Interview by Ryu & Momo
Vo.柳 @misui_ryu / Gt.天音 @misui_amane / Gt.湊人 @misui_minato / Ba.Tetsuya @misui_tetsuya / Dr.LANA-ラナ- @misui_lana
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Thank you very much for this interview! Also congratulations on your 3rd anniversary!
■ Because this is your first appearance on JROCKNROLL, could you introduce MISUI to us?
Band concept: Weak.
MISUI formed in Tokyo in the first year of Reiwa(2019). On September 28th of the same year, we officially started our activity with a sponsored event at IKEBUKURO EDGE.
As from the concept, the lyrics and the sound express the “weakness” of humans from various angles, which features familiar melodies that double-cross the visual image in a good way.
■ Please introduce yourself, also please tell me something about yourself.
Ryu: This is Ryu the voice. 柳 is read as Ryu. I’m “Japan’s proud king of gloominess“.
Amane: I’m born on June 13th. My zodiac is Twins, blood type B, I love games and sweet potatoes. I’m Super Guitar Hero Amane.
Minato: I’m Minato. The return of Fenix
Tetsuya: I’m Tetsuya, a bassist born in the eastern part of Japan, Hokkaido.
LANA: I am LANA the drummer, I’m the cutest angel in the world.
■ If you could describe yourself with your favourite kanji which Kanji would it be and why?
Ryu: 「弱」 I’m singing with my burden.
Amane: 「真」 I’m surprisingly serious.
Minato: 「蘇」 I’m not giving up.
Tetsuya: 「縁」 In Japan, there is a proverb that says, “everything is predestined by fate” Because of the many encounters in my life have made me what I am today.
LANA: 「糸」 With the meaning of making connections between people and bringing them together.
■ Looking back at 2022, how would you express this year with a Kanji and why did you choose this Kanji?
Ryu: 「獄」 Named after the song we played at almost every show in 2022.
Amane: 「瞬」 Because 2022 ended in a blink of an eye.
Minato: 「赤」 Because of my red ponytail.
Tetsuya: 「悩」 There were moments of agony, but there were also lots of fun times.
LANA: 「道」 It was a challenging year for me.
■ Why did you decide to be a visual kei bandman?
Ryu: I was fascinated by the fact that I could become “another me” when wearing make-up, having a different hairstyle, and putting on a costume. It’s also attractive and cool that you can play any type of music style.
Amane: As a kid I really thought visual kei was mega cool.
Minato: Being called visual kei as Minato.
Tetsuya: I guess that is where my roots are.
Because it’s characteristic and attractive to be able to put a Japanese pop-melody on a much heavier melody.
LANA: I was attracted by the endless power of expression. The other reason is that I always loved and admired it.
■ What’s the real “thing” that can be only expressed in visual kei and not expressed in any other genre?
Ryu: I guess it’s a problem that many visual kei artist are struggling with.(smile)
Because most expressions that used to be “privileges of visual kei” have been adopted by various artists and idol groups these days. Because of that, it feels to me it’s the time again for us visual kei artist to pursue and explore “something, that only can be expressed in visual kei”
Amane: I believe the “way” our seniors have created back in the days is what visual kei is all about, however now it also has become part of the Japanese culture. Today visual kei bands express a more sublimated Visual-kei which was invented over time and inspired by our seniors.
Minato: I believe that visual kei has an unrealistic worldview that has a depth that cannot be expressed and reached by any other genre.
Tetsuya: Nowadays I feel that things that can be only expressed by visual kei are more “visual” than by “sound“. Make-up and costumes are of course a must, but the communicating style of how visual bands communicate with the audience at a live shows feels similar to a punk or hardcore-punk live is unique to visual kei.
LANA: To put it bluntly; “Why is a band classified as a visual kei band? Why is a band visual kei or not?” I think the answer of what visual kei is, is the answer to that question.
■ I was surprised to learn that the origin of the band name “MISUI” is derived from the word “attempted suicide“. It makes me wonder about the reason why you chose the word “attempt“. Is it because you want to help those people who suffer from such thoughts?
Ryu: That’s correct. In addition to that, the meaning of “attempt” is also: achieving something in the future.
■ What’s your biggest inspiration for making music?
Amane: The opportunity to experience many things other than music, people, scenery, art, anything is fine!
So for creating new music, I just need to have confidence, to create what I felt and learned about things that touched me and gave me the inspiration for creating a new song.
■ What do you value the most when creating music?
Ryu: Clarify the role of each song.
Amane: You might only need 10% inspiration, but you need 90% effort.
Minato: Ah, just to have “that” feeling.
Tetsuya: The “freedom” and “restrictions” which are unique to visual kei and how I express myself in this world.
LANA: I only can create songs that are catchy or have a slightly pop image, so I tend to think of melodies that can be enjoyed from the audience point of view.
Since your official activities started at Ikebukuro EDGE with the concept of “weak” many of your fans have been fascinated by the lyrics and melodies which resonate with their hearts. Which means a lot of your fans have supported you the past 3 years and are encouraged by Mitsui’s music.
■ Looking back on your activities over the past three years, are there any things which changed during the time?
Ryu: It has been a while since I joined a band myself again, so I’m enjoying all the good waves but also the bad waves of our activity.
Also nothing has changed since the start of MISUI, or motto is still: “Let’s work at our own pace and let’s do what we feel comfortable with“.
But the shut-down of Takadanobaba AREA was impressive and unexpected for me.
Amane: At the beginning, I wanted to change from what I had been and was willing to change myself completely. To be honest, I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to be, but over the past three years, I think I have become clearer about what I want to be and how I should be.
Minato: My basic feelings for MISUI haven’t changed, but compared to 3 years ago, I’ve come to want to express myself while challenging various things. I was able to meet a new me during my three years of MISUI activities.
Tetsuya: I don’t think the basics have changed. However what I did not expect, and what I felt keenly, was the need to adjust my own sensibilities to the current times.
LANA: Three years from the start is quite severe and a turning point for MISUI. In this three-year period I’ve set my own goals from the beginning.
There are lots of things I am really thankful for, but there are also things I’m still lacking.
Thankfully, there are things we can accomplish, but there are still points where we are lacking things. Even now it is still important to discuss and think through these issues with the members each time, so I don’t think anything has really changed since the beginning.
■ What’s your best memory of MISUI in those 3 years?
Ryu: So far, our ONEMAN at “Shibuya WWW” last year. It was a wonderful experience.
Amane: The creation of our superb album “死場所-shinibasho-“
Minato: That Ryu praised me for the song I created for free distribution at our ONEMAN show at Shibuya WWW by saying “It’s too good to give it away for free“.
Tetsuya: When I realised that our music and/or live show(s) has touched someone’s heart.
LANA: The proof that one of the songs I’ve created was used as a title track.
■ What was the hardest part of those 3 years?
Ryu: Our first ONEMAN show that was sold out, but had to be cancelled due corona.
Amane: Nothing.
Minato: Last year when I catched Corona and missed live shows for the first time in my life.
Tetsuya: From March to June 2020, when we weren’t allowed to do any live performances.
LANA: My medical treatment period.
Your 2nd mini album “『証拠』(Shouku)” will be released on February 22nd.
■ Could you tell us what your feelings are about this album?
Ryu: Our first full album 死場所 -shinibasho- is so to say the culmination of the early MISUI, because it was our best work. After that release I felt kind of worried about what kind of music MISUI had to deliver.
Because I often use the expression “the other side of the place of death“, it has become a mini-album which lets you feel the desire to go to the next stage together with the five of us.
Amane: Four of the five songs include guitar solos. It’s a variety of solos, from crying solos to devilishly fast and effective solos, so please enjoy listening to them.
Minato: Each of the five songs has its own established atmosphere, so I hope you will listen to them all.
Tetsuya: As for the music, it has a different aspect from what we have presented in the past works.
With this mini-album we are able to show that there are many more variations of melodies and sounds that the five of us can express and because of this variety it’s a mini album which I would appreciate if also people who never have listened to us before would experience it.
LANA: First of all I think it’s a miracle that us five, with different ages, backgrounds and birthplaces could start a band together in Tokyo. That’s the reason why we decided to create something that could only be created by the five of us. So for this mini-album each of us wrote a song.
■ Please explain each song of 『証拠』(Shouku) from each composer.
01.ドーパミン(DOPAMINE)
LANA: When I was creating this song, I hurted my elbow and all kinds of emotions were running through my head. Because of those emotions this song turned melancholic with dizzying elements and some catchy phrases at its core. This song is an embodiment of what I felt at the time.
02.蝉時雨
Minato: This song existed already for a while as a demo, so I am happy that we are able to deliver it to everyone. Hopefully you can sense the fragility in the emotional atmosphere.
03.明日もし晴れたら
Ryu: The theme was to create the slowest tempo song among all the songs in MISUI’s history, which wasn’t difficult. Since I cannot play an instrument well enough to realise the image in my head and I am an amateur creating music with music software, I had to explain almost everything verbally “play the drums like this” and “play the guitar like this” (laugh), which made the band members cry (laugh). I respect & appreciate the band’s ability to shape it well together.
4.自称・評論家
Tetsuya: I myself like pop and catchy songs, so I have tried to add a song with my own pop feeling, while at the same time displaying a different aspect of MISUI. The phrasing of the song was also designed to feel glamorous, incorporating breakbeats and wind instruments to give it a bit of a parade feel and a dance music feel.
05.3004g
Amane: Classical music doesn’t need weight, so they play completely different phrases for each part in search of harmony. The Intro and outro are exactly that.
The Amane-song is so to say bursting with the Amane-tunes.
I also recommend you to pay attention to the solo, the clean part after the solo is intertwined with each other as if to ease the tension up to that point, so to say the “Stillness and Motion”
You showed your new visual last year in October.
■ Could you tell us a little bit more about this costume concept and your favourite points about it?
Ryu: The most important point is that we have all renewed our “rope” trademark . Personally, It is my first time wearing three-quarter length sleeves and skirt-like pants that show a glimpse of skin, which I really like.
Amane: The theme is Paris Collection. We left it to our costume designer to do whatever he wanted. I love the pointy shoulders and the high-waisted pants, which beautifully compensate for my body’s weaknesses.
Minato: Minato’s first pants style
Tetsuya: The monotone colour scheme and the outfit I would not have chosen in the past. Personally, I used TAKUYA of JUDY AND MARY as a reference(lol)
LANA: Our hairstyles have changed, so people tend to think that our image has changed considerably, but basically, the costumes are the same as before: unisex, oversized, and easy for everyone to cosplay in.
Last year LANA had to take a rest because of his health.
■ Could each of you tell more about your feelings about his break and return?
Ryu: I am the type of person who usually makes weak remarks. I had a sense of crisis if the band would fall apart if I would rush things too much(laugh), so I always tried to keep my head cool. I now feel that it was a good training for me as a person who plays a central role in the band to see what kind of stage I can deliver in a situation where the norm is not the norm. Of course, the return concert was memorable, but personally, the day in the studio, when the five of us were together for the first time in a long time, was especially memorable.
Amane: When the recovering period decision was made, I didn’t think negatively , because I knew I had to stay positive and to think positive. Otherwise it would not be good for our fans (Yowamushi’s) who were waiting for LANA’s return. However the reality was really “hard“. I was and I still am very grateful to the drummers who supported us, but I always felt a sense of “this isn’t it“. For that reason it was also the time that I reconfirmed for myself how important the members are to me who I was together with for already three years. When LANA returned to us again the sound was back in harmony again and the sense of security like “this is home” felt just wonderful.
Minato: When I heard the story, I wanted LANA first and foremost to take care of his body and get a good rest. However, in the studio and at live shows, I strongly felt and I realised that MISUI without LANA and to make music with the five of us is not something to be taken for granted. Once again, I wanted to cherish each live show and the sound of the five of us working together even more.
Tetsuya: First and foremost, with the absence of LANA, our axis of rhythm is very difficult to deliver as a sound that is unique to MISUI.
It was a continuous process of trial and error with the help of the drummers who supported us on how we could deliver MISUI’s unique sounds and grooves with a fine rhythm together. But even under such circumstances, how can we have fun? and what can we do to have fun? That is what I thought about every day. After a long period of recuperation, when I played with LANA again, I felt my bass and his drum sticking together again. It was a very nostalgic feeling.
LANA: Immediately after my treatment started I felt close to jealousy….
In those treatment periods I was unable to do anything, just fighting the pain day after day, and I wondered if I ever would really be healed again.
There was a time when I felt alienated, or suffered from the fact that things were going on without me, or that I didn’t need to be there.
But the members, various supporters and the many fans have cheered me on! Most importantly, they all believed in me and waited for me to return. More than anything, because I received so many encouraging messages and calls from my friends and DM’s from my fans, which helped me to stay positive and to give my all in my rehabilitation, which helped me to make my full comeback!
When I held the sticks and played the drums for the first time in two months after the surgery, I was so happy that I cried. I will never forget that feeling.
About your final ONEMAN live 「論より証拠」”” at Shinjuku LOFT on March 18th.
■ Please tell us your enthusiasm.
Ryu: First of all, MISUI will perform a ONEMAN live show at the venue called SHINJUKU LOFT, which is one of the most HOLY places in (Japanese) ROCK history.
Many of our fans are customers who have loved this scene for many years, so I hope they can feel the respect that MISUI has for the good old-fashioned Visual Kei and long-established live houses.
On this day it will be the first time that we play all the songs from “Shouku”『証拠』, so we hope you will enjoy the set list, which is a mixture of old and new songs.
Amane: We have also announced a new release and have already performed some of the songs, so I hope you will enjoy how those songs have evolved through this tour.
Minato: If you come to watch this live, you will know anything about MISUI. 「論より証拠」 We want to make this a suitable and decisive live show by showing you the meaning behind the title!
Tetsuya: Because I am a rocker love rock myself, to be able to do a ONEMAN at a venue called “Shinjuku LOFT” together with MISUI is the most exciting thing ever!
However, no matter what kind of concert, venue, ONEMAN show, or event, what I have to do is the same. I want to create the best atmosphere together with everyone who comes to see us.
LANA: Since this is the first tour after I returned back to stage, the new release but also this tour are things we are totally obsessed with.
It also proves that I belong to MISUI as LANA.
The tour final, at Shinjuku LOFT, is a stage that MISUI neer has never stood on before, so leading to this date will lead us to the final meaning of this tour.
■ For the 「論より証拠」(Ronyori Shouko) tour, please tell us why you chose the five cities of Fukuoka, Sendai, Nagoya, Osaka and Shinjuku.
Ryu: Sendai, Nagoya, and Osaka are places where I have many opportunities to perform live on a normal basis, So I just wanted to do ONEMAN’s also. Compared to those three cities, I still don’t go to Fukuoka very often but it’s a place that feels particularly good and during my last national tour I added it to my schedule as a challenge. And the final will be in Tokyo, which is our normal playground.
■ 「論より証拠(Ronyori Shouko)(Evidence is better than debate)」 please tell us why you choose it as a title.
Ryu: I’m sure all artists would say the same (laughs), but we are confident in the satisfaction level of our ONEMAN shows.
If you experience our ONEMAN, you will surely understand the charms that cannot be fully conveyed via normal event shows. That’s my honest feeling about it (laugh)
■ What do you enjoy the most of performing ONEMAN shows?
Ryu: That you can play the setlist you want without to worry to about “playing time“
Amane: To be able to express yourself to the fullest.
Minato: Introduction of Minato’s goods sales.
Tetsuya: To be able to play a longer time, I love to play my bass for a long time.
LANA: That you can talk a lot to the audience.
■ What do you enjoy the most about live events?
Ryu: Our fans who support MISUI are called Yowamushi(弱虫). When we perform lives with other bands, at the end of our shows I’m always looking forward to meet brand new Yowamushi’s. I really love the moment when they join and get involved with the already existing “Yowamushi’s”.
Amane: To be able to give 120% from the first song without worrying about the pace of the song, both emotionally and physically.
Minato: The more visitors that don’t come to watch us, the bigger the feeling of showing we’re the best. It’s such a sense of tension.
Tetsuya: The fact that there is a limited playing time. It stimulates the sense of excitement a lot. I really love to make all our Yowamushi’s and other visitors go crazy! I’m always looking forward to throwing such a punk hardcore feeling to the audience.
LANA: I’m always thinking about how much eye contact I can make. The time is limited and the drums are a bit far behind, so it’s kind of difficult for a drummer. Sometimes it’s even impossible to see a drummer from the floor. But if there is any gap to show my face I’ll show myself.
■ Among the things you have to do on a live day, are there any things you think are difficult or you don’t like to do?
Ryu: Often I’m the first one to do make-up. So it’s usually hard to get up early.
Amane: To leave home.
Minato: Positioning of the microphone.
On the day of the show, I sometimes lose track of where I’ve put it during rehearsal, and after the curtain opens, I even wonder about the position of the main speakers. About such things I always worry about.
Tetsuya: Sometimes before a show my body shivers from cold and how to deal with that is an eternal theme.
LANA: It’s a routine that I always follow, so I don’t really have a specific routine.
■ When you go to a more rural area for a gig, what about food? Is there anything you always want to eat or drink in that area?
Ryu: I always want to eat as much local food as possible for a cheap price(laugh).
If anything I love it’s usually the true speciality of the rural area.
Such as local stores as Meihan’s “Miyamoto Munashi” and Fukoaka’s “West”.
Amane: I only go to the convenience stores closest to our hotel. I love Lawson the most.
Minato: Hakata Ramen from Fukuoka, Curry from Osaka, Tenkaippin from Nagoya, Oppechan from Sendai and Yakiben from Sapporo.
Tetsuya: Recently the number of restaurants I like have increased in various places, but I don’t really care much about locality and simply look for a good restaurant. It’s best if you just can drink and eat yakitori. Except when I go to Sapporo, a city in Hokkaido, then I prefer to have a real good time.
LANA: Before going on a trip, I’m definitely doing lots of research on local delicacies which I definitely wanna eat. For some reason, I also have a bad habit of wanting to eat at certain restaurants like those in Tokyo when I arrive. Unfortunately usually those common restaurants are nowhere to find at rural areas.
■ What does “Music” mean to you?
Ryu: It’s like a woman.(seriously)
Amane: Life
Minato: Self-expression.
Tetsuya: It’s like cigarettes or alcohol, a necessity and entertainment at the same time.
LANA: A hero who lets you be yourself.
■ What’s the most difficult part of continuing your music activities?
Ryu: Negotiating with the God of Words and the God of Melody.
Amane: How to use time?
Minato: Everyday I try to figure out how to convey the fun and depth of MISUI to people who have never heard of MISUI before.
Tetsuya: How to fill in your own ideal and realistic abilities.
LANA: Determine areas for improvement and compromise.
■ Can you speak English or other foreign languages?
Ryu: All the lyrics of the MISUI are in Japanese. So that’s my answer.
Amane: I can’t even speak Japanese properly.
Minato: I have experience studying abroad and although I cannot read or write, I feel I can speak it in simple daily communication.
Tetsuya: I speak only poor English (Eiken level 4). I can only introduce myself in Chinese.
LANA: Is the Kansai dialect a foreign language?
■ To Ryu, what kind of vocalist do you wish to be in the future?
Ryu: I don’t care about the “aesthetics of withdrawal” because I’ve come this far, I want to keep singing, even if it’s just miserable or stupid. Of course whatever happens, I want to continue to be the vocalist of MISUI.
■ To Amane, What kind of guitarist do you want to be in the future?
Amane: A Super Guitar Hero
■ To Minato, What kind of guitarist do you want to be in the future?
Minato: The one and only.
■ To Tetsuya, What kind of bassist do you want to be in the future?
Tetsuya: If my 13-15 year old-self would see me on stage today and would say, “Oh man, I want to play bass too. He is looking so cool! I want to play bass guitar too”
■ To LANA, What kind of drummer do you want to be in the future?
LANA: I want to be a drummer who is not just a drummer who sits firmly in the back and plays, but a drummer who can enjoy himself visually and have fun with everyone who is watching me.
I think it is cool just to play the drums, but I also want to focus on other aspects of drumming and become the one and only drummer that no one was before.
■ What do you think is the reason why you were able to overcome the corona pandemic?
Ryu: The pandemic started about a half year after we started as MISUI. So I think it was good to have the attitude of “Let’s wait and see” rather than giving up because of it.
Amane: As I am a musician, artist and entertainer and have other titles as well. So there are so many other things I can do besides live shows to make money and survive as an artist.
Minato: I guess it’s because we all could talk very well together about how to deal with the pandemic as a band.
Tetsuya: Although the situation was too extreme, I think it was good that we were able to look at it from a bird’s eye view without being rushed. And above all, I think that the cooperation, or rather the understanding, of those who support us also have been the reason.
LANA: Because we followed the rules of the venues. That also our fans followed those rules as well. All thanks to that is the reason why we are still active today. So everyone really thank you.
■ What kind of year will 2023 be?
Ryu: In both the band and in my personal life, I want to do things steadily without making a lot of small mistakes.(seriously)
Amane: This year we will become a celebrity!
Minato: Guitar and Latte Art training.
Tetsuya: Just having a happy year.
LANA: Staying healthy while taking appropriate breaks.
■ Could you tell us about your beliefs and mottos as an artist?
Ryu: Anyway, I have to be “honest”. That’s the most I should be.
Amane: Effort
Minato: To Resurrect many times just as a phoenix
Tetsuya: Until I can successfully do it, I won’t give up trying it.
LANA: Where there is a will…
■ What are your goals or challenges for your future band activities?
Ryu: Realistic goals because there is no end to dreamy dreams. We aim to reach our fourth and fifth anniversaries with a slight step up from where we are now.
Amane: Our goal is to continue our activities at least for 10 years, which we have been saying from the beginning.
Minato: To increase the art of self-expression.
Tetsuya: To broaden our musical horizons and brush up a lot!
LANA: We continue to give meaning and goals to every little thing in front of us, and we achieve them together.
It’s a lot of work, but we have to keep doing this all the time.
After that, I hope to do some personal activities little by little.
■ Please give a message to those who haven’t come to your shows yet, and those who want to go see MISUI in the future.
Ryu: If handsome guys make you cry, come to me.
Amane: It’s fun to exercise with everyone together.
Minato: Please come anytime, Minato is waiting for you.
Tetsuya: It’s like a free hug, so please come to see us.
LANA: Come and be madly in love because I am more of an angel than you can imagine.
■ Please leave a message to your overseas fans as well.
Ryu: No matter where our lives are decided. I will only sing in Japanese, if you still want to see me, please shout to me, thanks for loving me.
Amane: I want to go to Europe, I’m waiting for your invitation.
Minato: We are Yowamushi.
Tetsuya: Of course. Since I was a kid, I’ve admired many Western music artists, so it’s one of my dreams to perform overseas. It’s not easy, but I would like to deliver MISUI’s music to the world someday.
LANA: Of course, I want to deliver MISUI’s music across the ocean. I know it’s not easy, so I can’t say it lightly, but when it becomes realistically possible, I definitely want to go and deliver MISUI’s expressions.