Mana:

Artist Q&A File63-MALICE MIZER || Translation in english

yu-ki (b)

Q1. Date of birth, blood type, height, weight, shoe size, vision?

August 8th, Type A, 175cm, 54kg, 26cm shoe size, both eyes 8.8.

Q2. Hobby?

Being alone in the dark.

Q3. Habit?

Staring off into the distance.

Q4. The CD you like the most right now?

(Answer not provided)

Q5. When you drink alcohol, what do you drink, how much, and with whom?

I don't drink much.

Q6. If you smoke, what do you smoke and how much?

GITANES (CAPORAL), two packs a day.

Q7. Favorite form of gambling?

None.

Q8. The kind of present you'd be happy to receive?

Something suspicious.

Q9. Your ideal type of woman (if you had to compare her to a celebrity)?

Trish Goff.

Q10. Pickup line for women?

Words aren’t necessary.

Q11. Where do you mainly write lyrics or compose music?

In a dark room.

Q13. The most memorable song from your own music?

"Kioku to Sora" (Memory and Sky).

Q14. A mistake you’ve made during a live performance?

I often forget to turn off the bypass switch, so the sound doesn’t come out.

Q15. What type of women catch your eye during live shows?

Those who are enjoying themselves.

Q16. How do you decide what to wear on stage?

It depends on the concept at that time.

Q17. The last thing you do before a show starts?

Have a smoke.

Q18. The first thing you do after a show ends?

Have five smokes.

Q19. A song you'd like to play as an intro during a live show?

A song I composed myself.

Q20. The most memorable live performance you’ve had, where and when?

The last indie live at Shibuya Public Hall.

Q21. If you could collaborate with someone outside of the band, who would it be?

Lisa Gerrard from Dead Can Dance.

Q22. If one of your band's songs became a drama theme song, which would you choose?

It depends on the story…

Q23. If you had to describe the current state of the band with a color, what would it be?

Colorless.

Q24. Lastly, any message to the fans?

Please feel it.

kami(dr)

Q1. Date of birth, blood type, height, weight, shoe size, vision?

February 1st, 199X, Type A, about 180cm, average weight, 25.0cm shoe size, left eye: gray 2.0 / right eye: purple 2.0.

Q2. Hobby?

Enjoying being alone.

Q3. Habit?

If I knew, I wouldn’t need to worry about it.

Q4. The CD you like the most right now?

There are too many…

Q5. When you drink alcohol, what do you drink, how much, and with whom?

Kalua milk.

Q6. If you smoke, what do you smoke and how much?

Just a puff of smoke each time.

Q7. Favorite form of gambling?

Casino.

Q8. The kind of present you'd be happy to receive?

Cigarettes or CD vouchers.

Q9. Your ideal type of woman (if you had to compare her to a celebrity)?

Someone with piercing eyes and hair longer than mine. Like Maetel.

Q10. Pickup line for women?

You’re beautiful.

Q11. Where do you mainly write lyrics or compose music?

At home.

Q12. How do you compose—do melodies come to you first, or do you build from riffs and chords?

By humming.

Q13. The most memorable song from your own music?

"Bel air ~In the Moment of Blankness…" from MALICE MIZER

Q14. A mistake you’ve made during a live performance?

(Answer not provided)

Q15. What type of women catch your eye during live shows?

A little chubby and in cosplay, hahaha.

Q16. How do you decide what to wear on stage?

We have our own costumes, you know…

Q17. The last thing you do before a show starts?

Smoke a cigarette.

Q18. The first thing you do after a show ends?

Drink water.

Q19. A song you'd like to play as an intro during a live show?

We even compose our own SE (sound effects)...

Q20. The most memorable live performance you’ve had, where and when?

January 10th, at Nihon Seinenkan. I couldn’t stop crying.

Q21. If you could collaborate with someone outside of the band, who would it be?

There are many people.

Q22. If one of your band's songs became a drama theme song, which would you choose?

The song that fits the drama…

Q23. If you had to describe the current state of the band with a color, what would it be?

Five people, five colors.

Q24. Lastly, any message to the fans?

We will keep doing things beyond your imagination, so please grow with us and be able to keep up. Even mistakes are part of the performance!

The end!

Mana and Kami, capturing precious memories with their adorable photos from years ago such as posing in front of the Statue of Hachiko or in Shibuya in the Hachiko Family Mural.

Enjoy 💜💙

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.

-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).

YU-KI (B.)

1) August 8

2) Blood Type: A

3) Height: 175 cm, Weight: 58 kg

4) Shoe Size: 26.5 cm

5) Lark (Cigarettes)

6) Basically, can't drink

7) Likes sweets

8) Mushroom Family

9) Prefers people with beautiful hair, fair skin, distinct facial features, and those who are not too gentle

10) Interests: Clothes, etc. Cigarettes, clothes, etc.

T: MANA chan has a shortcoming! He never stops at the stop line. He stops right in the middle of the crosswalk (laughs).

Y: My shortcoming is that when I start thinking, I overthink endlessly. I get completely absorbed. My strength is that I’m usually calm and might not be thinking about anything at all (laughs). But I think I’m a pretty calm person. Though it doesn’t really mean anything in particular (laughs).

T: You're not listening, are you? (laughs). When we’re all talking together, I sometimes wonder if you’re seriously listening... I think, "Maybe Yu~ki chan will sum it up," but when I ask, "What do you think, Yu~ki chan?" you respond with "Huh?" like you weren’t listening at all (laughs).

K: My strength is that I don't overthink things. I quickly forget unpleasant things! That might be my strength. My weakness is that I'm lazy.

T: My shortcoming is that I talk too much and am noisy. But sometimes that weakness turns out to be a good thing, so it might be a strength too.

Q: Have there been any incidents around you lately?

T: When we went to Osaka, there was something we called the "Box Riding Incident" (laughs).

Q: Was that with the equipment vehicle? (laughs)

T: No, it was with a Benz.

K: A 560SEL (laughs).

T: And then our support member Yukyo-kun was zooming through the streets of Minami in Osaka, shouting "Yukyo!" (laughs).

K: That was a major incident, right? (laughs).

T: It was seriously a huge incident! We laughed so hard (laughs).

Q: Can you boast about yourself within the group?

T: Among the members, I’m the weakest and only have about two good days a year.

Y: Among the members, I’m the strongest. You can call me the "luggage carrying captain" (laughs).

K: I’m the most twisted among the members. My belly button is crooked and the crooked end is withered (laughs). What am I even saying? (laughs)

M: Well, I’m probably the most knowledgeable about horror videos. I’m a collector (laughs).

K: Yeah, you have tons of videos. Almost as many as a video rental shop (laughs).

Q: What’s next for Malice Mizer?

T: We haven't decided on a drummer yet, but once we do, we’ll let everyone know, especially our fans.

K: Once we have a drummer, we’ll start working hard. This year, we’re aiming to have our own solo concerts!

T: For now, we’ve done about 10 lives in March and April, so from around June, we’ll slow down to about 2-3 lives a month.

K: During that time, we’ll be planning various things.

Q: Any plans for a tour?

T: We’d like to go on tour around summer. We hope to visit Osaka, Nagoya, and if possible, the Tohoku region as well.

Q: Finally, do you have a message for your fans?

M: We’re putting everything into the music, so please listen with your whole body.

Y: Please come to our lives.

T: Listen to the beautiful, sorrowful Malice sound!!

K: Eat Yoshinoya’s Tokumori (extra-large beef bowl)!!

T&K: Très bien!

NOTE: T is for Tetsu and K is for Közi since this interview was back in Malice Mizer Tetsu era. I hope you enjoyed it xxx

V's Break Out

"On July 19th Malice Mizer will make their major debut with the single 'Bel Air In the Moment of Emptiness.'

'Bel Air'—a French term meaning 'green wings' or 'clear air.' It’s a beautiful melody that would suit a European landscape filled with silence and melancholy, capturing the rise and fall of emotions. The lyricist, Gackt, and the composer, Mana, share the story behind this song.

Photograph: Hideaki Yajima

Costume: Yukari Ohba (Midi: Nette)

Interview by Hiroko Yamamoto"

―Your first major release, "Bel Air In the Moment of Emptiness," is about to come out. When you two work together to create songs, how does it usually go?

Gackt: It depends on the case. Often, we have the prototype of the song first, and then we go into the studio to shape it together.

Mana: This song, in particular, kept evolving. At first, I had an image of Scandinavia.

―Did you picture the Scandinavian landscape?

Mana: No, it was more Scandinavian metal (laughs). I imagined a beautiful guitar melody. I didn’t really picture a specific scene.

―Did you expect it to become your debut single?

Mana: I wasn’t really conscious of that. I feel like people look at Malice Mizer and think, “What are they?” But this song focuses on the sound of the five members, so I thought it was a track that could convey that the band is the core. Even though it’s our debut, we didn’t aim to make a pop song. The time signatures are irregular, and the tempo changes constantly, but the melody in the chorus is easy to listen to. It felt very much like us.

―Did you feel like you had created a masterpiece?

Gackt: Usually, I’d ask, “What’s the theme of this song?” But this time it was the opposite—Mana asked me, “What kind of lyrics are you going to write?” So I told him what I wanted to express with “Bel Air.”

Mana: On the other hand when it comes to songs where i can picture a scene, I’ll explain in detail, even to the point of being persistent. For example, while working on “Transylvania,” i constantly had the story of a Dracula movie in mind. But this time there wasn’t a specific scene, just emotions like sadness and melancholy.

Mana: Yes, with the harmonized twin guitars typical of Scandinavian metal, they’re beautifully melancholic, right? From the intro to the end i wanted both guitars to play harmonized parts non stop. Nowadays, in many bands, one guitarist does rhythm while the other plays the solo, so I thought having both play like that was kind of unique.

―So, did you communicate this song’s concept to Gackt?

Mana: Did I say “Scandinavian metal” (laughs)?

Gackt: I didn’t hear that (laughs).

Mana: I remember telling Közi, but I don’t recall how I explained it.

Gackt: I think you didn’t explain anything (laughs). Usually, there’s some kind of theme, but maybe that’s why you didn’t say anything this time.

―The lyrics bring to mind a tragic love story, don’t they?

Gackt: Hmm… I’m sure a lot of people would imagine a negative scene when they hear these lyrics, but I don’t generally write such lyrics. The events in this song are indeed sad and painful, but I wrote the lyrics with great importance on taking a step forward from that. The last part of the lyrics doesn’t have a subject or conclusion, and I wanted people to interpret it through their own experiences.

―Is it about losing someone you loved?

Gackt: Yes, that’s right. When I first heard this song, the word “Bel Air” came to mind. But since it had irregular time signatures and many transitions, I hit a wall and couldn’t finish the lyrics. Then I heard the news that someone close to me had passed away. After thinking about many things at home, the remaining melody and lyrics finally came to me. That’s why I have such a deep attachment to this song.

―The phrase “floating while swaying” is particularly striking.

Gackt: Yes, that phrase is key to this song.

―The transitions in the song seem to represent the passage of time. It’s very profound.

Gackt: “Emptiness” can mean many things. Sometimes, just five minutes can feel like a year or two. I think I was able to express the moment when you suddenly snap back to reality after a period of emptiness.

―By the way, this release comes with a video, right?

Mana: Yes, it does. We’re releasing the video in September. The video included with the single is just a small part of the footage shot in France, but the September release will be more like a movie. Malice Mizer is a band with a three-dimensional concept, so we use various stage performances to bring our songs to life. Visuals are an essential part of our expression.

Gackt: So, it won’t be just a typical music video; it will be something that embodies the feelings behind “Bel Air.”

Közi

Since the major debut the pace of life has become very fast. I find a lot of solace in fan letters that ease my daily life.

There was indeed a group of three girls who were idols. They didn’t become a huge topic of conversation, but of course, Mana said, “Of course I know (laughs),” with a cynical smile. It seems he’s knowledgeable not just about horror, games, anime, and curry, but also about idols?

In any case, if you think about it, it’s true that many idols from the '80s had oddly inorganic characters, as the writer with experience in idol magazines thinks (laughs).

In the “Ville de merveilles: Transparent Spiral” stage, there was a solo corner for Mana, Közi, and Yu~ki as the fifth song. Amidst overflowing noise, Mana gave a performance like some kind of ritual. Combined with the concerto by Gackt and Kami that followed, it was one of the major highlights of the live show.

Mana’s costume was aptly described as a white ceremonial robe, with sleeves styled like a furisode.

Mana said, “This is also from the '80s. You get it, right?” with a knowing smile. Most readers probably don’t know, but once upon a time, a singer had a big hit with such a costume (laughs).

Anyone who has seen MALICE MIZER live knows that they have quite a sense of humor, but even during interviews, their humor sometimes comes through. However, they often tread the fine line between seriousness and humor, which is what makes it interesting, but sometimes it makes you wonder, “Is this something I shouldn’t be laughing at?”

In any case, while they are extremely sincere in their expression, it’s worth noting that they have this side as well.

Regarding his solo work, Mana said, “I feel like it has a lot of meaning. There was something spiritual about it this time,” leaving a mystery. Közi also said, “It seemed like there was something we couldn’t see,” deepening the mystery.

Symbolic marks, near-future, transparent butterflies, spiritual… Reflecting on their various words.

Their live performances are very entertaining and enjoyable, but it’s clear that they’re more than that. It’s not just the writer who feels a religious undertone in their expressions, as they always talk about pursuing “what it means to be human.” When the question was directed there, Közi laughed and said, “Everything gets encoded.”

He added, “It might sound scary. We can’t talk about much, but it might be related to that. Look forward to the day it will be revealed.”

Mana again makes a mysterious statement, but Gackt comments.

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

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.

February 23, 1997, Clear skies

FC (Fan Club) Exclusive Event

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAMI - 17,432 Days Left Until Extinction Commemoration

Strawberry Picking and Hato Bus Tour

So, we went on the Hato Bus Tour. It's a bit late, but here's a report on the event. The schedule was:

8:00 AM: Meet in Shinjuku

8:40 AM: Departure

Trip to Nagatoro Town in Saitama Prefecture, where we visited Hodosan to view the plum blossoms (we took the ropeway).

Lunch at Seibu Nagatoro Hotel.

Then, we went strawberry picking in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture.

We returned to Shinjuku at 6:00 PM.

Of course Kami and all the members seemed to have a great time. As for everyone who participated… there's no need to say anything more, right? Now, please enjoy along with the photos.

Here’s the ropeway we rode that day (edited by Közi). It’s called "Monkey No. 1". It was super comfortable (Kami). - Photo 1 top left

Yes, everyone, this is the Ume Hyakka-en (Plum Hundred Flowers Garden). Please don’t lag behind and follow along! (Mana) - Photo 2 top right

To my beloved…MaCheri - Photo 4 bottom right

In front of MaCheri - Photo 3 bottom left

As you can see from the two photos above, the “MaCheri” part of the tour name was somehow changed to "MaSeri", which gave us a big laugh. This happened at the hotel where we had lunch (even though the name on the bus was correct...).