The second half of the interview. Translated by Shannon Beech and Mari Miyamoto. Translator’s notes included.

Your styles are different, but you members come from the same hometown (Mucc is from Ibaraki and LM.C is from Nagano). Is there anything that’s easier for you to do?

T: Our hometowns are the same, that’s good right?

M: Yeah. From what age did you know each other?

T: SATO I’ve known since the first year of high school, more than half our lives. Our bassist and guitarist were classmates were in elementary school, so we’ve known each other all our lives. If the hometown is the same we can do a “return live”, isn’t that good?

M: Yes, that’s good.

T: At our return live almost all the people come from Tokyo (laughs). It’s near.

M: But, the home feeling is good.

T: It’s not about the home town; feeling like classmates again is the main reason. The time between meetings is like the breaks between school. Even now when I meet other members I ask, “What were you doing? Did something interesting something happen?”

M: That’s Important.

Maybe that’s their secret for continuing so long.

M: In our case, because our local area is the same we know each other.

T: Ah. If our local area wasn’t the same we wouldn’t have met in the first place.

M: I think the longer the relationship, the less misunderstandings there are. It’s like you know he’s like this because you’ve been together since school days. You guys prank each other, especially YUKKE.

T: Yeah.

M: Twice a year he gets seriously pissed off (laughs)? Most people on the outside wouldn’t understand, but it’s ok because you’ve been together a long time.

T: With YUKKE and SATO there’s a line you don’t cross or they get pissed off. If I pranked YUKKE the same way I do SATO, he’d say “If keep it up I’m gonna get pissed.”

There is a love for our band. I think that’s because we are continuing together.

T: Are there people that don’t like their own band? I hate guys who basically don’t understand themselves. “This band is me.” I don’t like those types of people. “I’m a member of band.” I think it would difficult if there are a lot of members who don’t understand their position. If they neglect how they show their band, thinking of only how they look, then I think why don’t you do it solo?

M: You’re right. But, to want to show off and be like “Me!” That’s just our natural instinct, isn’t it? As the years go on you get past that. To recognize “I’m just one part of the band,” takes time. Well, speaking of band-love…it doesn’t mean that the members are always getting along. Well, a good relationship is better than nothing.

T: But, I think getting along too well isn’t good. I think when you get too comfortable you start holding each other back.

M: Hmm…bands are interesting. I’ve never worked seriously* (meaning as in a regular job)so I don’t know much, so I don’t have any examples.

T: Yeah, there’s no free workplace (laughs). “Don’t have private conversations at work.”* (In Japan private discussions are discouraged in the workplace.) They don’t say that me. There’s no boss. That’s why; we can’t work in society (laughs). 

Even though people with strong personalities are gathered, they can have good balance and continue. That’s a miracle for a band.

T: Because of that we’re unique. We’ve been acquainted for a long time and while we were growing up our personalities came out. So perhaps we’re good models, but it depends on what kind of personalities gather, right? Everyone with the same personality clashes, maybe different personalities just fit together differently. It’s never gonna equal on all sides, but I think that’s why they are able to continue.

M: Yeah bands are fun.

T: Fun?

M: Are you not having fun? If you’ve working for more than 10 years then it should be more fun.

T: When I was a workaholic it was all fun, but gradually responsibilities came, right? That’s hard, isn’t it? As a professional you eventually have to offer something satisfactory. After all, people who come to our lives are around their 20’s if that’s the case, they don’t have much money to use freely yet, right? Buying a live ticket and taking your friend out to dinner is like 10,000 yen ($100). When we were students that was a lot, right? If they’re going to pay that much, you need to offer something to make them want to come.

M: Yeah, that’s right.

T: As a singer you have to be serious about this, Maya (laughs). After, “Today I’m not feeling well.” Is something I can never say. “Today’s soup is bad, so we’re closed.”*(In Japan if the soup isn’t good a ramen shop will not open for the day) I’m not kind of ramen shop. (laughs)

M: That may be right. That’s the feeling. First, I have to be more eager.

T: It took time for me to me come to this realization. So I thought I seriously needed to work harder.

How about a love for your fans?

M: Tatsurou, what do you think about your fans?

T: Me? I think about my band and fans equally. I don’t care so much for the fans to be tied down to us. There’s a lot of cool music and cool bands, that’s why the audience has the choice. Audiences are at a slightly higher status than the band. After they’ve come across a lot of music and they come to our band, they say “Mucc is really cool.” That’s more pleasing right? I think watching a lot of things and listening to a lot of things is good. We want to do an event with the people we think are cool and show the audience. Yet, if they can listen to music they haven’t felt before and then they say they like our band that would be best.

M: If that’s the case, then the band and the fans will have a good relationship.

T: Pretty much, I let the fans do what they want. We leave them alone to mosh if they like and act violently. But, instead, if they fall down, it’s like an avalanche. And then the other fans run in to help, so the show doesn’t stop. Everyone does that kind of things spontaneously. 

M: I think you’ve reached that point because been around for 15 years.

T: How about LM.C, have you reached that point?

M: I would say we have that kind of harmony. Over 5 years have passed, fans are still a mystery. They’re different from family.

T: The fans of LM.C call themselves “Chiimaa”*(Chiimaa is a slang word for Delinquent) right? Who chose that?

M: The fan club is called Team LM.C, perhaps I started calling them that, but I’ve never called them Teamers (referring to calling them “chiimaa”) because I was too embarrassed to call them that (when they are present). (laughs)

T: You should make team jackets. Those satin embroidered jackets. They’d sell well.

M: That’s a good idea. Back on topic, gradually the band begins incorporating the fans. When we started in our home town, I wouldn’t say we were enemies (referring to fans), we were both fighting to become bigger but we weren’t close like we are now. The scale has gotten bigger as we’ve done this over several years; they’re like band members to me now.

T: A live is something that all the people at the venue make together. The voice of the audience cuts into the music, the direction isn’t just for the artist on stage. The audience is also a player, that’s why they’re important.

M: You could say that. In addition to that, it’s that history that also makes that happen, I guess. From the watching side, it’s like “I’m going to this live to perform, as well.” If the audience thinks that way, the band’s live will be a lot cooler.

Exactly. Besides that, I think, it’s because the two of you have similar characters. They’re both extremely positive.

T: Ah, it may be very positive. After all, it’s just one of those things, when finished you can’t change.

You can quickly switch to the things that are finished?

T: It’s extremely fast. For better or worse, I don’t pull them along.

M: Is it that, as you’ve been living, you’ve gradually become like that (become more positive)?

T: To worry about a situation that is unchangeable is nonsense, right? That’s a waste of time. Time can resolve those kinds of things.

M: So, it’s not an inherent optimism. The experience up until now has made you that positive.

T: Perhaps it’s closer to a perseveration instinct.

M: Yeah. So, often people say to me, “You don’t get down a lot, I’m jealous.” But it’s not like that. The instant I feel really down, I come back quickly.

T: When feeling down, you have to put yourself in a situation where you don’t think about that.

I think being a vocalist is like being an athlete; you have to use your body so you can’t feel down. It’s like “Next!” So you have quickly change gears, or you won’t have any draw.

T: Speaking of the stage, if you do happen to make a big mistake, like the lyrics just go “poof!” You can’t stay there, it can’t be helped. You have to completely change, or that day the whole live goes bad. You just have to make a new start.

M: It depends on your personality, but to drag out a mistake, right? (Laughs) If you carry the negative feelings to next day, there’s no happiness.

T: In a business meeting, I don’t like a bad point; I like things to keep progressing. “If we’re talking about this, we won’t reach the answer.” Is what I’m thinking, then it’s like, “So why don’t we move on?”

M: Very understandable.

T: So, before a live, those who play stringed instruments say, “Which cord do we play this piece in?” (Laughs) Then I say, “Why not just play the one you think is cool?” It doesn’t always have to be the way it’s written. But, I haven’t recently seen an LM.C show.

M: More like not at all (laughing). Sometimes if you see our live, it’s unexpectedly interesting.

T: What’s your perspective?

M: As it is, I think LM.C’s image is accelerating.

T: Maya, you’re type AB, right?*(In Japan there is a trend to believe that certain blood types carry certain personality traits. Similar to the Zodiac Signs in the west.) My image of an AB type is they’re people who think differently from others to start with. They think a little differently from the mainstream. “What an idea!” I think. They do that like it’s natural, so I’m jealous of that. They are having an adventure in their minds. That’s the impression I have of many AB people. That’s why you don’t hang out. It’s not that you are afraid you just find it troublesome?

M: Yeah, that’s right.

T: So, it’s easy to understand LM.C’s image, you haven’t changed.

M: Right. When we release a best of album then we know that our visual image hasn’t changed. So, maybe it’s from here. It’s not that I want to change; our image will just change naturally. It’s not that I’ve lost interest, but it’s whether I can do more.

T: So, I want to watch your great adventure. (laughs)

M: I guess it’ll be like that. Otherwise, I don’t think we’ll continue, nor will the vitality. We’ve spent 5-6 years together and now the things we wanted to do from outset are taking shape.

T: Yeah, yeah. You’re getting close to perfection? I think 5 years from now it’s going to be destroying what you’ve made. Then, “Let’s make something new.” In 10 years you will have done all that.*(having destroyed and made something new)

M: As one would expect, the guy who’s been working 15 years says something different (laughs).

T: So, I want to see a different Maya now, as well as songs.

M: Yeah. That’s right. If I can live like that for 5 years that would be enjoyable.

Well then, from now on go to lives with each other. Seems like there will be more interactions between you two.

M: I’d love to go to Mucc’s lives. I want to decide when I’m going, but… “That guy said he would come, but didn’t again.” That’s what’s going to be said about me (laughs).

T: Yeah, you wouldn’t come (laughs).

M: Finally, I want to see their live. I did listen to the album fully.

T: Well…that’s if our live is to Maya’s taste.

M: Yeah, but, sounds like you’ve changed a lot, right?

T: Yes, we’ve changed a lot. After all, you saw our live was 10 years ago, right? (We’ve changed) In a big way, we’ve changed about 5 times.

M: I see. It looks like your appearance has changed.

T: Yeah. Now we have nothing on the stage. The drum-set and two mic stands stage right and stage left.

M: That’s interesting.

T: Now everyone uses the platform, right? On the contrary the stage has nothing on it that would stand out, right? Not even the speakers are on stage.

M: That kind of thing can also be stimulating.

That being the case, next time will you mail Tatsurou, Maya? (To Tatsurou) If you are invited by him, you’d be surprised, right?

T: Maya!? No way! (laughs)

M: Probably not. I’m not sure what I’d mail him. (laughs)

T: After all, I can’t imagine what he’d invite me out for. (laughs)

M: (Laughs)

T: If mail came, “Is this for me? This is a mistake right?” Is what I’d think. (laughs)

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Translator’s comments.

This concludes the interview. Thank you for reading! ^_^ We will be taking a hiatus on  translating for a while, but shall continue to translate. Next on the list is Aiji’s interview in R&R 46. Stay turned. I can already tell it will be way easer than this one. This should go much faster now that we don’t have to deal with Tatsurou’s ornate language and weird metaphors. LOL.