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Haiiro no Ginka Volume 43

Haiiro no Ginka Volume 43 June 2009

Translation Credits:

KERRANG! RELENTLESS ENERGY DRINK TOUR 2009 - Cammie Toshiya Aibiki no Mori - Risu Shinya Dr. Nemunemu no daigyakushu - Nao Field Manager Takebayashi (a.k.a Chikurin)’s February~March Domestic Road TOUR Documentary Report - Cammie Mu no Koufuku, Sanretsusha to Kubi - Risu Gansonaki Kaoru-ya - Cammie Meisyo de meisyu - Cammie TOUR09 FEAST OF V SENSES KBS Hall, Kyoto - Risu & Nao The real identity of F.O.V.S. is....? - Risu An Extra News and So On - Nao

KERRANG! RELENTLESS ENERGY DRINK TOUR 2009

One day on January 2009 from Narita Airport. The check-in counter for the airline company has a long line. The members have gained experience through their tours overseas, but every time they feel a hassle for checking-in. Following the instructions from the airline staff, members, roadie Fujieda, and (guitar) tech Mr. Kuroo safely complete their check-in.

The travel to the UK this time has 7 members from Japan, and at England’s Heathrow Airport, they were going to meet up with Miss Nora, translator and tour manager assistant, and the total of 8 people were going to be the main small scale tour crew. At the actual site, they were also going to meet the familiar PA and tour manager Mr. Rick, and Mr. Johnny, the guitar tech that has toured along in the US tour, but basically, they were going to tour as a crew for Mindless Self Indulgence. Since the US headlining tour in November 2008, the crew and equipments have become compact and each individual’s responsibility became more established. At the time, they would not depend on other people and were forced to cover each other, but they seem to have gotten used to this situation.

As the boarding time became closer, before heading to the departure gate, they had one last work to do in Japan. They had to check designs for future release and tour-related materials. In the UK, unlike the tour bus in the US, there is no internet environment prepared, so checking e-mails would be a difficult task. Even if one were to use the LAN on the venue, pictures with big memory content would take few hours to send, so the picture check had to be done before their departure. The check was finished just 20 minutes before boarding time. Manager Inoue and the Production administrator sent off the members heading to the gate and prayed for their safety of the tour that was about to begin.

From Japan to the UK, the flight time was 12 and half hours, and even if you convert it into distance, it was around 10,000km. Both countries have a commonality of being an “island country” and besides that, there are various similarities. For example, in the UK, it is left-hand traffic like Japan. DIR EN GREY first came to the UK in August 2007. Their first 2 headlining shows at the Carling Academy in London sold out instantly, and the unpredictable staging, unique sound, and the passionate fans from all over the UK covering up the venue surprised the local music staff where it became the catalyst for the band to be featured in various areas.

After departing Narita, the first obstacle for DIR EN GREY troupe arriving to Heathrow Airport, the entrance to the UK, was immigration examination. When you do a LIVE in the UK, you must apply for a “Work Permit” and get approval. Recently, there was an alteration to the system where the permit was digitalized, but that turned into a huge problem?.

Like the agent’s instruction, we tried finishing the immigration examination, but everyone was stopped and moved to another room. Actually, in the past, UK’s Heathrow Airport’s immigration examination had incidents of famous soccer players planned to play locally (in UK) and singers that were going to conduct music activities deported, and it was known to be strict. Out of the 7 members from Japan, there were members and staff that had no problem with everyday conversation English, but there wasn’t anyone who could perfectly explain their current situation to the immigration examination staff, and while they were putting their hands on their head, a savior appeared. It was Miss Nora arriving from Malaysia coming in from a different flight. She explained everything about the system changing for the “Work Permit” and how from 1/13, they are scheduled to do a LIVE in North Ireland, and everyone was able to safely enter the country. It seems like the main reason was how the immigration examination staff was not completely aware about the digital system. Without any moment for a sigh of relief, after heading to the airport’s arrival gate, the tour that they were going to travel on for the next 3 weeks from now awaited them. Everyone secured their space (on the bus) and off we go. The place to go was Belfast, North Ireland where the venue for the main tour’s first date was located. Including the ferry move midway, the long drive of 10 hours had begun. And, from this moment, DIR EN GREY’s first UK tour, “KERRANG! RELENTLESS ENERGY DRINK TOUR 2009”raised the curtain.

On TOUR DIARY, FREE-WILL ONLINE’s manager message (*1) is currently open to the public, so this time, we would like to include an interview with Miss Nora who has been doing a great job for overseas tour concerning events that took place during the Kerrang! Tour.

Interview – Nora

—Thank you for your hard work during the Kerrang! Tour. Now, were there any interesting episodes during this tour?

Nora: Yes. This may not be interesting as a topic of conversation (laugh), but out of all the overseas tour, they (DIR EN GREY) may have gotten stuff thrown at them the most.

—What kind of things for example?

Nora: Beer, water, cups, plastic bottles and T-shirts. Sometimes underwear and gloss sticks, just various things.

—Was that a negative assessment towards DIR EN GREY?

Nora: No, no, it wasn’t booing. It’s not really “hate” but a way for the UK to enjoy the LIVE. And it’s probably because there were many males in the audience.

—I see, now I feel relieved (laugh).

Nora: On the article for ALBUM LIMITED CONTENTS (*2), Die mentioned about getting stuff thrown when he got on stage, and his guitar and hands down to his feet were soaked where he couldn’t play.

—What! That must have been tragic... Were there many people that actually knew DIR EN GREY?

Nora: Well, that depended on the venue. For any venue, when the band before DIR EN GREY ended, you would always hear a DIR EN GREY call. It would go “DIR EN GREY!”

—Wow! That must have made the members backstage pumped up.

Nora: And once DIR EN GREY’s stage ended, there would be another DIR EN GREY call (laugh). This time it means an encore.

—I’m guessing there were people that are not just DIR EN GREY fans watching the band for the first time. What were their reactions?

Nora: Depending on the city, the reaction differed. There would be people just going wild or people enjoying the LIVE being together with the rhythm. Within the audience, some were taken in by the band’s sound and they didn’t have their eyes off the stage as if they received a shock.

—In actuality, depending on the songs, it would only be in Japanese and they don’t do any MC like the Western bands that does one to excite the audience, and for the UK fans, weren’t they distinct comparing to the other bands?

Nora: I think they may actually have that. I was talking to the local crew, but someone told me, “DIR EN GREY’s songs are not there to go crazy, but they are here to absorb and understand, so I think there are many people that listen to them seriously.”

—But the members would think the people that watch them calmly do not look excited, right? In the past overseas festivals, when the members watch from the stage, the crowd didn’t look excited.

Nora: Yes, yes, that’s right. From the stage, it could simply look as if they are not moving. But when you go near the audience’s space, you could observe how they’re deeply into the stage.

—Even with heavy songs, are there many people that are deeply into them as they watch?

Nora: During “Gaika, Chinmoku Ga Nemuru Koro” and “Reiketsu Nariseba,” there was a mosh pit. 60% of the audience going wild may have not listened to DIR EN GREY’s music before, but this is proof of how they are listening to them without any discrimination.

—This tour became a good opportunity for them to get to know the other bands’ fans.

Nora: After the LIVE, we did a Meet and Greet (*3) at the venue. During that time, we basically know whether we were able to grasp the new audience from the stage (performance). There are many males that got to newly know about DIR EN GREY, and the age range is from a very young teen years to elder guys. They bought the album there and it was honestly a happy moment. Fans of BRING ME THE HORIZON also came to the Meet and Greet. Many of them (note: In Japanese, Nora says “????” [kanojyo tachi] that means majority or all of the fans were girls) were wearing the BMTH t-shirts, so they were easy to recognize (laugh).

—When you notice something good, it may increase one’s motivation.

Nora: We were able to meet a fresh audience we have never met before through this tour.

—15 cities or rather it is better to say 14 cities this time. Out of them, which LIVE left you the most impression?

Nora: I would like to say London...Actually, during RH (rehearsal), the sound felt great, so it was very unfortunate with the actual show. With other cities, there weren’t any dates where we especially thought, “Today was great!” But during the show in Glasgow or Birmingham, while DIR EN GREY played, an enormous moshing occurred where the audience up to the back of the venue went wild. That was the first time I saw such a scene.

—Are you saying that in the latter half (of the tour), there were more people that knew about DIR EN GREY?

Nora: Maybe. Up to the PA table, everyone was really crazy (laugh). People watching from the back running around the floor and trying to get in was a fierce spectacle.

—They were on the cover of KERRANG! during the latter half of the tour too!

Nora: That’s right! I think there was that influence. When we saw it (magazine) shelved in the town’s bookstores and kiosk shops, everyone was excited (laugh).

—How were the other bands?

Nora: This time, in contrast to all the other tours, there was lesser communication. But with DIR EN GREY’s LIVE, everyone came near the stage wing to watch them.

—We talked about the crew and staff, but how were their reaction?

Nora: DIR EN GREY was very popular. The stage’s PA person who loves TOOL told us, “This band will surpass TOOL!”

—Lastly, looking back at this tour how was it?

Nora: I said this before, but it was a happy thing to meet audience that got to know DIR EN GREY for the first time as well as them showing their interest towards the band. Among the bands they played together, there was difference in age and the music they did and there may not have been any commonality, but they were able to enjoy the tour. But more than anything, it was especially sad how the final show in London had to be cancelled.

Note

1. Free Will Online Content where you could read the manager’s message. Here is the OR code.

2. A limited special content celebrating the release of the 7th album “UROBOROS.” The log-in password is on the Deluxe limited edition, first-pressed edition, and the regular (only first press) to access the page.

3. Signing and hand-shakes.

Toshiya Aibiki no Mori

How is everyone? This was also posted in the "UROBOROS" Limited Site. These are scenes from the Kerrang! Tour. I know this is late but here you go!

1.13 Tuesday

Belfast?Queens University Mandela Hall

1.14 Wednesday

Dublin?Academy.

Its neighboring town. And the bar that I dropped in.

1.15 Thursday

Day off. Local beer and pasta.

1.16 Friday

O2 Academy Bristol and its vicinity

I discovered "UROBOROS" at a nearby CD shop.

1.17 Saturday

Cardiff University Great Hall?

After a short excursion, I strolled on a large square and discovered an interesting poster at the nearby station.

1.18 Sunday

Southampton?Guildhall and its vicinity

(page 2)

1.20 Tuesday

Oxford?Academy.

1.21 Wednesday

Norwich?UEA. The concert venue was inside a school and it was really huge property so walked aimlessly around.

1.22 Thursday

Nottingham?Rock City Main Hall and its vicinity.

1.23 Friday

Manchester Academy and its vicinity. I saw a Japanese restaurant with an intriguing name.

1.24 Saturday

O2 Academy Leeds

1.25 Sunday

Since it was my day off, I walked around aimlessly while shopping

As expected from the city that gave birth the BEATLES, everything had the BEATLES color.

1.26 Monday

O2 Academy Liverpool.

1.27 Tuesday

Glasgow?Barrowland.

1.28 Wednesday

O2 Academy Newcastle and its vicinity.

1.29 Thursday

O2 Academy Birmingham.There were autographed posters of artists who previously performed here decorated on the walls until the backstage.

1.30 Friday

O2 Academy Brixton, London.

Well, what do you think? This page was already fixed some time ago so next time I will write content that will give you a better update. Yoroshiku (Thanks)!

Shinya Dr. Nemunemu no daigyakushu

Hello everyone, it's been a long time. As always, Nemunemu has also begun today. This time, I had planned to write a one month diary of the England Tour but there wasn't anything especially interesting. So, on the morning of the last day's performance, I had to find something interesting to write about so I went sightseeing alone.

Nemunemu's Solo Travels -London Edition-

If one is to think of London then the only things that come to my mind are "Professor Layton" and "Robin Mask". Dr.Nemunemu doesn't really know that much about England. Professor Layton is obviously a Nintendo DS Game. It takes place in London and you solve several kinds of riddles in order to continue with the story and this is Dr. Nemunemu's no.1 favorite game. Moreover, at exactly the time that the England Tour started, I also started playing with the 3rd one in the series, "Professor Layton's Final Time Travel". I have been continuously playing this [game] the whole time while moving around(touring). Also, Robin Mask is obviously from the Manga "Kinniku Man", who is an English-born superhuman. That said, Robin Mask has a deadly blow and the technique is called the "Tower Bridge". Therefore, I thought of going to see this "Tower Bridge" so I looked at the subway's railway map. However, I wasn't able to find a station called Tower Bridge. But instead, I discovered a station called the London Bridge. Anyway, while I was thinking that this London Bridge could possibly be the Tower Bridge, I continued to ride the subway all the way there to check. As I came out of the station and proceeded with the information's instructions map, I found it! It's London Bridge!

Compared to my imagination it was pretty bleak. While I was thinking that this wasn't the Tower Bridge I walked along the riverside. And, as the way Dr. Nemunemu pictured it in his head, I saw the bridge.

"Could that also be Tower Bridge!?" I thought and ran closer to it.

This is exactly Tower Bridge.

It's even written on the bridge itself! So, I safely saw the Tower Bridge so I thought I should head back to the venue. But when I saw the railway map, my eyes were stopped by a shocking station name.

...Layton!?...Leyton(in katakana).......... Leyton!!! Lo and behold, there is a station called Leyton. Moreover, all the places around the station are called Leyton-something and several other things.

I felt that I must go there. Anyway it looks pretty far and I didn't have anymore time so I gave up for now and will just go there tomorrow. The next day was just all meetings and as soon as it was over it was already evening. I said that I should go then but according to the information from a person who lives there, places around Leyton seem dangerous at night. So, tomorrow we are going home to Japan so I thought that I should wake up early and go. And it was soon the next day, I didn't sleep that much and didn't wake up so I wasn't able to go to Leyton. With that much sadness on the way home on the airplane, I cleared (finished) "Professor Layton's Final Time Travel" and that is the end of Dr. Nemunemu's travel and game.

So, I think that was concluded pretty well but content-wise it's very short. So, it's been a while that I have introduced my turtles again. From the time of the previous introduction, it was as big as a scrubbing brush.

from newsletter no. 37

Now, they are like this.

Other than being able to notice that they have grown from the previous photo, I have moved. So, the design of the bathroom tiles have changed therefore it's a bit hard to tell if they have grown.

Speaking of moving, I have also introduced from a previous newsletter, the half-eaten(by the dog) sweet potato seedling that I took care of and was left in the most bottom part of the cupboard. When I was about to move, it came out. The one I introduced before was like this.

from newsletter no.25

And now, it became like this.

Lo and behold it transformed into a potato. It is such a mysterious thing.

So, as the page is getting long, it's nearing the end [of this newsletter].

This time's present is Master Painter Nemunemu's Robin Mask and Professor Layton's Special Dream Collaboration Drum Head(Skin).

Field Manager Takebayashi (a.k.a Chikurin)’s February~March Domestic Road TOUR Documentary Report

20090209 HEAVEN’S ROCK SAITAMA SHINTOSHIN VJ-3

First day on the tour. There is one dressing room and in the hallway, instrument and equipment cases are placed on this narrow space where one could barely pass through. The dressing room is full of signatures and scribbles by bands and the members seem to be checking a rather different feeling from the scenery and atmosphere, which they cannot usually see.

The stage is smaller than usual so there is limitation on their performance. One of them is how they cannot use an acoustic guitar. “VINUSHKA” and “CONCEIVED SORROW,” their signature pieces for acoustic and core for DIR EN GREY’s stage will be played with electric guitar. For sound-making, members and staff have a hard time. Having a couple of days for RH (rehearsal), they have repeatedly adjusted their guitar and amps. In order to create a satisfying sound, everyone united together and continued countless times without regretting the passing of time. Before the entrance opening, fans fill the surroundings near the venue. I could feel the anticipation and everyone towards this small-scale (venue) tour. The surrounding of the venue was covered by an inexplicable atmosphere.

Having this huge anticipation, the first day of the small-scale tour has begun. The size of the venue has gotten smaller, but the set list and the number of songs are as usual. For DIR EN GREY, location or size does not matter to them to embody the present moment. As time passes by surprisingly quickly, the amount of oxygen in the venue keeps on depleting. As the distance between the members and audience gets closer, the limited space continues to increase its heat.

The show ends. One could feel tiredness from the members’ expressions that never allow half-way measures, but moreover, they seem to be satisfied by something.

“This is going to begin from now.”

20090210 Mito LIGHT HOUSE

A sunny day. If you say Mito’s specialty food, it would be nattou (note: fermented soy beans), so the person in charge of the event brought nattou wrapped in straw as a compliment. For this tour, the accompanying staffs are the total of 7 members, which are guitar tech Mr. Kuroo and Mr. Haruna, PA Mr. Nakajima, toranpo (note: Japanese abbreviated word for transporter) Mr. Matsuoka, bus driver Mr. Matsuda, roadie George, and manager Takebayashi. This time, regarding lighting, we have asked the person in charge of lighting for each venue to do it. We gave sound material, each song’s lighting image and cautions beforehand, but for each live, the different expression of lighting one could experience may become the best part for this small-capacity tour. For today’s venue again the lighting staff conducted scrupulous check during RH (rehearsal). After withdrawing the equipments, the group moved to Utsunomiya in a micro bus. Today’s micro bus is called a coaster where the back seat has small space to put baggage. We put everyone’s luggage and from now on, we will be traveling for approximately one month.

20090211 HEAVEN’S ROCK Utsunomiya V3-2

It has been 3 days since the tour began, but the situation of grabbling still continues. During that time, from Tokyo, Mr. Okada who we owe thanks for every tour and wardrobe (stylist) Mr. Omi visited us. The members welcomed the 2 people and stimulated conversation. They seem to be comparing between Kerrang! Tour held in January and the current tour. “This is definitely better than Kerrang! Tour,” “There’s a hotel,” “We could eat Japanese food”. Japanese tour must be heaven for them. In front of familiar people, the members’ faces also had a relieved expression.

20090212 Utsunomiya~Morioka

Today is a moving date. Snow was extremely apprehended, but it was a beautiful sunny day. The moving distance to Morioka was 430km, 6 long hours of bus travel has begun. Inside the bus, there was a TV monitor where they are able to watch DVD of live footage of that day. For everyone with long travelling hours, this was an important existence.

20090213 Morioka Club Change WAVE

From morning, snow was lightly falling. The temperature was extremely low, and at night, there was going to be heavy rain. In the afternoon, Die and roadie George went to go eat Morioka’s local specialty, reimen (note: ??is a Korean dish that means cold noodles). Today’s venue is on the first level of the basement and all the equipments need to be carried by hand. The breath staffs exhale is white, and continuing this work for more than ten minutes, there was steam rising from the staff.

Show opening. During live, there was a moment where the members’ facial expression looked irritated. The reason was due to the narrow stage and one mic was picking up various sounds that created howling. Because they always wish to make a full effort in order to create the best stage, bitterness remains. But because live is something that constantly evolves and moves continuously, at times, trouble like this one happens.

20090214 Akita Club SWINDLE

Today’s venue was also underground. Actually, there was a hotel above and it was a strange environment. Once we entered, the audience seats were vertically long and the distance between the stage and the front row’s metal fence were only a few cm (centimeters) apart. This was a live environment that would be unimaginable for the usual-sized tour.

Now, the tour goes to places where they usually cannot go, and we wanted fans that usually cannot go to lives even if they want to go to come. The strong wishes by the members actualized this tour.

Tonight, there was a moment that allowed us to feel that. Before encore, Kyo said a word, “People that came to the live for the first time!” As he stirred up the crowd, in the venue, many fists raised up. At that moment, there was an inexplicable sensation running through my body.

20090215 Akita~Nagano

The second longest travelling distance on this tour was this 8 hour drive. Having the Sea of Japan on the right-hand side, we run. We were concerned about the weather again today, but it seemed all right.

20090215 Nagano CLUB JUNK BOX

Kyo and Kaoru’s birthday eve (note: Chikurin is saying one day before their birthdays). Members and staff have planned amongst themselves beforehand and decided to celebrate after RH. After preparation was finished, everyone waited for that time. They seem somewhat restless. Around the time the members entered the venue, snow began to fall. After RH, surrounded by subtle nervousness, Kyo and Kaoru were called to come to the audience seat. With guitar tech Mr. Kuroo’s HAPPY BIRTHDAY~ played, sounds of crackers resounded in the venue.

Opening. Together with the members’ appearance was an overflowing force of cheers arising. Was this a feeling that celebrated Kyo and Kaoru’s birthday? Or was it because this was Toshiya’s local area’s Nagano show? On this day, the overflowing force of the audience exceeded the members’ power.

20090217 Shizuoka Sunash

For this tour, it was the smallest capacity venue with 230 seats. The merchandise booth was set up outside the venue, and the dressing room was like a hallway. This was not a space that would be called a dressing room. Furthermore, since there was no bathroom in the dressing room, after the show began, the members cannot go to the bathroom. However, when the members arrived to the dressing room, they first said the following out loud. “Oh! This is larger than I thought!” There were members that were slowly getting used to the feeling of the small-capacity tour.

20090218 Hamamatsu Madowaku

Sunny day. The dressing room is a cozy parlor (note: the original word was zashiki [??] and the room is floored with tatami mats) area that says “no shoes allowed”. “Speaking of Hamamatsu!” So, the day before, we asked the person in charge of the event to prepare broiled eel lunch box (to be delivered) to today’s dressing room. For members and staff that are beginning to accumulate fatigue, this is the best source for stamina. Around the time RH was over, we found hair/make-up artist Mr. Yamaguchi at the dressing room. The members could not hide their surprise with the unexpected guest. But, there seems to be a sense of relief. After the main part of the show ended, Kaoru who was on top of the monitor stirring up the crowd lost his balance and collapsed back into the bass amp behind him. The bass amp splendidly fell and the beer on top of it splashed onto Kaoru. In the dressing room after the live, the topic of conversation amongst the members and staff was about Kaoru’s tumble. “I was so surprised! You were soaked with beer.” This capacity of space makes it difficult to express their actual force. Even when the members understand this, they still try to exert their all. There were various troubles, but it was fortunate how nothing serious happened to the members or the equipments. Today’s show also finished safely.

20090219 Hamamatsu~Kanazawa

We’re getting used to the long moving hours, but today is also a long drive. On the way, we stopped by a SA (service area) at Hamanako and decided to have lunch. However, since it was lunch time, the ordered meals are not arriving quickly. There were many things to see at the SA, but they will have to wait until next time. On the way, we stopped by a SA again. When we got off the bus, fresh snow covered the area. Since it was snow in a long while so excitement grew, and there would actually be a people enjoying the touch (of snow) with their hands. Among them, we could see some throwing snowballs at each other. This was a moment that could not easily be experienced in Tokyo.

20090220 Kanazawa AZ

Around lunch, Die, PA Mr. Nakajima, and George went to a famous Soba restaurant near the hotel. The recommended food was Oroshi Soba”. There was oroshi daikon (note: grated radish) heaped on the plate and this was extremely hot. It made us wake up. Today is Mr. Kuroo’s birthday eve and he has been always helping us including the overseas tour. After RH, in the dressing room, everyone from members to staff celebrated the occasion. Live. The stage had many lighting features including moving strobe lights that were fully used.

Today was actually the turning point of the tour. After the show, when they were about to head out to eat dinner, but by the time they got out from the restaurant, there was heavy snowing outside. Meanwhile, Kaoru and Mr. Nakajima headed to an Ochazuke (note: bowl of rice and tea) restaurant, which is open late at night. The horizontal plate carried to them had more than 10 types of condiments arranged, and the bowl had a small amount of rice inside. You can personally think up of different variations of condiments and eat it whatever way you like. This broke the notion of ochazuke. Strangely, you can eat so many of them.

20090221 Kanazawa~Gifu

Today is a moving date. Due to everyone’s strong requests, we stopped by a family restaurant. This tour has bentou (note: lunch box) as their main food and being able to get warm food for the first time in a while was a relaxing moment.

20090222 Gifu Club ROOTS

Today’s venue was far from the train station and it seems to be inconvenient for transportation. Entering the venue, we do the overall check. The audience seat area on the stage left side has a strange wide path, which will be the merchandise space. The members entered the venue and Die prepared to record a comment for the local radio, but due to the stage’s echo sound, he had to stop. On very short notice, the bus pulled up alongside the outside area of the venue, and the recording took place inside the bus. Actually, today is toranpo Mr. Matsuoka’s birthday. The same time rehearsal ended, everyone celebrated his birthday. Since the tour began, this would be the 4th Happy Birthday. As the venue opened, looking around, one would notice how there are more guys than usual. During live, when Kyo would say, “Guys-!!” and stirred up the crowd, deep screams returned from the audience seat.

20090223 Shiga U-STONE

Today’s venue has the largest capacity for this tour. Occupancy is 450 people. Today was Shinya’s birthday eve. After RH, Die was on guitar and I did vocals to celebrate his birthday. This was the 5th “Happy Birthday!” on this tour. Before opening, as I looked down from the 3rd floor of the venue, it was packed with fans waiting eagerly for the show to begin. In the dressing room, I wonder if fatigue is accumulating for them. There wasn’t too much talking going on amongst the members.

A little after opening, there was some worry about the audience seats swaying side to side a lot, but it was able to withstand. Because the ventilation in the venue was too good, the smoke that heightened the lighting effect would blow away quickly, which was a shame. However, the lighting and rendition were able to surpass that and it was very good. This was a very good live. Tomorrow is the first OFF date for this tour. I would like both the members and staff to take a good rest.

20090223 Kyoto OFF

Today is an OFF date where there will be no live or travelling. Actually, since Shiga, Nara and Kyoto are close location-wise, and these 4 days will have the hotel in Kyoto as base and travel to venues. For the group that is constantly busy with hotel moving, staying for a few days in a row rests the body and mind. I wander around the city of Kyoto alone. I’m enjoying my time alone for the first time in a long while. In this tour, there is a lot of time together in the venue and inside the bus. Each person must be spending their time doing what they like to do. I wonder how they are spending their time off.

20090225 Nara Neverland

I found a crowd of people surrounding the equipment truck. It seems that just when the truck was about to park, the truck’s tire got stuck on the road’s side ditch. The side ditch had an iron sheet covered over it, but its intensity could not withstand the heaviness of a 2 ton truck. We tried various things but the tire would not get out so easily, and we decided to call for rescue. Problem solved. Speaking of the venue, the low ceiling stands out since the drum set’s cymbals would hit the ceiling if they were on their usual height. We could not place Kyo’s stand either, so we had to immediately have a substitute prepared. The venue barely had any space between the stage and audience seat, and during performance, the audience were at a distance where they could touch the members with their hands. But in actuality, when the members went up front, there were some people that touched them, but there weren’t any audience who disrupted the performance or touch the members’ instruments. I was glad how everyone understood that aspect very well. Feeling something of this sort was likely in this tour.

After the live, Mr. Yasufuku, the event’s sound creator whom we are grateful for, was called to the dressing room by the members. Actually, today was his birthday and the members secretly prepared a present for him. Even Mr. Yasufuku who was usually calm could not hide his joy due to such a surprise.

20090226 KYOTO MUSE

Today, there was going to be footage recording and the entire venue was busy. There was meticulous planning, and in the venue, cameras were being set up here and there. There were unimaginable numbers of camera and staff for this venue capacity. Even with stage, there were 10 cameras set up. Camera adjustments were also being done carefully during RH. After RH, within the audience seat area, Toshiya’s comment for “Best Hit LIVE” was getting recorded. Live begins. The audience’s momentum this day was incredibly intense once again. Kyo constantly shouts, “Kyoto~!” To that, the audience shouts back. I wonder if the audience’s power doubled because this was Kyo’s hometown... The audience’s momentum did not stop until the end. From moment to moment, numerous cameras constantly chased around to capture the viewpoint from the audience’s side and liveliness... I wonder what kind of shape this heated live footage will be delivered to everyone... Thinking about that, I look forward from now.

20090227 Kobe VARIT

Unfortunately, it’s cloudy. At times, cold rain is drizzling. Comparing to all the venues from before, today’s venue is more of a “modern snazzy space” rather than a “live house”. The venue with a wide feeling was constructed by having a split of first and second floor. Today, after the show was over, the members got onto the car without any time to relax. Depending on the venue’s features, such moves were not rare. And 3 consecutive shows have ended. Members and staff have fatigue accumulating.

20090301 Tokushima Jitterbug

The venue is on the 3rd floor but there weren’t any carry-in elevator and only had elevator where if people got on, it would be packed. Even just carrying in the equipments into the venue, we had to go back and forth into the elevator. On stage left in Die’s position, there was an ill-defined iron pillar. Once Die went into the venue, his first words were: “What the hell! This pillar!” and he grinned wryly.

Apart from the pillar, the low ceiling also had edges sticking out in various places. Even when you are exchanging bass and guitar, you needed to be extra careful or else the instruments would hit the ceiling. After the show was over, the group finished with clearance, traveled from Tokushima to Yonago. The distance was 300km. On the way, it began to snow in the mountain area. The entire road was white and we could not see the white line or anything, and driver Mr. Matsuda carefully took the wheel. Late evening, we finally arrived to the hotel safely. No matter what kind of bad circumstances arising, Mr. Matsuda manages to bring everyone safely. He is a very heartening member.

20090202 Yonago BELIER

Rain was over but it is pretty cold outside. The dressing room had a large potbelly stove. The carry-in condition was very good where the carry-in entrance was behind the stage. This is to be expected on the 16th show for the small-capacity tour. The staff’s operation went smoothly and the set was built up very quickly. On the same floor, there was a rehearsal studio and numerous bands were practicing. After RH, we found a large Styrofoam box in the dressing room. Mr. Takahashi, the promoter who we owe obligations just grins, approaches and tells us, “Just open it!” Once we opened it, we were surprised! Inside, there were 2 live crabs lying flat on their backs. As we listened, the live house’s owner was good friends with the owner of the bar restaurant on the 2nd floor, and he decided to get this compliment for today. After the show, the boiled crabs were prepared in the dressing room. Everyone ate the crabs silently. I wonder why we become silent during these moments. After finishing clearance, we head straight to Kumamoto. In this tour, this would be the longest traveling distance of around 630km. It’s an 8 hour long drive. Instead of travelling during night time, tomorrow is a complete off-date. We arrive to the hotel around 6 in the morning. No one can hide their fatigued expression.

20090303 Kumamoto OFF

A day to rest our body.

20090304 Kumamoto BATTLE-STAGE

Only 2 more shows on this tour. Today’s venue was inside a large shopping area and the location was at a busy area. Live space was on the 5th floor of the building and the dressing room was on the floor below and we were going to use the big meeting room, but the dressing room’s space boasted the largest size for this tour. After clearance, the group was going to move to Ooita, but, “Since we came to Kumamoto...” Due to a strong request, we went to a Kumamoto ramen restaurant called “Tenpou”. Since I heard of this being Kumamoto ramen, I was imagining a pork bone broth, but when I actually ate it, I could taste a slight seafood-like salt. The appearance (of the soup) was somewhat clear and the noodles had body and it had a sticky texture. It was very delicious. After filling up our stomach, the group travelled 3 hours to Ooita.

20090305 Oita T.O.P.S

Today is the last tour for the small-capacity tour. The 2nd floor on the venue was constructed to have a blow-by and the ceiling was just high. Something more surprising was the number of lightings attached on the back wall. Including the lights on the ceiling, would there probably be 200 of them? There were enormous numbers of them. And on this tour, the final Happy Birthday was PA Mr. Nakajima. The birthday celebration after RH has become an annual event. Furthermore, since it was the final date, on stage, the small-capacity tour members and staffs of 12 people took a commemorative photo. It’s already ending... We were filled with indescribable loneliness.

Even after the show was over, unending applause stirred up even more loneliness, and the entire tour had ended.

20090306 Oita~ Oita Airport

On the way to Oita Airport, due to heavy fog, it seems highways are shut down constantly. At morning, we had a phone call from promoter BEA Mr. Nakamura, and there was shocking news of the highway being closed down. Were we going to make it to the airplane?! I immediately contacted the members and staffs, and hastened our leave so that we would make it on time without using the highway. Luckily, just before our leave, the closure was removed and we were able to use the highway and headed straight to the airport. “There aren’t any fogs at all!” We were traveling on the bus triumphantly... but suddenly, fog covered us. We were unable to see the car right in front of us. Fog regulation justified. Arriving to the airport, here, we had to part with Mr. Matsuda who has driven the bus for us for the past one month. Lastly, Mr. Matsuda told us the total traveling distance from HEAVEN’S ROCK Saitama Shintoshin to Oita Airport. The total traveling distance was 4,804km. This was indeed a domestic tour that shook the chain of islands (note: Japan).

Guitar Tech •Mr. Kuroo

February, the one month tour felt long. Actually, in Japan, this tour was the first time where I did not go home after departing for the same band’s tour. The tour itself wasn’t too exhausting and it didn’t have 7 consecutive shows like overseas. Thinking in terms of the stage and actual work on the day, what I was doing was the same as usual, so there weren’t anything different. If I were to say one thing, the bus was small so the travel felt longer. In terms of lives differing in capacity, conversely, I was interested in any difference of way the audience saw and felt to the usual ones.

PA •Mr. Nakajima

February was just the worst for the heat (inside the venue). The venue would be so packed and this continued every time, and it felt like we were doing lives and got sweaty in every venue. The entire venue was oxygen-deprived, and after the live, exhaustion was bigger than the usual tour. The venue’s PA space was of course narrow, and sometimes if I sat down, there were some places where moving was difficult. Speaking of memory, the last show on this tour in Ooita was my birthday, and the members and staff took a commemorative photo. I actually proposed this idea but I think this became a good opportunity for everyone.

Guitar Tech •Mr. Haruna

The tour itself was as usual, but since the stage was small, I was also in charge of bass for switching and instrument changes. This was the same like the overseas tour. One impressionable happening was at one venue, when we were about to carry in the equipments, the iron plate on the rut broke and the truck ran off. Otherwise, as a person who likes to walk, I enjoyed being able to have time to wander around new places I have never gone before. Oh, but the conditions for carry-in was bad, there were only a few part-time workers, and now that I think back, it was busy all day. The amount of sweat during live was just enormous (laugh). Even after the tour, I liked both large and small venues. But for the audience, I think smaller ones are more fun for them since the distance between the members would be closer.

Toranpo• Mr. Matsuoka

In February, I guess what I was doing was the same as the usual tour. But, that tour was really tough for a person with pollen allergy.

Bus Driver • Mr. Matsuda

The long hour travel overnight was really tough. Especially when we were about to travel for Tokushima~Yonago, it began to snow heavily all of the sudden, and at that time, the highway had downhill slopes continuing so I was nervous. My best memory was when my birthday was on 3/7th, and during the after-show party, they got me a surprise cake for celebration. During the last travel to Ooita Airport, inside the bus, in the bus name that has the organization name listed, I got it signed by the (band) members and staffs. I would like to treasure this and cherish it. This was the first time to be involved with music-related job, so I was able to have a rare experience.

Roadie • George

This was definitely fun. Personally, I like smaller live houses. I may be lacking a few words, but when a band that tours around venue sizes like Zepp Tokyo, being able to do lives at smaller venues really have a meaning. On the Internet or any medium, they are accepted as a high-level band right? Those people doing lives at places where people are at distance to be able to touch them is like, I thought they had humility. Because they were like that, they were able to do this type of tour, and I think there was a lot of meaning in doing this.

Mu no Koufuku, Sanretsusha to Kubi HAPPINESS OF NOTHING, THE ASSEMBLED AND [THE] NECK

Tomorrow is the Tour's final day Gradually my voice is becoming easily destroyed Today I wasn't completely able to sing to my satisfaction but with all of my power, I vented everything Moreover I felt that at least I was able to get something through (express it) I was able to feel something from you guys again today. I am somewhat content

I haven't changed from the past but, I am happy because the feelings, that you vented upon me, that were all mixed together have become united, and it feels a bit more alive compared to before, by just only a bit (laughs)

Personally there were too many things during the Tour this time...

It was the most difficult [tour] up until now, and it was the most number of times I went to a hospital (laughs)

But there's still tomorrow, and there's still Europe so I have to weather this out with my spirit

This may be completely not connected to what I was talking about but, I absolutely don't tell lies in the newsletter and during Lives

Because its nonsense to lie in a place where I feel certain/absolute

Anyway, also on the Tour's final day tomorrow....I will...

You know, right?

Good night

Gansonaki Kaoru-ya

The long domestic tour has ended, but is everyone doing well?

We had a tour schedule packed for 3 months so everyone’s body is worn-out, but if everyone who came to see us felt something and went back home, I think it was worth doing it.

This was probably a tour that I would remember the most and I think I will never forget it since this tour was concentrated with everything.

People that came to see us, thank you! We’ll go there again!

There were many requests for the BMG for the opening that began from February, but there were some that switched around, so I’m going to post up the last one.

Basically, I have it played on shuffle so I don’t know what song is playing where.

By now, I think we’ll be touring Europe, but since the domestic tour was very fulfilling, I hope I could continue on with this feeling.

And I’m also thinking to begin making songs, so if there’s something good, I’ll let you know!

This was short, but (I’ll talk to you) soon!

“LOSER” AA-

“...And their Eulogies Sang Me To Sleep.” The Agonist

“Forkboy (Lard)” Black Light Burns

“Flush” Brian “Head” Welsch

“Carnivorous Swarm” Cannibal Corpse

“LA LA MIE” COLOR

“CRIME & PUNISHMENT” D’ERLANGER

“Embryo Burning” DEAD END

“Crowd of Creation” Deadlock

“Beyond the Scorpion Gate” Destroy Destroy Destroy

“Dimension Zero” Dimension Zero

“I Scream” Down

“Collision” Faith No More

“Deeds of Days Long Gone” Ignominious Incarceration

“Hurt” Johnny Cash

“Never Say Never” KMFDM

“Spellbound” Lacuna Coil

“Fake Messiah” Lamb of God

“Thieves” Ministry

“Glistening” Orange 9mm

“Selling Jesus” Skunk Anansie

“Electric Head Pt. 1 (Satan In High Heels Mix)” White Zombie

Meisyo de meisyu

Q. On stage, looking at your effectors, guitar, Mesa Boogie’s guitar cabinet, everything is in “red” and “snake print,” but doesn’t your eyes hurt (from looking at them)?

Die: My eyes doesn’t hurt but when I play the guitar with the red fret board during live, because of the stage lighting, when it’s red, the color assimilates with the guitar and for a moment the guitar disappears from my sight (laugh). I also don’t have any position mark on the fret too. During that time, I have to play by my instinct!!

Q. I would want to ask you this, but how many centimeters is your guitar strap that you use during LIVE from the upper part of the lock pin to the lower part? And I also want to know if the red strap you actually use is an original? By the way, I (note: in Japanese it’s ?[boku], so this questioner is a guy) have Die-san’s model (by Edward) guitar with ESP’s red snake print strap, and I have it extended to the max while I play.

Die: 157cm. This is the borderline length to be able to play the current songs. The main strap I’m using right now is an original one prepared by ESP’s Asakura-san, and there hasn’t been any talk about putting it into the market. Actually, the length of the strap greatly affects your play and around the middle period of the tour, I had frequent “mis”-pickings and I was thinking how the sound during picking harmonics was bad, but the strap was stretched and there was a subtle misalignment when the angle of the string where the pick hit. So I moved up the belt’s hole and tried minimizing (approximately 1cm) it, but my body which was accustomed to all the lives I’ve done so far didn’t handle this well, so it was troublesome. To be more specific, the T-shirt and jacket that you wear at the time, will subtly change things, so it’s really a world on an mm(millimeter) measurement.

Q. Since last year’s BAJRA shows, there seems to be a fast playing (?) between you and Kaoru-san during 2:05~ in “REPETITION OF HATRED.” Do you think that during rehearsal instead of playing it on the spot? Ever since I saw it, I’ve been copying it that way. Is the chorus part for “?-saku-,” “MR. NEWSMAN” and other songs an adlib (improvisation)? This may sound too maniacal...

Die: You’re catching on to a good point! We’ve never spoken to each other about them, and we don’t come up with it during rehearsal either.

This was born as we continued our lives and this may evolve again.

Concerning other songs, I don’t have anything prepared beforehand for the arrangements I play live, and I also never had anything begin intentionally. This is definitely a natural flow from continuing to do lives. If I formulate a phrase before the live and play it perfectly during the actual show, there wouldn’t be any heart-racing feel. There is a thrill when I play during the tense moment live, and through the atmosphere and my feeling’s elation, I enjoy myself about what kind of phrase will be born from there.

Q. The intro’s clean part on “RED SOIL” is awesome! Personally, I have an image of someone being all bloody coming to a church to make a confession, but I would like you to tell us how you play this part. And what kind of image do you have while you play this?

Die: Being all bloody and going to a church to make a confession huh~I must say I didn’t have this image (laugh). I think the clean part is where I played a 12-string acoustic guitar on the CD, but this phrase didn’t exist even after we’ve gone into the recording phase for “UROBOROS,” and there was this phrase I played nonchalantly during a free time from recording, and I thought, “what would happen if I put this onto this part for this song?” And as I tried playing this, it fit wonderfully and I decided to use it (laugh).

From all the phrases that were there before this one, I felt like I would hear a voice like “You came in after us, but for someone like that, you’re being treated like the main thing.”

For this occasion, I guess I will explain the beginning intro phrase.

RED SOIL

All strings half-step down +Drop D tuning

(D#, A#, F#, C#, G#, C#)

CD TIME: 0:00~

M should have the hand’s pinkie finger’s side lightly touching the string near the bridge, and pick while you mute.

1. Your index finger should be on the 4th string 9th fret, your ring finger should hold the 3rd string 11th fret.

2. Here, the release sound of the 1st string will come out so make sure your pinkie finger doesn’t touch the 1st string.

3. From here, with this holding, you just need to slide your position in a parallel manner, but the 1st string and 3rd string will constantly have a release sound, so you need to try to have your index finger and pinkie finger from touching each of their strings.

4. Here, the fret will suddenly have 4 moves, so you need to prevent the sound from cutting off, and be careful not to rush or slow down the rhythm. Regarding the -Arp-. Arpeggio playing, it’s on the FC (fan-club) only website as an online video, so please check it out.

Notice: “Meisyo de Meisyu” is seeking questions about guitar for Die. For the people’s questions that are used, we would like to give an original item. Please have the questions sent to “aknot.”

TOUR09 FEAST OF V SENSES

April 5, 2009 (Sun) KBS Hall, Kyoto

When I first came into contact with DIR EN GREY’s wildest album “UROBOROS” on December 29, 2008 at the Osaka-Jo Hall, I was also deeply moved at the same time by its extremeness and deepness, and I thought that I would never understand that one night. Exactly 4 months from that day. They’ve successfully completed performances in England and the domestic live house circuit up until now. I wonder about, how will their interpretation of “UROBOROS”. How will it be personified tonight? How will the audience respond? Since they, like “a knot” have been eagerly waiting for this day. When you imagine that spontaneously your sense of anxiety would heighten.

Today’s venue, “KBS Hall” is near the Kyoto KBS TV Station and is near the Kyoto-gyoen which is famous for its expansive gardens and also spans 1200 meters from North to South and 800 meters from East to West. Since it is a multi-purpose venue and is used for various events, the staff entered the venue from 8 in the morning and went about setting up the LIVE venue. Starting from the stage, lights, sounds and video, setting up these things was a battle with physical strength. When I visited the venue at 3 in the afternoon, the staff had already finished the preparations and final adjustments for the sound check and was about to go on a break. I greeted them, and talked about tonight’s preparations, exchanged information about things to pay attention to while on stage while also exchanging pleasantries with them. Probably because of the foothold that was firmly established by the team of professionals, the members can earnestly go into battle onstage.

At the same time the members entered the venue. The four people other than Kyo went towards the stage as scheduled and did the sound check. When I tried visiting the dressing room where Kyo was in, from his expression I felt that he didn’t feel too great compared to his normal self. I greeted him and this became more pronounced as we chatted. Kyo who never spoke much seemed as if he were carrying an unseen burden on his shoulders. Since the appearance of “UROBOROS”, DIR EN GREY has successfully completed lives both overseas and locally. During that time Kyo experienced issues with this throat but on stage he would continue to scream, “it has no connection to that” and continued on singing. I wonder about what drives him to push himself that far…

Around 1 hour and 30 minutes before the start of the show, there was a relaxed air in the dressing room. While each of the members themselves were killing the time, Kyo himself tried resting his painful throat even for a bit, and gave his full attention to it. During that time, I heard Die’s deep sigh coming from another dressing room. He should be used to the continuous tour lifestyle that he’s continue for almost 10 years but since he can’t retain his peace of mind at the hotel, which was supposed to be a place to rest your body. Even though his body was tired, his active brain would still pick up even the tiniest sound. That’s why there are a lot of nights where getting sound sleep was difficult.

“20 minutes before the start of the show!”

Along with the voices that echoed in the dressing room, the members also increased their concentration. At that time Kyo who finally stood up kept on vocalizing in the room. It’s hard to say that he’s in an excellent condition but his defiant demeanor was no from his usual self. They formed a circle on the stage wings, their 5 voices echoing into the backstage hallway also renewing the staff’s morale.

Inside the venue, a cheer resounded from the audience when the BGM stopped, the hall went dark, and “SA BIR” echoed towards the audience area. As the members entered onstage, that voice became even louder and the hall shook.

The moment when the 5 people stood on stage and the intro started, exclamations came from the hall. It was no wonder because they began with “INCONVENIENT IDEAL”, a song that was placed in the album to finish it. Always surprising us onstage, destroying people’s preconceived notions. This was also an exquisite taste of the live that DIR EN GREY has prepared. As the beautiful guitar melodies’ sounds kept on piling on top of one another, the hall was covered in the band sound and in an instant you naturally enter DIR EN GREY’s world-view that was formed in the hall.

When DIR EN GREY’s song is played at a live its shape changes like a living thing. Created music that was interpreted from different angles reaches ears that have grown accustomed to the final sound. The 5 people on stage and the audience who filled the hall by “living” they also breathe in life to the song. On the center of the stage, with overflowing energy coming from fingertips holding his whole body in thrall, only fear of that unrestrained expression hung on Kyo’s form. A once-in-a-lifetime moment, a song you can never hear again, one after another was created.

“VINUSHKA” the longest epic in “UROBOROS”, their world-view took more shape and was more visualized through the projected image behind these 5. And this moment’s “music”, the sound by these 5 individuals that you can only experience once in the world, is born.

“Koko ga shinjitsu da” / This is the truth

The audience raised their fists back in response to Kyo’s words. The audience became one.

There are a lot of times that you feel that the 5 people on stage are not only the leading characters at a DIR EN GREY live. When the audience’s passion, voices, movement and everything that is radiated from these 5 people bring about a chemical reaction, a sense of unity is born in the venue, and a work of art, that can only be obtained by the people who were there at the “LIVE” is complete.

When “RED SOIL” was played, the voltage in the venue became higher and it progressed to “STUCK MAN”. When this song, which has the most unique sound and tempo in the album, was resounded, it became an important spice to DIR EN GREY’s element, and the band’s diversity was steadily embodied. “LIE BURIED WITH A VENGEANCE”. While the heavy tune continued, the sound that Kaoru, Die, Toshiya, Shinya created even became heavier than before, it was like being stabbed in the gut.

The intro of “Doukoku to sarinu” started and as it approached the chant, something unusual occurred on the center of the stage. Kyo stood on his stand ramrod straight, unmoving. “He’s finally reached his limit….” The moment I felt that, and as if the thoughts that came from within Kyo’s body became sound, his voice resounded through the microphone. It may be not accurate to say that it seemed like he was trying to drive away something as he continuously exhaled. Whatever came out from Kyo, it wasn’t a voice that a human would normally use. It was a collective sound that was squeezed out from all of his body. Uncertainty or rather pointlessly, Kyo stood on stage as DIR EN GREY’s vocalist and confronted the members, audience and also myself. There was something unseen that continuously pushed Kyo.

Most humans when they’ve reached their own limit they would most probably stop doing their best. But DIR EN GREY is the complete opposite. Battling with themselves, challenging themselves, not compromising on stage…those were the feelings that suddenly came to mind.

The song wave like a surge came to a complete stop, and the darkness and strange air changed. Deep red illumination bewitchingly lighted up Kyo who was standing ramrod straight on his stand.

“Ore wa dare kara mo nigerarenai” / I can’t run away from anyone

“Ore wa nani kara mo nigerarenai” / I can’t run away from anything

The audience returned to silence, while only the sounds of the oriental bell told of the flow of time, a spotlight hit Kaoru and with the guitar melody of “Toguro” we were transported into another new dimension. When we plunged the climax of this song, a miracle happened. All of a sudden, his throat opened, and the complete Kyo’s voice resounded in the hall. At that time already 47 minutes have passed since the start of the LIVE. ---But, God isn’t all that merciful.

When next came “GLASS SKIN”, known for the beauty of its melody, the scene changed and the through the simplicity of the performance, each and every member’s stance and expression stood out. These 4 people who silently play maybe creating different sounds or movements but there exists an unseen connection, DIR EN GREY gives birth to sound and each one of them is needed in order to give it shape, even without words this was perfectly shown.

The stage went dark and the venue was again shrouded in darkness, and a silence that made us even hesitate to breath descended upon us. On the center of the stage in the midst of the lights was a figure that isn’t what it should be making metallic sounds that echoed through the microphone. After a few seconds, Kyo, who appeared again in front of us, started to talk in order to break that silence.

"Konna koe wo aishite kure” / Love this voice

“Konna koe demo aishite kure” / Love even this voice

While the stage was bathe in green and blue lights, “HYDRA 666” created another new space. With vocals that continuously echoed roars, guitars that started to guide dueling melodies, bass whose sound that further added to the deepness, and drums that was established as the central axis of the whole sound, the stage performance was depicted as a mysterious world. While that vigor upset the hall, “AGITATED SCREAMS OF MAGGOTS” started and the audience changed. In front of the agitated audience’s line of vision were 5 individuals, serious even amidst the violence. It was the kind of vigor that would expand in front of your eyes every time you blinked. At that moment, Kyo, who was standing on his stand with his legs wide open, spontaneously reached his hand into his mouth and greatly tore out the inside of his mouth three, four times. In a moment his face was stained red. It didn’t matter that it was a quick incident; my eyes were caught as if time went in slow motion. Even if you were in the back of the hall, you can obviously see with you eyes that it felt like a moment when Kyo overcame something.

The whole air in the venue changed.

It may be difficult to say it in words but, the audience’s thoughts became clearer towards the stage, all of the people who existed here felt “alive” with their skin. Even when it plunged into “BUGABOO”, there was no stopping that vigor. During “Reiketsu ni Nariseba”, lights that were placed on the right and left side of the stage, transformed the whole hall with white light. Toward the middle of the song, Kyo, with both hands raised upward while on his stand, was lit from behind, and as his silhouette emerged, as if it were sucked towards the stage, the consciousness of all of the people in the hall came forward. As both the 5 people on stage and the audience both wanted, it climbed towards higher place.

“Yakitsukete Koi!” / Burn this [in your memory]!

Kyo stirred up the hall. And “Gaika, chinmoku ni nemuru koro” assaulted the inflamed audience, and further drove them towards the climax. The excitement increased like blood that was being regurgitated. As we approached towards the last part, through the temperature in the venue continuously rising, not only were your eyes and ears but also all 5 senses of a human being were stimulated and controlled.

Again, the 5 people have finished a great performance, when the stage upfront cleared everything inside the venue returned to reality. "Unsurprisingly, what in the world did just happen...", to capture that[feeling] seemed ordinary and a mysterious atmosphere loomed over.

After a big roar for encore, the 5 people's figures visibly returned. At the end, Kyo went to the center and slowly took the mic.

“Kyou kita omaera wa rakki ya. / "You people are lucky you came.

Kyou wa, ore ni totte saikou ya. / Today, for me, was the best.

Shikkari me ni yakitsukete kaette kure!” / Go home with your eyes completely burnt!"

The venue that was once filled with scream was once again on fire.

“Kyoto,kakatte koi!” / Kyoto, come on!

"OBSCURE","GRIEF","REPETITION OF HATRED". As one would say that these numbers were hard and heavy, they were played and inside[the venue] became one. Also, the one that was again added in the line up for a year now, "Rasetsukoku", the ocean began to swell. All in all, the spectacle unfolded that is impossible for the camera to cover. Once again, DIR EN GREY has given life to a masterpiece, it is art. The last was "CLEVER SLEAZOID", the audience singing in chorus pushed the members to their limits and welcomed a very moving end[of the live].

At that moment no one moved, arms and instruments were held high. Right before the sound stopped, the Kyo who normally went away from the stage, took the mic to his mouth, this day again proved that it is one of DIR EN GREY's masterpiece that made its mark in history.

“Arigatou” / Thank You

Kyo who came off the stage went over the limits of his throat. It was to a point that he was unable to speak to anyone, Kyo retreated into himself, it looked like that he was facing something alone. A pace ahead of the other members, he returned to Tokyo and immediately went to a specialist in a hospital. The result of the test was "edema of the larynx" and "chorditis". The doctor who gave him the results of the test said that it required 5-7 days of rest. And the result derived after thinking it through thinking was that Sendai and Sapporo are to be postponed.

Thinking so much of the eagerly awaiting fans, it was a very hard decision.

2009.04.05 KBS Hall

SE SA BIR M01. INCONVENIENT IDEAL M02. VINUSHKA M03. RED SOIL M04. STUCK MAN M05. LIE BURIED WITH A VENGEANCE M06. Doukoku to sarinu M07. DOZING GREEN M08. Ware, yami tote... M09. Toguro M10. GLASS SKIN M11. HYDRA -666- M12. AGITATED SCREAMS OF MAGGOTS M13. BUGABOO M14. Reiketsu ni nariseba M15. Gaika, chinmoku nemuru koro EN01. OBSCURE EN02. GRIEF EN03. REPETITION OF HATRED EN04. Rasetsukoku EN05. CLEVER SLEAZOID

TOUR09 FEAST OF V SENSES To be continued

March 9, 2009 Rokumeikan LIVE

The real identity of F.O.V.S. is....?

On March 9, 2009, there was a band who did a live in a long established livehouse in Meguro, Tokyo called "Rokumeikan". That band was called, "F.O.V.S". What were they trying to hide, their real form is a fictional band to cover up DIR EN GREY's SECRET LIVE. A lot of people may have already noticed this but the band's name were the initials of "FEAST OF V SENSES".

On the day itself even though there was no formal announcement, the venue was overflowing with people who were sensitive or lucky to have gotten that information from somewhere. For the members who experienced LIVES where they felt the closeness of both the members and fans during the Circuit Tour last February and March, at the Rokumeikan which you can say is a scale that they've mastered, the audience maintained an extreme level of heat and excitement as they rushed towards the end. What finished the LIVE was that rare song. When the intro started, jubilant voices like screams filled the venue, at the same time as Kyo's shouts, in front of your eyes was a storm of headbanging! It didn't matter if the venue was packed there were times when "a knot" who were in the last row could see the the full stage and the members for the first time.

For the record, the T-shirts that the members wore during encore were commemorative shirts from the stage director, Fujiki-san's company, BOATMAN.

2009.03.09 Rokumeikan (F.O.V.S) SE. SA BIR M01. VINUSHKA M02. RED SOIL M03. AGITATED SCREAMS OF MAGGOTS M04. STUCK MAN M05. GRIEF M06. ?????? (doukoku to sarinu) M07. THE FINAL M08. ?? (toguro) M09. GLASS SKIN M10. CONCEIVED SORROW M11. HYDRA -666- M12. OBSCURE M13. BUGABOO M14. ??????? (reiketsu ni nariseba) M15. DOZING GREEN EN01. ????????? (gaika, chinmoku ga nemuru koro) EN02. REPETITION OF HATRED EN03. C EN04. ?-saku- EN05. ?-ZAN-

An Extra News and So On

[aknot] Limited Web Shopping Site, Finally Opens!

The most important privilege of [a knot] membership is the Original Item Shopping ...Finally! The Web Shopping Site "[aknot]only online shop" is born. Until now there are 4 released DVDs that are limited to members. As you all know, it was especially made for those members in "aknot". What started with those 4 pieces, there will be more limited items that are in store. What kind of items??...Until the details are announced all we can do is wait. The online shop can be easily accessed through the PC and Mobile [a knot] only site. You can choose the method of payment from Credit Card, by convenience store or by bank transfer. From now on, the [a knot] only on-line shop will now be convenient and remarkably change. Please look at it and confirm.

Die's Powerful Enemy Emerges!?

Upon visiting the dressing rooms during the tour, a very blank looking Die can be found. When he was asked if he was feeling unwell, "I wasn't able to sleep very well" said Die whose shoulders drooped. In overseas tours, transportation was solely on the tour bus but other than the stage and dressing rooms, they would spend most of their day in there[bus]. Not only during the trips, even in their own bunks(the beds with individual spaces)was included as one of the places which held silent battles for the members. Nightfall, when all the band members and crew were silently asleep, Die's enemy came like a ninja---the "Nightmare".

Actually, it had attacked several times during the Northern America Tour, the story that time was frankly told by die himself in the "ALBUM LIMITED CONTENTS"'s DOCUMENT. People who are interested check immediately! Recently, during February in the beginning of the "FEAST OF V SENSES" tour, there are sleepless days. In addition, will there be more new nightmare stories by Die!?

The Untold DJ-Killer's Radio Guest Appearance

April 9th Late night 1:00am. Entering a certain Chiba-based radio studio, you can find Toshiya and Writer Mr. Yuuichi Masuda! Actually, it was because Toshiya is a guest for his long-term "Older Brother" J-san who works as bay fm's [MOZAIKU NIGHT ~NO.1 MUSIC FACTORY~J's EDITION~Rock Line~] DJ. There may be people who wondered, "Why Mr. Yuiichi Masuda too?!" but actually, Mr. Masuda alone is a regular guest in J's radio.

I think there are people who have already heard the actual broadcast and watch the video in BARKS but, the program was about the time J-san and Toshiya met, the recent year's overseas lives, the February 4th release of DVD [A KNOT OF] . From beginning to end it continued with a peaceful mood. Occasionally, there was a lot of "I will explain" and Mr. Masuda will comment about watching Dir en grey locally and overseas. In the last half, the upcoming Dir en grey schedule was read and Toshiya was following J-san himself [physically too](Laugh) It is definitely fascinating for anyone to hear J-san deliver it[the show] to the Dir en grey fans (listeners).

#haiiro no ginka

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elaf94 · 8 years ago

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My unique BL collection part 8

Key symbols: ♡ manga likability [out of 5] ● uke likability [out of 3] ■ seme likability [out of 3]

-"Suki" da Nante Zettai ni Iwanai: ♡

"I'm not in love with you anymore." When Mamoru was 12 years old, Kanato, the childhood friend he thought of as a brother, told Mamoru that he loved him. But Mamoru replied, "Two guys can't be like that," and rejected him. After that, they went their separate ways. Mamoru wanted to apologize and return things to they way they were before... Now 15, Mamoru moves to Tokyo to pursue Kanato and they meet again at the same school, in the same dorm room... They feel such warmth when they sleep next to each other, Kanato's hand stroking Mamoru's head... Nothing's changed. But they can't turn back time.

READ

-Kowagaranai de, soba ni ite: ♡♡■

Ono Shizuka is a baker who got into an argument with his partner Sakai and fell off the stairs. The accident caused him to forget about Sakai entirely. However, he now is very interested in the beautiful but lonely man.

READ

-Takashima Kouichirou no Risou no Koibito: ♡●●■

One day Kitamura forgets his cellphone, being found by his kouhai. He find out that his senpai is narcissist, telling him that he will keep his secret if he will become his sex friend.

READ

-Love is Blind: ♡●■■■

one shot about a blind masseur and his roomate.

READ

-Tsukiatte Agete mo Ii n Dakara ne: ●■■■

At a bar, easy-to-stalk Akesato meets a guy who's just his type and whose true identity is...!?

READ

-Aishuu: ●●

College student Haneji Kaoru is surprised when popular actor Aragaki Jin appears in his workplace. They were high school friends, but unable to cope with his deepening feelings for the playboy, Haneji cut all ties after graduation. But now that Aragaki has found him, he has no intention of letting Haneji go...

READ

-Makkurayami de Kimi to: ♡♡

Adults have secrets. One night, after hearing a scream, Takimoto Kaoru is suddenly held tightly by someone in complete darkness. He was too surprised to retaliate, but the smell that tickled his nose was… Sakumra-kachou?! In addition he tells him to “sleep with me tonight”?! Takimoto, who couldn’t refuse an elite superior is now being used all over the place! And the appearance of a troublesome yandere ikemen Iwase Yuutarou doesn’t help either. A bitter love, where the guys’ wounds and secrets overlap, is here.

READ

-Yoru to Asa no Uta:

Asaichi can't play any instruments, his voice is average, and he's only in the band for the girls and the sex. Plus, he's homophobic. For some reason, the new bassist is infatuated with him despite the treatment Asaichi gives him.

READ

-Scarlet:

▪1-2) Scarlet: College student Akio is dating his beautiful classmate, Ryou. Unable to stand the slightest loneliness, Ryou accepts any girl who approaches him. One day, Ryou introduces Akio to a girl he is thinking of marrying which makes Akio decide to completely break it off with Ryou. Instead, a heart wrenching love story takes stage!

▪3-4) One Night Stand: During the day Harumi is just a normal businessman but when night comes he changes into a different person.

▪5) My Lover: Keito wonders why he is still in a relationship with the overly depressive Naoki

READ

-Kuroneko Kareshi no Asobikata (and sequels): ●

Shingo, who has the ability to change into a black cat, will sleep with anyone as long as he likes their face and body. Pushed down by a male who has a musky scent, the No.1 popular actor Kagami, has fallen for him. On top of Shingo's sticky abdomen, the beastly form Kagami has shown is--?!

READ

-Mou Ichido, Nando Demo: ♡●■

After an accident, Takahiro loses his memories of his relationship with his live-in boyfriend, Tarou. Will Takahiro get back his memories? Will he be able to fall in love again?

read

-Harete Bokutachi wa: ♡♡ (I really love the GL subplot)

High-school student Chihiro is small and cute, and gets molested by middle-aged men on the train. But it wasn't always this way - up through elementary. Chihiro was bigger than all the other boys and defended his friend, smaller and gentler Keigo, from the bullies. That is until Keigo was transferred to Vienna! Despite promising to write, Chihiro had long ago left behind the memories of Keigo. Now Keigo is coming back to Japan and what's more they'll be living under one roof! Will Chihiro accept the confession from Keigo who has become like a stranger to Chihiro?

READ

-Dokidoki Renai: ♡♡●●

After declaration of love from both. Now Chihiro and Keigo have started dating...but really what is the difference between best friends and boyfriends. Will the two of them learn in time the difference between friendship and love! Not to mention jealousy...

READ

-Samishigariya no Love Letter: ♡♡ (●●Haruto ■■ Hina)

Yuuki is a university student bored with his ordinary life. One day after returning home after class, he finds a strange chocolate tin in his bag. Inside it is a letter with "I want a friend" written on it by an unknown sender. When he writes a reply as a joke, the next morning another letter is inside it...

READ

-Mods: ♡♡■■

Tora is looking for a job, so he decides to apply for this particular place... What he didn't know is that this place is a Male's Brothel. Here he meets Shiro, the most requested male prostitute. At the beginning Tora feels reluctant to work in this environment, but the vulnerability aura that surrounds Shiro makes him stay, plus he needs the money. Everything goes well at first, they stablish this sort of friendship, but shortly after that, feelings, desires and painful secrets complicates their already fragile relationship...

READ

-Tasogare Dare:

Asahi Kikuchi is a university boy who has a hole in his memory and a real difficulty to remember people's faces and names. One day, he meets the waiter at a restaurant right after his girlfriend dumps him, and can't help noticing how much he looks like his first love.

READ

-Minori no Te: ♡●■■

The chiropractors, oasis, is no place for ordinary customers. It caters for all sorts from hotshot, crime syndicate leaders to nationally popular celebrities. Even those socially depicted as assertive are no match to the touch of Dr. Minori Shigehumi's magic fingers. Overflowing with affection, Dr. Minori's technique leads their heated bodies to a greater level of satisfaction

READ

-Mahoroba Days: ♡♡●●●■■

The Kuga House is the most prestigious deer family in Nara Prefecture. Shiraha, their heir, is attached to childhood human friend, Sousuke. Shiraha is popular and loved by all, while Sousuke is a mere servant of the house. But he is always telling Sousuke how much he likes him. Even though he feels special to be singled out by the beautiful and esteemed Shiraha, he knows that there is a line that he cannot cross. But! During mating season, Shiraha can't control himself anymore and he comes on to Sousuke! Since then, the scales of their well-balanced relationship tips and Sousuke's virtue falls into danger!

READ

-Sakura-gari:

The story centers around the 17-year-old Tagami Masataka as he aims to find his place in life. While attempting to start prep school as a rounin, he encounters Saiki Souma, the son of a distinguished noble of the Saiki Koushyaku family, and becomes part of the Saiki household.

READ

-Kaeru no★Prince-sama: ■■●●

Socially awkward Aono was perfectly happy working in Quality Control as but fate would have it he's been transferred to the Sales Department?? As if being ridiculed by his co-workers for his nervous stutter isn't bad enough, he's thoroughly mortified when the departmental star Gouzaka overhears him having a breakdown on the roof. But no matter how often he pushes Gouzaka away or how fast Aono runs Gouzaka is always there by his side...

READ

-Danshi Koukousei-teki Kazoku Keikaku!: (Satoru is cute beyond words)

Hino-kun is good-looking and a rumored delinquent. Actually, he is a kind-hearted high school student who looks after his young nephew. He can see that Mizusawa-kun is good at making sweets so for the sake of his fatherless nephew, he asks him to, "Please marry my older sister!" But instead, he receives a reverse proposal from Mizusawa saying, "I want to marry you."…?!

READ

-Kono Ore ga Omae nanka Suki na Wakenai: ●●

Fujima Taisei is a high schooler who had grown up spoiled by the people around him ever since he was little because of his pretty face. In his pleasant school life, there was only one time that had become the only stain in his life, when a student named Okachi Machi, whom Taisei had grown close to in order to get others' attention, had told him that actually he had never been his friend at all. Now Taisei wants revenge. What will happen these two?!

READ

-Void: ♡■●●

Maki receives humanoid Arata as a birthday present. Arata is an illegal male pet type humanoid with appearance and some memories copied from stolen data of Maki's late lover Ren.

READ

-Okubyoumono ni I Love You: ♡●●

Due to his scary face, Shougo has been alone since entering university. But unexpected events lead him to become close with Hina, from the same university. Shougo, elated at the fact he's become friends with the cool and kind Hina, finds out that Hina breaks out into hives when people treat him with affection—a "love allergy"?!

READ

-Romantic Joutou: ♡■■

Kei [Ω] acts cute & innocent as fancying to have a happy glamourous life with a rich, kind & cool Alpha while needs help from childhood friend Tsugi [B] during heat.. Unfortunately, a dreamy [∝] Ekihito turns out to be a haughty crazy scum, thinks of their relationship as 'Master-Servant' and even plans to collect 66 mistress Omega to have >198 children for pro-league soccer.. Worse that Tsugi's had enough of Kei's whims & wanna leave, what's Kei's gonna do?

READ

-Taikutsu wa Warawanai: ■■

Passer by on the street, Satake Tamotsu gets knocked over by beautiful Tamenaga Makoto whom he falls head over heals for at first sight, but Tamenaga Makoto, though pretty to look at, has a complex...

READ

-Yajirushi: ♡

A student who's had it super easy his whole life & an errand boy with communication difficulties. Also contains multiple one shots about twisted love.

Read

-Yamete kudasai, Koishii desu: ■■●●

the spinoff of Yamete Kudasai Mabushii desu. Following the happiness of the Koga and Sasano, Sugiyama and Hibiya began to deepen their relationship from friendship little by little. However, because it was something trivial, they are still under the impression of “being friends”. Meanwhile, a year passes and a new encounter comes.

read

-Iyayoiyayo mo Kiss no Uchi:

1-2) Iyayoiyayo mo Kiss no Uchi: Souji kun hates his older brother's bestfriend Megumi. Though their relationship was fine, why did they end up being far from their closeness before? 3-4) Start line made Atto Ipo When his close friend Kazu who's unamused & uninterested in anything but Seichi, confessed to him. Super-duper kind & compassionate Seichi just let Kazu do him though not agreed to date yet.. even planed about supporting Kazu when he found a nice gal.

read

-utsukushii koto/Itoshii koto:

Matsuoka is hooked on wearing his ex-girlfriend's clothes and going for nighttime walks into town, feeling the pleasure of being stared at by men wherever he goes. One night, after he is assaulted by a man during a one-off encounter, he is saved by Hirosue, a nondescript senior worker from his company. Drawn to Hirosue's innocent, pure love, Matsuoka continues to meet with Hirosue dressed as a woman, until Hirosue finally confesses to him. (The novel started perfectly with slow and concrete progression, all that crumbled under the rushed, too convenient and unsatisfying "happy" end. The extras served as home remedies for my wound, not curative but palliative)

read

-Pornographer:

An erotic novelist and a college student. What will transpire when the latter is forced to take down sexually-explicit dictation?

read

-Lonely to Organdy: ♡ (3rd saddest story I've ever read)

Haruta gets involved in an accident with a scooter, believing he would die from his injuries but instead of that he starts to see ghosts!

read

#My unique BL collection #yaoi recommendations #BL recommendations #yaoi list #bl list #favorite manga

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recentanimenews · 6 years ago

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I Shall Survive Using Potions!, Vol. 1

By FUNA and Sukima. Released in Japan by Kodansha. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Garrison Denim.

This was honestly not at all what I expected. I expected this series to be a very ‘slow life’ sort. The heroine would be reincarnated in another world, start a potion shop, get a couple of assistants, etc. Kid of like Killing Slimes for 300 Years, that sort of thing. This is 100% not that sort of series. Kaoru is not interested in a quiet life, just a life with freedom. Like Katarina from My Next Life as a Villainess, she has “evil eyes”, i.e. the sort that slant up, and wherever she goes she changes the lives of people around her. But Katarina is a sweetie pie, whereas Kaoru is more of a tactical nuclear missile. As the book moves from place to place, and Kaoru and her potions affect more and more people, the reader’s jaw begins to drop as to what will happen next. And woe betide the evil baron or sketchy gate guard who gets in the way of a really good plan. Kaoru is here for one reason alone: Kaoru.

A brief summary: Kaoru is a 20-something OL who’s on her way home on the train when she literally EXPLODES and dies. This is the fault of higher beings who were trying to do something else and she got caught up in it. They offer to reincarnate her in a medieval-style world, and she proceeds to ask/blackmail them into giving her a LOT of things. Language skills, a box of infinite holding, etc. And the ability to create any potion she can think of, along with containers for same. The kicker here is that she thinks she’s going to be in a standard light novel fantasy world. But no, there’s no magic here beyond dragons, and it’s more ‘hunting’ than ‘adventuring’. As such, when Kaoru uses her potions to heal a gravely wounded hunter, the general reaction is “WHAAAAAAAAAT?”. Now Kaoru finds herself moving from kingdom to kingdom, getting involved, healing people with potions, and trying to live a free life.

There are so many light novels out there that are male power fantasies, where the hero gets a harem of slave girls, awesome adventurer powers, etc. that it’s weird to read a female power fantasy like this. Most of the other series we’ve seen over here with female protagonists (including Make My Abilities Average!, by the same author as this) tend to have them as nice girls who are “plucky”. Kaoru is not that sort of heroine, and is almost anti-plucky. Occasionally she is in mild danger, such as when she’s captured by the evil nobles who want to get her potion abilities, but she’s got a plan, which involves knocking out the maid, dressing up as her, stealing the entire room, and walking out. (The poor maid eventually gets her dress back, and we’re reassured is not beaten or anything.) That said, most of the people whose lives Kaoru makes miserable are men, and sometimes you get the feeling she’s going out of her way to be awful to them. That said, she really does help a number of people suffering from grievous injuries, rich or poor. As well as, um, de-aging a female knight who’s too old to get married so she can try again.

By the end of this book I was enjoying it quite a bit. I will warn that it may make some readers uncomfortable. Kaoru is a lot to take, and can tease men or destroy their lives at a whim. But then, that’s what it means to live the free life, rather than the slow life.

By: Sean Gaffney

#Anime #News #Manga Bookshelf

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argumentl · 4 years ago

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The Freedom of Expression Ep 3 - Michelin Star related suicide.

K: Hi, this is Dir en grey's Kaoru, getting started with the third episode of The Freedom of Expression.

J, T: Yep.

K: Joe Yokomizu san and Tasai san are here again. So, how are we doing, after the second time?

Kami:*interrupts*

J: Ah, He's cutting in early today.

Kami: Yes, yes, yes. Im thinking a lot about my timing.

J: You're entering from every possible angle?

Kami: Yes, thats it.

K: What do you think after the first two episodes? We are on our third today, but does it seem interesting?

K: As a god, im kinda out of things to say.

J: Really?

Kami: Yep

J: You would think a god would know about all sorts of things.

Kami: I don't know all that much. *K laughs* Im studying, Im working on it.

T: Last time, the suspicion arose that he was poverty stricken, didnt it?

J: Yes, he pointed out he was a poverty stricken god.

Kami: I told you not to say that! *K laughs*

T: Sorry..

Kami: Its a problem.

K: After we finished last time, we ended up talking a lot about money, didn't we?

J: Yes, we did. *everyone laughing*

Kami: Yep, yep.

J: After the recording, Kami spoke non stop about money, didn't he? He is really attached to it..for a god. You'd think he'd be the one least interested in that, but he turns out to be the one most interested.

Kami: It wasn't that bad until then. It wasn't like that back on the radio show. It really has become a problem recently.

J: Oh now?

T: I see.

Kami: Yes, now.

K: Right, well, our third episode...

J: Yes, the title is 'Suicide resulting from Michelin stars - In the lawsuit of a former 3 star Michelin star chef, the court rules that....'

This is concerning the Michelin guide which was even popularised in a TV drama last year. In its country of origin, France, there is so much pressure, the fear of losing a star can even lead to suicide. A Chef who lost his third star even filed a lawsuit against Michelin. As for the specific story, Marc Veyrat, who runs the famous restaurant 'La Maison des Bois' in the Alps, recieved the long awaited 3 star rating in 2018. Just one year later, this dropped to a 2 star rating. Veyrat responded angrily, 'The quality of my food hasn't changed at all. Its a mistake in the inspection', and brought the case against Michelin. As well as demading the inspector's qualifications and the report to be made public, as his demotion has led to him to falling into a state of depression, he is suing Michelin for the sum of just 1 Euro, or in yen, 120 yen. He has been telling the media of his discontent that the inspectors could not recognize the cheese Reblochon, from the Savoy region, and probably mistook it for the widely produced cheddar cheese. Nanterre courthouse in the suburbs of Paris responded, that as well as the evaluation of the inspector coming down to freedom of expression, the plaintiff did not show good enough reason that his reputation had been marred. The famous chef was defeated, but the agony of chefs over the star rating is becoming a problem in society. By the way, simply put, the standard for the inspection, or the standard for the stars, is the food only. Not the restaurant interior, or the service. The food is assessed on the following five criteria. 1) The quality of the ingrediants. 2) The level of skill and amount of seasoning. 3) Originality. 4) Cost performance. 5) The consistency of the presented dishes on the whole. This is the same all over the world. As for the meaning of the stars, this is as follows. One star = Food that is particularly delicious within its category. Two stars = Spectacular food that is worth making a detour to have it. Three stars = Excellent food that is worth specifically traveling just to have it. The report is produced by a group consisting of the inspectors, the chief editor and all other responsible parties for the Michelin guide book. Every year they recieved around 45,000 emails and letters from thier readers, which they look through, and sometimes even do re-evaluations. ....Food!

K: Food...

J: Yep...I mean, reputation really controls which restaurants we go to. Kaoru, what do you think?

K: Hmm, well, its an inspection isnt it?

J: Yes, its an inspection.

K: I was in Paris last year. There are loads of these aren't there? * the others laugh*

J: Well, yes. So, he didn't change anything about his food, but his rating still dropped, whats that all about?

K: Isn't it precisely because he didn't do anything new?

J: Oh, could it be that? If others are upping thier game, you will naturally drop.

K: There couldn't really be someone who mistook it for mass produced cheddar cheese.

J: You'd think, wouldn't you?

K: And then, maybe people are just different, no matter what it is. Even if its the same person..

J: Maybe they were feeling bad or something..

K: Hmm, an inspection is...Well, if it was sports or combat sport or something..the observers can easily judge the game, like..oh this one definitely won...But with music, or movies....appraisals of 'things', its different depending on the person isnt it.

J: Yes, you're right.

K: This type of guide is for people who want to expand thier knowledge, the Michelin guide ...For movies it would be the Academy Awards, and there are tv shows doing the same thing. Its just to make things easier for people...so, in the end, it seems like it can't be helped really.

J: Well, thats it, yes. I dont know about Michelin, but Im in the position to do album reviews, so im in the place to award stars...and, its true, if its a genre you like, you just naturally like it, and are prone to jacking up the stars, but if its a genre you don't listen to, you feel unfamiliar and it takes a while to figure out whether its good or bad. So certainly, as for awarding stars.. asking people, well, im just repeating what you said Kaoru, its not objective information. You have to try and think about the aim. If the orgainisation drops a star from you it doesn't necessarily mean you are bad..

K: Its like a contest or that type of thing, you can still see who's winning the game..

J: Like 1-1, you can see whos winning in front of you, the circumstances are a little different from this though.

K: Eventually, won't it affect thier sales though?

J: I think so.

T: Don't you think diners also rely too much on this kind of guide?

K: You can check anything on your smartphone, you don't really know whats true.

J: You don't, there are these restaurant review sites where some people are paid to write good reviews, and some people are paid to write bad reviews, you know, to destroy thier rivals they will write bad stuff...So its difficult to know how far to trust that type of thing. By the way, Kaoru, do you refer to reviews in relation to food, or new music or anything like that?

K: Well, I do, yes. Guides and such...Usually, I get information I want to know from all over the place. I ask people, like..'I want to eat this', or 'I wonder if that place is good' or something, I ask people what they think.

T: But when you want to go to see a movie, do you ask someone who likes movies?

K: I'll read what someone has written about it, or I'll read what they've posted on social media.

J: The main thing is listening to people you can trust.

K: Yes, thats it.

J: Someone you are familiar with, or some well-informed person. Also someone you see eye to eye with.

T: Thats right.

J: If you go out for food with someone, and they say 'this is delicious', if you ask them what else they like, it will be the same kind of things that you like.

K: Really, I've never been to a two star or three star Michelin restaurant * the others laugh*.

J: Well, this internet age isn't going to end...

T: Right

J: Just how far will people trust this kind of assesment, or star rating?

T: Joe, have you ever been hassled by anyone because of this? By artists or such?

J: I havn't actually...I write what I didn't personally like, and sign my name with a star rating, then, 'this is what I think, but what do YOU think', to continue the conversation.

K: Our boss in our office, he was in a band a long time ago, and he got angry about something that was written in a magazine, so he stormed over to the magazine headquarters * the others laugh* He might ????*1

J,T: Your boss, wow!

J: What was the magazine?

K: Oh, I don't remember..*laughing*

J: Which of them has the freedon of expression? *laughing*

K: They are both clashing with each other.

J: The moment their freedom clashed *laughs*

T: But, Ive heard that kind of story before...A hip hop artist or something, went to a magazine and tried to restrain or kidnap the editor. He took it that seriously.

J: Well, in a music magazine, if you write an article, its the same with interviews, you dont know whether the other party will see or hear it. For me, after editing, I think its good to show it to the artist once. Im only writing my ideas, and there are times where thats not the reality.

For interviews, you dont necessarily hand over the questions in advance, and if im just asking at random, the artist may feel on the spot and not be able to say what they really feel, so i think its good to show them once, to get the facts right. With reviews too, i think showing them what i intend to write is important. But there are magazines where the boss doesnt get the content checked, 'you said it, so take responsibility', kind of thing. Thats a bit harsh, i think.

T: Well, yes. With interviews, I think its good to show the person. Protecting freedom should be kept independent.

J: Yes, yes, you are free to write what you think, but this is also keeping it real by checking if artists are holding responsibility for what they say. They decide whether they can really say that after checking it first.

K: There are times when you wish you'd used more words..

J: There are! Of course, its limited to the time and place of the interview, for example 1 hour, the time is squeezed. You have to get on with it, with little explanation..sometimes you need to supplement that.

T: Yes, you're right.

K: What do you think, Kami?

J: Kamiii?

Kami: *stifled laugh* Yes, what?

J: I don't know how to address him.

Kami: No no, don't worry about that, we are short on time.

K: Yes, our third installment is ending.

J: It felt quick today..somehow.

K: Originally, one episode was supposed to have two news items.

J: Yeah, i thought that.

K: But it didn't work that way, did it?

J: No, it didnt. What do the viewers think? Is one item enough? Or do they want two items at a faster pace?

K: If its too long, they won't be able to watch it.

J,T: Right.

T: A shorter video is better.

J: As for raising the number of views, right?

K: We talk about quite difficult stuff too, we should try to break into it as much as we can, make it interesting. Oh, and Kami, even his voice is interesting.

J: Its enough.

K: Well, that was the third installment, please tune in next time.

K, J, T: Thank you very much.

*1 I couldn't catch this.

#dir en grey #the freedom of expression #TFOE #kaoru #薫

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octranslations · 7 years ago

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Haiiro no Ginka Volume 42

Haiiro no Ginka Volume 42 March 2009

Translation Credits:

Gansonaki Kaoru-ya - Nao Toshiya Aibiki no Mori - Risu Shinya Dr. Nemunemu no daigyakushi - Nao Die Meisho de meishu - Nao Mu no Koufuku, Sanretsusha to Kubi - Nao

Gansonaki Kaoru-ya

Is everyone doing great (genki)? It's me Kaoru who is doing great.

England's KERRANG! Tour is done. I am writing this after the live in Saitama, the first day of TOUR09 FEAST OF V SENSES. I have read all the mail that I received from Osaka-jo Hall and Namba Hatch. When I read everyone's feeling about UROBOROS, their expectation of the Osaka-jo Hall and the feeling after the Osaka-jo Hall, I felt a bit really touched. It's probably age. (Laughs). But a good age.

Osaka-jo hall was the best! I am sorry that it's loaded with much reflection but it was a great time. I saw a lot from people who were able to tell me that they were able to feel UROBOROS and enjoy it, it really made me happy. I was able to tell various magazines about my state of mind but I am really a happy person! To think there are so many great people exist! Recently, I am just always giving thanks but, Honma Arigatou! (REALLY THANK YOU!) Now I really want to make you guys see an even greater greater scene kind of live that I can think of.

Also, we will go to places we've never been and we will go to the places whose people who have have never seen us before, the Livehouse Tour has begun. In Livehouses, the microphone wires are few, (the drums are many so we can take a few...) which is why acoustic guitar songs and there are some songs that we can't play but this the only tour where you can taste this!

Also the dude limited live, you're men so it's okay to have some injuries right? The one we had few years ago was so quiet but this time you're guys so let me see your fighting spirit!

For this year, if we are able to carry out all the planned out things right now, we will make a really boastful number of lives, until we can still go for it, we go!

In the feeling of battle of 2009 to one's heart's content(rocking) DIR EN GREY, give me a big rampage! I am expecting it! Until you can do it, do it!

See you!

To the people in London who may see this, we will return so wait for it!

Toshiya Aibiki no Mori

What's up!? The previous article had such good reviews so for this time I will write the sequel (laughs). Here it is!

I think this was also posted on Boo-san's (VJ Boo) blog, but this is our bus during the US tour. This brings back old memories...

At the rehearsal studio, the day before the tour, Mr. Shinya and I through the mirror. I think this mirror was in Mr. KAORU's previous page.

We went to UNIVERSAL STUDIOS in ORLANDO.

The weather was also nice, it was great! First, we went to SPIDER-MAN.

Next we went to JURASSIC PARK. My whole body was drenched wet! But it was fun (laughs).

Then, we went and rode on the Hulk. Making sure that Mr. chicken-kun doesn't run away, The 2 of us, Mr. Die and I, firmly held both of his sides and off we went to a fun journey (laughs). Mr. chicken-kun kept on screaming, "It's not yet over!? Not yet over!?" (laughs).

THE BLUES BROTHERS!? were there, that was hanging there, it was a fun time.

Page2

This is New York! I was happy that Virgin (records) had UROBOROS properly placed!

T-shirt of the band who did the OPENING ACT for the US tour, THE HUMAN ABSTRACT

It's been a long time since I wore an earring. The hole is something that shouldn't be closed.

At Boo-san's (VJ Boo) DJ event, SHELLAC's Akinori, Boo-san and I were...drunk...

At the meeting at Osaka Jo...its Masuda-san like always (laughs).

From the left, charisma hair and makeup, Yamaguchi-san, charisma trainer, Yooko-chan, charisma stylist Omiko (laughs). They are in a good mood?

Atsushi-san the DJ. I am indebted to him even from from before.

Bad adults (laughs)!!

From the left, its Mr. Sakano the crybaby, Mr. Okita of Shinki Music (Manager of the Sales Division), and Mr. Bandou of YOUNG GUITAR

To everyone at VISUAL TRAP. I am always really grateful, we will ensure that we pay by the due date!!

After the live on the 31st I went straight to the hospital. I came down with influenza (flu), and during the live I thought that I was going to die.... Due to the extreme physical activity, the drooling won't stop, because of the fever and the sluggishness my consciousness was fading away. At the hospital I got an IV drip, on the 1st I went back to my parent's home via Nagoya, I was in bed for 5 days and spent the whole New Year in bed... But, I want to praise myself since I think that I worked pretty hard if I do say so myself (laughs).

Well, the end of last year was like this. And at the start of the year is the KERRANG!tour. I don't know if I will do this journal for the next time but that's it for now! Until then!!

Shinya Dr. Nemunemu no daigyakushi

Hello Everyone. Nemunemu's corner will also start today. So, this time I bring you the diary on the November 2008 American Tour. I just appropriately picked out the days when there are things happening. And so here it is.

Nemunemu Diary ~America & Canada collection/volume~

11/4 Today, we are checking our equipment in the rehearsal studio in preparation for the real tour tomorrow. It's the same studio that we went to even during the past American Tour. It's the Myu- jin (place) where Dr.Nemunemu said that he Nia- (did something). I quickly checked my drums but the rototom didn't arrive. So, by car, we had to go to a music store to buy one. There was a rototom and I was able to buy it with no problems but they don't seem to sell adapter for the rototom. So when Dr. Nemunemu had to find something that can replace it inside that store, I found an exact adapter. The item found was attached to a snare drum then, when we asked the storekeeper if we could have the same one, he suddenly said that it's attached to the snare so you would have to buy the snare too. As we were having trouble, "I only need to buy the adapter, why do I have to buy the snare too?!" , a different storekeeper peeked out from the back area came out and handed us the same adapter and that is how I got the adapter in my hands. And at that I was able to do the setting with no problems.

11/6 Today is an off day so we went to Universal Studio. In the midst of going there my other name "chicken" was revived. (Refer to Vol. No. 33) Dr. Nemunemu has never been to Japan's Universal Studio but then, it most likely doesn't have those big rides. So I went there with much confidence. Just then as we arrived and saw the theme park, I suddenly saw big-looking lanes of Rollercoasters. Dr. Nemunemu thought secretly, this one is just impossible. However, I was able to ride the other rides with much confidence/leisure. And as the fun time just continued on, suddenly, the bassist said, "Let's go on 'that' next!". Of course, "THAT" meant the really big ride. I said, "Dr. Nemunemu will stay down here and wait." But the Toshiya & Die Combination were able to make Dr. Nemunemu take the ride by any means. They said, "If you are able to ride that we will never call you chicken again.", they also said, "it's a chance to remove that dirty name chicken". Even at that as Dr. Nemunemu is going to decline, suddenly, the 2 grabbed me up by both of my arms and I was dragged by force and made me get in the line. So while in the line, I tried running away during the unguarded moments but I would get quickly get caught by the two and was stuck in middle and then suddenly, I was on the ride. During the ride it was the most dreadful time. I was thinking that even I was able to ride it, and also even after that, just like before my other name is chicken.

11/9 Today after dinner, I went with Die, Toshiya, Nora, and the tech Kuroo-san, goods seller Jordan, for bowling. When it comes to bowling, Dr. Nemunemu was so into it a few years ago that he was able to write a lot about it at that time (very much like myself) but recently, I haven't played it at all. It can't be helped that I haven't played but we did 2 games and on both Dr. Nemunemu scored the lowest. Well as I said to myself it can't be helped since I haven't played recently,?I suddenly a heard a Japanese prattle from the rear. "Ma-ke-in-u". "Ma-ke-i-nu" (Loser) as I turned around, Jordan faced Dr.Nemunemu and said it. Beside Jordan, the bassist was doing a "I will try and teach you" face and grinned. In a few seconds, my other name is "Makeinu"(Loser).

11/10 Today's live is at Baltimore. When Dr.Nemunemu went in the dressing room, Jordan faced Dr. Nemunemu and said happily, "Mi-ki-inu". Instantly, it was a mistake but Dr. Nemunemu didn't correct him and rather left it at that. Today's first song is OBSCURE. So I came out, sat in my drumset and waited for the SE of OBSCURE to play. And suddenly, Kaoru-kun played the intro of HYDRA-666-. While I was thinking, "Oi, oi, Kaoru-kun it's a different song." I quickly decided that I should just continue drumming HYDRA-666-. But then, I looked at the members as if nothing has changed and we normally performed HYDRA-666-. But the song list placed at Dr.Nemunemu's area was undoubtedly had OBSCURE. Then I thought that "Then, Dr.Nemunemu's song list must be wrong". While I was drumming, I was doing signals "it's wrong! it's wrong!" to the drum tech Kenji Fujieda but Kenji Fujieda had a dumbfounded face as if to say, "what's wrong?" In summary, I was able to tell him that the song list was wrong and we at least made it the second song. Why is it that Dr. Nemunemu was the only one who had yesterday's setlist?

11/13 Today is an off day in New York and everyone went to Manhattan. While walking in the city, Dr. Nemunemu asked Kenji Fujieda. "What is famous in New York?" "First, it's the Statue of Liberty." "Aah-" "And the World Trade Center Right?" "Aah-" "And the Empire State Building Right?" "Ee?! What's that?!" "He-?! You didn't know? It's the place where King Kong climbed up on." "He--So which place did King Kong climbed up on?" "...." it's Generation Gap. Then, after going around in various shops, we went to Virgin Records to check that UROBOROS was there. After taking a look around the shop and thought about going out, I knew that the Chikurin would come and even intentionally volunteered to watch the Dir Live in New York was coincidentally there also looking at UROBOROS. I knew that he will be here in New York but this is just really coincidental. When we called to him he was so surprised, "Wha? Why are you also here?" he said what I also wanted to say. And then we went out of the store and in the street in front of the shop. Since this morning, we went out separately but somehow coincidentally assembled there with Kuroo-san and then, we went out for food. New York is small.

11/16 Today is Toronto Canada's Live. After the performance, I think there were really good people that were there so when I though of throwing some sticks, I thoughtlessly bumped my head on the speaker that was hung there. It was so dark so I didn't see it. Luckily it was dark and I thought that unless only a few people in front caught me bumping my head. After that, there was the meet and greet, a foreigner who can speak Japanese said, "Shinya-san, Atama wa daijoubu desuka??" ("Shinya-san is your head okay?") At that point, Dr. Nemunemu has completely forgotten about hitting his head. And for a certain period I was thinking, "E?? Do I really look that weird(in the head; nuts)?"

11/23 While Dr. Nemunemu was eating chocolates in the dressing room, the Human Abstract's guitarist Tapley came. Dr. Nemunemu always seems to eat chocolates and Tapley asked him where is his favorite chocolate from? Since, Dr. Nemunemu likes GODIVA, I said GODIVA (go-di-ba). From that, Tapley said that he doesn't know it and asked me where is it from, I really didn't know but it was most probably from Belgium but it's pretty famous, I explained. So he asked me for the spelling, and when I said G.O.D.I.V.A. he said, "Ooh! GODIVA!" (goh-dai-va). So it seems in America the pronunciation of GODIVA is "GO-DAI-VA". So please everyone remember this little trivia (food for thought).

12/3 Today we are going to buy lunch so we went to the nearby fish mart. There was a flood of delicious-looking crabs, shrimps, scallops, and etc. And mixed among those was an angler fish that had a very stern face was placed there. The face looked really scary and I wanted to take a picture of it and went towards it up close. Suddenly, the angler fish was actually going to be moved by the storekeeper behind, it was a candid item, the storekeeper came close and with yelled(bellowed) with a loud voice and made the fish move and Dr. Nemunemu was really surprised (shocked/scared). Then, the almost forgotten other name, chicken, was again revived.

So this was how it was.

HAPPINESS OF NOTHING, THE ASSEMBLED AND [THE] NECK

For oneself, what is really needed? Precious things? How much does one person really understand one's self? How important is it? Actually, for those who look like they haven't noticed It feels as if 'there is a lot'

In everything one does, there is definitely a meaning in every action If you turned around these nonchalant actions and words, that person can feel it inside Do you understand the words that I just wrote and the things that I requested in the previous newsletter?

By all means, I want you to think about it Surely, this is connected to growth as humans

But I wonder if fun things, pleasure and escaping from reality are also good? However, there is surely something more important here But if even one person noticed (for me), isn't there a point as to why I am writing a newsletter?

There are people who would say that it's because I simply didn't want to answer it, but do I look like that kind of person? If you were those kinds of people then you won't write these hassle-some things I think that other people's growth can be whatever but...

Just for the record, all of the previous questions were already answered during the creation of the previous newsletter. Of course on answering, since the previous main purpose of my request will change and I think it will dim(fade) so I sealed up the answers.

But for the meantime instead of using it for leisure, use the time and your head for growth This time too, if I had the time to think about it or the opportunity change it as much as possible This time it seems that my corner has a meaning

January the 18th, 2009 18:30 from England.

Translator's Notes: Kyo was referring a lot to the previous Haiiro no Ginka (Vol. 41) where he presented all the questions that the people sent him with no answers. He was supposed to answer all of it in this Volume

Die Meisho de meishu Question: The chord Am, how many kinds of Am are there? What's different about them? Do you change the places you press when matching it with the song?

Die: For me, the sound of the Am chord has a unique atmosphere that no other minor chord has. You can feel painful loneliness and behind it a warm kindess. From there, what kind of feeling can you feel? Depending on the person who plays Am, when Am is sounded, it plainly pulls out the player's view of life. There is also an Am that is simply musically played with no feeling. Even pressed in that position, it's a simple chord that is not laborious(hard). Although I think that it being a simple chord, it's consequentially entrusted to the player for the chord's deepness. Well, put aside my view of Am, if it's about playing, the same Am's sound does change depending on the position therefore I change the position depending the song's atmosphere and the connecting chords before and after it.

For example ? is what we call the orthodox Am hold. In "Sajou no Uta" with this position you scratch while plucking(strumming) "Jyakajyaka". ? is high-positioned Am. This position is the base phrase for the cutting play of "audrey".

Question: What changes in playing the Electric and Acoustic for Die-san?

Die: With the Acoustic Guitar, the pressing power of your left hand compared to the electric needs more power and the picking nuance of your right hand. Because as a live instrument it brings out the natural sound so surely the way you play an electric changes. And for an electric the sound is distorted and in places where there is more or less a miss(mistake) you can sometimes not get caught. In the acoustic, if you made a mistake, you will immediately get caught. (Laughs) During acoustic guitar recordings, I get to use a number of guitars but each one has it's own definite character. Which is why while feeling the picking and the change of touch of each guitar, each has it's own best point and sound so, I try all the guitars. And if it is the best sounding one then I choose that one.

Question: In "Gaika Chinmoku Nemuru Koro"'s intro part, the tapping phrase you used is so painful yet beautiful but when I first saw it live, I always say too much, "It's like magic...". For me, who has never did tapping, wanted to copy it, but I doesn't really understand it. This time, by all means, please teach me. Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu. (Sorry for the trouble/ inconvenience)

Die: Actually, I thought up this song's intro phrase during the "UROBOROS" recording's very last day, this was really the last of the last recorded phrases. This phrase's, what you call tapping, doesn't use a pick. First, press with your left hand's pointing finger is on the 1st string 10th fret and 2nd string 10th fret, the ring finger(or pinky) is on the 13th fret.

(Continues to the right page)

RED 1: With your right hand's middle finger(or pointing finger) press the 15 fret like hitting it. (Hammering on) WHITE 1: When your right hand's middle finger(pointing finger) hammers on the 2nd string on the 15th fret,

RED 2: On the same string you pull it while letting go (Pulling off), WHITE 2: While still pressing on the string make it slide to the 18th fret. (At the same time, the middle finger of your left hand presses the 11th fret.),

RED 3: In the same manner with the left ring finger, let go while pulling (pulling off), WHITE 3: Pulling Off,

RED 4: With the right hand's middle finger(pointy finger) hammer on the 17th fret. WHITE 4: In the same way, the left middle finger, pulls off.

This is the phrase's basic play using both of your hands, the point is keep the rhythm of the hammering on and pulling off, not to cut the sound midway, and to keep the sound level even.

Well, I feel that I have explained it quite simply. At first, it may confuse your head (confusing) but slowly try to get it to sound one by one, once you get used to it you will be able to play it.

#haiiro no ginka

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octranslations · 7 years ago

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Haiiro no Ginka Volume 61

December 2013

Translation Credits: Happiness and nothing, the assembled and neck - Kyotaku Ganso Naki Kaoru Ya - direngreytranslation Dr. Nemunemu no daigyakusyuu - direngreytranslation Meisho de Meishu - direngreytranslation Aibiki no Mori - direngreytranslation ------------------------------------------------------------

Happiness and nothing, the assembled and neck

It is better to stop having expectations. If someone asks why, what can you gain by it? What ever goes in accordance to ones expectations? In this world with the overwhelming number of people whose expectations failed, what do they hope for?

Is there anything that goes according to ones expectations? It’s rather the opposite.

So, what is the meaning of ‘hope/expectations’? What value has this ‘hope/expectations’ at this world where no one agrees in 100%, starting with the way of living, circumstances, personality and different ways to perceive life? I don’t understand.

However, as in hope/expectation there is a bit of ‘hope/wish’ that connects with the future, that is something much more valuable than expectations.

That’s why I steadily fix my eyes on my own way of living, without expectations, but also without casting aside efforts.

Way of living is different for each person, this strained me is alone, but surrounding circumstances don’t change. That’s why if there is time when you suffer because of waiting, when you expect something from others, it is better to improve ones own way of living.

So rather than in way of living or intention of other people, I want to believe in my own gushing forth will/determination.

I must take the meaning of the whole energy created by myself and let it evolve in the more profound place .

This is a fate in my songs, the limit per se is me.

From now on I will also continue to carry on the life of conflict without looking at the surroundings.

This is a way of living of Kyo. Once in a while through re-affirmation I am born as a new me and I am changed.

Meaning [of this] can be a bit unclear, but let me say this one thing to feel satisfied. Because simply the intention of frank people is carved for certain into my rusty/run down chest.

Today I wanted to honestly express my gratitude. What can be done is good, bad things don’t matter. As a human that is not like that, thank you for coming with me. Let’s climb to elevated places. Let’s see together various scenes.

It was unusual and unsteady, but those are my true feelings. I would like you to take them in honestly.

Then, everyone, please do your best in various ways and keep going.

Till the day we can meet again. It was a merely some guy, Kyo.

---------------------------------

Ganso Naki Kaoru Ya

How are you? This is Kaoru who since we have been on tour in North America for the past three days, has a stomach which is tired from eating hamburgers three days in a row.

This tour I’m more tired than usual. But it was very impressive and lots of fun, so worth doing.

In Okayama we had a bit of a scary trouble. While playing the second song, MACABRE, due to a harmony trouble we became completely unable to be heard. It was quickly exchanged for the techie Haruna’s harmony but it affected our concentration, I’m sorry we were messier after that… At the end, I talked on stage for the first time in ages, but I wonder if you could hear me properly? In regards to the song we played after, rasetsukoku, we truly chose that song at that venue - I thought it might be good to include a song we hadn’t included on the tour yet. Thank you to everyone who was there. Thinking about it now, that person who sleeps in Okayama liked that kind of live didn’t he.

There were some dramatic content in this tour, so for everyone as well I think there’s parts that people while think various things about, but I think it was a good tour. Sometimes I think I want to do another tour with that kind of content, so join me!

Next time I do it (a tour) I’ll reveal everything properly. But the excitement might fade away…

It will already be finished by the time you get this, but since the North American tour is still continuing I’ll work hard to return to Japan in good condition.

Well, I’ll be waiting for you at the Budoukan!

---------------------------------

Dr. Nemunemu no daigyakusyuu

Hello, this is Nemunemu’s corner again. I had time off in Oita so i wondered if there wasn’t anything I could do on the bulletin board use nettatsukuri (I couldn’t find a translation for this word >< ?????) Firstly I looked up what was famous in Daibu and found there was a monkey mountain. So I decided to go there by myself. It seemed you could get there by bus from Daibu station, so I walked down a shopping street to the station.

(photo of a shopping street)

Even through it was the afternoon it was not lively, and there was this mascot character everywhere.

(photo of a mascot)

It seems to be the mascot for a music festival, but for some reason it’s wearing a chef’s hat.

Also, at a park there seemed to be some kind of event going on, but as if it were the end of the world there was no one there, and I didn’t go close to it.

(photo of a park with some tents and chairs, but no people)

So with this and that I managed to arrive at the station, but I couldn’t see the bus stop. There was a police box so i approached it to ask for directions, but the person standing in front of it was a completely normal looking old man, so I found the bus stop by myself and got on board.

(photo of a police box with an old man standing out side of it)

Then after 30 minutes of shaking on the bus I arrived at mt Takasaki.

The person running the gondola at the foot of the mountain asked me if I’d be riding the gondola up. When I asked him how long it would take if I walked, he answered “10 minutes!” so while being surprised I decided to walk up the mountain. The mountain had stairs and slopes so you could climb it normally. After walking for a short while I arrived there promptly!

(monkey photo)

There were monkeys there that seemed like they were an obvious normal thing. (to be there)

(monkey lying on a fence)

They weren’t cautious around humans at all. Omg did they think I was their friend? furthermore when I went to the top the monkeys were all in clusters.

(lots of monkeys)

By that time I had completely merged in with the monkeys.

(photo of some monkeys)

The one in the middle is me.

After playing a lot with the monkeys and completely opening my heart to them, I departed from my friends and descended the mountain.

(sign)

There’s a mascot character here too!

Since I’d come all the way here I thought I would then take the bus to Beppu. Actually I’d been on holiday before to Beppu when I was eight years old. I was again shaken on the bus and arrived at Beppu station.

(photo of a station)

I looked around the station, but there wasn’t anything in particular there. When a stray cat came close I thought for an instant it was a monkey. This is an addition to things that often happen to people who visit monkey mountains.

(photo of a cat)

Since I’d come all this way I thought about going to an onsen and I searched the area. By that time I had gotten hungry so I found somewhere I could eat. That place was a little far from Beppu station so I decided to go by train. There was around twenty minutes before the train would arrive so I went to the end of the train platform and waited. I wanted to get on the train first so I waited right at the end. Then when I thought the train had finally come the train only had two cars and it stopped right in the middle of the platform.

(photo of train platform)

I jogged a little.

And so I arrived at the station closest to that onsen. It was quite a way from the station so I went by taxi. Looking out the window of the taxi the surroundings was the kind of place I like. So I thought I need to walk back down this street. The onsen was “maneki no yu” Since it’s a chain I wondered if would be okay but it had various elements so I decided on it. Well, it was incredibly normal but I was satisfied. Then I went back to the station on foot. It probably took one hour. The street to the station was a large street you often find in the suburbs, full of large sized stores.

Like this.

(sign for a book/cd/dvd/game store)

and this

(Photo of a large drug store)

Each shop was of a large size unseen in Tokyo so with each shop I became excited. Then I discovered this shop.

(Photo of a “treasures” shop)

I wondered what kind of treasures lay sleeping in the store and exploring it I found some great treasure.

(Photo of Dir en grey albums)

Then, having spent enough time I returned to the train station. By the time I arrived at the station it was already past 10:30. Then when I bought a ticket and entered the ticket gate I discovered something unbelievable.

(photo of timetable showing the last train to be at 22:32)

The last train had already gone!

(photo of a clock showing 22:35)

The last train had just left as I got to the station. It was inadvertent that there was no last train after 10:30pm. That town was that kind of town. I should have realized with the lack of activity in the shopping district when I arrived, and the mascot wearing a chef’s hat. With this and that I took a taxi home.

See you again next year. Have a good year!

------------------------------------------------------------

Meisho de Meishu

The Japan tour has ended in a blink of an eye. I’m a bit lonely. Because I have to leave Japan soon.

I think the GHOUL tour was a tour with very deep/dark contents. In particular, no matter how many times I played MACABRE I was always nervous. Even phrases I could play with no problem in rehearsal, when it came to playing them on stage my fingers would shake and I’d become clumsy. At Okayama when the song seemed to break up (Talked about in Kaoru’s segment) it was really bad for my heart!!! That was the NO.1 time I was flustered on the tour. From then on every time we played MACABRE I think my heart rate increased. I cannot tell you how relieved I would feel the moment we returned to the final intro phrase (laughs) It felt like I could finally see the exit. It’s not an easy thing to concentrate on a song for 16 minutes.

And as everyone knows, I’m playing anime songs. I, who declared I hate anime. Actually, when I heard this conversation from the company president, on the phone “um, Dragon Balls Vegeta….” honestly at that point in time my brain concluded “let’s reject it” (laughs) However this time I thought hard while listening to him. That before, while thinking about things with the bands image I’d always rejected this kind of talk. Even band-wise anime was the road I had come to most avoid. But that was right at the time when I was wanting a new motivation for myself, and wanting to change myself. So, if I didn’t start anything then nothing would change. I thought rather that more than anything else, touching on things that I didn’t like in a 180 degree turn from myself would become an incentive for me. Of course I don’t have the stance that I’ll do everything, but if I don’t try anything then I won’t know. I may be able to see different things to what I’ve come to see up until now. If I try and its not good, then I can just stop. So I started it with that kind of feeling. Already I’ve played two lives for it, and experiencing various things including, Dir en grey also touring at the same time, sharing an amp with another band, using an amp I’d never used before instead of the Marshall amps I’d always used at live houses, purchasing a multi effector, and playing while changing my tread on it, and because there was no wireless system being concerned about standing on the amp cord and feeling like the lights were unusually bright so being shy , I’m doing those concerts feeling everyday, expected things in a new way. And at the same time I’m remembering the time, even before we were an indies band, back when I’d only just joined a band.

and looking around, I’m already in the sky. Ahh for the first time in ages I was properly able to sleep on a plane. On the past Japan tour even in my hotel bed, apart from the times I was drunk I couldn’t sleep soundly without waking up every 2 hours. Maybe it was because while watching iron man 2 I drank two bottles of super dry and two glasses of red wine. That red wine was delicious. Thinking about it, it’s completely unrelated but I get the feeling I watched iron man 1 and 2 on the plane.

Doesn’t matter.

Well then, it appears we will soon be arriving in Los Angelos so I will finish here!

By the time you’re reading this we would have already finished the North American tour and will have returned to Japan. I wonder how our first North American tour in two years would have been? (will be?)

Translation Note: (Special thanks to Die for writing a 260 character long sentence OMG lol)

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Aibiki no Mori

How’s everyone doing?

Well, this time I’m going to talk about the exhibitions and solo exhibitions I can remember going to.

Firstly, Katsuhiro Omoto’s GENGA exhibition.

This person is truly amazing.

All of his original pictures in the AKIRA manga left me speechless.

I really admire his precise composition and the fineness of his lines.

Gazing upon his overwhelming works, Manga and storyboards like “Domu” “STEAMBOY” “Roujin Z” “MEMORIES” etc I enjoyed myself, forgetting the time.

At the end there was Kaneda’s bike featured in AKIRA. I was self conscious about the people around and I didn’t ride on it, which I regret.

Next was the Francis Bacon exhibition.

I came to experience the works of a man called one of the most important painters of the 20th Century.

Honestly speaking, it was a shock.

It’s common but it was like I was mesmerized from the tips of my toes to the top of my head… or a feeling close to light dizziness? After that I was attacked by something that doesn’t know a light character.

I can’t explain it well, but it was definitely a shock like being hit by a hammer.

A heavily distorted man, looking like he’s about to scream.

It was constantly violent… How should I say… Savagely beautiful?

But I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the madness there.

That is my feeling since (visiting) the Van Gogh museum.

I thought honestly that I too would like to occasionally pick up a brush and tread into this world.

Lastly is Takayuki Takeya’s work exhibition.

He is a person who has the skill of the magic of changing things from 2D to 3D.

Photos were allowed there, so I set off with the intent to take many photos.

His work was truly amazing, even the backs and small details, so without thinking I gazed at his work.

Of course the models were done well but the rough sketches were too, and I admired that that was what lead to such amazing sculptures.

I want one in my house.

Well, with that feeling, I gained a good motivation this year too.

To be able to properly raise the quality of this motivation next year too I want to work hard at my secret activities.

Well, I’ll finish here.

Everyone have a good year.

#haiiro no ginka

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