Posted by: on: September 21 2005 • Categorized in: Tetsugaku.
– Back when you were in your teens, in your high school days, the group of friends you hung out with must have been overwhelmingly composed of band friends, wasn’t it?
[As far as the band lifestyle went, once I started living it, the group of people that I’d call friends turned into a group of guys with the same hobby pretty quickly. Guys who were in bands, or guys who were into music. I noticed that before long, I was surrounded by people with the same hobby as me.]
– In your middle school days, although you were interested in music, you hadn’t yet begun to direct yourself towards that lifestyle. What kind of friends did you spend time with back then?
[Guys who liked music, and I also had a group of anime buddies. Guys who were into anime. But, after I started high school, I only got involved in music related stuff, so pretty soon I wasn’t spending time with my old anime buddies at all.]
– To you, what kind of traits does a friend need to have? Do they have to have the same interests as you, so that you can relate to each other that way and enjoy the same things?
[That’s right. So in my case, music had to be important to them. The topic of conversation would turn to music all the time, so unless it was someone who played an instrument, or someone who knew a lot about music, we’d have nothing to talk about. Of course, I still had some friends from middle school that I kept in touch with. After school, when class let out, we’d go to the arcade or go see a movie, or we’d go bowling together. I usually had friends to do that sort of thing with. But then, in high school, I always had band practice on the weekends, and sometimes a live show. I had no time for my school friends other than right after class. Among my school friends, though, there wasn’t anyone in my class who could talk about music with the same level of interest I did.]
– If there was no one in your class who was as interested in music as you were, how did you manage to find friends who could discuss that topic with you?
[I went to live houses. “You in a band?” “Me? Bass.” Talking like that, I made friends with people in other bands.]
– By going to places where music lovers gather, you gave yourself the opportunity to actively call out to them and speak with them.
[Right. In places like that, even if I only made one friend with the same interests as me, my network of friends would still expand from there, you know? Meeting friends of friends, and so on. Even just going to my friend’s shows; their other friends came, too. It feels natural to progress that way.]
– Are there any of your former band mates, or any of your old music friends, who you’ve maintained a relationship with until now?
[There are. Quite a few. Out of all of us, I think the only ones who work in music for a living are me and ken-chan, though. Some of them still play an instrument as a hobby, though. Some of them even have indie CDs out.]
– Interviewer : Toujou Sachie
Translated by Natalie Arnold
Posted by: on: September 18 2005 • Categorized in: Tetsugaku.
– Over the course of all these talks, tetsu-san, I’ve come to think that you have some kind of power to draw important things close to you. Such as encountering the other members; when something becomes important to you, perhaps a power like destiny is involved in drawing it nearer. As if the connection had been arranged ahead of time. Whatever it is, it’s dramatic. It might not make for much of a talk though.
[It is dramatic, isn’t it? Really. I typically think this one thing : there are so many people in the world, and I can only meet a limited number of them, but they’re predetermined. The characters of the drama that is my life are predetermined.]
– Wow, cool! That sent a little shiver down my spine! (laughs)
[Really? I feel that way very strongly. I mean, in Tokyo, there are unbelievably many people right? Still, I bump into people I know all the time. It’s highly probable, I think. But, the way I see it, they’re the characters in my drama, so of course they’re going to show up.]
– Ohhhh! Yeah, that could be it.
[So, no matter how close to them I might live, I’m never going to meet the people I won’t meet.]
– Ah, that too. There’s people you won’t see at all even though they tell you “I live right next to you,” and there are people living nowhere near you who you’ll see a lot, by coincidence.
[Right, exactly. In my case, that means I run into the other members, over and over again. It happens with all of them.]
– Ah? There must be a strong power between all of you.
[Before yukkie had joined L’Arc, I was shopping in Shibuya. My car was in an underground parking lot, so I was done shopping and on my way back to the parking lot, I pushed the elevator button, then the door opened. It opened but, you know how they have pamphlets and fliers next to the elevators? Those caught my eye, so I was checking them out, oblivious. Then, I put the flier back and pushed the button again, and when the door opened yukkie was there.]
– That’s amazing. I think it’s really incredible.
[That kind of thing happens to me a lot. Really. With hyde, too. So, this stuff is what makes me think that the main characters of my life might be predetermined. Oh, yeah, I’ve met Ishiki Sae-chan (1) about five times now. Oh, but sometimes I only caught a glimpse of her.]
– No way. So, she’s in the cast, too? Oh, that’s right, she was in a CF (2) that used NEO UNIVERSE, wasn’t she? Ishiki Sae-chan.
[Mmhmm. But, five times (laughs). “We meet a lot,” you’d think.]
– How amazing! Five times, that doesn’t normally happen by chance.
[That’s why it’s predetermined.]
– And so, tetsu-san, I think this goes to show the threads of fate tied around you are thick and numerous.
[Meeting the people I meet. Never once meeting the people I don’t meet. It’s obvious, but it sounds cool to say it! (laughs)]
– Hahahaha! Certainly, you don’t meet the people you don’t meet. But out of the billions of people on Earth, the ones you do meet, and who then become an important part of your life, there’s only a handful of them, isn’t there? Meeting those people, and even meeting them by coincidence, I think that’s incredible.
[That’s right. For example, there are some fan girls who really love L’Arc, right? “I ran into so-and-so in town!” To meet one of us, never mind meet all of us that way, that probably won’t happen, will it? But it happens to me. Isn’t that cool?]
– Cooler than the fans (laughs). It’s something to be proud of (laughs).
[Isn’t it? (laughs) Especially since it doesn’t happen when we’re on a day off together, or in stores we all go to a lot. It’s at totally unrelated times.]
– Affinity or fate, those are the words we can’t help but describe it with.
Do you believe in destiny?
[Yes, I do. Also, I have high chances of seeing celebrities.]
– Because you have an affinity for that world, right?
[Yeah, I think so. But, celebrities always disguise themselves, right? Everyone else around them won’t notice, it’s like I’m the only one who realises who it is. “How come nobody else notices?” Maybe I detect their smell…]
– “Something stinks!” (laughs).
[Hahaha!]
– I understand. Destiny varies. About yukihiro-san, didn’t you encounter him a decade earlier? Back before you had L’Arc, when you were searching for members, tetsu-san, you said you’d gone to see a Zi:KILL (3) live. Looking back on that now must seem strange. He was just another person you’d met back then and yet he was set on the path to being a current member of L’Arc. That sounds like an affinity.
[Isn’t it strange? For yukkie, too, at that live, he never would have thought that in the future, he’d join a band with a guy who came to that show, right?]
– It was coincidence, but it was inevitable.
[That’s right. I think that if I don’t have any sort of fateful connection to them, I’m not going to meet someone.]
– It must be nice to have everything be so dramatic.
[Dramatic…… Aren’t a lot of things dramatic? But. If there’s too much, it kinda starts seeming normal, to me.]
– Wahahahaha! Like, even sensational things make you go “Oh, that,” or something? (laughs)
[What, what do you mean……?]
– You must have the power to draw things to you after all. It’s an unconscious part of you, more of an instinctive ability.
[But that’s kinda creepy, really. Because, a lot of good things come with a lot of bad things. Though, if that weren’t the case, I probably wouldn’t be where I am now.]
– Of course, you also need to have the power to determine whether those encounters have any meaning or not. Even if destiny makes them happen, when you don’t notice, I think those people end up being absorbed into the mundane.
[No, I think that’s wrong. Strong-willed people end up succeeding. So the people who don’t notice, I think they’re weak in that department.]
– Ah, of course, of course.
[It doesn’t take much effort.]
– However, it does take effort not to waste money on luck. Such as on gambling and the like, right?
[Yeah, don’t do that. But, I think you can gamble even if you’re a strong person.]
– Are you aware of the strength of your own fortune?
[I am.]
– But isn’t that a talent that you’ve had since you were born?
[Isn’t it? I think it means I have a talent.]
– Interviewer : Honma Yuuko
Translated by Natalie Arnold
1. Ishiki Sae is an actress who appears primarily in dramas. Go back.
2. CF stands for commercial film, essentially a long commercial or TV spot. Go back.
3. Zi:KILL was yukihiro’s first band. They were quite famous in the early 90s.Go back.
Posted by: on: September 15 2005 • Categorized in: Tetsuyaku
This is my translation of the Korea press conference from 2nd September, 2005. It was translated by ear, and so there may be some misheard lines. Since I cannot read Korean, I cannot translate the questions that appeared at the bottom of the screen.
Begin
ken : (Greeting in Korean)
ken : At the airport, where we had to show our passports, I could hear “Kyaa!” coming from somewhere. The four of us were going to gang up and break through all at once but… we couldn’t quite pull it off. So then, we ended up kind of showing off.
hyde : Yesterday, at the airport, um… I thought “They’re so talkative.” My impression of Korea is that everything seems so spicy. Speaking of spicy, this morning my throat was a bit raspy, but I’ll go easy on it and be ready for tomorrow’s live.
tetsu : At the airport, yesterday, I really thought I was going to collapse. I was a little scared.
yukihiro : About that, at the airport… It was incredibly eye-opening. I was surprised. My impression of Korea, um… I heard it was a lot like Hokkaido so I was expecting it to be a little cooler. Last night, I went to check things out in town, and it was hot out, so I thought it wasn’t like I heard it would be.
hyde : Since this is a tour connected to AWAKE, it feels serious. We’re always serious, but this time even more so, and we’ve already done the AWAKE lives… Eh… This is the first stop of ASIA LIVE, and so, we need to make it L’Arc~en~Ciel-like, we can’t disgrace ourselves. I think we’ll make it a good live.
tetsu : This is hard. Um… We’ve always created work that we ourselves think is good. Eh.. That’s all we did.
hyde : Soteji?
Interpreter : Yes, Soteji. (Note : A person, but I do not know who this is.)
hyde : Him? Ah, in West Azabu, we met. We has some drinks together. When we were out drinking, we were introduced, yeah… (nods) He’s famous. Of course I knew who he was. “Oh, is that you?” (mimes shaking hands) And I had a drink with him.
ken : Guitar shopping, I go do that whenever I can. I found some novels to read, I think the feelings, the story, will stay with me, since it was well written.
hyde : Umm…. I don’t really have any sort of inspiration. I think about a goal, or just myself, and then it comes.
yukihiro : I just… thought I’d like to make a song like this, and so I worked to make it into this type of song.
yukihiro : Coming to Korea for the first time and doing a live here makes me very happy, and so I think I will try my very hardest tomorrow.
tetsu : I think it’s going to be good. I think it’ll be fun.
hyde : I’ll do my best tomorrow for all the cute girls.
ken : Just like there were at the airport, I want to see lots of excited fans there. It’ll be fun.
– Recently, has anything touching happened to you?
[Touching?…… Nope (laughs)]
– tetsu-san, you aren’t moved by much?
[Yeah. That’s typical, isn’t it?]
– Oh, yes. But sometimes, things happen that make you go “Woah!” don’t they? When does that happen? When do you react like that?
[When I watch movies, or documentary programs, sometimes.]
– Then you don’t actually experience it often?
[It’s rather unnatural when I do.]
– But doesn’t that sort of situation come by rather often? In your work as a musician. A song could set it off; the song itself could be touching when you finish it.
[I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s touching, but working on a song day after day, there’s something like a sense of achievement when it’s finally finished. Although, I think bringing that up to the level of “feeling” used in this theme is going a little far.]
– It would be exaggerating.
[It would be (laughs). Besides, the process of recording itself ends up being rather diluted. It really isn’t all that intense. Of course, the final product is meant to be worth getting emotional over, and so those watered-down days of work add up and are compressed into it.]
– So then for you, tetsu-san, something touching has to be something terribly intense, doesn’t it?
[That’s what the “touching” experiences I’ve had have been, isn’t it? Intense, having something unexpected happen, that sort of thing.]
– Then, everyday, trivial things don’t count.
[Like “Today’s sunset was pretty,” you mean? I’ll personally think that it was pretty, but I don’t think it’s anything to go “How moving!” over. But I think everyday things can be moving, too. What’s a good example…… When a puppy gets caught in car headlights, seeing someone save that puppy would be touching. “Wow, amazing!” But sunset happens every day (laughs). “Hey, wasn’t today’s sunset pretty?” “Last night’s was prettier.” That sort of difference can happen, and sometimes you do see an exceptionally pretty one, but it happens every day, so going “How touching!” over every single one would be strange, wouldn’t it? (laughs) But seeing someone rescue a puppy, although it happens every day, it’s exceptional every day, so isn’t it moving? If you saw it happen every single time, it wouldn’t be moving anymore, though. It would be like “It’s nothing to get worked up about since you save it all the time.” (laughs)]
– I see. And now I’d like to know all the more what you think is touching, tetsu-san. Could you bring up a memory……
[I don’t remember anything like that. That level of emotion! (laughs) It was touching enough to forget about.]
– That means you’re being difficult. tetsu-san, what would be a good way to make you feel moved?
[A simple way to move me would be to give me a sad movie to watch. That’ll move me, probably about two hours later (laughs). Isn’t that easy? That means you can buy my emotions for just 2800 yen. Maybe you could even get it cheaper, like 1500 yen (laughs).]
– That must not work all the time~
[So just try again.]
– Ahahahaha. How is it for you, tetsu-san, knowing that you have moved many people yourself?
[Well, that’s just part of making music. Also, at lives, there will be girls crying. That part of it might be what it means to send out emotion.]
– So you do think about sending out your emotions, then?
[Yeah, I do. In that case.]
– More than saying this or that with words, you want it to be felt through your work.
[Nah, it’s not that big a deal. Cause, even though they’re watching me, we’re not feeling the same way. Like at a live, when I’m forced to do an MC (2), they’re all looking at me and I fall short. “Cold!” (3) (laughs). It’s so embarrassing. For example, in an interview, I’ll say something incredibly cool, but actually hearing it doesn’t sound cool at all, so I think it’d be good if I could make it sound cool in the first place, but that’s just not how I want to be. Anyway, I don’t want to say rotten stuff.]
– However, you are confident that you can touch people, and that you can create something good.
[I am. Creating, that isn’t only about “moving” people. I think it usually ends up being the ballads that get called touching. I think that’s different from calling it “Cool!” or “Awesome!”]
– But isn’t that also a way to be moved?
[In my opinion, you shouldn’t go as far as to call it moving. “Wow, this is cool!” The end. (Laughs). I don’t call that moving, in my mind.]
– tetsu-san, what does “touching” mean to you?
[Just about what it means in the movies (laughs).]
– Something touching has to make you cry, then.
[Right. Cooool! is an emotion too. For example, watching soccer championships, when they win with an incredibly amazing goal, that’s moving. But, listening to a song, even if it’s an incredibly cool song, it’s exaggerating to go as far as to call it touching. “This is really cool!” Isn’t that enough by itself? If you asked “Did you find it moving?” I’d think “Moving……? Can you really go that far?” But, watching a touching movie, that’s moving! I say. During a movie insert song or the ending, while the song is playing, I might possibly cry especially hard.]
– You must not be moved by things people say, either.
[Well, when I’m close to tears, sometimes I say things like “If you keep on talking I won’t be able to hold back my tears.” Sometimes I’ll say something like “Don’t talk about happy things right now.” …… But I think it’s best not to make every single thing so dramatic (laughs).]
– Roger. So, let’s not go overboard talking about feelings, let’s move on to the four emotions now. First, “joy”. What made you happy recently?
[Lately? Aah, you know that “hanetobi” (haneru no tobira)(4) program? That got popular all over the country, so they changed the broadcast to something a little earlier, right? But, I had a recording that day.]
– They changed the broadcast time rather recently.
[And I even forgot to set my recorder. I forgot to ask a friend to tape it, too. After (the show) was over, it occurred to me “Ah! It was on today~” So I called my friend, who said “I taped it!”]
– No way, that’s amazing. Great minds think alike.
[Exactly! I was touched (laughs). That was moving for me. I remember now.]
– Don’t you?
[But, I was trying to remember “being happy” when that came up. So, I couldn’t think of something moving when I was on the spot, but now I can find something “touching”.]
– Let’s call it moving. So, now talk about something that made you even happier.
[……………… Nothing (laughs)]
– Hahahahahahaha! Then how about a time where you made someone else happy, instead.
[Probably nothing.]
– Do you enjoy making others happy?
[If it’s a matter of liking or hating, then I’d say I like it, but it depends on the time and place. Doing that kind of thing constantly…… sucks.]
– Don’t some people like receiving presents?
[Yeah. Even though it’s not their birthday, kids like getting lots of stuff. I’m…… pretty embarrassed, actually, when I receive things myself.]
– Perhaps (laughs). So, the next one is “anger”. tetsu-san, do you get angry much?
[Yes, I do. I’m short tempered. I’m quick to snap (laughs). When I was a kid, we didn’t say it that way, though.(5)]
– The word itself didn’t exist at the time. What has made you angriest, lately?
[When you ask me that, I can’t think of anything. I don’t get that angry every day. In the past, I got really angry at work, very often. Lately, I haven’t gotten mad at all.]
– Might that be because you’ve become more broad-minded?
[I’ll accept that meaning. This might sound negative, but it is negative. I used to be so serious about everything. “I’m putting everything I have into this, so work with the same intensity as me,” was how I thought, directed at the staff. But in the end, they’re salarymen. There’s no way they’ll feel the same way I do. That’s only partly true; of course some staff members are wonderful. But within the company, around 80 to 90 percent of the people there just don’t care. But they do have that 10 – 20 percent that are wonderful people, at the company. And so, my sense of values has changed, regarding people at different degrees of intensity. I understand that it would be stupid to demand that they give their all just for this project, and I don’t get angry anymore.]
– Perhaps this means that anger isn’t worth wasting your energy on.
[It’s not worth it. That means I’ve become cold, doesn’t it? In the past, I had expectations, and got angry over living up to them. I said it was for their own good too, but, in the end I was bothering them, making them uncomfortable, and they just hated me. It turned out to be better for them not to get so much advice from me. If they asked me for some, then it really was for their own good. I’ve been mean lately, too (laughs). When I realize I’m doing it, I stop myself. And so, I don’t get mad anymore.]
– Maybe that’s the case.
[Before, I was stupidly straightforward even though I was trying to be nice, but I was hated. So there was a lot of retribution.]
– I think they were extremely shallow, hating you just for that.
[When they were irritated with me, they’d say “tetsu from L’Arc is picky, isn’t he?” or “Isn’t he annoying?” and the ones saying that were the ones not doing an equal share of the work. The ones who were going around saying that sort of thing about me were, of course, the same people who said they couldn’t get their work done. But then, the people who did get their work done were the ones I could get along with. I could actually understand those people.]
– However, those people who weren’t doing their work, the ones who were badmouthing you, could it be that they didn’t realize what they were doing?
[Well, a business, like a government office or a school, there’s no way it can always have that kind of people managing it. One of these years, someone will come in and change things, like a teacher that even the principal hates.]
– tetsu, personally, nothing makes you get mad does it?
[Particularly, well, it does happen to a certain degree, but since I’m 34 I’m rapidly running out of people who make me mad. I think that’s sad. I make mistakes too, maddening things make me mad, and I think that when something about me needs improving, I have to improve it. To become arrogant and refuse to hear out a proper exchange of opinions would be dangerous. I intend to avoid becoming like that.]
– Now for “pathos,” sadness. Have you been sad lately?
[I think it’s sad that CDs don’t sell anymore, these days.]
– That is very serious. You must feel it affecting you?
[The music industry as a whole feels it, to put it plainly, don’t you think? There’s no vitality, and even when I’m not especially focused on making money, there are things I want to do but can’t, and I hate that the most. Even though all I want to do is create something good, I’m told “There’s no money” and I hate having that limitation. It’s sad.]
– Even on the charts, nothing has been selling but compilations…… On the Western music ranking, when that’s all the top five have been, it’s very disappointing.
[It’s so sad. Back when I was working odd jobs, we’d tell people “Please leave the store, OK?” and even sent them off with samples (laughs). It barely occurred to anyone to charge money for giving those out.]
– It was probably thought that no one needed to pay for one song by itself.
[Probably not, no. It’s like, just getting a hold of a hit song that way was fine. You’d listen to it in one situation, like while chatting in your room with your sister, or while you were on a drive, and that’s the only reason to use it, nothing else (laughs).]
– Are you becoming pessimistic, thinking “Even if we make an album, it won’t reach anyone,” or the like?
[But I don’t think the number of people who listen to music has gone down. It’s just the form, I think people just don’t go out to buy CDs anymore. The songs, the music itself, I think they all still listen. Differently than before. I mean, they make copies, and then give the copies to their friends, right? High school kids do that, now. Well, anyway, I think it’s obvious if you think about it.]
– When I was a kid, we used to say “Make a tape of that for me.”
[Yeah. But, with a tape, you lose a lot of sound quality in the transfer, so if you listen to a tape and like it, you’ll think about buying the album, but with a CD-R you already have a perfect copy. If you like what you hear, I don’t think you’ll be bothered to go out and buy a proper copy.]
– Maybe you would if you wanted the jacket, but you have to like it quite a lot for that. By the way, I do buy the music I like.
[But, even the fans don’t buy it anymore, these days. It’s surprising, for me. I have a mobile site, and charge about 300 yen a month for it, but some of them tell me “I don’t have the money so I won’t subscribe.” But 300 yen? When they tell me “I can’t afford it” it makes me think “I’m not even worth that much, even to my fans,” you know?]
– That is quite sad. For artists.
[So, I think the fans all need to learn more about how the flow of money works, in the world; I think they need it to be taught to them. When we musicians sell a CD, it’s the profits from that CD that will allow us to make the next album, you know? Going to extremes, I think our lives basically depend on whether the CD sells or not. If it doesn’t sell, we’ll get our contracts cut off before the next one, because we’re musicians. “I love you! I’d do anything for you!” If you think like that, then you could do a lot by just buying a CD. Don’t write fan letters every day or send presents. Of course, those things are great, but some people send letters every day, writing “I still haven’t bought your album.” (laughs).]
– Reporting that to you, directly…… how complicated (laughs). It really is. Do you have any more “pathos” ?
[Nope. (<- immediate reply)]
- Mhahaha. You don't have any moments where you think "How sad!" do you? As part of your everyday life.
[Hmmm, only if I watch a sad movie...... (laughs)]
- Of course, movies. So, now "humour". What do you think of as amusing? "Fun" is okay too.
[Amusing, is it? Fun, let's see... watching an interesting TV show, I guess (laughs). Watching 'Hanetobi' DVDs (laughs). Also, shopping. Shopping is fun, too.]
- How about when L'Arc is about to release a CD, or when you start a tour?
[Yeah, right before a release, it's fun. I get excited.]
- What is it that gets you so excited?
[It's because it's unknown at that point, you know? The sound is. The ban is lifted right when we go on air. Until then, "Nobody knows." (laughs)]
- As in "Nobody knows but me."
[It feels like having a mini time machine, knowing it two or three months ahead of time. In two, three months, this is the song that's going to be playing all over TV and radio, but right now we're the only ones who know.]
- Ah, that must be rather exciting. Do you also get worked up over how the song will be received, once it's released into the world?
[Yeah, that too.]
- But that mini time machine sensation sounds very cool.
[I can see one step into the future.]
- Of course, that happens because you're confident in telling yourself "I've created something good," doesn't it?
["I've created something good," you say, but I've made nothing but good stuff, since way back.]
- Mmhmm. You have, definitely. How about before a tour? That must be fun too, isn't it?
[It is fun. I get excited. But, it's most exciting when the tour dates get decided. After that, there's so much work to do until the tour actually begins. We go into tour rehearsal starting a month before. Once the rehearsals start, it's hard work memorizing all the songs.]
- Hahahahaha! So rather than have it be fun, you see how much work is actually waiting for you.
[Right. Then once we're on tour, there's lots of "This part wasn't so great, let's change it," and "Let's try this," and the like. There are minor changes every day until the finale, and that's tough, just horribly tough. And we move during the tour. It's nice having days that are just travel, but since we have a show the next day, we can't drink much, and we can't go out too much.]
- So, is finishing up incredibly fun? When it's all over.
[Finishing it all, at the very end, yeah, that's the greatest. Having the tour finale be a good show is the best thing ever.]
- Interviewer : Honma Yuuko
Translated by Natalie Arnold
1. The four emotions are joy, anger, pathos, and humour. The kanji for each of these, when written together, form a word which means all human emotions with this set of four as fundamentals.Go back.
2. MC refers to the breaks in a concert where the artist will address the audience. Go back.
3. In Japanese, when a joke or other stage act fails to get a reaction from the audience, it is said to be cold. Go back.
4. Haneru no tobira is a sketch comedy program. Since the title is written in hiragana, it can be interpreted either as “knocking on the door” or “the jumping door”. Go back.
5. The exact phrasing was “kireyasui” which means “easy to snap” where the kire part means “snap”. This word, kire, seems to be a relatively new addition to the language. In addition, it is written in katakana, suggesting it is in fact an imported foreign word. Go back.
For the duration of the sound test, equipment which had not been previously seen was set up.
The instruments used have a compatibility and unrestrainable sound variety setting them apart from the usual categories.
And so, these precious pictures were taken to capture the overflowing presence with which this equipment constructed the unique sound of [New World] and are now presented to the public.
yukihiro – drum – A successful introduction to a completely flawless Live Set
Pic : Pearl MX Series Drum Kit in Pure White Lacquer
– MX Series Taiko made by Pearl and Cymbals made by Sabian… This is the usual Live & Rec set. However, a close look at the right-side picture reveals that the Rote Tam (TomTom) was not set up for use in the recording. The tambourine used in the inter is not the one recorded. He played it himself.
Pic : Snare
– The main one, used in both Rec and Live, is an original model YA1435 made by Pearl. It has a 14″ by 3.5″ piccolo and a hand made brass shell.
Pic : Cymbals
– The right side cymbals. From the left, they are splash, ride, mini-china, mini hats, crash, china… the same cymbals as for lives.
Main paragraph:
The drums of [New World] connected the entirety of the song’s positive lyrics run swiftly, tightly, and rhythmically. Simultaneously, the flowing break beats serve as if to amplify the speed. In summary, from the physical beat to the sequence pattern, the twelve parts of the wide drum set encompass and revive the tune. The drum set used in the recording is connected the same way as if it were for a live setting. In short, the structure of the set is currently as described in the previous paragraph (on cymbals).
tetsu – bass – Introducing the Warwick to Recording
Pic : Amp Head
– A vintage ampeg SVT. A tube amp with 300W output. Using normal channel.
Pic : Pre Amp /D.I.
– For transmitting high sounds, the DI Pre-Amp is an avalon U-5. The tone is hi-fi, in contrast with the ampeg.
Pic : Sadowsky NYC Vin 4st JB
– Obtained at the time of recording the album [SMILE], it is a Sadowsky NYC type caramel bust. The balance of each string and the way the sound sticks out is outstanding.
Pic : Warwick STREAMER STAGE-II
– Used in the B melody and in the break part’s mute brushing (where it goes “Gaa gagaa gaga”). It’s charm is in it’s clearly defined outline and in it’s granulation.
Pic : Effector (red)
– Used especially to preserve the nuance of the fundamental tone, this is an MXR limiter. No longer in production but remains quite popular.
Pic : Effector (blue)
– An MXR 10-band graphic equalizer.(Abbreviated to EQ in the text). This item is also old.
Pic : Effector (black)
– BOSS GE-10, used for line output. 10-band graphic equalizer equipment.
Pic : Speaker
– An ampeg SVT 810E. Eight 10-inch speaker output sources. There are established opinions about it’s sound transmission power.
Main : The basic part used the same Sadowsky that was used for recording the album [SMILE]. The newly introduced Warwick was the instrument for the B melody. Connect the Limiter -> EQ to add to the ampeg SVT + SVT 810 E output mic recorded amp sound ampeg SVT + SVT 810 E, use the usual line output, take the output line from the power amp. The line output from the limiter -> EQ (GE-10) -> Avalon DI is connected to record at the same time. This needs to be done as it is going to be mixed.
From here on, we’ll thoroughly analyse the playing of tetsu, whose work with the bass adds colour to L’Arc~en~Ciel’s sound. The newly released [SMILE] adds song after song to a string of eight publicized albums. This time, tetsu himself paid close attention while playing in order to faithfully repeat his fingering methods for us. This method of playing comes “straight from tetsu”.
– tetsu style fingering points
It can be said that the greatest special feature of tetsu’s fingering is the way he does a lot of movement from the side position. Evidently, some sliding of the frets is required to achieve this distinct swell. This implies a difference of as much as two octaves from normal playing level, so this playing style can be said to have a pitch of its own.
The finger positioning itself might be called “one fret, one finger” but this is mostly unconscious, since it varies a lot when playing by ear. tetsu often uses the sound of sus4 cords in his frets, but this requires special movement of the fingers in order not to damage the frets with these unusual strings. It appears that the left hand is quite active, but once we look at the picking of the right hand, it is eye-opening to notice that these actions are few when compared to the frequency of movement of the frets. That is, the left hand makes use of many different finger techniques, such as hammering, pling, and slide. Many of these need to be done with no picking. A fluency with the frets becomes apparent in going from one to the next. This fingering style is becoming established as there is no other like it.
– tetsu style picking
tetsu is characterized by the strength of his picking. Let’s check out tetsu style pick play.
Picture 1 (left):
tetsu’s basic pick holding method is to grip the pick between the thumb and index finger and leave the remaining fingers straight. Also, the pick is in the shape of an onigiri (rice ball) and is up to one millimeter in thickness.
Picture 2 (center):
Down picking hits three strings. In regard to the strings, it seems the pick hits them deeply. Of course, depending on the circumstances, this form is modified when playing by ear.
picture 3 (right):
After vibrating three strings, you should pay attention to the pick’s orbit. After hitting the string, the pick should go directly down as if pushing into the body.
Kuchizuke music :
Uses funky frets. The picking is fairly powerful. Because it can get a bit wild, it’s especially important to keep the unplayed strings held tightly by the left hand to mute them while playing the others. Once you know when to mute the sounds, you can use that skill to keep the rhythm, which would normally be done with the picking. Mostly, it organizes the rhythm. In each bar, the second beat’s bottom sixteenth-note meets up exactly with the base drum. In bars 1 and 3, the fourth beat is in unison with the guitar. Starting from looking at the bass frets, think about building an ensemble in combination with the other instruments. If you can get the sliding pattern in the second bar right, you’ll have a feel for the scope of the song.
Ready Steady Go music :
The frets here have a sound much like a distortion guitar. Once you get a sense of this melody, it is unforgettable. The 8-bar long tone frets inherit a pulsing sound from what we can call the summit of tetsu’s playing talent. In the last bar, even the register changes, going up and down drastically within one octave, curving like a beautiful mountainside. The four strings’ powerful vibrato is long tone, giving optimum nuance even though they are fixed in place. It is necessary to have a grip capable of pushing the strings. It’s obvious that without tetsu’s strong picking interaction and his left hand’s pressing, the sound won’t come out right.
Posted by: on: August 25 2005 • Categorized in: Tetsuyaku
This is the translated script of the radio show that aired on 14th August 2005 on FM Osaka’s Sunday Special. I translated this by ear, from an mp3 of the show. I strongly suggest listening to the mp3 of the show as you read along in order to get the best effect.
Begin
(The intro plays : part of Spirit Dreams Inside and STAY AWAY with a voice saying Welcome to Osaka)
hyde : L’Arc~en~Ciel AWAKE at Osaka.
All : AWAKE at Osaka.
Voice : L’Arc~en~Ciel AWAKE at Osaka.
Host : Good evening! Hamahira Kyouko here. It is now Sunday the 14th of August and the time is 8 pm. You’ve waited long enough! As of now we are broadcasting FM Osaka’s Sunday Special, L’Arc~en~Ciel AWAKE at Osaka. The members of L’Arc~en~Ciel are here with us for an hour’s time and I think we’ll have a good time together. The members of L’Arc~en~Ciel have entered the studio. Please, let us hear your voices, one at a time! Good to have you!
tetsu : Good evening! … tetsu here.
Host : This is tetsu-san.
yukihiro : Konbanmi! (Note : A strange variation of Konbanwa, which means good evening)
yukihiro : (giggles) yukihiro here.
Host : (laughs) Konbanmi! yukihiro-san here.
hyde : Eh… That’s gonna be hard to say, later.
Host : (laughs)
hyde : Good evening. hyde here.
host : hyde-san here.
ken : Good evening! ken here!
Host : ken-san here! Good to have you!
All : Good to be here.
Host : And so let’s start off. Ah, we have many topics to cover. First, I think we should put on a song for everyone. Since this program is highlighting the album AWAKE, let’s start with the first number from there! Could we have the songwriter, yukihiro-san, introduce the song, please?
yukihiro : New World.
(New World plays)
Host : We have just heard L’Arc~en~Ciel’s New World. FM Osaka Sunday Special, L’Arc~en~Ciel AWAKE at Osaka is in full swing. Once again, we welcome L’Arc~en~Ciel to our studio. It’s a pleasure to work with you!
All : It’s great to be here!
Host : While we were listening to New World, it seems tetsu-san was greatly enjoying his look out the window.
tetsu : Right, it’s a lovely view.
Host : Isn’t it? Thank you very much. It’s a point of pride, you know?
tetsu : It is!
Host : Since we’re on the seventh floor of the building. It can be rather dazzling. OK! Today is the 14th of August, it’s the middle of summer, it’s quite hot. Also, the movie, Fullmetal Alchemist : Conqueror of Shambala is in theatres. I think most listeners already know that. In fact, I already went to see it, myself. The opening theme to this movie happens to be L’Arc~en~Ciel’s Link. The single was released July 20th, and, ah… I’d like to ask hyde-san about this single.
hyde : Mm.
Host : When you were working on creating this single’s lyrics, what sort of things were influencing you most?
hyde : Hm, let’s see. I didn’t want to lose to the movie. The movie was made
very passionately, there are lots of stars involved, and I didn’t want to be defeated by that spirit. I thought it would be best to find a certain synergy, and work with that. Not to say that it depends entirely on the movie, but if the movie does well then so will this song. I wanted it to be a good song, too.
Host : Of course, you must be very familiar with the story of Fullmetal Alchemist, and I heard that you had meetings with the staff of the movie, too.
hyde : Yes, yes. I did.
Host : How about the title, Link? What’s the meaning behind it?
hyde : Hm, well, seeing the original, watching the videos and so on, what stands out is the bond between those two brothers, right? I thought that was wonderful. So I translated that bond into English.
Host : So… I’d like to hear about the other parts involved, as well. For the guitar, ken-san…
ken : Yes!
Host : About this number, Link.
ken : Yes.
Host : Could you tell us about what kind of feeling you get from performing this song?
ken : Yeah. It’s summer-like, so I played with a refreshing feel.
Host : Ah, it has a light and bouncy feel to it.
ken : It does, yeah.
Host : Hm, during the recording, how many guitars did you need?
ken : For that one, not many. More than just the one, so really just two. And once in a while I took out a third one.
Host : Ah, I see (laughs). And it seems there were two basses used. tetsu-san used two, right.
ken : Right, right.
Host : (In a different voice) Ah, so that’s how it is. Now let’s ask yukihiro-san.
yukihiro : Yes.
Host : As a drummer, what did you think of Link? What were you made aware of?
yukihiro : Um, I played with a springy feeling.
Host : Ah… And now the one who composed the song, tetsu-san.
tetsu : Yes.
Host : How was it this time? For this song.
tetsu : Oh yeah, well… Hm, since it’s an anime opening, I thought it should be a song little kids can enjoy, too.
Host : Hearing you mention young children just now reminds me… When I went to the the Fullmetal Alchemist movie at the theatre, how to explain… They had a showcase displaying the soundtrack, as well as Link, very prominently, and there were kids, elementary school aged, looking like they wanted it very much. And their moms got there, took out their wallets, and bought it for them.
tetsu : They must have been happy.
Host : Yes! They must have been. I think that this summer, and even later, this song will mean something to all kinds of people. Also, I’ve seen the promotion video. There were many different age groups making an appearance, as well as having all the members performing, so I thought it was very interesting. It even looked like you were playing from the bottom of the pool. I wondered how that must have been to film.
hyde : It was pretty tough.
Host : (laughs) Was it? It must have taken a long time (laughs). But, while you were making this promotional video, ken-san…
ken : I broke my foot midway through, yeah.
Host : During that video, right?
ken : By the time we were filming that pool scene, it was already broken so…
Host : Oh, was it?
ken : So I couldn’t stand on that foot (laughs).
Host : And so now that foot is recovering. I’m glad (laughs).
ken : I’ll remember…
Host : This promotion video (laughs). I’m sure you will.
ken : Yes.
Host : yukihiro-san, what were you up to during the making of this promotion video?
yukihiro : Eeehh….. I was worried about ken-chan.
Host : Hmmm…
ken : Liar! (laughter) You just played video games the whole time. (much laughing) Actually, the only game he played was Katamari Damacy.
Host : Yes yes yes.
ken : He played that.
Host : That’s the one with the rolling.
ken : That’s right. So, I was always there watching him. I saw him get very close to complete, but I didn’t get to see the end.
Host : Ohh…
ken : But, I was there until the end. (laughter)
Host : While he was worrying, he completed the game.
ken : Yeah, right.
Host : I see. Thank you very much. Now we’ve been talking about Link and discussing its promotion video, so I think we will now listen to L’Arc~en~Ciel’s latest single. It is also the opening theme to Fullmetal Alchemist : Conqueror of Shambala. L’Arc~en~Ciel, Link.
(Link plays)
Host : We have just heard Link by L’Arc~en~Ciel. Released July 20th, this is their most recent single. Today on FM Osaka Sunday Special we are broadcasting L’Arc~en~Ciel AWAKE at Osaka. I am here with everyone from L’Arc~en~Ciel for a full hour. Now, moving on, also included with the Link single was a number from P’UNK~EN~CIEL. I think we’ll be hearing that, too. This time, it was a TETSU P’UNK production.
TETSU P’UNK : Yes.
Host : Ah yes, right now in the studio we actually have P’UNK~EN~CIEL.
TETSU P’UNK : (sighing) Yes.
Host: (laughs) It was a TETSU P’UNK-san production. As it was being produced, which points did you attach the most importance to?
TETSU P’UNK : Aahh…
Host : (laughs)
TETSU P’UNK : Uhhhhm… That stuff.
Host : (laughing)
TETSU P’UNK : Well yeah. Every time, one of us takes a turn producing the P’UNK song, for P’UNK~EN~CIEL. And it so happens that this time it’s my turn. So, yeah. That’s how it is.
Host : And the choice of which song to use was also up to you, TETSU P’UNK.
TETSU P’UNK : That’s right.
Host : Why did you choose to do this one, Promised Land?
TETSU P’UNK : Um… I wanted to sing it.
Host : Mmhmm, mmhmm, it’s just that there seems to be more of an unworried feeling to this 2005 version.
TETSU P’UNK : That’s true. Compared to the original, the key’s gone down a notch. Also, I tried singing it in falsetto.
Host : That’s what you meant by those whispers, earlier.
TETSU P’UNK : (whispery) That’s right…
Host : (also whispery) Speaking as TETSU P’UNK-san.
TETSU P’UNK : (still whispery) Yes, I need the practice…
Host : (laughs) Thank you very much! Let’s move on. With the questions. Of course, each of you are now playing or singing different parts than you do as L’Arc~en~Ciel, so I think it must also feel different. How did you first think up the idea to try performing with this setup? TETSU P’UNK-san.
TETSU P’UNK : It first started a long time ago. We would change parts a lot, like for the encore of a live. So it evolved from that.
Host : And how is it now? Since this makes it the fifth time, right? As P’UNK~EN~CIEL.
TETSU P’UNK : Yes, that’s right. Inexplicably, we’ve gotten good at it.
Host : That’s good.
Host : And… the other members too… Since the first piece of work as P’UNK~EN~CIEL, how do you think it has changed? What do you think, KEN P’UNK-san?
KEN P’UNK : As KEN P’UNK… I haven’t made any progress. (laughs)
Host : Really? But, you could have gotten advice from yukihiro-san since he wrote the original drum parts.
KEN P’UNK : We never talk about that (laughs).
Host : (lauhgs) yukihiro-san, what do you think of KEN P’UNK-san’s drumming?
yukihiro : It’s wonderful.
Host : Oh. He’s gotten better, of course, improving as you’ve gone through these last five productions.
yukihiro : Right. (laughs)
Host : There you have it, ken-san. I mean KEN P’UNK-san.
KEN P’UNK : Somehow, it’s like I can stay calmer now. It used to be that I couldn’t keep cool when I was drumming. As KEN P’UNK. Acquiring that composure is a big change, for KEN P’UNK. It’s totally unsettling.
Host : (laughs) Even though it’s unsettling, you still have fun with it, right?
KEN P’UNK : I can’t find out for sure.
Host : You play with all you’ve got?
KEN P’UNK : With all.. Um, er, it’s… it takes training.
Host : Aha.
KEN P’UNK : My heart grows prettier. Because of the training. It’s like when they walk on fire going “Papapa” (Note : I think he means a type of training monks do in order not to feel pain)
Host : (laughs) That really does take training.
KEN P’UNK : That kind of training. It’s a renewal.
Host : Putting your own body in a trance.
KEN P’UNK : Yeah. By getting rid of those human traits, you improve.
Host : (laughs) You do. But as KEN P’UNK, your performance is influenced by your experience as the guitarist, ken, right?
KEN P’UNK : Oh yeah, ken and KEN P’UNK are different people…
Host : Yes, right! So, please pass on my greetings to ken-san. (laughter)
Host : So, how about you, HYDE P’UNK-san?
HYDE P’UNK : Ah well.. kind of like what ken-chan said, except I don’t think I’ve gotten any more stoic (laughs).
Host : Oh… Ah, and now I think we will enjoy listening to the number from P’UNK~EN~CIEL that was included on the Link single, so let’s have the one who produced this song, TETSU P’UNK-san introduce the song.
TETSU P’UNK : Here’s Promised Land 2005 (Note : He said it as two zero zero five)
(Promised Land 2005 plays)
Host : Broadcasting from FM Osaka, this is Sunday Special : L’Arc~en~Ciel AWAKE at Osaka. I’m your DJ, Hamahira Kyouko. The guests are, of course, L’Arc~en~Ciel’s hyde-san, yukihiro-san, tetsu-san and ken-san! It’s going fast. We’re already halfway through the program. I would like the remaining half to stand out even more than the first half. And so! As of August 6th, L’Arc~en~Ciel started up their AWAKE tour 2005 in Nagoya. They will also be giving us some shows here in Osaka. Those will be on Wednesday, August 17th, Thursday, August 18th, Saturday the 20th, and Sunday the 21st! That’s four days at Osaka-jo hall. Even more than last year’s SMILE tour. What can we expect to see during those four days? Before the actual lives come around, could you tell us a little something, hyde-san?
hyde : Eh, this time… Yeah, during the entertainment, I think it’ll be good to have a cool feeling going.
Host : Ohh…
hyde : Yeah.
Host : This tour is, of course, named for the album AWAKE, so I think it would be appropriate to take the talk in that direction. This is your tenth album as L’Arc~en~Ciel. While you were creating this piece of work, hyde-san, did you keep in mind that it was the tenth?
hyde : No, I didn’t. I only realized it later. When I noticed, it was just “Oh really?” and it was like a new realization. Like just another thing to make note of.
Host : Mmhmm, I see. It seems that creating this album took a particularly long time, or so I’ve heard. How did the recording go, as you made progress on this album AWAKE? Also, I’ve heard that ken-san was called the demon of the recording.
ken : I’m a demon?
Host : (laughs) So the rumours say.
ken : (laughs) Rumours go around the world…
Host : (laughs)
ken : Rumours make a lot of people out to be demons. (laughter)
Host : Like who?
ken : No one’s a demon, really.
Host : Although I’m sure all sorts of things must happen.
ken : Yeah. If you saw it all, you might find a demon (much laughter).
Host : Ok, other than that, ken-san, how was the recording for you this time around, for AWAKE?
ken : Oh, yeah… Umm, let’s see. I just tried to play this or that, somehow. And then, if it wasn’t working out I’d try something a little faster, and if not that then something shallow. Then I’d give, say, the shallow version a listen and do it again if that one was getting somewhere. So, by doing it that way, how can I put this, it feels like it caused a decrease in production.
Host : hyde-san, during this long recording process, twelve songs were produced, so did any piece in particular remain with you?
hyde : Ahh… Well, usually I always write the lyrics… Eh… None of them were easy to write (laughs).
Host : No easy spots (laughs).
hyde : That was kinda cold.
Host : (laughs)
ken : You know, I’d be thinking “Oh, hyde might change it!” and then he’d appear out of nowhere (laughter).
Host : He’d just be loitering around waiting to strike.
hyde : At first, I thought it would be good to stay close cause they’re hard to work with… This sounds like sucking up but, I’d stick around and suddenly be able to find lyrics for a song, right? But then, as soon as I did, I’d notice the drumming for a different song (laughter) and suddenly be stuck again.
Host : Mmhmm, mmhmm (laughs).
hyde : So I looked for all sorts of spots to work from.
Host : Ah. So you must have found your inspiration somewhere, well…
hyde : There was a spot I had to be in, or something like that. But it was cold there (laughter). On top, it was really really hot, but where I was it was totally freezing. Especially for my ears.
Host : I see.
hyde : I remember that.
Host : Ah, so while writing your lyrics, you were searching for the perfect spot. So! I understand that the one who came up with the album title AWAKE was also you, hyde-san. What does it mean to you?
hyde : Ah, well, first of all I wrote a lot of lyrics concerning love and peace. And so I kinda thought “How would it be if everyone awakened to this?”
Host : Ah, I see. The first song we heard on tonight’s broadcast, New World, it was also the first song on the album. Its lyrics were done by yukihiro-san, and the music is by yukihiro-san and hyde-san. It was also a single. This is what became the opening of the album. How does it feel to put on the album, and every time you put on AWAKE, you hear New World right away, yukihiro-san?
yukihiro : Mm… I… I thought it was good.
Host : Over and over again.
yukihiro : Yes.
Host : tetsu-san?
tetsu : Yes!
Host : About AWAKE. There was the creation process, then you saw it completed. Is there anything you still remember strongly about it?
tetsu : Uhmm… I kept on catching colds.
Host : Uh oh.
tetsu : It was amazing though, I’d say… That’s all I remember.
Host : I see. When you were recording, it was still the cold season, wasn’t it?
hyde : Yeah.
Host : So that’s why the room was cold, and why you caught colds.
tetsu : That’s right.
Host : I understand. Thank you very much. Now let’s listen to AWAKE. Also, you have these shows coming up at Osaka-jo hall, and I think the fans are greatly looking forward to them! Let’s now listen to two songs in a row taken from AWAKE. Let’s have ken-san introduce those two songs!
ken : OK! Here’s L’Arc~en~Ciel’s Killing Me and Jiyuu e no Shoutai. Enjoy!
(Killing Me and Jiyuu e no Shoutai play)
Host : We’ve just heard two songs from L’Arc~en~Ciel’s album AWAKE, Killing Me followed by Jiyuu e no Shoutai. This is FM Osaka Sunday Special L’Arc~en~Ciel AWAKE at Osaka. We have been playing songs from L’Arc~en~Ciel’s album AWAKE. Eh… I think we will now continue talking about the upcoming AWAKE tour 2005. Each member can take a turn! The tour is approaching! tetsu-san?
tetsu : Ah… I, it’s not just before tours though. I always go to a gym.
Host : Oh… you do that regularly, right?
tetsu : Yeah.
Host : Mmmhmm. Well, I’d imagine you need to be in good condition to avoid getting exhausted after so many shows. Or else you’d collapse afterwards.
tetsu : Um, I started to go to the gym again about two years ago. Since then, it’s gotten a lot easier. Being on stage.
Host : Ah, of course. The benefits materialize.
Host : How about yukihiro-san?
yukihiro : Yes! Um, I … Before a tour, I worry. When the rehearsals for that tour start, my lifestyle naturally gets more ordered and organized. I think that’s a good thing. Yeah.
Host : Ordered and organized, do you mean that you have a set time to sleep, to get up, to have your meals and so on?
yukihiro : That’s right. I get tired at night, and sleep. Time passes quickly until the next rehearsal. Time to go places, eat, and stuff… It puts casual detail into my life. (laughter)
Host : So it ends up being important to you, doesn’t it?
yukihiro : Well, I’m the type to go for what I want.
Host: Eh…
hyde : Yeah, but sometimes he won’t come eat. (laughter)
Host : Whaat? Please, eat! (laughter)
yukihiro : Thanks (laughs).
hyde : I wonder if we’ll go together today…
Host : Oh please, be sure to eat lots of delicious food. So that you can play the drums as powerfully as you always do.
yukihiro : I do my best.
Host : Yes! (laughter) Also, yukihiro-san, it’s obvious from the crowd that they love you.
yukihiro : Thanks a lot.
Host : So, how about you, hyde-san?
hyde : Nothing, really.
Host : Oh? Same as always?
hyde : Mm.
Host : Mmhmm.
hyde : Nothing.
Host : ken-san, you?
ken : I don’t usually do this, but this time, well… I’ve had lots of spare time to watch DVDs. I rent some, take them back, and rent some more.
Host : Movies?
ken : What was it again? Gonsaun (Note : Or Konsaun? The title of a movie, presumably, but I don’t really know. This part is confusing since I don’t know what he’s talking about. Sorry!)
Host : With that rather macho guy…
ken : Eh? No, you’re thinking of something else (laughter). He tells them to look right in the middle, and then gave it to them.
Host : Oh, when they looked..
ken : Yeah.
Host: Thank you very much (laughs). And so, there will be lives at Osaka-jo hall, right? On Wednesday August 17th, Thursday August 18th, Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st. Four days at Osaka-jo hall! Of course, regrettably, the tickets are already sold out. For all the fans who were lucky enough to get tickets, I think you’ll have an absolutely great time! And when this tour is over, in September, L’Arc~en~Ciel will head into their Asia tour, called ASIA LIVE 2005. They will be doing lives in Shanghai and in Korea. This will be their first Asian tour.
Host : So, when it’s your first time doing a live somewhere, I imagine it must feel pretty different from doing an ordinary live, right? Let’s ask tetsu-san.
tetsu : Mmmm… the first time. Yeah, the first time…
Host : That’s right. Like for example, before, you did a live in Baltimore, America, right? It must have felt hugely different from how it is standing on a stage here in Japan.
tetsu : Well, not hugely. But, well, I had to look for menus that were easy to understand. That was on my mind, a bit. And I thought this was a first for a lot of people.
Host : This time in Shanghai and Korea, what do you think it will be like? What are you looking forward to?
tetsu : Um… yeah, I want lots of delicious food. That would be nice.
Host : Ah, good idea. As a Live Plus, you can go around sampling all that city’s good food.
Host : That was tetsu-san. How about you now, ken-san?
ken : Oh yeah. Once in a while, I get fan letters and stuff. Hm… things like… “I’m waiting for you,” “I want to go,” and so on… Things they want to see happen, you know?
Host : Of course, the Japanese L’Arc fans have many opportunities to have fun with you, and I think the local fans, there, are looking forward to seeing you, too. This should be another huge opportunity for them, all your fans. I’m sure all of them are thinking “Finally! L’Arc is coming!” And so, for example, you did America, and now Shanghai and Korea, you did America before. I kind of want to ask you : Where else would like to go do a live? Is there anywhere else you want to go? ken-san?
ken : Anywhere? Chile?
Host : Chile? How come? Ah… you’re enthusiastic about it.
ken : Yeah. And I’ve never been there. I wanna go.
Host : Oh… What about hyde-san?
hyde : Hmm… well, why not Chile?
Host : (laughs) Really Chile?
hyde : Yeah, next time we’ll go somewhere like that. (all laugh)
ken : Next time? (laughs)
Host : It seems yukihiro-san found something interesting. He’s laughing at the back. (He can be heard laughing in the background) yukihiro-san heard them saying “Chile, Chile.” Yes, yukihiro-san?
yukihiro : (laughs) Yeah, let’s go to Chile. (laughs)
Host : To Chile? (laughs) Just Chile?
yukihiro : No one else would think of Chile.
Host : tetsu-san…?
tetsu : Yeah, Chile. (laughter)
Host : So that’s it. Chile.
tetsu : Chile. Of course, we don’t have any plans. I think I’ll be really popular there (laughs). Give it half a year, and my popularity will be awesome.
Host : (laughs) I don’t really get it, but this is super interesting (laughs). Right. But it’s somewhere you’ve never been, so doing a live there, of course that would catch your interest.
ken : Yeah, that’s right.
Host : So it seems the next one will be Chile! (all laugh) Then someday, we will see L’Arc~en~Ciel Live in Chile.
(all laugh)
Host : Will it really happen?
(all laugh more)
Host : I think I’d like to go. Anyway… you’ll be playing this song during Asia tour, too, of course.
hyde : He wrote it while thinking of Chile.
Host : (laughs) ken-san did?
ken : Right…
Host : (laughs) And with that…
ken : It’s got the feel of being in a gondola, doesn’t it… Maybe in Chile? (laughs)
Host : That’s in South America.
ken : Yeah, South America.
Host : Yes. So… (laughs), please introduce the song…
ken : Then… think of Chile during Jojoushi.
(Jojoushi plays)
Host : (laughs) That might be rather Chile-like.
(All laugh)
Host : I can picture the mountains and birds.
ken : That’s what Marco was looking at (laughs). (Note : Marco from the anime 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother; the main character, Marco, wandered around South America searching for his mother.)
Host: FM Osaka Sunday Special L’Arc~en~Ciel AWAKE at Osaka. It’s gone by so fast! But it’s already time to finish up! Please be understanding. For the end, let’s have each of the members, one by one, give a message to the fans who are listening. tetsu-san, if you could please start.
tetsu : OK. Um… I want to see everyone come to the tour.
Host : Thank you very much. yukihiro-san, please?
yukihiro : Let’s keep working together.
Host: Likewise! It’s good to have you around. I’m sure we’ll have lots more fun together. OK! hyde-san?
hyde : Ok. I’m going home, but I’ll be back. See you later. (all laugh)
Host : Make sure your house doesn’t get cold! Ok, thank you very much (laughs). Now, ken-san?
ken : Ok… please be understanding. We were all chatting a lot during the song (much laughing). We’ll work on talking like that even more.
Host : Sorry.
ken : No no, it’s us, it’s us (laughs).
Host : (laughs) Thank you very much. Really. And so there you have it. Next, I guess it’s up to those who bought tickets! You get to see L’Arc~en~Ciel on Wendesday August 17th, Thursday August 18th, Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st at Osaka-jo hall for AWAKE tour 2005. Thank you very much, everyone, for being here today.
All : Thanks a lot!
The host goes on to present the next show and close this one. The members say their names one last time, and the show closes.
Posted by: on: August 25 2005 • Categorized in: Tetsugaku.
– When asked to name a strong point, something you can say “I’m better at this than other people” about, what comes to mind?
[Let’s see, I’m relatively quick about making changes, aren’t I? Even I think “I’ve changed!”]
– That takes a lot of strength, doesn’t it? Even when it requires something you hate doing, you don’t let it drag on much?
[Hmmmm…… Well, it doesn’t really matter if I let it drag on or not. I get the change made. When your needs are pressing, you have to change. Even if I formerly held a certain opinion, if I think there needs to be a change, I’ll contradict it. Not moving forward is a waste of time. Well, that just means I’m “sloppy” about going back on my word (laughs).]
– You call yourself sloppy? tetsu-san, you aren’t the stubborn type?
[Deep down, I really don’t want to be stubborn. I want to have a soft head (1) (laughs). Of course, I think I do get stubborn sometimes… But I remind myself that I don’t want to be stubborn.]
– Mmhmm. Now, please elaborate on your other good points, things you like about yourself.
[My good points? It’s when I’m asked a question like this that I don’t want to say what my good points are, you know? It’s time to say “No comment” (laughs). Not to brag, but I have good aesthetics, don’t I? Probably.]
– Is this because when you see someone bursting in with “Me, me, me!” you think “How uncool,” about them?
[Actually, no, I think it’s impressive. “I wish I could say things like that.” Usually, I think about balancing all sorts of things.]
– That might be it. Perhaps, tetsu-san, your strong point might be “not worrying” or something?
[That’s a strong point? (laughs) But, there are a lot of people who don’t worry about things. In this line of work, especially.]
– On the other hand, there are also a lot of people who get incredibly nervous, aren’t there? Going into their room an hour before the show starts, and so on…..
[That’s worrying too much. Thinking about only that. So, I’m sloppier (laughs). I think I’ll make myself into that kind of character, from now on. Because, I’ve got this image as a “hard to please, picky person” and I want to change that. I’m sloppy! (laughs) No, really. Before a show, I’m going “Uh oh! Only ten minutes left, I gotta get ready!” While I’m getting ready, I don’t have time to be nervous.]
– (laughs) Other than going on stage, do you get nervous about anything?
[Besides going on stage? When a lot of staff or band members are around, I get nervous about stating my own opinion. I get embarrassed. So, making an announcement in front of a school classroom makes me more nervous than performing at Tokyo Dome does…… Well, I don’t have to do that anymore, but before, I did, whenever I raised my hand in class to share my opinion…… but it wasn’t really nerves, just that I didn’t like it. When I don’t need to stand out, I don’t like to.]
– For example, when you state your opinion, you might be told “Fine then, you do it,”……
[Ah, it’s easier to follow instructions. It’s tiring to be the one giving instructions. “Ah, they might do it all wrong,” or “I can’t let them handle it”… I don’t like looking after others like that.]
– But don’t you have to, because of your position?
[Since I’m the leader, there are things I have to look after, and things I need to do or say even though I don’t like to. Also, sometimes it won’t be my own opinion, but something we all agreed on, but it has to be me who passes on the message, and no matter what I do, I’m made out to be the bad guy, I’m misunderstood. Like they’re thinking “Why does tetsu get the last word?” That’s very hurtful, for me personally.]
– But don’t you think that’s a strong point, too? You have persuasive power, like “Since tetsu-san said so, let’s do it that way.”
[No waaaay, but it would be nice if that were true.]
– Also, it’s a strong point for you, tetsu-san, to be able to think “That’s how it’s going to be” and stick with it as you move forward. For instance, since you thought “hyde’s best on vocals!” and pushed for that, ken-san’s energy was directed towards guitar when he joined.
[Well, when I’m that confident about something I can stick to it unwaveringly. I do have confidence in myself, and once I reach a certain degree of certainty about my own answer, I can argue for it. It’s just that, I have to reach the point where I’m sure “This is absolutely the right thing to do.” That is, it has to be best for me as well as for everyone else involved. When I say things like that, I seem like a very self-confident person, so I don’t want to do it very often.]
– Is that so? I think that kind of strength is a very important quality in you.
[Nah, for me to think “This is absolutely the best way to go,” doesn’t happen all that often. Most of the time, I’m unsure. “This is good, that’s good, they’re both good…” is a lot more common. A clear cut “This is the best way” only happened a few times in my life.]
– So it’s even rarer for you to be confident about something and actually advance it?
[Guess so. I don’t understand myself, anymore. So I don’t want to talk about strong points. I’m sloppy!]
Interviewer : Honma Yuuko
Translated by Natalie Arnold
1. In Japanese, someone stubborn is said to have a “stone head,” much like the English term “hard-headed.” So, tetsu is saying he wants to be the opposite of stubborn, hence soft-headed. Go back.
Posted by: on: August 18 2005 • Categorized in: Tetsuyaku
This is a translation of the Love for NANA special interview published in CD Data, relating to TETSU69’s work on the LOVE for NANA ~ Only 1 Tribute ~ album. I originally posted this on minna_genki, linked in the sidebar. This is a revised and spellchecked version of the same thing. The only real difference is that I’ve read the manga since I first wrote this, so there is much less confusion on my part.
For those who don’t know, NANA is a shoujo manga by Yazawa Ai. It features two bands, Black Stones (Burasuto, or Blast) and Trapnest (Toranesu, or Trance) for which the songs on LOVE for NANA were supposed to be written. Also, the manga is being made into a movie, but the movie has not yet been released at the time of this publication or translation.
Begin interview
– How did you first become interested in reading the NANA manga?
[I read it because it was recommended by a friend. Before that, they had recommended ‘Kagen no Tsuki’ to me. I don’t really read many manga on my own, but since it was only three volumes I said “I guess I can read that” so I did, and found it very interesting. I asked if Yazawa-san had any other interesting manga like that, and that’s how I heard about NANA and started reading it. I find the fashion and cars in it are very realistic. It adds detail to the story.]
– So, have you met Yazawa-san in person?
[Yes, about three years ago, wasn’t it? It wasn’t a data gathering meeting or anything, it was just a let’s meet up sort of thing. At the time we were thinking it could turn out to be a good reference for later, and we ended up talking about a lot of my personal experiences. After that, she started coming to lives once in a while.]
– What did you think when you heard about the tribute album?
[It’s a privilege to get to participate in a project for a manga I happen to like. I’d been wanting to make a song for either Blast or Trance, and ended up choosing Trance.]
– By the way, at the press conference for the tribute, you said something about how you “became Takumi” didn’t you?
[It’s a matter of being in the same position… A band leader and bassist, I can relate to that pretty easily. I think I’m the type of person who can do the same type of work that he would.]
– So you had his consciousness during the creation process?
[When I imagine the band, Trance, I come up with a character who isn’t that different from myself. We have a lot in common, even though I don’t think we quite have the same view of the world. It wasn’t too hard to get into that sort of consciousness.]
– Trance has a female vocalist though, did you keep that in mind too?
[ That’s right. I tried very hard to make the melody I wrote fit something a girl would sing.]
– Then, the song ‘REVERSE’ was really born quite naturally.
[ I had other possible songs besides this one. I thought about which one was truest to the world of NANA. That is, I think I can choose right because I’ve experienced that world.]
– tetsu-san, you were really able to synchronize with NANA, right?
[I’ve started recommending NANA to my friends, too. When I make a new friend, I always tell them “You have to read this.” I say that to everyone around me, really. For example, I brought it up when I was working on my image with my stylist, but it really isn’t an easy thing to explain. It’s much easier to just tell everyone to read it for themselves and get the right meaning that way.]
– So then how do you feel about participating in a tribute to something that’s on your mind so much?
[I went through a lot forming L’Arc~en~Ciel, but that’s not the main point. As a solo artist, TETSU69, I don’t think I’m as well-known among fans. It’s that aspect that is participating in the project though, and I’m very happy that more people will have a chance to be exposed to my music this way.]
Posted by: on: August 18 2005 • Categorized in: Tetsuyaku
This is a translation of the talk preceeding TETSU69’s preformance of Wonderful World on Music Station. I originally posted it deep in the comments of a thread on LiveJournal.
Since I translated it by ear, instead of from written media, the possibility that I misheard something makes it much more likely that something was mistranslated. I apologise in advance if this happens. It’s probably best to watch the clip while reading this, or at least be familiar with it.
Begin
TETSU69 : Nice to meet you.
Tamori : looking surprised Oh, that’s right, you’re a different person without L’Arc.
TETSU69 : Yes, I think so.
Tamori : Let’s see if you’re up for this (laughs).
TETSU69: That’s right, I’m by myself, so I have no choice but to talk now.
Tamori : Give it a try. Is it really that different?
TETSU69 : Yeah, the biggest difference is how little attention I get. (audience laughs) Compared to L’Arc.
Tamori : What sort of comparison?
TETSU69 : I went to New York recently, and I couldn’t get the seat to go down. I wanted it to go flat but…
Tamori : That doesn’t look good (some laughing).
TETSU69 : I was just another customer.
Tamori : All the seats were probably like that. What did you do after?
TETSU69 : Well, I was in New York, so first I went to check in at the hotel. I opened the curtain and there was a skyscraper.
Tamori : Ohh…
TETSU69 : When I came with L’Arc… we were in the building next door.
(laughter from the crowd)
Tamori: Other than that, what else was different?
TETSU69: Well, a lot of things actually. I wanted to save money on food, because the studio was expensive, so I got things that were on sale and ate in my room. Everything I got from room service was cheap, bargain basement, and I had my staff do things too. (people are laughing as he says this)
Tamori : New York bargain basement… That’s totally different! They didn’t save money like that before.
TETSU69 : It’s completely different.
Tamori : Did you take the trains?
TETSU69 : In New York… Until now, I had used cars, but this time I took the subway.
Tamori : Pretty rough!
TETSU69 : It is rough.
Tamori : Would you please go on to standby?
