Roots In Japanese Style
Kagrra, with their new album "燦 ～san～", invite listeners to another world with their beautifully captivating music as usual. The worldview of "Wa" (Japanese style) that permeates their music can be born anywhere in the world. The vocalist, Isshi, probes into his roots here from half of his lifetime.
Isshi
Profile: Born December 7th. Kagrra formed in June 2000. The members are Isshi (vo), Akiya (guitar), Shin (guitar), Nao (bass), Izumi (drums). On January 1st 2004 they became major with the "Urei" single. They released their second album "San" on July 20th, and their live DVD "Sara~Natsukashi no Rakuen~ on August 3rd. 
―I think, rather than Kagrra's vocalist Isshi, here we want to go after Isshi as an individual.
Isshi: My fans might decrease if I talk about various things too much. (laughs)
―But that's not the case at all. Just that up until now, you haven't talked about personal things very much, Isshi. The nature of Kagrra as a band, and examples of how your lyrics relate to stories, but you haven't written much about your own feelings.
Isshi: Maybe. Ahh, but it was intentional.
―I think that means now you're opening up to the process of character building. First of all, I think the Isshi we've seen so far has a very strong extroverted surface as the band's frontman, but how were you in those circumstances in your early childhood?
Isshi: It hasn't changed so far. I was always smiling too much. (laughs)
―That said, were you a clever speaker in those days too?
Isshi: I was always being told by my parents and relatives that in the future I'd grow up to be a lawyer.
―That means you're a quick thinker and stand by what you say.
Isshi: When I was a child, I liked cornering adults in an argument. I'd fight with my father nearly every day, and then I'd be disciplined.
―What kind of things do you remember fighting with your father about?
Isshi: Well, there wasn't anything in particular. My father would snap over petty things anyway, like closing the door if it was open, he'd immediately seem to get angry over things like that.
―So it was your strict father who taught you manners.
Isshi: Yeeaah, but, I have a feeling it's different than what would typically be called manners. If anything rubbed him the wrong way even a little bit, he'd immediately get angry. Since our house was a traditional Japanese house we had only 3 rooms, but each of them had a name. The most important was the lecture room, where we had things like the household shrine and hanging scrolls. So my father would often say to me, "Come to the lecture room!" and even now I don't want to get close to that lecture room. (wry smile)
―Isshi, do you think you're more like your father or your mother?
Isshi: I inherited bad points from both. Of course, I think I'm like them in their good points too, but I feel like myself above anything. The things I inherited are the things I thought "Ahh I don't wanna be like that" when I was little.
―That is to say, you're completely like the strict part of your father?
Isshi: Exactly. Especially when I'm drinking, I'll do things like lecturing my friends. Even until the other person starts crying. (laughs)
― Ah I see, don't they hate that??
Isshi: Well even if they cry they won't be angry I made them cry. In the beginning they'll just say "Gaaah!" and when I follow up that's when they'll cry.
―It's scary and annoying to be told off, and beyond that, you'd rather it be, "Thank you for saying something nice to me," right?
Isshi: Ahh, but in the end they might not hate it anyway.
―I see. Incidentally, do you have any siblings, Isshi?
Isshi: I have a younger sister. My sister isn't like me because she doesn't speak very much, but instead, she's completely the type to strike you down with a single comment.
―One way or another, you're both formidable. (laughs)
Isshi: We'd get into the worst fights. Or should I say, I broke my sister's arm.
―What, I'm shocked?! The Isshi who is so graceful on the stage, broke your sister's arm...??
Isshi: As you might expect it wasn't intentional. However you call it, it was an accident. Since we were fighting at that time I used too much force. Sure enough, my father hit me after that.
―Do you remember what caused that fight to break out?
Isshi: What was it? I remember the place, it was some kind of ramen shop.
―Was it some kind of incident like "You took my gyouza"??
Isshi: It wasn't like that. I'm pretty sure it was something to do with her behaviour. We truly had a bout inside the shop over some kind of petty thing.
Isshi: My fans might decrease if I talk about various things too much. (laughs)
―But that's not the case at all. Just that up until now, you haven't talked about personal things very much, Isshi. The nature of Kagrra as a band, and examples of how your lyrics relate to stories, but you haven't written much about your own feelings.
Isshi: Maybe. Ahh, but it was intentional.
―I think that means now you're opening up to the process of character building. First of all, I think the Isshi we've seen so far has a very strong extroverted surface as the band's frontman, but how were you in those circumstances in your early childhood?
Isshi: It hasn't changed so far. I was always smiling too much. (laughs)
―That said, were you a clever speaker in those days too?
Isshi: I was always being told by my parents and relatives that in the future I'd grow up to be a lawyer.
―That means you're a quick thinker and stand by what you say.
Isshi: When I was a child, I liked cornering adults in an argument. I'd fight with my father nearly every day, and then I'd be disciplined.
―What kind of things do you remember fighting with your father about?
Isshi: Well, there wasn't anything in particular. My father would snap over petty things anyway, like closing the door if it was open, he'd immediately seem to get angry over things like that.
―So it was your strict father who taught you manners.
Isshi: Yeeaah, but, I have a feeling it's different than what would typically be called manners. If anything rubbed him the wrong way even a little bit, he'd immediately get angry. Since our house was a traditional Japanese house we had only 3 rooms, but each of them had a name. The most important was the lecture room, where we had things like the household shrine and hanging scrolls. So my father would often say to me, "Come to the lecture room!" and even now I don't want to get close to that lecture room. (wry smile)
―Isshi, do you think you're more like your father or your mother?
Isshi: I inherited bad points from both. Of course, I think I'm like them in their good points too, but I feel like myself above anything. The things I inherited are the things I thought "Ahh I don't wanna be like that" when I was little.
―That is to say, you're completely like the strict part of your father?
Isshi: Exactly. Especially when I'm drinking, I'll do things like lecturing my friends. Even until the other person starts crying. (laughs)
― Ah I see, don't they hate that??
Isshi: Well even if they cry they won't be angry I made them cry. In the beginning they'll just say "Gaaah!" and when I follow up that's when they'll cry.
―It's scary and annoying to be told off, and beyond that, you'd rather it be, "Thank you for saying something nice to me," right?
Isshi: Ahh, but in the end they might not hate it anyway.
―I see. Incidentally, do you have any siblings, Isshi?
Isshi: I have a younger sister. My sister isn't like me because she doesn't speak very much, but instead, she's completely the type to strike you down with a single comment.
―One way or another, you're both formidable. (laughs)
Isshi: We'd get into the worst fights. Or should I say, I broke my sister's arm.
―What, I'm shocked?! The Isshi who is so graceful on the stage, broke your sister's arm...??
Isshi: As you might expect it wasn't intentional. However you call it, it was an accident. Since we were fighting at that time I used too much force. Sure enough, my father hit me after that.
―Do you remember what caused that fight to break out?
Isshi: What was it? I remember the place, it was some kind of ramen shop.
―Was it some kind of incident like "You took my gyouza"??
Isshi: It wasn't like that. I'm pretty sure it was something to do with her behaviour. We truly had a bout inside the shop over some kind of petty thing.
―Did your parents or the shop owner intercede at that time?
Isshi: They didn't! Or rather, we were with our father, but I guess he had a sense that it was just one of our usual fights?
―Although many brothers fight, in general I don't really imagine an older brother and younger sister having a violent fight like that, you know?
Isshi: I think so too, but we're different right? (wry smile)
―Were you still like that with each other when you both grew up?
Isshi: Yeah, we still have a bad relationship. We don't speak to each other.
―That's troubling isn't it?
Isshi: Occasionally, when I go back to my parents' home. I'll think "We've grown up quite a bit now" and try to meet her halfway, but then she'll make an annoying comment.
―And sadly she'll reject you.
Isshi: For instance, when I say "I'll take over in a minute" without a moment's delay she'll come back with "I can do it myself!" And then I'll switch and say "That's okay too!"
―In that case you're impulsive. Since I only get the impression that you're polite and rational when I look at the usual Isshi, that's a little unexpected.
Isshi: Therefore it was especially so when we were children. Because even in grade school, I wasn't a guy who'd get into fights with the other boys in my class. Or rather, it was a prefecture where we'd pick fights with teachers instead.
―That was when you were in grade school?
Isshi: Yeah. (with a bright smile)
―That is to say, you were...
Isshi: I was considerably a problem child. On top of all that, I was even hit by the principal.
―The school principal?! But generally the principal doesn't have an opportunity to connect directly with the students.
Isshi: That's right. Even so, while I was in class I suddenly got called to the principal's office. So when I entered the room he started saying various things to me, and it seemed like I was being told "I'm not pleased with you." Ahh, but I think my attitude was the real problem at that time.
―Even if that's the case, a principal who is a school teacher with that kind of attitude is part of the problem too right?
Isshi: Having been struck by him, yeah. Furthermore it was fist to face.
―That's cruel. If a principal did such a thing as beat a student nowadays, it'd be scandalous wouldn't it?
Isshi: There'd be a counterattack.
―Ahhhh. (wry smile)
Isshi: Thinking about it now, I was a violent child in my upper grades of primary school. I think the environment wasn't very good too. There was clique rivalry among fellow children, and every day some kind of fight.
―It seems like a V-Cinema kind of world. (laughs)
Isshi: Yeah it really does. If I went home from school and didn't go hang out with anyone, I'd get a phonecall like "This guy said this to so-and-so, I don't like him," and if that's the case, I'd say in front of everyone, "Well, I'll fight him tomorrow!"
―Was your strict father angry to see you have a short temper like that, Isshi?
Isshi: Not at all. I don't remember him saying anything to me in those situations.
―...if I may, I feel like there were some points on which he was wrong in how much he interfered with you as a kid.
Isshi: No, not some, he was wrong in many. (laughs)
―In a sense he let you take your own course right?
Isshi: Completely let me take my own course. If I was gone for a month he wouldn't notice.
―Is that so?!
Isshi: That's a story from my first year of high school, but, over summer break I didn't go home for around a month since I was always hanging out with my friends. So, when I finally went back home around the time school was starting up again, everything was as usual.
―Didn't he even comment to ask where you'd gone?
Isshi: Not at all. On the other hand he wasn't even angry, he was really just as usual. I was asked "Where have you been?" by my mother, but when I told her "I was in the forest," that was the end of it. I guess she was thinking about me like "What? What kind of person is this?" (laughs)
―While on the topic, you didn't like to self-study, Isshi?
Isshi: First of all, I didn't do some kinds of homework. But my grades were ordinary. Language and art and music were my strong points.
―So from that time on you were proficient at things related to writing lyrics and being in a band?
Isshi: Although I didn't attend lessons in high school at all, I still got 90% on a test in modern writings. My teacher even accused me, "You must have cheated!" Ahh, but then I naturally flipped out. (laughs)
―You didn't go to lessons, you didn't do your homework, you had bad behaviour, all three qualities that will completely ruin a student for a teacher. I'm sure they were vexed with you.
Isshi: I liked books a lot ever since I was a child. So, along that line I was good at Japanese.
―You've often said before that you like books and written texts of course.
Isshi: My entrance to books first started around the time I took an interest in Buddhist images in grade school. My interest steadily expanded, Buddhist images→Sanskrit→Buddhism. And then I started reading books related to that.
-Buddhist images and Sanskrit, that's considerably refined taste for a grade school student.
Isshi: Originally I was influenced by an older male relative, was it because of the manga "Kujakuou"?(*1) It started when we were reading that.
―Well, it's been said that you respect and admire people like Kyogoku Natsuhiko who have great influence on you, so do you also take interest in the genre of mysteries and the unexplained?
Isshi: I think that's also due to the past, because when I was a child, my grandmother would read folk tales to me every night. Ever since that time, I've loved scary stories.
―You didn't have trouble going to sleep after hearing ghost stories?
Isshi: Not at all! Certainly I'd be scared when I heard them. But, I generally liked that feeling of fear and as soon as I heard the story I'd say, "More, more!"
―Going back to what we talked about, wasn't part of the circumstances in which you took an interest in Buddhism and Buddhist images due to being in a household that recited the sutra every morning?
Isshi: Not at all. But, my home was in a rural area and it may have been a custom for a lot of people.
―Your home was Nagano, right?
Isshi: Yes, Nagano, surrounded 360 degrees by mountains. For instance, when it turns autumn, we'll have an event called "Akibasama." What we do for that is simply, everyone walks up the mountain to eat sweets and talk, but in addition to that we pray for autumn fertility and give thanks for what we have. So what I mean is that it's occasionally gods which represent the seasons to us, but even though I'm not extremely familiar with it I had the chance to experience it.
―But since you have that kind of foundation, you still didn't think much of becoming a Buddhist yourself, did you, Isshi?
Isshi: Once. When I took an interest in Buddhism in grade school, I said I wanted to become a Buddhist monk and went to a temple myself.
―A grade school student who wants to "become a Buddhist monk", I feel like that's also rare isn't it? (laughs)
Isshi: I went to one day of training as an initiate. So it was things like cleaning the floors, and practicing Zen mediation, but it wasn't interesting at all.
―Ahh, is that so?
Isshi: But at that time, being a Buddhist monk to me meant the world of "Kujakuou", so I thought if I was practicing I'd be able to see souls of the departed, and use the power of Buddhism, things like that.
―Unfortunately, reciting the Sutra is of chief importance for Japanese monks in their temples right? (laughs)
Isshi: I half understood that, but I thought it would be good to go and not do any of that. But, even though I went it was boring and the monks were ordinary middle-aged men who weren't good-looking at all, and even then I thought it was okay. But to make matters worse, I had a terrible time at night with the buckwheat chaff pillows. Because I have a buckwheat allergy.
Isshi: They didn't! Or rather, we were with our father, but I guess he had a sense that it was just one of our usual fights?
―Although many brothers fight, in general I don't really imagine an older brother and younger sister having a violent fight like that, you know?
Isshi: I think so too, but we're different right? (wry smile)
―Were you still like that with each other when you both grew up?
Isshi: Yeah, we still have a bad relationship. We don't speak to each other.
―That's troubling isn't it?
Isshi: Occasionally, when I go back to my parents' home. I'll think "We've grown up quite a bit now" and try to meet her halfway, but then she'll make an annoying comment.
―And sadly she'll reject you.
Isshi: For instance, when I say "I'll take over in a minute" without a moment's delay she'll come back with "I can do it myself!" And then I'll switch and say "That's okay too!"
―In that case you're impulsive. Since I only get the impression that you're polite and rational when I look at the usual Isshi, that's a little unexpected.
Isshi: Therefore it was especially so when we were children. Because even in grade school, I wasn't a guy who'd get into fights with the other boys in my class. Or rather, it was a prefecture where we'd pick fights with teachers instead.
―That was when you were in grade school?
Isshi: Yeah. (with a bright smile)
―That is to say, you were...
Isshi: I was considerably a problem child. On top of all that, I was even hit by the principal.
―The school principal?! But generally the principal doesn't have an opportunity to connect directly with the students.
Isshi: That's right. Even so, while I was in class I suddenly got called to the principal's office. So when I entered the room he started saying various things to me, and it seemed like I was being told "I'm not pleased with you." Ahh, but I think my attitude was the real problem at that time.
―Even if that's the case, a principal who is a school teacher with that kind of attitude is part of the problem too right?
Isshi: Having been struck by him, yeah. Furthermore it was fist to face.
―That's cruel. If a principal did such a thing as beat a student nowadays, it'd be scandalous wouldn't it?
Isshi: There'd be a counterattack.
―Ahhhh. (wry smile)
Isshi: Thinking about it now, I was a violent child in my upper grades of primary school. I think the environment wasn't very good too. There was clique rivalry among fellow children, and every day some kind of fight.
―It seems like a V-Cinema kind of world. (laughs)
Isshi: Yeah it really does. If I went home from school and didn't go hang out with anyone, I'd get a phonecall like "This guy said this to so-and-so, I don't like him," and if that's the case, I'd say in front of everyone, "Well, I'll fight him tomorrow!"
―Was your strict father angry to see you have a short temper like that, Isshi?
Isshi: Not at all. I don't remember him saying anything to me in those situations.
―...if I may, I feel like there were some points on which he was wrong in how much he interfered with you as a kid.
Isshi: No, not some, he was wrong in many. (laughs)
―In a sense he let you take your own course right?
Isshi: Completely let me take my own course. If I was gone for a month he wouldn't notice.
―Is that so?!
Isshi: That's a story from my first year of high school, but, over summer break I didn't go home for around a month since I was always hanging out with my friends. So, when I finally went back home around the time school was starting up again, everything was as usual.
―Didn't he even comment to ask where you'd gone?
Isshi: Not at all. On the other hand he wasn't even angry, he was really just as usual. I was asked "Where have you been?" by my mother, but when I told her "I was in the forest," that was the end of it. I guess she was thinking about me like "What? What kind of person is this?" (laughs)
―While on the topic, you didn't like to self-study, Isshi?
Isshi: First of all, I didn't do some kinds of homework. But my grades were ordinary. Language and art and music were my strong points.
―So from that time on you were proficient at things related to writing lyrics and being in a band?
Isshi: Although I didn't attend lessons in high school at all, I still got 90% on a test in modern writings. My teacher even accused me, "You must have cheated!" Ahh, but then I naturally flipped out. (laughs)
―You didn't go to lessons, you didn't do your homework, you had bad behaviour, all three qualities that will completely ruin a student for a teacher. I'm sure they were vexed with you.
Isshi: I liked books a lot ever since I was a child. So, along that line I was good at Japanese.
―You've often said before that you like books and written texts of course.
Isshi: My entrance to books first started around the time I took an interest in Buddhist images in grade school. My interest steadily expanded, Buddhist images→Sanskrit→Buddhism. And then I started reading books related to that.
-Buddhist images and Sanskrit, that's considerably refined taste for a grade school student.
Isshi: Originally I was influenced by an older male relative, was it because of the manga "Kujakuou"?(*1) It started when we were reading that.
―Well, it's been said that you respect and admire people like Kyogoku Natsuhiko who have great influence on you, so do you also take interest in the genre of mysteries and the unexplained?
Isshi: I think that's also due to the past, because when I was a child, my grandmother would read folk tales to me every night. Ever since that time, I've loved scary stories.
―You didn't have trouble going to sleep after hearing ghost stories?
Isshi: Not at all! Certainly I'd be scared when I heard them. But, I generally liked that feeling of fear and as soon as I heard the story I'd say, "More, more!"
―Going back to what we talked about, wasn't part of the circumstances in which you took an interest in Buddhism and Buddhist images due to being in a household that recited the sutra every morning?
Isshi: Not at all. But, my home was in a rural area and it may have been a custom for a lot of people.
―Your home was Nagano, right?
Isshi: Yes, Nagano, surrounded 360 degrees by mountains. For instance, when it turns autumn, we'll have an event called "Akibasama." What we do for that is simply, everyone walks up the mountain to eat sweets and talk, but in addition to that we pray for autumn fertility and give thanks for what we have. So what I mean is that it's occasionally gods which represent the seasons to us, but even though I'm not extremely familiar with it I had the chance to experience it.
―But since you have that kind of foundation, you still didn't think much of becoming a Buddhist yourself, did you, Isshi?
Isshi: Once. When I took an interest in Buddhism in grade school, I said I wanted to become a Buddhist monk and went to a temple myself.
―A grade school student who wants to "become a Buddhist monk", I feel like that's also rare isn't it? (laughs)
Isshi: I went to one day of training as an initiate. So it was things like cleaning the floors, and practicing Zen mediation, but it wasn't interesting at all.
―Ahh, is that so?
Isshi: But at that time, being a Buddhist monk to me meant the world of "Kujakuou", so I thought if I was practicing I'd be able to see souls of the departed, and use the power of Buddhism, things like that.
―Unfortunately, reciting the Sutra is of chief importance for Japanese monks in their temples right? (laughs)
Isshi: I half understood that, but I thought it would be good to go and not do any of that. But, even though I went it was boring and the monks were ordinary middle-aged men who weren't good-looking at all, and even then I thought it was okay. But to make matters worse, I had a terrible time at night with the buckwheat chaff pillows. Because I have a buckwheat allergy.
―An allergy, that's nothing minor. Did it get serious?
Isshi: I was hospitalized with pneumonia. So, even now when we're on tours and such and we go to local hotels, the first thing I do is always make sure that the pillows aren't buckwheat chaff. (laughs)
―So all you got out of your duties was a lesson unrelated to the main point?
Isshi: But I understood it in the way of a grade school student. Pursuing something that I liked, I understood that the looks and style of the Buddhist monks were only in fiction. After that, it was still cool that Buddhist images had 6 arms and such, things like that, you know? That's what I understood.
―Aside from being a monk boy, what other occupation did you want, Isshi?
Isshi: This is the very first thing I wanted to be, but a carver.
―So refined once again!
Isshi: Well wasn't my house an old house? As such, there were fine details engraved in the transom, and when I saw that I thought I want to become a person who can make that.
―Having such unusual interests as a boy, do you remember having felt out of place in conversations with your friends?
Isshi: Instead, I drew in the people around me. As manga like "Kujakuou" and "Myououden Rei"(*2) became popular, Buddhist imagery became popular too. It felt like "This is cool right?" "Yeah it's cool!"
―Even in the first song "Murakumo" on your album 燦 ～san～ which releases on July 20th, you use a verse from the Heart Sutra, and that still has a meaning relating to Buddhism right?
Isshi: It doesn't particularly have a religious affiliation, but I still think it's interesting. Things like Zen dialogue about 'What is Nothing?' and such, discovering the answers within ourselves, things like that.
―And at the same time, your various interests in temples, Buddhist images, and Buddhism was an entryway that you continued with later in Kagrra as a band. That's how you bring about the worldview of 'Wa' right?
Isshi: When I think about that, I'm someone who really hasn't changed anything about the things I like from the time I was a child.
―Plus, maybe the spirit of 'Wa' was cultivated due to the environment where you were raised? Because I think it's likely that if you were to talk of your earliest memories, the image of a Japanese house in a mountain valley would come naturally to you?
Isshi: To put it simply, it was a vast scenery like in Japanese legends. A rural area where the closest shop from home was about 4-5 kilometers. Because we lived in the basin, summers were hot and winters were cold, and the snow was impressive.
―You could go out to play as you wanted, but it must have been challenging to pass the time?
Isshi: But since that's the way I was raised, I thought it was easy when I imagined various things written in old legends.
―So surely, people who were born and raised in Tokyo are difficult for you?
Isshi: Because for me the four seasons are clear and there's a lot of nature. When snow falls in winter, we'd make giant snow huts and drink sake inside.
―That's one thing I'm not used to as someone from Tokyo. I'm jealous!
Isshi: Also I'd dig up all of the field in my parents' land and work the field with a radio-controlled four-wheel drive. Wouldn't that be impossible in the city? Ahh, but when I did that my father would whap me. (wry smile)
―When I listen to you talking about things like that, I get the impression that you were raised to be comfortable doing various things. I don't know if you had any tangible prospects for your future when you were a middle school student, but what were you thinking about at that time, Isshi?
Isshi: For some reason, I was stuck on baseball in middle school.
―Does that have relation to being a young monk?
Isshi: No, not at all. (laughs) The occasion was that in my fifth year of primary school, I went for a homestay in America.
―Eh?! You did that kind of thing?!
Isshi: At the time, my mother said "America seems like a good place for you to go study," so without even thinking about it I went off just like that. On my own.
―Completely on your own?
Isshi: It seems like grade school students usually go two at a time and stay in one house, but I happened to have some relatives there so I went alone. So, going was okay but from the moment I arrived I didn't understand what I was supposed to do.
―That's natural.
Isshi： Because I didn't understand what people were saying, I didn't even have anyone to ask for help. As you'd expect I was homesick in the beginning, but somehow or other I got through that by devoting myself to having a good time. I didn't particularly think I'd study all that much, so I had brought 3 radio-controlled models with me in my suitcase. Even though I was stopped for a check at customs. So I was doing nothing but playing with those.
―But it's necessary to come to a mutual understanding with your host family, right? Even if you eat alone.
Isshi: For that it was super gestures. If I could say "Yes" and "No" somehow or other we could do it. So, in that house there were 3 kids, and the eldest son John was a baseball boy, so I think I took interest in what he was doing from watching him.
―And then Baseball Boy Isshi was born?
Isshi: Right. I immediately joined a hardball team in the next community.
―What was your position?
Isshi: I was the catcher. Wondering what I'd do, there were various things. But I thought that was cool.
―Looks & style even enter into something like that, right?
Isshi: That's right. (laughs) Catcher, number 3, Captain, I had a lot of ideals like that. Actually I was catcher and number 3, but I didn't become captain.
―How long were you playing baseball?
Isshi： Until the end of my second year in Junior High. I was serious about it up until then, like, "I'll go to Koushien!"(*2) and I'd gone to a match at Tokyo Dome.
―If you liked baseball so much, why did you stop?
Isshi: Because I wanted to grow out my hair.
―Is that it? Looks & style entered your mind.
Isshi: That's right. Maybe that was around when I started getting more awareness of music. But at first I didn't particularly want to be in a band or anything.
―What do you mean?
Isshi: The first CD I bought was Hikaru GENJI(*3), and I was inspired by Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi(*4) to want a guitar. So, I was thinking about making music one way or another, and thought I'd buy a guitar, but after that it was funny. Up until then I didn't know how to do anything except baseball, so first I just thought it would be cool to think "I'll be in a band!" and I looked at a mail order page and decided to buy "That one!" and it was hide's model. He had painted the body of it himself.
―But if inspired by Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi why hide's model? Or should I say, why did you choose an electric model?
Isshi: Yeah, because at the time I didn't even know there were acoustic and electric guitars. At first, 'I want a guitar'→looking at them一'That one's cool', so I bought that one. And then when I showed it to my friends the first thing they said was, "Wow, that's hide's model!" But I didn't even understand about that. It was like, "Eh? Who's hide?! Does he sell guitars like this?"
―Ignorance is a terrifying thing. (laughs)
Isshi: I bought it because I thought it was unusual, and yet they said that. (wry smile)
―Since you had zero preparations and knowledge before that point, how did you start playing guitar?
Isshi: I copied, of course. I did "Junrenka" by Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi.
―With the hide model?
Isshi: Yeah, with that. Because I had bought it.
―That's funny. (laughs) Or should I say that, it's funny but you plunged right in. Because at that time, Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi was starting to grow out his hair too, so it feels like a bit of an unusual story.
Isshi: No, but it surely wasn't that his hair was long, but that having long hair is stylish, right? You don't have long hair on a baseball team.
Isshi: I was hospitalized with pneumonia. So, even now when we're on tours and such and we go to local hotels, the first thing I do is always make sure that the pillows aren't buckwheat chaff. (laughs)
―So all you got out of your duties was a lesson unrelated to the main point?
Isshi: But I understood it in the way of a grade school student. Pursuing something that I liked, I understood that the looks and style of the Buddhist monks were only in fiction. After that, it was still cool that Buddhist images had 6 arms and such, things like that, you know? That's what I understood.
―Aside from being a monk boy, what other occupation did you want, Isshi?
Isshi: This is the very first thing I wanted to be, but a carver.
―So refined once again!
Isshi: Well wasn't my house an old house? As such, there were fine details engraved in the transom, and when I saw that I thought I want to become a person who can make that.
―Having such unusual interests as a boy, do you remember having felt out of place in conversations with your friends?
Isshi: Instead, I drew in the people around me. As manga like "Kujakuou" and "Myououden Rei"(*2) became popular, Buddhist imagery became popular too. It felt like "This is cool right?" "Yeah it's cool!"
―Even in the first song "Murakumo" on your album 燦 ～san～ which releases on July 20th, you use a verse from the Heart Sutra, and that still has a meaning relating to Buddhism right?
Isshi: It doesn't particularly have a religious affiliation, but I still think it's interesting. Things like Zen dialogue about 'What is Nothing?' and such, discovering the answers within ourselves, things like that.
―And at the same time, your various interests in temples, Buddhist images, and Buddhism was an entryway that you continued with later in Kagrra as a band. That's how you bring about the worldview of 'Wa' right?
Isshi: When I think about that, I'm someone who really hasn't changed anything about the things I like from the time I was a child.
―Plus, maybe the spirit of 'Wa' was cultivated due to the environment where you were raised? Because I think it's likely that if you were to talk of your earliest memories, the image of a Japanese house in a mountain valley would come naturally to you?
Isshi: To put it simply, it was a vast scenery like in Japanese legends. A rural area where the closest shop from home was about 4-5 kilometers. Because we lived in the basin, summers were hot and winters were cold, and the snow was impressive.
―You could go out to play as you wanted, but it must have been challenging to pass the time?
Isshi: But since that's the way I was raised, I thought it was easy when I imagined various things written in old legends.
―So surely, people who were born and raised in Tokyo are difficult for you?
Isshi: Because for me the four seasons are clear and there's a lot of nature. When snow falls in winter, we'd make giant snow huts and drink sake inside.
―That's one thing I'm not used to as someone from Tokyo. I'm jealous!
Isshi: Also I'd dig up all of the field in my parents' land and work the field with a radio-controlled four-wheel drive. Wouldn't that be impossible in the city? Ahh, but when I did that my father would whap me. (wry smile)
―When I listen to you talking about things like that, I get the impression that you were raised to be comfortable doing various things. I don't know if you had any tangible prospects for your future when you were a middle school student, but what were you thinking about at that time, Isshi?
Isshi: For some reason, I was stuck on baseball in middle school.
―Does that have relation to being a young monk?
Isshi: No, not at all. (laughs) The occasion was that in my fifth year of primary school, I went for a homestay in America.
―Eh?! You did that kind of thing?!
Isshi: At the time, my mother said "America seems like a good place for you to go study," so without even thinking about it I went off just like that. On my own.
―Completely on your own?
Isshi: It seems like grade school students usually go two at a time and stay in one house, but I happened to have some relatives there so I went alone. So, going was okay but from the moment I arrived I didn't understand what I was supposed to do.
―That's natural.
Isshi： Because I didn't understand what people were saying, I didn't even have anyone to ask for help. As you'd expect I was homesick in the beginning, but somehow or other I got through that by devoting myself to having a good time. I didn't particularly think I'd study all that much, so I had brought 3 radio-controlled models with me in my suitcase. Even though I was stopped for a check at customs. So I was doing nothing but playing with those.
―But it's necessary to come to a mutual understanding with your host family, right? Even if you eat alone.
Isshi: For that it was super gestures. If I could say "Yes" and "No" somehow or other we could do it. So, in that house there were 3 kids, and the eldest son John was a baseball boy, so I think I took interest in what he was doing from watching him.
―And then Baseball Boy Isshi was born?
Isshi: Right. I immediately joined a hardball team in the next community.
―What was your position?
Isshi: I was the catcher. Wondering what I'd do, there were various things. But I thought that was cool.
―Looks & style even enter into something like that, right?
Isshi: That's right. (laughs) Catcher, number 3, Captain, I had a lot of ideals like that. Actually I was catcher and number 3, but I didn't become captain.
―How long were you playing baseball?
Isshi： Until the end of my second year in Junior High. I was serious about it up until then, like, "I'll go to Koushien!"(*2) and I'd gone to a match at Tokyo Dome.
―If you liked baseball so much, why did you stop?
Isshi: Because I wanted to grow out my hair.
―Is that it? Looks & style entered your mind.
Isshi: That's right. Maybe that was around when I started getting more awareness of music. But at first I didn't particularly want to be in a band or anything.
―What do you mean?
Isshi: The first CD I bought was Hikaru GENJI(*3), and I was inspired by Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi(*4) to want a guitar. So, I was thinking about making music one way or another, and thought I'd buy a guitar, but after that it was funny. Up until then I didn't know how to do anything except baseball, so first I just thought it would be cool to think "I'll be in a band!" and I looked at a mail order page and decided to buy "That one!" and it was hide's model. He had painted the body of it himself.
―But if inspired by Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi why hide's model? Or should I say, why did you choose an electric model?
Isshi: Yeah, because at the time I didn't even know there were acoustic and electric guitars. At first, 'I want a guitar'→looking at them一'That one's cool', so I bought that one. And then when I showed it to my friends the first thing they said was, "Wow, that's hide's model!" But I didn't even understand about that. It was like, "Eh? Who's hide?! Does he sell guitars like this?"
―Ignorance is a terrifying thing. (laughs)
Isshi: I bought it because I thought it was unusual, and yet they said that. (wry smile)
―Since you had zero preparations and knowledge before that point, how did you start playing guitar?
Isshi: I copied, of course. I did "Junrenka" by Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi.
―With the hide model?
Isshi: Yeah, with that. Because I had bought it.
―That's funny. (laughs) Or should I say that, it's funny but you plunged right in. Because at that time, Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi was starting to grow out his hair too, so it feels like a bit of an unusual story.
Isshi: No, but it surely wasn't that his hair was long, but that having long hair is stylish, right? You don't have long hair on a baseball team.
―I see, so it was like that.
Isshi: Yeah. Ahh, but the result was that in recoil from being a monk boy I grew my hair out long.
―How did you go from those circumstances to coming into contact with things like bands and rock like you are now?
Isshi: For the music and presence part, it was LUNA SEA. I heard about them from my friends, but the song I liked more than anything else at first was "IMAGE" so I listened to it quite a lot. Then, when I looked at magazines and videos, I'd see RYUICHI with long extensions that went all the way down to his heels, and everyone's makeup, so it could've been that? "Bands wearing makeup," that had a huge impact, and from there it gradually sunk in.
―Naturally, you overlooked that long hair could be a violation of school regulations.
Isshi: Right. Or should I say, at the school I went to it was great, a senpai had hair in 7 colours like someone from BUCK-TICK.
―Although BUCK-TICK hasn't had 7-coloured hair. (wry smile)
Isshi: It's not that the style itself was showy, but actually every day after school, people would form a ring around the bicycle storage area for a fight, and things like that, but I think I was getting tired of those things around when my interest in music emerged. Somehow, after I entered high school, I lost that volatile aspect you know? For example if I was invited "Let's go see the fight!" I'd feel like "But I just want to be in a band" and I wouldn't go.
―Going back to how being in a band means a showy appearance, that's a surprisingly stoic point and strong on the surface isn't it?
Isshi: At that time I was to be in a band with my seniors, but as you'd expect, everyone was seriously their own way. Since my seniors were just people who didn't even go to school, it happened they'd often come to my school to pick me up while I was in class. It wasn't a comedy skit(*5), but there'd be the "puappa~~" from the car. (laughs)
―Like Baba-san in "Haneru Tobira" was doing it. (laughs)
Isshi: I could hear him down below, saying, "Oi, rehearsal time!" (laughs)
―And you left early just like that?!
Isshi: It's as you say. So it seems the school called my mother in return.
―In cases like that, didn't they say to your mother things like "He can't be managed?"
Isshi: Not at all. My mother is also pretty much a switch type, so she'd say, "He wants to make music so it can't be helped!" and I'd be angry at school when I went back.
―It's wonderful that she understood.
Isshi: For me, I think I was already finishing my term of high school around when I started to become serious about music, so I couldn't be prevented from that by my parents. And for my parents, they wanted me to graduate first and then afterward it seemed I could do whatever I liked. So, since it seemed there was no way to grow as a band in Nagano, I had to go to Tokyo. So right after high school I was commuting to a music school in Tokyo for 1 week.
―You must be grateful to both your parents who stood by you in everything, right?
Isshi: They both like music, you know? So maybe they understood me there. Mother had her eye on being a traditional singer, and even Father liked jazz and played trumpet.
―Ah is that so? Incidentally, what were the details of you finding your calling as a vocalist, Isshi, when you got a guitar in the beginning?
Isshi: I liked to sing from the time I was a child. Since I liked it, it was a strong point. So in music period we'd sing based on a model and record tapes, and things like that, you know? It seems like after I graduated those tapes were still useful.
―And nobody knew that would be the future "Isshi". (laughs)
Isshi: Afterall, Mother was always singing. Things like "Ueno's night train~♪"(Tsugaru Kaikyou Fuyugeshiki by Ishikawa Sayuri). As you'd expect that had a huge influence on me. So even though I had a guitar in the beginning, soon enough I started to want to sing.
―So you finally began activity in Tokyo immediately after you graduated high school, Isshi?
Isshi: I came here when I was 18 years old with my band at that time. For me that ties in to how it is now, you know? Izumi and Naoran were already here.
―The band that would be the mother of Kagrra. I don't recall any magazines or the like touching on what was said in that meeting, but was your Isshi-like vocal style already established at that time?
Isshi: I think so. I thought singing as usual was boring at first. So, thinking about things like 'Wa', it's simply because I like pretty things. What I mean is, since I like pretty voices, I was thinking I'd like to sing with a style that's indiscernible as a man or a woman.
―And thus what was born was the falsetto which came to be your unique style of vocals, right?
Isshi: What I was aiming for, was the world of "Castrato" like in the movies. And then like Mera-san's voice in "Mononoke-hime". Although we're a rock band, I thought it would be great to have that sort of graceful singing as the focal point. Like 'nobody else is doing this'! Ahh, because at that time I still didn't know about Queen. (laughs)
―It's okay, since Kagrra's biggest asset is the worldview of 'Wa' anyway.
Isshi: Ahh, but in addition to that we're truly just doing what we like to do.
―Even so, with the things you were aiming for and the things you are currently continuing to aim for your hurdles as a vocalist were pretty high right? Singing range, and vocal volume, and voice techniques, it seems like you're doing all of this at an advanced level.
Isshi: There's surely techniques to actually do the things for which I think 'I want it like this!' But, it's not just technique that's necessary to do it, you know?I think for me, the power of imagination is also just as important.
―That is to say, a kind of self-suggestion is something important to you?
Isshi: Yes, that's right. When I seriously think, 'I can do this!' there's no way that I can't do it.
―You take ideas that bloom out of alignment and turn them into reality.
Isshi: Therefore, things like costumes and makeup, they're necessary to strengthen the image to an extent. Changing eye colour is like becoming a different being, so it's like, you can do things that you couldn't usually do.
―Changing forms, like flipping on a kind of switch, right?
Isshi: But in the past, it was difficult without regularly flipping the switch.
―Like wearing your costumes on a daily basis?
Isshi: Something like that. (laughs) Anyway, what made people look was when I walked around as usual with my hair coloured.
―As of now, it's a pretty casual style so I feel like you'd blend in when you're in the street.
Isshi: At one point the situation changed. As the band was gradually becoming bigger, we were becoming more professional, and hand in hand with that comes being comfortable with such a form, doesn't it? It's no good if thinking 'This is me!', doesn't have a natural appeal right?
―If you're not always bracing yourself, you become someone familiar with the 'On' status and self-confidence might follow that, when you do it over and over.
Isshi: I think so. I had to know how to use it properly. Ahh, and then to put it bluntly I hate going out.
―Naturally. (laughs)
Isshi: Because of that, for me there's a huge gap between 'On' and 'Off', so I can't usually talk to people.
Isshi: Yeah. Ahh, but the result was that in recoil from being a monk boy I grew my hair out long.
―How did you go from those circumstances to coming into contact with things like bands and rock like you are now?
Isshi: For the music and presence part, it was LUNA SEA. I heard about them from my friends, but the song I liked more than anything else at first was "IMAGE" so I listened to it quite a lot. Then, when I looked at magazines and videos, I'd see RYUICHI with long extensions that went all the way down to his heels, and everyone's makeup, so it could've been that? "Bands wearing makeup," that had a huge impact, and from there it gradually sunk in.
―Naturally, you overlooked that long hair could be a violation of school regulations.
Isshi: Right. Or should I say, at the school I went to it was great, a senpai had hair in 7 colours like someone from BUCK-TICK.
―Although BUCK-TICK hasn't had 7-coloured hair. (wry smile)
Isshi: It's not that the style itself was showy, but actually every day after school, people would form a ring around the bicycle storage area for a fight, and things like that, but I think I was getting tired of those things around when my interest in music emerged. Somehow, after I entered high school, I lost that volatile aspect you know? For example if I was invited "Let's go see the fight!" I'd feel like "But I just want to be in a band" and I wouldn't go.
―Going back to how being in a band means a showy appearance, that's a surprisingly stoic point and strong on the surface isn't it?
Isshi: At that time I was to be in a band with my seniors, but as you'd expect, everyone was seriously their own way. Since my seniors were just people who didn't even go to school, it happened they'd often come to my school to pick me up while I was in class. It wasn't a comedy skit(*5), but there'd be the "puappa~~" from the car. (laughs)
―Like Baba-san in "Haneru Tobira" was doing it. (laughs)
Isshi: I could hear him down below, saying, "Oi, rehearsal time!" (laughs)
―And you left early just like that?!
Isshi: It's as you say. So it seems the school called my mother in return.
―In cases like that, didn't they say to your mother things like "He can't be managed?"
Isshi: Not at all. My mother is also pretty much a switch type, so she'd say, "He wants to make music so it can't be helped!" and I'd be angry at school when I went back.
―It's wonderful that she understood.
Isshi: For me, I think I was already finishing my term of high school around when I started to become serious about music, so I couldn't be prevented from that by my parents. And for my parents, they wanted me to graduate first and then afterward it seemed I could do whatever I liked. So, since it seemed there was no way to grow as a band in Nagano, I had to go to Tokyo. So right after high school I was commuting to a music school in Tokyo for 1 week.
―You must be grateful to both your parents who stood by you in everything, right?
Isshi: They both like music, you know? So maybe they understood me there. Mother had her eye on being a traditional singer, and even Father liked jazz and played trumpet.
―Ah is that so? Incidentally, what were the details of you finding your calling as a vocalist, Isshi, when you got a guitar in the beginning?
Isshi: I liked to sing from the time I was a child. Since I liked it, it was a strong point. So in music period we'd sing based on a model and record tapes, and things like that, you know? It seems like after I graduated those tapes were still useful.
―And nobody knew that would be the future "Isshi". (laughs)
Isshi: Afterall, Mother was always singing. Things like "Ueno's night train~♪"(Tsugaru Kaikyou Fuyugeshiki by Ishikawa Sayuri). As you'd expect that had a huge influence on me. So even though I had a guitar in the beginning, soon enough I started to want to sing.
―So you finally began activity in Tokyo immediately after you graduated high school, Isshi?
Isshi: I came here when I was 18 years old with my band at that time. For me that ties in to how it is now, you know? Izumi and Naoran were already here.
―The band that would be the mother of Kagrra. I don't recall any magazines or the like touching on what was said in that meeting, but was your Isshi-like vocal style already established at that time?
Isshi: I think so. I thought singing as usual was boring at first. So, thinking about things like 'Wa', it's simply because I like pretty things. What I mean is, since I like pretty voices, I was thinking I'd like to sing with a style that's indiscernible as a man or a woman.
―And thus what was born was the falsetto which came to be your unique style of vocals, right?
Isshi: What I was aiming for, was the world of "Castrato" like in the movies. And then like Mera-san's voice in "Mononoke-hime". Although we're a rock band, I thought it would be great to have that sort of graceful singing as the focal point. Like 'nobody else is doing this'! Ahh, because at that time I still didn't know about Queen. (laughs)
―It's okay, since Kagrra's biggest asset is the worldview of 'Wa' anyway.
Isshi: Ahh, but in addition to that we're truly just doing what we like to do.
―Even so, with the things you were aiming for and the things you are currently continuing to aim for your hurdles as a vocalist were pretty high right? Singing range, and vocal volume, and voice techniques, it seems like you're doing all of this at an advanced level.
Isshi: There's surely techniques to actually do the things for which I think 'I want it like this!' But, it's not just technique that's necessary to do it, you know?I think for me, the power of imagination is also just as important.
―That is to say, a kind of self-suggestion is something important to you?
Isshi: Yes, that's right. When I seriously think, 'I can do this!' there's no way that I can't do it.
―You take ideas that bloom out of alignment and turn them into reality.
Isshi: Therefore, things like costumes and makeup, they're necessary to strengthen the image to an extent. Changing eye colour is like becoming a different being, so it's like, you can do things that you couldn't usually do.
―Changing forms, like flipping on a kind of switch, right?
Isshi: But in the past, it was difficult without regularly flipping the switch.
―Like wearing your costumes on a daily basis?
Isshi: Something like that. (laughs) Anyway, what made people look was when I walked around as usual with my hair coloured.
―As of now, it's a pretty casual style so I feel like you'd blend in when you're in the street.
Isshi: At one point the situation changed. As the band was gradually becoming bigger, we were becoming more professional, and hand in hand with that comes being comfortable with such a form, doesn't it? It's no good if thinking 'This is me!', doesn't have a natural appeal right?
―If you're not always bracing yourself, you become someone familiar with the 'On' status and self-confidence might follow that, when you do it over and over.
Isshi: I think so. I had to know how to use it properly. Ahh, and then to put it bluntly I hate going out.
―Naturally. (laughs)
Isshi: Because of that, for me there's a huge gap between 'On' and 'Off', so I can't usually talk to people.
―If that's the case, don't you get a little lonely?
Isshi: I don't. While I'm timid I'll ride the train. (laughs)
―I've heard various times up to now, that Isshi is a person who in times like that has positive self-love, and seems to live the way he wants to live, but do you have those aspects which are commonly referred to as setbacks?
Isshi: What... ...Yeah. Maybe I do. Saying that, it's not about victory or defeat when compared with someone else, but since I am myself I'm always the way I am.
―Because Kagrra is still in pursuit of the world of 'Wa', it can be said that's because "Kagrra is Kagrra" right?
Isshi: I have a feeling that a world that is beautiful and fascinating and extraordinary in a sense can surely only be made by Kagrra. And that's exactly why I don't write lyrics that are too subjective.
―Within the extraordinary world depicted by Kagrra, the symbol of "Oni" crops up everywhere, and often emerges as a keyword. "Oni" is a major component of your personal fascinations isn't it Isshi? What was it that got you into your deep knowledge about Oni?
Isshi: I think it was because of Buddhism and Buddhist images, those strange interests. Aren't there Oni gods? After Miroku and Shaka, I thought the Wisdom Kings were cool.(*6)
―In the past you became a three-eyed Oni princess on stage of course, but doesn't "Oni" have a more personal connection to you?
Isshi: Well, when I'm on stage, I'm basically what I want to give the appearance of.
―In other words, you're saying you want to be an Oni.
Isshi: It seems like I'm revealing my emotions. Because usually that's the part of me I keep restrained.
―Speaking as though you have triple souls, and up until now you were speaking impulsively Isshi. But if you usually restrain that, is it usually released only when you're on stage?
Isshi: That's right.Therefore, Izumi and Naoran, who have known me a long time, understand I wasn't like this in the past. Now it seems like my usual atmosphere is that of a really kind older brother with a great smile, but speaking of that...
―You've had bad character. (wry smile)
Isshi: That's how it is, isn't it? It's like I ascended into being a human. But, since I've been with Izumi and Naoran all along, I notice kind of in passing that the human wears off, and it seems like "What? Only when I'm with these 2 people...?" So, I think I've done a bad job of growing up as I wished.
―People change, but you were transformed.
Isshi: When I was in Nagano it seemed that people would come to me as long as they had strength. But I was just going at my own pace, and when I'd manipulate the people around me, before long I had nobody around me. I noticed after I came to Tokyo. I thought the world of bands would be an absolutely savage survival of the fittest, but it wasn't like that. (laughs)
―So you were even like that in that time. But even so you don't seem to be like the former eras of Isshi at all you know?
Isshi: So I recall it being a disappointment at first. Even the other bands we performed with would all smile and say things like "It's been fun~"
―Generally, even in comparison to Kagrra's own members, you're not extremely docile people, right? Even without getting drunk and being noisy you have a lot of character.
Isshi: Ahh, that's right. But, the truth is that everyone has a part of them that they keep hidden. Like being unexpectedly violent.
―Ohh! But I didn't get that impression until now.
Isshi: I think it wasn't just me, but everyone else grew up too.
―On the contrary, aren't various things part of the process of growing up?
Isshi: That's true, certainly.
―Is that a risk of disbandment?
Isshi: It has been. All the members have various things like that.
―How soon do you talk it over after you've calmed down?
Isshi: Quite soon.
―Is that so?!
Isshi: Because looking around recently, it really seems like, "No way~ Everyone grew up!" right? With 5 people, lately we can actually look back at the past and laugh like, "We were like that back then weren't we?"
―Kagrra has history doesn't it?
Isshi: In the things we've done up until now, in being able to follow our natures and each other, yeah I think so.
―That's what I was trying to say. I feel like at the time of Kagrra's debut, the atmosphere was somewhat tense and a little unstable.
Isshi: At that time, the things we wanted to do and the things we absolutely had to do, were smoothly linked within ourselves. We had the sense of breaking down a plaster wall that was standing in our way! That kind of feeling.
―What was your opportunity to escape from circumstances that had blocked you in?
Isshi: It was that we wanted to make music, and wanted to make even better music. When we became aware of that again, we could see our way naturally.
―And being interested in and curious about various things, one way or another you're captivated by the style of everything, so the thing called "music" was the way you were set on, right, Isshi?
Isshi: That's the strange thing about me. 10 years had passed since I started, but I didn't get tired of it, and it was always the most important thing to me. There were difficult things, and there were painful times, and I'd be singing nevertheless. I wanted to try writing a book but I unexpectedly became interested in singing, so would I sing or write a book? When I was told that instead of being able to write a book, I might not be able to use my voice, no matter what I had to sing.
―Your songs are becoming a life work for you, Isshi.
Isshi: I can't envision how things will turn out just yet, but I think it's certainly one of them. I want to sing more like this, I want to make my voice come out this way, things like that. Besides, a "song" is like a Möbius loop.
―And your heart?
Isshi: When I apply techniques I become a little better, so the truth is I can still be pleased with my vocal quality from the past, you know? Therefore my current skill relates to how my voice came out in that time, thoughts like that gush forth one by one.
―Accumulating as part of growth, the recent album "燦 ～san～" is certainly packed full of those thoughts.
Isshi: It's a new effort with a plentiful harvest. Being able to make it something interesting, that certainly takes a lot of self-confidence.
―What kind of views do you have about that in the present time, as Isshi of Kagrra?
Isshi: Do the things you want when you want to do them. And in addition to that, no matter what the people around you say, don't pay it any mind. They might say they want to understand, but they can't tell you "You must think like this!"
―That seems like it might be important to you.
Isshi: Often, people with origins in Visual Kei come into musicianship later but they'll get angry when they're called Visual Kei don't they? (laughs) I'm not like that.
―Visual Kei isn't an insult to you, Isshi, is it?
Isshi: That's right. After all, isn't Visual Kei in a sense about people who are making music? Along with that music there might be classic people wearing suits, if it's ethnic music people might wear ethnic costumes, and metal people might wear things like slim jeans, right? When I think about it, when we do anything like that isn't it Visual Kei?
―It's just as you say.
Isshi: For me, that's what Visual Kei means. It won't be anything else. (laughs)
Isshi: I don't. While I'm timid I'll ride the train. (laughs)
―I've heard various times up to now, that Isshi is a person who in times like that has positive self-love, and seems to live the way he wants to live, but do you have those aspects which are commonly referred to as setbacks?
Isshi: What... ...Yeah. Maybe I do. Saying that, it's not about victory or defeat when compared with someone else, but since I am myself I'm always the way I am.
―Because Kagrra is still in pursuit of the world of 'Wa', it can be said that's because "Kagrra is Kagrra" right?
Isshi: I have a feeling that a world that is beautiful and fascinating and extraordinary in a sense can surely only be made by Kagrra. And that's exactly why I don't write lyrics that are too subjective.
―Within the extraordinary world depicted by Kagrra, the symbol of "Oni" crops up everywhere, and often emerges as a keyword. "Oni" is a major component of your personal fascinations isn't it Isshi? What was it that got you into your deep knowledge about Oni?
Isshi: I think it was because of Buddhism and Buddhist images, those strange interests. Aren't there Oni gods? After Miroku and Shaka, I thought the Wisdom Kings were cool.(*6)
―In the past you became a three-eyed Oni princess on stage of course, but doesn't "Oni" have a more personal connection to you?
Isshi: Well, when I'm on stage, I'm basically what I want to give the appearance of.
―In other words, you're saying you want to be an Oni.
Isshi: It seems like I'm revealing my emotions. Because usually that's the part of me I keep restrained.
―Speaking as though you have triple souls, and up until now you were speaking impulsively Isshi. But if you usually restrain that, is it usually released only when you're on stage?
Isshi: That's right.Therefore, Izumi and Naoran, who have known me a long time, understand I wasn't like this in the past. Now it seems like my usual atmosphere is that of a really kind older brother with a great smile, but speaking of that...
―You've had bad character. (wry smile)
Isshi: That's how it is, isn't it? It's like I ascended into being a human. But, since I've been with Izumi and Naoran all along, I notice kind of in passing that the human wears off, and it seems like "What? Only when I'm with these 2 people...?" So, I think I've done a bad job of growing up as I wished.
―People change, but you were transformed.
Isshi: When I was in Nagano it seemed that people would come to me as long as they had strength. But I was just going at my own pace, and when I'd manipulate the people around me, before long I had nobody around me. I noticed after I came to Tokyo. I thought the world of bands would be an absolutely savage survival of the fittest, but it wasn't like that. (laughs)
―So you were even like that in that time. But even so you don't seem to be like the former eras of Isshi at all you know?
Isshi: So I recall it being a disappointment at first. Even the other bands we performed with would all smile and say things like "It's been fun~"
―Generally, even in comparison to Kagrra's own members, you're not extremely docile people, right? Even without getting drunk and being noisy you have a lot of character.
Isshi: Ahh, that's right. But, the truth is that everyone has a part of them that they keep hidden. Like being unexpectedly violent.
―Ohh! But I didn't get that impression until now.
Isshi: I think it wasn't just me, but everyone else grew up too.
―On the contrary, aren't various things part of the process of growing up?
Isshi: That's true, certainly.
―Is that a risk of disbandment?
Isshi: It has been. All the members have various things like that.
―How soon do you talk it over after you've calmed down?
Isshi: Quite soon.
―Is that so?!
Isshi: Because looking around recently, it really seems like, "No way~ Everyone grew up!" right? With 5 people, lately we can actually look back at the past and laugh like, "We were like that back then weren't we?"
―Kagrra has history doesn't it?
Isshi: In the things we've done up until now, in being able to follow our natures and each other, yeah I think so.
―That's what I was trying to say. I feel like at the time of Kagrra's debut, the atmosphere was somewhat tense and a little unstable.
Isshi: At that time, the things we wanted to do and the things we absolutely had to do, were smoothly linked within ourselves. We had the sense of breaking down a plaster wall that was standing in our way! That kind of feeling.
―What was your opportunity to escape from circumstances that had blocked you in?
Isshi: It was that we wanted to make music, and wanted to make even better music. When we became aware of that again, we could see our way naturally.
―And being interested in and curious about various things, one way or another you're captivated by the style of everything, so the thing called "music" was the way you were set on, right, Isshi?
Isshi: That's the strange thing about me. 10 years had passed since I started, but I didn't get tired of it, and it was always the most important thing to me. There were difficult things, and there were painful times, and I'd be singing nevertheless. I wanted to try writing a book but I unexpectedly became interested in singing, so would I sing or write a book? When I was told that instead of being able to write a book, I might not be able to use my voice, no matter what I had to sing.
―Your songs are becoming a life work for you, Isshi.
Isshi: I can't envision how things will turn out just yet, but I think it's certainly one of them. I want to sing more like this, I want to make my voice come out this way, things like that. Besides, a "song" is like a Möbius loop.
―And your heart?
Isshi: When I apply techniques I become a little better, so the truth is I can still be pleased with my vocal quality from the past, you know? Therefore my current skill relates to how my voice came out in that time, thoughts like that gush forth one by one.
―Accumulating as part of growth, the recent album "燦 ～san～" is certainly packed full of those thoughts.
Isshi: It's a new effort with a plentiful harvest. Being able to make it something interesting, that certainly takes a lot of self-confidence.
―What kind of views do you have about that in the present time, as Isshi of Kagrra?
Isshi: Do the things you want when you want to do them. And in addition to that, no matter what the people around you say, don't pay it any mind. They might say they want to understand, but they can't tell you "You must think like this!"
―That seems like it might be important to you.
Isshi: Often, people with origins in Visual Kei come into musicianship later but they'll get angry when they're called Visual Kei don't they? (laughs) I'm not like that.
―Visual Kei isn't an insult to you, Isshi, is it?
Isshi: That's right. After all, isn't Visual Kei in a sense about people who are making music? Along with that music there might be classic people wearing suits, if it's ethnic music people might wear ethnic costumes, and metal people might wear things like slim jeans, right? When I think about it, when we do anything like that isn't it Visual Kei?
―It's just as you say.
Isshi: For me, that's what Visual Kei means. It won't be anything else. (laughs)
Notes:
1- Kujakuou (Peacock King, but the English title is Spirit Warrior) is a manga by Makoto Ogino. Myououden Rei is a manga by Kikuchi Toshio, but I'm not sure if it has an English translation.
2- Koushien is both a word referring to high school baseball tournaments, as well as the stadium where the tournament finals are held.
3- Hikaru GENJI are a Johnny's idol group.
4- Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi is a prominent singer/songwriter and guitarist.
5- I'm pretty sure this is the comedy skit Isshi's referencing in this section.
6- Miroku is the Japanese name for Maitreya, Shaka is Gautama Buddha, and the Wisdom Kings are a third type of deity in Buddhism that inspired Isshi a lot; he's referenced them in some other interviews too.
Some other links were given in the interview text itself.
1- Kujakuou (Peacock King, but the English title is Spirit Warrior) is a manga by Makoto Ogino. Myououden Rei is a manga by Kikuchi Toshio, but I'm not sure if it has an English translation.
2- Koushien is both a word referring to high school baseball tournaments, as well as the stadium where the tournament finals are held.
3- Hikaru GENJI are a Johnny's idol group.
4- Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi is a prominent singer/songwriter and guitarist.
5- I'm pretty sure this is the comedy skit Isshi's referencing in this section.
6- Miroku is the Japanese name for Maitreya, Shaka is Gautama Buddha, and the Wisdom Kings are a third type of deity in Buddhism that inspired Isshi a lot; he's referenced them in some other interviews too.
Some other links were given in the interview text itself.