10 2008 • Categorized in: Tetsuyaku
This is the translation of the 100 Questions segment that is distributed through ken’s book, IRON MAIKEN. The book itself is a collection of interviews by ken where he is questionning other artists. Only this 100 questions segment contains questions for ken himself.
The original version uses many different font sizes for emphasis, so I have tried to reproduce that, within reason. Some questions don’t make much sense; some answers make even less sense.
Enjoy!
BEGIN
1 – What did you have for supper yesterday? Please tell us the menu.
SUSHI
at work.
I got take-out with a manager who was working late. There were three of us so I got food for three, but then more people came, so I only got to eat maybe 0.3 portion’s worth.
2 – Gold or silver, which do you prefer? Also, why?
It’s best to have BOTH, isn’t it? I used to have one, a flashy necklace with both in it. I really wanted to wear gold, but silver goes more with this kind of music, you know.
3 – When you brush your teeth, where do you start?
I have a tendency to only brush my top left teeth, so I NEED TO PRACTISE BRUSHING MY TEETH! These days, I have a brush with a thread that goes between the teeth, so you know I’m doing it right.
4 – Which shoe do you put on first?
I’m bad at running jumps. Um, I just put on whichever shoe is closest to my feet when I get to them, I gotta get better at making either the left or the right foot get there first.
5 – Have you ever smelled your own socks? When did you last do it?
Well, my body is kinda stiff, so I CAN’T SNIFF THEM.
6 – How do you sleep?
Lately, ON MY SIDE. If you meant clothing, I wear super-thin pyjamas. I’m looking for good ones I can use in winter.
7 – Why do heavy metal people have long hair?
To alleviate their manliness. Or it could be so that a small movement will look like they’re moving a lot more.
8 – Please write three words that represent the image of metal in your mind.
BLACK. LEATHER. Wristband. (I almost wrote NOTEBOOK.)
9 – Have your arms ever stiffened up while you were playing guitar? If so, please tell us how it went.
In lives when I play the drums, my arms get sore and then I have to go back to guitar, so I’ve had to play guitar like that, with stiff arms. That reminded me of THE FIRST TIME I PLAYED STANDING UP.
10 – What do you like about your body?
My fingers and arms are long, it’s easy to play guitar.
PATRASCHE! That’s French, right? But I don’t want to be Patrasche. (2)
13 – If you could switch places with someone for just one day, who would you pick?
CRAYON SHIN CHAN. Naive is good, right?
14 – If you became invisible, what’s the first thing you would do?
I’d probably go outside, but since no one else could see me I’d have to WATCH OUT FOR CARS.
15 – What smells do you like?
SWEET SMELLS! ♥
16 – What smells do you hate?
Smells that make me go “I definitely don’t wanna eat that.”
17 – What texture do you like ?
Sooooft~ Squishy, like jelly. And melty and gooey, too.
18 – What texture do you hate?
THORNY and SPIKY. Oh and you know that one you should never touch, like SUPER STICKY.
19 – What do you think about when you pick out your clothes?
I don’t check the washing label, but I look for tough stuff that looks washable .
20 – What’s the most important point to check when picking out a new guitar?
SOUND!
Basically, if it sounds good, it’ll look good too.
21 – You picked up a kitten. What will you name it?
PATRASCHE probably isn’t a good name. It’s too dogish.
22 – You picked up a turtle. What will you name it?
I’m not adopting a TURTLE.
23 – When you get home and walk through the front door, what’s the first thing you see?
GUNDAM KYRIOS.
24 – Is there anything you want to get rid of?
Even though there’s lots, I don’t know what to say. Oh, maybe chargers I don’t use anymore.
25 – You start your own heavy metal band. What do you call it?
I’d use the member’s initials. You know, like KAT-TUN did.
26 – You’re a reporter being sent to the Beijing Olympics. What events do you cover?
The Olympic Village.
27 – Is it ever a bother, having such long legs?
It is when I have to ride a tiny train or bus.
28 – If you were going to get plastic surgery, what would you fix?
My SKIN and HAIR.
29 – If you had 5 000 000 yen to spend on a present for 50 000 fans, what would you do?
Take them CAMPING in the countryside. The campsite could stay open all year!
30 – Think back to the time when you admired metal the most. Name one song that best fits that time.
ROCK HARD RIDE FREE by JUDAS PRIEST.
31 – “Dumb”, “Stupid”, “Idiot”, “Moron”; which hurts you the most?
If I could be hurt by things like that, I couldn’t live.
32 – “You’re the worst”, “I don’t believe this,” “Stop,”; at what point in your life were you most hurt by these words?
If I were ever hurt like that, I couldn’t live.
33 – What’s your favourite karaoke song?
BRINGIN’ ON THE HEARTBREAK by DEF LEPPARD.
34 – If you became a doctor, which specialization would you pick? Also, tell us why.
Plastic surgery? To help people be beautiful.
35 – Tell us a useful trick you’ve learned to do by training your fingers to play guitar so fast. If you don’t have one, please make one up.
I CAN WIPE MY BUTT WITH MY LEFT HAND.
In stressful times, it’s good training to do this with my left hand. I play very fast, so of course I wipe fast, too.
36 – If you became a teacher, which subject would you pick?
VISUAL ARTS. POTTERY.
37 – When are you glad to like metal? Please give a specific example.
When I get to make a book. (This book).
When I’m lonely or something, I play some metal and it passes the time quickly.
38 – Which three metal albums would you bring to a deserted island?
Vandenberg (Myth of the Netherlands) by VANDENBERG; Defenders of the Faith by JUDAS PRIEST; Heaven and Hell by BLACK SABBATH.
39 – Which three metal albums would you give to an alien?
If I got to go to space, I’d care more about enjoying the experience.
40 – Please name three foods that match your image of metal.
Don’t push it. Hamburgers, hijiki (3), beef stroganoff.
41 – What’s your ring tone?
It’s
DODODODODODODODOOOOOOOO~
42 – If you had to play a very fast song first thing in the morning, what would it be?
Right now, TOO LATE by Vandenberg.
43 – If you couldn’t smoke anymore, what would you chew on during shows?
1.Meilomancy is the art of predicting the future via the moles and birthmarks on a person’s body. Go back.
2.Patrasche is the name of the titular dog in the novel and anime “Dog of Flandres”.Go back.
3.Hijiki is a sea vegetable that grows on rocks. Very healthy, it is a traditional part of the Japanese diet.Go back.
4.Washlets are the common name for high-tech Japanese toilets. They incorporate such features as blow-drying, bidet washing, and heated seats.Go back.
5.Instead of naming any real musicians, ken wrote the word “session” in 5 different ways, using characters that could potentially appear in a stage name.Go back.
6.Wakame is a type of seaweed that is used in many dishes, especially soups and salads. Fu is a gluten-based meat substitute, often artifically flavoured to seem like various meats.Go back.
7.The answer was accompanied by a picture of ken in a metal pose; the horns are of course the heavy metal devil horn sign.Go back.
Posted by: on: January 6 2008 • Categorized in: Tetsuyaku
This is the translation of the live talk that was broadcast on Yahoo! Japan on December 5th, 2007. It is possible that some lines have been misheard and mistranslated, but such mistakes should be minimal. It is strongly recommended that you watch the video file along with this translation.
BEGIN
Host : Welcome to the show. Now, even though the entire world already knows who you are, can I ask you to introduce yourselves anyway?
hyde : Ok. I’m ken, the guitarist.
Host : Eh what? That’s a surprise.
ken : I’m yukihiro, the drummer.
Host : Hold on a minute…
*silence*
ken : Hey?
tetsu : Oh, me? …who am I? Umm… Oh yeah! I’m Taro, from GLAY.
Host : *laughs* That was a tricky question! And um… can we go on?
yukihiro : *laughs*
Host : That’s yukihiro-san then. And behind yukihiro-san, we have a christmas tree. Just perfect for the season.
Host : Today, we’ll be in front of an audience, and also being broadcast live from our website. You do a lot of features like this, right?
hyde : Yeah, we like being live.
Host : Oh yes of course. In any case, today, a select number of fans are watching directly, and the rest can view it online. Live, around the world, they’ll be watching from everywhere.
hyde : Yeah…
Host : At the bottom of the screen, they’ll find information to log in, and send questions which we’ll be going through during this talk.
Host : Ordinarily, hyde-san, what do you do when you go online?
hyde : As soon as I get online, I go straight to Yahoo. It’s my homepage. The first thing I do is read the news, but for some reason I go from the bottom-up. I read about six articles.. whatever’s interesting, starting from the bottom. I don’t know why, I just realized that I always start at the bottom. I guess that’s a pointless fact. I only click what’s interesting though.
Host : So you check the news.
hyde : Yes, and when I’m done, I go to right to the porn sites.
*laughter*
Host : I did mention we’re live, right? We can’t edit this.
*laughter*
Host : How about you, tetsu-san?
tetsu : Oh yeah. Me too.
ken : *cracks up*
tetsu : I go to Yahoo first.
Host : By “me too” you didn’t mean the porn sites then.
Crowd (and ken) : *laughs*
tetsu : Oh that? *smiles* I quit those.
Host : I see.
Host : Since today is a live talk for Yahoo, we should mention the special contents that are available right now. ken-san, have you seen the ad for this live talk?
ken : Ah, no, I didn’t see it. You have to have an account to see it, right?
Host : You can see it anyway. You just need to go to the main page, before signing on.
ken : Ah… Uh… I can’t.
Host : *laughs*
ken : I don’t have the net.
Host : Really?!
ken : I don’t! I go online from other places, not home. I do like… auctions?
Host : Oh? Yahoo auctions?
ken : Yep. I go on Yahoo auctions and I look at instruments.
Host : That’s right, a lot of instruments come up.
ken : They do. “Wow, this sort of thing is out there~”
Host : I see, I see.. Ah, but do you actually participate in these auctions?
ken : A lot of these things are celebrity-related, so I don’t participate, actually.
Host : How about yukihiro-san?
yukihiro : I read the news, pretty often. When I get up, I always go online and read it.
Host : When yahoo auctions were mentioned just now, hyde-san voiced his agreement, so let me ask, do you use them too?
hyde : I shop around, yes.
Host : Oh! For what kinds of things?
hyde : Eh… Clothes, shoes, things like that… Oh and Devilman goods.
Host : Eeeh? Devilman?
hyde : Yes, I check to see if anything cool’s come out.
ken : You just type in “Devilman” at yahoo auctions, and lots of stuff comes up.
hyde : Yeah.
ken : Lots of it comes up.
hyde : It does.
Host : So you can tell which computer hyde-san used because the search history says “Devilman”!
*laughter*
Host : You must be thinking “Of course” I guess.
Host (to audience) : Please see the text at the bottom of your screen and send your questions and messages to us here.
Host : Now I expect a lot of the questions to be related to this : your first full album in two and half years, KISS. Here’s one for hyde-san : What is the meaning of the title, KISS?
hyde : Ahh…
Host : How did you come up with it?
hyde : Um, let me see. I thought a short title would be good, something animal maybe. So I was thinking that a short title would be good and thought of a word that illustrates the connections between people. That would be good. So I was thinking and thinking and came with KISS. It’s something that can’t happen without a partner
Host : Indeed, it’s hard to do it on your own.
hyde : So yeah, um, yeah. There’s this *blows a kiss*
*laughter*
hyde : You could do it with a wall, maybe.
Host : A long time ago there was another famous thing called KISS, right?
hyde : Yeah *nods*.
Host : Like when I was in middle school.
hyde : Yeah but no. I was looking for the right word.
Host : I see.
hyde : With that meaning.
Host : So KISS.
hyde : KISS. *nods*
Host : It’s the title.
Host : Now, I’m sure everyone was excited about the title, but was it accepted right away?
hyde : Yeah it was.
Host : Decided just like that?
hyde : *nods*
Host : Now let’s hear about the recording. ken-san?
ken : Yes?
Host : How was this recording?
ken : This one, yeah, it was totally great. We all get along so well. We’re constantly in the studio. While someone’s working, someone else is napping.
Host : *laughs*
ken : Like for instance hyde would be writing lyrics and fall asleep like that… *imitates*
*laughter*
ken : When he got tired out from drumming yukkie would sleep too *demonstrates*
*laughter*
ken : tetsu would fall asleep at his computer, like this *mimes*
tetsu : EH!?
ken : That’s how it was.
Host : So normally everyone is together the whole time?
ken : That’s right.
Host : It sounds a bit like a training camp.
ken and hyde : Yeah.
ken : And since we’re always all there, we can get each other’s opinions on things, just shout out and have a talk, things like that. That’s how it was.
Host : Now, tetsu-san, you came here a little while ago, and at the time it was mentioned that you were in recording.
tetsu : Oh yeah, that’s right.
Host : There’s something I was meaning to ask about. During your recording sessions, I’m not sure why but it seems that ken-san always has his zipper undone.
ken : Was that mentioned here?!
*laughter*
Host : It was mentioned before. Normally if tetsu-san or another member points out “it’s open” you’d go “sorry, sorry” and fix it, right? But with ken-san it’s just like “It’s open, so what?”
hyde : Like “Yeah, I know.”
Host : I guess it’s part of your style?
ken : What style… It’s like saying this button is undone, yeah I know it is.
Host : Ah, the button on your jacket!
ken : Yeah yeah. Like, it’s open. Oh, should I close it?
Host : No you don’t need to close it.
ken : See?
hyde : You think he’s joking? He’s really all “Yeah, it’s undone.” Like he does it on purpose. I am not joking. Seriously.
*laughter*
hyde : Seriously, like it was his jacket.
Host : *laughs*
hyde : He’s like “You don’t need to tell me again”
*laughter*
Host : Like “I know, already”.
hyde : Practically getting angry.
Host : The opposite reaction.
ken : Oh, I wear lots of torn jeans, you know? So leaving the zipper open is okay, right? Sometimes the zipper is even broken, on my jeans.
Host : Haha, so the zipper can’t be done up…
ken : Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Host : yukihiro-san, does that bother you? If you even notice.
yukihiro : Well it’s ken-chan, you know. *laughs* Even if you tell him, he won’t do anything about it.
*laughter*
yukihiro : So for me it’s like… I just look.
Host : Oh?! *laughter* Look at what?
yukihiro : What colour underpants he’s wearing today.
Host : You check?
yukihiro : Yes.
Host : It’s something to look out for.
hyde : He’s got a lot of colours. ken-chan does.
Host : You never get tired of looking.
hyde : Yeah, like “Ooh he’s got this kind too!”
Host : Haha. It does fit his fashion, perfectly. It completes his image.
ken : Yeah, my most unique fashion item is my underwear.
Host : I see.
ken : Yeah.
Host : So you’ll still… at the recordings…
ken : Well when I show up, I *hand motion of unzipping*
Host : *laughs* It’s not just undone, you made sure it was undone!
ken : That’s right!
Host : *laughs* It’s a sticking point.
ken : Yeah.
Host : I can see why it would be on one’s mind. Hearing something like that…
Host : By the way, yukihiro-san, are there any incidents or interesting episodes you’d like to share, from the recording?
yukihiro : Let me see… *laughs* It’s ken-chan… He had different socks on each foot. Hahahaha.
Host : And so…?
yukihiro : *laughing*
Host : Was it that he didn’t care that they were different?
ken : Yeah, pretty much. Well you know! There are jackets where like, this part will be made of a different fabric, right?
Host : Yeah, but…
ken : And, it’s like more scratched up.
Host : You mean… patchwork…?
ken : Yeah, yeah yeah yeah. It’s not like we’re in the bartering age, there are lots of clothes out there.
Host : But those things are expensive.
ken : So, I figure if they put together pairs of socks in different sizes and colours, it would sell.
Host : Eh? I’m pretty sure that exists.
ken : Does it?
*laughter*
hyde : It happens a lot for me to be looking at socks and wonder if they actually match. I’ll think they do and then look again… Do they?
*laughter*
hyde : It’s like, depending on the lighting the fabric looks like it’s a different colour. So I wonder if it’s on purpose…
Host : Today, even the socks don’t match…
hyde : Or maybe it’s an accident.
Host : It’s enough to make you nervous.
Host : Now, of course I like all the songs, but I especially like Spiral so, yukihiro-san?
yukihiro : Yes.
Host : It’s a very spiral-like song, it really feels like it will be a lot of fun at your lives. So yes, I’d like to hear some of your thoughts concerning this song.
yukihiro : Um, yeah, let me see… I think it’d be great if they dance during this song, at the lives. I thought that from the start.
Host : On this album, of course, there are songs composed by each of the members, but they are all sung by hyde-san. When you sing them, hyde-san, does it feel different when it’s a song composed by someone else? Different approach, or anything of the kind.
hyde : Hmmm yeah. It is.
Host : Can you be a bit more precise?
*audience laughs*
Host : Give us something like “When this person writes a song, it’s like this” or “this song turned out like this”.
hyde : This time was pretty special, yeah.
Host : A little more precise, please? *more laughter* Or I’ll just keep asking.
hyde : Ehh…
Host : It is a good album after all.
hyde : Um, ken-chan’s are uh, hard, I guess you could say. The melody line is weird, yeah he uses melody lines that would never occur to me. Yeah, but, I get used to them, and it feel good to sing them. tet-chan’s are… his songs make it hard for me to breathe.
*audience laughs*
hyde : The melody just goes on and on. A lot.
Host : But for the recordings, well, I suppose you can stop and start as you please?
hyde : Yeah, I can start over where I want and figure out when to breathe. Yes.
Host : How about yukihiro-san’s?
hyde : yukkie’s are, um, let’s see… He tends to repeat the same word over and over.
*laughter*
hyde : I noticed that recently. But this time it’s different. I said “Oh this song is completely different!” He went “Yeah, I worked hard.”
*laughter*
Host : Now we have a letter from (a fan) who says “I’m always cheering you on. What kind of feelings did you want to put into this album, KISS?” That’s a hard question, isn’t it?
hyde : We make all the songs separately. I don’t think anyone thought of them as a proper album, actually.
Host : So each song has it’s own feelings associated.
hyde : Yeah.
Host : How about the song order? How did you decide it, this time?
hyde : Um yeah, like always. It’s what we always do, right? So this time too, we finished recording all the songs, then talked about it.
Host : So it’s after you finished them all.
hyde : Yeah, yeah. This time we finished in the middle of the night… reco, no the mixdown, right? When we finished that, it was twelve or one in the morning, worked straight through until morning, fixing it.
ken : Make an order, make another order, make another…
Host : You listened to it and changed the order a bit?
hyde : Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And somehow everyone’s worries got ironed out and we had a track order come out of it. We were tired, too.
ken : And then we still had to handle the space between the songs.
Host : You mean deciding how many seconds of silence go in between?
ken : Right. We all had to listen closely and think about it, about that two, three second gap. By the third time around we were like “It should be a little longer” or something.
hyde : Yeah, yeah.
ken : When it comes to that, tetsu can’t shut up.
Host : tetsu-san, you’re particular about that?
tetsu : Yeah, um, well it’s not just me.
Host : You have to make it just right, so it feels good?
tetsu : It changes everything, the whole atmosphere. The gaps matter.
Host : Okay.
Host : Now to change the subject slightly, but still talking about KISS. You did a collaboration with 109-Men’s in Shibuya, which appeared, BOOM, out of nowhere. It’s quite shocking. A true KISS. I’d like to ask about the photo shoot. First of all, hyde-san and tetsu-san are… well, kissing. But tetsu-san’s lips area like this *audience laughter* It’s as if he’s thinking “So this is how my first kiss is going to be~” slightly upset or something. But hyde-san is closing in, I’d say. Was it embarrassing to take those pictures? How about that photo shoot, when they asked you to kiss?
hyde : Oh well, you know, I don’t really remember.
*audience laughter*
Host : Was it emotional?
hyde : You could say that. I don’t remember what happened.
Host : Ah, but it was something. So how about tetsu-san?
tetsu : I made sure to brush my teeth.
Host : Because you were being kissed right.
hyde : I don’t remember.
Host : Let’s move on to ken-san and yukihiro-san. But, you’re not actually kissing in the picture.
ken : Cause they’re used to it.
Host : Huh?
ken : It’s not a big deal to have me and yukkie kiss. So it doesn’t matter if we do or not.
Host : No, no, *laughs* I wouldn’t say that.
ken : The photo shoot was, well once we got there it was like we had to kiss. There was some discussion.
*much laughter*
Host : How about yukihiro-san? How as that photo shoot?
yukihiro: I was waiting for it.
Host : Is it just me or are you reacting completely differently from these three? Waiting for it…
hyde : During the recordings he’s there drumming normally and then I kiss him.
*laughter*
Host : Then was it over in the blink of an eye? Or did they have you do it over and over?
ken : It was done in just a few takes but I was up for more.
*heavy laughter*
Host : The staff is cleaning up but you still want to pose?
ken : *nods and laughs*
Host : Once the big one was made, did you get to see it?
hyde : I saw it. Sort of like, on the way home I thought I might as well go look.
Host : Wait, alone?
hyde : Yeah, I was alone. On my way home, I had a peek, around 2 am. I drove up to the building and stopped, and then ken-chan’s car pulled up right behind me.
*laughter*
ken : Yeah, I thought I’d seen that car before.
Host : “Could it be?”
hyde : Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I got out, and there was a construction guy there, but we didn’t care about him and got out to look. We pretended to kiss in front of the sign.
Host : Did you take pictures?
hyde and ken : Yes we did.
Host : Ahhh… So it would have been better to pair the two of you.
hyde : Yeah, yeah.
*much laughing*
Host : I, oh yeah, tetsu-san did you go look?
tetsu : I, well I don’t really care but, yeah, I went to look at it. I had to go to Shibuya anyway, and then I remembered. I stopped my car in front and looked, but it was the middle of the day yet no one spotted me.
Host : You didn’t take a picture?
tetsu : I did. From inside my car.
Host : How about yukihiro-san?
yukihiro : Yes, I went to see it too. At night. Alone. I went.
*laughter*
yukihiro : I wanted to see what ken-chan’s kiss looks like.
Host : How is it when it’s that big?
yukihiro : I never thought I’d be seen kissing in front of so many people.
Host : I’m sure several people in the audience saw it too, and we’re getting many messages from fans who all went to look at it. Here’s a message from one Peach-san, from China. “Hi, I’m a fan from China. Your fans aren’t all in Japan, you have Chinese fans too. I am watching this from China. Please take care of yourselves, everyone.”
hyde : Ah.
Host : Here’s another message : “hyde-san, your hairstyle is very cute. Which do you prefer having, long hair or short?”
hyde : Right now long is better.
Host : Ah. Is it the mode you’re in right now?
hyde : Right now, when I get my hair and makeup done, I tell them to make it like Hideki.
*laughter*
Host : With rollers?
hyde : Yeah, with rollers.
Host : Just like that idol from a little while ago, all curly.
hyde : Yeah, that’s right.
Host : And now, pretty soon you’ll be heading into the tour. Could it be related? Is that why you got this hairstyle for now?
hyde : Well I don’t really know.
Host : It’s just for now?
hyde : For the time being.
Host : A little Hideki-boom, that you might keep. Maybe.
Host : Another message : “Please describe your level of enthusiasm for the upcoming lives.” Of course it is about the nationwide arena tour that starts on December 22nd : Tour 2007-2008 Theatre of KISS. About this tour, well I’m sure there are many things you can’t talk about yet, but tetsu-san, what kind of tour is it going to be?
tetsu : Yes! Ehh… Oh yeah. Um, hmm… it’s awesome.
*audience laughs*
Host : It looks awesome.
tetsu : Yes.
Host : Okay. How about you, ken-san?
ken : Um well we’re already holding rehearsals, so… It’s good. Our performance is.
Host : You’re performing well.
ken : Like… this is just great, you know. *laughs* Today was fun, yeah! *laughs*
Host : Just like a music club. Ah, how fun.
ken : And we’ve started working on the stage sets, so yeah, you should look forward to seeing it. Yes.
Host : Just now when you mentioned how fun it is, I think I saw yukihiro-san laugh.
yukihiro : Yes.
Host : Is it fun to rehearse?
yukihiro : Yes, it’s fun.
Host : I already asked what kind of tour it will be, but I’d like to hear yukihiro-san’s version too?
yukihiro : Hmmm, let me think… Well… it’s spine-tingling and heart-pounding and nerve-wracking, but I can do it all.
Host : Lives that encompass all those feelings.
yukihiro : Yes.
Host : How about hyde-san?
hyde : Hmm, yeah, it’s gonna be awesome, these next lives.
*audience laughs*
hyde : We actually didn’t have enough money to do everything we wanted. It’s really expensive.
Host : Ah so you wanted…
*audience laughs*
Host : So it’s below your expectations?
hyde : “We don’t have the budget for that, hyde-san!”
Host : Then it’s a step down from what you imagined? There were too many things you wanted to do, so it can’t all happen?
hyde : Like, you really want to do this? *laughs* As the days go by… *laughs* It’s pretty awesome.
Host : I’m sure it is. So everyone has ideas about what he’d like to do at the next live, like “let’s try this” or “I wanna do that” and you throw it all together and some of it is possible but some is just a little… unfeasible? So it seems that some things need to be put off, perhaps?
hyde : Maybe so. Well… we don’t talk about the next ones.
Host: Is that so? But in any case, this tour will be awesome.
hyde : Yes, it’s awesome.
Host : And expensive.
hyde : Very expensive.
Host : *laughs*
Host : Next message : “About this tour, actually this year’s tour, I was able to go see it. It was the first live I’ve ever been to. Having been a fan of L’Arc for 11 years, it was quite touching. That leads to my question : What was the first live you ever went to see?”
hyde : Ah. Mine was Wada Akiko-san.
crowd : Ehh?
Host : Was that… with your parents?
hyde : Yeah, with my parents. Like “Wow, it’s so biig.”
*laughter*
hyde : Somebody else said that.
Host : Ahaha. Okay, now ken-san?
ken : Mine was a heavy metal band, named ACCEPT.
Host: Ah, and how old were you at the time?
ken : Um, teenage… First year of high school, how old is that?
Host : So, 15 or 16?
ken : Yeah.
Host : You bought the tickets with your allowance?
ken : Yeah.
Host : And tetsu-san?
tetsu : Mine was Chita.
Host : Eh? Chita.
tetsu : Suimenji Kyoko-san.
Host : 365 step March? (Note : This is a hit song by that artist)
tetsu : Yes.
Host : And that was… with your parents?
tetsu : Yeah, it was. They took me.
Host : Do you remember anything about it?
tetsu : There was lots of dry ice, it was pretty cool.
*laughter*
Host : I remember she had a specially patterned kimono and would rise up onto the stage, something like that.
Host : Now yukihiro-san?
yukihiro : Mine was a heavy metal band too, it was Metallica.
Host : Metallica? Wow. So you were in high school?
yukihiro : That’s right.
Host : I see. Okay.
Host : All right. Now I’ll read the next message : “Dear L’Arc members, good luck on your tour. When you go on tour, I’m sure you get to sample some delicious food from each area. Do you look forward to it? I especially want to hear yukkie-san’s answer.”
hyde : yukkie’s famous for not eating so…
Host : Oh, is that so?!
hyde : I think they mean “Please eat”.
Host : They’re saying “Please try to eat it, yukkie-san”
hyde : Yeah.
yukihiro : Yeah yeah yeah.
Host : Your fans are worried so eat properly!
*laughter*
Host : You don’t eat!?
hyde : He doesn’t.
*laughter*
Host : That’s pretty worrisome, please say something. Tell us you eat.
hyde : Of course it’s worrisome.
*laughter*
Host : Is it really, ken-san?
ken : He really doesn’t eat much, does he. He keeps getting smaller.
Host : So, is he doing muscle training or something like that?
ken : I don’t think it’s training, I think it’s just his drumming. Muscles, right? Drumming makes you really sore, especially like here.
Host : Eh?
ken : Like this… What’s it called… It’s a muscle I’ve never seen before. It’s like, wow there’s a muscle there.
*laughter*
Host : He’s buff all over, then.
ken : Yeah, totally.
Host : But it’s not true that you don’t eat, right yukihiro-san?
yukihiro : Yes.
*laughter*
hyde : He means “Yes, I don’t eat.”
Host : No way. Really?
hyde : He doesn’t.
Host : Does he eat or doesn’t he? tetsu-san?
tetsu : Hm?
Host : Which is it?
tetsu : He doesn’t eat.
Host : He doesn’t.
tetsu : He doesn’t.
Host : But there really are delicacies in each part of the country, right?
hyde : Yeah. He’s not interested. “It doesn’t matter” he says.
*laughter*
Host : But all of you go out to eat together, right?
hyde : Yes of course. We tell him “yukkie, you gotta eat!” and give him a plate.
Host : You get a plate?
ken : In places that don’t have them.
hyde : Cause we’re celebs.
*laughter*
Host : And so the entire band is concerned for the drummer. yukkie-san, please eat.
yukihiro : I love rice. *laughs*
Host : That’s good. I’m glad you like something.
yukihiro : Yes.
Host : Next message : “I couldn’t get a ticket for the live! But I wanna go!” That’s the whole message. There are alot of messages like this, as well as a lot of “good luck on the tour” messages. And now our thirty minutes are up! We were booked for thirty minutes. But let’s finish up. The room was limited to only these guests you can see now, but many people are also watching from their computers. I don’t think they’ve seen all of you live over the internet before. Could we get a last message from each of you, for the fans like that person from China, who are watching from their computers? Who wants to start?
hyde : You decide.
Host : Okay, let’s have the one by the tree, yukihiro-san, you start. Then we’ll move this way. Okay, look into that camera.
yukihiro : Me first?
Host : Yes. If you could, yukihiro-san.
yukihiro : Um *looks at the tree* I have the tree behind me, so um, enjoy your christmas.
*laughter*
Host : Thanks. tetsu-san?
tetsu : Okay. Eehh… Seems like the flu is going around, so take care.
Host : Oh, good point. But how about something concerning the album?
*audience laughs*
Host : If you don’t mind. Or maybe an invitation to the tour?
tetsu : I’m leaving that to the other two.
Host : Of course. Let’s move on. ken-san?
ken : It’s the season for delicious nabe.
*laughter*
ken : I wonder what kind of nabe you all like. Thank you very much.
*laughter*
Host : Wait a second! Shouldn’t you at least tell them what kind you like?
ken : Ah… I love shabu-shabu.
Host : I see… I’m sorry, hyde-san?
hyde : Yes?
Host : These three gave winter related messages, so… could you say something connected to the live or the album, please?
hyde : Okay. Actually, I almost caught the flu. Figures it would be just before the live. The live is really… entertainment. I think it will be. Yes. I’m looking forward to it too. What was I saying?
Host : The live is entertainment? And you almost had the flu.
hyde : Oh that’s right, I love the internet. You can’t tell, but normally when you’re online, I might be looking at the same site as you.
Host : Oh I see. That’s certainly something to think about and be happy.
hyde : It’s always possible.
*audience laughs*
hyde : Yeah. I look people up a lot, so I might have seen your site.
Host : People’s homepages?
hyde : Fan sites, for example.
Host : Eh, you actually look at them?
hyde : Well of course. And I look up the sites of people I know, things like that.
Host : So you look at sites that say “I LOVE L’ARC” even though the people who make those sites must not think the members are looking?
hyde : Guess not. But sometimes they tell me about their sites.
Host : Ah I see. But er, you didn’t say anything about the album…
*audience laughs*
Host : So please, yukihiro-san?
yukihiro : Me?
Host : Yes.
yukihiro : The album, yeah, umm…. We really had a great time recording it, I really think we managed to put together something awesome, so I’m sure the people who listen to it … *sigh*
*laughter*
yukihiro : Um, I’m sure it will make them happy. Umm… or maybe they’ll get emotional and cry. Umm… they can clear their minds with the bouncy songs… umm… imagine scenes in each song… listen for the kind of sound they like… just about anything really. *laughs* So yes, enjoy.
Host : That was wonderful. tetsu-san do you have anything to add?
tetsu : About the album?
Host : Yes.
tetsu : Ehh… let’s see. I think it’s perfectly suited to the coming season. So please… if you could, give it a listen.
Host : ken-san?
ken : Oh yeah, I just remembered there’s a christmas song on it. I think it’ll be on heavy rotation from now on.
Host : I listened to it too. It’s a very happy feeling, to have that christmas song at the end.
ken : Yes, it is.
hyde : It’s the happy ending.
Host : It’s like watching a movie where the main characters share a final kiss and then the happy music cues up, it makes the whole album feel like a movie. With Hurry Xmas at the end like that. So hyde-san can you give us one last comment?
hyde : Okay. Um…..
*laughter*
Host : This will be the end.
hyde : The end?
Host : After this we’ll show the Hurry Xmas video a little.
hyde : Oh really. Um, it’s been two and something years, so yeah. We had to get something good out of it, we all worked on the arrangements to make it L’Arc~en~Ciel like, but at the same time there’s something new about it. It’s a lively album, so please, listen to it.
Host : So, thank you very much for taking the time to come here today, and I hope we’ll have a chance to invite you again. This has been L’Arc~en~Ciel.