INTERVIEW WITH JIGSAW

JRNR interviewed JIGSAW, who have just released their new song 【喉笛】 and will release their new single 【蚕】 this month. Their style of music and appearance is “Retro Horror Carnival”. Their band name is inspired by “Jigsaw” from the movie “SAW”. Please enjoy their world.  

■ Please introduce yourself with a few fun facts about yourself. 

BUKUMI:　I’m JIGSAW’s vocalist, Bukimi. 
Fun facts… I can’t think of a fun fact right now, so let me think of one.
EMA:　I’m JIGSAW’s bassist, EMA. 
What are some fun facts about me? I thought about it for two days and couldn’t come up with any.
MARU:   I’m JIGSAW’s guitarist, MARU. 
I like friendly animals and lately I have been watching a lot of wombat videos. 
SHIKI:  This is SHIKI on Drums. I enjoy the time I spend thinking about where I want to go and what I want to do.

■ How would you describe yourself with a Kanji character and why?

Bukimi:「弱」(Jaku/weak)　Because I’m weak. I will do my best to use my weakness as a weapon.
Ema:「楽」(Raku/easy)   Because I only do fun things and easy things.
Maru:「爆」(Baku/blast)　Because I have explosive creative power.
Shiki:「色」(Shiki/color)　Because I want to be colorful.

■ Please tell us why you decided to join JIGSAW at the beginning of the formation, and how you all got together?

BUKIMI: Originally, MARU and I were in a band, and I invited Shiki to join us, along with the bassist who was with us when the four of us started JIGSAW. When the former bassist left, I invited EMA to join us.

■ Please introduce in a few sentences the current concept of JIGSAW.

BUKIMI: We are still working on the concept of a retro horror carnival.

■ Please tell us about the origin and reason why you decided on the band name “JIGSAW”.

MARU:　I wanted to create a katakana LOGO with a good sense of language that fits the concept of a retro horror carnival. I never thought the movie “JIGSAW” would last so long.

■ Please explain why JIGSAW is the best active Visual Kei band and why someone should devote their life to JIGSAW.

BUKIMI:　I think it’s our songs. Compared to other bands’ songs, I think our style is so unique.

■ Many visual kei bands say that they can express themselves better and more freely via visual kei than in other genres. However JROCK’NROLL does cover any genre, So to me it feels as if there are other genres as well to express yourself freely. So I would like to know what is “something that can only be expressed in visual kei” and “what cannot be expressed in other genres”’.

BUKIMI:　Visual kei looks free, but I think it’s confined in a lot of ways. But I like that kind of Visual Kei.
MARU:　I don’t think about it that difficult. It’s fun to play with makeup, it’s cool.

■ A new visual was released on May 5th. Do you always decide how to appeal to yourself, including this visual and previous visuals? Please tell us how the new visuals are decided. 

BUKIMI:　To be honest I don’t really think about it…as long as it looks cool I’m fine with it…
EMA: I just loosely decide what to wear.
MARU: Each time I give our costume designer a fluffy image and from there we just decide on the shape and pattern while discussing it with our designer. 
SHIKI: I always have to be careful not to create something similar, so that people who see us don’t feel bored. 

■ Your digital single 【喉笛】 has been released. Not everyone understands Japanese perfectly. So we would be happy to learn about the meaning of the lyrics this time.

BUKIMI: The content of the lyrics is a little bit dark and sombre… 
It’s not very pleasant. So I am not going to go into too much detail about it. But to put it simply, it’s a parent-child song.

■ The CD jacket looks like a photo of an actual throat, can you give us more details to the extent possible?

MARU: It’s not the throat. I will not clarify what it is.

■ You will release a new single 【蚕】 this June. Please tell me your enthusiasm about this single.  And tell us the reason why we should purchase it no matter what.

BUKIMI: Personally, I think it’s the best ever. It is both intense and ephemeral. It retains the unique JIGSAW atmosphere of the past. But it also allowed us to show a side of JIGSAW that has never been seen before.

■ Please tell us a little bit more about music writing for JIGSAW. How are new songs made and decided to be released?

MARU: The way it’s done is like making a demo in a pretty normal way. Each member arranges their own parts. We plan the release about half a year in advance, and we prepare for it early on, but for some reason we always end up making progress at the last minute. It is a mystery why we always make the best progress at the last minute.

■ What inspires the music of JIGSAW? 

MARU: In the past, I used to get inspiration for songs by reading manga or novels or watching anime or movies, but nowadays I often get inspiration for songwriting by performing live shows.

■ What does JIGSAW convey via its music?

BUKIMI: I wonder what we want to communicate. I think about it sometimes, but I still don’t know it myself as well.

■ What is important to you when writing songs for Jigsaw?

MARU: I try not to think too much about JIGSAW-ness.

■ Can you share with us a moment or experience that stands out as especially memorable for JIGSAW?

MARU: I guess it’s the moment when I was hospitalised with colon cancer. During this time, the other three members did their best to keep JIGSAW alive.

■ JIGSAW is a pretty active going band, you spend lots of time together. How do you all keep a good relationship with each other? 

BUKIMI: Not pushing too much, not running away, not talking too much.
EMA: When times are hard, we all have a hard time; when times are fun, we don’t get too carried away.
MARU: “Don’t compromise, don’t blame them for their failures.” I believe that most failures are best recognized by the person themselves.
SHIKI: Don’t interfere too much.

■ For overseas JIGSAW fans it’s hard to support bands with going to live shows. I always see bands writing “We are a live band, please come to our show”. However even if overseas fans would love to go to your show, it’s often not possible because going to Japan isn’t cheap and if it’s possible maybe just once a year and then it’s a matter of luck that there is a show we can go to. So how do you hope your overseas fans will support JIGSAW?

BUKIMI: We would be happy if you could listen to our songs a lot and spread them to various people as well. Also, if we are able to perform overseas one day, we hope that many people will watch us.

■ What’s your favourite JIGSAW song? Please tell us why.

BUKIMI: Right now it’s 「蚕」. You know why when it’s released.
MARU: It’s 「非対称ロマンス」. I like the tune of the song. Well, I love all our songs.
SHIKI: It’s 「早朝新宿ケチャップ」. Because it is filled with my favourite things.

■ In your active years which challenges or obstacles did you face as a band which you have overcome, how did you overcome them? (such as, corona, line-up change, fan trouble etc.)

BUKUMI: I’m sure there were many, but I always forget them.
MARU: As I said before, when stage 4 cancer was discovered and I was unable to work.  I even thought I might die, but I survived and returned to the stage.
^{*colon-cancer has 5 stages in Japan.}  

■ What is the biggest challenge for a visual kei band, which you face daily and how do you deal with it? (such as, SNS, money, to keep good business connections, etc)

BUKUMI: I am a lazy person, so everything is not really easy. But I see the fun in everything.
EMA: If you don’t take care of your health thoroughly, everything will fall apart, so for me, putting your health first is the hardest thing.
MARU: It’s always hard work, there’s no end to it, but I can do my best when our ノウブル(Nouburu) cheers me on.!
SHIKI: Maybe the live shows? If you think about it, there is no end to them, and depending on the case, it might even make you depressed. 

*ノウブル(Nouburu)the nickname of JIGSAW fans. 

■ Since the visual kei audience is mostly female, what do you think of your male fans? 

BUKUMI: I’m honestly happy that we have male fans. I wish there were more male fans cheering us.  

■ What are some things you wish you’d known before joining a visual kei band?

BUKUMI: A Visual Kei fan’s headbang is the same shape as the digit eight.
MARU: To have a makeup artist. I thought I had to apply make-up myself. 

■ Do you have any goals for your future as a vocalist, guitarist, bassist, or drummer?

BUKUMI: Have more charisma.
MARU: I wish people could say, “That’s Maru’s guitar, isn’t it?
EMA: Being the weird guy.
SHIKI: A drummer that the front team can rely on.

■ Please tell us about your appealing points as a vocalist/guitarist/bassist/drummer.

BUKUMI: My charisma.
MARU: The way I play my guitar shows how much I really like it.
EMA: My emotionally unstable bass lines and performance.
SHIKI: My eyes that ask you to look at me, even if you don’t want to, I look at you to make you look at me.

■ When did you start playing music (vocal/guitar/bassist/drummer), and what was your motivation?

BUKUMI:I started out as a guitar player, but since there was so much equipment and everyone around me was getting better at it, I thought vocals would be easier. But it wasn’t easy at all.
MARU: When I was a kid, I used to listen to GLAY songs on my iPod and play Air Guitar, which made me want to become a guitarist.
EMA: I was told that it was a thick, long and masculine instrument, and it tickled my manly heart during my puberty.
SHIKI:  It all started with music lessons in my childhood.

■ What does music mean to you? What kind of impact did it have on your life?

BUKUMI: Music gave me an influence and a dream. Now I sing more than I listen, but that hasn’t changed.
MARU: It’s a lot of fun!
EMA: Even if we are not particularly aware of it, it is always there somewhere.
SHIKI: It is something that will be with you through illness and good times.

■ Are there any musicians who influenced you or admired musicians?

BUKUMI: The list is endless. But they are all visual kei musicians.
MARU: In terms of musical influences, I am probably influenced by a wide variety of people. From small bands that aren’t that famous to idols that are very popular.
EMA: That person! I don’t have a “That person! There are a lot of people I feel like, “Oh, he/she is wonderful”.
SHIKI: Yukihiro from L’Arc~en~Ciel.

■ Besides musicians, are there any people you respect, influences, celebrities or actors you like (or people close to you)?

BUKUMI: Nobody.
MARU: When it comes to influences, it is hard for me to decide, but there are many people I admire. Recently, I have been deeply impressed by people who build skyscrapers. I think it’s cool to see people building such huge buildings on empty land over a long period of time.
EMA: Nobody in particular
SHIKI: My parents. I think they have a huge influence on me.

■ Do you have a motto or words that you cherish?

BUKUMI: If it can be done tomorrow, tomorrow is fine.
MARU: There’s no time like the present.
EMA: Let’s say thank you and sorry properly.
SHIKI: Never-Ending Rise

■ What is your favourite food or drink?

BUKUMI: I don’t have one.
MARU: Summer vegetables are hot in the coming season. Zucchini, okra, asparagus, etc. As for drinks, I am addicted to Earl Grey.
EMA: I love all kinds of egg dishes.
SHIKI: Ramen and Coke. It’s junk food.

■ What kind of food or drink do you not like?

BUKUMI: Onions and green onions.
MARU: I hate Pak Choi. I haven’t eaten it in years since the day I first thought I hated it, so I don’t know if I still hate it. I don’t really like sweet drinks these days. I used to drink a lot of Frappuccinos and stuff, but now I can only have about two sips.
EMA: I dislike seafood and any alcohol that tastes like disinfectant.
SHIKI: I have never had natto before.

■ On a free day, what do you like to do?

BUKUMI: I watch movies and anime while fighting myself when I don’t feel like doing anything.
MARU: I write songs every day, so I don’t really understand the concept of a day off. I am not as interested in anime as I used to be. However, I do watch “Demon Slayer”.
EMA: I continue to practice muscle training and martial arts.
SHIKI: I don’t have a day off that feels like a day off, but when I have time I go to the studio or go out on the town.

■ Are there any console games you like to play? If so, what do you love to play?

MARU: I don’t play games at all. I will play Dragon Quest when the new one comes out, though.
SHIKI: I tend to play RPGs. I’m not good at APEX and the kind of games that are popular these days.

■ Do you speak English or any foreign language?

BUKUMI: イエスアイアム (YES I AM)
MARU: I don’t speak English. But I would like to be able to speak it to some extent after helping a foreigner who asked for help before. I have struggled with it.
EMA: ??????????
SHIKI: I don’t speak any other languages.

■ How do you see the future of JIGSAW?

BUKUMI: I want to be a unique band. 

■ Please write a message to your fans and readers.

BUKUMI: Thanks for reading. Please come visit us anytime.
MARU: Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for more activities in the future.
EMA: Let’s do our best without losing ourselves to hot, cold, sleepiness and laziness.
SHIKI: Thank you very much. Let us live each day together.