#haiiro no ginka

[alienorchids]

Dir en grey, 2000

[argumentl]

This is my third time being published in Haiiro no Ginka! 😄 Two questions published this time, with my name.

And my first time to have all 5 members reply to my question! 🤩

I also got a question published on Kaoru's individual section, on which there were only 12 questions 🥹

[seraphlight]

[additionalsorrow]

some scans of young toshiya from 灰色の銀貨 (haiiro no ginka) volumes 6-10

[yridenergyridenergy]

Not that I'm better in Japanese, but Kyo's interactions with Shinya piqued my interest a lot so I looked into them more. The sentence Kyo repeated twice in his questions to Shinya is a famous quote from Fist of the North Star, probably among other examples, and it's usually translated as: "You don't even know you're dead yet." It's really threatening as the character finds a mindblowing way to end the enemy without them getting conscious of it, being able to blink.

So it sounded like playful threats, to which Shinya answers with his usual very polite and formal Japanese hahah.

In the fan newsletter volume 100, the members were asked to answer to questions from each member and here’s my take on the translation:

Toshiya

Kyo > Toshiya

- Rich or Extremely rich? (referring to food such as ramen broth) Rich

- All humanity is turning into dogs: woof 🐶

- Very hard or very soft noodles? Hard

- Pigmon or Kanegon? (from Ultra Q) Pigmon

- Would you dye your hair blue again? If everyone dye their hair like the old days then I’ll consider it.

Die > Toshiya

- Are you the type who sleeps well at the hotels during tours? depends on which day

- How often do you change your smartphone? 4-5 years

- What do you usually order from Starbucks? Drip coffee

- Which electric appliances are you very particular about? Electric toothbrush

- If you were to drive, which car do you want to drive in? Shelby Cobra

Kaoru > Toshiya

- Any recommendations lately? ask and answer by yourself

- You’re not watching anime recently? I watch it sometimes

- Which is the most delicious ramen shop? If it’s hard to say here then tell me next time: I’ll tell you secretly

- What would you say if Die send you a picture with his hair completely shaved off? maybe he can’t deal with the intense heat..?

- How do you want our next song (album) to turn out? I want it to come with a different kind of excitement

Shinya > Toshiya

- Which country do you like aside from Japan? the US, Hawaii

- Which manga did you like the most as a kid in elementary school? Musashi no Ken

- Are you becoming farsighted? My vision is getting worse so it could be that…

- Do you want to live in Nagano in the future? I'm thinking about it lately

- Are you planning to keep your black hair forever? Silver hair

Kaoru

Kyo > Kaoru

- Jumping up and down (びょんびょん) or chuckle (むひむひ)? (I think he’s referring to fans’ reaction) chuckle

- Which one is better, Light salt or Cheese Karl snack? Curry

- Aren’t you gonna grow your hair long? It’s troublesome

- Aren’t you going to dress up as a pirate? I’m not doing anything this Halloween, so I won’t do that

Kaoru > Kaoru

- Gonna do “it”? Give “it” to me

Die > Kaoru

- What make Hanshin so strong this year, let me hear your opinion: pineapple candy

- If a Hanshin member was to throw an MVP, who would that be? Kinami Seiya

- If you could scout one player from an 11-members team (other than Hanshin), who would that be? Yamamoto Yoshinobu

- If Hanshin finally got “it” after 18 years, what do you think is going to happen at the Dotonbori river? become the prey of Idiots, onlookers and youtubers.

* I don’t watch baseball so I’m not so sure about this whole conversation, but I know Die is a huge GIANTS fan while Kaoru is at Hanshin’s side, and people in Osaka often jump into the Dotonbori river when celebrating something big (new year, winning the olympic games..) so Die is talking as if the Hanshin would surely win the game (or winning over the GIANTS? idk..)

- If the GIANTS were to change the manager, who would that be? I think Abe Shinnosuke…? but the atmosphere would be…

Toshiya > Kaoru:

- We will die at some point in life, would you rather (1) be remembered by everyone in the world or (2) always be remembered by one particular person until they die? 1

- If you have a chance to time-travel for once, which timeline would you choose (1) before you were born, (2) after you’ve passed away? 2

- If there is one drug that brings super power, would you choose the one that (1) make you look young like your 20-year-old self or (2) keep the same appearance, but have the strength of a 20-year-old? 2

- Which member is most likely to runaway from terrors? Kyo

- Who is the most manly member? Toshiya

Shinya > Kaoru

- Which country do you like aside from Japan?Hawaii

- Which manga did you like the most as a kid in elementary school? Toriyama Akira

- Are you becoming farsighted? Yes, I am

- Who is your favourite Hanshin player? Kakefu Masayuki

- Which LINE stamp do you use the most? Kaoru chan

Kyo

Kaoru > Kyo

- Any recommendations lately? Fish from Fukushima

- Are you building plastic models? I’m building them intensely

- What would you say if Shinya send you a picture of him and Tom Hanks? from Deep State?

- Have you seen Mad Heidi? I haven’t seen it, but I’ve watched MEN

- How do you want our next song (album) to turn out? Isn’t Ramen Jiro (without the broth) the best thing ever?

Toshiya > Kyo

- We will die at some point in life, would you rather (1) be remembered by everyone in the world or (2) always be remembered by one particular person until they die? must be 2, right?

- If you have a chance to time-travel for once, which timeline would you choose (1) before you were born, (2) after you’ve passed away? maybe 2, to the future

- If there is one drug that brings super power, would you choose the one that (1) make you look young like your 20-year-old self or (2) keep the same appearance, but have the strength of a 20-year-old? 2, the inner strength (health)

- Who is the most affectionate member? Must be me

- Who is the best at telling lies? Must be Shinya

Die > Kyo

- Any scary experience at the hotels while touring? a fan peeping through a peephole and put their ear to the wall (in Osaka)

- Favourite game console? Mega Drive

- The most intimidating movie character in your opinion? Norman Bates

- How many pair of sneakers do you have? about 50?

- FOOD (don’t know why he’s using english here lol) that touched your soul lately? Blowfish dish from the restaurant that senpai took me to

Shinya > Kyo

- Which country do you like aside from Japan? None. Aren’t you Shinya!

- Which manga did you like the most as a kid in elementary school? Jojo. Aren’t you Shinya!

- Are you becoming farsighted? Dunno. Aren’t you Shinya!

- Have you gotten more tatoos? I’ll get more when I’ve become a skin-head. Aren’t you Shinya!

- Will you give up smoking? No. Aren’t you Shinya!

Die

Kyo > Die

- How many times do you go to the beach each year? when I think about it, I guess I haven’t went to the beach for years

- What is your choice of drink on a cruiser, beer or wine? I get drunk immediately after having wine so I think it’s better to go with beer

- The whole world is destroyed: If everything and everyone dissapear all at once then I’m not scared

- Won’t you dye your hair red again? or would you dye it blue? Frankly, during the pandemic when I could not see anyone, I’ve made a mistake and dyed my hair blue. It didn’t suit me at all, to the point that it gets creepy. So I cover it with red dye right on the next day.

- What’s your favourite colour other than red? BLACK&WHITE (he used english here)

Kaoru > Die

- Any recommendations lately? Prison’s book of rules

- Favourite type of meat for Yakiniku (grilled meat)? high-quality outside skirt steak, thick-sliced beef tongue, beef organs

- After Hara Tatsunori, who’s going to be the GIANTS next manager? I wanna see Abe Shinnosuke as the manager already

- What would you say if Kyo send you a picture of him standing on top of the mountain that he’s just climbed? The Zoom meeting has already started

- How do you want our next song (album) to turn out? raw (fresh) sound

Toshiya > Die

- We will die at some point in life, would you rather (1) be remembered by everyone in the world or (2) always be remembered by one particular person until they die? I’ve spent my whole life with this band so maybe 1

- If you have a chance to time-travel for once, which timeline would you choose (1) before you were born, (2) after you’ve passed away? If I can not return to this life time then I’d want to see what the future is like

- If there is one drug that brings super power, would you choose the one that (1) make you look young like your 20-year-old self or (2) keep the same appearance, but have the strength of a 20-year-old? 2-I’ll work on my appearance somehow…

- Who’s a foodie among the members? Our interests may vary but isn’t everyone a foodie?

- Which members hold the most secrets? All of us are secretive but I think “that person” definitely stood out.

Shinya > Die

- Which country do you like aside from Japan? The humidity right now makes me really want to feel the air of Los Angeles

- Which manga did you like the most as a kid in elementary school? Captain Tsubasa

- Are you becoming farsighted? I’d say my vision has gotton worse from 2007-when I got lasik surgery

- Favourite GIANTS player? It’s hard to choose one, but I’d say Kuwasa Masumi, he lived near my house back in Osaka, and used to be my hero when I was in PL Academy

- Your luggages always seem heavy, which item is the heaviest of them all? Dyson airwrap styler, hair dryer, hair iron, hair oil, hair cream, hair treatment spray… most of the items that added weight to my luggage are hair related

Shinya

Kyo > Shinya

- You’re already dead. No, I’m not dead

- If you can become another person, would you choose to be Yoshiki san or Gackt san? please choose one. I’ll choose Yoshiki san because I’m a drummer

- Aren’t you going to build a room in your balcony? I don’t have a balcony in the first place

- Would you try the punch perm hair style? I really want you to try it? or eipper. you only have two choices, punch perm or eipper? If only these two choices then eipper…

- You’re already dead. No. I’m not dead.

Die > Shinya

- Would you wear anything other colour aside from white at the liveshows? Please answer with something different from “No”. Maybe there’s no other options in the future?

- Would you change your hair style? Please answer with something different from “No”. Maybe there’s no other options in the future?

- Would you change your phone to the iphone 15? Please answer with something different from “No”. I’ll skip for once next time

- Favourite Apple’s product that you’ve owned? please also explain why. I’d say the Macbook Pro that I’m currently using. Without it, nothing will work out

- If you didn’t become a Youtuber then who would you be? Maybe a drummer

Kaoru > Shinya

- Any recommendations lately? Why kind??

- What kind of game should I, Tooru and Fujieda play? Who’s “I”??

- If you have the Rock f Solo sheet for Kurenai (ロックfソロシート), please give it to me. I only have DIR’s records

- What would you say if Toshiya send you a picture of him DJ-ing in the club? You’re spinning the Kurenai Solo Sheet! Yay

- How do you want our next song (album) to turn out? Ah! the person who ask this question… must be Kaoru kun? Am I right? 😏😏😏

Toshiya > Shinya

- We will die at some point in life, would you rather (1) be remembered by everyone in the world or (2) always be remembered by one particular person until they die? Maybe everyone in the world

- If you have a chance to time-travel for once, which timeline would you choose (1) before you were born, (2) after you’ve passed away? Absolutely the future, I want to see the future world

- If there is one drug that brings super power, would you choose the one that (1) make you look young like your 20-year-old self or (2) keep the same appearance, but have the strength of a 20-year-old? Inner strength

- Who the most domestic member? Die san

- Most ambitious member? Kyo san

——————

And that’s it. They haven’t change one bit 😂

[yridenergyridenergy]

The wholesome-ish friendship between Shinya and Kyo

Their latest playful Q&A in Haiiro no Ginka vol. 100 has prompted me to compile examples of this weird but overall wholesome relationship that Kyo and Shinya have and which is not obvious at first.

Situation #1

In October 2017, Kyo gifted Shinya with a custom white version of a MadaraNingen one-piece. As far as I remember, that article of clothing was not available for purchase in white at all, to the public. And of course, we all know that Shinya prefers to wear white.

Situation #2

I think that in response to Shinya sharing a video of him briefly playing with the minicars that were sold as tour goods in This Way to Self-Destruction, Kyo posted a story on Instagram of him revving up a bunch of mini-cars and persistently making them hit his phone propped up on a counter and displaying a picture of Shinya. At age 43. To which Shinya made an Instagram post vaguely hinting that: "Good children should not play with the mini-cars to hit someone's picture!"

Kyo's Instagram Story "The proper way to use mini-cars" video

Shinya's translated response

Situation #3

In late 2022-early 2023, Shinya publicly celebrated his bandmates' birthdays via emojis on Twitter, and Kyo was the only one to respond, in kind.

Situation #4

Kyo posted a cryptic picture of Shinya's video meeting with Mana in an Instagram Story and he has mentioned on Twitter at least once that he was watching Shinya Channel (the making of the FaFa onigiri).

In the same vein, Shinya took his failed attempt at needle-felting a pink bunny in March 2022 and turned it into a miniature hammer-wielding bunny in October 2022, in response to sukekiyo unveiling their Mosaic Shoujo PV which featured Kyo in the killer bunny suit.

Situation #5

This very old video of Kyo teasing Shinya by pinching the side of his dress, Shinya reacting by pushing Kyo a bit and Kyo falling into a robot dance in response.

Situation #6

The coffee maker. In one of the live talks held during the COVID-19 pandemic at concert venues, Shinya mentioned having a coffee maker which was of no use to him, and Kyo expressed interest in taking it from him. Later, in the Galacaa livestream talk between the two, it was revealed that Shinya had promised to give Kyo his coffee maker, but he never pulled through on that offer. Kyo, sporting a doodled face to hide his own, insistently questioned Shinya on this unreliability when the topic was brought up by fans in the comments. Shinya kind of struggled but ended up explaning that the coffee maker was really useless because of a defect, that it would not have been an appropriate gift anymore. But he forgot to update Kyo about it after he tried to contact the manufacturer. Kyo replied like: "Oh, alright then."

At some point, Kyo took the matter to Twitter, confronting Shinya about it with their respective member photos to illustrate the dialogue, and Shinya replied the same way.

Situation #7

In that same livestream, Shinya is so used to Kyo's bullshit by now that he completely ignores Kyo's doodle face sheet and casually leans forward to look past him and at the interviewer, sat on Kyo's right. After a while of this, the interviewer points out to Shinya that Kyo is insistently staring at him with this disturbing face, which is when Shinya becomes startled and nervously laughs upon realizing that, also making Kyo chuckle.

Situation #8

More often than others, Shinya and Kyo are documented chatting on the chairs backstage while they wait for everyone to be ready to start the show. Maybe there's something to be said of how they are the two members of the band to leave the stage the quickest, while Kaoru, Toshiya and Die stay for a while to throw picks.

Situation #9

Miscellaneous pictures of the two:

Situation #10

Apparently it was Shinya's earbuds that Kyo used to play with the cat (also Shinya's?) in this famous old video.

Situation #11

Other interactions on Twitter include commentary regarding the song battles that fans were voting on via that same website, during live broadcasts from their manager Fujieda on Galacaa. Kyo and Shinya were the only two members reacting to the songs that were pulled out of the box, Kyo sometimes replying to Shinya's own tweets wondering what he meant or outright questioning his preference.

Another interaction consisted in Kyo copying Shinya's tweets regarding the release of their Phalaris album and twisting Shinya's cute comments into hellish versions.

Situation #12

Probably a bunch of elusive comments throughout the years, but here's an example of something that Shinya said about Kyo in a magazine interview.

Situation #13

In Haiiro no Ginka vol. 100, the members were asked to send each other member five questions. Some chose to personalize them based on what they actually wanted to ask of the others, while a couple decided to send the same questions to all, but members were not told who the questions came from. Kyo picked up on that anonymous part of the game and when answering Shinya's set of questions, he ended each of his short answers with a second sentence that can either just be the Kansai dialect for: "Aren't you Shinya!", or in other dialects, translates more to: "Shinya, you bastard!" hahah. From what I saw, nobody else hinted at who they thought the questions came from in their answers. In reverse, Kyo took up two of his five alloted questions for Shinya with the simple statement: "You don't know you're dead yet!", a quote from Fist of the North Star which is highly intimidating as it hints that someone has defeated the character so easily and lightning-fast that they are a dead man standing, their body having trouble catching up with the reality that they were slaughtered. Shinya, in response to that repeated tease, stubbornly replies in his polite and formal Japanese that: "No, I'm not dead." Their Q&A with the other members were not nearly that quirky.

Situation #14

At his SERAPH birthday concert in 2023, Shinya said that his three treasures in life are:

DIR EN GREY

SERAPH

sukekiyo

Situation #15

Kyo replying to Shinya's post featuring a very old picture of Kyo (which was however respectfully hidden by Phalarisu-kun) by pulling out the oldest/youngest postcards of Shinya he could find, also commenting to paraphrase Shinya: "Postcards that probably no one has anymore." His own postcard depicting him peeks from underneath.

Shinya replied to that with: "I tried to look for it but couldn't find it 🥺"

Situation #16

On Twitter, Shinya posted a photo with other artists which he explained as: "Yesterday, we had a birthday celebration for everyone born in February and March 🎂 Happy birthday everyone 🎉🎉🎉"

To which Kyo directly replied: "I wasn't invited." (born February 16th)

And Shinya responded with: "The DIR EN GREY guys are a bit mean 🥺"

Kyo never replied to that.

Situation #17

Going to combine two things considering how long ago they were.

Shinya and Kyo were the first members of Dir en grey to meet, and the day right after I posted this compilation happened to be the 28th anniversary of when they first performed together.

There's also an anecdote that, way back then, no one in the band knew how to contact Kyo because none of them had his phone number, but eventually Shinya just casually revealed that he had it all along and said: "Oh I'll just call him"

Situation #18

Shinya and Kyo are the only members who are clearly dog lovers in the band, while Die and Toshiya are part of the cat team. Shinya used to have a dog (chihuahua?) and Kyo now has Pun-cha. Shinya recently wore a sweater with a dog on it.

Situation #19

In a tweet that Kyo has since deleted, he wrote that if there was one grudge he still held, it was that he never appeared on the cover of a Rockin'f magazine. Shinya also wasn't featured, so he added that while he doesn't have a grudge against them, he has declined interviews and comments for a certain magazine after that.

Situation #20

During their European tour 2024, Kyo and Shinya embarked in a playful spat on Twitter, seemingly out of boredom while traveling on the tour bus. It was funny the way it culminated in both of them forcing the other to subscribe to their fan clubs to find out more. On Kyo's side at least, I didn't see anything related to that on kyo-online for real hah.

Situation #21

Shinya took the time to snap a picture of Petit Brabançon playing on the Yunika Vision screens while he was out solving a game, then posting that on Twitter and promoting Petit Brabancon. " I heard Kyo sing while solving a mystery in Shinjuku"

He also made numerous mentions of the Petit Brabancon posters around Gorilla Hall in his video touring that venue:

... Did I miss any? And there will undoubtedly be more to come!

Thank you very much to shinyaburashka, mementoboni, lamenty45 and degtau for your help!

[koutetsuhime]

灰色の銀貨 vol.0

Not scanned by me, but scanned for my old Dir en grey fansite.

[koichi-kuu]

xxpretty-vacantxx:

Haiiro no ginka

[myakuu]

kaoru - haiiro no ginka vol.62

plz credit if you repost this elsewhere.

[aleshaxruthless]

[argumentl]

Fourth time being published!

Got on Kaoru's page, Toshiya's page, and one comment on a different themed page 😍

[seraphlight]

[the-boy-with-the-tiger-tattoo]

“I’m just a lacking guy who cannot do anything,

but I’m not living a life depending on others.”

[yridenergyridenergy]

Hii! Do you know anything about deg members music tastes? As far as I know they said about their favourite albums in haiiro no ginka or something

Sorry, I think that you sent me that question earlier too and I took a while to answer this one even.

It seems like the members listed their favourite or inspirational albums on a couple of occasions. direndetails published a series of posts called "The Root" on that topic, based on a 2011 interview:

Most of the band members also shared a list in a much more recent interview, and I can't be bothered to crosscheck whether the albums are the same as in the above hah.

And you mention Haiiro no Ginka... Not sure at all, but I typically don't share the content from there anyway, as it is intended.

[octranslations]

Haiiro no Ginka Volume 49

Haiiro no Ginka vol. 49 December 2010

Translation Credits:

Gansonaki Kaoruya - Cammie Die Meisyo De Meisyu - Cammie Rick Meets THE UNWAVERING FACT OF TOMORROW TOUR 2010 Nora Meets THE UNWAVERING FACT OF TOMORROW TOUR 2010 Shinya Dr. nemunemu no daigyakusyu - Risu Toshiya Aibiki no Mori - Risu Mu No Koufuku, Sanretsusha To Kubi/Happiness of Nothing The Assembled Neck - kirei_hukkatsu edited by Cammie

Gansonaki Kaoru-ya

Is everyone doing all right?  This is Kaoru who became exhausted from drinking and fell asleep in the dressing room during KORN's show.

Now, we returned to Japan and our Japan tour has just about begun. This time, for personal things, I've changed my set up for monitor and I feel refreshed. There are still improvements and need to work harder, but I think I can continue on with a good feel. By the way, for 10/28 Shinkiba, Rick didn't arrive to the venue until 2 hours before the show, and I didn't know what was going to happen. From now on, we'll be touring the western area, so I wonder how that will go.  I look forward to it and I will do my best!

And the single is finally getting released.  We've made you guys wait for a long time. The song itself was recorded around spring this year, but as we thought about our schedule and decided on the release, it took more time since our previous work. And we're reconstructing the beginning SE part for OBSCURE, so once that's done, I guess we can use it for the tour right away.

Also, for recent things I've done, I've been writing songs, watching films, and getting stabbed for places where my ink isn't finished. This is something trivial, but I have an urge to eat liver sashimi 1.  I can eat it every day. But since it's too much of a hassle to go eat, I haven't eaten any at all.  I'll eat it in Fukuoka.

There isn't much content, but around the next issue, I'll work hard in the making so that I can talk about the album! So see ya! Recently, I watched the film, "The Boy in Striped Pajamas".  Please watch it. I want to go watch "Lemmy".

Translator’s Note 1. Liver sashimi or ???? (leba sashi) is cow liver sliced thinly like sashimi, which is served with salt or sesame oil.

Meisyo de Meisyu

DIR EN GREY ambassador.  Many times the staff overseas describes Die this way, and even during this summer's U.S. tour, he spent the days doing "meisyo de meishu (drinking good sake at famous places) with his friends".  Yet these scenes are fishy from the actual person's memory.   This time, I, Yuichi Masuda, who went out to drink together in London during the U.K. tour, and who tripped on the street with blood running from the forehead, which was witnessed by him (Die), will report as much as I can remember.

After the show, there was an after show party hosted by the local radio station at the venue, and we drank together with APOCALYPTICA members and staff and had a pleasant chat.  Cellist Eicca said, “My body is finally getting used to this tour and I’m gradully getting into better shape.”  That night Die saw APOCALYPTICA’s stage from the beginning to the end for the first time, and he told them, “The live was full of waves and I didn’t get tired of watching.”   Eicca and the other members smiled in satisfaction.  However, the one who increases strangeness after being drunk is one of the band’s founder and cellist Perttu.  As Die said, “He looks like he can show up in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’” the other cellist and the eldest member Paavo (who has a routine of jogging around the venue surrounding before the live) laughed, “No, he’s more Jack Sparrow than the actual Jack Sparrow.”  But this Pirate Perttu who is usually cool and destructive on stage, was quite worn out that night.

In between sound check, Die, Kaoru, Perttu, and Paavo had a discussion style interview.  This will be shown on the music magazine December issue of “Player”, which was released on 11/2, so don’t miss out.  Naturally, everyone was sober during the interview.  THe conversation went into a broad area, but parts like, “We’re bands that aren’t tied down in genre,” “It feels strange for a Finnish band and Japanese band to tour together in the U.S. and speak in English,” and “Let’s do something interesting together some day” came into agreement.  From Perttu’s mouth, a word of wisdom was said: “By doing aggressive music, I’m able to maintain peace within myself.”

Die took Jeremy, a local friend that came to see the live, to a pub nearby the venue.  He originally was a staff for BULLETS AND OCTANE, and he now has a job affiliated to Minnesota Timberwolves, which is a NBA team based in Minneapolis.  On the actual day, there was a local Twins game in the baseball field, so the place was like a sports bar.  For the game, Twins lost after extra innings.  Yet regardless of the result, the local people continued their boisterous drinking party, and the two of them also fitted right in and continued to talk.

1 month after the U.S. tour, on 10/16 late night, Die was drinking together with Roy Mayorga and Ray Luzier in the city of Giroppon (Roppongi).  The first person is a drummer for STONE SOUR and the second person is the drummer for KORN, and this party was held after the first night of “LOUD PARK 10” ended, which DIR EN GREY also attended.  Die told Roy, “Our drummer  Shinya is very inspired by you.”  Then, he (Roy) answered back, “I’m honored.  But what is the meaning of that Shinya being absent (laughs)?”  As I explained, “It’s late at night and he is probably ‘nemunemu’ (sleepy head),” but I could not make him understand this.  In this global drinking party, it continued until dawn while expanding the circle of people.  At 7 in the morning next day, Roy was supposed to be leaving for departure from the hotel, but as usual (?), he didn’t get any sleep and he went inside the car as if nothing was wrong.  He was indeed a world-class “master of Meisyo de Meisyu”.

As I got the report from Mr. Masuda, I conducted a questionnaire to Die in-between planning meeting about the various scenes!

-According to Mr. Masuda’s memo... “There was a live on 9/1 House of Blues in Chicago.  After the show, there was an after-show party hosted by the local radio station where you were drinking together with the APOCALYPTICA members and staff,”but is there a party like this every time the live is over? Die: If there was time, there was always a party.  And another party!  The night view in Las Vegas was electrifying!

-On that night, Die-san saw APOCALYPTICA’s stage from the beginning to the end for the first time, but what kind of live was it? Die: This love~ this love?

- “On 9/21, there was a live in Minneapolis.  In-between sound check, Die, Kaoru, Perttu, and Paavo had a discussion style interview conducted.”  This was the interview on “Player” (December issue)  that was released on 11/2.  After doing an interview with the members of APOCALYPTICA for the first time, how was it? Die: They’re serious.

- There is a memo that says, “Naturally, they were all sober during the interview” (laughs), but do you drink a lot with the other band during overseas TOUR? Die: For this tour, I had the chance to drink with Rick a lot.  I can never forget the night of Boston; when the live was over, Rick was in a really good mood, and he took me to a BAR, and we drank down Jägermeister.  The next day, I was throwing up until the live was about to start, and even when I took the medicine the staff prepared, I would throw up right away.  Fear Jäger power (?’ 3’)=3 burp

-During the interview, you guys talked from the perspective of “genre” and “country”, but before this discussion, did you have this kind of deep talk with the APOCALYPTICA members? Die: I don’t remember because I was drunk.

-  Here, I would like to ask something more general, but what is something fun for Die-san during the overseas TOUR?

Die: ???

-On the contrary, is there something tough or sad?

Die: …(- _ -)

-When you TOUR around together with another band, is there something you feel when you spend your days with them?

Die: They really love Jäger.

- Mr. Masuda’s memo says, “After the Minneapolis live was over, Die took Jeremy, a local friend that came to watch the show, to a pub nearby the venue”... but how long have you known Mr. Jeremy?  His photo actually has appeared on vol. 41! Die: I met him in 2006 during the “FAMILY VALUES TOUR”.  Since then, every time we come to do a U.S. tour, he would come and see us.

- He “now has a job affiliated  to Minnesota TImberwolves, which is a NBA team based in Minneapolis.” right? Die: Yes.

-Die-san also likes baseball right? Die: V4 didn’t come true1.

-Now, there is one more thing remaining.  “Extra.  1 month after the U.S. tour was over, on 10/16 late night, Die was drinking with Roy Mayorga and Ray Luzier in the city of Giroppon (Roppongi).  The first person is a drumer for STONE SOUR and the second person is the drummer for KORN, and this party was held after the first night of “LOUD PARK 10” ended, which DIR EN GREY also attended.”  That must’ve been quite a night with these great people, but how did this happen? Die: From Roy’s words: “Meet at Roppongi.”

-It seems that Shinya-san became a topic of conversation while speaking with Mr. Roy...?

Die: I was drunk and I don’t remember.  Sorry, Shinya-san.

-You met KORN’s drummer, Mr. Ray, for the first time, but how did that go?

Die: He’s quiet and kind.

-On the LOUD PARK 10 website’s video  comment, KORN’s Mr. Jonathan mentioned “DIR EN GREY” for the artist he wanted to watch at LOUD PARK! Die: Jonathan’s favorite songs is “?-saku -.

-Die-san, you had a chance to speak with Mr. Jonathan backstage, but what kind of things did you talk about?

Die: MM

-As Die-san continues to drink with members and staff whom you did an overseas TOUR together, how do you communicate with other bands?  If there are any secrets... Die: Power of Jäger.

-Lastly, there was something I was curious about Mr. Masuda’s memo: “Recently, during the UK tour in London, I drank together, tripped on the street   and my forehead was bleeding... All this was witnessed by him”... What exactly happened (laughs)? Die: He also must have been attacked by a Jäger bomb.  By the time I looked back, he fell over face-down w(°o°)w Be careful, Masuda-san!

-This was “Meisyo de Meisyu” overseas.  Will this still continue here on after?  I look forward from here on after on who you will have a “Meisyo de Meisyu”.

Die:

Translator’s Note 1. Die is referring to the Japanese baseball team, Yomiuri Giants that could not make V4 (winning 4 times in a row for a baseball series).

For the domestic TOUR that started on 10/15, we welcomed our PA and tour manager Rick and translator Nora-san whom we are familiar with from the overseas TOUR.

For these 2 people that know DIR EN GREY overseas, we conducted a sudden interview to find out about the difference from Japan. RICK meets THE UNWAVERING FACT OF TOMORROW TOUR 2010

—Participating on this Japanese TOUR, is there any difference you feel between Japan and overseas, Rick-san?

For me, the biggest difference was the schedule.  Japan is very organized about it.  For example... We will be doing this at this time.  The U.S. is very flexible and depending on the situation, we have to make adjustments.  Also, the number of staff involved!  For the TOUR in U.S., we tour with the members, myself, and 2 techs, but there are around 30 people for staff for the TOUR in Japan...  That may be the biggest difference.

— I see.  Is there a clear difference between the staff overseas and Japan?

There are many things with LIVE overseas where there are many promoters, and with those people, we of course have a proper FES or not have one.  For example, when we went to SONISPHERE FESTIVAL in the U.K. this time, everything was displayed well and it was easy to work, but DOWNLOAD was a FES in the same U.K., but I did not have a good feeling with the affiliates and the local staff, and there were many problems.  On that point, LOUD PARK that was just held in Japan was a good environment and the staff were good and perfect!  Production is Japan is perfect.  I feel that the characteristic of Japan is being too perfect...

—I can see how the Japanese characteristic is showing up (laughs).  From Rick-san’s perspective, are there any difference between members overseas and in Japan?

(Laughs).  Everyone is basically the same!  Comparing to the members whom I met 4 years ago, there are parts where they grew up.  Die became very sociable and he is very active interacting with everyone.  I guess Kaoru changed the most.  He was so serious!  But now, he interacts with everyone.  For example, he changed when he orders a meal at a restaurant.  He now starts talking to local people.  Before, he would talk through Nora, but recently since they have been able to do things on their own more, I guess there is a part where they are getting used to the actual place (overseas).  At first they seemed timid but their personality is basically the same whether they are overseas or Japan.  I think they are starting to understand how to live every day overseas.  

—So the members’ performing does not change whether they are in Japan or overseas... right?

Yep!  They play 100 percent overseas or Japan!  They are completely ROCK(ing) out on stage.  There really is no difference.  Of course, Japan may be better for stage, equipment, lighting, and staging, but I guess that is it.  Overseas, there is a budget issue, and many times we cannot do things completely, but as a band, their standing towards LIVE remains the same.  

—The conversation is going to digress a little bit but... Rick-san, you have come to Japan numerous times and what do you think of the country?

This is my 11th time coming to Japan but I love it very much!  When I applied for visa, I had to find out how many times I went to Japan before and I took a look at my old passport to find out that I went to Japan 14 times.  I first came here in 1985 with a band called KEEL, but Japan during that time is different from today.  Now, foreigners can live here more easily.  Japanese are very polite, quick, and many people like to be tidy, so I’m always inspired by them.  Ah, and the food in Japan is wonderful.

—Going back to what we talked before... How is the live house in Japan for Rick-san?  You must have experience with the live house capacity we are touring this time in overseas too.

Overall, the venue equipment is better in Japan.  The 2000 seat capacity venue is incomparable between Japan and U.S.!  For a 2000 capacity venue, the band in the U.S. needs to bring in their PA, lighting equipment when they go on TOUR.  Really, live house with this capacity in the U.S. doesn’t have equipment built in (laughs).  What I thought of Shinkiba STUDIO COAST is that this equipment is the best in the world!! Regarding PA!!  With FES(tival), we are using places that have a good equipment set up so I have an easy time working with it, but between the equipments  in small venues in Japan and U.S., there is a real difference.  Even if you compare Europe to Japan, the level (of equipment) is still below.  

—So for Rick-san, Japan is very easy to work!!  Is that what you are trying to say?

Of course!! If I just tweak on the (PA) board, it’s perfect (laughs).

—What do  you think of the TOUR environment in Japan?  You always have to stay and sleep on the bus for overseas as you TOUR various major cities...

Japan is... I guess the move can be pretty annoying (laughs).  In the U.S., we’re on the bus the whole time and at times it can be tough, but there is an environment that allows us to have our own time; and, despite the small space, we can just spend the way there where we can rest when we want to, play games when we want to, and it feels like we’re on TOUR together with our home.  When we return to the bus, sleep, and wake up, we would be in a different city (laughs).  Since we can use the Internet on the bus, they are able to know what is going on in Japan too. Although when we go to mountain areas, the connection gets lost.  The world is becoming a smaller place because of the Internet.  Even if you are apart from your family, if you have the Internet, you can contact them.  My role overseas is to reserve hotels, and including TOUR planning, I don’t really know whether I’m a manager or a sound tech (laughs).  From touring many cities for many hours with the members all over the world, I feel that they know their circumstance no matter how many staff there are, and they know what needs to be done.  We went to Russia for the first time this year and it was really great.  With that in mind, I’m going to say again that Japan is an easy place to do!

—Even when I listen to what you’re saying, I understand that Japan is a fortunate environment.  No matter how much the environment changes, in a good way, DIR EN GREY will always be DIR EN GREY!  Now this is going to be the last part, so I would like a word from Rick-san for the members!

I always say this to the members: “Keep it heavy” (laughs).  I appreciate being able to come to Japan with DIR EN GREY as a reason, and after being together with them for few years, we were able to gain many experiences and I really appreciate them.  Coming to Japan this time, there were old songs that I heard for the first time, and there were songs that I thought, “That’s cool.”  The old songs were created just as good as the current songs, so in a good way, it’s something that’s unchanging for them.  That’s important.  I don’t want them to be sidetracked from what they want to do where it should be likely of DIR EN GREY.  I look forward to the next album and what is to come in the future!

—Thank you very much during your busy time!

Ah, this is a question but... why is the venue in Japan so hot (laughs)?  Isn’t there any air conditioner?

NORA meets THE UNWAVERING FACT OF TOMORROW TOUR 2010

—Participating on the Japanese TOUR this time, is there any difference between Japan and overseas, Nora-san?

There is no difference with staging.  There is difference with equipment and lighting, but basically, the atmosphere overseas and Japan are completely the same.  The members may feel more weight overseas, but on stage, that doesn’t affect them.

—Are you saying that they are themselves whether they’re overseas or Japan?

Basically, yes.  But for the members, the most difficult part is language barrier.  I don’t think Rick is concerned too much about it, but Rick and the people over there will directly tell the members, “This was good today.”  Everyone says this in a straightforward manner and the members receive it the same way, and I think that is a very stimulating thing too.  At times they may not understand the words, but the people’s reaction and action are conveyed to them.  At first, the members wouldn’t even try to communicate to the people overseas; but recently, even when they don’t know the language, they smile or greet where they’re able to have some communication.  There’s also a member that is studying hard to learn the language (laughs).  The bands that tour with them overseas are also interested in Japanese culture, and the members see that the other people are trying to understand them, so I think that’s why they are being like “Let’s try to communicate!”  Despite the language barrier or feel stressed on a personal level, at the actual site, they don’t let that show.  I’m amazed how they’re doing a normal TOUR no different from Japan.

—Rick-san mentioned this too, but they’re doing the things they need to do 100 percent no matter where they are, which is why there’s no difference. Now, is there any difference with fans?  Is there something Nora-san sees where you feel, “This is different!”?

The members get asked about the difference between Japanese and overseas fans a lot, but I think the passion towards DIR EN GREY is the same for both.  If I were to raise one thing it would be the way they get into the LIVE.  For example, the Japanese fans don’t do this, but around the beginning of “dead tree”, the U.S. and overseas fans would be dancing! I’ve never seen that in Japan, so that would be a clear difference.  It seems likely of Japanese... They are very quiet for quiet songs.  They try to react by matching to the style of the song.  Also, the unity of Japanese fans is amazing!

—Rather than enjoying individually, there may be an aspect where they enjoy the unity.

Yes.  But I think the love towards the band is the same.

—So from what Nora-san sees, is there any difference between the members in Japan and overseas?

H-m... I don’t think the members themselves change, but since the environment is different, the members act differently.  For example, everyone is living in a small space overseas.  That would be different in Japan. When we’re overseas, Rick or myself take care of everything for the members, so we can see how they are but... When I’m in Japan, I work separately from the members, so I don’t know too much, but observing the current atmosphere, I feel that the atmosphere in Japan is heavier.

—Rather than “heavy”, is it more “serious”?

Yes!!  Japan is home for them too.  I don’t think they are yearning for perfection overseas... Not for staging but towards their environment. The lifestyle is completely different from Japan, so there is a feel where they are doing their best at a different environment.  In Japan, since this is their home, they’re tyring to exert the greatest thing so I think that’s why they’re being serious.  So there isn’t anything different about the members and it has to do with the difference of environment.  

— They’re uncompromising because they’re from Japan.  Perhaps that’s why from Nora-san’s eyes, they seem to have a “heavy” atmosphere.  Do you feel that way with the members approach towards the Japanese fans?

Basically, their stance towards the fans don’t change, but I can really understand how the Japanese fan is their base.  No matter how tired he may be after a LIVE, Toshiya will be writing a DIARY (entry), and he may be thinking all day about what photo to post and then take the actual photos.  Everyone constantly checks the news in Japan and they want to show them where they’re going, so they would take photos for the newsletter or report their first-time experience even when they’re away (laughs).

They get inspired when they go overseas and I think they’re digesting what they have experienced so that they create songs for the fans.  They may be away from home, but I think they are getting inspired in order to create good songs and then return to Japan.  No matter how many times they go overseas, the first place they release their CD is in Japan!

—I’m going to change the topic, but what left you an impression while you were touring around Japan?

That would definitely by LOUD PARK for LIVE.  There was a lot of hard work but it left me an impression.  The LIVE left me an impression but the audience left a bigger impression.  People that weren’t fans of DIR EN GREY were watching their stage seriously.  This is the same as the FES overseas and TOUR that they aren’t headlining, and I always try to find people watching them that aren’t fans.  LOUD PARK this time is the same as the festival overseas, and it has made me think that there may be people that newly became fans.  Personally, being able to watch the stage from the beginning to start was very good for me.  When I’m overseas I have to communicate about the monitor, so I can only see them from the side and listen to the first 3 songs, and I have never seen them on stage properly!  This time I was able to watch them for the first time and I was able to experience what the audience feel.  

— What were your thoughts after watching them properly?

Well—  They’re great after all (laughs).  It’s intense watching them from the side, but I could feel the heaviness that Rick always says.  I watched them from the front; the lighting and staging were great, and I was finally  able to see what DIR EN GREY wanted to convey.  Also, when I saw “VINUSHKA” during LOUD PARK, when Kyo raised his hand, everyone on the floor also raised their hands... I was very moved.  I felt great unity too.  You can’t really see that overseas!!

— This is going to be the last part but please tell us your thoughts about this TOUR!

Thank you very much for letting me follow the Japanese tour as staff! Watching the staff supporting the band under different circumstance from overseas and  feeling the passion from Japanese fans directly, I felt moved and refreshed.  I learned a lot from watching DIR EN GREY from the front since I usually watch them from the side.  I really want the members to work hard in Japan and overseas!  I look forward to the next place where another challenge awaits them, and it’s a pleasure working with them.        

ShinyaDr. nemunemu no daigyakusyu

Hello everyone. This is Nemunemu and let's begin today. So I am currently writing this [column] in the fall. Speaking of Fall, it's a season of the palate. So this time for this year's custom tradition of hunting for taste/food, I went and picked chestnuts.

Indeed it looks like a town where chestnuts fall. Dr. Nemunemu's wild/animal instinct is at work. As you normally walk on a road you'd immediately see chestnuts on the roadside!

But my relief was still early. When I went for a closer look,

As expected crows or something had eaten everything inside and left the cone/burrs. But of course just knowing that there are chestnuts in this town is already a big catch/harvest. As I walked further on the road, there were more fallen chestnuts.

But of course this area has a terrain where crows can easily land so as expected only cones/burrs were left.

When I walked further I discovered a place that looked like an animal trail.

Nemunemu's wild/animal instinct suddenly pinged so I went further deeper into the trail. Then of course there it was!

A huge amount of chestnuts.

Of course it was still in an untouched condition.

I immediately started picking. But here I realized a big mistake as Nemunemu. I forgot my cotton work gloves eventhough I was going to pick chestnuts. Since I had no work gloves I used my bare hands to take the chestnuts out of the cone/burrs, I only picked as much until my hands hurt a lot.

So I brought the chestnuts home but I didn't know how to prepare/cook it so when I was staring at the chestnut, I drew on it without thinking.

This is a slime.

Since I drew a slime, I couldn't help but draw this.

This is King Slime. The Royal Order ring is the just the right size. Then I couldn't stop and I drew faces on all of the chestnuts that I picked.

That night in my dream I was attacked by chestnuts.

And so I will end this Nemunemu column here. This time since drawing faces on the chestnuts attacked my physical vigor there won't especially be any presents. I am accepting your comments so write down your member id, address, name, age, telephone number, Nemenumu Hakase no Daigyakyusu comment (better if long) and send it to ?105-8799 Nihon Yuubin Shiba Shitendome "a knot" Nemunemu kuri no kakari. The previous winner is No.XXXXX XXXXX-san. Congratulations.

Toshiya Aibiki no Mori

This time I am posting pictures that weren't posted in the Korea, Russia, England, North America DIARY. Well here it is!

1 This is personally the first time I felt that Yakiniku is delicious in Korea 2 This is the town that I saw from the hotel where we stayed in. 3  I ate breakfast with Ms.NAMIKI

1 This is the borscht and blini caviar that we ate at Moscow Airport. But ikura (salmon roe) came out... It seems that in Russia, cavier is a generic term for fish eggs. 2 It seems that Saint Petersburg Airport is written?! 3 Underneath the lobby table at the hotel where we were staying were black painted matryoshkas...

1 500yen water sold at Narita Airport. 2 Shrimp that I ate at SPARKS STEAK HOUSE. 3 Everyone ate while do a meeting. 4 Mr.CARL who did/sold the merchandise during this North America tour.

5 Japan's shame 6 Wonder if you can still ride this? 7 8 Parfait and hamburger that I ordered in LAS VEGAS.

9 Ramen that I ate in LAS VEGAS. 10 11 This is Red Bull. On the right is the 275yen size sold in Japan. On the left is the real/indiluted RED BULL. 12 LAS VEGAS nightscape

13 Exercise machine that I bought at the mall. 14 15 This is frozen durian. Probably not going to eat this again. 16 We chartered (laughs)

1 Arrived in the airport, this is Mr.HARUNA and Mr.GEORICE inside the car on the way to the hotel. 2 As for the hotel room, Mr.Shinya and I were in the same room but when we entered the room there was only one bed... 3 House in front of the hotel.

4 This is dinner. The pasta here is the best! It was so good that Mr.Shinya and I went to eat there after. 5 After this Mr.GEORGE will be picked up by the police...

1 After I came back home I went and watched METALLICA. 2 3 For several years I've been suffering from tenosynovitis [inflammation of the tendon sheath].Thanks to Ms.OKADA's needles [acupuncture], I could do the TOUR.

Well, this year is already over. Have you listened to "Warushawa no Gensou"? I think that we will also deliver new songs next year so please wait!

So, let's meet on the next "Aibiki no Mori"! Have a great year!!

Mu no koufuku, Sanretsusha to kubi/ Happiness of nothing, the assembled and the neck

I am different... I am not here... I wonder if I have fever, my eyes are getting swollen I feel as if I am drunk or have caught a cold I don’t know I, who understand the fact of what I’m doing, but kill time with indifference I am not trying to justify myself There are no lies in my feelings/in what I feel

My neck has gotten stiff

Now I am floating Now I am floating The mind floats and raises the body Summer is hot The sweat is bitter, I'm tired of it now Fusion in confusion, there is nothing

Mr.Sun, won't you please melt the ideals and the reality, which cannot go on as they would like to?

From neck to bottom, maybe I am just a flesh now. I don’t understand my mind. Who is it? Is it me? I don't know, but it's probably me... No,  you do understand right? Yes I understand and what I need to do hasn’t changed. I'll hold myself from answering my own questions about what I should do from now on.

So now I wish to rest1 Good night

Translator’s Note 1. The rest here also implies that he wants to have a temporary break from what he is doing right now.

[slapthebass]

Scans by dirupedia on Instagram