Isshi's Road Through History: the way of Kagura
Part 2: "Boufura"
Part 2: "Boufura"
Indeed, one can lose theirself in fright.
For the second installment in the irregular series "Isshi's Road Through History: the way of Kagura" the theme is the thunderous heavy tune "Boufura" recorded on the album 燦 ～san～. This musical composition is a work that depicts foolish, sad people who lost their own humanity. In accordance with Isshi's personal suggestion, we welcome Yuura (Kra) as a guest here, and present the horror of real existence in the present world with an unrealistic vision. Their scene seemed to be reflected this way.
For the second installment in the irregular series "Isshi's Road Through History: the way of Kagura" the theme is the thunderous heavy tune "Boufura" recorded on the album 燦 ～san～. This musical composition is a work that depicts foolish, sad people who lost their own humanity. In accordance with Isshi's personal suggestion, we welcome Yuura (Kra) as a guest here, and present the horror of real existence in the present world with an unrealistic vision. Their scene seemed to be reflected this way.
Once again it happens that you're giving us visuals with a great impact. This is the second installment of "Isshi's Road Through History: the way of Kagura." First of all, will you tell us about the song you're using as the motif this time?
Isshi: This is "Boufura" (recorded on the album 燦 ～san～).
In an interview another time, Isshi-kun, you surely said "I'm depicting people who think "I can't go on like this" (=drug addicts)" about the song "Boufura" didn't you?
Isshi: Originally, Shin composed the original melody of this song, and he said "I want to make it a song with a bad feeling." So, it occurred to me that it could be about drug addicts. For that sort of addict, when they quit drugs it causes withdrawal symptoms, like the discomfort of feeling like there are bugs crawling around on their skin. But that's what I depicted.
If that's the case, I'm wondering what kind of relationship is born from that motif and the shocking impression given by these images.
Isshi: The Black Ships*(1) came during a time when Japan was changing from an isolated country and opening to the world. So, wasn't it around that time the tanka "Just four Joukisen and I can't sleep tonight"*(2) was born amongst the people?
It was taught in lessons during Social Studies period in grade school.
Isshi: That's right, it's taught that there's the Joukisen tea, and Black Ships = steam ships, but in short it was the sense of satire that they wanted wasn't it? This should express that when doing drugs, your fate is to destroy your own body.
Therefore, such a dreadful thing happened to your neck...
Isshi: Moreover, there are many nuances in addition to that. This time, isn't it my junior Yuura (Kra) who has my decapitated head? This is one symbol. It says that such things might happen when your body is destroyed.
It's an image of like a junior dominating his senior, or cutting off the head of a sleeping person.
Isshi: Because destroying your body doesn't just mean things like dying, right? If you lose your human nature for a moment such things can happen and it's not at all unusual. As a man, I think that wouldn't one's pride be wounded with a reversal of positions with juniors or subordinates?
You're saying that pride is a living thing, particularly for men?
Isshi: Losing yourself, it's kind of like "falling." For this reason, you have to have a firm grasp on your own head.
That's deep isn't it?
Isshi: It's interesting when such things are expressed, so it became this kind of photo.
Incidentally, this time you're naturally in contrast with Yuura, and it seems like this is the aforementioned offer.
Isshi: We're usually on good terms, because we have a senior-junior relationship.
Your association is already long isn't it?
Isshi: Maybe, isn't it around 6 years? He was our roadie. So, he was around us a lot and at that time we often discussed various things so our relationship is good.
Previously, Isshi, you said that you gave a lecture when drinking with juniors, and in the end you had made them cry... was he one of the victims? (laughs)
Isshi: Ahh, he doesn't cry. But I do lecture. (laughs) Saying that, they were Kagrra's roadie band weren't they? I don't want Kra to be uncool like that, so I talk about various things against my better judgment. At any rate, the name Kra itself was taken from Kagrra, you know?
Eh, was it really?
Isshi: They wanted to decide a band name when we were going on tour, but while traveling we were having the discussion in the equipment car, and one said "Since we're Kagrra's roadie band, how is Kra?" And it was decided just like that. (laughs) That being said, the connection is deep. So, when I said I wanted to do something like this for this installment, I was together with Yuura at that exact time and I invited him saying, "You're not doing anything? But maybe we can take those pictures properly." (laughs)
I'm sure "properly" isn't welcome for these photographs. (laughs)
Isshi: But the truth is, Yuura wouldn't do it if I don't explain it properly. He'd say things like "First of all, since we need a freshly severed head, hold my head."
Whether or not he has that control, Yuura-kun was feeling ashamed the whole time during the photoshoot wasn't he? Saying "Ehh, is it really okay to do that? If I grip like this I'll crumple your hair..." (laughs)
Isshi: The pictures came out interesting whether he likes it or not.
Isshi: This is "Boufura" (recorded on the album 燦 ～san～).
In an interview another time, Isshi-kun, you surely said "I'm depicting people who think "I can't go on like this" (=drug addicts)" about the song "Boufura" didn't you?
Isshi: Originally, Shin composed the original melody of this song, and he said "I want to make it a song with a bad feeling." So, it occurred to me that it could be about drug addicts. For that sort of addict, when they quit drugs it causes withdrawal symptoms, like the discomfort of feeling like there are bugs crawling around on their skin. But that's what I depicted.
If that's the case, I'm wondering what kind of relationship is born from that motif and the shocking impression given by these images.
Isshi: The Black Ships*(1) came during a time when Japan was changing from an isolated country and opening to the world. So, wasn't it around that time the tanka "Just four Joukisen and I can't sleep tonight"*(2) was born amongst the people?
It was taught in lessons during Social Studies period in grade school.
Isshi: That's right, it's taught that there's the Joukisen tea, and Black Ships = steam ships, but in short it was the sense of satire that they wanted wasn't it? This should express that when doing drugs, your fate is to destroy your own body.
Therefore, such a dreadful thing happened to your neck...
Isshi: Moreover, there are many nuances in addition to that. This time, isn't it my junior Yuura (Kra) who has my decapitated head? This is one symbol. It says that such things might happen when your body is destroyed.
It's an image of like a junior dominating his senior, or cutting off the head of a sleeping person.
Isshi: Because destroying your body doesn't just mean things like dying, right? If you lose your human nature for a moment such things can happen and it's not at all unusual. As a man, I think that wouldn't one's pride be wounded with a reversal of positions with juniors or subordinates?
You're saying that pride is a living thing, particularly for men?
Isshi: Losing yourself, it's kind of like "falling." For this reason, you have to have a firm grasp on your own head.
That's deep isn't it?
Isshi: It's interesting when such things are expressed, so it became this kind of photo.
Incidentally, this time you're naturally in contrast with Yuura, and it seems like this is the aforementioned offer.
Isshi: We're usually on good terms, because we have a senior-junior relationship.
Your association is already long isn't it?
Isshi: Maybe, isn't it around 6 years? He was our roadie. So, he was around us a lot and at that time we often discussed various things so our relationship is good.
Previously, Isshi, you said that you gave a lecture when drinking with juniors, and in the end you had made them cry... was he one of the victims? (laughs)
Isshi: Ahh, he doesn't cry. But I do lecture. (laughs) Saying that, they were Kagrra's roadie band weren't they? I don't want Kra to be uncool like that, so I talk about various things against my better judgment. At any rate, the name Kra itself was taken from Kagrra, you know?
Eh, was it really?
Isshi: They wanted to decide a band name when we were going on tour, but while traveling we were having the discussion in the equipment car, and one said "Since we're Kagrra's roadie band, how is Kra?" And it was decided just like that. (laughs) That being said, the connection is deep. So, when I said I wanted to do something like this for this installment, I was together with Yuura at that exact time and I invited him saying, "You're not doing anything? But maybe we can take those pictures properly." (laughs)
I'm sure "properly" isn't welcome for these photographs. (laughs)
Isshi: But the truth is, Yuura wouldn't do it if I don't explain it properly. He'd say things like "First of all, since we need a freshly severed head, hold my head."
Whether or not he has that control, Yuura-kun was feeling ashamed the whole time during the photoshoot wasn't he? Saying "Ehh, is it really okay to do that? If I grip like this I'll crumple your hair..." (laughs)
Isshi: The pictures came out interesting whether he likes it or not.
But more than interesting, they're considerably scary aren't they?
Isshi: That's good! In any event, I'm thinking about things like 'SHOXX'. Isn't it that SHOXX is "Visual & Hard Shock"? If that's the case, shouldn't our mentality and our appearance objective here be 'shock'? As you'd expect, when I was a kid I'd look at SHOXX and think 'Cool!' because there were people like hide-san.
Those friends gave us various grand visuals didn't they.
Isshi: Right. So I'm thinking I should do that now.
What you're saying is that you feel a certain sense of duty.
Isshi: Yes, that's right. The newer, young bands now, they're fashionable and they're pretty, but on the other hand I think they don't have their sights on something they truly want to do. In that respect, I think for myself the visuals are just an embodiment of the music that I do. And, when people who really have no interest in Kagrra, turn the page for instance, they might think "What is this?!" so I think this time it'll become a visual shocker with an impact.
At the same time, you're also saying that "Boufura" is a song with shocking subject matter too aren't you?
Isshi: I personally was shocked when writing the lyrics.
What kind of background does it have?
Isshi: One night during our tour in Nagoya the year before last, I couldn't sleep so I put on the TV. Then "GeneJan" (a discussion show hosted by Koichi Domoto)*(3) was on at that exact moment, and the theme was drugs. I caved in and watched it.
What kind of subject matter was it?
Isshi: Originally, drug addicts, and that there are people who operate rehabilitation facilities for the same patients now, but how less than 30% of people who go in for that sort of thing are ever perfectly rehabilitated.
Surely, what you're calling "that sort of thing" is drug dependance?
Isshi: Yeah, that's what the old guys who run those facilities call it. Naturally they lose everything due to getting involved in drugs. Then, because they've lost everything it becomes 'I'm already dying!' that they're thinking when they use the drugs. 'If I'll die anyhow, I'll do one more before I die.'
...I have no words.
Isshi: It's even more devastating than that. They're such terrible stories.
That is to say, it's a situation of "giving up humanity" right?
Isshi: It's the extent of destruction. I remember that I felt overwhelmed during the part of that tour after Nagoya. (wry smile)
Usually you don't broadcast anything Isshi, but surprisingly you're sensitive to such things.
Isshi: When there are such things, I think that humans are sad creatures. And this is a scary thing, but we're talking about a danger that might happen to anyone at all.
What do you mean by that?
Isshi: First of all I'll say, I'm absolutely not involved with drugs so it's impossible. But, hypothetically, if I had such an obstinate will and made the mistake of getting involved with drugs once, there's a possibility that I could destroy myself.
So you're saying that it's scary because if it's some kind of mistake, after you do it just once you won't be able to stop?
Isshi: Humans are weak to start with, so I wonder if they don't have considerable spirit to be dependent. If I'm talking about myself, I do smoke and drink.
Isn't the degree to which you have a taste for luxury items somehow a bad thing?
Isshi: But the scary thing is, I think the body doesn't know the difference between luxury items and drugs at first. People drink and smoke to satisfy their curiosity, don't they? Surely that's how anyone starts out.
Ah, I see.
Isshi: Moreover, even if ordinary people reach out to it now, do they know how much of a risk they're taking?
Because it seems easy to buy them on a street corner right?
Isshi: Fortunately there hasn't been talk of anything like that in my neighbourhood as of yet, but the problem is that an entrance like that could be anywhere. When I think about such things I'm worried for the future of Japan. At least I believe that none of our young fans do these things.
Incidentally. A little while ago, you said that anyone can have the spirit to be dependent. Isshi, what do you think you're the most dependent on personally?
Isshi: Alcohol... as you'd expect.
Not your Dogs?
Isshi: Ahh, I think dogs are one such target of dependence, but when I think "I want to stop but I can't stop," then it's alcohol.
Since alcohol can relax your mind and body if it's the proper amount, it's said to be a good thing, isn't it? And you feel like you want to stop?
Isshi: If it's the proper amount, that itself is difficult. I want to drink with moderation, but it's by no means like this. (wry smile) When I drink, my concentration is unusually terrible. When I write while I'm drinking, I just progress thoughtlessly.
That in itself isn't very good, is it?
Isshi: But moreover, I think 'How am I this dependent?' After all, it hinders my work the next day that I won't be in good physical condition, so it's a double-edged sword.
It's quite difficult isn't it. Be that as it may, as you said a while ago Isshi, don't people live day by day being more or less dependent on something? Shopping, love, food, gangs, all sorts of hobbies... aren't there different styles for different people?
Isshi: To me, I don't think of such things as being dependent. Somebody likes buying things, but they may love gambling.
Perhaps you're somewhat of a good-for-nothing,Isshi?
Isshi: You could say that. (laughs) I'm the bandman, or perhaps I should say rocker, with the old spirit in our band. To that extent, when I occasionally bother the other members with things like alcohol, I'm thinking "I'm terribly sorry." But, even though I'm like that I think I could go my whole life without drugs like narcotics.
Because you can't help being like that right?
Isshi: Even now, there seems to be the idea that if you're a musician at all you should be doing drugs, and it's running rampant isn't it? To go against the law, to lose your own life, it seems to be a 'Doing what I wanna do is Rock!' way of thinking. But me, I think differently than that rock way of living. It's good to do the things I want to do, but for reasoning it's bad to not defend what should be defended.
Thereabouts might your moral spirit have been inherited from a strict father at all?
Isshi: Yes it is. Even now, my father is absurdly scary. (wry smile) So I'm this way, and young people now... they'll subconsciously say typical things, I wonder if they inherited it from strict fathers?
In any case, while this installment of "Isshi's Road Through History: the way of Kagura" is once again full of things to learn from, it took form as a presentation of a world of stimulating visions and was actually deeply interesting.
Isshi: At the live in April (it was the "Supreme Essence of Neo Japanesque" oneman held on April 4th at Tokyo Kouseinenkin Hall), I said something like "I won't forget the spirit of the past" in the MC but... I think that remark is shown in these kind of pictures and the interview this time. I'm happy if it makes you feel various things. Perhaps that's the case. This time I aimed at being more of a visual shocker than anyone else, but the truth is I might already be doing something more visual kei than anyone else with this, right?
And your heart?
Isshi: Because lately when I put on makeup, that itself ＝ visual kei. There may be a lot of people who put on makeup to do visual kei, but first of all for me there's something I want to express, and I think putting on makeup for that is the primary composition of visual kei isn't it? Ahh, but it's okay if you say that's wrong and I'm not particularly visual kei. (laughs)
Isshi: That's good! In any event, I'm thinking about things like 'SHOXX'. Isn't it that SHOXX is "Visual & Hard Shock"? If that's the case, shouldn't our mentality and our appearance objective here be 'shock'? As you'd expect, when I was a kid I'd look at SHOXX and think 'Cool!' because there were people like hide-san.
Those friends gave us various grand visuals didn't they.
Isshi: Right. So I'm thinking I should do that now.
What you're saying is that you feel a certain sense of duty.
Isshi: Yes, that's right. The newer, young bands now, they're fashionable and they're pretty, but on the other hand I think they don't have their sights on something they truly want to do. In that respect, I think for myself the visuals are just an embodiment of the music that I do. And, when people who really have no interest in Kagrra, turn the page for instance, they might think "What is this?!" so I think this time it'll become a visual shocker with an impact.
At the same time, you're also saying that "Boufura" is a song with shocking subject matter too aren't you?
Isshi: I personally was shocked when writing the lyrics.
What kind of background does it have?
Isshi: One night during our tour in Nagoya the year before last, I couldn't sleep so I put on the TV. Then "GeneJan" (a discussion show hosted by Koichi Domoto)*(3) was on at that exact moment, and the theme was drugs. I caved in and watched it.
What kind of subject matter was it?
Isshi: Originally, drug addicts, and that there are people who operate rehabilitation facilities for the same patients now, but how less than 30% of people who go in for that sort of thing are ever perfectly rehabilitated.
Surely, what you're calling "that sort of thing" is drug dependance?
Isshi: Yeah, that's what the old guys who run those facilities call it. Naturally they lose everything due to getting involved in drugs. Then, because they've lost everything it becomes 'I'm already dying!' that they're thinking when they use the drugs. 'If I'll die anyhow, I'll do one more before I die.'
...I have no words.
Isshi: It's even more devastating than that. They're such terrible stories.
That is to say, it's a situation of "giving up humanity" right?
Isshi: It's the extent of destruction. I remember that I felt overwhelmed during the part of that tour after Nagoya. (wry smile)
Usually you don't broadcast anything Isshi, but surprisingly you're sensitive to such things.
Isshi: When there are such things, I think that humans are sad creatures. And this is a scary thing, but we're talking about a danger that might happen to anyone at all.
What do you mean by that?
Isshi: First of all I'll say, I'm absolutely not involved with drugs so it's impossible. But, hypothetically, if I had such an obstinate will and made the mistake of getting involved with drugs once, there's a possibility that I could destroy myself.
So you're saying that it's scary because if it's some kind of mistake, after you do it just once you won't be able to stop?
Isshi: Humans are weak to start with, so I wonder if they don't have considerable spirit to be dependent. If I'm talking about myself, I do smoke and drink.
Isn't the degree to which you have a taste for luxury items somehow a bad thing?
Isshi: But the scary thing is, I think the body doesn't know the difference between luxury items and drugs at first. People drink and smoke to satisfy their curiosity, don't they? Surely that's how anyone starts out.
Ah, I see.
Isshi: Moreover, even if ordinary people reach out to it now, do they know how much of a risk they're taking?
Because it seems easy to buy them on a street corner right?
Isshi: Fortunately there hasn't been talk of anything like that in my neighbourhood as of yet, but the problem is that an entrance like that could be anywhere. When I think about such things I'm worried for the future of Japan. At least I believe that none of our young fans do these things.
Incidentally. A little while ago, you said that anyone can have the spirit to be dependent. Isshi, what do you think you're the most dependent on personally?
Isshi: Alcohol... as you'd expect.
Not your Dogs?
Isshi: Ahh, I think dogs are one such target of dependence, but when I think "I want to stop but I can't stop," then it's alcohol.
Since alcohol can relax your mind and body if it's the proper amount, it's said to be a good thing, isn't it? And you feel like you want to stop?
Isshi: If it's the proper amount, that itself is difficult. I want to drink with moderation, but it's by no means like this. (wry smile) When I drink, my concentration is unusually terrible. When I write while I'm drinking, I just progress thoughtlessly.
That in itself isn't very good, is it?
Isshi: But moreover, I think 'How am I this dependent?' After all, it hinders my work the next day that I won't be in good physical condition, so it's a double-edged sword.
It's quite difficult isn't it. Be that as it may, as you said a while ago Isshi, don't people live day by day being more or less dependent on something? Shopping, love, food, gangs, all sorts of hobbies... aren't there different styles for different people?
Isshi: To me, I don't think of such things as being dependent. Somebody likes buying things, but they may love gambling.
Perhaps you're somewhat of a good-for-nothing,Isshi?
Isshi: You could say that. (laughs) I'm the bandman, or perhaps I should say rocker, with the old spirit in our band. To that extent, when I occasionally bother the other members with things like alcohol, I'm thinking "I'm terribly sorry." But, even though I'm like that I think I could go my whole life without drugs like narcotics.
Because you can't help being like that right?
Isshi: Even now, there seems to be the idea that if you're a musician at all you should be doing drugs, and it's running rampant isn't it? To go against the law, to lose your own life, it seems to be a 'Doing what I wanna do is Rock!' way of thinking. But me, I think differently than that rock way of living. It's good to do the things I want to do, but for reasoning it's bad to not defend what should be defended.
Thereabouts might your moral spirit have been inherited from a strict father at all?
Isshi: Yes it is. Even now, my father is absurdly scary. (wry smile) So I'm this way, and young people now... they'll subconsciously say typical things, I wonder if they inherited it from strict fathers?
In any case, while this installment of "Isshi's Road Through History: the way of Kagura" is once again full of things to learn from, it took form as a presentation of a world of stimulating visions and was actually deeply interesting.
Isshi: At the live in April (it was the "Supreme Essence of Neo Japanesque" oneman held on April 4th at Tokyo Kouseinenkin Hall), I said something like "I won't forget the spirit of the past" in the MC but... I think that remark is shown in these kind of pictures and the interview this time. I'm happy if it makes you feel various things. Perhaps that's the case. This time I aimed at being more of a visual shocker than anyone else, but the truth is I might already be doing something more visual kei than anyone else with this, right?
And your heart?
Isshi: Because lately when I put on makeup, that itself ＝ visual kei. There may be a lot of people who put on makeup to do visual kei, but first of all for me there's something I want to express, and I think putting on makeup for that is the primary composition of visual kei isn't it? Ahh, but it's okay if you say that's wrong and I'm not particularly visual kei. (laughs)
Notes:
My translation of Boufura is here.
1. Black Ships, meaning Western Ships, specifically referring to the Western Ships that opened up trade with Japan and the rest of the world.
2. This refers to a satirical poem. Joukisen is the brand name of a strong tea, but also the word for steamer ship. The poem refers to Commodore Matthew Perry's expeditions to Japan to open up the country to foreign trade during the Edo period. (The tanka is in the previous link as well, with two different translations.)
3．"GeneJan" is Sedai Mitsurin~Generation Jungle. On its Japanese Wikipedia page it's described as a variety show and the host is Koichi Domoto from KinKi Kids.
My translation of Boufura is here.
1. Black Ships, meaning Western Ships, specifically referring to the Western Ships that opened up trade with Japan and the rest of the world.
2. This refers to a satirical poem. Joukisen is the brand name of a strong tea, but also the word for steamer ship. The poem refers to Commodore Matthew Perry's expeditions to Japan to open up the country to foreign trade during the Edo period. (The tanka is in the previous link as well, with two different translations.)
3．"GeneJan" is Sedai Mitsurin~Generation Jungle. On its Japanese Wikipedia page it's described as a variety show and the host is Koichi Domoto from KinKi Kids.