Arena 37c, May 2005, Part 1

Translated by: Sweiled

1. Please DO NOT take my translations and use them for whatever reason, without my permission.
2. Please DO NOT publish my translations elsewhere without my permission. Please kindly link back if you want, but DO NOT copy and paste them.

[number] = more explanation of the sentence below
xxx = more detailed explanations
[xxx] = what I felt a certain part of the sentence/word meant
(xxx) = other meanings of the word or literal translations or missing word/words not specifically mentioned. For e.g. (The fans) screamed when he entered!

BLACK STONE shall be referred to as BS, unless I chose not to.

I: I feel really happy, it’s been a while since you last released an ‘explosive’ [1] single like this.
[1] Literal meaning of 弾ける hajikeru: to burst open; to split open; to pop. I think he meant exciting, fast, ‘explosive’ single.
G: I didn’t mind which of the two songs, “BS” and “Ash”, were made the ‘main’ [1]. As for myself, “Ash” is the type of single I would like to produce more from now on. But no matter what, I really wanted “BLACK STONE” (to be the main) because it is a song (created) to commemorate the death of one of my friends [2] who passed away 1 year ago. He was one of my staff members, a person whose presence can be felt very strongly. His smile is infectious (lit. He is always spreading his smile to his surroundings). As long as he is there, everybody would laugh [be happy]. Everybody kept refusing to accept his death (lit. they were in a continuous state of disbelief) when he passed away. There was a period of time when my mind became unbalanced [3] and I just could not pull myself out of it (that state). But after 1 year passed, all of us can now smile whenever we think of him and talk about him. I think that is the most important part. I wanted to turn that feeling into a form. But I didn’t want to make something which is totally out of place with the ongoing theme, so I wrote it by merging (重ねる kasaneru: to pile up; to put something on another; to heap up; to add) what I’m currently feeling (lit. thinking) with the ‘scene’ from the story which was found in the theme.
[1] ‘main’ here refers to which song is chosen to be the main song of the single. The single will be titled after the ‘main’ song. The other would be called the b-side or ‘coupling’.
[2] He always refers to Junior as ‘nakama’ and not ‘tomodachi’. Although both means friend, ‘nakama’ has a closer feeling. Kind of like a companion or close circle of friends. I felt that the word shows how close his relationship with Junior was.
[3] The reason why I use such a strong word here is because he said his mental state became unstable/unbalanced. And I think he almost lost it when he heard the news of his friend’s death. One reason being Junior is someone close to him and the other being he just lost another good friend too recently. And I remembered reading in one of the magazines that for a period of time, he was so badly affected by his death that he could not go out of the house except for work. Everyday, he would come straight back home after work and just staye in the house. But otherwise, 不安定 fuantei could also mean instability or insecurity.


I: Even though there is such a sad memory linked to it (BS), after 1 year passed, you made such a ‘fast-speed’[1] and positive song. It’s really amazing.
[1] Kind of like, you can feel the fast ‘speed’ of the song. And unlike mourning songs, which are usually sad and slow, he chose to write a positive and fast song. I think that is what the interviewer meant.
G: Yes. What I want to say [express in my song] is not that we feel lonely because he is gone but that all of us are already able to smile now. And not because we have forgotten him but because we’ve realized that he will always be by our side [in our heart]. And so we want to show (him) that we are walking, that we are now moving forward and will keep walking to the end [1]. That is why this song has such a fast pace. (laughs)
[1] Direct translation would be we will walk to the places we can walk. And ‘can’ here refers to ability to do something and not limitations on what you can or cannot do. The sentence kind of feels like ‘until we have exerted all our energy and we have done all that we could/supposed to.’


I: Because you have been releasing ballads before this, I felt all the more surprised by the (sudden change in) speed.
G: This song probably has the fastest beat amongst all my songs. Tiring. (laughs) The song also has a high key… Well, I want to (produce songs which are) wild [1] from now on. (laughs)
[1] (暴れる abareru: to rampage; to savage; to act violently; to rage; to struggle; to be riotous) I think what Gackt meant was that he wants to move towards this direction from here onwards. >.> As in produce songs which are wild and rough…


I: The band members (GacktJob) also give the feeling, “We have been waiting!”.
G: Iya (well). But because we (change to) this speed so suddenly, recording the drums part was rather hard. (laughs) Because it is too intense (kitsui) for the body, we can’t play it. [1] In the end, we can only do it 4 - 5 times. More than that and we would not be able to play it. At first when we were recording, I wanted to show Toshi, the drummer, the image (of how I wanted it to be), so I said to him, “Watch me play” and sat in front of the drums. Hora (See), because when you are making a song, you will have an idea of how the song arrangement will go. (lit. you make the image of the arrangement) You will always consider the ‘feel’ of the image as well. So I thought, maybe it would be better if I play it once and show him. “I will show you the image (of how I want it to be), listen for a while” They [other band members, I’m assuming] played the orchestra for me and from the moment I started playing (the drums)… I could not catch up (with the pace) at all. (laughs)
[1] Because the beat is too fast, it is too hard for him. Like, when you do something that involves moving your hand at an extremely fast speed for too long, your muscles would get tired out? That kind of feeling is kitsui…


I: You can do it in the ‘image’ but you could not do it in real life. (laughs)
G: I can’t do it, can’t do it! (laughs) It was really bad!! [1] (laughs) After it (the song) ended, I said, “Ne!” trying to hide my embarrassment and he said “Don’t Ne! me” [2]. That was pretty embarrassing. But even though I myself could not play out the drum, I would still tell Toshi, “It (The beat) is late!” when he is playing. (laughs)
[1] He said かっこ悪い kakkowarui here which is the opposite of ‘kakkoii’. Kakkoii means cool or neat or handsome. So he is saying that it was real embarrassing and very uncool. ^^”
[2] Hahahaha, one of the instances when you say “ne!” is when you are sort of agreeing to someone. For example, someone says, “He is ugly” You reply with a “Ne!” So even though Gackt himself obviously could not do what he asked Toshi to do, he still tries to cover up his embarrassment with a “ne!” instead of admitting out loud that it is difficult indeed. And Toshi said, “Ne! jaanaiyo!” Which could be loosely translated to “Don’t “ne!” me” or “What do you mean, “ne!” ?”


I: You will say what you want to say.
G: Yes. Because if you don’t say it, you will never be able to start.


I: And how was the singing part? The song has a “Gaa” feel to it too.
G: The song has more or less stabilized recently, so I can do it if I sing (the song) 5-6 times. But compared to the ‘main vocal’, the chorus part is harder (kitsui) because it would go up to as high as D. I have never sung that kind of note before, so my voice would not come out. Feels like my blood is going to burst out. (laughs) [1] Because I felt comfortable singing the ‘main vocal’ and was able to sing in a situation where tension is high, I manage to produce a good work.
[1] You know like when you try hard to force something out or exert to much force, you feel very tensed up? Like your veins bulge out and you feel like your blood is going to “burst out” any minute? That kind of feeling…


I: The keyword here is “BLACK STONE”. What is the meaning behind it?
G: “BLACK STONE” is the name of my friend who passed away. I would say that that plays the most important role (in deciding the title of the single). It also coincides with the meaning of the onyx beads that I always wear. Because the onyx beads is a symbol that we are a family.


I: Onyx is a stone which would protect you (from danger), isn’t it? Have you always liked it from a long time ago?
G: I wasn’t the type of person who would give rings and the likes of it as a present at first. I don’t really like doing that. But one time when I was in Kyoto, I found this onyx ring with a really good design in a street stall by accident. I thought it was pretty and bought it. I gave the ring to a girl I was dating then as she was going overseas to study. I said to her that this ring would protect you in my stead. Shortly after she went overseas, she got into a traffic accident. She was in a taxi with two other friends when it happened. I heard that it was quite a serious accident. It seems like the driver and her two friends were badly injured. But only she managed to get away unscathed. However, the onyx ring that I gave her disappeared. When she came back, she was very sorry and kept apologizing for losing the ring. I told her that it was all right. And I wondered if it was not the ring that kept her safe [1]. After I checked more about onyx, I found out that onyx is actually a stone which protects you from danger (lit. protecting stone). When disaster or something (bad) occurred, that stone would crack, disappear or break as its master’s substitute (and keep them safe). After knowing that, I started wearing it without really meaning to [2]. And now, I will always wear the onyx beads and will give my “family” members [3] one too.
[1] Literal translation is the ring ‘replaced’ her. So instead of her getting hurt, the ring ‘took the injury for her’ and disappeared as a result.
[2] In this sentence he is basically trying to say that he didn’t really start wearing the onyx ring to keep him from harm but he just started wearing them naturally. But through the years, he started regarding it as something like an amulet.
[3] In family here, he is referring to those people he love dearly and treat like a family member. His friends, members of GacktJob, his dancers and staff members mainly… I don’t know if he gave it to his real family too, but I would think he did.


I: Have Gackt-san yourself ever felt that (the stone) has protected you?
G: Yes. All the time. But in my case, before something happens, (it) will 'explode'. (laughs)


I: ……? Ah, you meant the beads will ‘explode’. I thought you meant that you will ‘explode’ (laughs) (The editor and the people in charge of recording nods vigorously (lit. deeply))[1]
[1] Hahahahahahaha, Gackt was referring to the beads when he said it would ‘explode’ but the interviewer thought that Gackt meant he himself would ‘explode’. Explode here meaning get very angry and mad. Because Gackt is known to be quite hot-tempered, so I believe that’s why the interviewer thought that way. And everybody else who was there thought the same thing as well... ^^”
G: Ahaha! It’s a premonition that something is about to happen and we can be more alert as a result. It is really amazing (不思議 fushigi: wonder; miracle; strange; mysterious; marvelous) When I wear it, sometimes it will last me a few months. But there were also times when I change a new one and it will break within 2 –3 days. And it’s real funny how it breaks. Because the pieces of beads would scatter. [1] (laughs)
[1] Hmm, you know like when you break a glass, the shards of glasses would ‘fly’ or scatter? That kind of feeling. Almost like ‘explode’, I would say.


I: If there were people beside you, they would be surprised.
G: It’s true. I’m not particularly interested in religion and stuff. (The onyx beads) are just a protection. (守り mamori: protection; defense; safeguard; charm; talisman) That is why when I give it to a friend, I would tell them, “Onyx stones will take the harm in your stead (lit. substitute you). If you wear it on your left hand at all times, when anything happens to you, it might break or disappear. If it breaks, don’t try to fix it yourself, throw it away because I will give you a new one…” When I do that, everyone will say, “Arigatou” and take it without reservation. Actually when any of the staff members have an accident and I saw that only the present [onyx beads] broke and they came back unscathed (lit. without an injury), I feel relieved. Before the tour, I will give all the tour staff (the onyx beads) to make sure that the tour ends safely.


I: That is nice to hear.
G: Yes. Because every time, (someone) will get hurt (during the tour). That this “BLACK STONE” [single] is a symbol that we are a family is one of the reason. [1]My friend who passed away, came to me 4 days before and said, “Gaku-san, my beads broke. Could you make another one for me as soon as you can?” But because I could not make it immediately, I told him, “All right. I will ask them to prepare one. You have to wait for a while.” But he passed away before it was finished. And I feel extremely regretful towards that. Even though I do not know whether (the stones) would protect him or not even if I had made it on time, still……. Those thoughts would always remain…… [that if he had made it on time, the stones would protect junior somehow]
[1] The reason why I chose “BLACK STONE” to be the title of the song was because it is a sign that we are a family. I think that’s what Gackt meant. Because he regards Junior as his family as well.


I: The words “BLACK STONE” shows Gackt-san’s kindness [1] towards others as well as the depth of his emotions (想い omoi: thought; mind; heart; feelings; emotion; sentiment; love; affection).
[1] 優しい yasashii: tender; kind; gentle; graceful; affectionate; amiable; suave. Not only kindness, but his gentleness and tenderness…


I: The b-side “Ash: is not related to “BS” right?
G: I made “Ash” based on the image of a scene from the next concept I have planned. One of the songs placed in the album, I would say. [1]
[1] As in “Ash” is just a part of the concept. The album being the whole concept and Ash, a small part of that.


I: Something like a preview to the full theme of the album that you released first?
G: Yes. It is still in the process of being made. I think it will turn into a very good piece of work. [1] (laughs) Because the next single and the next single after that is going to be quite intense (激しい hageshii: violent; heavy; intense; furious; passionate; fiery; hard) as well. But I think it is coming along pretty well. I would like to finish this album as soon as I can.
[1] I think what Gackt is trying to say here is that the theme has not been completed yet (the album is not released/completed yet) but he is sort of telling the interviewer that from the ‘preview’ of “Ash”, the interviewer should be able to tell that it is going to be a good piece of work.


I: When is it supposed to be completed?
G: By fall. I want to convey it [the theme] to everyone before the tour starts in fall.


I: (Everybody is) looking forward to the tour as well.
G: It has been a while (since I held a tour). I would like to tour the whole of Japan. The X’Mas live in Tokyo Dome is going to be a large-scale (concert). I want to show them what I can turn Tokyo Dome into (lit. what Tokyo Dome will become when I hold a concert there). (laughs)Well, I wonder what should I do. But I would try to avoid using ‘vision’ [1] as much as possible.
[1] Hmm, not sure what he meant by ‘vision’ here… But I’m guessing those big screens people normally put up on the stage? So that people from the back could see what’s going on on the stage as well…? I think that is what he meant. Come to think of it, I don’t remember seeing those big screens on his concert in the DVDs as well.


I: You are not going to use ‘vision’ in such a huge place? (They) probably wouldn’t be able to see it [the stage]. (laughs)
G: Yes. But I believe there are other good ways to do it and we are trying to find it now. What I do not like is not the actual usage of the ‘visions’ but the way everybody uses the ‘vision’… But if possible, I would not use (the ‘vision’)… (laughs)


I: For example, Gackt-san you will walk out to the audience or something like that?
G: Yes, I did think of that.


I: Hiyaa! [1] Really? (laughs)
[1] Hmm, “Hiyaa” is a sort of expression for surprise… and with a bit of excitement in it.
G: It will be great if I can make a 360 degree stage. I wonder how big I should make the stage. (laughs) Because I want to create something (which will make the audience feel), “It’s not like any other concert, I have never seen (this kind of concert) before!


I: There is also the problem of sound (system) in Tokyo Dome.
G: In regards to that, my staffs (lit. team) are experts. I feel that they can produce a better sound as compared to any other band’s (staffs). Because that is the most basic. [1] But the problem lies in trying to find a way to present that (to the audience). I want to present it in a way that would surprise everyone.
[1] That you can produce a good sound (better than most people) is the basic criteria for being a member of his staff.


I: You have to start planning (lit. thinking) from now. There is a lot of preparation for Gackt-san yourself to do, isn’t it? (laughs)
G: That’s right. Of course, I have to get myself physically ready as well. [1] Well, I think I will be able to come up with something interesting.
[1] Literal translation is make body. As in train up and get himself physically ready. Because you will exert a lot of energy during concerts.


I: Another single, “Metamorphoze ～メタモルフォーゼ～ ” will be released on the 25th of May.
G: Yes. It is the theme song for the anime “機動戦士Zガンダム~星を継ぐ者~”. This is (another song) I made by merging [the Gundam image] with the image of the new theme. It is real intense (hageshii) and I feel that I have produced a good piece of work.


I: (Making) aggressive (hageshii) sound is what you are good at. “Ash” is a song with a heavy sound created using combinations of complex guitar (playing). Is it difficult to record them?
G: Indeed. We had to do it over and over again before we came up with the sound (音 oto: sound; note; tone). But making that (type of sound) has become our favourite (十八番 ohako: one's favorite stunt; one's hobby). (laughs) Because within our boundaries of imagination, there is no limit to what we can do [1] That is why I believe that I will be able to come up with more ways to create interesting sounds in the future. Because my current skills in performing or writing music (lit. musicianship) have a ‘mixture’ feel to it. As well as my own self. And so I think that this would (lead to) something more interesting. [2] Slowly, breaking away (lit. become unable to tie myself down) from ‘rock’. To capture ‘rock’ as a concept rather than [using] music. That kind of feeling. My own method of living is ‘rock’…… something like that. [3]
[1] There is no limit to our imagination is another way of looking at that sentence.
[2] As in not just his music that has a ‘mixture’ feel to it but his own self has it as well. You can say his personality or characteristic perhaps. And this ‘mixture’ feel will lead to him producing something (could be style or music) more interesting. Because it’s a mixture... Have I lost you yet? :p
[3] Ok, I think this is basically what he is trying to say. By producing ‘something more interesting’ in the future, he is slowly ‘breaking away’ form ‘rock’ so that he is no longer just using music to express ‘rock’. Rather he is viewing them as one whole concept and integrating ‘rock’ into his way of living. It actually becomes a part of him. And in case any of you think that the ‘rock’ I have been talking about here is the stone rock, you are greatly mistaken. I meant the song genre ‘rock’.


I: I look forward to the (songs you will) release in the future. Though it seems that you have been kept very busy as a result.
G: That’s right. But work has been fun recently. I like seeing myself working (lit. doing it) with all my might. We wouldn’t know till when we would be able to do it, would we? That’s why, let’s do it till we drop. (lit. do it till we fall/faint/break down) That is what I think.