Fresh Sound Hokkaido Interview

Translated by: gekka_no_neko (@LJ)

Please do not copy, take, redistribute, retranslate or repost this translation without my permission. Thank you~

PBorn in Okinawa on July 4. A-type[1]. Started his solo career "GacktJob" in 1999. Not stopping at music, he has been involved in television, commercials, writing novels and performing in a movie. His 8th album "DIABOLOS" was released on September 21.

Q: Last time there was a bet (among you and) the staff, and (today) I was surprised when (you) were made to do push-ups as soon as (you) arrived in the studio.[2]
A: Right now, the tour staff, members and all the dancers have put together teams, and before the start of every live they do a quota[3] of 300 pull-ups each on the pull-up machine. So right now they are in a competition. At first, everyone couldn't do it, but it's the fighting spirit[4], you know. Now, everyone can do it. For me, my quota[3] for one day is 150 pull-ups, but when it comes to the dancers, there are some who can do 300. There's a punishment game[5], so they're desperate[6].

Q: But with so many people, it seems fun!
A: I wonder. This kind of thing can be done merely because it's fun. If you think it's painful or difficult, then it will become that way. But for us, we see it as a means to have fun despite the pain. So the difficult[7] tour can become fun. Because I'm a genius at directing (things) in a fun way, you know. Don't you get the impression that (our) life is fun and strange, and that (we) live hard and recklessly[8]?

Q: In the album "DIABOLOS", there are finally a good number of hard songs, aren't there
A: This album was (thought of as) "a work filled with sounds." In the last two albums, "Love Letter" and "The Seventh Night ~Unplugged", the sounds were decreased, and the works were created simply and with fewer sounds. That was a way to study a part of our musical technique by taking a fresh new look at it. It's something I've thought about-- the fact that I've come this far with that period of time living (within me). It's not just a matter of mindlessly[8] putting sounds in; we fill it with the sounds that we've chosen, piling them one on top of another. The thickness of the sound deepens, and the shape becomes more profound. Well, that's in technical terms, you know. I think it's become an album that can be enjoyed.

Q: What kinds of things do you do when you are camped together[9] to make the album?
A: It's basically a physical training camp, so we also train. The reason we call it "gasshuku"[9] is because when staying in Tokyo, (we're) busy doing other work, and there's no time to create songs. So, by venturing out to another location, we can create a period of time in which to be engaged in just that work (of creating songs). (We) create the time in which to live by just thinking about songs, but we call it "gasshuku" and that's all it is every day. I hardly ever leave my room, other than when I take a walk or go running. The whole time is spent inside my room making songs. I make songs in my room, but I go outside to write lyrics, so I often write while hiking.

Q: This work ("DIABOLOS") was released simultaneously in Korea, China and Taiwan, and you were able to go to Korea this past June.
A: I go to Korea a lot, you know. Well, I go to Taiwan a lot too. But lately I haven't been going to Hong Kong. There really aren't any artists in Asia who can speak the languages of all those countries. I can speak Korean, Chinese and Japanese, so with that in mind, I don't feel like I'm going there just for promotional purposes. Indeed, I hold within myself the feeling that I am an Asian artist, and so those people that are on the receiving side (who accept me into their country) have that feeling as well. They welcomed me with the feeling that I had finally come for them, and I wonder if there was also the feeling that I was like one of their own artists. Because in me, there are no borders.

Q: Gackt's songs are (about) loss, (things) beyond reach and feelings that are in conflict; it's romantic love[10] isn't it.
A: Because I am honest[11]. I am more honest[11] than you would expect, even as you see me like this. I am more straightforward than you would expect. We'll, I've been in some good love relationships[10], you know.

Q: I'm envious
A: Really? Go have a good love relationship[10].

Q: I do have such feelings, you know.
A: No no no no, it's no good just having such feelings. The most important thing is your actions[12]. It's like, "Take a chance!"[13] In any case, no matter how many times you fail[14], and it seems that all is lost, something new will be borne from that (experience). You know, everyone spends too much time imagining failure[14] before it even occurs.

Q: (We) think too much with our minds.
A: That's right. I wonder how many people have failed[14] after really going all out. I think it's good to go on and fail[14] right to the very end. It seems that, whether in matters of love, or work, their own dreams, or anything, there are many people who do things only half-way. I think (people) should find methods that move them forward, by being more reckless[8]; by acting first before thinking, and then planning (the next step) according to the result of those actions. The mind is too theoretical, (and you start to think) won't I fail in this way, won't it have a dramatic effect in this way, won't it cause trouble in this way, won't that cause me unhappiness, won't I get hurt. All of that is just guessing. Well, coming from me though, I'm an amateur. Isn't it just a matter of seriously going all out?

Q: For next year, plans for full scale activities in countries other than Japan have come into sight. What kind of year do you think it will be?
A: We're planning a tour, starting with Korea and including Taiwan, China and other countries. It's been roughly determined now. And from there, we're preparing a wonderful present for everyone once again. I think the first half of next year will be quite busy. And after that, our activities are still a secret.

Q: But we can wait and look forward to it!
A: Of course.

Q: Please send a message to the fans in Hokkaido and to all the listeners.
A: If you hesitate as you take each step forward, you will undoubtedly have regrets. So, carry your footsteps to (the Christmas eve live) at Tokyo Dome. And, for those who cannot make it to Tokyo Dome, I promise to return to Hokkaido next year. Until then, please experience my world through the dvd, the next album, and other various works. You will definitely be deeply moved.

Notes:
[1] Blood type.
[2] Because the interviewer left out the subject, it was a little confusing who made the bet with whom, and who was doing the pushups. It could be the interviewer, the staff or Gackt. But after discussing with Sweiled and looking at the following answer, I think it's safe to say Gackt lost a bet to his staff and his punishment was to do the pushups.
[3] "noruma": 'noruma' actually comes from the Russian word 'norma', and in Japanese, it means an amount of work divided and assigned to a given person (in a group). It also infers that other people in the same group have the same amount of work assigned to them, thus it's a work quota.
[4] "kiai": spirit; fight.
[5] "bachi ge-mu": the loser has to be punished.
[6] "hisshi": inevitable death; desperate; frantic.
[7] "kakoku": severe; hard; harsh; grim.
[8] "gamushara": reckless; impetuous; intensely energetic.
[9] "gasshuku": lodge together; go into camp (for training).
[10] "ren'ai": the word "ren'ai" (恋愛) is actually an artificial word that was created after the Meiji period (1867-1912). It expresses the kind of love, usually between a man and a woman, that is felt deeply with the soul. In other words, "koi" and "ai", which both mean "love", treat the heart and body as one matter, whereas "ren'ai" emphasizes the soul in particular. So, I translated it simply as "love relationship" but keep in mind the use of this word, ren'ai. And thanks to Sweiled for all the discussion on this part.
[11] "majime": serious; steady; honest; faithful.
[12] "kodou": behavior; action; conduct; movement.
[13] "atatte kudake chire": the phrase "atatte kudake" by itself means "try your luck", "Go for broke!", "nothing ventured, nothing gained", etc. Gackt adds "chire" which is the imperative form of fall, break up, disperse. So he's saying you should try your luck even if it means there may be failure in the future.

"kudake": break; be broken; be smashed; be crushed; collapse; fall apart. Thanks to Sweiled for suggesting the words "fail" in this context.