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Reita& Uruha


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Attempt.....


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SHOXX 2004


source: Tumblr

The Gazette's Fool's mate January 2004 interview

First interview with the GazettE, under the title “Dai Nihon Itan Geisha”, showing a steep rise in popularity throughout the country. Introductory text to the GazettE taking questions about everything from the sweet beginnings of their five-some to the latest state of affairs. Disliking without knowing is the loss of a lifetime, so wouldn’t you too like to step inside and take a look at the world of the GazettE?

This being your first appearance for this magazine, let us start with the story of the formation of your band!

Uruha – Me, Reita and Ruki were in a band together before the GazettE.

Reita – By the way, me and Uruha have grown up together ever since 4th year of Elementary School!

It’s been a long association then.

Reita – Yes!

Uruha – Ruki was originally a drummer, but he was quite good at writing lyrics so we got him as the vocalist for that band. And we got the original vocalist to be the drummer (laughs). Well, anything to make things ultimately turn out well.

Ruki – Like, breaking up (laughs).

Uruha – But, the three of us – me, Reita and Ruki had become really close friends by then and we decided “The three of us want to do this together again!”

Reita – And then we started searching for members.

And the one you met was Aoi?

Uruha – No, Aoi……

Aoi – What do you mean, saying that so awfully! (laughs)

Uruha – There was no drummer, so we got an acquaintance introduce us to an earlier drummer.

Reita – And then, just because he was the guitarist of the same band as the drummer, someone barged into the set-up.

What do you mean “barged in” (laughs) Didn’t you have the idea of a twin guitarist in mind originally?

Uruha – No, it’s not that we never even thought about it. I just wasn’t sure if it might be a disadvantage (laughs).

Aoi – Eh? Is that so? To that level? You’re lying aren’t you!!

Reita – Such a well concealed matter too……you know (laughs).

Aoi – Ah, is that so……although right now, I’m in a lot of shock (laughs).

And with that the GazettE got going in January 2002. Kai wasn’t there in the beginning, right?

Uruha – Yes. We had a different drummer. We met Kai at a session Live at exactly the same time that person quit, so he joined the band.

Kai – I was already acquainted to Ruki, and knew about the GazettE too and thought they were cool, so when I was asked “Won’t you do it for us”, I said “My pleasure” without any objections.

That was in February this year. Since then the five of you have continued vigorously with music releases and Live activities.

Everybody – Right!

What’s the concept of the GazettE? – Although the cover comes with the catchphrase “Dai Nihon Itan Geisha [The Great Japan Heretic Artists]”.

Uruha – It refers to our aspirations; how we always want to be different from the rest, how we want to be heretics.

Ruki – Like, defying everything.

Uruha – But, it’s not about doing only what is different; we want to empathize with whatever draws our empathy.

Ruki – In terms of music, that range can get quite extensive.

True, there really are a lot of songs ranging from dark and intense to heartrendingly melodious.

Ruki – We ourselves don’t carry any notions like “This is what the GazettE is!” We’re a band that plays songs of every hue.

Kai – On the contrary, it would be nice if this would become a hue unto itself.

Uruha – But there is a foundation, you know. Something like an “over the top”, vehement kind of feel.

Aoi – Also, if one talks about the point of a song, there are various things that unfold within the length of a single song. We’re determined to make songs which carry various outlooks. Not very fond of things just gliding past.

Uruha – Occasionally, there are also songs which get over in a flash. Also, for some reason, there are ones with those old-school melodies. I heard a foreigner somewhere saying “Wonder why Japanese people go on adopting new things. Why don’t they care more about the older, nicer things?” and I thought “I see~”.

Ruki – I feel that the old songs have a deeper impact emotionally, compared to the new ones. One still remembers them, and they’re easy on the ears. For that reason, we adopt those aspects.

Incidentally, who builds the core of the song?

Kai – Ruki brings the original melody, and then we discuss it like th~is and th~at among ourselves and finish it up.

Ruki writes the lyrics too, right?

Ruki – The point is how to express the mentality of people through words. To disclose things directly, without speaking in a roundabout manner.

Kai – I’m always surprised by Ruki’s lyrics. He’s so good at how he expresses things. He writes lyrics which make one feel “Aah, I get it I get it!” “This really does happen”.

Even among those, there are a lot of times when you write about sentiments of loss, of things which ordinarily don’t get expressed openly.

Ruki – That’s true. There really are a lot of those.

Reita – Normally, Ruki can express anything. This fellow is quite frank with his feelings. Like a stereotypical B-type [blood group].

Uruha – Generally speaking, careless and untidy.

Aoi – But, isn’t he quite methodical about his own place?

Ruki – I’m methodical about my own things.

Kai – And that is why he’s stereotypical. SELF-CENTERED.

But I think it’s better to have a somewhat self-centered person for a vocalist, right?

Uruha – It would be a matter of such great adulation if that could turn into a plus point.

Ruki – (face flushing with agitation)

Reita – He’s REALLY showing it frankly (laughs).

He’s just awfully honest, isn’t he?

Reita – He even lies in a way that he’d get caught immediately. Well, in a word, he’s an idiot.

(laughs) Well, what about you, Aoi? Talking of which, haven’t you been in low spirits for a while?

Aoi – ……’cause I’m depressed. Am I being made a part of this as a last resort? My mind is heavy with that thought……I won’t be a part of this conversation anymo~re.

All members – (laughing out)!

Are you getting concerned about what we just talked?

Uruha – Not really, right?

Reita – Hm. Not really.

Aoi – Is that all? Isn’t your defence a bit too lacking!?

Well well (laughs).

Reita – He is stubborn. Inflexible!

Ruki – Childish.

Reita – Elementary School Student.

Aoi – This isn’t a gathering to get me depressed, is it?

Reita – Look, impressions are very important on a debut appearance.

Aoi – Isn’t Kai supposed to be the one getting bullied!? You’ve got the wrong guy!

Uruha – Aoi is the type of person who constantly seeks out the aesthetics.

Aoi – (with “Well spoken!” written on his face) I play the guitar on the left, so even if I’m working out the aesthetics of the staging for myself, this (Reita) keeps on being a nuisance, with his “Me me”!

Reita – Liar! (laughs)

That is probably just Reita being a show-off……or something.

Reita – That is not true. Not true at all. I’m so humble and low-key. Keeping a poker face.

Aoi – That’s not true! If you think or perceive something I see it on your face right before my eyes!

Uruha – He has tremendous power of keeping things hidden to himself.

We were talking about the stage right now, isn’t it? How’s he ordinarily?

Reita – Ordinarily, I pay too much attention to the things around me and my sensitivity wears out……in fact I’m left with no sensitivity at all. There’s a fellow who gets lonely easily, so I go accost them or something.

Uruha – Basically it’s Ruki and Kai who get emotionally attached.

Reita – Speaking in terms of soccer, I’m like the midfielder, you know. Always looking all around before giving a pass……like gauging the atmosphere. Sometimes I get called an air-conditioner.

Aoi – I’ve never said tha~t! (laughs)

It’s like bearing the motherly role in the band, isn’t it? What kind of a person is Uruha?

Aoi – Extremely obstinate.

Uruha – Obstinate, is it? But indeed, I don’t budge from what I think.

Ruki – It’s like if you say something you’ll probably get beaten up (laughs).

Uruha – But, if I feel that I’m making a mistake, I earnestly recheck and confirm things.

Ruki – No~? You just try to bend the truth (laughs). Like, ‘I define the rules!’

Uruha – Aren’t there times when that sort of a thing is also necessary? (laughs)

Reita – YOU don’t make a mistake! That is why I stay with you!

(laughs) A motherly existence within the band. Well, what about Kai?

Reita – Well, there’s nothing special about him.

All members – (laughing out)!

Aoi – Strangely enough, he’s the most serious one.

Uruha – I think he’s the type who does everything untiringly.

Ruki – What do you think of this yourself?

Kai – My wish, I suppose, is to be the centre of laughter. I like getting teased. As long as I keep getting teased and the laughter keeps coming, I’d be enjoying myself immensely.

Reita – You haven’t put that ruse to practice for even 10 minutes until now!

Aoi – If done so, it works really well at breaking the ice. Break the ice by teasing him. This is important.

Uruha – It is an essential requirement for getting him excited (laughs).

(laughs) I imagined you all to be these cool sort of people when I saw the art-pictures but in reality you’re all just brimming with a unique kind of humanity (laughs). Well then, what are your plans up ahead?

Ruki – There’s a One-Man at Shibuya AX on January 16th. We’re simply looking forward to it……

Aoi – None of us have been there, you know, to AX (laughs). On the day itself, we just hope we won’t lose our senses in shock when we go there.

Reita – It’s our first One-Man at a big venue, so I wonder how much aura we’ll have to build up to not look small, to what extent we’ll be able to do something that would be distinctive of a big stage. I’m really looking forward to it.

Kai – We intend to make it a Live which will leave behind an impression, so we want everybody to carry that expectation.

Uruha – Our sense of unity gives us the confidence to conquer any place. I would want the people who want to feel “This is what a Live is” to definitely come and watch us.

And finally, what is the mark of the GazettE?

Aoi – We always keep our aspirations high, no matter what.

Ruki – Without forgetting those first feelings we had when we formed this band, we want to be even more spirited.

Spirited?? Did you, by any chance, mean diligent?

Ruki – Ah, that’s right!

Aoi – Sorry, basically we’re not very intelligent……

Everybody – (roars of laughter)

Source: Ducky translation.

Gazette Interview [B=PASS]

Q1. Please tell us some words about album [TOXIC] release and the first front cover feature!
Ruki: It’s a happy ending
Uruha: I‘m happy about the front cover! To be known by more people is an honor
Aoi: I can’t really say a word but.. thank you
Reita: Thanks!!
Kai: It’s an honor

Q2. Your feeling when you listened to the completed sound in [TOXIC]?
Ruki: “Aah, so it was like this.”
Uruha: Honestly, I’m looking forward to expand without having any expectation or how I should put it, a fresh discovery
Aoi: The spoiled feeling in the end is GOOD!!
Reita: Dangerous—!! It’s cool!!
Kai: I want to do live soon~

Q3. “TOXIC” = poison. A part in yourself which is like poison?
Ruki: Everything is streaked with poison
Uruha: My tendency to give up
Aoi: I, am selling with purity so things like poison is a bit….
Reita: I don’t want to do the same things as my surroundings
Kai: The time when I squeeze myself to death

Q4. I’m “addicted” to it~ What do you have in mind?
Ruki: Band!
Uruha: I can’t think of anything other than creating music
Aoi: Well, my image is pure so it’s somewhat….
Reita: I guess it’s motorbike
Kai: Live

Q5. Please tell us the vital point in TOXIC!
Ruki: If I report it in one page, I think the good quality will be different
Uruha: There’s none, or perhaps I should say rather than listening to the points, I want everyone to listen to the whole thing
Aoi: Well, it’s a long-awaited album, so instead of shuffling I want people to listen to it with this flow
Reita: It might be interesting to listen to it in repeat!!
Kai: Let it pass and listen to it, then go back to first song and feel the connection, it’s interesting

Q6. Please pick one of your remaining memories during recording!
Ruki:The lyrics are neverending………
Uruha: The sleepless night creating SE
Aoi: Finally the guitar techinican (for recording) arrived!
Reita: Overall the tension was high
Kai: The toughness of creating sounds

Q7. Tour will start in October. Are there things you worry about before the tour?
Ruki: The toughness of creating sounds
Uruha: I want the flow of the live to hit into my body quickly
Aoi: Things like whether we can find bars which are open until morning or not
Reita: There are a lot of new songs……
Kai: Whether the sound will come together or not, since the drum set just got changed

Q8. Please tell us the point you like the most about your costumes this time.
Ruki: The silhouette of the suit
Uruha: Wide pants
Aoi: The cloth.. it’s easy to move
Reita: The first best!
Kai: The net, the net (laughs)

Q9. In this year’s summer you performed at [Summer Sonic] for the first time! Please tell us your impressions of trying to stand on Summer Sonic’s stage.
Ruki: It was simply fun
Uruha: The most necessary event for the GazettE now!
Aoi: As I thought music is good (earnestly)
Reita: The feeling is so good!!
Kai: It was fun and we were exhausted. We want to come again next year.

Q10. You also appeared on an event belonged to your office [Peace & Smile Carnival]! What was the impressive thing?
Ruki: “Everyone is earnest, huh..”
Uruha: I thought, “Occassionally we have such events, huh..”
Aoi: It’s something weird, I thought if a band doesn’t have eagerness, the fans can’t be pleased.
Reita: It’s been a while since we went home after 3 songs
Kai: There are various bands in PS Company!!

[“Looking for Personal” Compilation]

Q11. Your recent hobby, what’s your special preference?
Ruki: . Watching movies
Uruha: Running as usual
Aoi: I guess it’s bicycle… . It’s different from a hobby though, road biking to build my strength
Reita: Cleaning
Kai: Remodelling my room

Q12. Are you sleeping and waking up in a good way? Also, what do you immediately do after you wake up?
Ruki: It’s terribly bad
Uruha: Waking is fine. After I wake up I turn on music.
Aoi: It’s very bad
Reita: Waking is fine. When I wake up I look at my cellphone
Kai: It’s fine! First of all I brush my teeth

Q13. Recently, the things you’ve been eating unconsciously?
Ruki: Soumen (fine white noodles)
Uruha: Ramen
Aoi: Rock Seaweed Ramen from Akanoren
Reita: Atarime (a kind of dried snacks)
Kai: Ice

Q14. Your favorite color?
Ruki: Black
Uruha: Black
Aoi: Black, Gold
Reita: Red
Kai: Gold, Black

Q15. The place where you relax inside your home?
Ruki: Bed
Uruha: Sofa
Aoi: In front of my Mac
Reita: Bed
Kai: Living room

Q16. What do you think you’re most worried about in yourself right now?
Ruki: Everything
Uruha: Various information
Aoi: Love
Reita: The strength to do things continuously
Kai: Pursuing the new sounds

Q17. Do you have your own’s special jinx?
Ruki: I feel that if I wake up in the morning with a good mood, it will be a good day…
Uruha: Connecting the good things and bad things
Aoi: I think great effort and talent are everything
Reita: Tapping my instrument before live
Kai: Basically my sleeping posture is bad, so the day when my sleeping posture is good will be a good day!

Q18. If you go out to have fun, is it karaoke? drinks? shopping? or others?
Ruki: Shopping
Uruha: Shopping and Drinking
Aoi: Absolutely drinking
Reita: Shopping, I guess
Kai: Drinking!!

Q19. What kind of alcohol do you like? (Non alcohol is also fine)
Ruki: Ginger Ale
Uruha: Sherry
Aoi: First of all beer. After that, highball with Yamazaki 12-year-old whisky
Reita: Ginger Ale! :P
Kai: Nihonshu

Q20. What do you usually do to pass time when you’re alone?Ruki: Work
Uruha: Doing something on the PC
Aoi: An effort to widen understanding.
Reita: Internet
Kai: Reading mang, watching television.

Q21. Please tell us about the first CD you bought.
Ruki: m.c.A.T [BOMB A HEAD!]
Uruha: If I remember correctly DREAM COMES TRUE’s [Kessen wa Kinyoubi/ The Final Battle is Friday]
Aoi: It’s [Odoroponpokorin] though? (lol Chibi Maruko-chan OST)
Reita: Checker’s [Giza Giza no Komoriuta/ The Jagged Lullaby]
Kai: Lindberg

Q22. Can you cook by yourself? What’s your specialty dish?
Ruki: I can’t!
Uruha: Things like pasta
Aoi: I can’t cook
Reita: I can’t do it—!
Kai: Tentatively! Things like pasta

Q23. What’s your habit?Ruki: Laughing like “FuFu”
Uruha: Things like hunching my back
Aoi: Umm. I don’t understand it myself~
Reita: I can’t say it here (laughs)
Kai: Saying, “Eeh~”!

Q24. What do you do so that you’re not nervous?
Ruki: I want you to teach me
Uruha: There’s no way to do that! (laughs)
Aoi: I rarely get nervous. Even so, if I do get nervous, I’ll make a mistake
Reita: I want to know that!
Kai: Firing myself up!

Q26~29. Please say a message to each member!
Ruki:
To Aoi: Cycling, fight!
To Uruha: Are there any good sound materials?
To Reita: Upbringing is difficult, right.
To Kai: As I thought the bass drum is 24.
Uruha:
To RUKI: Give me Koron
To Aoi: Give me your bicycle
To Reita: Give me your motorbike
To Kai: Give me your foreign car
Aoi:
To RUKI: Especially
To Uruha: None
To Reita: It is, isn’t it
To Kai: ……
Reita:
To RUKI: You’ll treat me kebab, right?
To Aoi: Are you riding your bicycle?
To Uruha: Give me MacBook Air!
To Kai: Tell me about movies!
Kai:
To RUKI: the design is cool everytime!
To Aoi: I envy your various interests!
To Uruha: Be my drinking companion! (laughs)
To Reita: I rented DVD so let’s watch it!

Q30. Please say a message to the readers who are reading this!
Ruki: TOMORROW NEVER DIES
Uruha: I’m sorry for writing trivial things
Aoi: Will you be my bride?!
Reita: Please treat B=PASS and the GazettE well from now on!!
Kai: Live is interesting so it will be good so try to come!

source: Tumblr