B=Pass, June 2005, Part 3

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 Please DO NOT publish my translations elsewhere without my permission.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 meant
(xxx) = other meanings of the word or literal translations or missing word/words not specifically mentioned. For e.g. The fans screamed when (Gackt and his band members) entered the stadium! Read it like you will a normal sentence.
=xxx= = real brackets used in the interview

There are 2 interviewers (Kouichi Tanaka and Mami Akagi) for this magazine. The questions by Tanaka will be bolded while those by Akagi will be bolded and underlined


THE STORY FLASHES THROUGH MY MIND AND STOPS SUDDENLY HALFWAY THROUGH


I: Well then, going back to the topic of “MOON”. We truly look forward to the reopening of “MOON PROJECT” which begins with “BLACK STONE”. The reason why is because I really love this kind of ‘rock’. Like I’ve said earlier, you mix a variety of sounds together to create the deep world and when listening to (the music), one can take great pleasure in imagining this and that.
G: Yes.


I: We have really been waiting for this reopening of “MOON PROJECT” and I would like to take this good opportunity to ask some questions in greater details. (laughs) Regarding the brief outline and scenes (lit. situations) of the story you told us about just now [1], how were they created? (lit. out of what circumstances were they born?) Did you think about it at home with a piece of paper in front of you, for example? Or something that “comes to you” as you go about your daily life…?
[1] When they were talking about the time periods and characters in “BLACK STONE” and “Ash” in Part 1’s translations.
G: Well, it’s just something that comes to me. (The story) will come to me suddenly and even I myself would think, “What is this?” as it flashes before my eyes. I have more than 10 IC recorders in my house and so I can grab one immediately, and.….. I’ll record it as if I was doing a live broadcast.


I: You will record (the story) that comes to you as it appears in your mind?
G: Yes. I’ll keep describing it in words. And I’ll sing it out if it is sound that appears.


I: And you will gather them all afterwards?
G: That’s right. But they really come suddenly and when they do, I’ll quickly grab the nearest IC recorder and record it in. So because of that, I have no idea which IC recorder has what in it. There are simply too many.


I: Hahahaha! And of course you have those IC recorders placed everywhere, right? In your bathroom, toilets or kitchen.
G: Yes, here and there. So that I’ll be ready whenever it comes. But even so, there will be times when I can’t find it at the most crucial moment. I’ll (search for one) frantically while going, “Nai! Nai!! Nai!!!” [1]
[1] Literal translation is ‘no’. “Not here! Not here!! Not here!!!” or “Nowhere! Nowhere!! Nowhere!!!” And take note of exclamation marks. ^^”


I: Wahahahaha
I: In other words, it’s not that you think (up a story) because you plan to write it. [1]
[1] He did not sit down and started thinking because he planned to write something. It just comes to him naturally.
G: Yes, I don’t plan it. It’s really something that comes and stops suddenly halfway through. I’ll wonder what that was and because I don’t really understand (the story/image), I’ll buy history books, etc and do a research on it. And I’ll go, “Aah, this is where the story came from” And so, while thinking of these, what I first saw (became greater) and my imaginations grew. [1]
[1]I believe this is what he meant. From what he first saw, image or scenes or whatever, the story became bigger and greater as he gives more thoughts to it. As he starts thinking about other stuff (because of all the researching), his imagination grows and the story adds on. It develops into a full story from that brief image/scene/vision he first saw.


I: I see…… That is really great~ It’s just like making a diorama. =a plastic model which is like stage set= [1] In Gackt-kun’s mind…… to what extent has the number of characters in “MOON” increased? Be it the ones in the songs or in the story.
[1] No idea what this one means. A diorama is a three-dimensional miniature or life-size scene in which figures, stuffed wildlife, or other objects are arranged in a naturalistic setting against a painted background. This is the explanation my friend gekka_no_neko gave me ^^ "I think he is just saying that the first vision is just a one-dimensional stage; once he does the research and adds in the characters and settings and props, then it becomes more and more three-dimensional. A diorama gains depth as you add more things to it, so I think that's how it links to what Gackt was saying about his imagination growing after the initial vision."
G: Characters? There are a lot. If you are referring to (everyone), from the beginning to the end, it’s a ridiculously (high) number…… It’s really an impossible number. (It’s so much that) I cannot say it. (laughs) For example, if you take out the extras and supporting characters and only count the main characters… Hmm, how many in total… In one time period…… Let’s see…… iya, it’s really countless. (lit. cannot be counted) (laughs) It’s too great a number.


I: And because any of the characters can be taken as the main character (lit. placed in the spotlight), the story becomes endless.
G: That’s right. That is what I want to do someday, when I’m already old and I can still write even though I could no longer make music, when that time comes, I’d like to pick up a character from the novel I wrote, “MOON CHILD 鎮魂歌 “ﾚｸｲｴﾑ” 篇”, and write a story about the life of this person, and the life of that person, etc. I want to write the story of each character one by one.


I: Aaah…. That is a great (idea)!
I: I would definitely want to read that.
G: I don’t particularly care if that is marketable to the world or not. There are people who love this story called “MOON” and it will be great if they can reflect (on their life) when they read themselves in the characters and story and feel happy. That is what I think.


THE STORY CAN BE PRESENTED BETTER IN A GAME FORM THAN MOVIE


I: But…… I find that Gackt-kun is indeed a very precise person. Even though you have more than 10 IC recorders placed here and there, you can still create music (out of those notes). Your novel as well, you manage to complete that too.
G: But well, the more I write, the more I don’t understand the reason I’m doing it (laughs). Actually, every time I wrote about 3 pages, I would stop. And then I would write another 3 pages of something else and stop again. There are many such times. And just as I plan to write the continuation of it, nothing comes to mind when I face the paper and I would become very iraira (irritated, annoyed, impatient) as a result (laughs). But when I talk about it to my friend, Iwill feel very happy. Especially to friends who are in the game industry (Lit. game related friends), I would tell them about “BLACK STONE”, “This song was made (lit. became like this) based on this image” “If this were turned into a game, which part do you think will be the best?” “Hmm, I would have to say this part.” And we would get more and more excited. “Let’s turn this into a real game!”


I: Because making a game (lit. game soft) is almost similar to making a movie.
G: But (a story) can be presented better in a game form rather than movie.



I: Ah, I see! Because it’s CG [computer graphics]
G: That’s right. My friend has a company which does computer graphics design. That’s why we are discussing about doing a collaboration now.


I: On making a game related to “MOON PROJECT”?
G: Of course we are not at that definite “Let’s make it!” phase yet, but still on “Shall we make one?” discussing phase. And also not just making a game, better yet, an anime. We talked about that too and I thought it would be interesting.


I: The ideas grow steadily.
G: Yes. And you think about a lot of things…… Maybe it could not be done if it were a live action film, but Japan has (a strong) anime and game culture and in these two areas, we would never lose to any countries, right? And so I thought if we use both (anime and game), we would be able to come up with something interesting.


I: If you think about it, “MOON PROJECT” (will have) music, movie, novel, game, anime…… There are endless ways of expressing (the story). If you look at it in another way, you can say that it is exactly because the world of “MOON PROJECT” is so huge and deep that the various possibilities are opened up.
G: Yes, you are right.


I: And last, I would like to confirm with you one more time. The story of this “MOON” that has been re-opened, for example the ones (which will be released) within the year, you can see them clearly (in your mind) at this point of time, right?
G: Yes, I can.


I: And you also said that the songs for the album are almost completed. Er…… have you decided on the title of the album yet?
G: No, it has not been decided.


I: But you will use a word related to “月” (tsuki: moon), right?
G: Um…… There are not much nice words. Actually, it’s not that you have to stick to the word “月” in particular, but it’s definitely better (lit. charming, attractive) if you can. And because I want to express that, I’ve been trying to find (words). Even in English, they do not have much word to describe “月”. So if you know any nice words, please tell me. (laughs)