Translation: Ring match 2 vs Mariko Goto (Midori)
From so-net.ne.jp
Tatsurou (MUCC) vs. Mariko Goto (Midori)
Because music is being more and more categorized, the tendency to shut out music outside one's interest has grown stronger. I find that regrettable. Of course it's fun to have bands of a good genre appear together. However, few new discoveries are made there. In my opinion, what makes events interesting are the new chance encounters and discoveries made there. Recently no matter what festival I've gone to it's been pretty much the same. So I'm thinking what would happen if we stirred thing up more.
I'm glad that there are artist who won't refuse contact with any genre. The stimulus of events with unexpected combinations is making things more interesting.
Everyone has their likes and dislikes, but what if for once you tried touching an unknown world instead of prouncing to be "anti" something without listening to it? So, here starting a combat discussion series of different genres is Tatsuro, vocalist of Mucc, boasting a career of 11 years. Mucc is categorized as visual kei, but for three days starting November 10th they're headlining Rockstar Taste of Chaos Japan shows at Shinkiba Studio Coast, and their actions are spreading to become genreless.
The second guest is the vocalist and guitarrist of Osaka-based hard-core punk band Midori, Goto Mariko. So, what will become of today's discussion?
Our second guest is Midori's vocalist and guitarrist Goto Mariko-chan.
Goto: I look forward to working with you.
Tatsurou: I look forward to working with you.
Tatsurou-san, I think this is the first time I've done a discussion with a female.
Tatsurou: Right. Might be the first time. Wasn't HIGH and MIGHT COLOR's Maakii here once? But that time it was the whole band. So today might be the first. So it feels a bit nervous. (Laugh) So I was thinking, what kind of questions can be asked from a woman, what kind of talk can we have. (Laugh) So I was thinking lots of things today before coming here.
Goto: Well, I think that it'll be fine if you just treat me as an individual.
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. As an individual. (Laugh) There are no women in visual kei industry, so I had to plan this. (Laugh) Like how to carry a conversation. So I have to plan, especially when meeting women for work.
Goto: Just say "good day".
Tatsurou: Oh. (Laugh) That's very normal. (Laugh) But on the contrary, isn't it hard working in an industry with just men?
Goto: I don't feel that way. Besides, as a kid I only had male older brothers, so I've gotten used to this kind of environment.
Tatsurou: It's not like there are male older sisters.
Goto: Oh, that's right. (Laugh) That's clever.
Tatsurou: But that surely has impact. I was the youngest son with only brothers, so I don't have immunity for women. Because the only woman in our home was mother.
I think that has a great impact. From a woman's point of view, guys with female siblings are more understanding. They are way more natural. There's no pretence.
Tatsurou: Is that so? Guess so. I just remembered something. Our Yukke (bass) is that way. I see...
Goto: It's a cat owner thing. That's why it does.
Tatsurou: Does what?
Goto: Isn't that because of becoming cat-like?
Tatsurou: Yeah, it may have something to do with being a cat person instead of a dog person. (Laugh)
But because Mariko-chan was a girl amongst brothers, she has become immune to men, so Tatsurou-kun, you can keep your composure. (Laugh)
Goto: Yeah, be at ease.
Tatsurou: But because I can't always do that, I thought it would be easier to talk if I knew something about Goto-san beforehand, so I had her fill a questionnaire. The answers weren't usual. (Laugh) This is difficult. (Laugh)
Goto: What did I write again? (Laugh) I forgot already.
Tatsurou: First, you wrote three things to do on a day off, but I wouldn't do any of them. (Laugh) You put "take a walk, read literature or sleep".
Goto: Oh, that's right.
Tatsurou: When I have a day off I have to go out and party. And for literature, I only read manga.
That's not called literature.
Tatsurou: Why? Reading a book called manga is literature.
Manga is not called books.
Tatsurou: Yes it is~ So what else would it be? Comics? Manga has already become an interlingual word. Manga and comics are two different things. If you go to the US and say "manga", they'll understand.
Manga. Oh, is that so? It's surely Japanese. That's because Japanese anime and manga have now got a strong following overseas.
Tatsurou: That's right.
Goto: What are you reading?
Tatsurou: Lately I've been re-reading yankee manga I read a long ago. Especially BADBOYS is great.
Goto: Do you read in cafes?
Tatsurou: Yeah. In cafes. Oh, before this I saw "Akagi - yami no oritatta tensai" on an anime channel called Animax. The ending left such an impact that the next day I went to a manga cafe and read "Akagi" the whole day. (Laugh)
Goto: Oh.
Tatsurou: I was so into it because it was just before Europe tour, and I thought that I couldn't read in Europe and read frantically.
Goto: I understand that feeling. (Laugh)
Has Midori been overseas?
Goto: Not yet. But if we could, I would love to go.
Tatsurou: Where would you like to go?
Goto: Europe or the US.
Tatsurou: So that's where. We haven't lately had any interest in going overseas. Because our roots aren't in Western music.
Goto: Yeah, neither are ours.
Tatsurou: But you'd like to try going overseas?
Goto: Yeah. I'd like to try going.
Tatsurou: Oh? We've been thinking that we don't want to ride a fad.
Goto: A fad?
Tatsurou: Yeah. Anime and visual kei have become a huge fad in America. Lots of visual kei artist are performing there, so we've always thought that riding it would feel bad. It feels different than when foreign artists come to Japan. So we hate that. But sometimes it's time to go even if it's just a fad. Well, as an experience, it's good to go and give it a try.
Goto: So that's how it is. Overseas. Even rice isn't good there.
Tatsurou: Rice, eh? I haven't thought it'd be untasty, but is hasn't been particularly delicious either.
Mariko-chan, have you travelled abroad in private?
Goto: Yes. I've been to Singapore once. That was with my aunt. Me and my aunt's son wanted to go see Merlion, but it was under construction, so it didn't even feel like being abroad.
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. It was good you were with your aunt. It's strange, really.
What? Mariko-chan? (Laugh)
Tatsurou: Yeah. (Laugh) What kind of person is she? (Laugh) Thinking about the feeling of her lives and these nonchalant questionnaire answers I'm wondering about what she's eating and what kind of life she's living. (Laugh) There are too many mysteries.
Goto: I don't eat meat.
Tatsurou: You don't like it?
Goto: I don't like it. I eat fish and noodles and such.
Tatsurou: Lots of Japanese food?
Goto: Not really. I also eat spaghetti... and bread.
Tatsurou: So, why don't you eat meat?
Goto: Lately I've been eating greedily and began to like it, but a person I like stopped eating meat, and I decided to stop too. When I ate meat my stomach would feel heavy, but after I stopped eating meat that stopped and my physical condition got better, so I stopped eating meat.
Tatsurou: Now I got really interested in why that person you liked stopped eating meat.
Goto: They went abroad and couldn't eat meat.
Tatsurou: Oh.
It's cute to stop eating it when the person you like stops eating it.
Tatsurou: By the way, when did you come here from Kansai?
Goto: A year and a month ago.
Tatsurou: Where did you move to?
Goto: Umm, near Hisana-chan's place.
Tatsurou: Near Hisana-chan's place, is that so? (Laugh) First of all, the readers don't know who "Hisana-chan" is!
Goto: Oh. A photographer who's a close friend of mine.
Tatsurou: When we were shooting photos for a previous corner, it seems like I also became close friends with her.
* Editorial note: The photographer is Hiranuma Hisana.
Goto: When I came to Tokyo, Hisana-chan was a friend of a friend, but before I even noticed it, we were always having fun together and became really close.
Tatsurou: It's hard to describe the atmosphere surrounding "Hisana-chan". She's also a bit mysterious, so it makes me wonder what are you doing when you have fun together.
Goto: We read manga at home.
That's not having fun together. (Laugh) Are you doing anything else but reading manga together? (Laugh)
Goto: Yes. (Laugh)
Tatsurou: Junior high kids have fun with their friends like that. (Laugh) So nostalgic. (Laugh)
Goto: Oh! Before this we were looking at Google Earth together. You can see your home there, and we were looking at Hisana-chan's home and noticed you can even see her drying laundry. That's bad! So we were having fun like that.
Tatsurou: Wow! I've heard that Google Earth's great, but it's amazing that you can even see laundry!
Goto: Yeah. It really frightened me how clearly you can see it. You can't even give out business cards anymore. (Laugh)
Tatsurou: That's right. Especially singles.
Yeah. It's bad.
Tatsurou: It feels like there's less privacy nowadays. (Laugh) I'm from Ibaraki, so even if I live in Tokyo, I picked a place that's not typical Tokyo.
Goto: Oh, downtown?
Tatsurou: Yeah, a traditional one.
Goto: It's only been a year and a month, so I still don't know Tokyo very well.
Tatsurou: Isn't that the most fun? Okay. When I get home, I'm going to look it up on Google Earth.
By the way, you are both vocalists. Why did you choose to sing?
Goto: Before Midori, I was in another band. I wanted to play the guitar, but we didn't have a vocalist, so I thought ended up singing. Actually just guitar would've been fine, and we also had another bad vocalist-guitarrist. (Laugh) So we decided to make it even worse by singing together. So, even if another vocalist would now join Midori, it would be okay. I'm not attached to the position.
Tatsurou: But even if you say that, there's not another person who could sing your chaos.
That's right. So it was never your intention to have a girls band?
Goto: It wasn't.
Guys start bands because they want to get popular.
Tatsurou: Yeah. I was like that. To be popular, or rather to stand out, at a culture festival.
Right. You wanted to play at a culture festival and it resulted in Mucc.
Goto: Oh~
Oh! That time Tatsurou-kun had short hair!
Goto: Is that so? (Laugh)
Tatsurou: Right. It was even shorter than Goto-san's hair. (Laugh) I thought that there are no short cuts in visual kei. (Laugh)
Goto: Why did you decide to crop it? Just to stand out?
Tatsurou: Yeah. It's also a part of visual kei to wear make-up and to look beautiful, but I couldn't grasp looking beautiful. So I thought I would stand out from copy bands of the same generation and had a cropped cut. (Laugh) I couldn't become pretty so I got a short cut.
Goto: Oh~ Do you want to become pretty?
Tatsurou: I'd try it if I could. (Laugh) It looks like it's a whole different world. But pretty people can get dirty, so couldn't dirty people get pretty?
Goto: No. That's different.
Tatsurou: Oh? Different? (Laugh)
Goto: Yeah, different. Pretty people get dirty prettily.
Tatsurou: Hohoo. So that's how it is. (Thinking) So, what books are you reading?
Goto: Different kinds. But sometimes I quit before I finish the book. I don't have a great memory, so if it's not interesting, I will forget the story half-way and quit reading.
Tatsurou: Don't you watch movies?
Goto: I can read books at my own pace, but I can't watch movies at my own pace. Because they move forward on their own. When reading, if I don't understand something I can return backwards. It's difficult with a movie. Sometimes I watch short ones though.
Tatsurou: You think movies are difficult? I think books are difficult.
Goto: Why?
Tatsurou: If I take my eyes away for a moment, I forget where I was at.
Goto: Why?
Tatsurou: I don't know. (Laugh) Also, book covers are heavy! If I open a book, I will read through it, but they're heavy to take out. Just because they're called books. (Laugh)
Goto: How about paperbacks? Don't you read them even if the covers are light?
Tatsurou: Yeah. They're heavy because there are lots of characters written in them.
Goto: Even if there's a cat on the cover?
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. Cats have nothing to do with it. (Laugh)
But how about Mucc's lyrics? They're not just easy characters, there also difficult characters and they have a philosophical feeling.
Goto: I looked at them when I got the materials.
Tatsurou: But I don't read books. I also hate newspapers and things like that. Printing type is scary. (Laugh)
Goto: Why?
Tatsurou: Printing type has a feeling of greatness.
You mean it has a noble feeling? (Laugh)
Tatsurou: That's right. Isn't printing type literature? You see, I hate studying, and even that feels like studying so it's impossible. Interviews are fine, but I hate checking the manuscripts. (Laugh) I only read my own speeches. (Laugh) When I do solo interviews it's only me reading them so it's the worst. (Laugh)
Goto: That's terrible. I don't read them myself.
Doesn't Mariko-chan do that?
Goto: I do, but I quickly start thinking that it's impossible. I speak Osaka dialect, and when I see something like "sou jan" or "watashi" written down, I quit reading instantly thinking that it's fine.
You don't correct it?
Goto: No, it's annoying. People say I should, but I think it's impossible and just leave it.
Tatsurou: But I do like reading live reports.
Goto: I hate it.
Tatsurou: Really? (Laugh) I love hearing people's thought about our lives. But I think inoffensive reports are boring. I like them when they're hard and honest. Why do you hate it?
Goto: I'm thankful and I'm happy for Midori, but in the end they're just one person's words and feeling. I don't like it when they write about it as the whole truth.
Sometimes articles state things definitely or are one-sided. I also think writers should write in "these are my feelings" style. Has Mariko-chan written Midori's lyrics?
Goto: Yes.
Tatsurou: Ignoring if it has influenced you or not, what kind of music do you usually listen to? I really want to know what kind of artists you like. Do you have a Japanese artist you like?
Goto: Amongst Japanese? Yeah. JUDY AND MARY. If I had to give my top 3, JUDY AND MARY would definitely be in it. I love them.
Tatsurou: Oh, is that so? When I was listening to JUDY AND MARY's Sobakasu I thought that song's melody and lyrics go great together. The choice of words is also perfect. I really can't find flaws in it. Perfect. It has a great feeling.
Goto: That's right.
Tatsurou: But the first CD you bought was Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi, right? (Laugh)
Goto: Yeah. (Laugh) I was a child at that time, but it was the theme song of a drama. He also played a role in it. So, I wanted to hear it, so I went to buy it with a kid called Mizutani Yuki-chan.
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. With Mizutani Yuki-chan. (Laugh)
Everyone doesn't know who Mizutani Yuki-chan is. (Laugh)
Goto: I remember we got into Yuki's mother's car to go buy it. Her mother loved Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi.
Tatsurou: I love Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi, too. Since 3rd grade of elementary school.
That's young. Hearing you first Nagabuchi as a 3rd grader.
Tatsurou: I have older brothers. They had a huge impact on me. I loved the album Showa. It's a quite gloomy one. But I really liked it. But I thought I liked better the voices and bands that were not that major.
It says on the questionnaire that the first live you went to was Ningen isu's. I'd like to hear more about that. (Laugh)
Goto: Yeah. I hadn't really gone to lives. I'd go see my friends bands, but the first professional band I saw was Ningen isu. How old was I back then? I haven't graduated high school. I think I was around high school graduation age. Under 20.
That's a late live debut.
Goto: Is that so? Late?
Tatsurou: But I was about that age, too. When I went to a live house. My first professional live was SOPHIA at a school festival.
I see. Does Midori have a band concept or does Mariko-chan have something you're trying to get across when writing lyrics?
Goto: With concept, you mean themes? We don't have any. If we had them, we'd get exhausted. I think they're bullshit.
Tatsurou: Don't you have times when you just can't come up with lyrics?
Goto: When I write lyrics at the studio while working on the music at the same time, they come smoothly. That's the best case. But when I write at home, sometimes I can't come up with lyrics. What does Tatsurou-san do at times like that?
Tatsurou: Squeeze them out. (Laugh) Sometimes I get good results that way, sometimes I don't, it seems to vary. But I've recently thought that I can say everything I have to say in about 30 songs. 2 or 3 on every album.
But as years go by, don't your thoughts, feelings and tastes change and your lyrics as well?
Tatsurou: Well, that's true. I'm too ashamed to sing my older lyrics. For example, I love Blue Hearts, but at this age, I can't write about the bittersweet feeling of youth.
But you still think Hiroto-san's great?
Tatsurou: Great! Really great! When Hiroto-san sings his lyrics, I get a feeling that he's never going to change, it's just natural. Nothing's impossible for him.
Right. I also think Mariko-chan will always be a little lady.
Goto: Really? Even if I go bald?
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. Bald. (Laugh) I actually thought your bobbed hair had a strong impact, and when I saw your homepage I was frightened. What did she do?! (Laugh) So today we have to go into hair styles. So you cut it yourself, but you didn't use barber's tools but normal scissors!
Goto: Right. I didn't have barber's tools. But now I wish it'd grow back quick. I'm regretting it.
Tatsurou: Regretting it!? (Laugh) Why?
Goto: Because. Guys and kids think women have long hair. Kids recognize gender by hair length, and guys don't treat short-haired women as women.
Tatsurou: I see. (Laugh)
Goto: That's how it is.
Tatsurou: It's your firm looks. You're child-faced, so with this haircut you look like a little boy.
Goto: It's not firm looks, I have a man's face. (Laugh) But I'm told that I look like Hosaka Naoki or Kanjani 8. They're all men.
You surely look boyish. Mariko-chan also has large hands.
Tatsurou: That's true. Because you're short.
Goto: I was supposed to grow to be 168 cm tall. But for some reason only my torso grew and my legs didn't and I remained small. So when I sit hugging my knees, I can't touch them with my chin. Normally everyone can do that.
(Tries out) Oh, that's true!
Tatsurou: [says in Kansai dialect] Let's do it!
...he says. (Laugh) The kansai dialect is catching on. (Laugh)
Goto: Really? (Laugh)
But even if you're small, your live presence is strong.
Goto: Really? (Laugh)
Tatsurou: Really. (Laugh)
So is Tatsurou-kun's.
Tatsurou: Because I'm huge. (Laugh) But hey, you did an event with Girugamesh from our office? How did you meet?
Goto: Fishing teacher...
Tatsurou: What?! Fishing teacher!?
Goto: Yeah. Girugamesh's bassist Shuu-kun. He likes fishing so we went fishing together in Chiba. That's why he's the fishing teacher. Fishing teacher bought Midori's CD. When Hisana-chan was taking Girugamesh's photos, Shuu-kun told her he liked Midori's music, so we made contact when we went to give our thanks. That's how we ended up doing an event. Because both Girugames and Midori audiences have a 50-50 ratio of guys and girls, it was a really good combination. Even though there were lots of people who'd never seen Midori, it had a good feeling.
Tatsurou: Sounds good. I really like genreless combinations. If it's all the same, it gets tiring. Our band does really showy lives, but punk bands like Midori get by without that kind of elements? I think that gives a good impulse. I haven't seen a punk band with full illumination. (Laugh)
Goto: Yeah. So Tatsurou-kun thinks his shows are showy?
Tatsurou: Yeah. Because we have really different kinds of songs, we want to make them apart with not only sound but also lights and visuals. We show things differently with different sound sources.
Goto: I see. Do you think that's entertainment?
Tatsurou: Yes.
Goto: I don't think so. I think entertainment is the same as amusement, and I don't want to become an amusement. Midori doesn't want to be amusement. But there are lots of different badns and I think it's also good to have different ways of showing, and I get what Tatsurou-san means, but we're different.
Tatsurou: I see. But I'm not in a band just because I'd like music, so if we can express something on the stage, I'd be fine even without music.
Goto: I agree on that.
Tatsurou: For me, I could've been happy with ceramics or painting or something. But when I first started singing, it felt great, so now I'm singing. I don't know what's entertainment, but if amusement is entertainment, of course I wish that the audience has fun and comes back, but actually I'm doing it for my own entertainment. If it's not fun anymore, I'll quit.
Goto: Oh, I see. Now I understand you better. I also hate doing things that aren't fun.
Tatsurou: But I think Midori's really good. You're very talented. Musically, too.
Goto: We have a long way to go. Every one of the guys is talented, but as a band, we still have lots to work on. Everything doesn't just click for us. It's like everyone played classical piano. Everyone has strength inside, but when we play together, it's for better or worse.
Tatsurou: Like you were missing a conductor?
Goto: Yeah.
Tatsurou: Why is your band called Midori?
Goto: Drummer's granny's name is Kozeni Midori. We took it from that. It's a good last name, Kozeni.
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. That's good. (Laugh) With the same logic, our drummer's granny is "Tokuji", so we could be Tokuji instead of Mucc. (Laugh)
Goto: Ahahaha. That's great, for a granny to be have name Dokuji!? Great. It has a strong feeling. (Laugh)
Tatsurou: Doesn't it? (Laugh) If we get a chance, let's do an event together.
Goto: Definitely.
Tatsurou (MUCC) vs. Mariko Goto (Midori)
Because music is being more and more categorized, the tendency to shut out music outside one's interest has grown stronger. I find that regrettable. Of course it's fun to have bands of a good genre appear together. However, few new discoveries are made there. In my opinion, what makes events interesting are the new chance encounters and discoveries made there. Recently no matter what festival I've gone to it's been pretty much the same. So I'm thinking what would happen if we stirred thing up more.
I'm glad that there are artist who won't refuse contact with any genre. The stimulus of events with unexpected combinations is making things more interesting.
Everyone has their likes and dislikes, but what if for once you tried touching an unknown world instead of prouncing to be "anti" something without listening to it? So, here starting a combat discussion series of different genres is Tatsuro, vocalist of Mucc, boasting a career of 11 years. Mucc is categorized as visual kei, but for three days starting November 10th they're headlining Rockstar Taste of Chaos Japan shows at Shinkiba Studio Coast, and their actions are spreading to become genreless.
The second guest is the vocalist and guitarrist of Osaka-based hard-core punk band Midori, Goto Mariko. So, what will become of today's discussion?
Our second guest is Midori's vocalist and guitarrist Goto Mariko-chan.
Goto: I look forward to working with you.
Tatsurou: I look forward to working with you.
Tatsurou-san, I think this is the first time I've done a discussion with a female.
Tatsurou: Right. Might be the first time. Wasn't HIGH and MIGHT COLOR's Maakii here once? But that time it was the whole band. So today might be the first. So it feels a bit nervous. (Laugh) So I was thinking, what kind of questions can be asked from a woman, what kind of talk can we have. (Laugh) So I was thinking lots of things today before coming here.
Goto: Well, I think that it'll be fine if you just treat me as an individual.
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. As an individual. (Laugh) There are no women in visual kei industry, so I had to plan this. (Laugh) Like how to carry a conversation. So I have to plan, especially when meeting women for work.
Goto: Just say "good day".
Tatsurou: Oh. (Laugh) That's very normal. (Laugh) But on the contrary, isn't it hard working in an industry with just men?
Goto: I don't feel that way. Besides, as a kid I only had male older brothers, so I've gotten used to this kind of environment.
Tatsurou: It's not like there are male older sisters.
Goto: Oh, that's right. (Laugh) That's clever.
Tatsurou: But that surely has impact. I was the youngest son with only brothers, so I don't have immunity for women. Because the only woman in our home was mother.
I think that has a great impact. From a woman's point of view, guys with female siblings are more understanding. They are way more natural. There's no pretence.
Tatsurou: Is that so? Guess so. I just remembered something. Our Yukke (bass) is that way. I see...
Goto: It's a cat owner thing. That's why it does.
Tatsurou: Does what?
Goto: Isn't that because of becoming cat-like?
Tatsurou: Yeah, it may have something to do with being a cat person instead of a dog person. (Laugh)
But because Mariko-chan was a girl amongst brothers, she has become immune to men, so Tatsurou-kun, you can keep your composure. (Laugh)
Goto: Yeah, be at ease.
Tatsurou: But because I can't always do that, I thought it would be easier to talk if I knew something about Goto-san beforehand, so I had her fill a questionnaire. The answers weren't usual. (Laugh) This is difficult. (Laugh)
Goto: What did I write again? (Laugh) I forgot already.
Tatsurou: First, you wrote three things to do on a day off, but I wouldn't do any of them. (Laugh) You put "take a walk, read literature or sleep".
Goto: Oh, that's right.
Tatsurou: When I have a day off I have to go out and party. And for literature, I only read manga.
That's not called literature.
Tatsurou: Why? Reading a book called manga is literature.
Manga is not called books.
Tatsurou: Yes it is~ So what else would it be? Comics? Manga has already become an interlingual word. Manga and comics are two different things. If you go to the US and say "manga", they'll understand.
Manga. Oh, is that so? It's surely Japanese. That's because Japanese anime and manga have now got a strong following overseas.
Tatsurou: That's right.
Goto: What are you reading?
Tatsurou: Lately I've been re-reading yankee manga I read a long ago. Especially BADBOYS is great.
Goto: Do you read in cafes?
Tatsurou: Yeah. In cafes. Oh, before this I saw "Akagi - yami no oritatta tensai" on an anime channel called Animax. The ending left such an impact that the next day I went to a manga cafe and read "Akagi" the whole day. (Laugh)
Goto: Oh.
Tatsurou: I was so into it because it was just before Europe tour, and I thought that I couldn't read in Europe and read frantically.
Goto: I understand that feeling. (Laugh)
Has Midori been overseas?
Goto: Not yet. But if we could, I would love to go.
Tatsurou: Where would you like to go?
Goto: Europe or the US.
Tatsurou: So that's where. We haven't lately had any interest in going overseas. Because our roots aren't in Western music.
Goto: Yeah, neither are ours.
Tatsurou: But you'd like to try going overseas?
Goto: Yeah. I'd like to try going.
Tatsurou: Oh? We've been thinking that we don't want to ride a fad.
Goto: A fad?
Tatsurou: Yeah. Anime and visual kei have become a huge fad in America. Lots of visual kei artist are performing there, so we've always thought that riding it would feel bad. It feels different than when foreign artists come to Japan. So we hate that. But sometimes it's time to go even if it's just a fad. Well, as an experience, it's good to go and give it a try.
Goto: So that's how it is. Overseas. Even rice isn't good there.
Tatsurou: Rice, eh? I haven't thought it'd be untasty, but is hasn't been particularly delicious either.
Mariko-chan, have you travelled abroad in private?
Goto: Yes. I've been to Singapore once. That was with my aunt. Me and my aunt's son wanted to go see Merlion, but it was under construction, so it didn't even feel like being abroad.
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. It was good you were with your aunt. It's strange, really.
What? Mariko-chan? (Laugh)
Tatsurou: Yeah. (Laugh) What kind of person is she? (Laugh) Thinking about the feeling of her lives and these nonchalant questionnaire answers I'm wondering about what she's eating and what kind of life she's living. (Laugh) There are too many mysteries.
Goto: I don't eat meat.
Tatsurou: You don't like it?
Goto: I don't like it. I eat fish and noodles and such.
Tatsurou: Lots of Japanese food?
Goto: Not really. I also eat spaghetti... and bread.
Tatsurou: So, why don't you eat meat?
Goto: Lately I've been eating greedily and began to like it, but a person I like stopped eating meat, and I decided to stop too. When I ate meat my stomach would feel heavy, but after I stopped eating meat that stopped and my physical condition got better, so I stopped eating meat.
Tatsurou: Now I got really interested in why that person you liked stopped eating meat.
Goto: They went abroad and couldn't eat meat.
Tatsurou: Oh.
It's cute to stop eating it when the person you like stops eating it.
Tatsurou: By the way, when did you come here from Kansai?
Goto: A year and a month ago.
Tatsurou: Where did you move to?
Goto: Umm, near Hisana-chan's place.
Tatsurou: Near Hisana-chan's place, is that so? (Laugh) First of all, the readers don't know who "Hisana-chan" is!
Goto: Oh. A photographer who's a close friend of mine.
Tatsurou: When we were shooting photos for a previous corner, it seems like I also became close friends with her.
* Editorial note: The photographer is Hiranuma Hisana.
Goto: When I came to Tokyo, Hisana-chan was a friend of a friend, but before I even noticed it, we were always having fun together and became really close.
Tatsurou: It's hard to describe the atmosphere surrounding "Hisana-chan". She's also a bit mysterious, so it makes me wonder what are you doing when you have fun together.
Goto: We read manga at home.
That's not having fun together. (Laugh) Are you doing anything else but reading manga together? (Laugh)
Goto: Yes. (Laugh)
Tatsurou: Junior high kids have fun with their friends like that. (Laugh) So nostalgic. (Laugh)
Goto: Oh! Before this we were looking at Google Earth together. You can see your home there, and we were looking at Hisana-chan's home and noticed you can even see her drying laundry. That's bad! So we were having fun like that.
Tatsurou: Wow! I've heard that Google Earth's great, but it's amazing that you can even see laundry!
Goto: Yeah. It really frightened me how clearly you can see it. You can't even give out business cards anymore. (Laugh)
Tatsurou: That's right. Especially singles.
Yeah. It's bad.
Tatsurou: It feels like there's less privacy nowadays. (Laugh) I'm from Ibaraki, so even if I live in Tokyo, I picked a place that's not typical Tokyo.
Goto: Oh, downtown?
Tatsurou: Yeah, a traditional one.
Goto: It's only been a year and a month, so I still don't know Tokyo very well.
Tatsurou: Isn't that the most fun? Okay. When I get home, I'm going to look it up on Google Earth.
By the way, you are both vocalists. Why did you choose to sing?
Goto: Before Midori, I was in another band. I wanted to play the guitar, but we didn't have a vocalist, so I thought ended up singing. Actually just guitar would've been fine, and we also had another bad vocalist-guitarrist. (Laugh) So we decided to make it even worse by singing together. So, even if another vocalist would now join Midori, it would be okay. I'm not attached to the position.
Tatsurou: But even if you say that, there's not another person who could sing your chaos.
That's right. So it was never your intention to have a girls band?
Goto: It wasn't.
Guys start bands because they want to get popular.
Tatsurou: Yeah. I was like that. To be popular, or rather to stand out, at a culture festival.
Right. You wanted to play at a culture festival and it resulted in Mucc.
Goto: Oh~
Oh! That time Tatsurou-kun had short hair!
Goto: Is that so? (Laugh)
Tatsurou: Right. It was even shorter than Goto-san's hair. (Laugh) I thought that there are no short cuts in visual kei. (Laugh)
Goto: Why did you decide to crop it? Just to stand out?
Tatsurou: Yeah. It's also a part of visual kei to wear make-up and to look beautiful, but I couldn't grasp looking beautiful. So I thought I would stand out from copy bands of the same generation and had a cropped cut. (Laugh) I couldn't become pretty so I got a short cut.
Goto: Oh~ Do you want to become pretty?
Tatsurou: I'd try it if I could. (Laugh) It looks like it's a whole different world. But pretty people can get dirty, so couldn't dirty people get pretty?
Goto: No. That's different.
Tatsurou: Oh? Different? (Laugh)
Goto: Yeah, different. Pretty people get dirty prettily.
Tatsurou: Hohoo. So that's how it is. (Thinking) So, what books are you reading?
Goto: Different kinds. But sometimes I quit before I finish the book. I don't have a great memory, so if it's not interesting, I will forget the story half-way and quit reading.
Tatsurou: Don't you watch movies?
Goto: I can read books at my own pace, but I can't watch movies at my own pace. Because they move forward on their own. When reading, if I don't understand something I can return backwards. It's difficult with a movie. Sometimes I watch short ones though.
Tatsurou: You think movies are difficult? I think books are difficult.
Goto: Why?
Tatsurou: If I take my eyes away for a moment, I forget where I was at.
Goto: Why?
Tatsurou: I don't know. (Laugh) Also, book covers are heavy! If I open a book, I will read through it, but they're heavy to take out. Just because they're called books. (Laugh)
Goto: How about paperbacks? Don't you read them even if the covers are light?
Tatsurou: Yeah. They're heavy because there are lots of characters written in them.
Goto: Even if there's a cat on the cover?
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. Cats have nothing to do with it. (Laugh)
But how about Mucc's lyrics? They're not just easy characters, there also difficult characters and they have a philosophical feeling.
Goto: I looked at them when I got the materials.
Tatsurou: But I don't read books. I also hate newspapers and things like that. Printing type is scary. (Laugh)
Goto: Why?
Tatsurou: Printing type has a feeling of greatness.
You mean it has a noble feeling? (Laugh)
Tatsurou: That's right. Isn't printing type literature? You see, I hate studying, and even that feels like studying so it's impossible. Interviews are fine, but I hate checking the manuscripts. (Laugh) I only read my own speeches. (Laugh) When I do solo interviews it's only me reading them so it's the worst. (Laugh)
Goto: That's terrible. I don't read them myself.
Doesn't Mariko-chan do that?
Goto: I do, but I quickly start thinking that it's impossible. I speak Osaka dialect, and when I see something like "sou jan" or "watashi" written down, I quit reading instantly thinking that it's fine.
You don't correct it?
Goto: No, it's annoying. People say I should, but I think it's impossible and just leave it.
Tatsurou: But I do like reading live reports.
Goto: I hate it.
Tatsurou: Really? (Laugh) I love hearing people's thought about our lives. But I think inoffensive reports are boring. I like them when they're hard and honest. Why do you hate it?
Goto: I'm thankful and I'm happy for Midori, but in the end they're just one person's words and feeling. I don't like it when they write about it as the whole truth.
Sometimes articles state things definitely or are one-sided. I also think writers should write in "these are my feelings" style. Has Mariko-chan written Midori's lyrics?
Goto: Yes.
Tatsurou: Ignoring if it has influenced you or not, what kind of music do you usually listen to? I really want to know what kind of artists you like. Do you have a Japanese artist you like?
Goto: Amongst Japanese? Yeah. JUDY AND MARY. If I had to give my top 3, JUDY AND MARY would definitely be in it. I love them.
Tatsurou: Oh, is that so? When I was listening to JUDY AND MARY's Sobakasu I thought that song's melody and lyrics go great together. The choice of words is also perfect. I really can't find flaws in it. Perfect. It has a great feeling.
Goto: That's right.
Tatsurou: But the first CD you bought was Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi, right? (Laugh)
Goto: Yeah. (Laugh) I was a child at that time, but it was the theme song of a drama. He also played a role in it. So, I wanted to hear it, so I went to buy it with a kid called Mizutani Yuki-chan.
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. With Mizutani Yuki-chan. (Laugh)
Everyone doesn't know who Mizutani Yuki-chan is. (Laugh)
Goto: I remember we got into Yuki's mother's car to go buy it. Her mother loved Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi.
Tatsurou: I love Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi, too. Since 3rd grade of elementary school.
That's young. Hearing you first Nagabuchi as a 3rd grader.
Tatsurou: I have older brothers. They had a huge impact on me. I loved the album Showa. It's a quite gloomy one. But I really liked it. But I thought I liked better the voices and bands that were not that major.
It says on the questionnaire that the first live you went to was Ningen isu's. I'd like to hear more about that. (Laugh)
Goto: Yeah. I hadn't really gone to lives. I'd go see my friends bands, but the first professional band I saw was Ningen isu. How old was I back then? I haven't graduated high school. I think I was around high school graduation age. Under 20.
That's a late live debut.
Goto: Is that so? Late?
Tatsurou: But I was about that age, too. When I went to a live house. My first professional live was SOPHIA at a school festival.
I see. Does Midori have a band concept or does Mariko-chan have something you're trying to get across when writing lyrics?
Goto: With concept, you mean themes? We don't have any. If we had them, we'd get exhausted. I think they're bullshit.
Tatsurou: Don't you have times when you just can't come up with lyrics?
Goto: When I write lyrics at the studio while working on the music at the same time, they come smoothly. That's the best case. But when I write at home, sometimes I can't come up with lyrics. What does Tatsurou-san do at times like that?
Tatsurou: Squeeze them out. (Laugh) Sometimes I get good results that way, sometimes I don't, it seems to vary. But I've recently thought that I can say everything I have to say in about 30 songs. 2 or 3 on every album.
But as years go by, don't your thoughts, feelings and tastes change and your lyrics as well?
Tatsurou: Well, that's true. I'm too ashamed to sing my older lyrics. For example, I love Blue Hearts, but at this age, I can't write about the bittersweet feeling of youth.
But you still think Hiroto-san's great?
Tatsurou: Great! Really great! When Hiroto-san sings his lyrics, I get a feeling that he's never going to change, it's just natural. Nothing's impossible for him.
Right. I also think Mariko-chan will always be a little lady.
Goto: Really? Even if I go bald?
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. Bald. (Laugh) I actually thought your bobbed hair had a strong impact, and when I saw your homepage I was frightened. What did she do?! (Laugh) So today we have to go into hair styles. So you cut it yourself, but you didn't use barber's tools but normal scissors!
Goto: Right. I didn't have barber's tools. But now I wish it'd grow back quick. I'm regretting it.
Tatsurou: Regretting it!? (Laugh) Why?
Goto: Because. Guys and kids think women have long hair. Kids recognize gender by hair length, and guys don't treat short-haired women as women.
Tatsurou: I see. (Laugh)
Goto: That's how it is.
Tatsurou: It's your firm looks. You're child-faced, so with this haircut you look like a little boy.
Goto: It's not firm looks, I have a man's face. (Laugh) But I'm told that I look like Hosaka Naoki or Kanjani 8. They're all men.
You surely look boyish. Mariko-chan also has large hands.
Tatsurou: That's true. Because you're short.
Goto: I was supposed to grow to be 168 cm tall. But for some reason only my torso grew and my legs didn't and I remained small. So when I sit hugging my knees, I can't touch them with my chin. Normally everyone can do that.
(Tries out) Oh, that's true!
Tatsurou: [says in Kansai dialect] Let's do it!
...he says. (Laugh) The kansai dialect is catching on. (Laugh)
Goto: Really? (Laugh)
But even if you're small, your live presence is strong.
Goto: Really? (Laugh)
Tatsurou: Really. (Laugh)
So is Tatsurou-kun's.
Tatsurou: Because I'm huge. (Laugh) But hey, you did an event with Girugamesh from our office? How did you meet?
Goto: Fishing teacher...
Tatsurou: What?! Fishing teacher!?
Goto: Yeah. Girugamesh's bassist Shuu-kun. He likes fishing so we went fishing together in Chiba. That's why he's the fishing teacher. Fishing teacher bought Midori's CD. When Hisana-chan was taking Girugamesh's photos, Shuu-kun told her he liked Midori's music, so we made contact when we went to give our thanks. That's how we ended up doing an event. Because both Girugames and Midori audiences have a 50-50 ratio of guys and girls, it was a really good combination. Even though there were lots of people who'd never seen Midori, it had a good feeling.
Tatsurou: Sounds good. I really like genreless combinations. If it's all the same, it gets tiring. Our band does really showy lives, but punk bands like Midori get by without that kind of elements? I think that gives a good impulse. I haven't seen a punk band with full illumination. (Laugh)
Goto: Yeah. So Tatsurou-kun thinks his shows are showy?
Tatsurou: Yeah. Because we have really different kinds of songs, we want to make them apart with not only sound but also lights and visuals. We show things differently with different sound sources.
Goto: I see. Do you think that's entertainment?
Tatsurou: Yes.
Goto: I don't think so. I think entertainment is the same as amusement, and I don't want to become an amusement. Midori doesn't want to be amusement. But there are lots of different badns and I think it's also good to have different ways of showing, and I get what Tatsurou-san means, but we're different.
Tatsurou: I see. But I'm not in a band just because I'd like music, so if we can express something on the stage, I'd be fine even without music.
Goto: I agree on that.
Tatsurou: For me, I could've been happy with ceramics or painting or something. But when I first started singing, it felt great, so now I'm singing. I don't know what's entertainment, but if amusement is entertainment, of course I wish that the audience has fun and comes back, but actually I'm doing it for my own entertainment. If it's not fun anymore, I'll quit.
Goto: Oh, I see. Now I understand you better. I also hate doing things that aren't fun.
Tatsurou: But I think Midori's really good. You're very talented. Musically, too.
Goto: We have a long way to go. Every one of the guys is talented, but as a band, we still have lots to work on. Everything doesn't just click for us. It's like everyone played classical piano. Everyone has strength inside, but when we play together, it's for better or worse.
Tatsurou: Like you were missing a conductor?
Goto: Yeah.
Tatsurou: Why is your band called Midori?
Goto: Drummer's granny's name is Kozeni Midori. We took it from that. It's a good last name, Kozeni.
Tatsurou: Ahahaha. That's good. (Laugh) With the same logic, our drummer's granny is "Tokuji", so we could be Tokuji instead of Mucc. (Laugh)
Goto: Ahahaha. That's great, for a granny to be have name Dokuji!? Great. It has a strong feeling. (Laugh)
Tatsurou: Doesn't it? (Laugh) If we get a chance, let's do an event together.
Goto: Definitely.