Zapping CD Track 24: Interview!

Moi dix Mois

Welcome to the Strange Year End Party

Moi dix Mois' annual grand year end party, sandwiched between their signature dark live performances with a spectacular ending! This year as well Seth (Vo) appeared as the character "Umezawa Sesuo" performing the song "Yume Shibai," while Mana (G) displayed his brilliant drum and bass playing.

The evening's feast began with a comedic opening hosted by K (G, Voice) and included highlights such as the anime "Martin Theater," which evoked shouts of "kawaii!" from the audience. Of course when Moi dix Mois performed they swiftly shifted from the fun atmosphere to their signature coolness, impressing as always.

Now witness an entertainment show infused with the dark aesthetics that define Supreme Commander Mana.

Dis inferno Vol. IV LAST YEAR PARTY 2006.12.26, Shibuya O-East

The venue dimmed and the host K appeared on a small stage on the right side of the floor, announcing today's opening act. The band was called MANALEY CRUE (a play on the name Mötley Crüe). As the curtain opened to "Red Hot," Mana appeared first, wearing tight slim pants decorated with mesh and handcuffs in a very Mötley Crüe like outfit. For a moment, you could almost think you were witnessing the LA metal scene of the early '80s. As the other members appeared, their resemblance to the original band was quite impressive, especially Sugiya (G), whose appearance was strikingly similar to Mick Mars. It seemed like Mana's choice for sure.

After playing drums in the past, Mana took the double bass drum kit for this show, setting the tone for this two-year comeback event, Moi dix Mois' Last Year Party under the name Dis inferno. Though usually known for their serious live performances, on this night, it was all about fun, giving fans a rare glimpse into the band members' hidden talents and unique sides. As always, the central figure was Moi dix Mois' leader, Mana.

The band played "Looks That Kill" with enthusiasm continuing the Mötley Crüe tribute and series of covers. The next act saw a dazzling Seth take the stage as "Umezawa Iku," performing Umezawa Tomio's "Yume Shibai." Seth's performance was remarkable, fully immersing himself in the song's world. Hayato dressed as a stagehand, added manual effects like tossing confetti, making it a full-fledged show.

Following the metal and enka (Japanese ballad) performance, Fukuyama Kenji's "Squall" was performed with an acoustic guitar, not by K, but by Keiny-chan. Although casually dressed in a white shirt and jeans, his face was still decked out in the usual death/gothic makeup, with half of his hair braided and the other half spiked—an extreme look that added an eerie touch to the performance. Despite the visual contrast, his voice resonated powerfully.

Next up was "The King of Knowledge" Sugiya, who appeared as "Sugick" to perform... balloon art! Yes, twisting long balloons into shapes like animals and flowers in a street-performer style. In a short time, he created a parrot, leaving the audience exclaiming, "Amazing!"

Afterward, the atmosphere completely shifted as "Now the other side in blood" began, marked by the intense double bass drumming. The live performance by Moi dix Mois proper started, powerfully leading with "Front et Baiser." The band's signature sound, featuring crushing metal riffs, had the audience headbanging enthusiastically, creating an electric atmosphere.

During the break, an animated short, "Martin Theater," featuring Mana as a chibi character, was shown on the screen. The whole band appeared in super-deformed (SD) style in a cute and comical story, delighting the audience with its adorable depiction.

On this night, the setlist was built around particularly aggressive songs, driving the audience into a frenzy. The combination of metal riffs and fierce melodies, like in the nostalgic track "Lamentful Miss," echoed strongly through the venue. Moi dix Mois’ performances, such as "Ange," highlighted their unique style, combining intensity and a haunting beauty that remains true to their essence.

The visual spectacle also included Mana’s new guitar, "Jeune Fille X Bronze -Cross Ray-," which had a glowing blue cross in the center. He concluded his performance by collapsing dramatically on stage, leaving a lasting impression. This glimpse into the recording of their upcoming album, due in March, hinted that intensity would be a major theme.

After the show closed with a powerful and flawless performance, the grand year-end party concluded with the entire Moi dix Mois band plus K performing a massive singalong to "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," with giant balloons floating through the crowd, bringing the festive night to a spectacular finish.

MANA-SAMA.NET

Twelve hours during a part-time job feels so long, especially at night; it’s almost terrifyingly long.

Mana chan kept shouting, “This theme is difficult!” and Kami kun kept asking, “Mana chan, don’t you have anything?” (laughs). It seems these two aren’t very bound by numbers...

Anyway, Mana chan’s part time job era... It’s full of valuable stories!! Hehe ♥

MALICE MIZER

--So, the theme is "The Fear of Numbers."

Mana: Hmm... That's difficult.

Kami: Haven't you ever noticed when the numbers on a clock are all the same? Like when you look at the time and it's 11:11?

--Does that give you an eerie feeling?

Kami: No, I'm actually happy (laughs). Also, when I'm talking on the phone at night and I look at the clock, it's always 2:14 AM (laughs). It's the witching hour (laughs). And it happens almost every day.

--Do you have any thoughts, Mana?

Mana: Hmm... (laughs) This theme is tough... Hmm...

Kami: Also, I have an obsession with lining up the number 7. I used to go to pachinko parlors a lot, so getting 7s was a thrill (laughs). Ah, that's not scary at all (laughs).

Mana, do you have anything?

Mana: Hmm... When I was a boy, I was a bicycle enthusiast. I even had a speedometer, and it only went up to about 60 kilometers, I think. I was obsessed with maxing it out.

Kami: That's the fear of speed.

Mana: Yeah, I was pushing the limits of speed. The bike I had wasn't a Roadman, but it was a sports-type with gears and semi-drop handlebars... You don't see them much nowadays.

Kami: They were popular back then. The ones with the light on the side.

Mana: The more gear shifts, the better. Five-speed was common, but with six-speed, it was like, "One more gear!" (laughs).

Kami: Speaking of numbers, I save 500 yen coins (laughs). Last year, a friend gave me a piggy bank that can hold up to 300,000 yen, and I'm close to reaching the goal. How long did it take you to save?

Kami: One year! When I talked about it, a fan once sent me a 500 yen coin in a letter (laughs).

Mana: Really? Well, I’m saving 10,000 yen bills (laughs).

Kami: So I make sure not to spend any 500 yen coins. Even when I shop, I make sure to get change in 500 yen coins, or I exchange five 100 yen coins for a 500 yen coin at the convenience store (laughs). Mana, do you have anything else?

Mana: Hmm...

--Like the fear of having to wake up in the morning?

Mana: Oh, even if I have work early the next morning, I stay up until around 5 AM, so I do get that "Oh no, it's already this late" feeling, but that’s why I always sleep in the car during travel.

Kami: Because we’re so busy, sleeping in the car becomes something to look forward to.

Mana: Yeah, it's really enjoyable (laughs).

Kami: It's almost like that's what keeps me going (laughs).

Mana: Yeah, but during our indie days, I was the one who drove.

Mana: I was the designated driver (laughs). Back then, mornings were terrifying. I had to wake everyone up by phone.

--Did you wake up all the members?

Mana: Yes, I’d call them to wake them up and then go around picking them up in the car. That was really something. It was like hell; I did it while crying (laughs). There were members who wouldn’t wake up no matter how many times I called (I wonder who?). And there were people whose phones wouldn’t even connect (laughs).

Kami: By the way, I’m never late. Unless I’m stuck in traffic or something, I always arrive on time when we have a meeting. Mana, do you have anything else? (laughs)

Mana: Ah! The fear of numbers! I used to work part-time at a rental video store, but when the sales weren’t great, I’d rent out videos myself.

-- Really? Were you in a position of responsibility?

Mana: There were morning and night shifts, and I was the manager for the morning shift, so if the morning sales were bad, it was my responsibility. When no customers came, I would wander around the front of the store, getting anxious (laughs).

-- Well, you can’t exactly solicit customers at a rental video store (laughs).

Mana: Exactly. You can’t just say, "We’ve got good videos here!" So all I could do was wander around (laughs).

Kami: I just thought of something! The fear of numbers! In the band I was in before Malice Mizer, the current drummer and I were born in the same year and on the same day. It was terrifying (laughs).

Mana: I just thought of something else too (laughs). I used to work a part-time job inspecting cups at a factory. That factory had cups endlessly going around 24/7 (laughs). I worked 12-hour shifts there, but since the cups were constantly moving on the conveyor belt, there was no end to it. It was terrifying. Plus, it had a roof but no doors, so in the winter, the cold north wind would blow in while I just watched the cups… (laughs).

--That sounds like a tough job.

Mana: It was tough. It was torture (laughs). Nowadays, even if your hair is dyed, it’s socially accepted, but back then, if you had a part-time job, it was limited to handing out tissues or working in a factory (laughs).

Kami: Yeah, or working for a delivery service.

Mana: "Yeah, like at those places where the packages come down on conveyor belts (laughs). I was once in charge of handling packages going to Tokyo, and while other people only had a few packages coming their way and were taking it easy, I was getting a constant stream of packages (laughs)."

Kami: "Even now, when I see the baggage counter at the airport, it reminds me of those days (laughs). Those 12-hour shifts felt so long, especially the night shifts—they were terrifyingly long."

Mana: "Yeah, yeah, and for 12 hours, the cups kept coming endlessly. By the end, I was even seeing hallucinations (laughs)."

The end // From Vicious Magazine

When and how did you first start playing the guitar? How did you feel at that time?

I was captivated by the heavy distortion sound of 44MAGNUM and Mötley Crüe.

Why did you decide to become a guitarist?

When I strummed the guitar through a beat-up 10W amp with an Arion distortion pedal, the cool sound made me think, "This is it!"

Have you liked music since you were young? How were your grades in music class during your school days?

I liked music, but I hated music classes.

Have you ever played any other instruments besides the guitar? If yes, which ones?

Yes, I’ve played vocals, bass, and drums—just kind of ended up doing it.

If you were to play another part besides guitar, what would it be and why?

Vocals. I'd like to express myself through singing.

Do you think there are any advantages or disadvantages of playing guitar compared to other parts?

None.

Which guitarists have influenced you?

Yngwie Malmsteen, Carcassi, and Sor.

Are there any guitarists you respect or aspire to be like?

I’m a guitarist, but I’m not aiming to be someone else.

Who do you consider your rival guitarist?

Sanzo.

What sets you apart from other guitarists?

I don't limit myself to expressing myself through just the guitar.

What do you always do before going on stage?

Think and imagine.

What do you focus on when it comes to your stage performance?

How to bring the best out of the songs.

What inspires you in your musical activities?

Everything, it’s too hard to sum up in a word.

What's the most important thing for a guitarist?

Feeling. Also, treating the guitar as if it were my lover.

What do you currently need as a guitarist?

More finger technique.

Do you want to keep playing guitar for your entire life?

No, I don’t really feel tied to the guitar.

What does playing guitar mean to you?

It has no specific meaning.

LIVE Schedule: 1/6 ON AIR WEST

Bucket list

Real name: Mana

Date of birth: March 19

Height/Weight: 173 cm, 49 kg

Hobbies/Special skills: Cooking, night walks

Albums I’m listening to lately: None in particular

Recent events/news that caught my attention: —

Things I want as a present: Treatment bags, spring water, toys

Message to the fans: Be afraid.

Mana

MALICE MIZER

Friend & Friend

kami Tama (MALICE MIZER) (CASCADE)

— You went to the beach, right? On the MALICE MIZER boat, right? — Tama

Tama: And then we stayed at some weird kind of pension.

kami: Yeah, it was like a strange pension-type place.

— Has it been a long time since you last saw Tama?

kami: It's been a while. We used to meet up often.

Tama: Yeah, it’s not like we planned it, but we used to run into each other a lot.

kami: We used to do nothing but bad things (laughs).

Tama: Right? (laughs)

— What kind of bad things?

kami: I can't say (laughs).

Tama: Can't say (laughs).

— It’s fine, the statute of limitations is up by now (laughs)!

Tama: We smoked incense (laughs).

kami: Yeah, we smoked incense (laughs).

— Incense!?

Tama: There was some kind of incense from India or somewhere...

— Real incense?

Tama: Yeah. We were like, "If we smoke this, we can trip, right?!" and we all smoked it (laughs).

kami: Yeah, yeah (laughs).

Tama: But all it did was make our throats hurt, we couldn’t trip at all (laughs).

— That’s obvious (laughs)!

Tama: And then we went to the beach, right?

kami: We did!

— Who did you go with?

kami: With Tama-chan, közi, me, and Kou...

Tama: Back then, we had a friend named Kou.

— Did you suddenly decide to go after drinking?

kami: No, Tama-chan arranged everything for us.

Tama: Yeah, we went on the MALICE MIZER boat.

kami: And we stayed at some weird pension-type place.

Tama: It was more like a lodge than a pension, though (laughs). But the dinner was delicious, right?

kami: It was great!

Tama: We ate until we were stuffed. And back then, I still had long hair, so I coolly jumped into the ocean and played beach volleyball with some gals.

kami: Yeah, you did! And then Kou, that friend of ours, was doing this thing called the “Kou-bar Head Kick!” It was hilarious (laughs).

Tama: I don’t think the people around us thought it was funny at all (laughs). But it was a good memory. At one point, when everyone was partying and making noise at night, I went outside and disappeared for about two hours.

— What were you doing?

Tama: What was I doing? I was probably staring at the sea. It was around the time I had just left my previous band, so I was probably caught up in self-loathing, thinking, “What am I doing with my life?” But since my hair was long, I kept getting hit on by all kinds of people (laughs).

kami: We should go again!

Tama: We were saying, "Let’s go again next year!" and making plans.

— Let’s make it happen this summer! Vicious can cover the cost (laughs).

(Vicious: Sure! By Vicious)

kami: Oh yeah, remember we drank at Shinjuku West Gate Park? It was me, the members of CASCADE, and közi.

Tama: Oh yeah, we did!

— Why were you drinking in the park?

Tama: Back when CASCADE still didn’t have much of an audience, kami and közi came to one of our shows, and we had the afterparty in Shinjuku West Gate Park. That’s when I handed over our demo tape.

kami: And that's when I learned the song "KILL ME STOP."

Tama: That song's pretty good, right?

kami: Yeah. I thought it was really interesting.

— Did you have a feeling back then that "this band is going to make it"?

kami: There were two songs on the demo tape, and while it was different from Tama-chan's previous band, I definitely had a feeling about it.

Tama: Come on (laughs)!

kami: It’s true! I was happy when I saw you doing well on "Ebisu Onsen" (a music show that served as a stepping stone for new bands; CASCADE made their debut thanks to it).

— Hold on! The conversation is starting to get serious (laughs)!

kami: What’s wrong with that?

— This isn't that kind of corner (laughs). So, how are things with the ladies lately?

kami: Ahahahaha (laughs).

Tama: Kami is pretty proactive, isn’t he?

kami: You think so?

Tama: More like animalistic than proactive (laughs). But that’s what I like about you (laughs).

— That’s not what you said during your previous interview with SHUSE (laughs)!

kami: Well, going major made me a bit more negative.

Tama: So you’ve been thinking negatively about a lot of things?

kami: Yeah, recently.

Tama: When you debut as a major artist, you tend to become mentally unstable. I went through that too.

kami: It’s not so much instability. When you're indie, the band feels like home, but when it turns into a job, it becomes something different.

— I see.

kami: I started thinking, "Where is my home now?"

— Well, it’s obviously in a girl's chest (laughs)!

Tama: Speaking of that, how's your relationship with your high school girlfriend?

— We broke up! And two days before Valentine’s Day, no less!

Tama: That’s because you were cheating all the time (laughs)!

— Shut up (laughs)! Tama-chan, are you the type who gets dumped?

Tama: I haven’t been dumped much.

— So are you the one who does the dumping?

Tama: Not really that either. It’s more like things just naturally fizzle out.

kami: Same here!

Tama: It sounds terrible to say you’re just waiting for the right time, but you can kind of tell, right?

— You both start feeling like, "It’s probably about time"?

Tama: Yeah, you wait for that moment.

— That’s awful (laughs)!

Tama: Yeah, I guess I’m awful (laughs)! But in my school days, I used to get dumped all the time.

— Were you always going after girls who were out of your league?

Tama: Not at all, I’ve always had a really wide strike zone.

kami: Ahahahaha (laughs)!

Tama: My first experience was with someone quite a bit older.

kami: Really?

Tama: Really.

— How old were you?

Tama: I was 17.

— And the other person?

Tama: She was quite a bit older.

— In a way, that’s kind of enviable!

Tama: When was your first time, kami?

kami: I was 17 too. But mine was with a girl a year younger than me.

— I was also 17, and she was a year younger than me.

kami: We’re the same then!

— Want to hear about it?

kami: What is it?

— I used to commute by train, and one day, this girl suddenly gave me a love letter.

kami: That’s great!

Tama: Was she cute?

— She was super cute!

kami: That’s really great!

— So we started dating, and I gave her my virginity. But after a while, she suddenly said, “I’m getting married,” and when I told her, “I’m not ready for that yet,” she said, “It’s not you. I’ve been seeing someone else too.” I was like, "Gah!"

kami: Oh no!

— Turns out she had been dating a 23-year-old guy, and about a week later, she quit school and really got married.

kami: Oh no!

— I want my virginity back!

kami: Ahahahaha (laughs)!

Tama: That must’ve been a shock, right?

— It was a huge shock!

Tama: The first girl I dated also cheated on me. Her name was Miki. You can write that down!

kami: Ahahahaha (laughs)!

Tama: Miki cheated on me. We started dating when I was in the second year of middle school, and she was my first kiss, but she’d also been dating this guy since the fourth grade. His name was Tanabe!

kami: Ahahahaha (laughs)!

Tama: You know how, in middle school, when you start dating someone, rumors spread fast? So my friends started saying, “Hey, I heard she has a boyfriend. They’ve been dating since the fourth grade!” So I asked her directly.

— You asked Miki (laughs)?

Tama: Yeah, I asked her, “Miki, do you like me?” “I do.” “Do you like Tanabe?” “I do.” “So, who do you like more, me or Tanabe?” “Tanabe.” (laughs).

kami: Gya-hahaha (laughs)!

Tama: Right after that, we went on a school trip, but for me, it was a heartbroken trip.

kami: Gya-hahaha (laughs)!

— When was your first kiss, kami?

kami: I was really focused on my band until my first year of high school. I didn’t even look at girls; I was just drumming all the time. But in my second year, I started paying attention to the opposite sex and ended up dating someone.

— What was her name?

kami: Maki (laughs).

Tama: Was she cute?

kami: Yeah, she was cute. But, to be honest, she was kind of a delinquent. She had a lot of guy friends, and I couldn’t trust her, so we broke up.

Tama: You seem to like delinquent girls, right? The ones with brown hair and a bit rebellious?

kami: I like Nanase Aikawa (laughs). I once dated a full-on delinquent girl. A friend of mine brought her to one of our live shows, and I guess she liked me because she called me up and asked, “Would you go out with me?” I couldn’t say no, so I said, “Sure!” (laughs). Then I went to her house, and there were all these gang flags and tons of pictures of motorcycles. I thought, “Nope, this isn’t for me!” and broke up with her right away (laughs).

I did a translation of this interview. I hope you enjoy 🦋

Gackt: "You know, I can look someone in the eye and say, 'You're beautiful' (in a deep voice like Gackt's) even if it's the first time we're meeting (laughs)."

KO: "That's a very foreigner-like attitude."

Y: "Exactly. The way he delivers his lines perfectly fits his character. In a way, he's a dangerous person... ah, so scary, so scary (laughs)."

Everyone: (bursting out in laughter)

Y: "Honestly, I'm jealous. How many more encounters would I have if I could start conversations like that? I'll try my best."

M: "Well, isn't he the guy who gives off the most seductive male pheromones? (laughs). In fact, when I'm on stage with him, I'm just mesmerized. 'Ah, so this is the pheromone he's emitting...' (laughs)."

KO: "You both seem to be mesmerized by each other (laughs)."

M: "He just makes you feel all sorts of things. You're practically ravished with his eyes. I totally get why women are so taken with him. ♪I want to hold you tight and sleep♪ I experience it firsthand when I'm hugged on stage (laughs)."

Y: "Next time, let's sell Gackt's pheromone-infused perfume (laughs). We could advertise it in magazines with a tagline like, 'This will attract women to you,' and it would be a hit (←completely convinced)."

KO: "Hahahahahaha!! (bursting out in laughter)"

KA: "He always stays calm and gives answers that hit the mark. I always think that's amazing. I'm also envious of how he can do anything. I think he feels a sense of aesthetics in creating himself through every gesture. But if I were to point out one thing, it's that if you keep saying 'thank you' over and over it might be hard to tell which one is sincere. That's the risk."

Gackt: "I'm always grateful, though (laughs)."

KO: "He's quick-witted, and like KAMI said, he can handle pretty much anything. He can even ravish a woman with his eyes."

Gackt: (laughs)

KO: "That's why I try not to make too much eye contact with him, or I'll turn to stone (laughs). There's something strangely persuasive about his eyes and words. His daily life is quite mysterious (laughs)."

Interviewer: "So, what is the common ground between these five unique individuals?"

Gackt: "A sense of uniqueness, loneliness, creativity, a strong desire not to lose..."

KA: "Including all of that, I think it's destiny. The five of us are the 'chosen ones'..."

Gackt: "The chosen ones? (laughs)"

KO: "KAMI is actually a god (laughs)! (←Note: this is where you laugh)"

~ End ~

“There are many things to do when returning to love. While we dive underground and study you all feel various things at home! So when we meet again, please look forward to what MALICE MIZER will be like. I am truly happy to have met you all in this arena!”

“Brise” and then, “au revoir.” The stage was illuminated with blue lighting, creating a beautiful scene. The last number was “ma cherie.” The audience joined in singing the call and response of “Ma Cherie.” KAMI, who had been relentlessly playing the drums, surprisingly engaged with the audience from the stage and at his signal the grand chorus of “Ma Cherie” erupted once again. Silver streamers burst from both sides of the stage and the main performance concluded with a united front of the audience and the five members.

And then the encore. The encore was a grand performance that decorated the finale of this tour. KAMI, YU~KI, KOZI and MANA appeared one after the other, each adorned with large wings. Their gorgeous costumes were worth seeing on their own. And then, at the end, Gackt spread his black wings and descended from above the set. It was breathtaking! The song was “Le ciel,” a single scheduled for release on September 30. Finally, in the center of the stage, Gackt spread his arms and looked up to the heavens, causing the star sphere set high above the stage to shine all at once across the entire width of the hall. Oh! It was truly a star filled sky! The dynamic ending evoked a wave of emotion. I felt like giving a tremendous round of applause to the members as they quietly disappeared from the stage.

The blend of musicality, theatricality, and various elements at different moments is what makes their stage interesting. If not done well, it could easily turn into a jumbled and unmanageable situation, but MALICE MIZER skillfully connected the delicate pieces, showing a unique space. And what they will show us next is completely unpredictable. That’s why you absolutely want to see what comes next. Yes, MALICE MIZER is quite dangerous.

KÖZI (g)

Q. Favorite food

A. Curry, my mother's home cooking

Q. Least favorite food

A. Sea urchin

Q. Favorite drink

A. Tea, Red Eye (a beer and tomato juice cocktail)

Q. Least favorite drink

A. Liquid Cabbage (a stomach relief drink)

Q. Favorite scent

A. It's difficult to put into words

Q. Least favorite scent

A. Various bad smells

Q. Favorite scenery

A. The sea just before dawn

Q. You can cry three times in your life. The first time is when you are born. What about the other two?

A. Ore wa nanno namida mo nagasanai. Da-da-da! ("I won't shed any tears. Da-da-da!")

Q. If you could ride a time machine, when and where would you go, and what would you do? (Past or future is okay)

A. Into chaos. I'd want to see the Big Bang (the beginning of everything).

Q. If you were an assassin, what weapon would you use and why?

A. My hand blade. If you touch it carelessly, you'll get cut!

Q. Unlimited funding is provided. If you were to direct a movie, what kind of movie would it be?

A. Title: Manyan. Tagline: "A city possessed by an evil 'something' where strange phenomena occur one after another. A mysterious fake nose. A terrifying blend of comedy and psycho-suspense horror."

Q. What is the best "moment" for you?

A. Drinking an ice-cold beer after doing good work.

YU~KI (b)

Q. Favorite food

A. Sweet things

Q. Least favorite food

A. Bitter things

Q. Favorite drink

A. Sweet things

Q. Least favorite drink

A. Bitter things

Q. Favorite scent

A. Sweet things

Q. Least favorite scent

A. Bitter things

Q. Favorite scenery

A. A school on a red clay hill

Q. You can cry three times in your life. The first time is when you are born. What about the other two?

A. Tears of emotion and sadness

Q. If you could ride a time machine, when and where would you go, and what would you do? (Past or future is okay)

A. I'd want to see what I look like at the very end of my life.

Q. If you were an assassin, what weapon would you use and why?

A. Fangs to the neck (so I could watch their face as they die experiencing ultimate pleasure).

Q. Unlimited funding is provided. If you were to direct a movie, what kind of movie would it be?

A. A romance film, without worrying about fame.

Q. What is the best "moment" for you?

A. When I'm enveloped in white light.

MANA (g)

Q. Favorite food

A. Of course, Orukubekki's curry

Q. Least favorite food

A. None

Q. Favorite drink

A. Tomato juice

Q. Least favorite drink

A. None in particular

Q. Favorite scent

A. Sweet fruits

Q. Least favorite scent

A. Strong perfume worn by women at night

Q. Favorite scenery

A. White sky and blue sea

Q. You can cry three times in your life. The first time is when you are born. What about the other two?

A. I can't decide something like that.

Q. If you could ride a time machine, when and where would you go, and what would you do? (Past or future is okay)

A. I don't want to think about it since time machines don't exist.

Q. If you were an assassin, what weapon would you use and why?

A. A whip. I'm used to using it.

Q. Unlimited funding is provided. If you were to direct a movie, what kind of movie would it be?

A. The life of a phantom chef.

Q. What is the best "moment" for you?

A. The time when I can sleep when I'm sleepy.

ARENA 37°C (アリーナサーティーセブン) Vol.181 1997年10月

“People used to say we were heretical or something.”

“Rock is freedom.”

“Maybe Malice Mizer is pure rock in the sense that it breaks definitions.”

— So, you guys really got criticized a lot, huh?

Közi: Oh yeah, it was intense.

Mana: I often heard rumors like, “He hasn’t played guitar recently? Isn’t that kind of dangerous?”

Közi: And I’d be like, what exactly is so dangerous about that?

Mana: Rock is supposed to be about freedom, right? I mean, as long as it's for the sake of expression, I think it's fine to do anything. So the fact that people even think that’s “dangerous” I find that mentality itself kind of dangerous.

Közi: Exactly. So in that sense, what people call “rock” sometimes isn’t rock at all. Even if there’s something out there saying “this is what rock is,” I think real rock is about breaking that definition. That’s why I think Malice Mizer might actually be pure rock.

— Yeah, definitely in spirit.

Mana: Seriously, the feedback from live show surveys used to be so harsh. Like, “He doesn’t even play guitar anymore, he’s just happy wearing dresses, right?” I got told stuff like that. A lot.

— Whoa, that’s really rude.

Közi: Yeah, and when people who thought like that left, we didn’t try to stop them. But it was sad to be judged on just that one thing.

Mana: But who knows, maybe that same person who left back then is re-evaluating things now (lol).

Közi: Honestly, people tend to have such a narrow view of things , not just with music, but with everything.

— But at the time, you were desperately trying to express something through music. Still very much musicians then (lol). So, was the concept Mana had in mind back then already the foundation for Malice Mizer?

Közi: Yeah, it was. And that concept hasn’t really changed, even now. The name “Malice Mizer” comes from the idea of “malice and misery” , expressing the malice that lies deep within humans, theatricality, and the unpredictability of life.

Back then, we hadn’t developed the kind of staging we do now. We were closer to a traditional band, really. The music had classical influences, and we had twin guitars. Gradually we added in more theatrical elements. Even now, we’re still experimental , but back then, it was all trial and error.

— Were there any other bands at the time expressing themselves in such a comprehensive, theatrical way?

Mana: Well, we were part of the visual kei scene, sure, but I don’t think there were any others doing it quite like us. Probably not. There’s often this idea of “this is what a band should be,” but we really wanted to break that and create something new.

— So that was your youth…

Mana: Then I moved to Tokyo and became a madam (laughs).

— And that’s when you met Közi, during your “madam era.”

Közi: Yeah, Mana already had a well-defined style. I just kind of slipped into it. I thought, “Hey maybe we can create something really intricate together.”

— Did you listen to demo tapes back then?

Közi: Yeah. I also saw a video of Mana’s old band in Osaka. He was playing guitar like a rock , totally still (laughs).

Mana: Back then, it was all about the playing. I was still pretty inexperienced. I didn’t have any concept of staging or performance , it was just about the sound.

ESP Jeune Fille J:F-450

The model name is French for “young girl.” Its striking see-through blue finish matched beautifully with the elegant dresses it was paired with. From the logo on the headstock to the detailed position markers, every element reflects thoughtful design.

ESP Aka-Uzu-kun AW-550

With a see-through red finish that evokes the passion of youthful blood, this model features intricate inlays that seem to wrap around the body, and a swirling motif that gives it a sense of refined elegance. The name “Aka-Uzu-kun” carries a distinctly Japanese charm.

GIGS 1998

KOZI (MALICE MIZER) ASTAN - 2005 Vol.21

Translated by my cousin (corrections are always welcome)

Malice Mizer: MALICE (MALEVOLENCE) AND MIZERE (TRAGEDY)

A comprehensive biography of this band, which is second only to X-Japan in importance within J-Rock or Visual Kei, would be too extensive. Here, we will focus on the period starting with Gackt's entry into the band.

Malice Mizer was founded in August 1992 by Mana and Közi (Kouji). After several line-up changes, the band consisted of: Gackt (vocals, piano), Mana (guitar, keyboards), Közi (guitar, violin), Kami (drums), and Yu-ki (bass) starting in August 1995.

Shortly thereafter, the group released their second album, "Voyage (sans retour)," marking a first step toward superstardom. The musicians' popularity steadily increased, attracting the attention of major record labels. Thus in 1997, MM signed with Columbia in Japan. Their first single, "Bel Air kuhaku no toki no naka de," was released followed by TV appearances and radio shows as well as the famous concert at Nihon Budokan.

In 1998, "Merveilles" was released. Malice Mizer was at the peak of their career, embodying everything associated with superstardom. Fan displays overshadowed anything conceivable, and Gackt could undoubtedly be referred to as the most popular Japanese show star at the time. The concerts were elaborate events, with costumes and staging that surpassed everything seen before. However, the fractures within the band were unmistakable. While Gackt seemed to thrive in the J-Pop Olympus the remaining members were striving for artistic quality. Disputes ensued, resulting in Gackt leaving the band in January 1999. As if that weren’t enough, drummer Kami passed away later that year due to an arterial brain hemorrhage. Following Kami's death, on September 21 1999 the band decided to take a hiatus.

Their fourth album, "bara no seidō," was released in August 2000 under an indie label, Midi:NetteM+M which was the newly established label owned by the band. The album "bara no seidō" is an epic work, heavily influenced by German classical music. Choral passages and long instrumental sections elevate this work to classic status. The trio of Mana, Közi, and Yu-ki experimented on this album without a fixed singer or drummer. This is undoubtedly the most impressive and monumental work by MM, although its reception from the audience could have been better. Perhaps under this impression, the band decided to recruit a new singer, Klaha, in August 2000. The sound shifted towards an epic and darker rock sound. With Klaha, MM returned to catchy melodies, though they were far removed from the J-Pop of the Gackt years. In my opinion, this is the best, albeit temporarily concluding, chapter of the group.

A few singles were released afterward. The last tour took place in July 2001, after which the band disbanded. Klaha began his solo career, Közi is currently active as a solo artist and as a member of Eve Of Destiny, while Mana has become a well-known figure in Japan with his own fashion line and Gothic Lolita shops. He continues to be active as a musician in his band MDM. Yu-ki is no longer prominently involved in music.

It’s also essential to look into the successor bands of Malice Mizer. I can't find anything appealing in Gackt and Klaha's solo works. I really enjoy Eve Of Destiny, as well as everything Mana releases to the public. EOD is an industrial goth band; Mana is much heavier but also more classical in orientation. Közi's solo work sounds very relaxed and somewhat French, although he writes in English.

I have met Közi several times and found him to be a somewhat shy and introverted man. However, he is a very nice guy. But that’s just a side note. What fascinates me is the band's fluctuating musical trajectory. By the time Gackt joined, the typical "growing pains" of any group had settled, and a first creative peak was reached with Gackt. The time with Gackt was the commercially most successful period, and the concerts were a dream visual event. The costumes changed multiple times during the show, and the staging would be compared to German theatrical productions.

Part 2

Groups like Rammstein would turn green with envy. Musically i find Gackt quite uninteresting. He knew how to present himself well in the spotlight but that’s about it. Gackt after Malice Mizer is nothing more than slimy, sweet-and-sour J-Pop. A nod to Herr Rohlen. Artistically an MM album like "bara no seido" is much more impressive. Some elements remind me that both Mana and Közi are great admirers of the German composer Bach. This influence is unmistakable. These influences, combined with Közi's and Mana's magnificent guitar playing, elevate "bara no seido" to a masterpiece for this group. The musicality of Malice Mizer is one of the outstanding characteristics of the Japanese band. The range of instruments spans from the standard instruments of a rock band to very European instruments such as clavichord, spinet, violin, or accordion. One might think that nothing catchy could emerge from this, but that is precisely one of the band's strengths.

Each song is assigned a style and a color. Mana represents the color blue, in which his clothing is designed. Mana is an imposing figure who can only be described as beautiful. When I first saw a video by MM, I thought the guitarist looked quite good. Not to mention, the guitarist is a male. In Japanese tradition, it is not so unusual for a man to appear feminine. Mana gives few interviews and hardly speaks in public, yet he is the creative mind behind Malice Mizer. He has perfected the Gothic Lolita style and can be understood as the counterpart to Gackt. Gackt does not wear white makeup and is considered by a large part of the female MM fans to be the quintessential fairy tale prince.

Közi represents the color red. He appears quite androgynous as an MM member. At the same time, he is aloof, reserved, and doll like fragile. Kami represents the color purple and Yu-ki represents yellow and/or orange. Noteworthy about him is his occasionally drawn-on occasionally real beard. Klaha’s color is either black or white. He later takes on Gackt's role but is much more masculine and less boyish than Gackt.

The look of this group. Malice Mizer seems to change costumes like others change underwear. It’s incredible how tastefully and stylishly Malice Mizer dressed and presented themselves. The staging on stage and in the videos is trendsetting and has not been achieved by any group known to me before or since. The transition from a metal band to a VK group and ultimately to a heavily Gothic-influenced act is marked by significant breaks. Yet, one can always recognize Malice Mizer's typical sound. For anyone who is now curious, I strongly recommend checking out the live DVDs or the group’s videos. Personally, I really enjoy the videos and music from the time with Klaha. The videos with Gackt are more colorful, vibrant and playful. I can recommend all DVDs from Malice Mizer.

The End

M (Mana): I really want to wear blue jeans, a T-shirt and no makeup but the other members don’t allow it so i have no choice but to dress like this.

T (Tetsu): That’s awful~ (laughs). But I think it suits the songs. Since we’re playing a European sound you have to dress accordingly. I’m casual but i try to give off a noble vibe...

Y (Yuki): I try to express as much individuality as I can, but there’s a limit to makeup and clothes so that’s my biggest concern right now.

K (Közi): For me it’s divine inspiration.

T: Apparently it arrives in the mail while he’s sleeping. “Wear this today!!” (laughs).

K&T: “From God!!” (laughs).

– Future goals?

T: I want to improve my expressive abilities during live shows. Also, I want to get better and write more songs.

M: Let’s speak seriously! Through the sound we create, I want to bring sorrow to as many people as possible.

T: To all of humanity, with this sound...

M:We’ll move people through music.

K: Feel the craziness of the song and dance with drunkenness! (laughs).

– What is your ideal as Malice Mizer?

M: To pursue music that moves everyone!!

K: And wait for the day we become gods!! (laughs).

– Regarding the fans, what’s the demographic like?

T: A lot of them seem really young, don’t they?

M: As for me, I’d like people from kindergarten to grandmothers to listen widely.

K: Men and women of all ages!!

M: Our music has no age limit, whether you’re young or old, it can move you. That’s the kind of music we aim to create, and I want all kinds of people to come to our shows.

– What do you expect from your fans?

M: Listen to our music!! Right now, come back to this thrilling sound (laughs).

T: Yeah, I’d like them to stick with us and not get tired of the current state because things will keep changing.

M: Ladies, listen with your whole body. Gentlemen, come to our live shows first and listen to our music. And then copy us by ear!

K: Don’t look at the fretboard during the live shows. Don’t copy by sight (laughs).

T: Listen with your ears... You see, we were rock kids ourselves (laughs). When guys come to the shows, I’d like to win them over with sound, not looks.

M: One day, I’d like them to form a cover band.

T: The other day when we went to Osaka, there was a survey where someone said they wanted to start a band like Malice Mizer (laughs).

Y: Fans crushing each other!!

– What do you want fans to stop doing?

K: Ah, it seems like there are cliques.

M: Everyone, please get along.

T: Please stop taking photos during the afterparties. If we’re photographed during the afterparty, we’re done for.