What is your oldest memory?
Ummm.....when I was in preschool and had a crush on my teacher is a memory that really stands out.
What kind of teacher?
She was very kind. There was another teacher who was really scary, and I was always getting in trouble by that one. And from when I was a kid I've always had trouble just being calm. So during our afternoon nap I would wake up my friends and we'd go somewhere where no one else was and play like it was our own world. But we would be put into the closet by that scary teacher.
Oh, so you were punished, huh.
And I fell in love with the teacher that came to save us after that. I thought "What a kind person". I was really simple.
So was that your first love?
I guess it was, yes.
"I'm going to marry my teacher!" kind of thing?
I don't remember saying that, but since I was a kid I think I might have.
So you've been a restless person since that time?
Even now I'm told that every one in a while.....every once in a while?
You're doubting yourself? (laugh)
You know the members say I always lose things, right. But I also lose things a lot at home. So I'll be wandering around the house looking for them and even my parents will tell me I'm really restless.
So when you lose things at home, do you mean your parents clean up and you don't know where they put something?
That happens, too, but it's usually that I forget where I put things myself. Then if my parents look for it they find it right away.
I guess your parents just know your behavior pattern, so they know where you usually leave things.
Ahhh (laugh)
I wonder why you don't understand, though.
Hahaha. I do remember sometimes, but for the most part I really can't. And while I'm really restless, I've also been told for a long time that I'm bright and cheerful, too. That was also written in my report cards.
"He's bright and cheerful, but can't calm down"?
That's exactly what was written (laugh) Or, "Try to calm down a little more".
Did you laugh a lot as a child?
Back then I would always barge into the center of laughter. I would run up to a group of people who were laughing and just take what they were laughing at and laugh at it myself. I was a strangely selfish kid.
So you felt happiness when the people around you were laughing?
Yeah. And I also remember that I felt those moments were really special in a way. And I've always been the type of person who's picked on a lot, and at first I don't think I liked it. But then whenever I was picked on, everyone was laughing. That gave me a good feeling.
Even though you were so young you still aimed for that good feeling when you were being picked on (laugh)
Yes, I think that kind of disposition probably started at that time. So I aimed for that feeling when I was with my friends (laugh) Ah, but a little after that I was obsessed with love.
Eh, in elementary school?
Maybe not love, since I hadn't gone out with anyone, but since I first confessed to someone in elementary school, it was just that I had someone I liked. But I teased her.
So you're the type that teases the person you like (laugh)
That's true. But a lot of the people I like are very strong-willed, so they always just tease me back.
Ahhh. Even though you try to be the one doing the teasing, you're teased instead.
I always lost verbally (laugh) But, I guess it was from 5th to about 6th grade that it was impossible for me to say, "I'm sorry" to a girl.
Eh, why?
Well....I had a weird, "Why do I have to apologize to girls?" way of thinking. So even if she started hitting me, I would just ignore her.
So mean (laugh) You were just not a good guy.
Ahaha! I think it was just the influence of my friends, but I never apologized. Not to one person!
Then I guess you weren't very popular with the girls?
Yeah, probably (laugh)
What kind of friends did you have?
I had a lot of violent friends.
Eh, violent? (laugh)
In 4th grade they could do the yon no ji katame (wrestling move). And whenever the move was done to me I would just start crying, at school.
Did you watch TV a lot?
I watched anime, or "Kato-chan Ken-chan". At home we were always fighting for channels. I would be like, "I'm definitely watching 'Bakatono!'", and if I didn't get to watch it I would start crying (laugh)
What did you fight over?
My father loved baseball. I would always think, "Why does he have to watch baseball during golden time!" I couldn't watch "Dragonball"....right? Those golden two hours! Aren't I in bed at 9 o'clock? Kind of thing
------(laugh)!
Seriously....(bitter smile)
So if you couldn't watch "Kato-chan Ken-chan" or whatever, it was difficult the next day at school?
That's right~ But I would lie and say I watched it. I wonder why? So I would listen to everyone talk about it and jealously think, "Oh, that's what happened~".
So when you couldn't watch it, you felt a little unincluded?
A little. I don't think it would mean that they wouldn't be my friends anymore, but I guess it did worry me some.
While you were a happy child, you still had some troubles, huh.
I had a very strong sense of fellowship. It's been that way since then.
Did you change in middle school, when you found someone you liked?
In middle school I would always walk home with about 15 or 16 of my teammates from the soccer club, but when I started going out with the person I liked, we started going home together. But when we did, it was really boring. We couldn't find anything to talk about...
You didn't know what would be okay to talk about?
Yes, yes, yes. So it became really boring, and the next day I started going home with my soccer teammates again.
(laugh) But when you went out at that time, you didn't do anything other than walk home together?
No, we didn't. She was in a different class than me.
So was it over then?
Yes. A natural extinguisment (laugh) It only lasted a small time. But I did like her, I just didn't feel like I did anything wrong. I wonder why? I guess I was just closer to my friends.
Probably rather than feelings like, "I don't want to lose her", it was more that you just wanted to have fun at that time. By the way, did you study much?
Not at all. I hated it. I slept during class. We had practice in the morning, then after classes we had practice again until about 7:00 at night, then I would have to get up early the next morning as well, so I was really tired in the afternoon.
Was there any class at all that you liked?
P.E. (laugh) And my mom taught piano, so I kind of liked music. Then, around that time my mom started learning English, so that as well. I liked it the least out of those, though. It would always be like, "Why don't you understand this?", and it would have to be explained to me. And I didn't like that, so I studied. But basically I just played soccer.
Was there a player you looked up to?
That was when the J-league was flourishing. So I guess it was Kazu.
Did you do the Kazu Dance or something whenever you scored a goal?
I think I did (laugh) Everyone thought they should do it whenever they got a point at that time. It was also a time when soccer anime like "Aoki Densetsu Shoot!" was popular.
So I guess you had good reflexes.
I was in shape. This was in high school, but my school had a marathon and I placed 3rd. Though the people from 1st to 15th place were all from the soccer club.
That's amazing.
Two of my good friends and I were running together at the very front, but at the last second they both ran past me, so I placed 3rd. Because at the beginning we said, "Let's reach the goal together", but when we reached the last track they all of a sudden dashed forward. It was with a "Hey, wait!" kind of feeling that I placed 3rd.
That happens often (laugh)
We were all laughing at the end, though!
Did you have a rebellious stage?
I did. During puberty in middle and high school it was especially hard. Around seventh grade I started having growing pains and it hurt so much I couldn't even play soccer, so going to school became really boring. There were also times that my father made me angry. I was quick to hit him, and I sometimes threw things as well. There are still a bunch of holes in our staircase at home.
What made you angry?
Umm....the thing that got me the most was when he made my mother cry. At that time I was also pretty wild at school, so it was really difficult. The rest of the soccer club and I would get into fights with people from the school next to us. My face would always be all beaten up and plaster or something was stuck to it. My parents would then be called out to take me home, and on the way I would tell my mother I was sorry.
Did you feel like you didn't want to cause trouble for your mother?
Yes, that was basically it. I'm not sure if I thought about it before I started fighting, but when I looked at my mom's face I would think, "Crap, I'm in trouble" and I remember regretting it then.
I understand. It made you sad that you had made her sad.
My mom really isn't someone who cries often, though.....And it's kind of turned into a dark conversation, huh.
Not at all. Did you begin drums at that time?
Yes, I was looking for things that I wanted to do at that time. I had been playing drums for a while, but I wasn't that serious about it. I just thought, "It looks pretty cool, so I'll try it", so I did that at the same time I was in soccer club. But once I graduated from middle school, my passion for soccer has kind of died down.
Why was that?
All of the friends I had been together with until middle school were all of a sudden gone. I had loved soccer club because I had so much fun with my friends, so that's why my passion for it started to die. Then around that time I was invited to play for a band, and when I tried it a little I discovered the fun of playing together with five people, and in that instant drums and soccer totally switched places.
So why had you continued drums up until then? Did you enjoy playing songs you liked?
No, I didn't do that. I had only learned the basics, so I had never played with a song. That's why even if my friends invited me to play, I always refused. Since I've never played to a song before, wouldn't I just cause problems? I was always worried about that kind of thing. But they continued to pressure me into it, so I thought, "Maybe if I try it once, they'll give up?". Then when I did try it, it was so much fun (laugh) So what I had played with everyone was Lunacy, so I started listening to X (Japan) and Lunacy.
Do you think there was anything feeling or personality-wise that had changed once you hit puberty?
There was. I became more careful with my words. I had started teasing people a lot with words, and my teachers also often told me to not say things that I thought would hurt people, so I became aware of that. Though I was completely fine having things like that said to me.
So you were perfectly able to turn into the one being picked on, huh.
It's not a problem (laugh) But I guess I was just more able to watch what I say? I also learned how to say, "I'm sorry" to girls (laugh)
Oh, that's a big development. Did you have courage when you said it the first time?
I don't remember, but I think I probably did. Because I had broken that strong promise with my friends.
It was a strong promise?
Yes, yes. I think it was because something big had happened.
So did you start a job because of your drumming?
That's right. I continued the job I got for five years, at a restaurant.
The same place for five years? Thats long~
And that's where I learned to cook. Two years as a waiter, and three and a half as a chef. I got a very good salary. Toward the end it had gotten to the point where even if the boss wasn't there, if I was, the store could still run. I started thinking that maybe serving people was what I was meant to do (laugh) I thought that if the drums didn't work out, I might go this way.
So it was the first time you had so much fun working, huh. It was also the first time you had such a sense of responsibility.
My parents wouldn't shut up about that part. They always told me, "Don't let it end half-heartedly.", so at least as far as working goes, they still influenced me.
Well then, let's hear about when you were very popular.
Umm...it's said that in a person's life there are three times of popularity, right. The first time came in high school...but no one believes me....
I'll believe you, so please talk about it (laugh)
Well, actually, the soccer club was very popular. I found this out later, but apparantly among the girls there was a popularity ranking. And it turned out that I was third in that ranking. I only found out because after I had quit the club, the female manager of the club told me....this is kind of embarrassing, though (laugh)
Ahaha! So does that mean that during high school, you were only popular because you were in the soccer club?
Ah, it was because of the soccer club, then?!
That might be some of it.
Okay, I totally get it now (laugh) But when I think back, I guess there was a part of me that understood. There were many times where right after I broke up with my girlfriend, another person would ask me out right after. It kind of gives me a weird feeling, but after I broke up with my girlfriend, rumor would spread really fast.
"Kai-kun is free now you know <3" kind of thing?
Yes, yes. "If you're gonna go for it, go now!". Like that.
Wow...
No, it's true. Then after that I found out I was so popular.
By the way, are you the type who doesn't confess when you like someone?
Basically, yes. I guess I'm more the type to be confessed to.
You have a strange kind of courage there, too (laugh)
I don't know until I've started liking them, but I guess if you like them you should go for it yourself, huh.
So you've never been turned down after you confessed, right?
I have~ She told me, "There's someone I'm going out with now", and it turned out that person was my friend~
Was there a place where you confessed?
There was a jinx that if you confessed in front of the music room, it would go well. But I was turned down twice! So that was the first time I was popular.
What was the second?
It hasn't happened yet. But I guess in a way it could be right now. It's a pretty big second time, though (laugh)
Because you're popular all over the country.
But I have a feeling that my third time will be when I'm an old man.
When you're married?
"The man next door is so nice <3". It would be cool if that was how it was~
Ahaha! Popular with the wives? That could be good.
(laugh)
But leaving that subject, when did you quit the soccer club?
The same time I quit school.
Your parents were against it, right?
They definitely tried to stop me at first, but I had already decided. My parents understood that and when they asked me, "It's useless no matter what we say, isn't it?", I was just like, "Yes".
So you had what it took to convince your parents.
No, I didn't have anything (laugh) I simply explained the situation. I said that what I wanted to do wasn't soccer or school. But my parents had already had experience with that.
Because there are kids who never get that understanding.
Yeah. I'm really glad I have parents who understood that.
Were there any life lessons you felt you had learned at that point?
I guess that if I want to do something, no matter what I should go for it at that time. It wasn't just a sudden decision, I had been thinking about it for a long time. And when I realized that I wanted to play drums I thought the best thing to do is to act on it right then. I'm sure that there are many people in the world that don't know what they want to do. But you never know when you'll find that out, so it's best to try out something if you have an interest in it, and if you think that's what you want to do, no matter how hard things get you should be able to work hard toward that goal. My homeroom teacher in 8th grade always said, "Even if I was offered more money to do a different job, I would still pick this job. Because I love it." And though I was a kid, I was able to understand that.
That was a good teacher, huh.
I hated math, though (laugh) But as a person I really liked that teacher. When I quit high school, I went to talk to him.
What did he say?
He was like, "Idiot". (laugh) But at the last moment he said, "If that's what you want to do, don't do it half-heartedly."
It seems like there's one thing in you that really seems man-like. In how you act around girls, too, like a guy without any stiffness.
Really? As for a kind of...."guy-ish determination"....I suppose I do have it.
You're strong sense of fellowship is also like that.
Doing something with friends is very important for me, and now that we have the presence of the fans, and being able to have such a good time with so many people just makes me happy. So I finally feel like I understand what my teacher said. I know now that if I was offered another job with more money, I would totally refuse.
In interviews, too, you're picked on quite a lot by the members. Enough that every once in a while I think what you say has to do with that (laugh)
Yes, yes, it seems like a lot of the fans have mistaken that, too, so please write this. Every once in a while I'll get fanmail saying, "Isn't it hard for you?". Or, "Maybe you should talk to the members about it."
Ah, the fans were worried about you.
That's true. But there really is no problem!
Reversely, it makes you happy (laugh) Well, because since you were a kid you were picked on, but as a kid you thought it was kind of special.
Ahaha! Well, I guess it's just one way to communicate.
Changing the conversation, we would like to know about the progress of the new album.
Well, we're done with the pre-production, and it's finally starting to take shape. It's really coming along.
Ohh.
This time, we're doing our first long tour in about a year, and I think the album will be really appropriate for it. I feel like we'll simply be able to have fun without any preconceptions. We're entering the recording stage now, so all that's left to do is to work hard!
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