Kagerou interview

We were sitting face-to-face with the musicians, who sat in red armchairs. Shizumi tried out his French, saying "Enchanté" (with a charming accent). Then the members of kagerou were introduced and the questions commenced.

Did you know that you had so many fans in Europe?

Daisuke: No, we didn't. I'd never thought there were so many of them here; we were all very surprised. Before I learned that, I would never have thought of taking a plane to visit France. I'm afraid of flying.

Let's get back to your album, now sold in France. Do you think you would need to make changes for a European market?

Shizumi: It would be good for the next album to be released in France at the same time as Japan because back home all the Western artists release their CDs at the same time as they do in their home countries. We'd love to do this with our next album.

Do you know any European artists? If you do, would you like to work together with them on an album project?

Shizumi: At the moment, we don't have any plans to work with Western artists. But if the artists' albums were released in Japan, and we liked their music, we wouldn't hesitate to buy them.

Do you only listen to Japanese artists or do you also listen to Western ones too?

Shizumi: Yes, we listen to them; the French artists Masnada and Pleymo, and also an Austrian group (don't know the name). And of course English musicians like Lost Prophets or Funeral for a Friend.
Yuana: Also Metal.
Daisuke: Like Stratovarius.

Did you play other musical genres, before you did visual kei?

Daisuke: No, we've always played visual kei.

Why were you attracted to this genre?

Daisuke: Without a doubt, it is the only way we can express what we want to show and say. It is the best way to express our feelings.

Is there anything about the look or are there particular lyrics as well?

Daisuke: I don't associate particular lyrics with visual kei. For example for kagerou I write the lyrics to reflect my experiences. I don't think about hiding my true feelings.

What did you think about the reception from the German fans?

Shizumi: The fans were very warm, very friendly and we were very touched by it. There was one thing in particular which was very memorable: even though the lyrics were in Japanese, the fans were able to sing them. It was a wonderful surprise for us. We didn't try, but if we had stopped playing, the fans would have been able to carry on singing the song.

In general, Western musicians sing in a serious tone, but in visual kei the singing is more screeching. Can you explain that?

Daisuke: I never had singing lessons. It's always been within my vocal abilities and it comes quite naturally.

What are your Japanese influences?

Shizumi: We all have different tastes.

Do you make your own clothes style or do you have a designer?

Shizumi: We change our style with every album, but we buy clothes from import stores and create our own style.

Daisuke, you were drummer in your old band. Why have you become a singer?

Daisuke: While you play the drums your self-expression is limited. That's why I'm now a singer, to be able to express my feelings.
Shizumi: (joking) Oh well, I will become a singer in the near future too!

"Kagerou" means dragonfly, or ephemeral. What is the significance of that to you?

Daisuke: "Kagerou" means ephemeral in English. Why ephemeral? Well, because the insect doesn't see that when it becomes and adult it only lives for 24 hours. Like the insect, we want the band to live every minute as intensely as there is little time laid out for us. Even if a human life can last 80 or 90 years, we want to live each moment intensely. That's why we called the group "kagerou". Personally, I have weak health, and that's another reason for giving the group this name.

Do you live like rock stars in Japan?

(long silence)
Shizumi: We do not think of ourselves as rock stars. We are just a group of four people, who live our lives to the fullest.

Are you best friends, did you know each other before you formed the band?

All: Yes, we knew each other before.

Do you think J-Rock has a big future in Europe?

Daisuke: I don't know about J-Rock, but the future of kagerou, certainly!

Do you have relations with other countries in Asia?

Shizumi: We've played in Hong Kong and Shanghai, but at the moment we don't have plans in other countries. But if you invite us, it wouldn't be a problem. Where do you want us to go?

Have you found a big difference between fans in Japan and Europe?

Daisuke: As a band, we've found no difference.
Kazu: There is no difference between Japanese and European fans, but they just appreciate our music in a different way.

The music before the look?

Daisuke: It's similar for all our fans, both in Japan and Europe, they're attracted by the music, then the look.

Do you think that Europeans will begin to appreciate Japan?

Daisuke: We don't intend to change the Europeans' point of view. Everyone is free to think what he wants, and we don't want to do anything to stop that.
Shizumi addresses all people present: What do Europeans think about the Japanese?

A short explanation about fashion, music and Japanese culture follows.

The free CD contains the song XII dizzy. What's the story behind this song?

Daisuke: It's partly about Buddha, who told man that there are 12 sufferings. Buddha gave 12 answers for each one of them.

Unfortunately the interview came to an end here.

Thanks to Tomoko (translator) and Pink (Free Will Europe).