Interview with Ruimaru from VIVARUSH

A colorful and energetic visual kei band, VIVARUSH make lively music that's sure to get you fired up. We first interviewed them in 2018, and since then they've achieved quite a bit. They made their major debut with VAP in 2023, and they just released a new single titled Emperor Time on September 4th. The title song is the opening theme for the anime series "Tasuketsu," marking their very first tie-up with an anime. Shortly before Emperor Time hit stores, JaME had the opportunity to ask the band's vocalist Ruimaru some questions about the new release, anime and where VIVARUSH goes from here.

We last interviewed you six years ago around the time you released Odora sareta jinsei. How do you feel you’ve grown or changed either individually or as a band since then?

Ruimaru: Thanks for having us! After Odora sareta jinsei, we really defined our band's direction. It's like the band came into sharper focus. Even when we want to explore new musical styles, we have a solid foundation, so we can confidently push forward as VIVARUSH. Thanks to our dedication, both the band and each of us personally have grown a lot! And my voice has matured, so I can sing with a wider range now.

Your song Emperor Time is the opening theme for the anime series “Tasuketsu”. Are you fans of anime yourself? If so, what genre do you enjoy the most?

Ruimaru: I love anime! I really enjoy adventure anime with lots of battles. My favorite is "HUNTER×HUNTER." I love the characters Gon and Hisoka! I also watched a lot of "Detective Conan" and "Fullmetal Alchemist" when I was younger. They hold a special place in my heart.


What do you want to convey to listeners with the song Emperor Time?

Ruimaru: The importance of "believing." Believing in yourself, believing in others... "belief" is hope. Because we have hope, we can keep living. I want people to find their light of hope and keep moving forward in their lives.

What was the songwriting process for Emperor Time like? Were you given a set concept for the song, or did you have the freedom to choose the style and theme yourself?

Ruimaru: We read the original manga beforehand. Since there were already so many fans of the original work, and the anime adaptation was highly anticipated, we wanted to create a song that would resonate with the "Tasuketsu" fans and enhance the anime's world. The anime's setting is similar to Japan in the Heisei era, so we incorporated sounds and melodies that would evoke that era.

What were your impressions after seeing your song in the opening video for the anime? Have you had a chance to watch the series?

Ruimaru: Having our song featured in an anime was a dream come true! It's like a Japanese dream!

Is there a concept or theme behind your music video for Emperor Time?

Ruimaru: Since "Tasuketsu" is a death game/battle anime, we incorporated an original card game into the music video where you turn into a dog if you lose. In the end, I ended up becoming a puppy. (laughs)

Did anything interesting happen while you were filming the video?

Ruimaru: VIVARUSH is good at showing off via cute and poppy expressions, so they told me to stop making eye contact and smiling at the camera because it looked lame. (laughs) Since the song matched the cool atmosphere of "Tasuketsu."

In “Tasuketsu,” players who give the same answer to a question as the majority lose. What is one question you’re confident you’d give the minority answer to?

Ruimaru: Hmm... Samurai or ninja? (laughs)

What can you tell us about the coupling songs featured on the various editions of Emperor Time: Kimi ga suki da, Shekira BANG-BANG!! and Menrui ga daisuki?

Ruimaru: Kimi ga suki da ("I Love You"): This song expresses the feelings of someone who is in love but can't quite articulate why they love their partner. It's about the selfish and whimsical nature of love.

Shekira BANG-BANG!!: This song focuses on "believing in yourself." It's a cheerleading song that encourages you to push yourself to your limits.

Menrui ga daisuki ("I Love Noodles"): This song is a fun, lighthearted song about loving all kinds of noodles.


You recently held your first festival, Ageage JAPAN '24. What was that experience like, and can fans look forward to more events like that in the future?

Ruimaru: It was an amazing event with a diverse range of music genres. Even though the genres were different, everyone was there to enjoy live music. It was incredible to see so many people come together with a shared love for music. We're definitely planning to do it again in 2025!

Assuming you could choose any four acts (from any country or time period) to perform alongside VIVARUSH, what would your dream festival line-up look like?

Ruimaru: Justin Bieber, SMAP, Momoiro Clover Z and BIGBANG!!!!

You recently made your major debut. What is another career milestone you’d like to reach as a band? Is there any specific goal that you dream of achieving together?

Ruimaru: We definitely want to perform at Nippon Budokan. That's our goal! We're going to make it happen!!!!!

What else can fans look forward to from VIVARUSH in the near future?

Ruimaru: We're going to take you to bigger stages. Believe in us and follow us! We'll bring you happy dreams!!!

Please leave a message for our readers.

Ruimaru: Thank you for finding VIVARUSH! We'll continue to become cooler and cooler. Don't take your eyes off us! Thank you!

JaME would like to thank Ruimaru, VIVARUSH and Vegas PR Group for making this interview possible.

Links to download and stream Emperor Time on various music platforms are available here.

Footage of VIVARUSH performing Emperor Time live at Amazon Music Studio can be viewed below.