Visual Shock

the obsessive self-mythologizers who wank over every little bit of hardship they endured

CD 「MADE IN JAPAN」 1999 | SEX MACHINEGUNS

Part 2

Part 1:

more bandman autism creatures! left to right top to bottom: kozi (malice mizer), taiji (x japan), kyuho (madmans esprit, as requested by @espritt13), and zyean (jiluka, as requested by @blvshy-tears)

"...Тhis week's Radio LEMONed theme is 'ROOM'.

Long time ago, when I first came to Tokyo and had just joined X, back in the indie days, I was crashing at a girl's place because I didn't have money for rent. There was an apartment building nearby—nothing special, no auto-lock or anything—but for some reason, I really admired it. I used to look at it like a house of my dream, thinking, 'I wish I could live in a place like that.' I'd even pass by it when I went to the convenience store or to work.

Then, when X made their major debut and I got my first paycheck, I rented that exact apartment. Sounds like a dramatic, nice story, right? But even though I fulfilled that dream, I ended up not living there for more than two years. I never really stayed in one place for long.

After moving a few times post-debut, I found myself dreaming of an auto-lock apartment. Humans are greedy like that. So I finally moved into this auto-lock place up on a hill. I lived there for about a year.

Then one day, I was watching TV, and I felt a presence behind the curtain. When I looked, there were two or three people peeking in through the window. I moved out of there pretty quickly.

Happy 60th Birthday, TAIJI! 🤠🎉

Since this is such a special milestone, I wanted to make this year's birthday illustration something a little more meaningful. •͈ᴗ⁃͈ ✧

Every year, I wish for the same thing:

Wherever you are now, I hope you're healthy, happy, and free.

Just some personal thoughts:

I've only been a TAIJI fan for a little under two years, but somehow it already feels like much longer. When I first discovered him, I never imagined he would have such a profound impact on my life.

I found him during one of the lowest points in my life. I started searching for everything I could about him, and little by little, I was inspired by the way he lived and what he believed in.

Because of that, I've learned to face life with a more positive attitude. I've found the courage to embrace new opportunities, strengthen my will, express myself more honestly, and even my relationship with my family has improved (haha). I also found the next goal I want to pursue in life.

So... thank you. Truly, thank you for this past year.

In the year TAIJI passed away, DAI once said:

"We know that many fans have found hope and strength through TAIJI."

Fifteen years have passed, and those words are still true.

A phoenix may be consumed by flames, but the warmth it leaves behind continues to reach people, inspiring new hearts again and again.

"No one can save another person. In the end, we can only save ourselves."

That's one of the most important things I learned from you.