Arena37°CSpecial 11 (2008) – Reita Interview

 

- Today , I would like to investigate Reita-san thoroughly…and although you probably talk about this every time, I would like to start out with what was the charming point of the bass guitar that you got obsessed with?

[When I first started with the bass I wasn’t obsessed with it at all.]

- Ah, is that so?

[Yeah, because I wanted to play the guitar. Therefore the first thing I bought was a guitar. Further, it was an acoustic guitar, too. That was in second grade of middle school.]

- What was the reason for it being an acoustic guitar and not an electric one?

[Well, I thought that I wouldn’t be able to play the electric one at home, because the sound was too loud.]

- That’s a point well considered. You were certainly a kid with a good sense like that. (laughs)

[Well, but actually the pure sound of an acoustic guitar is quite loud. But because I didn’t know that, I bought an acoustic guitar. (laughs) Moreover, I knew nothing about the tuning, therefore I quit after about three days.]

- That surely portrays you as someone that can’t stick to anything. (laughs)

[Well, that’s true. (laughs) Also for the electric guitar…I bought it, and then I quit.]

- I would often say “ the restraint was stumbling over that difficult F-cord”…but what was Reita-san’s reason?

[Rather, it wasn’t the cords or something. I don’t know it wasn’t really anything.]

- Well, even if it wasn’t anything in particular…you just quit.

[Yeah. Just because I didn’t know (how to do it) (laughs)]

- So it was just your choice to not put more effort into getting to understand it then? (laughs)

[Yes. (laughs) Around me the guys who started to play the guitar were increasing, therefore I got to understand the reading of scores. At that time, Uruha started to suggest playing at a cultural festival, but he didn’t have an amp, so he borrowed mine. With that, I more and more thought it to be boring. From the very beginning I relished the atmosphere of the more distorted sound, but since I couldn’t do it, it was even more boring and that was the reason I quit. Then at last in third class middle school I started to play the bass.]

- When someone is switching from guitar to bass, the reason is quite often that “a bass only has 4 strings and is easier therefore”, but was that also the thinking in Reita-san’s case?

[Yeah, pretty much like that. Moreover, when I was listening to CDs I couldn’t really distinguish the bass sound, so I thought that probably no one could and therefore I did that.]

- Because at any rate nobody would have known? (laughs)

[Yes yes yes!! I thought that, even if I did play things wrong, nobody would be able to hear it (laughs)]

- That kind of a fool?

[However, at that time, with the CDs I listened to, the bass could have been wrong, but after all I didn’t known…I think, I wanted to do just that.]

- That way of thinking is kinda scary. (laughs)

[Well, but I knew how to read scores so I worked very hard to copy one song.]

- What song was that?

[It was LUNA SEA’s [Precious…] At that time it was just beginning to bloom. With Uruha and another friend playing the guitar the three of us played along with the CD.]

- So very innocent. (laughs)

[Speaking of the interesting time, when we matched (the sound), until now there was nothing that has come to surpass this yet.]

- It was such an impact in the youth of Reita-san, wasn’t it?

[Yes. From there on I wanted to play other songs (as well), and gradually, I got really obsessed with playing the bass.]

- That even Reita-sensei had such inexperienced times …in this connection, at that time, when you wanted to have a guitar, was there an artist that you admired?

[No, there wasn’t anyone in particular. I just thought it would be cool, if I could play guitar.]

-It is often said, that one wants to be idolized by the girls, did you also have this devious intention?

[Concerning that, well, I thought, since I did Visual-Kei, that the girls wouldn’t idolize me at all. I thought I would be told, that “even though you are a guy this is kind of awkward”. On the contrary I thought that (the girls would) idolize (someone) who is properly getting a job. (laughs)]

- You possessed an awfully composed kind of judgment. (laughs)

[However, completely unrelated to that I really came to want to start a band. The reason really only was, that I thought it would be cool, if I could play the guitar.]

- So back to Reita-san, who had been captivated by the bass in [Precious…], today, what do you think is the charm of the bass guitar? Perhaps, the values in the memories of that time have come to be different, I think.

[Of course, sound without a bass is kinda dried up, isn’t it? Therefore, sound without bass really can’t be. For example, even within the harmonious sounds of a piano there are low bass sounds included. Even just when I am speaking like this, there are bass sounds attached in my voice. I think I wanted to go with this, because it is something that is attached with whatever you do. Also, it is also an instrument, which possesses melodious (parts). It is a rhythmic instrument like the drums as well. Yet, while when playing drums you are sitting on a chair and can’t move, I can move to the front, to the back, freely from left to right. How to call it…something like a mid-fielder, is what it feels like. I think, because it is an instrument anything can be done with, it is the most interesting instrument.]

- A very popular image of bass-players leaves a rather plain/simple impression, but when I listen to this, it seems like the most delicious instrument, I think.

[Certainly, back in the days the image was a lot simpler. However, these days it seems the image has changed just a little bit.]

- And there I think, this is where a part of Reita-san has also come to change.

[Nah, not really…]

- Reita-san himself, with the admirable individuality of a strong bassist, has come to be an accomplice to rise in this position. (laughs)

[Aah…accomplice???(laughs) However, I still have to work a lot harder.]

- Well, as for now, there are lots of young people who start to play bass because they admire you, aren’t there?

[That makes me really happy. However, I feel a little uneasy for the people who copy (us), because there are quite a few irregularities in our tuning. Because of that…I think I need to apologize. (laughs) At first, when I started to play bass I only thought of playing songs with the regular tuning. When there were things written like “just the fourth strings one note lower”, I just didn’t understand the reason and therefore didn’t do it. (laughs) Today there are still many bands like that and therefore (my own) resistance has probably dropped from that…I want everyone to work hard, though! ]

- Let’s pray for a strong fight! Lately the impression of Gazette turning more towards the heavier stereo sound is pretty strong, however, what is Reita-san’s personal reason for attraction towards the lower sounds? Could you explain?

[The feeling there is that of a manly image. Like the back of a man, concerning the position of the bass. Therefore it is absolutely not my strongest point to strike a pose there. I always wonder, if I am congenial when chopping the rhythm into small pieces.]

- The esthetics of a man keeping quiet and bravely carving his shape into (what has become) Reita-san, can be clearly felt.

[Hm…yeah. That’s only how I can be.]

- Certainly…It seems that Reita-san in his young age does have some old-fashioned spirit.

[It’s a little…stubbornness. And there are probably also parts of a hectoring husband. (laughs)]

- I don’t mean to say that your attitude is like that of a middle-aged man, however, on the one hand you map out the casual dad of the Heisei-era, and on the other hand it’s like you let everyone feel, that you are the backbone, such as the fathers of the Shouwa-era.

[Well, maybe there are parts like that. When I was five my parents got divorced and after that I was left with my mother only, and there wasn’t a father (in the house). However, there was my grandfather, who was usually very kind, but when he got angry he was someone with a very old fashioned spirit. So maybe unconsciously I took over those characteristics of my grandfather.]

- Adding to that, while being very young, was it that you have the awareness of being the representative for your dad within your family home?

[That is…probably not the case. Actually I have been pretty spoiled. (laughs) That’s the reason why I think I have to work pretty hard from there.]

- The image of a spoiled Reita-san isn’t really welling up, though.

[I am pretty much the opposite. At home I can be pretty much an excellent man, however, within I am pretty spoiled. (laughs) Therefore, the image of the people who only see the Reita standing on stage and those who know me from way back, absolutely don’t go along with each other, I think.]

- The Reita-san standing on stage leaves a rather aggressive and strict (bone-like) impression.

[Maybe I would like to do it differently…from the point onwards, that I put on make-up for the stage, that’s the switch. It happens that I would like to be more like my normal self, when I do that. I always worry about the ideal that I am asking of that Reita, then. Therefore it is very much like a different person.]

- As in the projection of what you wish for Reita’s existence to be?

[Yes. I always think of myself, that HE (Reita) has to be like that.]

- So concerning other people’s demands, you don’t get influences by those?

[Yeah…it’s rather, that if there are people who demand something from me, there is usually no understanding (for it).]

- However, aren’t there for example fans who come and say they would like you to be a certain way?

[Well, of course that’s the case. I usually don’t much care, and I often don’t respond to these demands, even if they complain, that I don’t do the things they would like me to do.]

- Is this concerning the fans?

[It’s not just the fans, it’s also the people of this country. (laughs) Concerning politicians, concerning talents…I just wish they would bitch (about things like that). (laughs)]

- Well…exposing this kind of ego is pretty much common with most people. (laughs)

[Yes, probably it’s like that. I really hate this in people. (laughs) When they demand something, they already profit by returning just 10%, in all honesty. Well…we are also carrying pats of our dreams on our shoulders, don’t we? Doesn’t our office stuff also have to approve of our dreams (for us)? Therefore, what has to be done has to be done!]

- When you talk about ‘raw’ things like that, it is the daily life of this band’s stuff that, which is getting awkward while the fan’s living and dying is dominating their doing. It’s that kind of existence, isn’t it?

[Certainly it’s like that. However, I am also human, therefore half of me just wants them to stop bitching, and the other half does not raise the voice like that, I think.]

- Well, the difficult thing about this is, that Gazette is a band in which basically everything is possible, there is also this matter of having commercial elements, isn’t there?

[Yes, sometimes.]

- Aren’t there conflicts arising, in case that this kind of state is reached without you all intending it to happen?

[There is, certainly. We are a rock band, there for we would like to like to ask “Aren’t we a rock band?!!”]

- Ah, I see, on the contrary, right?

[Yes. It is demanded of a rock band. I mean, I think it is good that we know what we are doing. Lately there has been this tendency; especially in this scene…the words have become louder. As if being a saint person, and demanding perfect speeches. Just like [Because you say this, I think, you want to be thought of like this.]]

- As if that is the reason why you do rock music (laughs). Certainly it is difficult to draw the line, but I think as long as the lowest level of people’s manners is preserved, it’s ok.

[Of course, we would like to preserve this minimum level of manners. Those speeches demanded by people, I think it is something to doubt.]

- AT times, where there was this kind of contradiction, when you had to live with this kind of conflict, weren’t there moments when you just doubted things?

[Frankly…there was. Well, lately there wasn’t anything like that, however, back in the days it was quite common. Truthfully, it was before I even entered Gazette, where I said that I would stop playing in a band. I thought of just getting a job.]

- What the background of you coming to think this?

[At that time, guys who worked properly where just seen as very cool.]

- And adding to that, the fears towards the future were rather small, weren’t they?

[Yeah, I think I was also fearing that. However, in between that, I think it is good, that I believed and came to do (what I did). I think to do that (playing in a band) necessarily causes trouble. For now…I don’t really know, what I am going to do in the future, or if I will always be able to live of making music. Although I really don’t know anything of that, if I had always worried about things like that, I shouldn’t have started a band in the first place, I think. (laughs)]

- Certainly, you wouldn’t do this kind of gamble. (laughs)

[Right??!! (laughs) Therefore I stopped worrying. If I had been able to plan it, I’d gone to university, gotten a job…and certainly wouldn’t have started a band!!! (laughs)]

- Originally you were that kind of a person? (laughs)

[Yes, originally I was a little (more) reasonable, certainly. (laughs) Basically I’m pretty serious, however, I have often been told to be [somewhat reasonable]. However, in spite of having quite a serious attitude, I am also someone to get bored of things easily. On the other hand, if I really get into something, I really DO get into that. I am easily attracted and I get easily bored. It’s the same with everything about my motor bike. When I got into that I did research about parts on the internet every day and I basically was involved with that all the time. Because I wanted to do it all on my own, I looked up how to install the parts and such. Right now, I’m not yet bored with it, but it can happen pretty quickly, that I do.]

- So there hasn’t been a time, when you got tired of the bass?

[Yes, just with the bass it hasn’t happened. It is probably about things that I do on my own a lot, which I get bored with. I do the band with everyone together so there is nothing really to get bored of. There is constant motivation, I’d say.]

- Looking at Gazette from an outsider’s view, you have passed a number of years and you can draw good connections. However, has there not been a time, when you thought [I can’t do that!]??

[There hasn’t! As 5 people we can act freely, because we don’t tell each other to do this or that. This is concerning appearance as well as playing (our instruments). When we are concerned with the arrangements we do talk with each other, but that’s not supposed to be a bad atmosphere. However, if I was to do the production temporarily of the five of us, I’d probably get bored after one or two times. (laughs)]

- Eh? You would?

[Yeah. (laughs) If each of us do it together, it is interesting, but if I was to decide this alone, I’d probably get tired of it.]

- So you mean that when you do this with each other, you can always estimate the impossibility and therefore it refreshes the motivation, don’t you?

[Yes yes!! So when I am told, that the phrase I am playing should be changed, there is no resistance at all. Then I think of creating a much more surprising phrase to play instead. Because wouldn’t I want to surprise the other in the first place? After all if they weren’t, the fans neither would be surprised, would they? Therefore it is better to do this, when a motivating thing is demanded and having it requested without feeling bitter. If nobody said anything, I’d probably be pretty unsure (of things). (laughs)]

- When I think about this, there is a remarkable feeling of closeness between each of you. There is no rude persuading (into things), but you are also not just letting things take their course. It seems you all respect each other while facing opposite directions.

[Yeah, that’s probably the case. We absolutely talk about private things as well, which does not mean, however, that we don’t talk about music, too. That’s why I think we are the best band members.]

- So you haven’t gotten tired of Gazette yet?

[No I haven’t! I always think that I want to d new things and at our roots, we are all good guys. At our roots, right?! (laughs)]

- Once you ascend the stage you are a pretty dangerous person, right? (laughs)

[This is really interesting. Until right before the live, we totally talk about unimportant things, but once I get on stage, I even now would like to think [Is he the same person as just before???!!]. As a human being there is quite a gap (within me there). However, I really like that gap. (laughs)]

- Surely this difference has the ability to attract people.

[If exceedingly scary people just walk their dog, or so and if there is some sort of familiarity coming up, as someone is just a little slow and gentle-mannered going to work, where he really works extremely actively, I think that is really cool. Therefore I don’t really like to see people just by what they look like. When there is a brown haired guy, with brown skin and when he just talks about unimportant stuff and then he also just does unimportant things, I can’t really forgive that. However, if he actually studies very hard or owns specific qualifications, that’s really good. I then think that I want them to talk about it! (laughs]

- Actually Reita-san himself is such a person.

[I’m pretty much like that.]

- On stage you are someone making a lot of noise, but normally, you are quite a gentle person.

[I am the world’s most gentle person!!]

- That came out big again! (laughs) Is this you (initial) intention, or does this just happen naturally?

[Well, there is probably a part which does this a bit more intentionally. When I talk to someone with great manners, I’d get a little bewildered, wouldn’t I? With this kind of attitude, whatever I do, it’s not getting anywhere. Well, originally, I am not that kind of a person, so usually it doesn’t happen, until I start to think about it.]

- When thinking about it, don’t you have quite an unexpectedly, cooperating side?

[That is probably why people like me are turning towards rock bands. (laughs)]

- So this was your direction then? (laughs)

[However, I think it’s also ok, if I was just a bit more unreasonable (about things).]

- Well, maybe we can blame this last statement on the stage-Reita, then.

[I think, maybe we should.]

- Ok then. So speaking of which, Reita-san also includes the nose-tape. Well…you probably talk about this in every single magazine…

[Actually, I don’t quite talk about it.]

- Well, nonetheless again, I would like to ask…What is it? (laughs)

[What is it…I would like to ask that question (myself). (laughs) Well, I didn’t have it during high school, now. I just did the lives with spaying my hair red and lining my eyes black. However, I wanted to be a lot scarier. I wanted to go into a way darker direction. At first I was just concealing one eye. Incidentally I also really liked those anime characters which covered one eye. (laughs)]

- Incidentally we would like to ask what character that was for the time being.

[Ah, well he did not cover his eye but it would have been [Yuyu Hakusho] I liked characters with this kind of mysterious aura. Like, you wouldn’t be able to imagine them baking bread in the morning. (laughs)]

- Like they don’t need a daily life. (laughs)

[Exactly. So that was what I was after at first and thinking I would cover one eye…I had come to by black fabric. Actually I wanted to buy leather, but I didn’t have the money to, so it was just normal fabric. (laughs) So At first, in front of the mirror I wound this around my face numerous times/in different ways…eventually, to cover my forehead, my left eye and the nose all together was the coolest for myself.]

- That is more like how a patient with some serious illness would be covered in bandages.

[Yes yes!! Some considerable illness. (laughs) So for some time I did just that, and in between I also covered the mouth, so only the right eye was left.]

- Pretty much at the edge of a mummy. (laughs)

[However, already at that time I already understood, that with (covering my face) it was the switch (for the live). Therefore this is a leftover of that. When being told about (things) “concerning Reita”, I think this is maybe, what everyone sees in it, however, inside myself this is the right interpretation (of things).I wanted something which is certain like that. To tell the trith, for a period of time I removed it, though.]

- Ah, I did not know that.

[When we started with Gazette at the very beginning. However, it was pretty embaracing to do the lives (without it). I couldn’t face the front (of the stage).]

- That is a weird story. Just about that one layer of cloth? (laughs)

[Yes!! That cloth really saved me. (laughs) Concerning today, I would like people to think “What kind of (weird) guy is he?”, and because I am that person, I continue this, also to scold them (for this).]

- I don’t really understand the last bit, but as for now you don’t seem to change this style, do you?

[As for now, I won’t. Because, thinking about it changes…hmm, even if you didn’t understand the last thing, but as for now this is “Reita”.]

- Even if, did the other members say anything when you first applied this (to your face)?

[No, nothing in particular. (laughs)]

- The others are also the others. (laughs)

[If anything, I am asked these days. [Speaking of which, why do you wind this (around your face)?] (laughs)]

- Only now they do? (laughs)

- This resembles the finishing touches of an armor to a combat uniform when going into battles.

[Yeah, that is the switch, I think.]

- That is pretty common, and in this case of a live it is no physical obstacles now, is it?

[…well, it’s good that there isn’t! (laughs) Maybe, in my case, I have to breath more efficiently than other people. When training the human body one is building up muscles, and maybe that is the way (by body) deals with it. (laughs)]

- That is an astonishing theory of evolution. (laughs)

[However, as expected, this did not apply, when I covered my eye. With the left eye covered, and even more than expected, when not winding (the fabric around) my neck, I totally couldn’t see the neck (of the bass). (laughs) That was pretty tiring.]

- By overcoming these hardships, this has come to be a firm trademark of yours, hasn’t it?

[Yes, it became just what I wanted it to.]

- With that you have come to be rushing along as Reita of Gazette, however, from your point of view, where did the band change?

[It seem we are able to do things more freely. As we faught battles for every new song we made, our possibilities have increased, I think. The things we can do have increased and we are able to do them freely, I think.]

- Before, we have talked about the conflict in producing a commercial good, when it comes to songs or lives and you have said something about that there is no one who would hinder you doing things, meaning that this freedom is your motivation, isn’t it?

[That is probably because we are in a pretty good environment, I think. By some chance,  as for a song which was the title track of a single, I ballade is probably a good thing, however, no one is telling us that the things we want to do are “forbidden.” That’s something we can be grateful for I think.]

-  For some rock bands, it is ok to put songs like that on an album, but as for a single it should be a catchy song, and like that turns out a little ordinary. However, concerning Gazette there does not seem to be any kind of connection (in this context).

[Yes. Rather, we are told that it is even ok, if we don’t release a single at all.]

- That kind of situation?! That is fairly some comprehension on the maker’s side.

[That is also something which helps a lot. Anyway, if there are things we want to do, we are in the situation of our surroundings helping us to do these things. ]

- Well, understanding this until now, conversely, there is no pressure.

[Hmm, well there is some pressure, eventually.  However, we don’t want to do the things expected of us, we don’t want to say the words expected of us. However, we would like to get bigger like that still. Every time we have passed this hurdle…it never realize it’s true. For example, the mobilizations for our tours are getting bigger, or hearing about it, as the CD sales are exceeding…we really don’t realize it. (bitter laugh)]

- Concerning that, it seems this is someone else’s business…why would that be?

[However, I think this is only the case when climbing up, we would probably immediately notice if we dropped. (laughs)]

- haha…that’s probably true, though.

[Well, even if it sounds strange, even dropping would be fine. As long as we are still cool.]

- Artists and representatives usually sit back to back in this kind of issue, but one’s own true nature is an important thing, I think.

[Yes. I don’t really think about whether our CD sales are successful. I think it is a bigger success if we created good sound, if we made a good song or if we played a great live, even if we couldn’t really sell it. However, of course connecting both would be the best. However, if there is anything sold ight now, of what the lines of sales are, I really don’t know. I really don’t worry about things like that. As longs as we can do the things we think are cool, I think we take everyone along.]

- If that wasn’t the case, I am sure a hybrid song like [Filth in the Beauty] wouldn’t have become a single, would it? (laughs) However, there was certainly a result to that, too!

[Certainly, yes.]

- Thinking about it, the things that have been a matter of fact for this scene, have certainly been destroyed by Gazette, I’d say.

[Hmm, how would it be…well, personally, I already thought that this scene had collapsed. Therefore, from here on, it is more of rebuilding it.]

- How come you think that it had already collapsed?

[Well, it felt as if the thing people had build back in the days had all been brought down. It seems like what had been visual Kei has no longer this dangerous smell, and it’s more like it is written on one sheet of paper with the pop idols. I think that is why those honor-student-like speeches attitudes are asked of us. Originally, this has not been the case, I think.  And the more there is of this nonsense, the more fanatic get the fans. As for us, we would like to rebuild (the old way) once more. Of course we would certainly like to do this without breaking the law and without hurting people physically. I mean that we would like to do things that people aren’t expecting.]

- Certainly Gazette is a band possessing this kind of dangerous potential and among that Reita-san is certainly the most dangerous. (laughs)

[Ain’t I? (laughs) I think it wouldn’t be good if I wasn’t. Even though we are pretty close to our fans, there are things I would not want to be close. These days, you can see basically anything on the net, don’t you. You can easily watch your favorite artist’s  movies. However, especially for this reason, it does not mean, that people show more charisma and eventually you would have to go to a live, I think.]

- Well, in this time, displaying a lot of charisma has become pretty hard, hasn’t it?

[It certainly is. Therefore I really would like people, to not just use the internet, but actually feel it at a live. Also, these days you can’t sell CDs not like you used to back in the days, because it is so easy to just listen to them on the internet. I don’t necessarily think that this is a good positive development. I don’t quite know what to think about this diffusion of the net.]

- This has become a heavy conversation again. (laughs)

[Well, I do use the internet myself quite practically. (laughs) Well, how would it be? With anonymity abused, as the net is widening, the malice of people is also rapidly spreading, it seems. Of course, when it is used for the well being, it is pretty convenient, however, going out and looking for things on one’s own, has become pretty rare. Therefore, I think, the appreciation for things has also become pretty rare. For a CD, too, going to a CD store and buying the actual thing is way more joyful.]

- Surely, holding the actual thing in one’s hands, realizing it and feeling moved by it (is something that only happens then.)

[Yes yes! On the net you download it for 300Yen and can easily buy it, but there is no actual feeling to it. Therefore, as for our music, when it is downloaded just like that, we are feeling a little sad.]

- Because a CD is not just the sound, but also the matching artwork and the whole item.

[I would really like to say this aloud: Putting the CD into the deck, shutting the tray and listening to it while reading the lyrics card…that’s really great.]

- It’s is really not very serious to just get your hands on it easily and then ignore it. Well, in the case of Gazette it is pretty hard to ignore it. By all means, you rather stick to it. (laughs)

[ Fufufu…that’s great. (laughs)]

- Speaking of this, at Gazette’s lives, among others, there are things one can only feel directly.

[That’s thanks to the fans, I think. They are really some idiots, anyway, that’s helping there.]

- At the last life, at Fuji Q Highland Conifer Forest, there has been quite some trouble and among bad weather condition and those negative things, there really has been this feeling of unity and radiating passion been shown from their side.

- So as the members are the members, the fans are the fans, I think this always works both ways. (laughs) Also, something that is becoming more and more of an essential during Gazette’s lives, is without question, Reita-san’s and Kai-san’s [Ride with the Rockers].

[Well, we did this the first time at the Hibiya Open-Air Live, somewhat. Then for some time we did not do it as the tour proceeded, however, there was one time, when Ruki’s physical condition was pretty bad. As the main part of the live had ended it seemed to have become very painful, so Kai-kun and I said “Let’s do this!!”, and even though we hadn’t planned anything. We just went out (on stage). (laughs)]

- That’s awesome! (laughs)

[Isn’t it? If we tried this now, we wouldn’t be able to do it. (laughs) So when we did it at that live, we thought about doing it regularly. At first we went out there with the pressure to [make a stand], and even today, we haven’t forgotten about this.  It is about continuing with the power of the main live and if the fans are calling for it, we want to go out there. Therefore we are not doing anything tiresome or anything in/with a mad mood.]

-  That is very upright/sportsmanlike!

[Sometimes I am told, that I could do the slapping technique on the bass, or just change something in general, but that isn’t my intention. It is good, if it is easy to understand and the simple things are ok, too.]

- Still, even with this simplicity in beats and grooves you are able to really (get their) blood boiling.

[Hmm, if it is like that, that is really a great thing (for me). Speaking of which, at the last practice, two days or so before the last live, Kai-kun and I matched our playing a little. It’s enough to play it two or three time, when we change the phrases a little.]

- And then it fits?

[Yes it does. If the composition was bad, we’d just match it the actual day. Kai-kun is playing the beat and I am just creating the groove to it and that is how we want to do it. Therefore the feeling actually just hits in during the live.]

- It’s an atmosphere which would not come up with a decided harmony, then.

[Yes yes!! I put everything down and anything can actually happen.  As longs as the members as well as the fans won’t get hurt, it would be ok for me to completely dissolve in the unlit stage. (laughs) Anyway, I really do enjoy the correspondence (between the fans and me/us) at these moments.]

- Usually it is something most people dislike (laughs).

[With that, I’d like to steadily go overseas, because it’s somehow constantly like that. Lastly, it is bad to not have your heart set to this sort of survival.]

- In that context it’s really about survival. (laughs)

[But it really is like that. Lately, even if our sounds are distributed even further, but  without being able to show what we can do at lives, our existence really has no meaning. We would like to enjoy more lives, and under any condition, we would like to be able to perform live with our head, body and heart.]

- For example, if there was trouble, or in case of problems in the (technical/physical) circumstances, the tension and motivation won’t get lost then?

[It’s ok, I’d say. If the circumstances were bad still, there is no way to overcome our fighting spirit. (laughs) It would just be natural, and don’t we do this to do it? It is something trouble is well attached to, and if we just quit because of that, then we shouldn’t have formed a band anyway.]

- As I understand, more than just being in a band it should really be one’s nature, like it is yours, I think.

[Well, I don’t really fit in. Because I’m blood type A. (laughs)]

- Saying that you sure have some splendid features.

[In general, I want to do things as best as I can. Instead of overlooking things and striking out completely, isn’t it better to just miss one turn? I think that is way cooler, and it is really no good to blow out a full swing (for nothing). If you overlook something, the chances of hitting the ball drop to zero.]

- So, with this we have been able to look into the believes in Reita-san’s life, I think, but would there be something splendid in his private life, too?

[My private life is pretty plain, since I really don’t leave my home. If the weather is nice, I ride my bike and that’s about it.]

-  So you like your bike to that extend?

[I like bikes and cars. Can’t you say, that driving vehicles are a man’s romance?]

- Well, I can say that, too. (laughs) So since when do you like those things?

[In high school, while commuting to school, I bought a car magazine at that convenience store, and at school I read it together with friends. However, I hadn’t really ever taken rides by car. Since my dad wasn’t there, the chances to go by car were pretty scarce. However, maybe that is the reason, why I wanted a car so badly. And therefore, whenever I take rides in other people’s car’s I get motion sick.]

- Then don’t you get in trouble when moving (from one venue to the next)?

[I usually drink medicine against motion sickness. I also do that when going by plane and also before the live.]

- Why would you do that??

[Because we are spinning our heads like that. I always wondered why I would be so unsteady on my feet after the main show after the live was over - sometimes it felt like dying. Then I tried taking medicine against motion sickness and after that it felt pretty much ok. 30 Minutes before the show, the staff people would pass me the medicine, and that helps me a lot. Well, anyway, my car and my bike are like personal castle. Riding my favorite bike, or driving my beloved car. I can also remodel it/them. I really like to tamper around with my bike.  Usually I look up the parts and then install them.  Well, once it is complete, I pretty much lose interest. I might just ride it for a short while, and then I usually consider a full change again.]

- Out of these, remodeling your bike, or riding it, which one do you like better?

[Well, I really like to drive the things which I have remodeled myself the best. (laughs) It’s about thinking how it actually works. When I think that it is really cool, I really want those things to be seen. That is probably some mismatching on my side. While I think [Hey this is cool, everyone, LOOK!] I still want to see how it works, I think.]

- Those moments probably also make you feel dizzy / motion sick. (laughs)

[It’s more like being dead drunk. (laughs) Therefore, if I was riding my bike, and there was a car shop on the side that would be mostly glass. So, I’d watch my own shape and the connection between me and my bike.]

- Would you say that you are even more of a narcissist in this context than during the lives? (laughs)

[That’s absolutely the case. I also surprised myself there. (laughs) However, I totally don’t spend money on clothes and such things. First of all I spent it on my instrument and then on my car and my bike.]

- So fashion isn’t exactly…well, but isn’t that a pretty watch you are wearing? (laughs)

[Oh that. I bought it of the bonus after finishing the Yoyogi Live]

- With this kind of things, are you more for quantity or quality? Is there a point where you are more in to luxury?

[How would it be…? As for shopping, I rarely do it. If I go (shopping), I just buy large amounts once every few months. I don’t go often, because I hate crowded places. If I go out to buy clothes or so, it is usually Shibuya, Harajuku or Shinjuku, but aren’t there really a lot of people? When I am just walking and threaten to step into other people’s heels, and therefore have to do those really small steps that is kind of irritating for me. I hate it, if I can’t walk my own pace. Therefore I also don’t like those festivals, where you have to go really slow.]

- Well...festivals are just like that. (laughs)

[Therefore, riding my bike or my car is best during the middle of the night. When I go to visi my family, I also go during the  night. And if there were stores open at night, I totally wouldn’t go during daytime. If I don’t do during times when it’s empty, anyways, I also get pretty irritated. (laughs)]

- Saying that, you had to endure the crowded places and a lifestyle where you had to walk with people slowly until you finished school, didn’t you? (laughs)

[Well, I guess I got over it ok, I think. (laughs) MY high school was pretty far away from home, so I had to commute to school by train an hour each day. That’s something that happened often, to my, I think. The  driving school was also like that. Although, while it was located on my way back from school,  when I went there without having to go to school, it was pretty far away.  However, one way of the other, I passed it.]

- Something absolutely unimaginable today, isn’t? (laughs)

[Honestly, if it was today, I couldn’t go by trains.]

- Well, if you own your own bike or car, that is something like your own feet.

[However, when it’s raining, I can’t drive my car either.]

- Why is that?

[It is an old car, and it is an open car. Although I can close it, it wouldn’t close properly. So in case it got humid on the inside, there would be mold growing on the handle, or so. Therefore I really don’t like driving around on rainy days.]

- So more than for the practical use, it is the romantic consideration. (laughs)

[Yes yes! It’s the same with my bike, as the distance between the front wheel and the handle is too long and therefore it is pretty unsteady. I can’t ride it on the highway for that reason. It’s limited to 80kilometers an hour (laughs). Anyway, I like it that way. Just like I think that it’s cooler to drive a difficult car or bike, I think people who are not o easily understood are cool.]

- That seems to be pretty much a drawback…If I was that kind of person, would you want to talk? (laughs)

[…well, yes. (laughs) However, if I didn’t have this kind of hobby, I couldn’t honestly make it.  Be it the tour or recording, it is all pretty stressful an there are quite some uncertainties. Standing in public, you are told quite a few things. And in these moments to just drive a car or ride a bike is a good way to covert (this stress).]

- So speaking of this, apart from bikes and cars, are there any other hobbies?

[I also like video games. I own them all. Every single console of every maker.]

- All of them?????

[However, Uruha also owns all of them…except for Ruki, all of us own the basic game machines.]

- That is astounding. However, concerning Ruki-san, as compared to todays boys, he is rather a unusual.

[Yeah, it’s like he has no interest, but he somehow only likes scary games. (laughs)]

- Pretty much. (laughs)

[When he is doing action or fighting games, he can never hit the buttons in time. (laughs)]

- There might be a misgiving in analog skills there.

[Exactly! That’s why he dislikes them (laughs).]

- However, if there is someone like Reita-san, who supposedly owns all the consoles, wouldn’t you be quick to take the chance of using them?

[As for that, I don’t just use them unexpectedly. (laughs) There are some I don’t even touch. That is the point where I get tired of things easily.]

- I really hope you are not getting tired of the bass any time soon. (laughs)

[I won’t get tired of it. If there is this bass, there is this band and it is what I exist off. My personality also forms from there, I think. If that wasn’t the case, I surely would be a completely different person…if there wasn’t (the bass), it be really scary!]

- Certainly, from today’s standpoint, there is no need to worry about that, as I can understand.

[Right, right now there isn’t. If I grow old and my hair gets hite, and if the five of us still made ock music that would be really cool, I think.]

- Ultimately, that would be it!

[Wouldn’t it? Well, however, that might also be related to problems with the back and it would be even something else considering the electric guitar. (laughs)]

- Maybe you could be an acoustic band then?! (laughs)

[Yes yes!! (laughs) Anyway, I think as long as we, as five people can have fun together, that would be good, I think. As for the future, if one of us decides to marry, all of us should get married really quickly…]

- Why would you all have to meet such a combined goal?? (laughs)

[Well, it is just one of my own selfish hopes, but we could take all our kids go to the same school, in the same grade. (laughs) And can’t dads take part in their kid’s sporting events, in races and such. That’s gonna be another battle of win or defeat among us. (laughs)]

- Isn’t that for the kids? (laughs)

[Ah, it doesn’t matter, it would still be our battle.(laughs) Of course that’s not the case, but anyway, it would be a great thing, I’d enjoy!]

- If it’s impossible, that’s like a rule. (laughs) Those sporting events are pretty unnerving. (laughs)

[No no, in this case it is like being glued to the arena for data collection. (laughs)]

- Well, that’s a surprising plan, isn’t it? (laughs) Ok, from here I would like to hear what kind of goals you have as a bassist and as Reita.

[First of all, I would like to not worry so much. As I am piecing the rhythm together, I would like to feel relieved towards the other members. I don’t know, how it will be, but I would like to let them think it’s a success. Anyway, I would also like to become someone who is even more able to create a certain mood. This is not just concerning music, but also concerning normal conversations. I think I would like to be a person, to convey a certain atmosphere. As the guitar or the vocals, I would like to extend the expressions (of my bass sounds), I think. I think, I can do this reliably from the back.  However, even if it is just an illusion, of being in the front, that feeling alone, is the best.]

- With that special characteristic of the bass, you aim at an unseen existence, by making use (of its features.)

[Yes! Kai-kun’s rhythm has a really good atmosphere and I would like to get along with that. Right now it is like that, as I hear the drums, I play along with the rhythm. However, from now on, I would also like to play the bass, so Kai-kun can play along with it. I would like to extend this with each one of us, to the point when Aoi-san and Uruha, play their guitars and Ruki can just scream to it. (laughs)]

- However, lately during the lives, the rhythm was really tight, and the impression of being pulled along was very strong. I think, this is facing an ideal and steadily walking and proceeding towards it.

[It probably is. Pretty much, it is said, that Japanese band’s rhythm fractions are rather weak. Compared to the American bands where the rhythm is really tight. There are points we have been defeated in. Since we are Japanese, we have experienced to be put down.  Japanese people usually do things in a certain organization; we always immediately bow our heads…That is something I can complain about a lot. (laughs)]

- There are again objections. (laughs)

[However, I would really like to change these things. I think, I’d also like the world to be aware of this.]

- Based on that, the new single [LEECH] seems to have differed clearly in its sound making.

[Yes, it has been made differently.]

- Considering this feeling of composure and dignity or the quality of sound, I think, there has rarely been such heinous sound in Japan. (laughs)

[In Japan it is pretty difficult to find such cool sounds. As I said, overseas it is way cooler. I think this has also to do with the degree of humidity and the electric voltage, but I really rather no say that. I really want to point out, that there can be great sound recordings in Japan as well. However, we are still pretty far from our ideal, but we can records some cool sounds nonetheless. That’s our task.]

- This is certainly a piece of work, where you can clearly see the symptoms of that.

 [Yes, I think this can be increasingly heard by the people overseas. Japanese sounds won’t lose towards the overseas! Isn’t the Japanese Visual Kei flourishing in Europe right now? However, it is a like the Korean-boom in Japan. (laughs)]

- That is a strange way of saying it. (laughs)

[Well, because this boom, will be pretty much over rather soon. I always thought about, how it would be to swim along with this (phenomenon).]

- That is an extremely calm way of looking at this.

[Well, but you can’t really do anything about it, if you get a long and it just ends at some point.]

- Certainly, somehow a boom as such is meant to pass away at some point.

[There, I would really like to take the chance to set a root in that. And with that, between our sounds, our songs as well as our selves the gap has to increase even more. I think, I should really have to formulate, what I would like to do with words.]

- It is not just flowing along (with the trend), but you would have to have the will and the strength to make a change in that flow. However, the strength can be felt and it sounds quite dangerous.

[Well, from here on, we’ll become even more dangerous. We can’t forever be the ones defeated in war, can we? ]

- Can’t we? (laughs) Pretty much, as a proposal, that can’t be a statement forever.

[We have to be more than just Japan, a defeated country. And from here on the latter…]

- There can’t always be weak self-esteem.

[After the war we have passed quite a bit, however, I think that we still can’t really bring across our own will. It is good to hear that we are thought of as gentle-mannered, however, in a different tone, it’s the same as (being called) a coward. (laughs)]

- The so gentle-mannered Reita-san had quite a few things to object to, today. (laughs)

[As for the stage and diplomacy, in both cases strength is needed. (laughs)]

- In this case, the rather unconscious political system of Japan should be entrusted onto Reita-sensei, shoulnd’t it?

[…should I be the prime minister? (laughs)]

- Well, you could be running for president, how would that be? (laughs)

[Well, I have said that way back, that someday, I’ll be the president.]

- With the recommendation of the younger people  it should be an easy victory, too. (laughs)

[Wait, this would not be about making rock music. I have to study immediately…(laughs) Anyway, I think it is not just the politicians, who can change Japan.]

- After all it is one’s on orbital adjustments, isn’t it? (laughs)

Zdroj:https://kiniro-ageha.livejournal.com/8579.html