Quiz

Which person from the band The Gazette are you?

http://www.quiztron.com/tests/person_from_band_gaz_quiz_171176.htm

Ruki

 ▓Rezultatul▓

♥

Which Jrocker is perfect for you? (Girls Only)

Cool

Un alt quiz What Alice Nine song are you?

\(•o•)/

Deacum in colo voi posta si linkurile quiz-ului pe care il fac.
Pentru inceput:What Alice Nine member are you
http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/personality/quizreport.php?title=which-alice-nine-member-are-you&sid=NDI3MDA4Mg==

Hiroto You are the guitarist Hiroto! You are carefree and happy...at times you surprise people with your deep thoughts and seriousness.  Uraaaaaaaaaaaaaa Il ador ▓Rezultatul meu ▓

Q.Q

Acum scriu probabil ultimele mele cuvinte
dar intr-un test am aflat ca sunt

Saga
Yay you got Saga (so cute :3), bassist & backup vocalist!
His real name is Sakamoto Takashi. His nick names are: Saga-sama (Teasing name) & Daikon-san (means: Radish-san, Shou made it up xDD)
Saga has a dog named Chiko (means: fries) & he loves to walk with it. :3
His favorite colors are red, silver, black, white and purple. First musical instrument he learned to play was guitar.
His past bands are: Vall'na Racill, Visage & Delta Ark. Saga's favorite manga is Doraemon ♥

Gommen Shishi!

Articol despre Hiroto

Toti sunt de parere ca Ogata Hiroto este cel mai popular membru A9
si nu numai fanii cred acest lucru dar si toti membri A9 au spus  asta in multe interviuri
Subliniez ca in un interviu Hiroto-kun a fost numit PERVERS nu prea cred el este doar dulce si super KAWAII si nu  spun asta ca o fana a lui.
Presa a spus tot timpul ca Hiroto este un magnet de fete lucru adevarat problema este ca regulile PSC nu ii permit o iubita ceea ce le oftica pe fanele din intreaga lume mai ales din Japonia ca de sunt aproape de ei si in mare ei au dat concerte in Japonia.
Toti spun ca cea ce atrage fetele este faptul ca el canta bine la chitara dar eu nu sunt deacord,are competitie cand vine vorba de talent in muzica.Unul dintre ”competitori„ este Uruha din GazettE dar cand vine vorba de talent si toate cele Chitara Bass nu este mai prejos decat Chitara pentru ca Saga din A9 este un Adversar redutabil pentru Pon deoarece prin comportamentul sau melancolic si aerul sau singuratic Saga tot creste in ochii fanilor A9, el este de parere ca Hiroto este cel mai popular deci nu se gandeste la competitie.In videoclipul pentru melodia Rainbows,Hiroto a punctat dur impotriva lui Saga,dar in timpul unui concert cand Saga a cantat un solo la bass a inebunit toate fanele venite la concert ♥ * ♥
Gestul lui de a canta cu o floare in gura a fost WOW dar ceea ce cu adevarat a inebunit fanele din public a fost momentul cand Saga a aruncat acea floare in  public.
                                                 Acest articol si mai toate interviurile luate lui Saga sunt pentru ShiShi

Rainbows cantat de shou mai bine live?

Live sau Pv?

Am observat ca vocea lui Shou este mai tare live decat Pv

Interview with The GazettE

How was your feeling while the live show? Were you still nervous?
【RUKI】It was all about excitement and anticipation.
【URUHA】 I think, at the moment when the live started, I really could enjoy.
【AOI】 Of course I was nervous. But because we had the dream of a live at Tokyo Dome for such a long time, I concentrate on the show.
【REITA】 Yes, I was nervous, too, but I tried to stay cool.
【KAI】 When I go on stage then I am not nervous anymore. There is just the adrenalin.

How do you think about your new DVD?
【RUKI】 I think, the recordings are really good. But of course a live DVD isn’t the same like the live experience of a concert at all.
【URUHA】 Yes, the DVD is quite good, isn’t it?
【AOI】I don’t want to exaggerate, but we really tried to give our best in each record. To see us at a DVD is a really good thing.
【REITA】Respectable…
【KAI】Well, when I think about the content of the discs, then it’s really good as a live DVD.

For The Gazette as the band, what’s the meaning of a live at Tokyo Dome for you? Surely it’s a big step forward for your career?
【RUKI】 I concentrated on this topic a lot, for example, where is our limit and so on. I think the whole thing was good for our rapid development. It gave us a new impulse.
【URUHA】 Well, this time we stood in front of a gigantic wall, so we felt a strong pressure. But the situation also helped us to learn more about our indulgence and gave us the opportunity to over think them.
【REITA】Yes, especially for us as band it was important for our advance. It was an important day for us.
【KAI】 So to speak the next important step.

Only for your gig at Tokyo Dome several European fans came to Japan. What do you think, when you see or hear such things?
【RUKI】 I was just happy that they came to see us.
【URUHA】Yes, we saw foreign flags in the audience. We are every time full of gratefulness, that there are people who come to our island and stay in front of us.
【AOI】 We’re lucky that the fans came from foreign countries extra to see us establishing a milestone in our band history. In order to that we want to meet you soon in your world, even when it’s not that easy with all our appointments and releases here in Japan.

【REITA】I was totally happy and I will definitely spend more time with the oversea fans.
【KAI】 I was happy, too. Japan is our home and there are really humans
who took the trouble to come to Japan. I was impressed by this kind of passion.

Could you please tell us more about your new Single „Vortex“ (In Europe available as Digital Download), Content, Sound, comparison to other singles and so on?
【RUKI】 The single is showing The GazettE in our best form. It is the guide for the direction we want to aim for from now on.
【URUHA】 We won’t introduce our new single at all, simply listen to it!!! Then we’re happy.
【REITA】 With the catchy parts and the proper balance it’s a song which is typically for GazettE.

The GazettE is really famous, what do you think is the reason for your popularity?
【RUKI】 We’re even don’t know this. Furthermore we don’t rest on our success, we want to establish more.
【URUHA】 Even now we still ask ourselves.
【REITA】 Dunno. If we would know that, surely we would be more popular and more famous.
【KAI】 Well, what could it be? I also don’t know it. But there is one thing I definitely know: We can be proud of our songs. There we are self confident.

Do you want to have concerts in Europe again in the future?
【RUKI】 Of course.
【URUHA】 Yes, we’re still not sure when, but we want!
【REITA】 Yes, in the whole world.
【KAI】 If we get the chance finally…!

In the end please dedicate your german fans a few words:
【RUKI】 We’re definitely will come back for a tour to Europe. Be excited and please wait for us.
【URUHA】 Let’s hope that we see us at a concert soon. Then our wish also will be true.
【REITA】 I also want to have a tour. But to plan such a project we need much passion from you! Give us your energy!
【KAI】 Well, when there is a possibility, then let’s have fun together again.

Interview with RUKI from the GazettE

© Sony Music Japan

Ten years into their formation, the GazettE has spread their influence far and wide, capturing the hearts of fans in their homeland and beyond. As their latest album DIVISION makes its way into the hands of fans in Europe, JaME brings you an interview with vocalist RUKI about DIVISION, the band's recent tours and thoughts about the future.

First of all, congratulations on your tenth anniversary celebration in March. How did you feel during THE DECADE live?

RUKI: One word: thankfulness. In Japan, it’s not easy to maintain one band for ten years. I owe my freedom of expression to our fans and staff who have supported us throughout the years … and I realized that once again at that concert.

Your very first release was titled Wakaremichi, which means parting roads. Ten years later, you release an album called DIVISION, which also evokes this idea of splitting. Is this album a way to mark a new ten-year era?

RUKI: Wow, I’ve never realized the coincidence! (laughs) Well, we did not intend to correspond with our first single, but we did have a concept to roughly divide the musicality of the GazettE in two.

Could you explain to us the concept of this new album? From where did you draw your inspiration this time?

RUKI: We wanted to redefine what “MADE IN JAPAN” is all about. We also wanted to show that the world of the GazettE is a whole package, with album cover and other visuals and all, so we want to expand our release to many more countries.

The new album will entirely consist of new material. What possibility does it give when you don’t have to include your singles on the album?

RUKI: We thought it boring to follow the album-after-single routine, which is like a manualized thing in Japan. So we released the album this way this time.

Since the beginning of your career, your works have always mixed a lot of musical influences. Are there music styles or tones you have not explored yet but want to?

RUKI: I don’t see anything particular at this time, but I’m interested in ethnic music.

the GazettE was formed ten years ago. Back then, what did you imagine the GazettE would be like ten years after?

RUKI: I’ve never imagined myself doing a band for ten years! (laughs)

If you could travel in time and meet yourselves from the past, what would you like to say to yourselves?

RUKI: I’ll probably tell myself to stay as I am.

Is there anything you would like experience again or anything you would like to change?

RUKI: Nothing in particular, but if I should mention one, I want to be more avid in everything.

It was your goal and dream to perform at the Tokyo Dome. After achieving it, what is your next dream place to perform at? Do you want to back to the Tokyo Dome?

RUKI: It would be great if we could perform again at a venue with a capacity as large as Tokyo Dome, but Tokyo Dome itself is not the nicest venue in acoustic terms. So there are things to think about.

The Tokyo Dome live was the end of the Nameless Liberty era. Have you found it? If not, will you start searching for it again?

RUKI: There’s no end to the nameless liberty itself. It is one of our eternal themes.

You will have a very busy schedule before the release of your new album, in particular with the Standing Tour 2012. What are the main differences between creating a song in the studio and creating a song when you are touring?

RUKI: During the tour, we cannot concentrate on making music, so it gets into shape slower. On the other hand, we can concentrate on it in the studio. That’s the difference.

You will start a fanclub tour titled HETERODOXY in July and then embark on a tour called GROAN OF DIPLOSOMIA in October. Can you explain to us the meaning of these tours titles which are quite unusual? What can fans expect from these tours?

RUKI: HETERODOXY stems from HERESY. We named this upcoming tour GROAN OF DIPLOSOMIA implying that all the scattered things in DIVISION and our previous works are linked together to form one creature.

The tour DIPLOSOMIA is stamped as “01.” Does this mean there will be more tours coming up? Do you plan to include overseas locations on your schedule? If yes, where would you like to go?

RUKI: We do have, although a few, some additional shows as “02.” As for overseas, we wish to go to every country where there are needs for the GazettE.

For the GazettE, do social networking sites help you get closer to your fans?

RUKI: While I do not feel the fans are closer or further, I feel their voices reaching us more directly. So as for myself, I feel myself close to them.

Are you involved in any creative projects beside music?

RUKI: I’m not too much into anything, but I do feel like making some visual art as a hobby.

What can we wish you for the future?

RUKI: I think we’ll be pursuing more kicks and stimulations. Look forward to our next moves, as we are heading in another direction.

Do you have a message for your fans?

RUKI: We see many people coming from Europe to Japan to see us, so we feel that it’s our turn to visit you now. Have your fingers crossed and thank you always for your support and messages!

The GazettE Aoi Interview SHOXX January 2013 Part 3

Part 3! Last part coming soon :D

Q: Did you challenge yourself to compose some songs using that?

Right. I made, a bit.

Q: Will it ever see the light of the day?

Well… if I got an ok from other members ne (laughs)

Q: Did you show it to them?

No, not yet. I haven’t put the guitar sound either. (during tour) I didn’t bring my laptop so I made it using iPad. Now it’s really amazing ne, I can do anything with iPad (laughs). But I think, that song can be made cool. In other words, no matter what the genre is, if we can turn it into something that we like, then it’s good. There’s no need to make it as it is. And it’s like, in music we don’t have to be strict.

Q: I agree. The listeners also agree with you don’t they? I think they won’t like it if you put 100% of yourselves into a certain genre.

I think so, too. Even though everyone likes the band, so they listen to us and watch our live performances.

Q: It’s like, they listen to your music because they like the GazettE ne.

That’s right. Well, it’s not only us, I think it’s the same with other bands too. For example, if we’re like, “we’re going to do R&B”, it’s not like they want to listen to R&B itself, the most important is the band flavor. If the members say, “Let’s do R&B, or let’s make dub recording our main thing”, I won’t like it either. I think it’s the same for the listeners. Because in the end, it’s about the band.

Q: I agree

“Then, why don’t you quit being a guitarist and become a DJ instead?” maybe some people would say such thing.

Q: I see. By the way, before you said, you are changing your sound one by one, that is also a change ne?

That’s right. Like, seeing the image of each parts. I’ve been doing it for years, but recently it has become more concrete. I feel like my sound has totally changed. Like, during this tour, I asked the staff, “Did my sound change?”. And everyone said, “right, it has changed”. But, it’s in order, and it’s ok if I put my own flavor in it. Before, I tried to match my sound with Uruha’s, but as expected, we are different players so it didn’t happen. Before, we were also like, let’s just match the sound pressure level in our amps. But, as expected, it’s only like blurring the edge, so there was no significant impact whatsoever. We were like that before, but now I don’t care about such things anymore. I think it’s ok just like that, and that is interesting. Even thought we are the GazettE, regarding the sound, I think every member is good by himself. I want to make such album. Not just album, single is ok too, though. Now, in the end, we’re like, how the members approach a certain song. I want to make a song so that the members don’t “approach” it, but “connect” to it. We released “DIVISION” and are now on tour, and now the band can do things like this, so I think it will be interesting if we can reflect it in our works. It will become a work, and a product, won’t it? We’ve been in this for 10 years, so challenges are scary ne.

Q: (laughs). That’s tru. I understand. 

It’s weird but maybe, the quality will go down?

Q: Because you do something new.

RIght. If we do it, we have to put all into it, ne. In that sense, the current style is really easy ne. I mean, approaching the song. But, if someone asks me, “then, what kind of sound is Aoi’s?” then it’s a sound that I can’t answer. With our current sound. It’s not like I’m against it, you know. Because, more than “my sound” it’s “the GazettE’s sound”

The GazettE Aoi Interview SHOXX January 2013 Part 2

Part 2!

Q: Was it because you challenged yourself to do it?

Right. Because you know, I really didn’t get it. Dubstep, I mean. That’s why during the music interview, even though the word “dubstep” came a lot of times, it wasn’t me who said it, and at first I was trying to let go (of that topic) by saying, “I don’t know”. But, during tour or recording sometimes I get some free time. Like when we’re moving from one place to another. During that time, I listened to dubstep artists, and when I listened to it closely, the thing that we’re trying to do in this album… doesn’t it sound like dubstep? Somehow, I thought, the kind of music we’re doing won’t come up anywhere, right?! We have that kind of technique or something. However, the music style itself, the so-called substep itself is completely different from our music. I think, the GazettE’s sound is easier to associate and you can see the background better. As I think, for the band, and even Ruki and Uruha, we emphasis on the sounds that have some undulation. So, that’s why in the end I liked the sound that we came up with more.

Q: In other words, not pure dubstep, but the album this time is like the GazettE sound with some dubstep nuances. That’s why you love it.

That’s right. This is my own impression of dubstep, but I feel like somehow it’s like the same sound over and over. And then, in the repeating sound you put some changes and all… maybe that is dubstep. I don’t think I will make (music) just like that ne. If we do it like that, I won’t do it. Because, as I thought, I can’t that music. Because, basically I like the live sound of a band. During the album interview, Ruki said, “I wanted to combine band sound with dubstep”, right? I finally understand the meaning of it recently. That’s why, they didn’t want to make (dubstep sound) just like that, but how to combine the kind of technique or sound used in dubstep with the band. I thought, “So, Ruki was saying this in the interview”. Finally I understood. I thought of that during the tour.

Q: So it’s not like you understand it since the beginning. Saying (that kind of thing) honestly is so like Aoi-san. Indeed, you said “I don’t know” during the album interview. That time you were also being honest ne.

Right. Somehow, in the beginning I thought, “what is good (about it)?” Even though they (Ruki and Uruha) told me something like, “dubstep is good, you know”. I thought, “do you really think this is good? do you understand it?” Because I didn’t understand it. But this time, by my own initiative I wanted to know so I listened to a lot of dubstep music, and then I understood what they were saying. Well, music is a taste, so it’s natural if there is likes and dislikes. I still don’t listen to dubstep because I like it, but even for the people who think that it’s good, as I thought, it’s not like they want to take the GazettE into “that” direction. I really understand it now. As I thought, everyone really think about the band. That’s why, even I who know nothing about dubstep could get into our current sound and like it. And, because of that, I think we came up with something that can reach the audience. Right? How is it, today’s interview? Isn’t it super cool?

Q: Ahahaha. It’s cool. It’s super cool (laughs)

Isn’t it? (laughs). Even though I concluded it coolly, I didn’t deliberately make it like that. It’s my real feeling, so there’s no need to worry (laughs)

Q: I’m not worrying (laughs). Because at first, you thought, “what the hell is dubstep”

Right, right. Kao no?*1

Q: Babu*1

Yes. That is correct (laughs). But, the me who said “I don’t know” regarding that music isn’t good either. Even though it wil take some time, unless I don’t do something so that I understand it, I can’t move forward. In that sense, I feel like I’m the same with people who study diligently.

Q: That is some wise words. Your heart has changed.

Yes. That’s right. Now I have fun making some dub recording too. Because it’s a machine with some knobs, just by touching it the sound changes, it’s interesting. Now I can enjoy it.

The GazettE Aoi Interview SHOXX January 2013 Part 1

Aoi - COME UP or BOUND UP!?

I found some confidence because now I can produce a sound that I want

At present, the GazettE are on a national, 23-venues tour for their album “DIVISION”, which started with a live performance in Yokosuka Geijutsu Gekijou on October 8th. What did Aoi grasp during the tour, which is titled “LIVE TOUR 12-DIVISION- GROAN OF DIPLOSOMIA 01”? What kind of changes happened to the band’s sound, which resulted from the band’s contact with dubstep? It has been 10 years since the GazettE was formed. With that background, Aoi will tell us about the changes that he felt.

Q: Your first live performance in Yokosuka was really good. I heard only good reviews about it.

The first day was good. I think we could make a great start.

Q: For the first live performance you said that”as expected it feels like the first day”,but you said “we could make a great start” because you felt the great response. Was your feeling towards giving the first live performance different from usual?

I don’t think about very complicated things. In the end, it was about balance. Balance, and also the sound quality. How to say it, I feel like it’s not my job to do it. That time, Ruki and Uruha took the initiative, but they don’t really meddle with the details. That time we had a sense of stability, so there was a feeling that we should aim high. To be honest, at that time I didn’t really pay attention to the details. Maybe it’s correct to say that I left it to others.

Q: So you devoted yourself to your guitar play.

Right. But you know, I used to hate practicing, until now.

Q: I can’t believe it. You do practice often, don’t you?

No no no, only recently. Until now, even for tours I hated practicing.

Q: Really?

Really, really. (in practices) Don’t you have to keep doing the same thing over and over again? That’s why, I’m the type who would think “I want to go home soon” (laughs) But this time I had no such thing, and the moment the sound came out it felt good, and I felt that it was fun. This time, even one sound can change so much, so it was fun just to make the sound. And because it was fun to have 5 people making some sound together, the costume rehearsal was fun. I could concentrate on the rehearsal without worrying about things. Being able to do things that I can do, I had a lot of fun. It was simply enjoyable.

Q: Now that you performed it live, did your feelings towards the album changed from when you made it?

Ummm.. I wonder.. I think, it sounds better live. The CD is finished as a CD, and of course there are good things about it, but I feel that the album feels more dynamic live. If you ask why, maybe because in live performances the good aspects and the “live” aspects also come out. We’re using more sound source than usual, so sometimes we want to make it close to the CD, and when needed we hold it down. Because the sound source is also one charm (of the album). It’s also something that we want to show to people who have been really listening to the album. And it’s not like we’re super conscious about it, but it came out naturally. Right. I think it really became a live version. We also got good responses from the audience. It was so good, I was like, “really?” (laughs). If they were already this happy from the first performance, then what about towards the end of the tour? I think it’s good. Until now, everywhere we got similar responses. I’m so happy.

Q: The current situation is really good. By the way, during the album interview, you said, I didn’t get dubstep, so I didn’t know what is good about it. What is dubstep, anyway? That’s where we started.” Did putting some dubstep change the GazettE?

I think so~ Because recently I also started learning it~ that kind of step recording, I mean. It’s not like I’ve never done it before. During our indies era, when we didn’t have money, we put the horn section and all by ourselves. But, it was like a plus alpha for our band sound, right? That’s why, even though I’ve done it before I’ve never done it firmly. But I think it’s interesting. I have to learn more.

Alice Nine Interview (September 2009)

"Hana" (Glamour)

What do you think is a glamorous life?
Nao: The perfection of consumer electronics, living with about ten computers.
Hiroto: Living on one floor of Yodobashi.
Nao: Yeah. The latest trend are the ones that you can stand on and ride, they have tyres on them, they're like "whish~" as they move.
Tora: A segway?
Nao: I want to live in a large space where riding one wouldn't be a problem even if there were drums there. But... I really want a bed where I can lie on spread-eagled (laughs)
Tora: When you say the glamorous life, you imagine wearing Dolce&Gabbana, and driving a Ferrari or Mercedes Benz.
Shou: Oh~, that is the best answer.
Tora: Well, this is concerned with a certain cameraman M-shi. He is the closest to being a florid person.
Shou: He is someone that we think of being as florid, when I see M-shi, I feel like a beggar (laughs)
Hiroto: I want to live my life being well travelled and going to places like Morocco, England, Dublin, and New York, and using them as the sound source for what I make during recording. Like having 130 tracks for recording. I'm almost there! I will get a hold of it.
Shou: Although I have this image that be people who make it big in music live overseas, but I would like to move to a Japanese hot spring and bring my parents or grandparents with me. I think that it would be wonderful if I could get away form the hustle and bustle in the city and give my mind some ease.
Saga: Monday will be with Hilary Duff, Tuesday will be with Christina Aguilera and Wednesday ...... I wonder what I should do (laughs). I think a really glamorous life would be something like that.
Tora: The people who say "Money is everything" don't have any money. The people who have lots of money would most definitely think that "Money is not everything".

"SLEEPWALKER" (Sleepwalking)

Are there members that sleepwalk?
Hiroto: When I woke up, I was on the balcony.
Shou: What do you mean?
Hiroto: I usually sleep, but it seems like I drank milk in the middle on the night, the empty milk bottle had fallen over, and I had slept leaning against the wall of the balcony. When I woke up I could see the sky, I thought that I had died for sure (laughs). That kind of thing often happens. Like I'd be around the refridgerator, and there'd be empty bottles around me. The likelihood that I wake up in front of the refridgerator is high.
Tora: Hiroto really does suddenly get up in the middle of the night. When we used to share a room, he'd suddenly get up and look around, patrolling, then he'd suddenly sleep again, I was shocked, wondering what had happened.
Nao: When I drink, I'm at home without realizing it. Although when I ask the shopkeepers they say "You just went home normally".
Shou: Isn't that just being drunk?
Nao: Well I guess it's not sleepwalking.
Saga: I wake up and shower, make proper preparations then leave the house², and then I wake up. But, I'm late for work (laughs)
Shou: Saga-kun is seeing the future.
Saga: Sometimes I hate making preparations again, and go back to sleep (laughs)
Shou: I don't sleepwalk, but it seems like I sing while sleeping. It seems like I sleeptalk alot. Like while I'm sleeping I say "No smoking!". Once I had slept in and got confused, and when my manager called me, Kagrra's Izumi-san was like "Shou-yan, what's wrong?". The manager of that time had the same kanji as Izumi-san, and because I was half asleep I was mistaken.
Tora: I don't sleepwalk~ I don't sleeptalk, but I often laugh in my sleep. I often wake up to the sound of my own laughter.
Shou: Tora often sleeps with an amazing sleeping posture in front of us. He looks like Tutankhamun (laughs)
Hiroto: Saga-kun is also quiet when he sleeps. When he sleeps, he doesn't even make the slightest movement.
Shou: When you're in the same room, he's so quiet to the point that you can forget that he's there.

"High and Low"

Something joyous or depressing that has happened recently.
Saga: I don't get depressed. Ah, Chiko had purposely come into my room and vomited on my bed, when I returned home I was depressed.
Tora: Chicken had urinated on my futon, and had also slept on top of my sleepwear, so when I had thrown everything out I was depressed. This is something that happened today (laughs)
Shou: I am friends with SID's Aki-san, and Hiroto had also come good friends with him after me, but lately, he has only been contacting Hiroto and not me ...... It's heartbreaking.
Tora: Hiroto's hair today (bed hair) is unforgivable.
Hiroto: ...... I was depressed (laughs). I got depressed, not having any depressing stories.
Tora: It really doesn't seem like Hiroto has any material (laughs)
Nao: Whenever I see the price of petrol, I get deflated. Hybrid cars can travel three times the distance than normal cars with the same amount of petrol. It's sad.
Hiroto: A while ago, when I washed my car before going to the studio, when I came back some punks had dirtied the front of my car entirely and I felt down. I thought that if it was a Ferrari those punks wouldn't have done it, and I got annoyed.

Impressions about the live at Sapporo.

Saga: I thought that by doing the live, and heading towards the live at the International Forum, I wanted to get right into the lives at the hall.
Hiroto: Although we received a variety of feedback, I think that perhaps the feelings with the audience and the atmosphere was good.
Shou: There was this feeling that it was the first step to the ideal thing that we want show, so I want to clear each and every one.
Tora: It felt like we were finally standing at the start line. I want to gradually step up.
Nao: Although it was fun, I have plans to make things even more fun!

Enthusiasm about the Forum live.
Saga: I think about what I should do in order to do an ideal live, I would like to bring to everyone the best day ever.
Hiroto: We don't have any spare, we want to communicate everything! We have the resolute to deal with this, to the point where we we would break two or three bones, so please wait for the performance.
Shou: I think that the live at the Forum is the cut off point, I would like for everyone who comes to feel what we think the current Alice Nine is.
Tora: We'll do our best!
Nao: It will be the final of a tour of six venues, I want to do a live where we will be understood.

interview SAGA Alice Nine

interview SAGA Alice Nine

Saga's Keyword 1: Alice nine

Well, we're said to have different kinds of melodies...but when we first started out as a band, we didn't think about what kind of music we want to produce.

Originally, we aren't just a band gathered with the same musical interests, we're more like a group that have the intuitive feeling of wanting to do something together when we met for the first time; from the beginning we didn't decide on a certain kind of sound, nor did we decide on the rules that we want to go by, we have our mutual musicmanship and so we contribute jointly to the songs freely, and on the sounds that result, we consider various other things. So at first, we made songs that we individually liked, and while our performace have strengthened, after the time together with the band, we've come to understand the sounds and components that are not necessary. Without that selection process, I wonder what our music can become with the remaining pieces.

However even after 5 years, it feels like we've yet to solidify our band's sound, but we are gradually having a general direction in that our music's like "what we ourselves want to pursue" and "in the direction of evolving". What really finalizes our judgement really depends on the live. We watch the responses of the audience and get the feelings that, "this kind of sound is distinctively matched with the audience", so when we share these same feelings [with the audience] the answer's there. This kind of experience strongly influences our music direction.

Saga's Keyword 2: Bass Guitar

The instrument i started out was the guitar, but when i stood on the stage, it felt out of place. Personality wise, i fit the description 'where there is shadow, there is light', for example, in the case of ninjas and squadrons, the black feeling (laughs). Putting everything into consideration, i thought the bass is good and so i started playing the bass.

I'm not really influenced by the charms of the [bass] sounds nor do i have a certain bassist i admire. But the good thing about playing the bass is that I can clearly listen to the sounds around me, also learning the theory behind the instrument can be very applicable to song composition.

Using soccer player as an analogy?.. perhaps the mid-fielder. When given a pass so to speak, I'll leave it to the person in front of me.

Saga's Keyword 3: Live Tour

This year's release 「VANDALIZE」, the things on what we want to share with the audience through this work have changed since the past, in contrast, it's a powerful album with songs that convey our inner feelings to the people to listen to. If we're relating to our current tour, the album VANDALIZE is about what parts of our performance we want to vandalize, whether it's our band's core parts or our band's power, we want to thoroughly present them; contemplating the live, whether it's the band's desire, or the egoistic parts, it was a tour that we completely portray those factors. Also, on the other hand our new songs, are the same placing as the songs that the audience likes most, so when listening to them and getting heated up, if there's a moment where they understood [the meaning behind the songs], it will be beyond happiness at that instant for us too.

For tours, even though we go around many parts of the nation, the responses we get from the audiences varies quite a lot from place to place. For the audience from the countryside there are less chances for lives [to be held there] so we can feel their strong feelings having waited for so long. [what about us overseas fans...?]

Unexpectedly, intense and harder songs are more well-received in cold places like Hokkaido and Tokyo while conversely it seems that the soothing songs are more well-received in the South. In Fukouka, no matter what songs we played the audience naturally hold their hands and swayed to the songs and listened, which left a strong impression, i think things that happen naturally this way without the use of words is really amazing. The things that we learned by ourselves and the things that we learned from the audience was really a lot, so it was a very rewarding tour, the importance of the next tour is something that all our us members can feel.

Saga's Keyword 4: Staff

They are very important. The things that we want to perform were able to be realized because of the staff. For us, the members in the band bear the responsibiliity of the signboard Alice nine, but for Alice Nine in actuality, we are one team with all the staff included, capturing the meaning of an organisation.

Every year the things we want to do increases, the expectations also rise and in the midst of it all, i think that the burden that the staff carry also become greater. That's why during an event i can feel that the staff really helped us a lot when we hold events.

I don't have the stance of leaving everything to the staff; there are certain sensitivites in relationships between each person, so when there's time, i keep in mind about that [sensitivity] when having an active meeting. After deciding on what's to be done, I disseminate the duties to each and everyone to the best that i can. It's important that we all face the same final destination and cooperate so that we can create together what we wanted.

Saga's Keyword 5: Entertainment

I pondered quite a bit on what's the hit entertainment last year. Recently when i'm able to find time, i will watch various stage plays and shows, especially for example the script from the plays. Specifically when their script consist of heavy content, they [the actors] overwhelm the audience with their ability to talk on and on from the script, but the main element does not lie in the script, it's the actor's detailed expressions and movements, costumes; when i first watched them [plays] i was fascinated, overwhelmed and touched by their strong balance among the various parts of the play. When i see such an amazing stageplay, i thought 「Ah! I've lost!」

Now, we're conveying music that cannot be seen to the audience, if the audience are satisfied with what we provide them, is it considered a satisfactory form of entertainment? No that's not right. I often think that the appeal that we have is not really yet that strong enough. [sorry this sentence is really hazy T_T]

That's why recently i've always been thinking from whatever entertainment i see, the things that i can apply [to the band] and the things that won't fit.

Saga's Keyword 6: Visual Kei

The term visual kei was what our senpai created, but the way we captured the essence of visual kei is different now; currently the term is pretty much standing on it's own, there are people who depend on it and there are also people who dislike it, there are different kinds of people surrounding what's known as visual kei. Originally the appearance might be rather eccentric, but after delivering the music properly, the situation gets better; after sharing times together, the surface stigma is cut off, so showing just the essence [of the music bands produce..i think], hence, if we omit the "kei" from "visual kei", we can say that the number of visual bands have increased. [and not visual kei bands that just rely on appearances] Personally, i think the music should definitely be compatible with appearance. I started out in a band as a result of influences from LUNA SEA and Mr.Children, but i really liked LUNA SEAS's flashy constumes and admired their surrealness. In that case, it feels that i want to become that way, put on make-up, make costumes and get high in the band. That's why in the past I have conscious of being visual kei, and the first thing i considered was during time I put on make up but now, music forms the axis - the performance and the way of portrayal; the make-up and costumes are not something we're so conscious about, so currently honestly there's no fixedness about being catergorized under visual kei. [hazy...]

Saga's Keyword 7: Yourself from 5 years back

5 Years ago is it...I was young ne (laughs). I'll probably say the same things about myself 5 years later. [if they are asking this same question 5 years later]. And then...my make-up was thicker ne (laughs) because at that time i took 3 hours to put it [make-up] on. By the way in the past, the things or personalities related to make- up or costumes that everyone [in Alice nine] likes were scattered, but after we standardized our costumes, it's incredible that they were able to match with our individualities, i think they try to maintain a good balance of the band every time. This is probably one trait of Alice Nine.

Secret Interview

[Song Composition]

The most important thing about song composition has to be the live [performace]. The most important point is whether the song can become one with the audience.

[Rules you follow in everyday life]

Get my daily rest. As long as i rest, i will be able to look at various areas more clearly, and i think this is very important when creating exact rhythmn beats.

2 years ago, there were times that it was so busy that it's awful, i don't even have the extra time to figure out how to divide the tasks i'm assigned to everyday so i thought that was tough, and from then on, i learned a lot of things, so now I'm able to live with it.

[Yourself 5 years from now]

As long as i can create good music, i think i will be contented. I just want to be able to face music head-on, and be able to deliver happiness to the audience listening to us at the final destination. i think if these [wishes] can take shape, there's nothing more to be picky about.

Fan's Question

Q1. Saga-sama, have you ever being scouted in town before? Saga-sama is really beautiful so I'm really curious!

It happened in the past.

Q2. When the band [alice nine] is formed, i think you might have an ideal image for alicenine, so how close is the band to your ideal image at this point in time? Also, conversely which part of the band do you feel that it still lacks something?

We are increasing in years and experience bit by bit, that being the case, we need to review our goals and transitions.

Q3. There are rumors that Saga-san is quite air-headed, is that true? If that's the case, I will like Saga-san to tell us one air-headed episode you had recently ♪

Conversely please tell me about it. (laughs)

Q4. Recently which area do you feel you've improved in?

I noticed i have become more open-hearted. (laughs)

Q5. Any impactful dreams that left an impression?

Premonition dreams

Q6. Are there any thing that you used to dislike but later became your favorite thing? (Within the genres of music, fashion, localities etc)

Music --> Reggae
Fashion --> Parka [hoodie]

Q7. Do you have any deep memories of a certain live hall (staff) or place?

Saitama Super Arena

Q8. What is something that you were glad to hear from the band members?

You're huge. [really?]

Saga's Playlist - 「Songs I want to listen to in winter」

[This list is] limited to songs that can be listened to in the cold winter and goes well with warm coffee.

1. New Year's Day by U2

Even though this song has the air of Ireland, it matches perfectly with the winter in Japan

2. Fantasy of Winter by Cousin

Personally i will say the winter song of Japan's 90s music is this. It's a unit of formed by cousins. Good song.

3. Yubisaki by Grapevine

This song is probably closer to autumn than winter, but anyway, I love this song.

4. All you need is Love by the Beatles

Alice Nine did a cover on this as well. It's also often used in CM [commericals]. For some reason it's a song I'd listen to in winter.

5. Writing to Reach You by Travis

This is also a song to listen to in winter. It feels like a song to listen to when the snow is falling in the morning.

6. Gin no Tsuki Kuroi Hoshi by Alice Nine

An Alice nine song is here. If this song is played to pass winter, something good will occur. It's quite a mystery ne.

7. Fuyu ga Hajimaru yo (Winter is starting) by Makihara Noriyuki

My winter also starts with this song.

8. Holes by Mercury Rev

It's a song that i want to listen to in middle of a winter night

9. Come to me (Peace) by Mary J.Blige

It's not Wham! [a British duo], or Yamashita Tatsuro [a Japanese singer-songwriter] or U2 or the Police [English Rock band], it's this.

10. Silent Night by Trinity Boys Choir

This is also a song that Alice Nine covered. An eternally famous song.

Alice Nine Expect Rush IV (Tora) Part One [Interview Translation]

Alice Nine Expect Rush IV (Tora) Part One [Interview Translation]

When was your first love?


First year of middle school.



Did something happen?


No way ...


What kind of girl you like?


The merry happy kind.


What can't you stand?


A serious person.


What do you look for in a girl?


Love, I guess.


Do you have a fetish?


I don't know.


What do you like women's fashion?


A lot.


What a girl can do to make your heart beat faster?


I'm not going to say!

Alice Nine: Wink Up 2011 December [Interview Translation]

Alice Nine: Wink Up 2011 December [Interview Translation]

Please tell us your prediction of future trends [in fashion, food, gags etc]

All: -silence-

Hey hey. Pull yourselves together Alice Nine. Don't -silence- me

Tora: Ahahaha. I guess (laughs). But i think we generally don't keep track of trends.

Saga: That's true. Recently, i'm completely disinterested in what's trendy out there. In the past I do keep close watch on what's popular but recently not at all. Because i'm walking on the path of an adult (laughs)

Hiroto: Isn't Emi Takei [Japanese model, actress, singer] coming to fame?

All: She's already famous!

Hiroto: Ah, i see (alughs)

Shou: This is our level (laughs)


Are you some grandpa.

Tora: Maybe it's better that we change the theme. 

Nao: No, I know this (takes out his iPad to search)

Shou: You can't just search (laughs). It's not the same as knowing before hand!

Nao: In 2012, Katsuya was the trend [name of a chain store selling fried/cutlet stuff like katsu-don, tonkatsu etc]

Shou: Katsuya, as in tonkatsu [pork cutlet]? That, we already have it during my high school days. 

Tora: Isn't that a chain store?

Hiroto: When it became a chain store wasn't it already trendy to some point?

Nao: No no, it's gonna be more popular. In 2012, Katsuya is going to do a CM [commercial]. They'll be using Fujiwara Tatsuya [actor for Light in deathnote], using the jingle, Fujiwara Katsuya! [word play on his name] How about it?

All: -silence- (lost laugh)

Saga: What about that?

Shou: In that case, Nomura Katsuya works as well right? [ex-baseball player/coach]

Nao: Oh yeah, it works (approves)

Tora: How's that? This. Somehow this is turning into a bad feelng

Hiroto: I'm actually feeling a slight cold but somehow this is making me unnecessarily worse (bitter laugh)

There's nothing to continue on from this talk, so let's move on (decisive)

Shou: The Maya prediction says that 2012 will be the end of the world. Maybe there's nothing to do about that.

Do you feel that some kind of foods will get more popular? Something that might become wildly popular like coconut milk .

Saga: Huh, that's old, coconut milk....This was something in the mid 1990s

Tora: That's true (laughs). This year, fried stuff [Karage] were popular ne. [can't see the words...] because there were specialist shops for that. 

Hiroto: The number of those shops did increase ne! [can't see...but guessing:]Tomatoes was popular too right? Like different kinds of them.

Shou: It was popular ne

Hiroto: Tomato juice as well, it's said that if you have that with meat it helps to disintegrate fats so it's a must in yakiniku stores. 

Nao: Tare-katsu was popular too ne! [Niigata's katsu-don]

Tora: Why are you so fixed on cutlets!

Nao: Ahahaha! It just happened to be!

Tora: (takes out his iphone and search) Oh! I searched under '2012 fads' and 'measles' came out! That's bad! Everyone take care.

Shou: That's not something we want to be spread ne. But that's amazing. Is there some kind of data that helps figure out what's the trend out there?

Nao: Maybe. Ahhh, this is the one! This is definitely prevalent! It's currently common now so it'll definitely get more popular! Even around me it's secretly getting popular! And that is, planting!

Is anyone planting something here~

All: -silence- (none raises their hands)

There's no one. so it's not a fad

All: (explosive laughter)

Nao: Eh? That's strange. By the way, I'm currently planting tomatoes. Or rather, let's make it a fad together!

Shou: This is definitely coming up! That is, Korean bands. After idols, it'll be bands. FT-Island, CN Blue etc are pretty popular but i think there's going to be more, and probably new bands forming.

What's the fashion that might go trendy?

Nao: Twin tails! [2 ponytails]

Saga: That is Nao-san's wish

Nao: Yes (admits)!

Shou: I wish for grey knee-high [socks] to get trendy. I feel there's a certain kind of inexplanable cuteness to it. 

Hiroto: I wish for girls to cut down on their degree of exposure [for clothes]

Tora: I kind of understand that. Excessive exposure isn't always that nice

Hiroto: Yeah. I hope that there will be more girls who focus on their inner personalities rather than on their outer appearance. 

Saga: Yeah, also it'll be good for guys to not go for Soushoku-kei [generally meaning soft or slightly feministic guys] or creamy-kei [kei means category] and be as masculine as they can. 

Tora: Yeah. Guys should be masculine. I think in 2012, the Tohoku area [the northeast region where the march earthquake occurred] will be the fad. I think the reconstruction works will be proceeding. I think it should be that way.

Ohh, isn't that a great conclusion~. Ganbare Nippon!

Nao: And then, eels [unagi] will also become popular! Because, if you can find eels' eggs you can totally start a cultivation!

We just mangaged to bring this talk to a nice conclusion...

Nao: But unagi! (continues on his talk of unagi............)