"Once again I will make this world a nation of Oni. (laughs)"
At this moment, he is finally transforming the world of imagination which was spreading out endlessly like a daydream into a scroll of beautiful music. Not merely the vocalist of Kagrra, this is Isshi who freely commands lyrics with which he has developed his worldview as an expressionist. Heading to the future, the ambitions he holds are truly magnificent, but that being said, here we will talk about his footprints up until now and confirm thoughts about his present days. At the same time, he told us about Kagrra's future.
―Again this time, the pictures were taken with a very elegant and modern atmosphere, weren't they?
Isshi: Isn't it Meiji Restoration-ish? (laughs) This time, I wanted to be flashier than any of the members have been up until now. And what's more, it isn't a bright feeling, it's a dark feeling. Basically, I always have the sense that black and red are theme colours for me, but I tried to show something flashy to the highest degree in a way that doesn't cross that line.
―These photos seem to have a story quality about them.
Isshi: I thought of it suddenly. The moment I came to this scene. I felt I'd try combining the images of a Courtesan and Abe Sada (a real murderer who erred on the path of love and hatred, in early Showa Era). I felt that the Courtesan would be already tired out from work, and in the end, she kills her partner while entangled in a foolish passion, so that it seems she kills herself.
―Isn't that deep... In your case before, Isshi-kun, although you write the words, the image expands like a short story being written, and you're saying you carried out the writing from there aren't you? So, thinking about all of this together, the words might be a little bad, but my point is that I think you're strong as a daydreamer.
Isshi: Isn't it Meiji Restoration-ish? (laughs) This time, I wanted to be flashier than any of the members have been up until now. And what's more, it isn't a bright feeling, it's a dark feeling. Basically, I always have the sense that black and red are theme colours for me, but I tried to show something flashy to the highest degree in a way that doesn't cross that line.
―These photos seem to have a story quality about them.
Isshi: I thought of it suddenly. The moment I came to this scene. I felt I'd try combining the images of a Courtesan and Abe Sada (a real murderer who erred on the path of love and hatred, in early Showa Era). I felt that the Courtesan would be already tired out from work, and in the end, she kills her partner while entangled in a foolish passion, so that it seems she kills herself.
―Isn't that deep... In your case before, Isshi-kun, although you write the words, the image expands like a short story being written, and you're saying you carried out the writing from there aren't you? So, thinking about all of this together, the words might be a little bad, but my point is that I think you're strong as a daydreamer.
Isshi: Ahh... that's probably a good thing isn't it? When I'm expanding the world of words, and thinking about things relating to the band, hours have passed before I notice it.
―Did you have such tendencies even as a child?
Isshi: I did, you know. My inquisitiveness was strong too. When I had some kind of problem I'd consider all things relating to it, and I'd arbitrarily come to a conclusion in my own way, that's how I was then.
―So you were a quick-witted guy?
Isshi: Or we should say, I was a cunning child. (laughs) I feel that I'd be the one in the back, further instigating the groups that pick on the bullied child.
―That's a bad quality though! (laughs)
Isshi: Ahahaha. (laughs) Ahh, in those days I guess I thought just a little faster than the children in the same year as me, and I was precocious besides.
―Did you have an older brother or anyone like that?
Isshi: Nope, at the time there was an older brother of a relative considerably apart from me in age, and I guess I played with that guy. With the influence of that older brother, I forcibly asked him to buy me a cassette player that nobody around me had, things like that. But after that, there were more mature feelings toward the opposite sex, you know? Anyway, I was always thinking about something or other, and I liked starting projects. Truly.
―Did you have such tendencies even as a child?
Isshi: I did, you know. My inquisitiveness was strong too. When I had some kind of problem I'd consider all things relating to it, and I'd arbitrarily come to a conclusion in my own way, that's how I was then.
―So you were a quick-witted guy?
Isshi: Or we should say, I was a cunning child. (laughs) I feel that I'd be the one in the back, further instigating the groups that pick on the bullied child.
―That's a bad quality though! (laughs)
Isshi: Ahahaha. (laughs) Ahh, in those days I guess I thought just a little faster than the children in the same year as me, and I was precocious besides.
―Did you have an older brother or anyone like that?
Isshi: Nope, at the time there was an older brother of a relative considerably apart from me in age, and I guess I played with that guy. With the influence of that older brother, I forcibly asked him to buy me a cassette player that nobody around me had, things like that. But after that, there were more mature feelings toward the opposite sex, you know? Anyway, I was always thinking about something or other, and I liked starting projects. Truly.
―Not limited to any specific matters, but in your case, Isshi-kun, are those projects and plans you speak of strong feelings that you changed into reality one by one?
Isshi: I may have said this before somewhere, but such things are amazing to me. I wonder if they aren't dreams I draw by myself. Such things are not something that could be bought.
―Have you never tasted a failure?
Isshi: Just once. I felt it terribly when I was beaten in a national athletic tournament when I was in middle school. I play sports in general. A feel for things like soccer, kendo, swimming. Or I guess I should say, I've done various lessons in them myself. And I've done flowers too.
―Flowers?! That's unusual for a boy, isn't it?
Isshi: Mother was doing it, and she brought me along.
―Perhaps, the things you had a knack for at that time are still alive and well in your current staging?
Isshi: No, not much. There are various trades in the other world, and it's amazingly difficult. For some reason, I can't do it so diligently.
Isshi: I may have said this before somewhere, but such things are amazing to me. I wonder if they aren't dreams I draw by myself. Such things are not something that could be bought.
―Have you never tasted a failure?
Isshi: Just once. I felt it terribly when I was beaten in a national athletic tournament when I was in middle school. I play sports in general. A feel for things like soccer, kendo, swimming. Or I guess I should say, I've done various lessons in them myself. And I've done flowers too.
―Flowers?! That's unusual for a boy, isn't it?
Isshi: Mother was doing it, and she brought me along.
―Perhaps, the things you had a knack for at that time are still alive and well in your current staging?
Isshi: No, not much. There are various trades in the other world, and it's amazingly difficult. For some reason, I can't do it so diligently.
―Incidentally, was studying a strong point for Young Isshi?
Isshi: I pretty much didn't do it at all, you know. I didn't like such things.
―But, haven't you mentioned that your grades themselves were reasonably good? How? (laughs)
Isshi: Yeah really. (laughs) Particularly Language and Writing, they were my strong points. I loved things like writing when I was a child. All the same, around the time I went to high school, it wasn't difficult when I didn't study. Therefore my other subjects were harsh, but for just Writing, if I didn't study I was fine.
―So, when such an Isshi-kun aspired for the road of music, was it around high school?
Isshi: It was before I went to high school, actually. At home, my parents were pretty peculiar in that they said it was right for me to do the things that I wanted to do, and so there was never any resistance for me. However, it was only a promise when I came out of high school, so while I was going to school in my home town, I'd come here (Tokyo) once a week and receive vocal lessons. Ahh, when I think about it now there was never any point when I said it was meaningless~ In my case, even after I graduated high school, I could have continued singing at a trade school, but you know... it didn't feel like taking lessons in singing.
―But, it's greatly important for the foundation.
Isshi: That's for sure. That's alive and well even now. But, if I were to completely pin it down, the lessons I've done thereafter are more so alive and well.
―Besides, that place where you went to school was where you met Izumi-kun, wasn't it?
Isshi: Ahh, that's right. In school there were guys I didn't want to get together with much, or basically not at all, but without knowing anything about Izumi, I just happened to notice him at school and for some reason I had the sense that "It's him!" And because of that, I suddenly called out to him.
―You felt something like fate, right?
Isshi: Considering the result I would say so, you know. So, at that time we needed to gather up more members and get going, but Izumi and I only needed guitars then, after all, and wondered what we would do. So then Izumi said "There's this one bassist in Hokkaido so I'll contact him" and made a phonecall, and that was Nao.
Isshi: I pretty much didn't do it at all, you know. I didn't like such things.
―But, haven't you mentioned that your grades themselves were reasonably good? How? (laughs)
Isshi: Yeah really. (laughs) Particularly Language and Writing, they were my strong points. I loved things like writing when I was a child. All the same, around the time I went to high school, it wasn't difficult when I didn't study. Therefore my other subjects were harsh, but for just Writing, if I didn't study I was fine.
―So, when such an Isshi-kun aspired for the road of music, was it around high school?
Isshi: It was before I went to high school, actually. At home, my parents were pretty peculiar in that they said it was right for me to do the things that I wanted to do, and so there was never any resistance for me. However, it was only a promise when I came out of high school, so while I was going to school in my home town, I'd come here (Tokyo) once a week and receive vocal lessons. Ahh, when I think about it now there was never any point when I said it was meaningless~ In my case, even after I graduated high school, I could have continued singing at a trade school, but you know... it didn't feel like taking lessons in singing.
―But, it's greatly important for the foundation.
Isshi: That's for sure. That's alive and well even now. But, if I were to completely pin it down, the lessons I've done thereafter are more so alive and well.
―Besides, that place where you went to school was where you met Izumi-kun, wasn't it?
Isshi: Ahh, that's right. In school there were guys I didn't want to get together with much, or basically not at all, but without knowing anything about Izumi, I just happened to notice him at school and for some reason I had the sense that "It's him!" And because of that, I suddenly called out to him.
―You felt something like fate, right?
Isshi: Considering the result I would say so, you know. So, at that time we needed to gather up more members and get going, but Izumi and I only needed guitars then, after all, and wondered what we would do. So then Izumi said "There's this one bassist in Hokkaido so I'll contact him" and made a phonecall, and that was Nao.
―I heard about that in the interview a couple of months ago.
Isshi: That's right. So, ahh, for all of this I can say, it's fate after fate, isn't it?
―Furthermore, it seems the others were changing bands quite a lot when you met the current members, and now that isn't the case right?
Isshi: Three times since high school, when I think back.
―Though this is a conversation about your childhood, are you blessed with a special ability to draw in the things you want?
Isshi: First of all, I don't think much about looking backward. So now that you mention it, yeah.
Isshi: That's right. So, ahh, for all of this I can say, it's fate after fate, isn't it?
―Furthermore, it seems the others were changing bands quite a lot when you met the current members, and now that isn't the case right?
Isshi: Three times since high school, when I think back.
―Though this is a conversation about your childhood, are you blessed with a special ability to draw in the things you want?
Isshi: First of all, I don't think much about looking backward. So now that you mention it, yeah.
―Is that positive thinking?
Isshi: Instead, I'd say something like I have a baseless self-confidence, you know?
―If it's the case that assumption = desire, then when you have a feel for it, even the blooming words appear in reality.
Isshi: If you use that kind of meaning, then in my case it's not good at all for my life to be very even. Even the ratio of music to daily living, I'm getting weak in things like that. Emotionally.
―What kind of ratio would be good?
Isshi: Music 9, daily living 1, or around there. Now the feeling seems awfully good. I have various lives and recording, and I feel I only go back home to sleep.
―But, isn't it physically harsh?
Isshi: No, it's not. Now in particular as I'm heading into our next work, it's when the plot is steadily being completed. And even if that wasn't the case, I'm using music software on my computer and considering ideas for various designs, and at any rate I have a heap of things that I want to do with regards to the band, so when I'm doing that I'm mostly in a trance. Still, there are waves so in the times I don't need to do anything, I really don't do anything at all. (laughs)
―Yeah... so you're spurred on to some extent right?
Isshi: By nature I'm a person with a lot of ambition, and that was the case from the time I was a child. So, since I'm like that with the band too, I surely want to start in, but even so I think there are still areas where I need some kind of good moderation.
―For instance, things like breaking promises in the midst of searching for members? (laughs)←A reference to the previous edition
Isshi: Ahh, yes, things like that. However, when I suddenly noticed, the things I was burdened with were different. With regards to the band, we had a company to belong to behind us, so there was no reason we couldn't mutually make progress. That is to say, we can't be timid about it right? So, more than having such a sense of duty, I wanted to get out and do it genuinely, therefore everything aside from music is rather lacking.
If that's the case, then, Isshi-kun, do you think the ambitions you hold are spreading out somewhere now?
Isshi: In October, we have a simultaneous release of two singles titled "Kotodama" and "Sakura Maichiru Ano Oka De," but after that in December I'll be writing a story which is the origin of those singles. So, it's a concept. I intend for it to take form as an album. Properly speaking it's a story that could be expressed as something like a play or a drama, that kind of style, that we are doing as a band. Going into the future there are various things that I want to do, but first of all, the first step of that will be this album.
―That's pretty magnificent!
Isshi: Therefore, I think of various things as being a possibility in the future. Things like the development of a theatrical stage performance, making it a motion picture or even something like a game, there are various things.
―You're aiming to be a multi-creator?
Isshi: Not in particular. At my foundation I'm a musician to the utmost. I don't think I particularly want to become a novelist or an actor. However, I'll engage with anything in case I think it is a valid means to to express music, is all I'm saying. Or rather, I strangely hate the feeling that I'm becoming like a television star. For me, it's better that I can be a person with my own existence wrapped in a veil.
―Which reminds me, in last month's edition, Isshi-kun, you were saying that your ancestor is a real Oni, weren't you?
Isshi: Yes. This surprised me too, but at the topmost of our family tree there seems to be an Oni. (laughs)
―I've heard of having people with an evil history in one's ancestry, but this is the first time I've heard of "Oni" in one's ancestry.
Isshi: That's for sure. We're a very old household, and, ahh, if I can speak figuratively, the family is so old that we could have been in Yatsumotomura*. There's the head of the family, and the main branch of the family, and they have just about the same surnames. When I was at my parents' home recently, I heard that the head man of the family seems to be an Oni called Hachimen Daioh! I was interested in that and I looked into it a little, but the quite famous Oni was eradicated by a person called Sakanoue Tamuramaro. The truth is that the Oni who was eradicated at that time was a subordinate of Hachimen Daioh, so it seems that Hachimen Daioh himself made his escape to a region near the household. Then it seems he left behind descendants.
―I see. And that's you?
Isshi: Yes. (laughs) Ahh, it seems to be so.
―Well isn't this a strange conversation. It applies to the current Isshi-kun right?
Isshi: That's right. I think it's a strange sign. But I believe it you know, and once again I will make this world a nation of Oni. (laughs)
―You seem to be a workaholic nowadays Isshi-kun, so isn't there any time when you take a break?
Isshi: I guess when I'm with my pet dogs! Or, when I'm drinking with the members outside of band work.
―That's really interesting. That makes me feel like you're a close-knit band.
Isshi: Because we're staying together as 5 people somehow, always. (laughs)
―Who are you the closest with?
Isshi: That differs part by part. For instance with regards to audio equipment and machinery, it'll be Shin, and for manga and books and anything band-related it's Izumi, and for talking about clothes and such things it'll be Naoran, or should I say the one with wild ideas. (laughs) For talking about various worlds in our imaginations it's Akiya. That kind of thing. I take it as a balance, see?
―It's truly a great thing that you met these members, isn't it?
Isshi: That's right, I really think that we couldn't have done it without any of these people. Kagrra is the 5 of us, so we're surely Kagrra.
Isshi: Instead, I'd say something like I have a baseless self-confidence, you know?
―If it's the case that assumption = desire, then when you have a feel for it, even the blooming words appear in reality.
Isshi: If you use that kind of meaning, then in my case it's not good at all for my life to be very even. Even the ratio of music to daily living, I'm getting weak in things like that. Emotionally.
―What kind of ratio would be good?
Isshi: Music 9, daily living 1, or around there. Now the feeling seems awfully good. I have various lives and recording, and I feel I only go back home to sleep.
―But, isn't it physically harsh?
Isshi: No, it's not. Now in particular as I'm heading into our next work, it's when the plot is steadily being completed. And even if that wasn't the case, I'm using music software on my computer and considering ideas for various designs, and at any rate I have a heap of things that I want to do with regards to the band, so when I'm doing that I'm mostly in a trance. Still, there are waves so in the times I don't need to do anything, I really don't do anything at all. (laughs)
―Yeah... so you're spurred on to some extent right?
Isshi: By nature I'm a person with a lot of ambition, and that was the case from the time I was a child. So, since I'm like that with the band too, I surely want to start in, but even so I think there are still areas where I need some kind of good moderation.
―For instance, things like breaking promises in the midst of searching for members? (laughs)←A reference to the previous edition
Isshi: Ahh, yes, things like that. However, when I suddenly noticed, the things I was burdened with were different. With regards to the band, we had a company to belong to behind us, so there was no reason we couldn't mutually make progress. That is to say, we can't be timid about it right? So, more than having such a sense of duty, I wanted to get out and do it genuinely, therefore everything aside from music is rather lacking.
If that's the case, then, Isshi-kun, do you think the ambitions you hold are spreading out somewhere now?
Isshi: In October, we have a simultaneous release of two singles titled "Kotodama" and "Sakura Maichiru Ano Oka De," but after that in December I'll be writing a story which is the origin of those singles. So, it's a concept. I intend for it to take form as an album. Properly speaking it's a story that could be expressed as something like a play or a drama, that kind of style, that we are doing as a band. Going into the future there are various things that I want to do, but first of all, the first step of that will be this album.
―That's pretty magnificent!
Isshi: Therefore, I think of various things as being a possibility in the future. Things like the development of a theatrical stage performance, making it a motion picture or even something like a game, there are various things.
―You're aiming to be a multi-creator?
Isshi: Not in particular. At my foundation I'm a musician to the utmost. I don't think I particularly want to become a novelist or an actor. However, I'll engage with anything in case I think it is a valid means to to express music, is all I'm saying. Or rather, I strangely hate the feeling that I'm becoming like a television star. For me, it's better that I can be a person with my own existence wrapped in a veil.
―Which reminds me, in last month's edition, Isshi-kun, you were saying that your ancestor is a real Oni, weren't you?
Isshi: Yes. This surprised me too, but at the topmost of our family tree there seems to be an Oni. (laughs)
―I've heard of having people with an evil history in one's ancestry, but this is the first time I've heard of "Oni" in one's ancestry.
Isshi: That's for sure. We're a very old household, and, ahh, if I can speak figuratively, the family is so old that we could have been in Yatsumotomura*. There's the head of the family, and the main branch of the family, and they have just about the same surnames. When I was at my parents' home recently, I heard that the head man of the family seems to be an Oni called Hachimen Daioh! I was interested in that and I looked into it a little, but the quite famous Oni was eradicated by a person called Sakanoue Tamuramaro. The truth is that the Oni who was eradicated at that time was a subordinate of Hachimen Daioh, so it seems that Hachimen Daioh himself made his escape to a region near the household. Then it seems he left behind descendants.
―I see. And that's you?
Isshi: Yes. (laughs) Ahh, it seems to be so.
―Well isn't this a strange conversation. It applies to the current Isshi-kun right?
Isshi: That's right. I think it's a strange sign. But I believe it you know, and once again I will make this world a nation of Oni. (laughs)
―You seem to be a workaholic nowadays Isshi-kun, so isn't there any time when you take a break?
Isshi: I guess when I'm with my pet dogs! Or, when I'm drinking with the members outside of band work.
―That's really interesting. That makes me feel like you're a close-knit band.
Isshi: Because we're staying together as 5 people somehow, always. (laughs)
―Who are you the closest with?
Isshi: That differs part by part. For instance with regards to audio equipment and machinery, it'll be Shin, and for manga and books and anything band-related it's Izumi, and for talking about clothes and such things it'll be Naoran, or should I say the one with wild ideas. (laughs) For talking about various worlds in our imaginations it's Akiya. That kind of thing. I take it as a balance, see?
―It's truly a great thing that you met these members, isn't it?
Isshi: That's right, I really think that we couldn't have done it without any of these people. Kagrra is the 5 of us, so we're surely Kagrra.
Notes:
Yatsumotomura is an old village that used to be in Saitama from 1889-2006, and was abolished because of joining with other villages to form Toyosatomura, which was abolished in 2010 to form the city of Fukayashi. I got this information from this wikipedia page, which is Japanese only.
The story which is background to Kotodama and Sakura maichiru ano oka de, is none other than the concept album [gozen]! Isshi talks more about the connection to Sakanoue Tamuramaro in this interview.