FISH TANK #83, April 2017

Interview: Yuka Okubo Thank Anarendil for the scans! Japanese-Russian translation: Pikopiko Russian-English translation: unbroken-plum-san

FT: So the tour for FishTanker club is finished. Did you have time to rest a little?

AS: I am not very good into switching from working to not working. I stop understanding when it is not a work anymore.

FT: That’s what it is. Did you do something during the tour to entertain yourself?

AS: I went to David Bowie dedicated exhibition. I liked him since I was a teenager so I got really upset there. There were images I had already seen before but there also were some of his stage outfits and other stuff really worthy to be seen once.

FT: As Uta-san said you also visited Salvador Dali exhibition.

AS: Yes, it was during the main tour. It was the last day I could visit it. When I was taking a road to there I met Imai-san going right in an opposite direction. But I didn’t met Uta *smiles*. There were a lot of people so I had to stay alone in a queue for half an hour.

FT: It would be great if now you look back at the last year tour. Is there something you have the brightest memories about? You got ill in Kanagawa.

AS: Yes, I caught a cold. When we were in Kanagawa I started to complain: “What if today I can’t do it? What we will be supposed to do then?”.

FT: I didn’t know you felt that bad…

AS: It is a bit rude to say like this but I was thinking what if we skip a concert. Staff said to me: “Let’s do a rehearsal and then we will decide”. But after we did a rehearsal I couldn’t say: “I am going home” *smiles*. That concert I had to make a real effort to perform but it is weird for me to say I made an effort.

FT: Certainly you had to force all your will when you were on stage.

AS: I always have to force my will to perform. But at that exact concert I understood I had to do this from the ethical point if view. I don’t know how long my body could stand it but I didn’t have a choice.

FT: I think if I didn’t know you were sick I would never say you were really sick or something.

AS: It is great if so but there were moments I was almost losing my voice. I felt really upset due to it but it is what a live concert is made for.

FT: In Kanagawa THE SEASIDE STORY made the hugest impression on me. When I was watching it I had a thought: “His voice is strangely fearsome, horrendous today. Very powerful.”

AS: I understood I had to do my best. And if you say so it means my illness worked out good for me. It is the only comfort here. FT: But in general you didn’t have any troubles anymore, right? AS: Yes, if I am saying which live concert I was exhausted the worst so it is the one. FT: In Kumamoto you had a club performance, the only during that tour. AS: Firstly, I want to say I am very glad we had an opportunity to go there. There is really not much we can help with but anyway thank God we were able to get there in such a hard time and make a live performance [a forceful earthquake happened in Kumamoto prefecture in April 2016]. All spectators got cheered up nicely and it was really precious. FT: You have been telling us you had more and more of new wishes and ideas during the tour. As long as I understand, you had a point to make modifications until the final Budokan performance.

AS: A live tour is such a thing if you are not trying new things all the time, you never know what is the best. It is a perishable product so I am always very attentive for an each tour day. Since far ago I have a habit to discuss my thoughts with our staff. We are free to talk about any remark with each other. In Budokan we have done a thing we could do in Budokan only. I guess it was sort of a conclusion to everything happened during the tour. FT: If you look back at that concert once again, how do you think it turned out?

AS: It is very pleasing to sing in Budokan so foremost I got concentrated to singing. And also I was thinking about all fortunate and unfortunate moments during the tour. FT: When you finished the tour did you feel Atom Miraiha No. 9 the album has finally succeeded? AS: There is nothing similar between recording an album and performing an album. When touring I am getting used to a song, collecting a personal experience. Owing to that in the end of the tour there is always a special depth being opened in each song. The way I express a song is changing too. That is why all songs changed a bit in the end.

FT: I have a question about your outfit, Sakurai-san. A garter belt, was it your idea?

AS: Yes. In the beginning Yagi-san [a clothing stylist] prepared some stockings for me. When I performed in them for the first time, showing the audience what I am wearing my internal pervert started to play a real game *smiles*. What is more, I asked Yagi-san to put a pad away from one of my trousers to make my pelvic bone observable. So he made one part of my pants transparent and you could see my leg. But then I thought: “What if I do even more?”. There was some spare time left until Sapporo performance begins and I asked Yagi-san: “Yagi-san, my friend, go buy me a garter belt, please”. So that hentai… I mean that style, it is from Sapporo *smiles*. FT: What hentai?! What are you talking about?! *smiles*. During Romance encore I had a feeling I was watching a theatrical play. I couldn’t take my eyes off that beauty. AS: The look I had in my mind was slowly soaked with freak-show atmosphere. That circus atmosphere from Juusankai wa Gekkou the album cover which Akita-san and I created together. There, on the background, a man is sitting with his crossed legs in stockings. I took that very look from here. I wanted to point out it is not a woman, it is a man acting like this. For the sake of that look I even removed all the unwelcome hair *smiles*. But for my personal dread I realized I am scared after doing all this. There is nothing worse and useless than confusion. It is equal for any other business. When I fully create my kind of a world, kind of a story, I have to show that I exist inside of it. I want spectators to take visual enjoyment from my weird stories. I am always aiming for it mentally. FT: In Budokan a lot of plans were announced for the band’s 30 years anniversary. AS: Independently it is 30 years anniversary or not there is only one thing we can do — creating music and performing concerts. Even though it is an important part of our history, we will do the same thing we always do. If it turns out as sort of a holiday for our fans and if everyone has fun, I will be very glad. FT: But, nevertheless, content of those performances should put all your 30 years history moments altogether? AS: We have to open up old boxes and put out old things. Because everyone is waiting for this, you know. It has to turn out interesting with our ‘Best songs’ coming album. Everyone could take part into its compilation. FT: Yes, the songs will be defined through fans’ votes. AS: I am happy and terrified at the same time *smiles*. FT: After the ‘Best songs’ album comes out, there is an open air live performance in September. AS: Yes, an open air one. A typhoon will come. For sure. FT: In the second day of BUCK-TICK FEST 25 years anniversary it was a heavy rain.

AS: So sorry for the performers and spectators that day. But an open air live concert may be fun. The most important is to be lucky with the weather *smiles*. I think such live concert type has its special atmosphere of openness and freedom. FT: Yes, exactly. Besides, the statewide tour with two performances in Budokan was announced. AS: Takasaki Arena is included in the list. We will perform here for the first time. I am curious how it comes out. It won’t be a 'Fresh songs’ album tour so I would like not to work very hard. It would be nice just to have fun with our fans. FT: To conclude, I am asking you for some words for everyone in anticipation of all the coming events.

AS: We are facing our 30 years anniversary this year. I would like you to follow our festive bustle. So, let’s meet up somewhere.

QUESTION & ANSWER

Q1: I am starting a new job this spring! Your point of view, what is the most important in a new place?

AS: Be attentive not to work too hard. Q2: What do you usually do during a tour when feeling tired?

AS: Do a cat pose [a yoga pose]. Q3: The last thing you were laughing about?

AS: Nothing. Sorry. Q4: Express yourself with a hieroglyph.

AS: Cat *cat’s paw print is drawn*.

Hudehiko Hoshino interview part:

FT: At the end of the tour Sakurai-san even wore a garter belt.

HH: Yes, he went all this way until the finish line *smiles*.

FT: Evolved very fast *smiles*.

HH: I wasn’t up to date about his outfits so when his leg caught my eye I made a more attentive look to check if he is really wearing it.

FT: So, you was looking at him right during a concert?

HH: Yes, right during a concert *smiles*.

FT: Seems that you don’t discuss such things with each other before performing *smiles*.