----- A necessity in winter?
A long coat.
---- Is there something particular about long coats?
That's right. I want to walk through an avenue of trees wearing a long trenchcoat.
---- The color...?
Of course it's black!
---- Is there a favorite food that makes you think, "This is a masterpiece!"
It's unagi. Unagi and natto.
---- Do you like Japanese food?
I prefer Japanese food. But I don't like that sushi is basically expensive. Toro, uni, and the like, I don't eat that sort of thing. I like the red/lean meat in eggs and maguro. Then, I hate wasabi. Generally when I go to sushi shops I ask them to leave out the wasabi, but in the very beginning, the first thing I ask for is egg with no wasabi. And that always gets a laugh. (LOL)
---- What do you think is the thing at which you're unbeatable?
Lyrics. It's poetry. I think my lyrics are the best.
---- Is there something you think is a weak point?
It's singing power. Now I'm challenging the new me so in a way I'm singing like I've become a beginner. I've found the direction so after that it's just a matter of improving that technique.
---- What do you wear on your days off?
It's suits. At home it's a bathrobe... In my case it's not that I put it on when I take a shower. I pass the time like that.
---- Do you wear a bathrobe when you sleep too?
No, I take it off when I sleep. I take off the bathrobe and go to sleep just like that.
---- How do you spend your days off?
Going around coffeeshops. I make the circuit of various coffeeshops... Coffeeshops have easy listening music, right? Not like classical; I like that kind of music. While listening to that, I make the rounds of coffeeshops and drink coffee or black tea. I like the kind that are like the lounges that are often by the lobbies in big hotels. In that kind of environment I do things like write various lyrics and consider photoshoot matters. That kind of time is very important for me.
---- You spend your days off in a meaningful way too, don't you.
Yes. Speaking of what I consider as work, I think of work as things aside from my band. But I can't think of my band (Versailles) as work. Of course there's a sense of duty and responsibility though. When I write lyrics like I said and do these things, isn't that interesting? and I frequently consider things like that while making the coffeeshop rounds.
---- Do lyrics often come to you in those kinds of places?
It's often the case that lyrics are born there. Don't places besides those shops have normal songs? When I'm listening to songs I can't write lyrics. In the places I mentioned with my beloved instrumental music, they gush out. So I wait until the image I'm writing about has expanded.
---- What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
I yawn, and 5 minutes goes by without me closing my yawning mouth.
---- Your jaw doesn't fall off like that?
Hahaha! (LOL)
---- And what do you do after that?
No, hadn't we better end this conversation here? (LOL)
---- What do you always do before sleeping?
I stretch. The body gets tight if you don't do it every day.
---- What do you do that's good for the body?
It's that I smoke cigarettes, right?
---- I don't think that's good, though...
Is that so? Hahaha. (LOL)
---- How do you release stress?
I suppose it's going around to coffeeshops. Thinking about the band is the best stress release.
---- What's a small joy that only you feel?
A small joy... It's not small, but the scenery is indescribable when I'm standing in the middle of the stage, jaw raised, looking at the hall. At that time I feel as if I'd really become a person. As if I wasn't a person until then. I pull out a little power, raise my jaw, look at the audience, and feel I became a person. That's probably not incomprehensible to everyone.
---- Please tell us how you relieve the tension.
Umm... We do a lot of live simulations, but by doing that we relax.
---- What are you called by the people around you?
"Lord" and the like. Recently normal things like "President" and "Kamijo-san" are frequent. As a superior at work, it can't be helped.
---- What you would you really like to be called?
Hey! Johnny!
---- Suddenly you're American. (LOL)
If possible, I'd like to be called by my family name "Kamijo". The day "-sama" was attached was a little shocking. By having "-sama" attached, it feels distant. Now, anything is okay. I don't mind however you call me.
---- Please tell us if there was an episode during recording.
Nearly every day I slept for only an hour. Consciousness flew on and on. We were waging a mental and physical fight. ---- The trigger that made you decide to do music?
For 8 years I was always playing tennis, but one day I had a fight with one of my seniors in the tennis club, and thought "I've had enough of the tennis club!" So I held the racket in reverse like a guitar. And I thought, "Oh, I'll try guitar," and began.
---- Is that true?
It's true.
---- What was the trigger for doing visual kei?
In those days the term "visual kei" didn't exist. I thought that the band inside me would be one that wore makeup.
---- Did you take influences from someone?
When I watched Himuro Kyousuke-san's band BOOWY, they were wearing makeup and singing. I thought, "That's what a band is."
---- What was your impression the first time you wore makeup?
It was bad. I put it on without grooming my eyebrows and said, "My eyebrows are huge!" Like, why did I have big black eyebrows with blond hair?
---- If there was a disaster, what would you flee with?
First I'd check on my bandmates' safety. That's more important than fleeing.
---- Your memory of childhood?
I had a bobbed haircut. I wore things like bright red trousers. I wasn't a child that stood out.
---- At what time do you feel like you're an adult?
There isn't one.
---- Conversely, when do you feel like you're still a child?
All the time.
---- Something that you're often asked by fans and friends/industry people?
"Is it usually like this?"
---- What would you like to try doing in concert?
There are many things, but I'll keep them secret until the time I can surprise you with them. (LOL)
---- A story about your biggest failure in concert?
When I'm singing and my throat quickly becomes dried out; that sort of thing happens often.
---- The words you're most glad to hear from a girl?
I like girls from whom I receive advice and have my flaws pointed out. That makes me glad.
---- Are there any problems with things you don't yet understand about girls?
No, because I understand everything. Things about girls.
---- The words you're most glad to hear from a boy?
From boys, no matter what they say I'm not glad.
---- Conversely, the hardest words to hear from industry people?
"Um.... it's the deadline" (LOL)
---- When did you decide to make a living from music?
Before I knew it, there was no turning back, and it seemed there was only this. I think life has a process of elimination, so that before you know it, the thing you were doing has been chosen. So it's (music) a necessity.
---- What do you do when you're lonely?
I get on the phone to everyone. And I call someone over.
---- What is the most expensive thing you've ever bought?
A (recording) studio.
---- When do you feel glad that you started a band?
I feel truly glad about having started a band during concerts and at the moment that recording has ended.
---- Among the things you've bought recently, what has been the biggest hit product?
It's not a bought thing, it's music, but the ballad that was recorded for Kaya-kun's new single was really moving.
---- What have you been absorbed in (addicted to) lately?
Until just previously I was absorbed in recording, but as for an addiction it would be classical. For example, I sing baroque-style melodies. That's really fun practice.
---- Something you've been glad about recently?
Finishing the album! I can't help being glad about that.
---- Something you've been embarrassed about recently?
This is unrelated, but just before I was riding in a taxi. Today is Friday, and at the moment when I was thinking that this is the day that Doraemon is broadcast on TV, the driver's cellphone played the Doraemon theme song "Tattarattatarata~" and I was really surprised.
---- What do you always carry around with you?
Throat medicine. I always carry Ryukakusan's powder medicine.
---- What's something fun about touring?
Partying. When province concerts are over I party. When I'm not in Tokyo, other business doesn't come up so I can have a party.
---- On the other hand, what's troublesome about touring?
There are few office staff members so it's a situation of everyone having to go all out. That kind of situation is pragmatically troublesome.
---- Please tell us your principles for staying vigorous.
Concerning the band, it's not just a matter of songs. You see a lot of things, so for example when the jacket design is finished nicely, the whole thing comes together, and that's a principle of vigor.
---- Please give a message to Alive readers.
Our first album "Lyrical Sympathy" has finally been born. When you first listen to that and come to our tour, I think the Versailles who has been frantic until now will be able to convey that meaning to you, so I'd certainly like to meet you at the concert venues.