"If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse". Take a look at my photography blog: ayearintokyo.tumblr.com I share Japan, Nature and bookish stuff & apparently I’m back in the v–kei game.
Yukichi: I entered the same music club as my big brother in high school and became addicted to the drums accidentally
3. What was your childhood dream?
Nea: Singer
Kenatro: An acorn
Siz: -
Yukichi: Naruto Uzumaki, a carpenter
4. What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t making music?
Nea: A Painter
Kentaro: I would be traveling
Siz: I wouldn’t have done anything I think
Yukichi: Taxi driver
5. What’s your routine before going up on stage?
Nea: Smoking while making myself aware that I’m the strongest
Kentaro: Eating a Banana
Siz: Deep Breaths
Yukichi: eating a light meal
6. Tell us a memory or a situation from your first concert
Nea: I don’t really remember sorry.
Kentaro: I was 16 and it was a badly designed venue There were only scary people, so I was shaking
Siz: It was busy
Yukichi: It was a concert with my melodic hardcore copy band in high school. Even though it was our first concert, I remember I wasn’t nervous at all, I got up on the stage and thought “There’s no one better than me! Look at me!” (laughs).
7. Tell us an artist that influenced you and why
Nea: HYDE
Kentaro: B’z I got an electric shock
Siz: Secret
Yukichi: Age Factory The drummer, Mashiko’s drumming style cool because it is simple yet powerful, and I am aspiring to be like him even now.
8. What were you like as a child?
Nea: An annoying kid that liked many things
Kentaro: Extremely shy
Siz: hyperactive
Yukichi: I liked playing alone I liked climbing trees I liked sports I often went into the rice paddies to catch snakes When I caught a cold I slept for forever
9. What’s your favorite word?
Nea: “Pug” -> because we had one
Kentaro: “Heaven” -> I aim for heaven
Siz: “hévn” -> because we’ll appear in hévn
Yukichi: “Let’s go eat” -> the feeling of „yes! Let‘s do it!“
10. Your favorite flower?
Nea: I have many so I can’t decide
Kentaro: Sakura
Siz: Plum
Yukichi: Tulip
11. Your favorite food?
Nea: Everything that kids like
Kentaro: Miso soup
Siz: Red Bull
Yukichi: hamburger steak, Karaage, If there’s cheese in it I like it all! Also all candy, especially chocolate
12. Your favorite drink
Nea: Pink Monster Energy
Kentaro: Cold water
Siz: Pink Monster Energy
Yukichi: Amazake, Milk
13. A word to the other members
Nea: Let’s do our best!
Kentaro: Let’s travel space
Siz: Let’s go eat finally
Yukichi: There’s been a lot of flies recently. Please throw away the trash in the car properly lol
14. A side of you a lot of people don’t know
Nea: Apparently, I eat food as if it’s really tasty
Kentaro: I’m a health nerd
Siz: My shoe size is 105cm
Yukichi: I have many qualifications
15. What are you most interested in besides music?
Nea: nothing, actually. Cigarettes….?
Kentaro: Mediation
Siz: Clothes
Yukichi: Home theater and Onsen
16. What is your daily routine?
Nea: lazing and lazing and lazing around
Kentaro: Looking at the sky
Siz: taking long baths
Yukichi: Makeup
17. If you had to give your 2024 points, how many would you give?
Nea: Full points
Kentaro: 69 Points
Siz: Full points
Yukichi: In total, with the expectations for the rest of the year, 45 points!
18. What part of your activities in 2024 has left a lasting impression?
Nea: Bug Summit, and visual Matsuri were strong contenders. It felt good.
Kentaro: When Yukichi came into my bed at a hotel.
Siz: Visual Matsuri
Yukichi: The hotel we stayed at for Visual Matsuri only had a microwave at the reception on the first floor and going down was too exhausting, so I poured hot water over it to eat it, and Kentaro gave me seaweed.
19. What kind of year will 2025 be for sugar?
Nea: it will be sugar’s year
Kentaro: we will boost ourselves up more
Siz: sugar’s Year
Yukichi: I want to fulfill myself
20. Leave a message to your fans!
Nea: drop dead with me at the venue
Kentaro: I will take you all to space. Please come along.
Siz: Please support sugar from now on as well
Yukichi: I will tell you all through my performance! I’m waiting for you!
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Hisui / Vocal / 01. April / Kanagawa Prefecture / A
Aqui / Right side Guitar / 16. February / Hyogo Prefecture / A
Minagi / Left Side Guitar / 19. June / The world / A
Ryu / Bass / 19. June / Osaka / O
2. The reason why you started making music?
Hisui: Because i started learning Piano as a child
Aqui: I realized I don’t have anything but this in middle school
Minagi: I suddenly awoke
Ryu: I watched a music program
3. What was your childhood dream?
Hisui: Insect Professor
Aqui: Ramen cook
Minagi: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Ryu: self employed
4. What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t making music?
Hisui: -
Aqui: I can’t really think of anything, but probably a job where I would use my voice.
Minagi: Probably Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Ryu: As a school subject i liked english, so probably something with language studies
5. What’s your routine before going up on stage?
Hisui: It’s not a routine, but i try my best to get into a fun mood
Aqui: I try to concentrate as much as possible and go up on stage after creating my own rhythm
Minagi: To become as calm as possible
Ryu: It’s not the same every time, but I try to make some noise
6. Tell us a memory or a situation from your first concert
Hisui: -
Aqui: I can’t remember anything beyond being nervous
Minagi: I was so nervous i thought i was gonna throw up
Ryu: I didn’t know left or right, but the sounds I made during my first concert made me really happy. I also remember getting my makeup done at a taiban.
7. Tell us an artist that influenced you and why
Hisui: -
Aqui: Sid, because they perform really well and the songs are all very different and I experience many emotions when I listen to them
Minagi: X JAPAN, I received a hit by their looks and their music
Ryu: DIR EN GREY. I was deeply moved by the first MV i saw.
8. What were you like as a child?
Hisui: I was often told I was very curious
Aqui: I had a weak body and I wasn't able to eat anything except foods you would normally not eat. I was also very worried
Minagi: I wanted to stand out
Ryu: I think I was rather quiet and shy.
9. What’s your favorite word?
Hisui: -
Aqui: "People try to run before they walk” Reason -> I realized how important it is to first walk.
Minagi: “The right person in the right place” Reason -> It is important for people to realize their own role.
Ryu: “Tenacity” Reason -> Because i think it’s important to continue having a strong will when you’re in a band.
10. Your favorite flower?
Hisui: Dandelion
Aqui: It’s common, but Roses, I love them with a passion
Minagi: Queen of the night
Ryu: Hydrangeas
11. Your favorite food?
Hisui: Ramen
Aqui: Ramen and Sushi
Minagi: Tomato
Ryu: Ramen, Curry
12. Your favorite drink?
Hisui: Coke Zero
Aqui: Red bull and ginger ale
Minagi: Beer
Ryu: Coke, Energy drinks
13. A word to the other members
Hisui: Thank you for everything, let’s get along from now on too
Aqui: Thank you for always walking alongside me
Minagi: Good work on the workout!
Ryu: It’s almost been 5 years since we started. I still have unlimited fascinating sides to me!
14. A side of you a lot of people don’t know
Hisui: -
Aqui: maybe that I’m a weirdo
Minagi: XX-Ideologie
Ryu: I’m actually shy
15. What are you most interested in besides music?
Hisui: Movie Awards
Aqui: Games and streaming
Minagi: I’m interested in fishing right now
Ryu: Watching movies, reading books
16. What is your daily routine?
Hisui: -
Aqui: I don’t have a great daily routine right now
Minagi: -
Ryu: Recently, a small workout has been my daily routine. Like cycling.
17. If you had to give your 2024 points, how many would you give?
Hisui: 120 points
Aqui: 67 Points
Minagi: 83 Points
Ryu: 50 points, because i still want to grow
18. What part of your activities in 2024 has left a lasting impression?
Hisui: Not a part of our activities but it felt like it was over in the blink of an eye
Aqui: It’s ordinary, but I think I got stronger through the emotions I received at each of the concerts in all of these different places.
Minagi: Our Tour Final in Shinjuku Blaze.
Ryu: As expected, the biggest impression was playing concerts at bigger venues like Blaze or Namba Hatch. I think we have grown more through these precious experiences.
19. What kind of year will 2025 be for ZERA?
Hisui: I want our fans and everyone involved to enjoy our music.
Aqui: I want to cherish every single thing we do.
Minagi: I want to also approach going abroad.
Ryu: Since it has been 5 years since we started, i want to take another leap next year. We also have our tour final in Zepp Shinjuku on January 6th, so please look forward to it
20. Leave a message to your fans!
Hisui: Thank you for reading until the end. Zera is currently on our “Revelation of the LORD” tour, and the final will be held on January 6th 2025 (Monday) at Zepp Shinjuku. Please come and meet us.
Aqui: Thank you for always supporting us. I’m so lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people, and it’s always important to me to encounter you all in that way.
Minagi: Thank you for everything.
Ryu: Thank you for reading until the end. I would be happy if you came to one of our concerts after reading this interview. I think it will be hard to take your eyes off us from now on, so please keep expecting us!
ー You’ve been in the last issue of visunavi Magazine and now you’re here again. What is the current state of the band?
Nea:We are working on a new song for our upcoming tour “sugar presents Metsuretsu mixer” in June.
ー On March 26th you released your 1st album “nandemonai Uta”, how were the reactions?
Nea: It was memorable that the reactions from the staff concerned and band men was very high. I was often told “this song is great” backstage. Of course I’m happy to hear it from girls, but when the guys tell me they like our songs, it makes me happy. I often think “Obviously it’s good, our Kentaro wrote that song!” though (laughs)
Kentaro: I get a lot of opinions about featuring my guitar! “Your guitar solos belong in a bigger venue” and stuff like that. And while I obviously think “Well of course!” These words are a source of encouragement for me. But I also want to be more popular with the ladies (laughs).
Siz: It’s interesting how our fans and other band men have different songs they like. Band men often tell us songs like “Kuzu” are simple and good, while easily understandable songs like “mazo” and “manuke” leave a bigger impression on our fans.
ー Are there any songs where the impression, or the way you perform it has changed since its release?
Kentaro: We’ve performed most of these songs since before recording them, but for “manuke” and “mazo”, we can say the energy has solidified. It has permeated between the people who come to our concerts often, so that it’s easy for new customers to reach.
Nea: The one that changed the most is “kuzu”. When we first wrote that song, the lyrics were heartfelt, and we thought people would listen to it while standing still, but everyone’s headbanging a lot during the intro (laughs). But since it has become an environment in which everyone listens to the lyrics, I’ve received many opinions saying, “it’s a really good song!”. “Kuzu” has only been completed through the understanding of its content.
ー For the Album release, you held an infinite photo session in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, the same as you did last year in December. How did this unique event come to be?
Kentaro: The other bands in our generation all do photo sessions, don’t they? We thought about how we want to handle that and talked to many people about it. Some said, “why don’t you do a free photo session?” and we went “that works”.
Siz: What we are selling is music, so taking money for photo sessions just feels wrong.
ー With the infinite photo session and talk events, you had a lot more time to get closer to your fans after the album release than at usual lives – how did that time feel for you?
Nea: I thought our fans were just coming to hear our music, but after the photo session, I realized these kinds of events are also sought after. It was a change of pace for us as well.
Yukichi: It was very motivating to hear the direct feelings of the fans like “I love sugar” and “I like this song”.
Nea: After all, nothing beats hearing someone's actual voice, rather than a reply online.
ー It may be a simple question, do you think getting into deeper intimacy with the fans made the crowd at the concerts feel more like a unity?
Kentaro: I wonder. Personally, it’s a bit embarrassing to have a concert right after an in-store event (laughs). At the in-store events, I’m always very happy and talk a lot, so meeting everyone at a concert after is awkward.
Siz: It does become an entrance – Girls, who came to the in-store events to test the waters have told us, “I’m going to your concert soon as well!”. I was told “The slaps at the beginning of “manuke” are cool!” at an in-store event, but that’s the guitar…. (laughs). The girls that don’t come to the concerts might not know that. The bass at is pretty plain in this phrase.
Nea: At concerts there’s sometimes girls who “saku”* on the left side as well (laughs).
Siz: Well, I'm grateful, but… (laughs).
ー Let’s talk about the tour you’re presenting, “sugar presents Metsuretsu Mixer”. Please tell us the reason why you’re holding this event.
Nea: Honestly, the reason we’re holding this event is because someone higher up told us “You grasped the audience”. But we held many meetings to figure out how to hold this event and for it to be meaningful. There we talked about usual events, you’d invite bands with the same hair color, the same customer base, but we wanted to make a mess out of it. We thought there should be at least one event that’s completely messed up, and that it’d be interesting to make it a totally mixed up event, and assemble bands with different music, looks and characters.
Kentaro: There’s a senpai who said “Calling bands with the same hair color to an event is fine, but if it was a course at a restaurant, it would cause indigestion”, that was a hint for us.
ー Listening to this, the name “metsurestu mixer” makes sense.
Nea: We’ve been foreshadowing this since the “Jam” MV. There’s a scene where dolls get mixed up in a mixer, that’s where we took the word mixer from. But mixing fruits and milk and making a smoothie out of it, that’s what all other bands are doing. We want our fans to come and make sense of the meaning behind it themselves so we took the “metsuretsu” from “shirimetsuretsu” (= incoherent, illogical)
ー The performance in Tokyo takes place in O-West, preliminary to your solo concert in August.
Nea: You got that right. We will prove that we can fill this venue by ourselves with that concert.
ー Please tell us your impression of the other participating bands, starting with THE MADNA who you’ve just had a concert with recently.
Kentaro: I was a fanboy myself, and listened to the bands the members were in before. I’m a bit shy, so I couldn’t really talk to them yet, but I finally got the chance to at our concert. I felt like we could connect through sugar. It’s a bit abstract, but I thought I really like music!
Nea: As Kentaro said, we really only talk with each other, outside of greeting others, and we seem a bit rebellious because of it, so Ryota (Vo.) teased us about it in his MC (laughs). We’re not being rebellious though. We’re happy that our senpais get along with us.
ー What about CHAQLA? In our earlier interview, you told us that Siz was introduced to sugar through a member of CHAQLA.
Siz: They all have pretty strong personalities and are a great band. I often hang out with Bikky (Dr.), and when I’m down or unsure, he always has advice and lets me see things from a new perspective. We are very similar and I thought it would be uplifting to have them, so we invited them.
ー You said NICOLAS were invited with the highest respect from sugar?
Kentaro: I also listened to the members of NICOLAS when I was a fanboy, so they are a band of my youth. They have a big presence! Their concerts also have so much perfection, and I can feel the closeness of the members. And their fans are crazy!
Nea: the band and the fans are cool!
ー And at the concert in Tokyo, two more bands are playing! First, Tokyo Hanayome.
Nea: I think Tokyo Hanayome are doing Reiwa Visual Kei. I think out of all the bands, they are the ones who’re the most like us. (Kurokami) Kamuy (Vo)’s looks are cute, and their songs are bright and happy, but their concerts are hardcore. The more you see them, the more interesting they become. So even though their history is longer, we called them in to bring a new breeze.
ー And the last group is VIVARUSH. They are also a breakthrough band.
Siz: They are very extroverted (laughs). We are all more on the introverted side, so we want to use this chance to cause a chemical reaction. If we can pierce the heart of even one vivarush fan…!
Nea: Please imagine this: After NICOLAS is done playing, the next band coming up is VIVARUSH. Wouldn’t that be funny? We want to bring this kind of fun, that’s why we invited them.
ー Do you have anything you want to challenge yourself during this tour?
Kentaro: I think at the moment we just want to raise our power as a band, so we are preparing for all concerts the same amount as we would for a solo concert, so we can become more refined.
Siz: They’re all cool bands, so I want to see how they create their concerts. But I don’t want to be pressured by them, so, with respect, I want to win against them.
ー At the beginning you talked about your new song, but are you planning to release it together with the tour?
Kentaro: … that’s kind of what happened. We wrote the song while thinking about the concerts, so it became a song that’s easy to get excited about. But I always think that I want our listeners to feel touched while writing our songs. So with that in mind, we are planning on making this a work that also is a “metsuretsu mixer”
Yukichi: My first impression was that this is a song with interesting developments, so I’m looking forward to the finished product.
Kentaro: The song not being finished the day before the drum recording is a very sugar kind of thing.
ー That must be hard for you, Yukichi
Yukichi: But I’m confident I’m quick to learn it, so it’s fine.
Kentaro: I’m counting on you
Yukichi: Please count on me!
ー And then, on August 3rd you’ll hold your 1st Anniversary Solo concert “doko ni mo nai yoru” at Spotify O-West. That’s a scale bigger than your first solo concert at Ikebukuro Edge, do you feel pressured?
Siz: I feel nothing but pressure.
Kentaro: Up until last month the realization of it didn’t really sink in, but now finally I’m feeling like “really?”. With the song writing at the same time, I only just started thinking about the concert.
ー The fans are probably curious to see how the performance and setlist have changed and evolved from your first solo concert.
Kentaro: Well, it for sure won’t be the same concert again, we’ll also have more songs…. Probably (laughs). There might be songs they haven’t heard since the first solo concert, and there might be songs that they’ll only hear at the second one. I’m looking forward to what kind of concert it’s going to be by myself.
ー What kind of scenery are you thinking of creating for that day?
Kentaro: Well, of course a full floor would be great. I also think it would be nice if many people went home crying that night… when I said it like that, it may change the way people watch the concert (laughs). I want them to go home thinking “It was a good performance.”.
ー In a “this is how much sugar have improved in a year” way, or simply in a "this is the kind of performance they create" way?
Kentaro: We’re aiming to move everyone by our performance. Of course, those fans who’ve come to see us all the time this year will be moved by how far we’ve come, but I think some fans will see us for the first time. I want to make those people think “This kind of art exists!”
Nea: A natural smile, that just so happens, instead of a smile that happens because you think you need a smile, is good, and a concert that moves you to tears instead of a concert that you feel like you have to cry at is definitely better. I put my outlook on life in my lyrics, but through every single concert I want to tell people, “This kind of life exists as well”.
Siz: I want it to be a concert that they won’t forget, one that makes them do their best tomorrow.
ー By the way, there’s something I want to talk about. The “CROSS ROAD Fest”, where the bands of visual rock’s golden age are supposed to perform, has been announced recently, and became quite a hot topic. Seeing the news I was reminded of Lime (Vo.), who said he entrusted sugar with the new golden age (of visual rock). What kind of impression did the actual golden age of visual rock in the 90ies~2000s leave on you?
Kentaro: I’ve been listening to this music going back to my youth. I can’t say a lot about it because I didn’t experience it live, but I can feel a certain energy and prickle that only that generation had. I’m yearning for it, and I’m jealous of it.
ー There have been quite a few reactions to “CROSS ROAD Fest”, but what did you feel seeing it blow up like this?
Nea: The past was really strong. It makes me look back on my youth too. It’s hard for bands who start out now to win against the memory of back then. Regrettably. It’s being said that Visual Kei is on the decline, but luckily, our senpais are still doing their best to hype up visual Kei- It’s difficult, sometimes it makes us feel weak but even if they are our senpais, they are still also our rivals in the way we express ourselves. As a band that has been tasked with this new golden age, we’re looking at it with pride.
Kentaro: It makes me think there’s many people enjoying visual Kei out there after all and I’m happy about that. I also like it! I’m thinking about how I can make these people find out about us.
ー Well then, what is this new golden age of visual Kei, that sugar is going to create, going to look like?
Yukichi: When I think of this new golden age of visual Kei, I imagine us overcoming the borders of this scene, and becoming a band that is in the forefront of the growing visual rock world. I want to perform at “ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL”. We are going to create that kind of scene!
Kentaro: I think it would be interesting if we were to lure people in by out new fashion. When I was in high school, I liked visual Kei fashion and went to Shibuya and Harajuku to buy these clothes, they were a symbol of this boom. The interesting thing about visual Kei is that there’s many people who are also hyping up parts of the scene that aren’t music. I want to be in a fashion magazine. I think the golden age means to be successful in places outside of music as well.
Nea: It would be great If there were more people with flashy hair. I want to ride the train and be surrounded by colorful heads, that’s what I’m thinking about while being a musician. Also, the number one thing would be that I want to be the trigger that makes people want to follow in our footsteps and start bands as well.
Kentaro: I want to release a signature guitar! It would be nice if there were model instruments from many visual Kei artists.
Siz: I think visual Kei has a scary image, but if you dare to open the lid and look in, you’ll find that there are many bands with good songs. They aren’t just to become a viral sound on TikTok, but sing about meaningful things. There’s also the appeal of the extraordinary, the looks that a salaryman can’t wear. I think it’s good because it’s a free culture, and I want it to see the light of day more.
ー If you think about it like that, this generation where “everyone should wear what they like” and visual Kei really fits together.
Kentaro: I think so too. Visual Kei has always been a broad-minded scene.
Nea: I think the songs that have been popular lately spoil as soon as they are out of style. But the songs that we listen to because of the music never fade. That’s why I want sugar to become a band that will last even in a hundred years. In people’s hearts and in history.
Kentaro: You can listen to the music that will last 100 years on August 3rd in O-West, so please come and see us!
Nea: That ties it off (laughs).
*TN: Idk if anyone reading these might not know, but “saku” is a form of furi you do for your favourite member.
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1. Name / Part / Birthday / Birthplace / Blood type
I / Vocal / 27. April/ My mother’s womb / AB
Rito / Guitar / 10. May / Kobe / A
2. The reason why you started making music?
I: When I was in school, I lied to the teacher and told him I would perform Spiz’s song “Cherry” at the culture festival, so they printed “Performance: “Spitz/Cherry” on the flyer, but on the day off I played DIR EN GREY’s ZAN. The teacher lined us up and slapped us all in the face. At the same time, just before the concert of a girl’s band I knew I was asked “our vocal flew so please step in” and ended up doing their concert (even though it was a girl’s band…) … and so, instead of just starting by wanting to perform in front of people, I started by performing in front of people, and wanted to start a band not out of love for music but to use it as a means of expression.
Rito: I watched the DVD of Janne Da Arc’s Concert at Osaka Castle Hall a friend lent to me in middle school
3. What was your childhood dream?
I: I wanted to become a vending machine
Rito: I didn’t have a dream before I started doing music.
4. What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t making music?
I: I think I can’t answer that because I am where I am now
Rito: hmm, I can’t think of anything, but something where I make things
5. What’s your routine before going up on stage?
I: I tried not to talk to anyone, and to concentrate on the concert, and be alone, and create that kind of atmosphere, but recently I haven’t been creating this mode by myself and managed to turn that switch on faithfully without.
Rito: I try to take an excess off caffeine (through drinks and supplements). Exercising my fingers.
6. Tell us a memory or a situation from your first concert
I: It’s a special genre, isn’t it? I only knew major bands and didn’t know the vibes of indie concerts, so on my first concert I thought the customers went crazy or something and on the inside, I thought “How charismatic am I, leaving a scar on them”. It was a painful misunderstanding.
Rito: My life as a guitarist started when I performed Janne Da Arc in front of the whole student body in middle school. I can only remember that I was so nervous, the ground felt wobbly and I thought I would sink into it any second. The equipment I used was a JC (Jazz chorus) and Metalzone.
7. Tell us an artist that influenced you and why
I: Dir En Grey‘s Kyo, Ging Nanc Boyz‘ Mineta Kazunobu, I always liked how they challenged humanity and respected them.
Rito: the person that influenced me the most was Leda, who I have studied along with for many years since my teens. Thanks to him pushing me when I was restless in Kobe, I have been doing music all this time.
8. What were you like as a child?
I: I think I don’t want to say it
Rito: an unpleasant guy
9. What’s your favorite word?
I: I don’t have a word I like, but there’s something that my teacher said that always stayed with me. It’s okay if only I know it, so I don’t want to say it.
Rito: „The result is everything“ reason -> I won’t let myself make excuses
10. Your favorite flower?
I: sunflower, black lily
Rito: It's a cliche, but roses. I like things with pretty skin
11. Your favorite food?
I: Ramen jirou, sushi
Rito: sushi, gummy
12. Your favorite drink?
I: Strong Zero Lemon
Rito:sparkling water (Wilkinson)
13. A word to the other members
I: let’s quickly find members and become a band
Rito: live a long and happy life
14. A side of you a lot of people don’t know
I: in the past I had so many sides like that, but now the more I’m streaming the more less of these I have? I think.
Rito: I’m clumsy and sloppy
15. What are you most interested in besides music?
I: I have a lot of different hobbies but in the end they’re all connected to expression and our activities. If I think about it like that, what else is left besides music?
Rito: Cats.
16. What is your daily routine?
I: beauty
Rito: falling asleep while watching comedy shows
17. If you had to give your 2024 points, how many would you give?
I: we started with a minus so I think we’ve come close to 0.
Rito: we’re not finished yet so k can’t grade it yet
18. What part of your activities in 2024 has left a lasting impression?
I: we distanced ourselves from our company and performed solo concerts monthly with just the two of us and support members, to continue gulu gulu, so most of all we worked a lot. I'm thankful that even without flashy appearances, our fans have always shown up for us and have collected new visitors. We‘re a group that looks like a band or a unit or something from the outside, and even amongst us we admit it’s a weird kind of activity, but I think it’s not been for nothing.
Rito: I was granted the chance to perform alongside you and kiyo from Janne Da Arc.
19. What kind of year will 2025 be for Ai to Rito no Musyozoku?
I: I want to create a band that doesn’t stop.
Rito: As for our activities, please look forward to them. As a person, I’ll try to go outside more.
20. Leave a message to your fans!
I: let’s look at this example: in general it is seen as rude to show someone your middle finger, in a relationship where this turns into an expression of love, since it’s closest to a space without pretty words and letters, I will cease my expressions here
Rito: thank you to everyone who has read this far. We’ve done some weird activities in the time before becoming a band, but I’m alive thanks to everyone who has made me believe that I can still be on stage without hiding myself. Our style right now is a limited time offer, and constantly evolving and changing, so follow along with us with excitement. Thank you, always. Please look forward to more. p.s. it’s been a while since we’ve been in hévn so I’m happy!
Hello everyone, since I have too much free time I translated this visunavi interview to English!
Please check it out and leave some love on sugar‘s official accounts!
※ I did not check for grammar/ spelling or anything so if you find anything wrong or weird hit me up!
2025.03.26
—You hosted your first solo concert, called “Nandemonai Yoru” on January 5th in Ikebukuro Edge - how was it?
Kentaro: We were very busy until just before the concert. We didn’t have enough songs to begin with, so we made 4 new songs in a hurry, but I was in a slump. The concerts finished on December 30th. But, when the concert started, all the insecurities flew away. It was the best view I’ve ever seen in EDGE.
Nea: From up on the stage I thought we were the strongest.
Siz: We were aiming for solo concerts at Edge and O-West from the beginning, so I’m glad we made the first step. We were very particular about the performance and the lights, so we felt like an established band that day. The performance, the sounds, the setlist, and everyone dancing – it felt like “woah, I’m in a band!”
Yukichi: My approach to concerts from before and after the solo concert has changed. Because we where able to make it a day where we were all fired up, we could focus on the stage, I learned that we can create something even better.
Nea: Yukichi, your sound quality is too bad (laughs). You sound like you’re underwater! (* The interview was done remotely.)
— (Laughs) Anyways, under which circumstances was sugar created?
Nea: When I appeared in a session-concert in Ikebukuro Blackhole, Lime came to the venue to watch an acquaintance perform and came to talk to me. Then, the Boss of BlackHole was included in the conversation, and we asked if he knew any good guitarist and he dropped Kentaro’s name. A few days later I went to see Kentaro perform, his skills were on another level, so I instantly invited him. I remember he said “I can play anything and Nea can sing anything, aren’t we the strongest combination?” Then I brought Yukichi and Kentaro brought Siz along.
Kentaro: Siz was introduced to me by the members of CHAQLA. “There’s someone smoldering in Osaka”, they said.
Siz: “I was invited by Kentaro, and I thought “if I can do this with these guys, I’ll do it” And moved to Tokyo.
Nea: The cute thing about Siz is, when he did a session with us it was the most fun he’d had in his band life.
Siz: You don’t have to bring this up. Stop (Laughs)!Yukichi and I have performed together with my previous band, but I had the impression he didn’t display his full potential. Yukichi is kind of a weirdo, so Lime told me not to bring him in.
—Like, what about him is weird?
Kentaro: Except for his drums, everything (laughs).
Nea: All of his stats are focused on the Drums, so I was told “He’ll cause trouble one day! (laughs). Now, he’s the one Lime is most affectionate with.
— Nea, do you know why Lime took a liking to you?
Nea: Lime’s vision was to create many V-Kei Bands under DAMAGE and create a golden age of Visual Kei, but he didn’t have anyone in mind. So as to why he chose me, apparently I “eat food like it’s really tasty” (laughs). So, my voice is probably not connected to his decision.
— Please tell me about the musical roots of the members.
Nea: For me It’s L’arc en ciel’s hyde. I was always attracted to bands with showy vocalists. In that way, L’arc en ciel are by far the best. His charisma and way of life, the way he sings, I've been influenced by him a lot.
—You’re aspiring to become an Artist like hyde, who were icons of their times?
Nea: Yes. That is what I want to become. Lime also said he “doesn’t want to create a Visual Kei band that sells well, but a Star”. So, I need to become a Star.
— What about you Kentaro?
Kentaro: I started playing Guitar because of B’z, the hard rock of the 70ies and 80s and the influence of the age of guitar heroes.
— I can feel the essence of today's modern metal core and loud rock from the way you play the guitar.
Kentaro: Yeah, I listen to that a lot. I like it so much I even went to see Bring Me The Horizon live.
— Siz and Yukichi, what about you?
Siz: Back in the day, I saw a person I admired playing the guitar on TV, so I went to the recycle shop to buy an instrument, but I really liked the bigger instruments and that turned out to be a bass. The strings are thicker, and I thought “what this is” and didn’t touch it for a while. After that, I got to know Sid’s Aki and through this learned that this was a bass. I admired Aki, so I thought I’d try playing it.
Yukichi: My brother founded a band when he was in high school, and when his drummer broke a bone, he told me to play instead, and that is why I started playing drums. At first I didn’t really want to do it, but when I copied Golden Bombers “Memeshikute” it was so much fun I got hooked. I listen to RADWIMPS and ONE OK ROCK, and personally I think Nakata Mashiko from Age Factory is the coolest. I want to beat him one day.
— So sugar has been assembled from very different roots - why did you as a band come to play more aggressive music?
Kentaro: I’ve started writing music for sugar going back as far as 1-2 years, but at the beginning the tuning was dropped A# and were a modern, heavy sound with some electro mixed in. To say it more easily, I was inspired by Paledusk. But in Visual Kei there are many metal bands, so I thought we need to choose a different strategy. Now, it’s not metal or melodic hardcore, but also not normal visual kei, and I don’t really know what genre it is myself, but I am going for a new kind of mixed rock music.
— As you said, this kind of rock that’s not heavy is a novelty for this day and age. The melody and musical composition are easy to grasp as well.
Kentaro: Yes, I think it’s super important to be catchy. If it’s catchy, it’s already the right choice.
— There’s a gap between the band name “sugar” and the sound – what is the origin of the band name?
Nea: Actually, we planned on calling ourselves “salt” (laughs). We wanted to rub salt into DAMAGE’s first artist’s wound (Kizu, literally meaning wound) . But in that way, our existence would always be second to theirs. Then, I remembered that Lime taught me “If you’re lost, do the opposite of what you were going to do” and it became sugar. Some of our members have lived salty lives, so making their lives sweeter through this band is also included in the meaning of our name.
— Nea, what are you expressing through your lyrics?
Nea: I think I want to write about things that cast a shadow on my life. Everyone else is forcing themselves to write about things they haven’t experienced, and I noticed that that just doesn’t convince me. So, I focus on being realistic. I am writing lyrics that only I can sing about. What I want to sing about might change again tomorrow but my true feelings of that moment in time are only in my lyrics.
— What I thought was memorable about the lyrics is that they are pessimistic about the world but there is never any hopelessness with the “you” that sometimes appears.
Nea: I truly believe that I am able to live even through the bitter and sweet experiences I’ve made is thanks to “you”. Depending on the song, that “you” could be the other members, the fans, or Lime, but there is hope in this “you”
— Question to the other members, what kind of impression do Nea’s lyrics give you?
Nea: That’s a difficult one – Good luck (laughs).
Kentaro: At first, I thought this guy writes super narcissistic lyrics, but recently he started writing very honest lyrics.
Siz: He stopped pretending and became more realistic and closer. Even someone as slow as me can understand the meaning and identify with them.
Nea: Yeah, I’ve been told “Write so that even an idiot understands”. At the beginning I even wrote in English even though I don’t know English.
— In your song “Ice” there’s the refrain that starts with the line “Yani kusai heya no sumi de” (= In the corner of the room that stinks of tobacco), which is exceptionally impactful and catchy.
Nea: Our first song “Jam” starts with the lyrics “saboritaina” (=I wanna slack off), but I’m probably the only one that thinks like that (laughs). I thought I’d use something impactful as the first line.
— From now on, let me ask about your first Album “Nandemonai Uta”, which will be released on March 26th. What are your honest feelings?
Nea: There’s a lot to feel. It’s such a strong work, I feel like no other band in this Reiwa-time can create an album like this.
Kentaro: We were pressed by the deadline for this album just like before our first solo concert, so the first feeling was “finally it’s over”. We were particular about even the connection between the songs and managed to put all of this last half year’s sugar into it.
Siz: No song is like the others, so it’s easy to listen to and leaves an aftertaste. It became a work that you just want to keep repeating over and over.
Yukichi: It has a storytelling to it, which is interesting. I think it’s like no other album you’ve ever heard.
— Did you have a concept or theme that you want to express through the work while creating?
Kentaro: Honestly, no. It even has the title “Nandemonai Uta” (A song without anything). But when I wrote the songs I was aware of the setlist and the roles of each songs when they're all on the album. That’s probably why it naturally created storytelling of its own.
— Two of the tracks are instrumental SE’; the intro to “mazo”, “panic” and the outro of the album, “bitter”.
Kentaro: SE’s are my hobby. I tried to change sugar’s mood so far with “Mazo”, which we first performed at our solo concert, and it was very popular. Therefore, I put in some effort and added an intro to it.
— “Mazo” is a song with heavy riffs, while the Chorus gives it a kind of freedom feeling.
Kentaro: That feeling of freedom has been a theme for me recently. I create the songs with a gap, so that the next development is hard to guess.
— What about the lyrics for “Mazo”?
Nea: I think humans are essentially masochists. Out of 10 percent, 9 percent of life are hard. But we can live on because there is that fun 1 percent. That’s why, even if there could be painful things happening tomorrow, we keep on living. I made that masochism into the lyrics of this song.
— Personally, I think the way Kentaro’s playing in “Kuzu” is extremely cool. The whole song has a positive mood, but he’s shredding his guitar.
Kentaro: I made this song when I was listening to the loud rock and mixes of the 2000nds, so if you like that you will enjoy this song.
— With songs like “mazo” and “kuzu”, just by looking at the tracklist it’s very impactful.
Nea: I thought I’d make it a series of curse words. “Manukre” “Kuzu” “baka” “Mazo”. It kinda feels like sugar, you know (laughs).
— Please, tell me the best part of “Nandemonai Uta”
Siz: I was not in a mentally good place while recording this album, so I hope that can be felt, like “ah, he was able to play this because he was unwell”.
Yukichi: Of course I want you to listen to all the songs, but my personal favourite song is the one in the spotlight today, “Mazo”. While there is everything about this past half year of sugar in this song. It gives off a kind of a weird atmosphere. Also pay attention to Nea’s high voice.
Nea: The recording schedule was hard, so I sang “Mazo” while being a bit annoyed (laughs). I think the way this anger harmonizes with the song is interesting.
Kentaro: We re-recorded “Jam” and “Cacao92%”, which had already been released as singles before, and they have lost some sequences which had been in there before. I think we don’t quite fit in with the bands of the same generation as us, so in preparation for moving forward, we created very raw/natural works. I think that’s very rare for bands these days, so I’d like for you to pay attention to this as well. And because Nea’s lyrics are great, so I want other musicians to listen to those as well.
— And on August 3rd you are hosting your 2nd solo concert “dokonimonai yoru” at Spotify O-West. What feelings does the change of the name from your first solo concert, “nandemonai yoru” express?
Nea: The Name “Nandemonai Yoru” is taken from the lyrics of “Jam” – “Nandemonai yoru mo aisaretemitai na” (I also want to try being loved in the nights where there’s nothing else), but “dokonimonai Yoru” is expressing our intent and improvement, that after one year has passed sugar will be able to perform a concert like what you’ve been looking for but couldn’t find anywhere else. A band that you’ll find nowhere else, presending a night that you’ll find nowhere else.
— Well then, let us hear your enthusiasm about this solo concert!
Nea: I think in this scene it is honestly reckless to perform a solo concert in O-West only one year after starting our activities. Much less, we’re not even doing it as an anniversary, but are truly looking to sell it out! If this solo concert succeeds, we can say that visual rock has a future! We’re going at it with the enthusiasm of carrying this scene on our shoulders!
Kentaro: I think whether this solo concert is successful or not is connected to whether we’ve reached the Golden Age of Visual Kei. For the moment, I want to make this an unexpected night. I want everyone to be surprised.
Siz: Our first concert was also at O-West, so I want to see how much we’ve grown in that one year. There’s those that are noisy about the power of our company, but I want to prove to them that this has nothing to do with where we’re standing right now.
Yukichi: We will show you all a concert that is completely different from a year ago, so please come watch.
— This is our last question, but what are your thoughts on the visual Kei scene at the moment?
Kentaro: I think Yukichi, who is the most carefree of all of us, should answer this question.
Yukichi: I don’t want to attack anyone, but…. I think there’s many people of whom I doubt whether they actually want to make music or not.
Nea: You’re unexpectedly harsh (laughs).
Yukichi: Everyone thought “Bandman are cool” and that’s why they started playing an instrument, but then they’re only selling their cool looks. That wasn’t supposed to be the goal, I think.
Siz: There’s many ways to go about it and I don’t want to say this and that about others, but we can clearly see what we want to do, so we are continuing what we think is the correct way. It doesn’t come across well verbally, but I want you to come and see us live and feel it. We aren’t Visual Kei, we are visual rock.
Kentaro: Recently I came to think that Visual Kei and Visual Rock are different things. So I want to teach people the ways of a Rockband.
Nea: I think there are fewer bands that really try to sell out as visual Kei bands. I think this scene's future is dependent on seeing how far a glaringly greedy band like sugar can go. We want to stand at the forefront of this age and it’d be cool if there were people who start a band because they admire us.
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I haven’t used this blog (and that’s where that dentence should end fullstop lol) as a vkei fan blog in almost a decade so just let it be known am a huge fangirl 🤣 currently very much into sugar, gravity, chaqla, Kizu and razor
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