I Did A Little Translation On Mana's Personal Interview. Corrections Are Very Welcome! Thank You So Much

-As usual when i interview MALICE MIZER my mind starts to dry up a bit (laughs).

Gackt: If you don’t get caught up in rigid notions or long held beliefs i think a lot can be understood. People attach years to the concept of time for clarity but that’s just a human made record for our convenience, not a true representation of time itself.

- Is it that before crossing or not crossing the sky, it was never something that was defined in the first place?

Gackt: I wonder? Also, within this album, various characters and shapes come to light but i believe it’s important to note that everything is linked in some form.

-However, this album really delves deeply into everything from the concepts to the sounds.

Gackt: The sound is so rich that we didn’t have enough channels. Even in parts of the songs we didn’t touch on in this interview there're various mechanisms woven into the fabric.

Gackt: Rather than mechanisms everything is inevitably included.

-It’s quite a niche no, a freaky endeavor, isn’t it?

Kozi: That’s MALICE MIZER’s characteristic after all.

Gackt: It can’t be helped. The people creating this are all quite freaky. After working on this album i realized something: discussions about MALICE MIZER often tend to concentrate on visual performances.

Mana: That might be true. But it’s more than that. It’s not limited to visual aspects; we aim to enhance our world in every way possible through all the elements we can use to create. This album made that very clear.

Gackt: Absolutely. Well, since our appearance is what it is i can understand why people would focus on visuals whether they say it’s impressive or over the top. However for MALICE MIZER we want to express our thoughts through sound and stage in all aspects, so if they can understand that it’s great. Of course i believe that in this album the individual growth and evolution as a collective are clearly represented. Given that it’s natural for the quality to rise.

-By the way, will there be any continued performances of "Bois de merveilles" in the future?

Mana: Who knows? (laughs)

Kozi: It’s too precious to just give away (laughs). I think there might be a performance around the next show though.

Gackt: I can’t say anything just yet.

Kozi: Plus performing the songs from this album live requires extensive preparation. They’re so intricate!

Gackt: Regardless MALICE MIZER inherently has the characteristic of deliberately taking a perplexing path.

- I think this has been discussed many times before but can you share your thoughts heading toward the final performance?

Gackt: Just remember that beginnings and endings are always back to back.

Mana: That’s right, everyone, please give it your all and feel it.

Yu~ki: Look forward to it.

Kozi: Absolutely!

Mana: What’s that in reference to?

Kozi: Well...

Gackt: What should I do? If it’s to myself (laughs).

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

KAMI: When you go on tour i think the tour finale is the culmination of how much you’ve grown during the process. For now, i want to make this tour something great and take it on as a challenge. Touring is such a valuable learning experience and i'm always thinking about how best to express myself as i go through it.

- Previously, Mana mentioned that recent stage performances are completely different from those a year ago. Does the way you present yourselves change as the venues grow larger?

MANA: It’s completely different. For example, when performing at a large hall like Shibuya Public Hall versus a live house there’s a significant difference in the distance between us and the audience. Back in the day we used to incorporate theatrical elements but in larger halls, those details can’t really be seen. That’s why we adjust our presentation and stage direction to suit the venue.

- At your recent performance at Akasaka BLITZ, I felt that while your image evokes dreams and illusions, there seems to be a stark reality behind that. Is that intentional?"

MANA: Yeah, you’ve touched on something pretty important. I think we give off a very fantastical image but at the core we’re actually expressing raw, visceral human emotions. If people can pick up on that contrast, I think that’s ideal.

- Alright, Gackt we’ll wrap up with you. Could you tell us about the significance of the upcoming 'Deuxième Anniversaire ~ The Magnificent Revival' performance on the 10th?"

Gackt: The 10th is a very meaningful day for Malice Mizer. As the name suggests, it’s a resurrection, a rebirth of sorts. It’s also an opportunity for those who have never seen Malice Mizer before to witness us. It might sound misleading, but Malice Mizer is Malice Mizer no matter the occasion. I often say that we are ever-changing but even if the way we express ourselves changes, the core remains the same. We are changing, yet unchanged. I want people to feel that duality. Additionally, the meaning of the 'Blank Moments' in the 'Pays de Merveilies ~ Blank Moments'... I personally felt those blank moments during the 'Voyage ~ Vérité' tour. I want to express that."

- Could you elaborate on that?"

Gackt: On July 20th, during the BLITZ performance, my dog, who had been my only family for over 20 years, collapsed just before the live. While I was performing, they were undergoing surgery. By the time I rushed over after the show, they had already passed away. I don’t know if that was the reason, but everything that day was utterly chaotic. I revisited the metaphorical 'door of blank moments,' and i came to realize that everything starts from that point. That’s why i want to present something meaningful every single day. During the first half of the tour, i was in a slump, but in the second half i want to get even a step closer to the ideal version of myself. I want to remain positive in all aspects, convey that to people and hope they can feel it.

By Mana-sama

Nostalgic Game Inferno

The Xbox, which I will be discussing this time, made a striking impression with its beautiful, green-glowing icon that was visible beyond the earth sliced by an "X."

When the announcement of a new hardware invasion from America came i was excited back in 2002. At the time of the Xbox's arrival, the gaming market had seen Sega's Dreamcast defeated, while Nintendo's N64 and GameCube were struggling. The market had become a stronghold for Sony, led by the PS2.

Speaking of the PS2, it had a significant advantage with its DVD playback function. Even though the DVD market wasn’t established yet, the ability to play games and watch DVDs was quite impressive… Sony’s strategy was ahead of its time. Then, Microsoft which had dominated the global PC market launched an attack on the firmly established PS2 empire from across the sea! "Microsoft's game entry with immense wealth. They must be a terrifying enemy for Sony," I shivered at the thought.

The reason I felt this way was due to my encounter with the "ATARI 2600" from the American company Atari. I recall when I was still a young child. At a time when even the Famicom hadn’t been born yet I was familiar with games through a system at toy stores where I could play for a few minutes by inserting 50 yen. Despite being in such an era, the price of the ATARI 2600 was around 60,000 yen. It was an astonishingly expensive item for a child, and of course, I couldn’t get one. In the midst of this, the infamous "Atari Shock" occurred leading to Atari's downfall! This created a dark history in the gaming market with its collapse.

Now, back to the Xbox's invasion of Japan. The advertising campaign was tremendous. Leading up to its release, Shibuya was dyed in Xbox colors, creating a huge buzz! My first encounter with the actual Xbox was during an interview with Famitsu about the Xbox. I visited the Famitsu editorial department to be interviewed and got to see the console before its release!

As a result, the first American attempt at entering Japan ended in failure. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t the first attempt, but let’s leave it at that for now.Then, in 2002, a time leap occurred, marking the start of America’s third attempt at entering Japan with the black ship Xbox.

Why is it the third attempt? Because the 3DO, which I love dearly and discussed in the first installment of this series, attempted its second entry in 1994. Some might think it’s a Japanese-made game console since it was released by Matsushita Electric Industrial in Japan, but in reality, the 3DO is American-made. Japanese companies had licensing agreements with the "3DO standard."

Now, getting a bit sidetracked—my first impression of that black, square object was striking. It felt substantial, and a line forming an X ran across the middle. Inside it was a semi-transparent green dome of the Xbox, which gave it a presence that made me think, "This is really cool!" and I couldn’t help but shout that in my heart.

The only disappointment was that the green dome didn’t light up. If it had lit up, it would have been perfect. That said, the original Xbox is one of my favorite consoles.

Kami's Monologue

Vol. 1 #Mu

This time i thought i would introduce a treasure of mine thati haven’t shown to many people. Actually, i collect various things like old candy and juice cans.

Recently, when i happened to go to a convenience store i saw… to my surprise, coffee gum has made a splendid comeback…!! So let me introduce part of my treasure: the history of Lotte gum.

This is Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum which is very, very sweet... However, the blend of various fruits is exquisite… It’s no longer sold but I’m sure it will make a comeback (as of June 6).

The green gum, this is Fresh Mint Chewing Gum. I remember seeing this gum in my childhood, but I never had it. However the reason I have this gum now is a secret. The taste is a bit like a lighter version of green gum. It has a refreshing flavor and is quite nice.

The white gum, Spearmint Gum. This one has a minty, cool feeling but is a sweet flavor that I really like.

The pink gum , Bonnie Ume Gum. It truly has the taste of ume (plum). It doesn’t taste like pickled plum but has a plum like flavor. This is also one of my favorite sweet gums.

The brown gum… Coffee Chewing Gum. This gum has splendidly made a comeback recently after disappearing once about ten years ago. I was very sad about that. This is also sweet, with a sweet coffee flavor.

The newly revived version has slightly different packaging. The flavor is a bit lighter, but it has been beautifully recreated.

The blue gum… Grapefruit Chewing Gum. I have a memory of being bought this when I was a child, and I was so impressed by how delicious it was. A few years later, it disappeared.

The reason I have this gum now is a secret! I was shocked when a gum I really liked disappeared, but it miraculously came back as a 1/5 commemorative edition, which also moved me. It has changed its name to "Sweety Gum"...

In reality, the flavor was not very well recreated. The taste is actually more profound and sweet, similar to the flavor of grapefruit chewing gum. It is wonderful that things from the past can make a comeback. It truly shows that “history repeats itself.”

There are also Green Gum, Tarl Mint Gum, and others, but there is actually one gum that I don’t have. It’s called Quick Quench Gum. There’s a picture of a person playing sports on the yellow packaging. The taste is lemon-flavored, with a slightly sporty feeling, like a mix of Pocari Sweat and Gatorade... I really liked it, but for some reason, chewing this gum made my teeth hurt, which I hated. When you eat lemon, your teeth might hurt, right...? It’s just like that...

There are other perfumes like "Yves" and "Donna." There used to be many delicious and wonderful things. I hope more things will make a comeback.

15 Autumn 1999

MALICE MIZER "Bel Air In the Blank Moment de l'image"

Premiere Screening

1997.9.18, Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan, Middle Hall

A video screening event presented by the “art collective” Malice Mizer.

"It was just supposed to be a simple video screening yet they brought in an entire 1 ton truck full of sets. At first i thought i could go in with a casual mindset but after hearing that from the event organizer i knew i couldn't take this lightly. Malice Mizer known as an 'art collective,' has always used rock as a medium to express themselves in a conceptual manner. This 'premiere screening' was held as a pre release event for the video work Bel Air ~In the Blank Moment de l’image (de l'Image) which they filmed entirely on location in France. Of course even though it was 'just' a video screening it was full of the unique expression typical of them.

Right from the start we were surprised when the MC greeted the audience with a casual, 'Good evening, everyone!' instantly grabbing everyone’s attention... or rather drawing laughter. The host was none other than Koeda an unexpectedly unconventional choice. As expected of Malice Mizer they never do anything ordinary. Even Koeda himself seemed rather nervous, asking, 'Are we really okay here?' as the screening began.

Then as the lights dimmed a grand noble looking set appeared adorned with the light of numerous candles flickering in the background resembling the atmosphere of a royal chamber. On the chairs set on stage sat the members, dressed as the characters they played in the video. Ah, this must be why they needed a whole truck for the set.

The conversation between the MC and the members soon turned to behind the scenes stories from their time in France which were introduced one by one along with off shot footage. Throughout the night Mana remained completely silent. Apparently, he claimed to only understand French so Kozi took the liberty of speaking on his behalf.

After the video screening of Bel Air, the members gave their final greetings.

'We were able to create a great work, so I hope you’ll watch it not just once, but many times' (Gackt).

'I hope it sparks all kinds of imagination' (Kami).

In the middle of their comments Kozi mentioned the upcoming tour in December saying, 'We hope you’ll experience the new world of Malice Mizer.'

Their words combined with the fact that they brought in a 1 ton truck full of sets just for a screening, dressed in character from the video, and even chose such an unconventional MC, made it clear that their large-scale live show would be something truly special. It left many in the audience with high expectations for the upcoming live performances. There's no doubt they will deliver something beyond anything we've ever seen before.

What kind of new world will Malice Mizer reveal next?

Mana's Favorite Outfit

1997 at NIHON SEINENKAN & SHIBUYA KOKAIDO

Hair Accessory: An elaborate hairpiece featuring blue and black feathers, matching the outfit.

Collar: A luxurious design reminiscent of nobility, adorned with a gold brooch at the center of the ribbon.

Sleeves: Detailed with fine pleats to create a flared effect.

Skirt: An over-skirt with black feathers, giving the outfit a streamlined appearance.

Mana (from Stylist)

This outfit was inspired by the image of Queen Elizabeth. Despite being a dress the mini skirt element adds a unique touch. The over-skirt flutters beautifully when moving. It's rare to see a mini skirt on a dress, and I wanted to maintain a sense of elegance while showing some leg. The combination of a dress with visible legs adds a certain eroticism. It was especially memorable for me as it was worn on a major stage for the first time at the Nihon Seinenkan and Shibuya Kokaido.

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

MALICE MIZER

"Rest of the aristocrats! Fans capture exclusive photos!! A new charm brimming in their post-concert appearance.

Please take a look at their rare unseen moments of rest.

The photo was given to me by a friend who used to follow Malice around back then. It’s from when i was just getting to know Malice so i couldn’t tell who was who without makeup. I even wrote their names on the back of the photo (lol). Looking back i realize how incredibly rude that was."

Malice Mizer

"Let’s Play with Wax Figures!!!"

February 24, 2000 – Tokyo Tower Wax Museum

Mana sama dressed in a new black outfit from Moi-même-Moitié (the brand by none other than Mana-sama himself) and i ventured to the Tokyo Tower Wax Museum. The last time i visited here was in elementary school. I vaguely recall being terrified of the "Western Torture Room." Well guess what, it’s still here! This room set up to prevent people from forgetting the horrors humans once inflicted on each other is full of grotesque displays. The background music is ominous enhancing the sense of dread. Ten minutes in here and you’d go mad! As i felt my spirits sinking i glanced over at Mana-sama, who was completely unfazed. I asked, "Doesn’t this make you feel sick?" Mana sama replied calmly, "Not at all." "I've been interested in things like this since i was young and i used to read books like The Encyclopedia of Torture." (Mana)… The Encyclopedia of Torture! There really are all kinds of books in this world.

Aside from the torture chamber the museum is packed with wax figures of rock musicians and movie stars. When i suggested, "Maybe it would be fun to take some rock inspired photos," Mana sama even tried to climb over the railing to pose with the figure of Deep Purple (a British hard rock band active mainly in the 1970s). Suddenly… BEEP! An alarm went off! Mana sama also took photos with Julia Roberts from Pretty Woman and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator. For “unreleased” photos he posed with Venus and Bacchus. Mana sama you naughty thing! …Or so i thought but Mana sama was quick to say, "Make sure to mention that I wasn’t actually touching her chest!" to avoid any misunderstanding.

Malice Mizer Vicious 11 // November 1998

Scans done by manieravitium on twitter and @additionalsorrow on tumblr