Shock Wave No. 3 - Tatsuro+Hitsugi Interview
FINALLY! This one's loooong, lol. But ridiculously epic. At first I was just gonna read it at the store, but I eventually bought it cause it was too hard not to burst out laughing every 10 seconds |'D
And poor Hitsugi, he's such a good boy *cries*
Plus I just saw Nightmare live yesterday, so I'm all attached to him XD *lovelovelove*
Tatsuro (MUCC) + Hitsugi (Nightmare) Shock Wave No.3 Interview
Tatsuro: So Hitsugi, would you confess to someone first?
Hitsugi: Eh!? C-- confess? Another random question, huh. Well I guess it depends on the time and place, as well as on the person.
T: Do you fall in love at first sight?
H: No, not at first sight.
T: Why? Are your eyes bad?
H: If you don't fall in love at first sight I don't think it's because you have bad eyes (laugh). Then what about Tatsuro-san....
T: So when was your first love?
H: I was asking a question...(laugh). F-- first love? It was during elementary school.
T: What was the girl's name?
H: No! I'm definitely not saying (laugh).
T: What's wrong~ It's a bittersweet memory. What-san?
H: No! And by the way, has the interview started yet?
T: Yeah, it started.
- Eh? Oh, it started (laugh).
(hurries to set up the tape recorder)
T: Yeah, basically (laugh). So? What was her name?
H: I said no! When was your first love then?
T: Mine? Mine was in 6th grade.
H: Ah, that's kind of late huh.
T: Really? But isn't love during kindergarden or elementary school not really love? It's like, (And here Tatsuro starts acting out two roles....) "Hey, hey, do you like anyone?" "Yeah I do" "Tell me, I'll tell you too" "You can't tell anyone else!" "I won't, I won't" "Eh! You like them? Heh~" kind of thing. Share it with someone, then when you get into a fight, (And here Tatsuro once again starts acting two roles....) "I'm gonna tell people who you like!" "I don't care, I like someone else now! Who are you talking about, stupid!" like that. It changed already! Kind of thing.
H: Ahahaha. You just had a good conversation with yourself Tatsuro-san (laugh). But that does happen (laugh).
T: Right? But I don't think that sort of love counts as a first love. Rather, the kind of love where you're always looking at them during class and you can't help thinking about them, I think that kind of love starts at around middle school. So that's when mine was.
H: Ahh, if it's in that way, then I think my first love would have been after I graduated middle school. I had the feeling that I seriously liked them.
T: So, what was her name?
H: I already said no! Will you say?
T: Yeah. I will. For me, Mori-san.
H: Mori-san huh (laugh). For me.........U-- Umi**-san.
T: Eh? What? Unko-san? [unko = poop]
H: ..........I knew you'd say that (laugh). I think I've started to understand you, Tatsuro-san (laugh).
T: Soo then, you met Unko-san after you graduated?
H: No, it's Umi**-san.
T: Ahh, Umi**-san right. Sorry sorry. Unko-san.
H: ...........
T: So, did you see her again at your coming of age ceremony or something?
H: No. I didn't participate in the ceremony, I was already in Tokyo in a band. I was in Tokyo recording~ Around the time I first went drinking with you in Tokyo.
T: When was that?
H: When I was about 20.
T: Well yeah~ You just said it was around your coming of age ceremony!
H: Ah, right (laugh). Because you asked "when" (laugh). Did you go to your ceremony?
T: No. I was in Sendai during a tour. So then, that time we first went drinking together, where was it again?
H: Wasn't it at your house?
T: Ahh, I remember. We did do that~ And who was there again?
H: Phobia's vocalist Kisui-san, D'espairsRay's Hizumi-san, Tatsuro-san, and me.
T: That's right~
- That wasn't your first time meeting each other was it? When did you two meet?
H: The first time I met Tatsuro-san, I was still in Sendai. MUCC was a guest at an event put on by Ruka's previous band. That day we had a live at another place, but our after-parties happened to be at the same place, so we met then. I guess that would be 7 or 8 years ago now? When Tatsuro-san was still wearing gas masks and things. When Tatsuro-san was about 20 I think?
T: Yeah. That's nostalgic. I did use gas masks. That's right, how nostalgic~ At that time I was 20 and Hitsugi was 22.
H: No I wasn't! (laugh) Why am I all of a sudden older? (laugh) I was 17 then.
T: Even though these guys were still in high school they had after-parties at bars.
- MUCC did the same thing. Didn't you meet Miya-san at an after-party at a bar?
T: Yeah (laugh)
H: See, everyone did it (laugh). Then at the after-party I was sitting next to him. Since that time I thought MUCC was really cool, and I had listened to "Antique" then but I had never been to a live. So that was the first time seeing them in real life! I remember being impressed and thinking "Ohh~, it's really them~". I was trying my best to talk to Tatsuro-san sitting beside me, and he was doing his best to talk to me too.
- So you've gotten along since then?
T: No, not really.
H: Hey, hey (laugh)
T: At that time Hitsugi was wearing cat eye contacts, so whenever he blinked the vertical pupil would shake back and forth. I remember that really well (laugh). When I asked what his name was and he said Hitsugi [coffin] I kinda pulled away (laugh). "Hitsugi!? Your name is Hitsugi? What's with that" kinda thing (laugh).
H: See, isn't he mean? It's always like this (laugh). We didn't exchange phone numbers that day, but we did the next time we met. Then afterwards I got my first phone call from him.
T: Did I call you!?
H: Yes! And it was at about 4 in the morning while I was recording, then when I was done I went (laugh).
T: Ah, right. I remember. I was like, "YOU, get over here" (laugh)
H: Yeah (laugh). Going was okay, but since I was surrounded by senpais I didn't know what to say. I thought a common subject would be music, so I asked, "What artists do you look up to?". And what do you think Tatsuro-san said?
- Another random answer? (laugh)
H: Yes (laugh). He said "Nicolas Cage"! Even though I was soo nervous and I had finally thought of a question to ask. I would understand if he had said that as a joke after everyone else had answered, but it was all of a sudden! Since he said something like that first, I couldn't ask anyone else (laugh).
T: What are you talking about, Hitsugi. Nicolas Cage is a great actor. More importantly, why did I have to answer some interview-like question when we were all out drinking? And why is it turning into an interview now too?
- Hey, wait! This is definitely an interview!
H: Seriously (laugh). And I'm starting to wonder who's the writer here! (laugh)
T: (laugh) So Hitsugi...
H: You're changing the question again? (laugh)
- Ok wait a second, is it okay if I explain kind of what the object of this interview is? Since you two are good friends we'd like to hear about your private life some, so please just talk naturally-- Well, you've already started (laugh).
T: Honestly though, this won't turn into a good conversation (laugh). You're definitely going to regret booking these two (laugh). I'll let you know now, I don't think this will ever be a serious conversation (laugh).
H: Though from the start this has been just meaningless chatting, not an interview (laugh). I'm doing my best, so please make an effort too, Tatsuro-san! But I think it's okay to say that this definitely won't turn into a conversation about music, so you should be prepared for that (laugh). You'll need to do the rest (laugh).
- What do you mean, that I need to try hard too?
H: Exactly (laugh).
- Well then we should at least start with our meal. (An employee brings the "Fish of the Day" in a row of baskets)
T: Whoa~ Amazing. They're all dead.
H: Ahahahaha. Of course they are! And that's not what you should be looking at, Tatsuro-san! (laugh). Look at the type of fish it is!
Employee: Our Fish of the Day is stonefish. The spines on it's back are poisonous and dangerous to touch, so please try not to touch them.
T: Hitsugi, touch it. It's got spines on it's back.
H: No way! Didn't they just say not to touch it!
T: Don't be stupid, we're testing to see if they're telling the truth. Touch it.
H: I said no (laugh)
T: Can you make spine sashimi? (Turning to the employee) [a pun. spine = toge, and the first kanji in "sashimi" can also be read "toge", so he basically asked if they could make "toge toge" >.>]
Employee: Ah, no, we're not able to prepare anything like.....that (troubled)
H: Serioulsy, you're so weird Tatsuro-san!
- He is weird (laugh)
H: Wait, listen to this! I've gotten mail from him in the middle of the night before, and since it's late won't you think it's some kind of emergency? But it was just one line saying, "What time is it now?".....
T: Cause I was wondering what time it was. Then I thought "Hitsugi would probably know", so I mailed you.
H: No, but when you open your phone to type that mail the time comes up (laugh). Isn't that weird? No matter how you think about it.
- Ahahaha. Then what did you reply?
H: I just said, "It's 3:20"
- (laugh). Is it because you get lonely, Tatsuro-kun?
T: Um~ I like teasing people.
H: It's always like that. At first I didn't know how to react, but now I'm used to it (laugh).
T: So Hitsugi~ What kind of food do you hate?
H: The subject changed all of a sudden, huh (laugh). Well this also happens all the time (laugh). Food that I hate? I can't eat tomatoes in sandwiches.
T: But just tomatoes are okay? Your limit is tomatoes in sandwiches?
H: Yeah. I hate bread that's in between two pieces of bread.
- You mean tomatoes that are in between two pices of bread, not bread in between two pieces of bread. Tomato.
T: If you ate bread in between bread it would be like eating rice with rice, like rice-don. If you made a sandwich with bread inside it would be like putting rice on top of rice and making don. Wouldn't it. What would you do with that.
H: Ah, aaaahhhh, you could have just let it go!
- Ahh, sorry (laugh). So why do you hate tomatoes in sandwiches?
H: Honestly, it's not the tomato I hate, I hate it when the bread gets soggy with tomato juice.
T: Soo Hitsugi, did you know that there are male and female seaweed?
H: It's really random this time (laugh). I didn't know. How do you tell them apart?
T: The females have boobs.
H: .............................
T: It's true. If you tell people that next time they'll all think, "Wow, Hitsugi-kun is so knowledgeable~" and you'll be totally be popular.
H: That's definitely not true.
T: Well then, do you know what crab miso is?
H: Crab brains? [he's trying to guess the joke, lol]
T: Noo. It's crab yadoben. [lunches you get at japanese inns]
H: Ok, so are you saying you're eating crab yadoben now? (laugh)
T: Yeah I am. It's really good, crab yadoben.
H: Honestly though, I can never win against you when it comes to words, Tatsuro-san (laugh). You said that you don't have any quirks, but that's definitely wrong, isn't it? (laugh)
- That is wrong (laugh)
H: I know! See!
T: What are you saying, there's no one else who's friends with so many band members.
H: That's true, but it's not the same thing as not having any quirks! Since the first time we met I thought, "This person is weird~" (laugh). I had no idea how to interact with you at first (laugh).
- When did you start getting along well?
H: When Nightmare came to Tokyo. I decided to buy a bike and had him come with me to the bike shop, so we started contacting each other a lot after that.
T: So Hitsugi~ Are there any band guys you don't like?
H: Eh? Is it okay if the, "Do you get along well?" question is over? Which one should I answer? (laugh) It's like there are two writers here (laugh). Band guys I don't like? There aren't any for me. I might not be liked by some people though.
T: I guess cause they're jealous, huh~ By the way, what fish is this?
H: Tatsuro-san! You're changing the subject too much!! This fish? (Hitsugi was trying to honestly answer every question he was asked.....laugh) This fish is called "nodoguro".
T: Ahh, "doburoku" huh. [type of sake]
H: Ah, no, it's "nodoguro". That's totally different!
- Ahaha. Has he always been this shameless?
H: Tatsuro-san? Yes (laugh). Shameless, or something like that (laugh). [they're saying "ii kagen"]
T: "ii kagen" isn't a bad thing, though. It's like, "ii, kagen". [literally means "good condition"] So I leave a good impression. I've always given a good impression, right. Right, Hitsugi.
H: Ah, umm, yes (laugh)
T: Japanese is hard~ Doesn't the word "tekitou" have the same nuance? [it can mean "appropriate" or "half-hearted" depending] "Tekitou" is used in a bad way, but it originally means that something fits just right. Doesn't it.
- Well yes, there are a lot of words that change meanings as time goes by depending on how they're used.
H: Ah, did it finally turn into a real conversation? (laugh)
- It did (laugh)
H: But to answer that, "Has he always been shameless?" question, Tatsuro-san isn't "ii kagen" or "tekitou" in a bad way. He just teases people a lot (laugh). Tatsuro-san will bring up the idea for everyone to go drinking together, and if out of 10 people he's the one who talks the most. He teases people relentlessly, but he's looking at the whole situation more than anyone and he's the most careful of people's feelings. Though he'll say he isn't.
- Yeah, I understand that. He doesn't show that he's paying attention to other peoples' feelings, but I think he really does deep down.
H: He does, he does. A while ago, I went to karaoke with Tatsuro-san and Aki from SID. Tatsuro-san played the tambourine and got the mood going for everyone's songs. Looking at that I thought what a cute person he is (laugh). Even though he's older than me.
T: It's because I'm a tambourinist.
H: Yeah, see, the way he dodges the compliment also makes me think that he's a nice person.
- But it's because you usually feel that way that you're able to understand how Tatsuro-kun thinks about other peoples' feelings. With you two there's one who teases and one who's teased, but I think we're able to see your individual styles and how you consider other people more in this situation than in an interview with your respective bands. So I see how you'd get along.
H: But Tatsuro-san really does have a lot of friends. I think he's just liked by everyone.
T: I don't have a lot of friends. I do have a lot of aquaintences, though.
- So how do you differenciate between friends and aquaintences?
T: I wonder~ I don't think I could call someone my friend if we've just gone drinking a once or twice. If I felt like I could spend an entire day with them maybe that would be a friend. Spending an entire day with Hitsugi would still be awkward though (laugh). So we're still aquaintences (laugh)
H: Really!? That's so sad!
T: I'm kidding, I'm kidding (laugh)
H: Oh good (laugh)
- Is there anyone who you're both friends with?
T: That we're both friends with~ There are people who we go drinking with when we're together, but I wonder. Is there anyone we meet up with when we're not together? Maybe just Aki or Daisuke (the studs)?
H: I guess so.
T: Basically the people I get along with aren't super good people. It's all guys with a lot of quirks or just idiots (laugh). My friend in my hometown is like that too. I went back recently and went drinking with him, and while he used to be in a gang, now he's working hard being a firefighter. And even though he said he could come early cause that was his day off, he contacted me saying he'd be late. When I asked him what he was doing he said he was doing money collecting at his side job (laugh). I was like, that is pretty bad (laugh).
H: That's doing too much (laugh)
T: Right? It definitely suprised me too (laugh)
- But with both of you being shy and secretly paying attention to other peoples' feelings, aren't you able to have conversations with a lot of different people? So are there no people you don't get along with?
T: No, there are people I don't get along with. I usually can't get along with people who try to act cool.
H: Me too, I'm not good with people who are too cool or that can't open up.
T: Because this is the way I am. I really don't get along with people who are nice to everyone. I feel like I can't trust them. But I feel like the people I know are all super nice to the people who are important to them. Don't you get that feeling, though? Aren't there people who say pretty harsh things or have a bad mouth, but they're actually really good people?
- There are. And I definitely understand how those people would be easier to trust.
T: That's true. I also don't think it's necessary to be a good person to everyone. I like people who might have a lot of quirks and are hard to approach, but they're actually good people on the inside.
- As an example, someone like Yoshinori-kun (Sugimoto Yoshinori) (laugh). You said you wanted to meet him a while ago right, Tatsuro-kun.
T: Yeah. Yes, yes, that's right. Yoshinori-kun says just what he's thinking, has tons of quirks and a bad mouth, but he's always thought that people with bad mouths are never bad people.
H: I totally understand that. Yoshinori-san also tends to jump right into things (laugh)
T: He does (laugh) But, I think that really different things only come from really different people. I think normal people can only produce normal things.
- Ah, the first time you've said something good all day.
H: "The first time" (laugh) So you were worried about this interview, huh. It's true though, you would worry about it at this rate (laugh)
T: Why?
H: Don't ask "why" (laugh) And anyway, you're really out there too, Tatsuro-san~ But you usually don't get angry, do you? Have you ever gotten angry?
T: Me? I really don't get angry often. I wonder when I would? Ah, but there were two times in the past when I got angry during lives.
H: Really!? When, when?
T: A loong time ago. At the beginning of the live there were guests who were playing around and laughing, and causing trouble for the people around them. I was ignoring them, but they never stopped, so when I couldn't take it anymore I said, "It's really annoying when people are messing around when you're trying to seriously do something, so please stop". I also got kind of mad when people were surrounding me and wouldn't let go.
- Because a live isn't something made just by the ones performing, huh. I think the power of the guests is also really strong. It's ok if you can just ignore it, but I feel bad for the people around them.
T: But, I did feel like I was a little immature afterwards.
- Yeah, well. That would be annoying, so I think it's good you said something. Because the guests really are important at lives. When the guests are having fun jumping around, or when they're touched it can move you to tears looking at them, and seeing the stage from behind all of the guests is really beautiful. Even when everyone's headbanging and running into each other they don't really care, or rather it's funner that way, but during a quieter song if you can hear people talking the whole time it would make you mad.
H: Ah, I understand. It is bad when fans come to have fun and it's ruined by a few people with bad manners. I'm sure the people in that area where able to have fun after that because you said something, Tatsuro-san. It is true that when you get mad it can make things awkward after, but there are some times you just have to say something.
T: True. But I think that's the only time I've gotten mad during a live. I usually don't snap and lose control. What about you? What happens when you snap? Do your piercings go BWAHH, GWAA!! and jump out or something?
H: That wouldn't even be human! (laugh)
T: So what happens? Do you turn into Shrek?
H: Of course not! (laugh)
T: You don't! That's suprising!
H: What's suprising! Wouldn't it be more suprising if I did turn into Shrek!
T: I guess~ So? What happens when you get mad?
H: When I get mad, um~ I guess I explain why I'm mad first. But I don't think I snap either. And I haven't gotten angry recently. Even when I get into a bad mood because of technical trouble or something it doesn't go that far.
- What do you do when you get mad, Tatsuro-kun?
T: Me? I stop talking. Or I say, "I'm leaving" and leave. Or else it'll turn into a fight. That's enough. Do whatever you want, kind of thing. Even in elementary and middle school there were a lot of times I just left by myself~ Maybe that's when I stopped getting angry so much.
H: I see~ I usually don't get angry much either. Ah, Tatsuro-san, here's the stonefish!
(The stonefish sashimi was brought out)
T: Oh, here it is, the blowfish.
H: No! It's not blowfish, it's stonefish!
T: Ahh, really?
H: The waiter just said it's stonefish! And you were the one who ordered it! Jeez (laugh)
- When you go drinking or talk on the phone together, what do you usually talk about?
T: Small talk. The stock market and stuff.
- That's definitely not true.
T: Or how the yen is doing.
- That's definitely not true.
H: It really isn't true (laugh)
- Who usually does the inviting?
T: Whenever I invite this guy somewhere he turns me down. Like, "No, I can't do that day", or "Ah, I can't", or "There's no way I can go" or something. He's so hard to be friends with.
H: Hey, hey, you're making me seem like such a rude person!
T: Hitsugi is rude. "No, that'll be tough", "Of course I won't be able to come".
H: I didn't say that! I never said anything like that! (laugh)
- Ahahaha. You're really getting picked on today, Hitsugi (laugh). I've never seen you like this, it's just so cute I can't help it (laugh)
T: But we've still never hung out together just the two of us.
H: All we've done is go eat ramen together.
T: But I did plan something a while ago. At the end of June I had time off, so I thought we could go touring together somewhere far, then when I called him and asked if he could get two days off he was like, "I can't do it", "That won't work", "I don't want to~".
H: I didn't. I didn't say that! I wanted to go, but I couldn't get two days off in a row. Didn't we talk about it a lot?
- Huh? Hitsugi, didn't you say that everyone other than the rhythm team were free at the end of the month?
H: Heh!? What is this. What's with that?? I never said that! Wait a second, really, why are you making things up (laugh).
T: See, there we go. I knew it. You were free. But you turned me down.
H: We really did talk a lot about it, that wasn't true! Wait, why are you making things up (laugh)! Stop it, if you keep saying things like that Tatsuro-san will just keep attacking me (laugh).
- Sorry, sorry. I was going along with it and wanted to pick on you too (laugh). So did you want to go tour somewhere and stay there for two days?
T: Yeah. I said I wanted to go to a nearby onsen or something. Right. But since Hitsugi said no I couldn't go. I also said if two days was too hard that we could just go to Nagoya, but that didn't work either.
- And why Nagoya? (laugh)
T: the studs were having a live in Nagoya, so I asked if he wanted to go see it together. But then Hitsugi was like, "I can't do something like that", "It won't work", and turned me down. It's Hitsugi's fault.
H: I told you! (laugh) I never said that! (laugh) Didn't I say I wanted to go! I'm telling you, it wouldn't have worked (laugh).
T: It's because Hitsugi hates me.
H: I don't hate you! I really like you, Tatsuro-san! Don't I?
- Yeah. Hitsugi really does like you, Tatsuro-kun. A while ago at the end of an interview he said, "I wonder how Tatsuro-san is doing~ Are you going to meet with him? Tell him I want to see him".
T: People say things like that though. But when I actually talk with him he's like, "No, that's difficult", "I can't".
H: I don't say that (laugh)! The last time you invited me it was during recording or a tour, really! And besides, you were drunk! I called and asked what you were doing and you said, "Hah? Why would I have to tell you that!" (laugh)
T: Well it's true.
H: Seriously, he's so mean (laugh). I really wanted to go the Weekly Lives (lives that MUCC did once a week for their 10th anniversary, playing songs from their first album to the latest) you did a while ago! Didn't I say I wanted to go.
- You did. I invited you to one of the lives, but you couldn't go because of recording or something.
H: Right, right, right. I said, "Did you go? Was the the first song on the first day ("Antique" and "Aishuu" day) "Aka" like I thought?" and had her show me the setlist (laugh). I was impressed that the first song really was "Aka". Then we had a conversation like, "Ahh, they played that song!". "Ahh, I wanted to go!". I do think that MUCC is a really cool band. I've liked them for a long time.
- Then is it okay if we start talking about music for a while? (laugh). Didn't you say that you've been interested in writing lyrics lately, Hitsugi?
H: Yeah I did. I'm really interested.
T: You are? Are you gonna write some today too?
H: Eh!? Today? I, I don't think I will today, but (laugh). Why today? (laugh) I really don't understand your questions (laugh).
- Ahahaha. Hitsugi did say that he's liked MUCC ever since he was in Sendai, but I'm sure that also means the lyrics were part of the reason you got pulled into their music?
H: Yeah. For me, out of Tatsuro-san's lyrics the song I like the most is "Na mo naki yume". I really really like that song, and I have it in my iPod.
T: Is that so. Are there any lyrics of yours that have been put into songs?
H: Yeah. There are three songs. They're in our album.
T: What made you want to start writing lyrics?
H: Because I had made the song, so I decided to try writing lyrics for it too.
T: Was it fun?
H: Well, I'm not sure about fun, but it was kind of embarrassing at first.
T: What did you write about?
H: The first song had a "goodbye" theme, and the second one was more like "let's look ahead and walk forward". The third had a "nothingness" feeling.
- What were the first lyrics you wrote, Tatsuro-kun?
T: With MUCC?
- Did you write lyrics before you were in MUCC!?
T: U~m, maybe they weren't really lyrics, but the first time I wrote lyrics that actually got put into a song was with MUCC. The first lyrics I wrote were for "Kyousoukyoku"
H: Heh~ What was the theme for it?
T: There wasn't really a theme. I just wrote them while thinking about the girl I liked at the time.
- Was it embarrassing because it was your first work?
T: No, it wasn't embarrassing. I only felt satisfaction.
H: I see~
T: Does everyone in Nightmare write lyrics?
H: I don't think Ni~ya hasn't written any yet.
T: I see. So then Hitsugi, introduce the other members of Nightmare. I still haven't really talked with Sakipon (Sakito) or Rupon (Ruka), so I don't know what kind of people they are. Does Sakito-kun tell dirty jokes?
H: Sakito won't say them himself, but he laughs when Yomi says stupid things or something (laugh)
T: So then, if I told Sakito-kun to say "d*ck", would he say it?
H: Ahahaha. I think he would (laugh)
- So then what would you do after getting him to say it......?
T: I'd just be happy with that (laugh) The, "Ahh thank God, he's a human like me" kind of relief? (laugh) I wouldn't wish for much more from him after that. What about Rupon (Ruka) and Nipon (Ni~ya)?
H: Those two love that kind of thing. Especially Ruka-san, he'll say them when we're all together. He loves it (laugh)
T: Really! I feel like if you're with guys and you can't talk about stuff like that it's hard to forgive. For me it's like, if you're a guy who doesn't like dirty jokes, then I don't like you! kinda thing.
H: Ahahaha. It's true that that's how guys get to know each other (laugh)
- Ah! By the way, Tatsuro-san.....Didn't you give Yomi a really unnecessary suggestion once.....
T: What? I did? Did I say something?
- To Yomi who was trying his best to diet.
H: Ahahaha. You did you did! You did say something, Tatsuro-san (laugh)
T: What did I say?
- "You know, if you can't lose weight then just say, 'I really did lose weight before the photoshoot, but then I rebounded!', then it's ok if you get fatter! Just do that! It's totally the best way!" You said that!
T: Ah, I did (laugh) But it's true. When you're involved with magazines and you say you're going to lose 8 kilos, but then you say, "Actually I only lost two~", it's really half-hearted and uninteresting. But if you just go, "I rebounded~ (laugh)", isn't it way more interesting for a magazine?
H: No, that kind of thing doesn't work for our band! (laugh)
- It's true it's true (laugh). Yomi is obedient, so he'll stop working at it (laugh)
T: That guy is so hopeless (laugh)
H: He's really an idiot, he's too easily influenced (laugh). But that's why you can't hate him.
T: Then what's wrong with him rebounding.
H: That's not good! He's trying his best right now!
T: How long has he been doing it?
- It's been about a month since he started.
H: Was he going to continue for another month?
T: That's it, since he started his diet plan last month.
H: Ahahaha. You do check these things (laugh)
T: Cause there aren't any other vocalists who say those kind of things in magazines (laugh)
H: True (laugh). But he's really working hard isn't he?
- Yeah. He said that he works out his back and stomach everyday, and finds time to go to the gym.
H: See, so stop giving him those suggestions (laugh)
T: But really, if you're not dieting while working out and getting in shape, doing a live at Budokan will be tough. So you have to be careful of that.
H: That's true. If you're not in shape lives are hard. Somehow.
T: So that's why if you think about the magazine and say, "Actually I got fatter (laugh)" it'd be funnier. Yep.
H: I wonder? (laugh)
- You're so irresponsible (laugh)
T: Hey, hey, by the way, if you had time to kill in Shibuya for some reason, what would you do?
H: Heh!? Where did that come from? What does that have to do with what we were saying??
T: It doesn't have anything to do with it. I just wanted to ask. For me, a while ago I somehow had free time in Shibuya and I had already eaten, didn't feel like going to a manga cafe and didn't feel like shopping, so I seriously started wondering if there were any good places to go at a time like that.
H: So did you think of anything?
T: I did! I thought of a good place!
H: Where!?
T: "Pet Cabaret"!
H: What the heck is that? (laugh)
T: It's what I said. A Pet Cabaret. There'd be tons of pets, and you can pick one. You'd have a private room where you could play with them for however long. Isn't that cool? Would you go if there was one?
H: I would! I would!
T: Right!
- Eh, but isn't that kind of sad?
T: What is?
- Because wouldn't you start getting attached to each other? Even so it's definitely not your pet. Isn't that sad?
T: Yeah, it is kind of sad. You think you can see them again but there's too many reservations and you can't. Aren't I good? I told you I seriously thought about it. If you have a bunch of cats and dogs it'll start to stink if you don't clean often, and they make noise so if you can't soundproof the place it'll be bad, and if it's too small it'll get crowded, and there's no point if it's not your own place so you'd need a lot of space, so at what price per hour would people come? Kinda thing.
H: You thought about it that realistically, huh (laugh)
T: Yeah. But when I kept thinking about it I calmed down at the thought that it's pretty unrealistic (laugh). But if there was one I'd definitely go.
- You like animals then?
T: I do, I do.
- Both of you have pets, right?
H: Yeah. I have a dog.
T: Ahh, that dog that isn't very cute. Pesu, huh.
H: Hey! He is cute, you're wrong! (laugh)
T: Ah, Pesu was the name of the dog I had when I was a kid. Shikabane [corpse], right. Shikabane. Ah, or was it mukuro. [also means corpse]
H: It's Cocoa! Cocoa! Jeez, a while ago when we had a live in Omiya with MUCC, Cocoa was in the dressing room and all of a sudden Tatsuro-san said, "What's it's name? It's with Hitsugi so it's shikabane, right?" (laugh) Really, he's so mean! Even though they played together (laugh)
T: What's with Cocoa! Why Cocoa! Cause it's cocoa-colored? Lame.
H: I didn't say anything! But it's frustrating because that is actually why (laugh)
T: Why didn't you let me name it!
H: No! You'd pick something weird!
T: What are you saying! I have really awesome naming sense! My friend has a white rabbit and I named it "daifuku".
H: See, no way (laugh)
T: And I named the cat that Yukke's family has. It was kind of milk-tea colored. So I said Chai would be good, and it became Chai.
H: Ah, Chai is kind of cute!
T: Right? Your dog has long hair, doesn't it? Then name it Ronge [slang for "long hair"].
H: No, I wouldn't want to call him that.
T: What's wrong with it. Like, "Oi, Ronge" (laugh)
H: No! No way!
T: Then Chaparon. [mix between "brown hair" (chapatsu) and "long hair" (ronge)]
- Chaparon is cute (laugh)
H: He'll ignore me if I start calling him Chaparon now! You have a pet too don't you Tatsuro-san?
T: A cat.
H: What's it's name?
T: Cat.
H: ........That's not true.
T: Kidding. Teto.
- Why Teto?
T: Cause I love "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind".
- That's right. You like Hayao Miyazaki don't you.
T: Yeah, I do.
H: Which one do you like the most?
T: "Nausicaa", "Laputa Castle in the Sky", or "Princess Mononoke". Have you ever read the original "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind"? The movie ends at about the second volume, so you should definitely read it. You'll understand it a lot more deeply.
H: Is the original work that little book?
T: It's not little. Is it just cause you're big?
H: Hey (laugh). Huh? Am I wrong, the one I have is small! Huh? Are the titles different?
T: They're not different, it's just "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind". That's definitely a different book, are you sure it isn't "My Neighbors the Yamadas"?
H: ......Of course not (bitter laugh). If it was that different I think I would notice (laugh)
- So as for something you have in common, you both like movies, right?
T: Do you like movies Hitsugi?
H: I do.
T: What have you seen lately?
H: The one I saw most recently was "The Departed".
T: I was wondering about that one, but I haven't seen it. Was it good? Isn't it a re-make of a Hong Kong movie? (A remake of the Hong Kong movie "Infernal Affair")
H: Yeah. According to the people who saw the original it seems like that one was better. I haven't seen that version though. What about you?
T: This was last year, but out of the movies I've seen recently the one I liked the most was "Tekkon Kinkreet". Did you see it?
H: I did I did.
T: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" was awesome too. Did you see it?
H: I did. Huh? Was that the third one?
T: No, the second.
H: Huh? Haven't they made a third one already?
T: Yeah, "The Prisoner of Azkaban".
H: What? Isn't that a different series? I think that's Potter (laugh). I still haven't seen "The World's End".
T: You should see it. It's so good!
H: Do you watch movies at the theater?
T: Yeah. Why? Do you watch the DVDs?
H: Yeah. I can't get comfortable at movie theaters.
T: Why! The impact is so different~ Well, if it's a drama-like movie it's fine to watch it at home, but something like "Dead Man's Chest" should be at a theater. Also "Transformers" I would want to watch in a theater. I guess "Zodiac" would be fine watching on DVD.
H: Was "Zodiac" good?
T: Yeah, it was. "300" wasn't though.
H: Heh~ Did you see "Lucky Number 7"?
T: I haven't. Have you?
H: I like Bruce Willis, so I thought it was good.
T: Ah, I also saw "Die Hard", and a while ago I rented Steven Seagal's "Under Siege" series. I had watched it once about 3 years ago and didn't think it was good at all, but since there was a new one out I decided to check out if it was any good, so I watched "Dark Territory", but as I thought I really didn't like it (laugh). It's like, I didn't get the point. Also, I haven't watched it but I rented it recently, a Korean movie called "Old Boy". Apparently it's good. Ah, I remembered another Korean movie! Right now, Macchan (Matsumoto Hitoshi) writes a column called "Cinema Bouzu", right? In that, he wrote about the Korean movie "The Eraser in my Head" [English title is "A Moment to Remember"], and there was one part that was soo funny. It's a story of a wife that has Alzheimer's, and he wrote, "It was dangerous that the wife had Alzheimer's, so they changed their gas stove to an electric one, but a few days later it was a gas stove again. I wonder if the director and staff just didn't notice? Did the director and staff all have erasers in their heads?". I thought that was pretty strange (laugh).
- That's amazing! How clever! I watched it but I never noticed that.
H: It's true! But even if the connection is kind of weird it'll interfere with the story, so I don't notice the little things (laugh).
T: Right, right, right. For me, I really like reading the reviews that regular people leave about movies on Yahoo! movies. Have you ever seen "The Shawshank Redemption"?
H: Yeah. That was a good movie.
T: Yeah. I liked it too, so I started wondering what other people thought of it and checked it out. And then, just one person had given it one star and a negative review. I wanted to know why, so I read it and it said, "The last scene when he was breaking out of jail. It's fine that he broke out by gouging a hole in the wall with a spoon (it was actually a rock hammer), but after he broke out, the poster that was perfectly put up to cover the hole he made in the wall is what I can't understand. I just kept thinking, 'Who put those thumb tacks in the wall?' and I couldn't concentrate on the rest of the movie.".
H: That's true! I didn't notice!
T: I know! Me neither (laugh). I read that and thought, "That's true!" (laugh). It's really interesting that everyone has such different points of view and are looking at tons of different things (laugh).
- Even if it's the same movie, it's interesting that touching moments or ones that make you cry are different depending on the person.
H: Yes, yes. Plus, when you watch it your mental condition can change, too.
T: Right. Have you watched "Nausicaa" since you've been over 20? When I watched it when I was over 20 I just burst into tears.
H: At what scene?
T: When Nausicaa was thrown into the air by the group of Ohmu. I cried then. I cried a lot. I thought, "She's so helpless", "She's so small". It was too sad, it made me cry.
H: I didn't cry during "Nausicaa". Did you?
- I liked "Nausicaa" and I have the DVD, but I haven't watched it again recently. The last time I watched it was a pretty long time ago so I don't remember the details.
T: What did you watch that made you cry? "My Neighbors the Yamadas"?
- Of course not! Out of Miyazaki Hayao's films, even though it's not very recent, the most recent one was "Spirited Away" that I remember really making me cry.
T: What part?
- When Haku gave Sen the onigiri.
T: Ahh, when her mom and dad got turned into pigs.
H: No, that was a totally different part. It's seriously suprising how shameless you are, Tatsuro-san (laugh). [ii kagen]
T: I already told you, "ii kagen" means good condition.
H: Ahh, ok ok (laugh). For me, it's not Miyazaki Hayao, but I cried during the movie "Bicentennial Man" with Robin Williams. At the end, I was crying so hard.
T: Ahh, the one with the robot, huh. I cried during "Big Fish". That one's good. It's so good it makes me think if it's not Tim Burton's will or something.
H: I have the DVD of "Big Fish". But you really do love movies don't you, Tatsuro-san.
- By the way, how do you find time to watch movies when you're both so busy?
T: I'll watch the DVDs while I'm on tour or something, or on the plane when we're going overseas.
H: I'm the type to just buy the DVDs.
- I see. Then let's talk some about your bands (laugh). Do you have any advice to Hitsugi as the senpai in a band that's just had it's 10th anniversary, Tatsuro-san?
T: Let's see~ How many years has Nightmare been together now?
H: It'll be 8 years this year. We formed in 2000.
T: 8 years, huh~ That's a long time.
H: But in two years we'll be the same age as Tatsuro-san and will be having our 10th anniversary, so the times we formed our bands is about the same.
- That's true, you both started around high school didn't you. Besides Ruka, MUCC and Nightmare both have their roots as high school friends. Did any kind of change happen to MUCC during your 8th year together?
T: MUCC's 8th year? 8 years would mean that was 2 years ago? So what time period was that?
- It was the year you released "Houyoku".
T: And it was the first year we went overseas. The first time we went was before "Houyoku", wasn't it.
H: It was that recent? When you first went overseas?
T: Yeah. We were slow. Because we totally weren't interested in going at first. Actually, we didn't want to go. But I'm really glad we did now.
- Nightmare hasn't gone overseas once yet, have they. So that's the same.
T: Eh? Really? You still haven't gone overseas? Why not?
H: There isn't any deep meaning as to why. It's not like we haven't gotten offers, and we're not just refusing to go, it's just that right now we feel like we want what we're doing in our home ground of Japan to be firmly grounded. We think now is the time to build a good foundation. There's also the reason that Ruka-san really hates airplanes (laugh).
T: Ahh, for us Yukke also hates airplanes (laugh). But it's not good to dislike something you haven't tried. Really, you shouldn't. After I went and actually had the experience I can say that for sure.
H: When I saw MUCC's "Flight" PV (Using footage of an overseas live) it was the first time I thought I wanted to have a live overseas. It looked great. I thought I wanted to see that kind of scene from the stage, too.
- You said it. Before now you never said you wanted to have a live overseas.
H: Yeah. I felt like it's fine if we do it sometime later, and I couldn't image what us playing overseas would be like.
T: I understand. I was like that too. But you know, if you go you'll change. I think the way you play at lives, and even the way you think of lives themselves will change. Because it influences your performance. The way the rhythm goes and how people get into it is completely different from Japan, so it really gives you motivation. Of course Japan has it's own good points. But if you go over there you'll get a totally new way of getting into it. Like, "Wow, so this song can also have this sort of feel to it", and even though it's your own song it's like a new discovery. Almost like you're getting to see it in it's original form or something.
H: Is that so~ I want try going.
T: If you can get permission then you definitely should. We also didn't want to follow the recent trend by going, so we hesitated, but it wasn't something we should have worried about.
H: So there wasn't a problem with the language barrier at all?
T: You don't notice. It makes you think how amazing music is.
H: We'll also work hard so we can celebrate our 10th anniversary.
T: Right, so next time we'll go touring.
H: Please invite me! I don't need prank mails or phone calls (laugh). But is this okay? Will you be able to write this down? Is it okay?
- Ahahaha. It's okay, it's okay (laugh)
T: I'm okay too. I'm pretty tired from talking.
H: It's not a problem of you being tired from talking! (laugh)
T: Ah, really?
H: Not "Ah, really"!
T: We didn't come here to go bowling and eat?
H: It's an interview, an interview!
T: Ah, is that so.
And poor Hitsugi, he's such a good boy *cries*
Plus I just saw Nightmare live yesterday, so I'm all attached to him XD *lovelovelove*
Tatsuro (MUCC) + Hitsugi (Nightmare) Shock Wave No.3 Interview
Tatsuro: So Hitsugi, would you confess to someone first?
Hitsugi: Eh!? C-- confess? Another random question, huh. Well I guess it depends on the time and place, as well as on the person.
T: Do you fall in love at first sight?
H: No, not at first sight.
T: Why? Are your eyes bad?
H: If you don't fall in love at first sight I don't think it's because you have bad eyes (laugh). Then what about Tatsuro-san....
T: So when was your first love?
H: I was asking a question...(laugh). F-- first love? It was during elementary school.
T: What was the girl's name?
H: No! I'm definitely not saying (laugh).
T: What's wrong~ It's a bittersweet memory. What-san?
H: No! And by the way, has the interview started yet?
T: Yeah, it started.
- Eh? Oh, it started (laugh).
(hurries to set up the tape recorder)
T: Yeah, basically (laugh). So? What was her name?
H: I said no! When was your first love then?
T: Mine? Mine was in 6th grade.
H: Ah, that's kind of late huh.
T: Really? But isn't love during kindergarden or elementary school not really love? It's like, (And here Tatsuro starts acting out two roles....) "Hey, hey, do you like anyone?" "Yeah I do" "Tell me, I'll tell you too" "You can't tell anyone else!" "I won't, I won't" "Eh! You like them? Heh~" kind of thing. Share it with someone, then when you get into a fight, (And here Tatsuro once again starts acting two roles....) "I'm gonna tell people who you like!" "I don't care, I like someone else now! Who are you talking about, stupid!" like that. It changed already! Kind of thing.
H: Ahahaha. You just had a good conversation with yourself Tatsuro-san (laugh). But that does happen (laugh).
T: Right? But I don't think that sort of love counts as a first love. Rather, the kind of love where you're always looking at them during class and you can't help thinking about them, I think that kind of love starts at around middle school. So that's when mine was.
H: Ahh, if it's in that way, then I think my first love would have been after I graduated middle school. I had the feeling that I seriously liked them.
T: So, what was her name?
H: I already said no! Will you say?
T: Yeah. I will. For me, Mori-san.
H: Mori-san huh (laugh). For me.........U-- Umi**-san.
T: Eh? What? Unko-san? [unko = poop]
H: ..........I knew you'd say that (laugh). I think I've started to understand you, Tatsuro-san (laugh).
T: Soo then, you met Unko-san after you graduated?
H: No, it's Umi**-san.
T: Ahh, Umi**-san right. Sorry sorry. Unko-san.
H: ...........
T: So, did you see her again at your coming of age ceremony or something?
H: No. I didn't participate in the ceremony, I was already in Tokyo in a band. I was in Tokyo recording~ Around the time I first went drinking with you in Tokyo.
T: When was that?
H: When I was about 20.
T: Well yeah~ You just said it was around your coming of age ceremony!
H: Ah, right (laugh). Because you asked "when" (laugh). Did you go to your ceremony?
T: No. I was in Sendai during a tour. So then, that time we first went drinking together, where was it again?
H: Wasn't it at your house?
T: Ahh, I remember. We did do that~ And who was there again?
H: Phobia's vocalist Kisui-san, D'espairsRay's Hizumi-san, Tatsuro-san, and me.
T: That's right~
- That wasn't your first time meeting each other was it? When did you two meet?
H: The first time I met Tatsuro-san, I was still in Sendai. MUCC was a guest at an event put on by Ruka's previous band. That day we had a live at another place, but our after-parties happened to be at the same place, so we met then. I guess that would be 7 or 8 years ago now? When Tatsuro-san was still wearing gas masks and things. When Tatsuro-san was about 20 I think?
T: Yeah. That's nostalgic. I did use gas masks. That's right, how nostalgic~ At that time I was 20 and Hitsugi was 22.
H: No I wasn't! (laugh) Why am I all of a sudden older? (laugh) I was 17 then.
T: Even though these guys were still in high school they had after-parties at bars.
- MUCC did the same thing. Didn't you meet Miya-san at an after-party at a bar?
T: Yeah (laugh)
H: See, everyone did it (laugh). Then at the after-party I was sitting next to him. Since that time I thought MUCC was really cool, and I had listened to "Antique" then but I had never been to a live. So that was the first time seeing them in real life! I remember being impressed and thinking "Ohh~, it's really them~". I was trying my best to talk to Tatsuro-san sitting beside me, and he was doing his best to talk to me too.
- So you've gotten along since then?
T: No, not really.
H: Hey, hey (laugh)
T: At that time Hitsugi was wearing cat eye contacts, so whenever he blinked the vertical pupil would shake back and forth. I remember that really well (laugh). When I asked what his name was and he said Hitsugi [coffin] I kinda pulled away (laugh). "Hitsugi!? Your name is Hitsugi? What's with that" kinda thing (laugh).
H: See, isn't he mean? It's always like this (laugh). We didn't exchange phone numbers that day, but we did the next time we met. Then afterwards I got my first phone call from him.
T: Did I call you!?
H: Yes! And it was at about 4 in the morning while I was recording, then when I was done I went (laugh).
T: Ah, right. I remember. I was like, "YOU, get over here" (laugh)
H: Yeah (laugh). Going was okay, but since I was surrounded by senpais I didn't know what to say. I thought a common subject would be music, so I asked, "What artists do you look up to?". And what do you think Tatsuro-san said?
- Another random answer? (laugh)
H: Yes (laugh). He said "Nicolas Cage"! Even though I was soo nervous and I had finally thought of a question to ask. I would understand if he had said that as a joke after everyone else had answered, but it was all of a sudden! Since he said something like that first, I couldn't ask anyone else (laugh).
T: What are you talking about, Hitsugi. Nicolas Cage is a great actor. More importantly, why did I have to answer some interview-like question when we were all out drinking? And why is it turning into an interview now too?
- Hey, wait! This is definitely an interview!
H: Seriously (laugh). And I'm starting to wonder who's the writer here! (laugh)
T: (laugh) So Hitsugi...
H: You're changing the question again? (laugh)
- Ok wait a second, is it okay if I explain kind of what the object of this interview is? Since you two are good friends we'd like to hear about your private life some, so please just talk naturally-- Well, you've already started (laugh).
T: Honestly though, this won't turn into a good conversation (laugh). You're definitely going to regret booking these two (laugh). I'll let you know now, I don't think this will ever be a serious conversation (laugh).
H: Though from the start this has been just meaningless chatting, not an interview (laugh). I'm doing my best, so please make an effort too, Tatsuro-san! But I think it's okay to say that this definitely won't turn into a conversation about music, so you should be prepared for that (laugh). You'll need to do the rest (laugh).
- What do you mean, that I need to try hard too?
H: Exactly (laugh).
- Well then we should at least start with our meal. (An employee brings the "Fish of the Day" in a row of baskets)
T: Whoa~ Amazing. They're all dead.
H: Ahahahaha. Of course they are! And that's not what you should be looking at, Tatsuro-san! (laugh). Look at the type of fish it is!
Employee: Our Fish of the Day is stonefish. The spines on it's back are poisonous and dangerous to touch, so please try not to touch them.
T: Hitsugi, touch it. It's got spines on it's back.
H: No way! Didn't they just say not to touch it!
T: Don't be stupid, we're testing to see if they're telling the truth. Touch it.
H: I said no (laugh)
T: Can you make spine sashimi? (Turning to the employee) [a pun. spine = toge, and the first kanji in "sashimi" can also be read "toge", so he basically asked if they could make "toge toge" >.>]
Employee: Ah, no, we're not able to prepare anything like.....that (troubled)
H: Serioulsy, you're so weird Tatsuro-san!
- He is weird (laugh)
H: Wait, listen to this! I've gotten mail from him in the middle of the night before, and since it's late won't you think it's some kind of emergency? But it was just one line saying, "What time is it now?".....
T: Cause I was wondering what time it was. Then I thought "Hitsugi would probably know", so I mailed you.
H: No, but when you open your phone to type that mail the time comes up (laugh). Isn't that weird? No matter how you think about it.
- Ahahaha. Then what did you reply?
H: I just said, "It's 3:20"
- (laugh). Is it because you get lonely, Tatsuro-kun?
T: Um~ I like teasing people.
H: It's always like that. At first I didn't know how to react, but now I'm used to it (laugh).
T: So Hitsugi~ What kind of food do you hate?
H: The subject changed all of a sudden, huh (laugh). Well this also happens all the time (laugh). Food that I hate? I can't eat tomatoes in sandwiches.
T: But just tomatoes are okay? Your limit is tomatoes in sandwiches?
H: Yeah. I hate bread that's in between two pieces of bread.
- You mean tomatoes that are in between two pices of bread, not bread in between two pieces of bread. Tomato.
T: If you ate bread in between bread it would be like eating rice with rice, like rice-don. If you made a sandwich with bread inside it would be like putting rice on top of rice and making don. Wouldn't it. What would you do with that.
H: Ah, aaaahhhh, you could have just let it go!
- Ahh, sorry (laugh). So why do you hate tomatoes in sandwiches?
H: Honestly, it's not the tomato I hate, I hate it when the bread gets soggy with tomato juice.
T: Soo Hitsugi, did you know that there are male and female seaweed?
H: It's really random this time (laugh). I didn't know. How do you tell them apart?
T: The females have boobs.
H: .............................
T: It's true. If you tell people that next time they'll all think, "Wow, Hitsugi-kun is so knowledgeable~" and you'll be totally be popular.
H: That's definitely not true.
T: Well then, do you know what crab miso is?
H: Crab brains? [he's trying to guess the joke, lol]
T: Noo. It's crab yadoben. [lunches you get at japanese inns]
H: Ok, so are you saying you're eating crab yadoben now? (laugh)
T: Yeah I am. It's really good, crab yadoben.
H: Honestly though, I can never win against you when it comes to words, Tatsuro-san (laugh). You said that you don't have any quirks, but that's definitely wrong, isn't it? (laugh)
- That is wrong (laugh)
H: I know! See!
T: What are you saying, there's no one else who's friends with so many band members.
H: That's true, but it's not the same thing as not having any quirks! Since the first time we met I thought, "This person is weird~" (laugh). I had no idea how to interact with you at first (laugh).
- When did you start getting along well?
H: When Nightmare came to Tokyo. I decided to buy a bike and had him come with me to the bike shop, so we started contacting each other a lot after that.
T: So Hitsugi~ Are there any band guys you don't like?
H: Eh? Is it okay if the, "Do you get along well?" question is over? Which one should I answer? (laugh) It's like there are two writers here (laugh). Band guys I don't like? There aren't any for me. I might not be liked by some people though.
T: I guess cause they're jealous, huh~ By the way, what fish is this?
H: Tatsuro-san! You're changing the subject too much!! This fish? (Hitsugi was trying to honestly answer every question he was asked.....laugh) This fish is called "nodoguro".
T: Ahh, "doburoku" huh. [type of sake]
H: Ah, no, it's "nodoguro". That's totally different!
- Ahaha. Has he always been this shameless?
H: Tatsuro-san? Yes (laugh). Shameless, or something like that (laugh). [they're saying "ii kagen"]
T: "ii kagen" isn't a bad thing, though. It's like, "ii, kagen". [literally means "good condition"] So I leave a good impression. I've always given a good impression, right. Right, Hitsugi.
H: Ah, umm, yes (laugh)
T: Japanese is hard~ Doesn't the word "tekitou" have the same nuance? [it can mean "appropriate" or "half-hearted" depending] "Tekitou" is used in a bad way, but it originally means that something fits just right. Doesn't it.
- Well yes, there are a lot of words that change meanings as time goes by depending on how they're used.
H: Ah, did it finally turn into a real conversation? (laugh)
- It did (laugh)
H: But to answer that, "Has he always been shameless?" question, Tatsuro-san isn't "ii kagen" or "tekitou" in a bad way. He just teases people a lot (laugh). Tatsuro-san will bring up the idea for everyone to go drinking together, and if out of 10 people he's the one who talks the most. He teases people relentlessly, but he's looking at the whole situation more than anyone and he's the most careful of people's feelings. Though he'll say he isn't.
- Yeah, I understand that. He doesn't show that he's paying attention to other peoples' feelings, but I think he really does deep down.
H: He does, he does. A while ago, I went to karaoke with Tatsuro-san and Aki from SID. Tatsuro-san played the tambourine and got the mood going for everyone's songs. Looking at that I thought what a cute person he is (laugh). Even though he's older than me.
T: It's because I'm a tambourinist.
H: Yeah, see, the way he dodges the compliment also makes me think that he's a nice person.
- But it's because you usually feel that way that you're able to understand how Tatsuro-kun thinks about other peoples' feelings. With you two there's one who teases and one who's teased, but I think we're able to see your individual styles and how you consider other people more in this situation than in an interview with your respective bands. So I see how you'd get along.
H: But Tatsuro-san really does have a lot of friends. I think he's just liked by everyone.
T: I don't have a lot of friends. I do have a lot of aquaintences, though.
- So how do you differenciate between friends and aquaintences?
T: I wonder~ I don't think I could call someone my friend if we've just gone drinking a once or twice. If I felt like I could spend an entire day with them maybe that would be a friend. Spending an entire day with Hitsugi would still be awkward though (laugh). So we're still aquaintences (laugh)
H: Really!? That's so sad!
T: I'm kidding, I'm kidding (laugh)
H: Oh good (laugh)
- Is there anyone who you're both friends with?
T: That we're both friends with~ There are people who we go drinking with when we're together, but I wonder. Is there anyone we meet up with when we're not together? Maybe just Aki or Daisuke (the studs)?
H: I guess so.
T: Basically the people I get along with aren't super good people. It's all guys with a lot of quirks or just idiots (laugh). My friend in my hometown is like that too. I went back recently and went drinking with him, and while he used to be in a gang, now he's working hard being a firefighter. And even though he said he could come early cause that was his day off, he contacted me saying he'd be late. When I asked him what he was doing he said he was doing money collecting at his side job (laugh). I was like, that is pretty bad (laugh).
H: That's doing too much (laugh)
T: Right? It definitely suprised me too (laugh)
- But with both of you being shy and secretly paying attention to other peoples' feelings, aren't you able to have conversations with a lot of different people? So are there no people you don't get along with?
T: No, there are people I don't get along with. I usually can't get along with people who try to act cool.
H: Me too, I'm not good with people who are too cool or that can't open up.
T: Because this is the way I am. I really don't get along with people who are nice to everyone. I feel like I can't trust them. But I feel like the people I know are all super nice to the people who are important to them. Don't you get that feeling, though? Aren't there people who say pretty harsh things or have a bad mouth, but they're actually really good people?
- There are. And I definitely understand how those people would be easier to trust.
T: That's true. I also don't think it's necessary to be a good person to everyone. I like people who might have a lot of quirks and are hard to approach, but they're actually good people on the inside.
- As an example, someone like Yoshinori-kun (Sugimoto Yoshinori) (laugh). You said you wanted to meet him a while ago right, Tatsuro-kun.
T: Yeah. Yes, yes, that's right. Yoshinori-kun says just what he's thinking, has tons of quirks and a bad mouth, but he's always thought that people with bad mouths are never bad people.
H: I totally understand that. Yoshinori-san also tends to jump right into things (laugh)
T: He does (laugh) But, I think that really different things only come from really different people. I think normal people can only produce normal things.
- Ah, the first time you've said something good all day.
H: "The first time" (laugh) So you were worried about this interview, huh. It's true though, you would worry about it at this rate (laugh)
T: Why?
H: Don't ask "why" (laugh) And anyway, you're really out there too, Tatsuro-san~ But you usually don't get angry, do you? Have you ever gotten angry?
T: Me? I really don't get angry often. I wonder when I would? Ah, but there were two times in the past when I got angry during lives.
H: Really!? When, when?
T: A loong time ago. At the beginning of the live there were guests who were playing around and laughing, and causing trouble for the people around them. I was ignoring them, but they never stopped, so when I couldn't take it anymore I said, "It's really annoying when people are messing around when you're trying to seriously do something, so please stop". I also got kind of mad when people were surrounding me and wouldn't let go.
- Because a live isn't something made just by the ones performing, huh. I think the power of the guests is also really strong. It's ok if you can just ignore it, but I feel bad for the people around them.
T: But, I did feel like I was a little immature afterwards.
- Yeah, well. That would be annoying, so I think it's good you said something. Because the guests really are important at lives. When the guests are having fun jumping around, or when they're touched it can move you to tears looking at them, and seeing the stage from behind all of the guests is really beautiful. Even when everyone's headbanging and running into each other they don't really care, or rather it's funner that way, but during a quieter song if you can hear people talking the whole time it would make you mad.
H: Ah, I understand. It is bad when fans come to have fun and it's ruined by a few people with bad manners. I'm sure the people in that area where able to have fun after that because you said something, Tatsuro-san. It is true that when you get mad it can make things awkward after, but there are some times you just have to say something.
T: True. But I think that's the only time I've gotten mad during a live. I usually don't snap and lose control. What about you? What happens when you snap? Do your piercings go BWAHH, GWAA!! and jump out or something?
H: That wouldn't even be human! (laugh)
T: So what happens? Do you turn into Shrek?
H: Of course not! (laugh)
T: You don't! That's suprising!
H: What's suprising! Wouldn't it be more suprising if I did turn into Shrek!
T: I guess~ So? What happens when you get mad?
H: When I get mad, um~ I guess I explain why I'm mad first. But I don't think I snap either. And I haven't gotten angry recently. Even when I get into a bad mood because of technical trouble or something it doesn't go that far.
- What do you do when you get mad, Tatsuro-kun?
T: Me? I stop talking. Or I say, "I'm leaving" and leave. Or else it'll turn into a fight. That's enough. Do whatever you want, kind of thing. Even in elementary and middle school there were a lot of times I just left by myself~ Maybe that's when I stopped getting angry so much.
H: I see~ I usually don't get angry much either. Ah, Tatsuro-san, here's the stonefish!
(The stonefish sashimi was brought out)
T: Oh, here it is, the blowfish.
H: No! It's not blowfish, it's stonefish!
T: Ahh, really?
H: The waiter just said it's stonefish! And you were the one who ordered it! Jeez (laugh)
- When you go drinking or talk on the phone together, what do you usually talk about?
T: Small talk. The stock market and stuff.
- That's definitely not true.
T: Or how the yen is doing.
- That's definitely not true.
H: It really isn't true (laugh)
- Who usually does the inviting?
T: Whenever I invite this guy somewhere he turns me down. Like, "No, I can't do that day", or "Ah, I can't", or "There's no way I can go" or something. He's so hard to be friends with.
H: Hey, hey, you're making me seem like such a rude person!
T: Hitsugi is rude. "No, that'll be tough", "Of course I won't be able to come".
H: I didn't say that! I never said anything like that! (laugh)
- Ahahaha. You're really getting picked on today, Hitsugi (laugh). I've never seen you like this, it's just so cute I can't help it (laugh)
T: But we've still never hung out together just the two of us.
H: All we've done is go eat ramen together.
T: But I did plan something a while ago. At the end of June I had time off, so I thought we could go touring together somewhere far, then when I called him and asked if he could get two days off he was like, "I can't do it", "That won't work", "I don't want to~".
H: I didn't. I didn't say that! I wanted to go, but I couldn't get two days off in a row. Didn't we talk about it a lot?
- Huh? Hitsugi, didn't you say that everyone other than the rhythm team were free at the end of the month?
H: Heh!? What is this. What's with that?? I never said that! Wait a second, really, why are you making things up (laugh).
T: See, there we go. I knew it. You were free. But you turned me down.
H: We really did talk a lot about it, that wasn't true! Wait, why are you making things up (laugh)! Stop it, if you keep saying things like that Tatsuro-san will just keep attacking me (laugh).
- Sorry, sorry. I was going along with it and wanted to pick on you too (laugh). So did you want to go tour somewhere and stay there for two days?
T: Yeah. I said I wanted to go to a nearby onsen or something. Right. But since Hitsugi said no I couldn't go. I also said if two days was too hard that we could just go to Nagoya, but that didn't work either.
- And why Nagoya? (laugh)
T: the studs were having a live in Nagoya, so I asked if he wanted to go see it together. But then Hitsugi was like, "I can't do something like that", "It won't work", and turned me down. It's Hitsugi's fault.
H: I told you! (laugh) I never said that! (laugh) Didn't I say I wanted to go! I'm telling you, it wouldn't have worked (laugh).
T: It's because Hitsugi hates me.
H: I don't hate you! I really like you, Tatsuro-san! Don't I?
- Yeah. Hitsugi really does like you, Tatsuro-kun. A while ago at the end of an interview he said, "I wonder how Tatsuro-san is doing~ Are you going to meet with him? Tell him I want to see him".
T: People say things like that though. But when I actually talk with him he's like, "No, that's difficult", "I can't".
H: I don't say that (laugh)! The last time you invited me it was during recording or a tour, really! And besides, you were drunk! I called and asked what you were doing and you said, "Hah? Why would I have to tell you that!" (laugh)
T: Well it's true.
H: Seriously, he's so mean (laugh). I really wanted to go the Weekly Lives (lives that MUCC did once a week for their 10th anniversary, playing songs from their first album to the latest) you did a while ago! Didn't I say I wanted to go.
- You did. I invited you to one of the lives, but you couldn't go because of recording or something.
H: Right, right, right. I said, "Did you go? Was the the first song on the first day ("Antique" and "Aishuu" day) "Aka" like I thought?" and had her show me the setlist (laugh). I was impressed that the first song really was "Aka". Then we had a conversation like, "Ahh, they played that song!". "Ahh, I wanted to go!". I do think that MUCC is a really cool band. I've liked them for a long time.
- Then is it okay if we start talking about music for a while? (laugh). Didn't you say that you've been interested in writing lyrics lately, Hitsugi?
H: Yeah I did. I'm really interested.
T: You are? Are you gonna write some today too?
H: Eh!? Today? I, I don't think I will today, but (laugh). Why today? (laugh) I really don't understand your questions (laugh).
- Ahahaha. Hitsugi did say that he's liked MUCC ever since he was in Sendai, but I'm sure that also means the lyrics were part of the reason you got pulled into their music?
H: Yeah. For me, out of Tatsuro-san's lyrics the song I like the most is "Na mo naki yume". I really really like that song, and I have it in my iPod.
T: Is that so. Are there any lyrics of yours that have been put into songs?
H: Yeah. There are three songs. They're in our album.
T: What made you want to start writing lyrics?
H: Because I had made the song, so I decided to try writing lyrics for it too.
T: Was it fun?
H: Well, I'm not sure about fun, but it was kind of embarrassing at first.
T: What did you write about?
H: The first song had a "goodbye" theme, and the second one was more like "let's look ahead and walk forward". The third had a "nothingness" feeling.
- What were the first lyrics you wrote, Tatsuro-kun?
T: With MUCC?
- Did you write lyrics before you were in MUCC!?
T: U~m, maybe they weren't really lyrics, but the first time I wrote lyrics that actually got put into a song was with MUCC. The first lyrics I wrote were for "Kyousoukyoku"
H: Heh~ What was the theme for it?
T: There wasn't really a theme. I just wrote them while thinking about the girl I liked at the time.
- Was it embarrassing because it was your first work?
T: No, it wasn't embarrassing. I only felt satisfaction.
H: I see~
T: Does everyone in Nightmare write lyrics?
H: I don't think Ni~ya hasn't written any yet.
T: I see. So then Hitsugi, introduce the other members of Nightmare. I still haven't really talked with Sakipon (Sakito) or Rupon (Ruka), so I don't know what kind of people they are. Does Sakito-kun tell dirty jokes?
H: Sakito won't say them himself, but he laughs when Yomi says stupid things or something (laugh)
T: So then, if I told Sakito-kun to say "d*ck", would he say it?
H: Ahahaha. I think he would (laugh)
- So then what would you do after getting him to say it......?
T: I'd just be happy with that (laugh) The, "Ahh thank God, he's a human like me" kind of relief? (laugh) I wouldn't wish for much more from him after that. What about Rupon (Ruka) and Nipon (Ni~ya)?
H: Those two love that kind of thing. Especially Ruka-san, he'll say them when we're all together. He loves it (laugh)
T: Really! I feel like if you're with guys and you can't talk about stuff like that it's hard to forgive. For me it's like, if you're a guy who doesn't like dirty jokes, then I don't like you! kinda thing.
H: Ahahaha. It's true that that's how guys get to know each other (laugh)
- Ah! By the way, Tatsuro-san.....Didn't you give Yomi a really unnecessary suggestion once.....
T: What? I did? Did I say something?
- To Yomi who was trying his best to diet.
H: Ahahaha. You did you did! You did say something, Tatsuro-san (laugh)
T: What did I say?
- "You know, if you can't lose weight then just say, 'I really did lose weight before the photoshoot, but then I rebounded!', then it's ok if you get fatter! Just do that! It's totally the best way!" You said that!
T: Ah, I did (laugh) But it's true. When you're involved with magazines and you say you're going to lose 8 kilos, but then you say, "Actually I only lost two~", it's really half-hearted and uninteresting. But if you just go, "I rebounded~ (laugh)", isn't it way more interesting for a magazine?
H: No, that kind of thing doesn't work for our band! (laugh)
- It's true it's true (laugh). Yomi is obedient, so he'll stop working at it (laugh)
T: That guy is so hopeless (laugh)
H: He's really an idiot, he's too easily influenced (laugh). But that's why you can't hate him.
T: Then what's wrong with him rebounding.
H: That's not good! He's trying his best right now!
T: How long has he been doing it?
- It's been about a month since he started.
H: Was he going to continue for another month?
T: That's it, since he started his diet plan last month.
H: Ahahaha. You do check these things (laugh)
T: Cause there aren't any other vocalists who say those kind of things in magazines (laugh)
H: True (laugh). But he's really working hard isn't he?
- Yeah. He said that he works out his back and stomach everyday, and finds time to go to the gym.
H: See, so stop giving him those suggestions (laugh)
T: But really, if you're not dieting while working out and getting in shape, doing a live at Budokan will be tough. So you have to be careful of that.
H: That's true. If you're not in shape lives are hard. Somehow.
T: So that's why if you think about the magazine and say, "Actually I got fatter (laugh)" it'd be funnier. Yep.
H: I wonder? (laugh)
- You're so irresponsible (laugh)
T: Hey, hey, by the way, if you had time to kill in Shibuya for some reason, what would you do?
H: Heh!? Where did that come from? What does that have to do with what we were saying??
T: It doesn't have anything to do with it. I just wanted to ask. For me, a while ago I somehow had free time in Shibuya and I had already eaten, didn't feel like going to a manga cafe and didn't feel like shopping, so I seriously started wondering if there were any good places to go at a time like that.
H: So did you think of anything?
T: I did! I thought of a good place!
H: Where!?
T: "Pet Cabaret"!
H: What the heck is that? (laugh)
T: It's what I said. A Pet Cabaret. There'd be tons of pets, and you can pick one. You'd have a private room where you could play with them for however long. Isn't that cool? Would you go if there was one?
H: I would! I would!
T: Right!
- Eh, but isn't that kind of sad?
T: What is?
- Because wouldn't you start getting attached to each other? Even so it's definitely not your pet. Isn't that sad?
T: Yeah, it is kind of sad. You think you can see them again but there's too many reservations and you can't. Aren't I good? I told you I seriously thought about it. If you have a bunch of cats and dogs it'll start to stink if you don't clean often, and they make noise so if you can't soundproof the place it'll be bad, and if it's too small it'll get crowded, and there's no point if it's not your own place so you'd need a lot of space, so at what price per hour would people come? Kinda thing.
H: You thought about it that realistically, huh (laugh)
T: Yeah. But when I kept thinking about it I calmed down at the thought that it's pretty unrealistic (laugh). But if there was one I'd definitely go.
- You like animals then?
T: I do, I do.
- Both of you have pets, right?
H: Yeah. I have a dog.
T: Ahh, that dog that isn't very cute. Pesu, huh.
H: Hey! He is cute, you're wrong! (laugh)
T: Ah, Pesu was the name of the dog I had when I was a kid. Shikabane [corpse], right. Shikabane. Ah, or was it mukuro. [also means corpse]
H: It's Cocoa! Cocoa! Jeez, a while ago when we had a live in Omiya with MUCC, Cocoa was in the dressing room and all of a sudden Tatsuro-san said, "What's it's name? It's with Hitsugi so it's shikabane, right?" (laugh) Really, he's so mean! Even though they played together (laugh)
T: What's with Cocoa! Why Cocoa! Cause it's cocoa-colored? Lame.
H: I didn't say anything! But it's frustrating because that is actually why (laugh)
T: Why didn't you let me name it!
H: No! You'd pick something weird!
T: What are you saying! I have really awesome naming sense! My friend has a white rabbit and I named it "daifuku".
H: See, no way (laugh)
T: And I named the cat that Yukke's family has. It was kind of milk-tea colored. So I said Chai would be good, and it became Chai.
H: Ah, Chai is kind of cute!
T: Right? Your dog has long hair, doesn't it? Then name it Ronge [slang for "long hair"].
H: No, I wouldn't want to call him that.
T: What's wrong with it. Like, "Oi, Ronge" (laugh)
H: No! No way!
T: Then Chaparon. [mix between "brown hair" (chapatsu) and "long hair" (ronge)]
- Chaparon is cute (laugh)
H: He'll ignore me if I start calling him Chaparon now! You have a pet too don't you Tatsuro-san?
T: A cat.
H: What's it's name?
T: Cat.
H: ........That's not true.
T: Kidding. Teto.
- Why Teto?
T: Cause I love "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind".
- That's right. You like Hayao Miyazaki don't you.
T: Yeah, I do.
H: Which one do you like the most?
T: "Nausicaa", "Laputa Castle in the Sky", or "Princess Mononoke". Have you ever read the original "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind"? The movie ends at about the second volume, so you should definitely read it. You'll understand it a lot more deeply.
H: Is the original work that little book?
T: It's not little. Is it just cause you're big?
H: Hey (laugh). Huh? Am I wrong, the one I have is small! Huh? Are the titles different?
T: They're not different, it's just "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind". That's definitely a different book, are you sure it isn't "My Neighbors the Yamadas"?
H: ......Of course not (bitter laugh). If it was that different I think I would notice (laugh)
- So as for something you have in common, you both like movies, right?
T: Do you like movies Hitsugi?
H: I do.
T: What have you seen lately?
H: The one I saw most recently was "The Departed".
T: I was wondering about that one, but I haven't seen it. Was it good? Isn't it a re-make of a Hong Kong movie? (A remake of the Hong Kong movie "Infernal Affair")
H: Yeah. According to the people who saw the original it seems like that one was better. I haven't seen that version though. What about you?
T: This was last year, but out of the movies I've seen recently the one I liked the most was "Tekkon Kinkreet". Did you see it?
H: I did I did.
T: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" was awesome too. Did you see it?
H: I did. Huh? Was that the third one?
T: No, the second.
H: Huh? Haven't they made a third one already?
T: Yeah, "The Prisoner of Azkaban".
H: What? Isn't that a different series? I think that's Potter (laugh). I still haven't seen "The World's End".
T: You should see it. It's so good!
H: Do you watch movies at the theater?
T: Yeah. Why? Do you watch the DVDs?
H: Yeah. I can't get comfortable at movie theaters.
T: Why! The impact is so different~ Well, if it's a drama-like movie it's fine to watch it at home, but something like "Dead Man's Chest" should be at a theater. Also "Transformers" I would want to watch in a theater. I guess "Zodiac" would be fine watching on DVD.
H: Was "Zodiac" good?
T: Yeah, it was. "300" wasn't though.
H: Heh~ Did you see "Lucky Number 7"?
T: I haven't. Have you?
H: I like Bruce Willis, so I thought it was good.
T: Ah, I also saw "Die Hard", and a while ago I rented Steven Seagal's "Under Siege" series. I had watched it once about 3 years ago and didn't think it was good at all, but since there was a new one out I decided to check out if it was any good, so I watched "Dark Territory", but as I thought I really didn't like it (laugh). It's like, I didn't get the point. Also, I haven't watched it but I rented it recently, a Korean movie called "Old Boy". Apparently it's good. Ah, I remembered another Korean movie! Right now, Macchan (Matsumoto Hitoshi) writes a column called "Cinema Bouzu", right? In that, he wrote about the Korean movie "The Eraser in my Head" [English title is "A Moment to Remember"], and there was one part that was soo funny. It's a story of a wife that has Alzheimer's, and he wrote, "It was dangerous that the wife had Alzheimer's, so they changed their gas stove to an electric one, but a few days later it was a gas stove again. I wonder if the director and staff just didn't notice? Did the director and staff all have erasers in their heads?". I thought that was pretty strange (laugh).
- That's amazing! How clever! I watched it but I never noticed that.
H: It's true! But even if the connection is kind of weird it'll interfere with the story, so I don't notice the little things (laugh).
T: Right, right, right. For me, I really like reading the reviews that regular people leave about movies on Yahoo! movies. Have you ever seen "The Shawshank Redemption"?
H: Yeah. That was a good movie.
T: Yeah. I liked it too, so I started wondering what other people thought of it and checked it out. And then, just one person had given it one star and a negative review. I wanted to know why, so I read it and it said, "The last scene when he was breaking out of jail. It's fine that he broke out by gouging a hole in the wall with a spoon (it was actually a rock hammer), but after he broke out, the poster that was perfectly put up to cover the hole he made in the wall is what I can't understand. I just kept thinking, 'Who put those thumb tacks in the wall?' and I couldn't concentrate on the rest of the movie.".
H: That's true! I didn't notice!
T: I know! Me neither (laugh). I read that and thought, "That's true!" (laugh). It's really interesting that everyone has such different points of view and are looking at tons of different things (laugh).
- Even if it's the same movie, it's interesting that touching moments or ones that make you cry are different depending on the person.
H: Yes, yes. Plus, when you watch it your mental condition can change, too.
T: Right. Have you watched "Nausicaa" since you've been over 20? When I watched it when I was over 20 I just burst into tears.
H: At what scene?
T: When Nausicaa was thrown into the air by the group of Ohmu. I cried then. I cried a lot. I thought, "She's so helpless", "She's so small". It was too sad, it made me cry.
H: I didn't cry during "Nausicaa". Did you?
- I liked "Nausicaa" and I have the DVD, but I haven't watched it again recently. The last time I watched it was a pretty long time ago so I don't remember the details.
T: What did you watch that made you cry? "My Neighbors the Yamadas"?
- Of course not! Out of Miyazaki Hayao's films, even though it's not very recent, the most recent one was "Spirited Away" that I remember really making me cry.
T: What part?
- When Haku gave Sen the onigiri.
T: Ahh, when her mom and dad got turned into pigs.
H: No, that was a totally different part. It's seriously suprising how shameless you are, Tatsuro-san (laugh). [ii kagen]
T: I already told you, "ii kagen" means good condition.
H: Ahh, ok ok (laugh). For me, it's not Miyazaki Hayao, but I cried during the movie "Bicentennial Man" with Robin Williams. At the end, I was crying so hard.
T: Ahh, the one with the robot, huh. I cried during "Big Fish". That one's good. It's so good it makes me think if it's not Tim Burton's will or something.
H: I have the DVD of "Big Fish". But you really do love movies don't you, Tatsuro-san.
- By the way, how do you find time to watch movies when you're both so busy?
T: I'll watch the DVDs while I'm on tour or something, or on the plane when we're going overseas.
H: I'm the type to just buy the DVDs.
- I see. Then let's talk some about your bands (laugh). Do you have any advice to Hitsugi as the senpai in a band that's just had it's 10th anniversary, Tatsuro-san?
T: Let's see~ How many years has Nightmare been together now?
H: It'll be 8 years this year. We formed in 2000.
T: 8 years, huh~ That's a long time.
H: But in two years we'll be the same age as Tatsuro-san and will be having our 10th anniversary, so the times we formed our bands is about the same.
- That's true, you both started around high school didn't you. Besides Ruka, MUCC and Nightmare both have their roots as high school friends. Did any kind of change happen to MUCC during your 8th year together?
T: MUCC's 8th year? 8 years would mean that was 2 years ago? So what time period was that?
- It was the year you released "Houyoku".
T: And it was the first year we went overseas. The first time we went was before "Houyoku", wasn't it.
H: It was that recent? When you first went overseas?
T: Yeah. We were slow. Because we totally weren't interested in going at first. Actually, we didn't want to go. But I'm really glad we did now.
- Nightmare hasn't gone overseas once yet, have they. So that's the same.
T: Eh? Really? You still haven't gone overseas? Why not?
H: There isn't any deep meaning as to why. It's not like we haven't gotten offers, and we're not just refusing to go, it's just that right now we feel like we want what we're doing in our home ground of Japan to be firmly grounded. We think now is the time to build a good foundation. There's also the reason that Ruka-san really hates airplanes (laugh).
T: Ahh, for us Yukke also hates airplanes (laugh). But it's not good to dislike something you haven't tried. Really, you shouldn't. After I went and actually had the experience I can say that for sure.
H: When I saw MUCC's "Flight" PV (Using footage of an overseas live) it was the first time I thought I wanted to have a live overseas. It looked great. I thought I wanted to see that kind of scene from the stage, too.
- You said it. Before now you never said you wanted to have a live overseas.
H: Yeah. I felt like it's fine if we do it sometime later, and I couldn't image what us playing overseas would be like.
T: I understand. I was like that too. But you know, if you go you'll change. I think the way you play at lives, and even the way you think of lives themselves will change. Because it influences your performance. The way the rhythm goes and how people get into it is completely different from Japan, so it really gives you motivation. Of course Japan has it's own good points. But if you go over there you'll get a totally new way of getting into it. Like, "Wow, so this song can also have this sort of feel to it", and even though it's your own song it's like a new discovery. Almost like you're getting to see it in it's original form or something.
H: Is that so~ I want try going.
T: If you can get permission then you definitely should. We also didn't want to follow the recent trend by going, so we hesitated, but it wasn't something we should have worried about.
H: So there wasn't a problem with the language barrier at all?
T: You don't notice. It makes you think how amazing music is.
H: We'll also work hard so we can celebrate our 10th anniversary.
T: Right, so next time we'll go touring.
H: Please invite me! I don't need prank mails or phone calls (laugh). But is this okay? Will you be able to write this down? Is it okay?
- Ahahaha. It's okay, it's okay (laugh)
T: I'm okay too. I'm pretty tired from talking.
H: It's not a problem of you being tired from talking! (laugh)
T: Ah, really?
H: Not "Ah, really"!
T: We didn't come here to go bowling and eat?
H: It's an interview, an interview!
T: Ah, is that so.