Interview with SuG

Energetic rock band SuG commenced a tour of Europe on November 29th, with a concert in Cologne, Germany. The tour also included dates in Britain, Russia and Finland. The band previously visited Germany in 2007 for the multi-star event J-Rock INVASION, and popped to France in 2014 for Japan Music Festival, However, this tour was fans' first chance to witness a full-length SuG show.

JaME had a chance to ask SuG about their expectations regarding Europe and also about their ongoing success in Japan, where they finished their longest tour to date this summer.

Could you please introduce yourselves to our readers?

Takeru: I'm Takeru. I'm in charge of vocals and all artwork.
Chiyu: I'm the bassist Chiyu.
yuji: I'm yuji and I'm from Tokyo.
masato: I'm masato.
shinpei: I'm SuG's drummer shinpei.

First of all, your image seems to have changed a bit with your comeback album BLACK. How do you view your evolution from the band's first steps to this point? What's changed the most?

Takeru: I've learned to subtract.
Chiyu: Bass playing.
yuji: I became more calm.
masato: The way I face my instrument.
shinpei: I feel like I've became more powerful.

This year, you went on the 22-show national tour SuG TOUR 2015 BLACK. Can you share some recollections from the tour? Did you encounter anything unexpected, or did everything run smoothly?

Takeru: I kept fighting with my throat. It was a test we had to get through.
Chiyu: I hurt my neck on the very first day and that wasn't funny at all. (laughs)
yuji: I ate cow tongue in Osaka.
masato: The fans' voices were louder than before, and it made me relieved. I ate a lot of delicious things.
shinpei: I drank alcohol, which I’m not very good with, on the day before a live, and ended up doing the live while hungover.

Your latest PV teenAge dream appears to consist of a single continuous shot and therefore looks pretty different from the common music video styles featuring fast, flashy editing. Can you tell us about the filming of this PV? Was it difficult to get everything right?

Takeru: It was hard, but it was surprisingly easy to concentrate, and I think it became a very dramatic music video.
Chiyu: I think Takeru had the hardest time compared to other members.
yuji: We were nervous the way we usually are during lives.
masato: The shooting was fighting with time, so it was very fast, but I think Takeru had a hard time.
shinpei: My turn is in the very beginning, so it was easy. Takeru was on the video the whole time, so I think it was difficult for him.

SuG's first European tour will start on November 29th. You will be touring five countries, and you'll be visiting the UK, Russia and Finland for the first time. Can you share your expectations on visiting these countries, and is there anything specific you'd like to see or experience while there?

Takeru: For London, I have a very strong image of the movie "Trainspotting". For Finland - Nordic metal! Russia seems cold so I will eat Pirozhki₁ and get warm.
Chiyu: I don't know much about foreign countries, so I would like everyone to tell me some good places. Other than that, I will study with guide books. (laughs)
yuji: England reminds me of modern Freemasonry. Russia seems cold. Finnish people don't have many cavities. I want to go to an instrument store.
masato: All countries seem cold... I want to see famous buildings and the cityscape.
shinpei: England seems like a country with gentlemen. Russia seems really cold. Finland is Nordic metal. (laughs) I want to see tourist spots in all countries, though it doesn't seem like we'll have much time.

_{1 A Russian pie.}

Your first visit to Germany was back in December 2007 alongside Kra, Kagrra,, SCREW and Alice Nine at J-Rock INVASION. What kind of memories are still present in your mind when you think back?

Takeru: Everyone's voices were so loud, I was surprised.
Chiyu: We had just joined our artist management company, and there were some musicians I talked to for the first time in Germany. Besides that, I remember people cheering loud even when I just drank some water. (laughs)
yuji: I ate yakitori at the catering place in the venue.
masato: It was our first time overseas, so I was surprised by the loud cheers.
shinpei: That was before I joined SuG, so I would like to make lots of memories this time.

All in all, 2015 seems to have been a great year for SuG. What type of goals do you wish to achieve next year? What about further in the future?

Takeru: We are making an awesome album. Also, I would like to level up with our lives.
Chiyu: Nippon Budokan.
yuji: I don't have a goal. I want to try living alone.
masato: I want to play somewhere we haven't been to before.
shinpei: Planting seeds. Keep on planting seeds.

Last question: you're going to Europe, but many fans are also interested in visiting Japan. What place would you recommend to a foreign rock fan to visit when they are travelling in Japan?

Takeru: Harajuku Laforet and Kawaii Monster Café!
Chiyu: In Osaka, there are many rock bars, and people in Kansai are very relaxed, so I think people from Europe will enjoy it there.
yuji: Kyoto.
masato: If you like rock, I think the best would be to go to Japanese festivals.
shinpei: I recommend Kyoto. I want to go there again, too.

To close our interview with you, do you have any messages for our readers?

Takeru: Let's make these the best lives ever so we can do another next tour!
Chiyu: It will be our first European tour so I'm a bit worried, but more than that, I'm excited to get to meet everyone, so let's make it the best tour ever.
yuji: Japan has lately become a cheap country, and it's safe there, so please come to visit Japan.
masato: Please let me feel the passionate energy of Europe!
shinpei: Please support us so that we can do another European tour!

SuG's video comment related to their European tour, and the music video for teenAge dream can be watched below.





JaME would like to thank SuG and Gan-Shin Records for making this interview possible.