Interview with TABOO

A group of stray cats rebelling against TABOO.
TABOO was formed in April 2023 as a demo band called Nora. By the end of 2023, the band had gained enough experience to evolve as Stray Cats into TABOO. The band gained a lot of attention around the end of 2024, as all members made a pledge to be able to hold their ONEMAN show at the end of January 2025. All members fulfilled their pledge and the ONEMAN was held. After the completion of the ONEMAN, three new ONEMAN’s were announced to be held in April and June. Because of this success, it’s time to introduce TABOO to the world.

■■■■Self Introduction■■■■

■ Please introduce yourself.

YUUMA: I’m Yuma, I’m TABOO’s boss cat, I’m the vocalist and I’m the pretty guy.

NICE☆: I’m Bakeneko. I like drinking, sleeping and watching TikTok. I’m the lazy type. ^_^

Rubito: I’m Rubito, an abandoned cat (SuteNeko). I play the bass. I’m doing this band because I want to make people smile with my charming smile. 

Aira: I’m the badass cat (DoraNeko). I play the drums, I’m little and cute. 

Bakeneko: Meaning.
A Suteneko and Doraneko are both stray cat’s yet the meaning is a little bit different.
Suteneko: Meaning Doraneko: Meaning

■Please tell us what you like and respect about each other.

● About YUUMA
➡ NICE☆: Because your weight loss was a success, I’m going to make you gain weight again!
➡ Rubito: I really love your lyrics.
➡ Aira: You have a plump, and yet beautiful body

●About NICE☆:
➡ YUUMA: I respect your alcohol tolerance and your dedication to ramen.
➡ rubito-: I like that you get along with other bands through alcohol.
➡ Aira: Your alcohol obsession.

● About Rubito:
➡ YUUMA: Of course because you’re our leader, I have nothing but respect for you.
➡ NICE☆: He is a guy who loves his work.
➡ Aira: Let’s think positively.

● About Aira:
➡ YUUMA: I respect his dedication to his drumming and his attention to detail.
➡ NICE☆: He likes beer. He’s hooked on 100% of the stuff I recommend. (No exceptions)
➡ Rubito: The dirty jokes he tells are childish, cute, and fun. Also he’s really serious about drumming.

■■■■TABOO Introduction■■■■

■Please tell us how TABOO was formed.

TABOO: When the band of Rubito and Aira broke up, both wanted to start something new. So they invited YUUMA and NICE☆ to form PROJECT Nora. and because we wanted to spread our will and determination to the world we evolved into TABOO.

■Please tell us what genre of visual kei and music genre TABOO belongs to. Fans classify TABOO as KIRAKIRA. How do you feel about this?

YUUMA: We’ll maybe become more KIRAIRA, but we haven’t done any live shows that are KIRAKIRA, so I don’t feel we are KIRAIRA. Please don’t let us get stuck in stereotypes 🐈

NICE☆:  TABOO is Fusion-kei ^_^

Rubito: I think it is more accurate to say that we’re more GIRAGIRA than KIRAKIRA. if you watch our GIRA GIRA[1] and passionate live shows you will understand it.

Aira: I like to be called a GIRAGIRA band much more than just a KIRAKIRA one.

[1] GIRAGIRA:  https://vk.gy/blog/list-of-non-subgenres-guide-to-visual-kei/

■ Do you feel that the music of TABOO can be only expressed as “visual kei” and not in other genres?

YUUMA: I think we can compete in other genres as well. But we all love visual kei, so we love to express ourselves in the vkei industry. 

NICE☆: Wouldn’t it be great if you could enjoy both our look and our sound?

Rubito: Although our activities are based on visual kei, I think we can compete in events of any genre. My personal dream is to play at a big outdoor rock festival one day.

Aira: Whether it’s visual kei or another genre, a live show is a battle. And we always show everything what we got.  

■ Are costumes and makeup the only things unique to visual kei? Or do you think there are other things as well?

YUUMA: I think everyone, including myself, is a total “chuunibyou”[1], so I guess it’s the mindset of loving that one-of-a-kindness.

NICE☆: This ties back to what YUUMA said, but visual kei is the strongest genre because you can experience it with your eyes, ears and body. Apart from the appearance, it’s okay to include any kind of Loud, Metal, Jazz or Blues phases.

Rubito: I believe that visual kei is social satire, erotic and stimulating expression, and expresses the depths of the human heart.

Aira: Stimulating lyrics, social satire, and an intense beautiful sound. That’s visual kei.

[1] chuunibyou https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%ABniby%C5%8D

■■■■Music Introduction■■■■

■ Congratulations on your ONEMAN “Hitojarashi” and 1st Anniversary! What was particularly memorable about the ONEMAN and 1st Anniversary held at Sugamo Shishioh on January 22nd?

YUUMA: The thing that moves me the most is that I am happy that we were able to make it through the year without losing a member. 

NICE☆: We were able to make it through thanks to all the members, people involved and all our fans.

Rubito: I wouldn’t say we were satisfied with the results, because it made us realize that we still have a long way to go as TABOO. But it made me want to get stronger and keep fighting, so all in all it was a good live show.

Aira: I’m glad we were able to welcome it with the four of us who have been fighting all along to get to this point.

■ Your ONEMAN SHOWs “ORDER FLAVOR and final MATATABI VILLAINISM” will be held on April 13th, 22nd and June 11th. Please tell us your enthusiasm for these ONEMAN shows.

YUUMA: These shows will be a great challenge for TABOO. We will see what TABOO will leave behind in the six months since our first anniversary and how we should fight for the future ahead.

NICE☆: I want to improve my self-expression so that there will be no gaps in the beginning, middle, and end of the game. But there is no way that I am going to lose to that.

Rubito: I want to make sure that these will be live shows where we can show how much we’ve grown since our first anniversary. We’re going to prove that if you keep up with us, you can have a fun future with us, too!

Aira: I will give my best every day and train my body every day so that we can have a party with nothing but smiles on our faces.

■ “Ragdoll, Matata Villain, DokuiRI CHURU,” were released on February 22nd. Please tell us something about it.

YUUMA:  We started with the idea of giving everything we have as we are right now, but it’s not been that easy. But I also feel that we’ve gotten to the point where we can definitely create good songs and to me they are all satisfying songs.

NICE☆: The guitar part is added later for most of the songs. It is added later to match the key of the vocal part. I’ll think about how to lead it and how and in what part to add more notes, then how to turn notes into a bass phrase or a synth phrase, or whatever comes to my mind. So it’s Always a bit of a challenge to create a new song ^_^

Rubito: Ragdoll is such an amazing song, I want you to listen to it a lot. Even among the flashy TABOO songs, Ragdoll is a little bit more calm, so I want you to pay attention to the lyrics.

Aira: They are all good songs because we have changed the way we record a little bit as well.

■ Please tell us something about the MV shooting of the song “DokuiRI CHURU”.

YUUMA: The shooting was very early in the morning and NICE☆ was in a bad mood because he didn’t get enough sleep. He even tried to eat some Churu (Cat threat), but it was so disgusting that he will never eat it again. 

NICE☆: For some reasons, on MV days, I’m usually the first to do my makeup, which I hate ^_^
But, I got to eat ramen at Butayama with Rubito-san on our way home and that made me happy.

Rubito: In this MV, cats = churu, so the MV is about cats running around wild in a cat mansion and eating churu.

Aira: I was able to bring my full drum set. 

■ What’s your favorite song to play and why so?

YUUMA: Ragdoll. I really love the lyrics, so I can express my emotions directly. 

NICE☆: I like “Aibyou,” because I can sing it without thinking. 🤞

Rubito:  “Aibyou,” this song is the first song I composed and released to the world, so it has a special meaning to me.

Aira: I love all of them. They are all a lot of fun to play, and I always discover something new in every song at every live show.

■ Have you made any mistakes during a live show?

YUUMA: Yes, I do. I skip lyrics parts, lol

NICE☆: Actually, my mistakes are like this; I miss the time and play a phrase a few bars early. To myself, it didn’t feel like I was playing a mistake and I just went through with it and apologized to the other members, I’m sorry.

Rubito: My cat ears used to fall off from banging my head too much.

Aira: Yes, I do. When that happens, I always stop the music. lol.

■  When listening to TABOO’s songs, is there anything you want your listeners to pay attention to?

YUUMA: Our lyrics are written in a way that almost feels too straightforward. The lyrics tell the story as it is, so hopefully we can get the message across that you don’t have to be so roundabout about your life.

NICE☆: We are very particular about the sound production, so take a listen!

Rubito: We communicate who we are through our music and our lyrics, so I hope you’ll just feel it intuitively and enjoy it without having to think about it too much.

Aira: It’s rare for a young artist to get the drums right, so give it a listen.

■ What is the appeal of TABOO’s live show?

YUUMA: We always pour out a live show that you can be sure to make you happy.

NICE☆: Please check our SNS.

Rubito: Our show highlight is that you will have fun moshing and that we get everyone headbanging, we put on a really hot show, desperate how we look.

Aira: We deliver HOT visual kei.

■ What makes TABOO unique?

YUUMA: We are four members with difficult personalities and quirks. So of course every day is unique.

NICE☆: I don’t really know, but it feels as if people think we are just stupid.

Rubito: Each of our personalities is very different from each other, so our individuality shines through and is unique.

Aira: When the four of us get together, we have an amazing chemistry.

■ Please tell us your favorite band to play against. 

YUUMA: SORANAKI, because Naki-chan is so cute.

NICE☆: It’s not a band, but I like to play at LIVE HOUSE Shishio. They give free drink tickets to performers and staff, although it’s just a small thing for me, it makes me very happy.

Rubito: I like to play against more bands to discover new bands to play against.

Aira: I haven’t found any band yet.

■ Please promote any live show you want people to check out.

YUUMA:  Please make sure to come to our ” MATATABI VILLAINISM” ONEMAN at Shibuya Kinmirai Kaikan on June 11th!

NICE☆: You would be a great help if you would come to our” MATATABI VILLAINISM” ONEMAN at Shibuya Kinmirai Kaikan. As well please come to our shows at Nagoya, Osaka, etc.

Rubito: I guess everyone feels the same but it is the final ONEMAN “MATATABI VILLAINISM” at Shibuya Kinmirai Kaikan on June 11th. But the Kansai Rock Summit on May 18th is also worth keeping your eye on if possible.

Aira: We’re doing an ONEMAN at Shibuya Kinmirai Kaikan on June 11th, so please be sure to come if possible.

■■■■Questions for each member■■■■

■  There are a lot of female visual kei fans, but the number of male fans is also gradually increasing. Please give a message to your male fans.

YUUMA: Guy’s you’re the best!

NICE☆: I have a good memory, so I’ll remember you!

Rubito: Don’t be shy, let’s go wild together!

Aira: Come on! Show me your hotness! 

■ Your band name is TABOO, so JRNR wants to break a TABOO. As said in my previous question, visual kei attracts male fans as well. But would you accept “romantic feelings” from your male fans?

YUUMA: Of course, I’ll accept all of it!

NICE☆: We live in the age of LGBT diversity!

Rubito: Come on Baby☆

Aira: Homosexuality… Shall we?

■ Please tell us your favorite kanji and the reason.

YUUMA: 破(break), I believe that you cannot move forward, without breaking things. 

NICE☆: 麺 (noodles), Because I love ramen.

Rubito: 寝 (sleep), Because I love sleeping.

Aira: 女 (woman), Because I love woman.

■ Please tell us your motto

YUUMA: There is no royal road to glory.

NICE☆: A drop of sake is a drop of one’s soul. 

Rubito: A smile is not worth a dollar, but it’s worth a million dollars.

Aira: Train daily. 

■ Please tell us the artists who influenced you.

YUUMA: SHELLMY

NICE☆: R-Shitei

Rubito: Acid Black Cherry, Janne Da Arc

Aira: the GazettE

■ When and why did you start playing music?

YUUMA: 16 years old. Because I wanted to sing.

NICE☆: 15 years old. Because I saw people playing guitar on YouTube and thought it was cool. 

Rubito: When I was 18 years old I wanted to stand on stage and do something more amazing than the average person.

Aira: Before I even knew it. 

■ What made you decide your current part?

YUUMA: Because it’s the only part where I can speak out. 

NICE☆: Because I’m a guitar player.

Rubito: I tried to learn how to play the guitar, but it was too difficult so I gave up and became a bassist.

Aira: Because it looked fun.

■ Can you play any other instruments than your current part?

YUUMA: I can play a little bit of drums.

NICE☆: Bass, drums, piano (programmed)

Rubito: I can’t.

Aira:  A little bit of electone and all percussion instruments

■ Who was the first musician/band you fell in love with?

YUUMA: Hyo / SHELLMY

NICE☆: REY / ex：LILT

Rubito: Okaasan to Issho

Aira: aiko

■ Is there anything you would be happy to receive as a gift, or something that you wouldn’t like to receive?

YUUMA: Cigarettes (iQOS) / anything is fine.

NICE☆: 100% Manic Panic Electric Lizard. Please give me some!!!

Rubito: Anything is fine but I love Letters and iQOS BLACK RUBY MENTHOL would be great.  

Aira: I’m happy with anything.

■ What are your favorite foods and drinks?

YUUMA: White rice, orange juice (100%), beer

NICE☆: I’ve been hooked on Welch’s (grape) lately ^_^
When it comes to food, ramen is my only choice!

Rubito: White rice and shrimp, drink is Calpis

Aira: Rice.

■ Are there any foreign foods you’d like to try?

YUUMA: I feel like I’ve eaten pretty much everything, so there aren’t any!

NICE☆: I’d like to eat some coriander dish that doesn’t taste like coriander.

Rubito: I would like to eat Yakiniku overseas.

Aira: None.

■ Can you speak English or other foreign languages?

YUUMA: NO.

NICE☆: Ah, I guess it’s Tsugaru dialect? People from other regions wouldn’t understand that at all.

Rubito: Maybe, Kansai dialect!!

Aira: I can speak all of Europe’s languages with ease!!

■ Which country would you like to go to on vacation? I’d be happy if you could also tell me why.

YUUMA: America. Because I think it’s a place I have to go to before I die.

NICE☆: I want to go to Scandinavia. I want to camp, go fishing, have a BBQ, and relax in the sauna while watching the Northern Lights. 🕺

Rubito: I want to enjoy a trip to Hawaii.

Aira: To a country with lots of beautiful women.

■■■■The Final Questions■■■■

■  You have many overseas fans, do you have plans to open a web shop exclusively for overseas fans?

TABOO: We don’t have plans for now, but we’re considering it.

■ Please tell us about TABOO’s near future goals, dreams, and predictions for the band you want to become.

YUUMA: I want it to be a band that everyone feels welcome to support.

NICE☆: I want to be a band that makes everyone feel welcome and I want to use it as a source of energy for myself.

Rubito: To become a band that all fans can confidently call cool.

Aira: I want to create a homey atmosphere.

■ Please send a message to those who support TABOO from overseas.

YUUMA: Thanks.

NICE☆: ecstasy！

Rubito: Thank you for always supporting us from afar. We’ll do our best to reach out to all of you someday. I want to meet everyone I haven’t met yet.

Aira: I LOVE YOU

■ Finally, please give a message to your readers and fans.

YUUMA: TABOO’s 2nd year is gonna be amazing!

NICE☆: I’m not good at showing and expressing my affection, so I’d be happy if you could show it to me!!

Rubito: I want my smile to make you happy, so I’ll send lots of smiles to you.

Aira: I want to be more popular, so please love me more.