Oricon Style, February 2005

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 Please DO NOT publish my translations elsewhere without my permission.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) entered the stadium! Read it like you will a normal sentence.
=xxx= = real brackets used in the interview

 

I: Your new album is called “Love Letter” [1] and it is a good chance for people to review their love letter once more before they confess their feelings (to their loved ones). Seems like you have received more mails [2] recently (from fans)
[1]He said chodo as well here, which means just nice. I think he is trying to say that it coincides with Valentines Day.
[2] I’m assuming that in ‘mail’ here, he is referring to e-mails and not letters
G: I don’t mind receiving mails, but I think, through love letters, you would be able to straighten out your thoughts. Of course, if this is the first time you are writing love letters, you wouldn’t know what to write. (you) Would fail again and again…… But, before you write it down on the paper, you would be able to straighten out your thoughts. By doing that, you would gradually become able to convey your feelings to the other party. The kids nowadays are weak at writing, but I don’t think they would fail (in writing love letters) just because of that. Writing love letters is the gateway to becoming an expert on love. I myself have failed over and over again.


I: Eh? How did you fail? (lit: what kind of failure?) You look like someone who writes passionate love letters. (laughs)
G: I think it was when I was around 12 years old. I was really a fool……


I: Ha, haa…… (troubled)
G: I misspelled the word ‘koi’. The girl I sent the love letter to returned it back to me.


I: “koi”? Don’t tell me……!
G: I wrote it as “hen”[1] (laughs). It becomes “You were strange” [2]…… She corrected the word and returned it back to me. Since then, I could not look at that girl in the eye.
[1] The word “koi is written like this: 恋 which means love, while “hen” is written this way: 変 and it means strange.
[2] Normally, people would write, “kimi ni koishita” which means “I fell in love with you”, but change it to “hen” and you get “You were strange”


I: When you compare (between love letters and confessing face to face), Gackt looks like the type who would confess to the girl face to face rather than the love letter type.
G: No, in the past, I was not very good with words (spoken), so I changed it to words (written) and wrote it as love letters instead. Because you wouldn’t be able to form the right words even if you manage to (gather enough courage to) walk up to the other person, would you? Because you could not convey your feelings when you are standing in front of her and she is looking at you, you just say, “read this”. And because I did that so many times, I can write good sentences in the end.


I: Good sentences? For example?
G: Umm…… Don’t write long (sentences), for example “I fell in love with you” (“omae ni horeta”)


I: Extreme [1] and to the point. (laughs)
[1]I think extreme in a sense that it is sudden. Like, it just suddenly talks about love.
G: And something like, “ Because I would always protect you” (守る mamoru: to protect; to shelter; to guard; to defend; to shield)…… Normally you can’t say words like that out, can you? And the difference lies in whether you have the experience of writing love letters or not. I wonder if it’s not the accumulation of (writing love letters) experience that makes me so good in confessing my feelings.


I: And those experiences help in the writing of lyrics, doesn’t it?
G: Aah, that might be so.


I: So, in terms of confessing (your feelings) methods, you belong to the love letter group?
G: You can slowly think over what you want to say in a letter until you have finished it, but you can’t for speech, right? (lit: Speech is instant) No matter how good (kirei: pretty; nice; beautiful; fair) a sentence you come up with, it would all be over if you stutter, wouldn’t it?


I: “Sou desu” becomes “sou dasu” [1] (laughs)
[1] “sou desu” is “that’s right” whereas “sou dasu” can be translated loosely to “it came out that way.”
G: That’s right, that’s right. (laughs) If you do not have a good idea of what to say, (lit: words to a certain extent do not enter your mind) you would stutter. It’s the same as when you study languages. When you are taught a certain sentence, it is registered in your mind pretty smoothly, isn't it? When I met my friends, the greetings came out fluently, but when I want to say something else, I went, “Well, I…” (My speech) Became rather slow… (laughs)


I: By the way, what makes you happy about receiving a letter from a girl?
G: Girls don’t often pass the letters (to the other party) personally. They often put it in bags or in the lockers. And they come in times when I will forget. (laughs) [1] And even if they come to hand it personally, there would usually be two other girls with her. That is the worst.
[1] I think he is trying to say that the letters came at very bad timings and he would forget about them.


I: Ah~ Those who would get their friends to accompany them. First, the girl [1] would call out, “ano~” (laughs)
[1] He actually said here “特攻係 ” and if the kanji is separated, it would mean: the girl in charge of the ‘attack’.
G: That’s right. And the other girls who accompany her (Gackt uses [1] above to describe the girl as well) would always be prettier than her. If there is someone else there, the conversation becomes rather painful [1]. It would be so much better if she had come alone, isn't it?
[1] Not literally painful, but it becomes rather awkward, I would say. As in you can’t really say what you want to say.


I: Well, one more question, what do you think is an effective way of confessing (your feelings)?
G: If it was me for example…… When we are drinking together, I would tell her, “May I [1]?” and, “I fell in love with you”
[1] He said, “chotto ii kana” here, and if literally translated would mean: “I was wondering if I could take a bit of your time?”


I: (Say that) Suddenly? (laughs)
G: (Of course) Taking into account the atmosphere. But if it is in English, you can say really romantic/cheesy lines.


I: Ah, but if you create a good atmosphere, maybe any words would do.
G: Depends on to what extent you are able to create that atmosphere. Would you like me to teach you a good method of seducing (girls)?


I: Please! (是 非 zehi: certainly; at all cost; please)
G: There is a girl you like. However even though you like her, your relationship is like that of a friend’s and you are unable to tell her your feelings. And so, when the girl’s birthday approaches, you tell her, “I have someone I like.” She would definitely ask, “What kind of girl?” So you just describe some of her characteristics to her as if you were talking about someone else. And then you consult her, “Her birthday is coming soon, I wonder what I should give her.” If it was flowers, let the girl choose. After that…… It would be better (most effective) if you have a car though. After she gets in the car, “Happy Birthday” and give her the flowers!


I: Everything is well thought out! (But I wonder what we should do if the girl say, “Today is my birthday as well~~”)
G: The important part is how you play it out. Because she would feel happy if she knows that you are willing to go to such an extent for her. One of my friends invited the girl he likes to a Christmas party but she said, “Christmas would be over by the time my work ends.” But he went to pick her up (nonetheless). However, before he went, he decorated his car with Christmas decorations and dressed up as Santa. “Merry Christmas”


I: Wow!
G: If you were willing to go to such an extent, (the girl) would feel happy. Because (he) didn’t just spend money but also took time out to do it. And the one who would feel embarrassed is the guy and might even slip (lit.) ( 外す Hazusu: Take off; undo; slip; unfasten; miss; remove) [1]
[1] I think what he meant was, the downside is that the guy would feel embarrassed and might ‘miss’. Instead of the girl feeling happy, she might feel embarrassed by his action.


I: That is a dangerous gamble indeed. (laughs)
G: But, doing it because you really believe that she would feel happy gives significance to the action. Understand, all you amateurs out there? (laugh out loud))[1]
[1] “Wakatta ka, yononaka no amateur ga” He could mean it in a lecturing kind of way. Like, “Get it, you amateurs?” Using the tone of someone who is an expert to talk to ‘an amateur’.


I: Barking till here. (吠える hoeru: to bark; to bay; to howl; to bellow; to roar; to cry) [1] (laughs)
[1] ここでほえますか? My guess is ‘bark’ as in feel proud of being an ‘expert’ and ‘barking’ to show it. Do feel free to comment on this one and tell me what you think.


I: Before we proceed on to the album, I would like to talk about the PV for ‘Arritake no ai de’…… It created quite a stir [1] (A comedy/ wedding ceremony scene (lit: situation) filled with nuances and a ‘gyagu’ feel, which has quite an impact (on the viewer))
[1] “問 題 作” Based on the help I got from a couple of people, it means something that is problematic and created quite a commotion. But I don’t think that fits into this context… More like, a hot topic or something which created a stir but not in a bad way…?
G: Hahaha… The theme was to create something foolish. (laughs) Because the next work is going to be conceptual as well and so, I would move on to a heavier [1] direction again. That’s why I thought I only have this last chance to do something like this. In any case, I wanted to create something which can make people laugh. Editing (the PV) was also fun. (laughs)
[1] He means here that the next concept would be something ‘heavy’ (i.e. rock) and not ‘light’ like Love Letter which is filled with ballads.


I: After that talk of such a hilarious PV, I would like to move on to serious talk of “Love Letter”. (laughs) It is quite rare (新 鮮 shinsen: fresh) to see so many heartwarming love songs (from Gackt). Up till now, you have a lot more heavy (重い omoi: heavy; depressed; serious; severe; oppressed) ballads.
G: This time, more than half (of the songs in the album) has a positive tune. Of course, there are songs of separation but I think even those speak of moving on.


I: “Dears”, a song which has become a familiar in concerts, is also included. It is indeed a “Gift” for fans. Has it been decided from the start to include this song (in the album)?
G: I definitely planned it. Because the “Gift” concept that I started years ago is now coming to an end.


I: I think fans would want to listen to an acoustic album like this one being performed live. What are your plans for the live (concert)?
G: I am definitely not going to do it. (laughs) Well, I don’t quite understand. I can perform (live), but if I do decide to, in what kind of place would you like to listen to them?


I: In live houses where you can drink alcohol?
G: In my mind, there would be a certain way I want to reach to my fans [1], wouldn’t there? To hold (the concerts) in halls or live houses. And that’s why I think it is better to limit it to a fanclub event.
[1] He has his own visions as to how he wants to reach to his fans.


I: People would be rushing to join the fanclub. (laughs) The whole of Japan would become Dears. (The name of Gackt’s fan club)[1]
[1] For people who are relatively new to the Gackt fandom… ^^ Gackt’s fan club is called Dears and he has a song which also goes by “Dears”. And it is obviously a song for his fans. Linking back to the interview, the song “Dears” was included in Love Letter because it is part of the “Gift” concept and so he re-recorded it for Dears as a “Gift”. Hence, the significance of the song.
G: For example, we hold a concert during the fanclub tour and would only do it there. If it’s not there, (you) would not be able to listen to “Love Letter”...... I wonder how that would be.


I: I want to go. (laughs) Anyway, the release date was on the 14th February (= Valentine’s Day). Did you plan for it to be that way?
G: I did. Truth be told, it was scheduled to be released last year. But, postponing the release date to year 2005 makes me able to produce (the album) slowly.


I: But it was hard work singing so many songs, wasn’t it?
G: For the whole of last year, I was engrossed in recording (the album). I faced my own voice and was given many chances to review and correct my song. And that’s why I think “Kimi ni aitakute”, “Peace” and “Arittake no ai de” from “Love Letter” is totally different (from the single).


I: Maybe (your voice) has matured..
G: My voice is finally starting to sound grounded (or more confident, trained)[1]. Coincidentally, I have a friend who is going to hold a wedding ceremony. I was planning on singing “Love Letter”. As I was making this song, I thought that this would make a good present. I didn’t tell my friend though. Because it is a really good song. I (really) think that it came out pretty good!
[1] That is the tranlsation given by a friend. “声が地についてきた” direct and literal translation would be “my voice adhering to /arriving on/ following the land”. My take on it is: “my voice has been brought back to reality”. Land as in earth and reality = earth. So now, he wants to create a more 'realistic' song. Another translation provided by gekka_no_neko is: "my voice followed the “world'” where 地 here refers to the "world" represented by each song on Love Letter. A song creates its own world. And if ついてきた is interpreted as "followed" rather than "reached", putting that together, it would mean his voice would change to follow each song according to the world it has created.


I: You say so yourself. (laughs)
G: I like that song very much. But because it is a difficult song to sing, I can’t sing it without practicing first. Recently, I am rather into it. (填まる hamaru: to get into; to fall into; to fall into a trap; to be addicted to; to be deep into). This is the first time I've become so hooked on (hamaru) to my own song. (laughs) Actually, I thought this song was a bit prolix to be included in the album. I wondered if it was too dark (濃い koi: dark; deep; strong). But it was a song I really liked and it has been a while since I become addicted (hamaru) to a song to such an extent.


I: There will be a lot of people singing this song in Karaoke soon.
G: I think it would be great if a woman were to sing this song in Karaoke!


I: Singing your own praises. (laughs)