In less than two weeks, pop princess Kyary Pamyu Pamyu will embark on her fourth world tour, titled Kyary Pamyu Pamyu World Tour 2018 THE SPOOKY OBAKEYASHIKI -PUMPKINS STRIKE BACK-, which will take her to London, Berlin, Cologne, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. In this interview, the singer gives JaME some insight to her new digital single Kimino Mikata and upcoming Japanese haunted house-themed world tour.
Please tell us about the concept and theme of your digital single Kimino Mikata.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: It’s about a society that conforms to the majority in today’s news and media, and it has a message of sympathy towards people who live life believing in themselves, even if they’re in the minority. I sing that message in the song in my first attempt at rap.
The music video for Kimino Mikata seems to have been filmed in a single, continuous shot. What was the filming session like? Was it difficult?
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: It was my first one-shot music video, so it was a lot of work. But all the staff―the dancers holding the tablets, the cameramen―everyone came together and we were able to complete it.
Your new look for Kimino Mikata is very different from anything you've done to date. What are your thoughts on this change in image? Is there any reason behind choosing yellow as the only colour of your outfit?
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: My theme this year is not a continuation of everything I’ve done up to now. It’s about creating something new. This was my first release of 2018, so I tried wearing yellow, which is something I haven’t worn much up to now. The song also has a slight maturity to it – my hair and make-up too.
Why did you choose Japanese haunted houses as the theme of your upcoming world tour?
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: It’s the theme from my Halloween live concert in Japan from last year. When talking about Halloween, we tend to associate it with Western monsters even in Japan, so I took it upon myself to construct a live show themed on Japanese haunted houses. And I thought, “I want to do that overseas too!”
How will the upcoming shows be different from your past world tour shows?
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: Up until now, I’ve done things like wear outfits from my music videos which are recognizable to people overseas. I think I’ve shown them the Kyary Pamyu Pamyu that they know. This time around, I’m taking a theme exactly as I did it in Japan, so they can experience a concert just as I did it here.
Please introduce the obake found in your promotional images for the tour.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: Of course. The one with the long neck is ‘Nurarihyon,’ the one with nine tails is the ‘Nine-Tailed Fox,’ and the umbrella obake is ‘Kasa-Obake.’ Japanese yokai have a cuteness to them, so I want people overseas to know that too.
What parts of your tour do you want fans overseas to pay attention to?
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: It’s about Japanese haunted houses, so I want people to pay attention to that. It’s my first world tour in two years, and I’ll sing my new song, so please look forward to it.
What was your most frightening or fun Japanese haunted house experience?
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: I like haunted houses. I’ve even been to them a lot in Japan. But the haunted house I went to in London towered above the rest. It was scary.
Lastly, please leave a message for JaME readers.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: I’m going on my first world tour in two years. I’m looking forward to meeting everybody at the overseas concerts after so long!
JaME would like to thank Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and ASOBISYSTEM for this interview opportunity.
