Japanese interview done by Mr. Takuya Oyama for NATALIE: Here
English translation: Mika @mikaxxxxxxxxx.
Credits: Link
Pictures are taken from the official Facebook pages: Yoshiki and X Japan.
X Japan's Live DVD "The Last Live ~ The Uncut Version" has been released. This is the uncut full edition of the video capturing the last live (concert) held at the Tokyo Dome on December 31, 1997. The legend is still alive, and we can fully experience the revival of the last live (concert) through the DVD. In honor of the sale of the DVD, NATALIE conducted an interview with YOSHIKI (drummer/pianist) who was visiting Japan. Since X Japan got reunited in October 2007, he has been vigorously active and has just recently finished the world tour. We asked him questions in different topics.
English translation: Mika @mikaxxxxxxxxx.
Credits: Link
Pictures are taken from the official Facebook pages: Yoshiki and X Japan.
X Japan's Live DVD "The Last Live ~ The Uncut Version" has been released. This is the uncut full edition of the video capturing the last live (concert) held at the Tokyo Dome on December 31, 1997. The legend is still alive, and we can fully experience the revival of the last live (concert) through the DVD. In honor of the sale of the DVD, NATALIE conducted an interview with YOSHIKI (drummer/pianist) who was visiting Japan. Since X Japan got reunited in October 2007, he has been vigorously active and has just recently finished the world tour. We asked him questions in different topics.
I always feel that "there will be no tomorrow"
- Congratulations on your great success of the world tour!
Thank you.
- How is your condition?
I've over-done it, I think. I'll be hospitalized for a checkup after going back to the states. But I think I’m fine.
- The tour was quite intense.
I had surgery on my neck over 2 years ago. Since then, three of my fingers (my left middle finger, ring finger and pinky) have been numb, and they have not been cured. So I am still on medication to treat the numbness. My doctor tells me, "Stop drumming." I try to hold back myself at the beginning, but as soon as a concert begins, I no longer care!
- You get too into it?
I've been doing this for a long time almost feeling "There will be no tomorrow." I don't want to think too much ahead by holding back myself. It is really do-or-die for me every time.
- Congratulations on your great success of the world tour!
Thank you.
- How is your condition?
I've over-done it, I think. I'll be hospitalized for a checkup after going back to the states. But I think I’m fine.
- The tour was quite intense.
I had surgery on my neck over 2 years ago. Since then, three of my fingers (my left middle finger, ring finger and pinky) have been numb, and they have not been cured. So I am still on medication to treat the numbness. My doctor tells me, "Stop drumming." I try to hold back myself at the beginning, but as soon as a concert begins, I no longer care!
- You get too into it?
I've been doing this for a long time almost feeling "There will be no tomorrow." I don't want to think too much ahead by holding back myself. It is really do-or-die for me every time.
Our future can change our past
- In the middle of all this, "The Last Live ~ The Uncut Version" DVD has been released. You yourself probably had not seen the live video for a long time, I assume?
It's true. Normally I think a DVD is released right after the concert. But I was not able to watch it at that time. About 2 years later, the president of the record company said, "You'd better release it," so I began to try to edit it, but could not finish it. I could only go as far as "Endless Rain." I kept crying while watching it. Then 10 years passed. By going to different places on the world tour, I was able to face my past. And that enabled me to think that I want to move on to the future. Because the last live (concert) became the very important turning point of my life.
- How did you come to realize it?
I think I am now able to face my past because of what I have now. Back then, I was hitting a dead end. The last live (concert) was done as the very last thing of everything in the middle of sorrows and pains. Especially when HIDE passed away afterward, I never thought X Japan would be reunited as a band. I had decided to change my career to become a producer or a composer. I could not imagine myself performing as an artist again. That period of time lasted for a really long time.
- Yet, you have officially begun to be active again as X Japan.
It feels like a dream.
- Moreover, you have broken into the world market, a dream you could not accomplish back then.
You're right. Back then, I deeply regretted we had to end it before advancing to the world market. That was the very first moment in my life that I felt frustrated. What I always think of failing is... at the moment we give up, that's a failure. So if we don't give up, we will never fail. But the fact we did the last live (concert), it turned out to be an ending without accomplishment. "Ah, we couldn't do it." I thought.
- You have been embracing your regrets all this time?
Yeah. But after some 10 years passing, I am now able to reach the world. In a previous interview somewhere, I once said, "Our future can change our past." If I had not been able to have what I have now, that past would have just remained sad. But because I am now moving on, I can now think that the last live has just become my turning point. It was not a period (".") (of a sentence), but a comma (",").
- Isn't it a wonder if you think of it? Things that you could not accomplish before are now being accomplished so effortlessly.
Really. I wake up always thinking I must be dreaming. I am living a happy life. In the course of 10 years after the band broke up, technologies advanced, and X Japan's music spread through YouTube. And because other Visual Kei rock bands became so active, the Visual Kei (genre) itself became so well known in the world. And before I knew it, there were X Japan fans everywhere in the world.
- So the seeds of flowers X Japan was planting then are now blooming.
I once boasted by saying, "Music has no boundary among countries, ages and races." It even took me by surprise that it really became true. At the last live (concert), I thought I was dead then, but now the love of my fans' are keeping me alive. I am living by always thinking that way, and therefore, I have become fearless.
- In the middle of all this, "The Last Live ~ The Uncut Version" DVD has been released. You yourself probably had not seen the live video for a long time, I assume?
It's true. Normally I think a DVD is released right after the concert. But I was not able to watch it at that time. About 2 years later, the president of the record company said, "You'd better release it," so I began to try to edit it, but could not finish it. I could only go as far as "Endless Rain." I kept crying while watching it. Then 10 years passed. By going to different places on the world tour, I was able to face my past. And that enabled me to think that I want to move on to the future. Because the last live (concert) became the very important turning point of my life.
- How did you come to realize it?
I think I am now able to face my past because of what I have now. Back then, I was hitting a dead end. The last live (concert) was done as the very last thing of everything in the middle of sorrows and pains. Especially when HIDE passed away afterward, I never thought X Japan would be reunited as a band. I had decided to change my career to become a producer or a composer. I could not imagine myself performing as an artist again. That period of time lasted for a really long time.
- Yet, you have officially begun to be active again as X Japan.
It feels like a dream.
- Moreover, you have broken into the world market, a dream you could not accomplish back then.
You're right. Back then, I deeply regretted we had to end it before advancing to the world market. That was the very first moment in my life that I felt frustrated. What I always think of failing is... at the moment we give up, that's a failure. So if we don't give up, we will never fail. But the fact we did the last live (concert), it turned out to be an ending without accomplishment. "Ah, we couldn't do it." I thought.
- You have been embracing your regrets all this time?
Yeah. But after some 10 years passing, I am now able to reach the world. In a previous interview somewhere, I once said, "Our future can change our past." If I had not been able to have what I have now, that past would have just remained sad. But because I am now moving on, I can now think that the last live has just become my turning point. It was not a period (".") (of a sentence), but a comma (",").
- Isn't it a wonder if you think of it? Things that you could not accomplish before are now being accomplished so effortlessly.
Really. I wake up always thinking I must be dreaming. I am living a happy life. In the course of 10 years after the band broke up, technologies advanced, and X Japan's music spread through YouTube. And because other Visual Kei rock bands became so active, the Visual Kei (genre) itself became so well known in the world. And before I knew it, there were X Japan fans everywhere in the world.
- So the seeds of flowers X Japan was planting then are now blooming.
I once boasted by saying, "Music has no boundary among countries, ages and races." It even took me by surprise that it really became true. At the last live (concert), I thought I was dead then, but now the love of my fans' are keeping me alive. I am living by always thinking that way, and therefore, I have become fearless.
So, the chorus has to be sung "KURENAI NI SOMATTA"
- The world tour was so successful in every country, but why do you think X Japan is so supported by overseas fans?
It may sound ordinary, but efforts will always be paid off. It's probably because I have been always taking music seriously. I produce music that I want to share with all my heart. I have always put my entire body and soul into our every single live performance, not just doing our norm. Of course, I sometimes get strategic, yet at the end, it is how much I can purely put myself into music. That will strike people's hearts, and therefore, I believe I can go over the walls of time and races.
- What do you think of your music elements? I think X Japan’s music has a Japanese feel to it or "Wabi Sabi" (equivalent to the Japanese aesthetics of being simple and serene), and this is why it is being fully supported by overseas fans.
I do agree with you. I am largely influenced by western music while I am equally influenced by Japanese music. X Japan's music is simply a fusion of the two, I think. I listened to a lot of Japanese pops and classical music. I, of course, listened to all of western hard rock, punk rock and heavy metal music. I first absorbed all the music in, and what came out of it was X Japan music. That seems so new to western music fans.
- By the way, I heard that you were mixing both Japanese and English lyrics in the world tour.
At first, we began the North American tour all in English. But later we discussed that "this song is better in Japanese." For example, there is the song called "Kurenai." In the middle of the North American tour, we changed the chorus to Japanese lyrics "KURENAI NI SOMATTA" deciding that would have been better. Or the song called "Rusty Nail" is all sung in English in the new album to be released, however, it was sung partially in Japanese in the latter half of the North American tour.
- That's interesting.
In the same way we tried to learn English very hard because we love western music, our international fans study Japanese and sing the chorus with us in Japanese.
- Such Japanese element is playing a core part of X Japan, I feel.
You see, because I am..."KURENAI NI SOMATTA KONO ORE WO..." (laughs) Every part of me is Japanese.
- The world tour was so successful in every country, but why do you think X Japan is so supported by overseas fans?
It may sound ordinary, but efforts will always be paid off. It's probably because I have been always taking music seriously. I produce music that I want to share with all my heart. I have always put my entire body and soul into our every single live performance, not just doing our norm. Of course, I sometimes get strategic, yet at the end, it is how much I can purely put myself into music. That will strike people's hearts, and therefore, I believe I can go over the walls of time and races.
- What do you think of your music elements? I think X Japan’s music has a Japanese feel to it or "Wabi Sabi" (equivalent to the Japanese aesthetics of being simple and serene), and this is why it is being fully supported by overseas fans.
I do agree with you. I am largely influenced by western music while I am equally influenced by Japanese music. X Japan's music is simply a fusion of the two, I think. I listened to a lot of Japanese pops and classical music. I, of course, listened to all of western hard rock, punk rock and heavy metal music. I first absorbed all the music in, and what came out of it was X Japan music. That seems so new to western music fans.
- By the way, I heard that you were mixing both Japanese and English lyrics in the world tour.
At first, we began the North American tour all in English. But later we discussed that "this song is better in Japanese." For example, there is the song called "Kurenai." In the middle of the North American tour, we changed the chorus to Japanese lyrics "KURENAI NI SOMATTA" deciding that would have been better. Or the song called "Rusty Nail" is all sung in English in the new album to be released, however, it was sung partially in Japanese in the latter half of the North American tour.
- That's interesting.
In the same way we tried to learn English very hard because we love western music, our international fans study Japanese and sing the chorus with us in Japanese.
- Such Japanese element is playing a core part of X Japan, I feel.
You see, because I am..."KURENAI NI SOMATTA KONO ORE WO..." (laughs) Every part of me is Japanese.
Before the band's break up, I was forgetting something very important
- It's been 4 years since the band got back together. I believe X Japan has since been participating in many music festivals, including Lollapalooza, Summer Sonic and a-nation. In the 90's, you almost never participated in joint events with other bands, and had the strong image of being proudly secluded. What has happened since to change your mind?
To simplify it, we were able to go back to where we started. To exaggerate, we feel we could perform on the stage with just one light bulb as long as we have our audience. That’s how we felt about our world tour this time. So many things went wrong as we went to so many different countries. Equipment was not delivered. Power was not readily available, so we had to use a generator. There were no dressing rooms, etc.
- That would never happen in Japan.
In the past, we never performed anywhere other than the Tokyo Dome till the last live (concert). Every year, we only performed at the Tokyo Dome. To be extreme, we saw the full course French meal waiting for us when we walked into our dressing rooms. Something like that. (laughs) If I put my feet on the desk, someone put boots on me. There were three drum sets standing by. So if I destroyed one set, another one was brought in. It was gotten to that point.
- I see.
Even the conversations between the band members were done indirectly through our managers while we were all sitting right next to each other. In the middle of all that, I feel I was forgetting something very important. That is...how happy we were to be able to be in the environment where we could perform music.
- I suppose it is difficult to notice when you are famous.
The band broke up once. I was once apart from ToshI. In the middle of the 10-year hiatus, I finally came to realize how grateful I was to be able to be in the situation back then. We participated in Lollapalooza before the kick-off of the North American tour. It was just an event, so there was no rehearsal on that day. We had to perform unrehearsed. I had to check the drum set myself prior to the performance, and I had to perform while I was trying to fix the drum set. (laughs) Starting with that, there were so many things that went wrong during the North American tour. But I feel, that made it possible for us to go back to where we started. When we used to perform at live venues, only myself and HIDE had driver's license, so either myself or HIDE was always driving. We drove on our own and brought all the equipment on our own. We feel that we can now finally go back to the state of mind we were in at that time.
- During all of this, you participated in the huge music festival.
The reason why we participated in Summer Sonic is because I was introduced to the staff of Summer Sonic when I was invited to dinner by my friend. So I said, "I want to participate in Summer Sonic." And the reply was "Would you really do it?" "Yes, we will." Something like that. So it happened. Festivals are great. It suits us quite well. Because we felt being off of our home turf, we tried to charm people who saw us for the first time and make them become our fans. We were like that before, and now we are enjoying that again.
- It's been 4 years since the band got back together. I believe X Japan has since been participating in many music festivals, including Lollapalooza, Summer Sonic and a-nation. In the 90's, you almost never participated in joint events with other bands, and had the strong image of being proudly secluded. What has happened since to change your mind?
To simplify it, we were able to go back to where we started. To exaggerate, we feel we could perform on the stage with just one light bulb as long as we have our audience. That’s how we felt about our world tour this time. So many things went wrong as we went to so many different countries. Equipment was not delivered. Power was not readily available, so we had to use a generator. There were no dressing rooms, etc.
- That would never happen in Japan.
In the past, we never performed anywhere other than the Tokyo Dome till the last live (concert). Every year, we only performed at the Tokyo Dome. To be extreme, we saw the full course French meal waiting for us when we walked into our dressing rooms. Something like that. (laughs) If I put my feet on the desk, someone put boots on me. There were three drum sets standing by. So if I destroyed one set, another one was brought in. It was gotten to that point.
- I see.
Even the conversations between the band members were done indirectly through our managers while we were all sitting right next to each other. In the middle of all that, I feel I was forgetting something very important. That is...how happy we were to be able to be in the environment where we could perform music.
- I suppose it is difficult to notice when you are famous.
The band broke up once. I was once apart from ToshI. In the middle of the 10-year hiatus, I finally came to realize how grateful I was to be able to be in the situation back then. We participated in Lollapalooza before the kick-off of the North American tour. It was just an event, so there was no rehearsal on that day. We had to perform unrehearsed. I had to check the drum set myself prior to the performance, and I had to perform while I was trying to fix the drum set. (laughs) Starting with that, there were so many things that went wrong during the North American tour. But I feel, that made it possible for us to go back to where we started. When we used to perform at live venues, only myself and HIDE had driver's license, so either myself or HIDE was always driving. We drove on our own and brought all the equipment on our own. We feel that we can now finally go back to the state of mind we were in at that time.
- During all of this, you participated in the huge music festival.
The reason why we participated in Summer Sonic is because I was introduced to the staff of Summer Sonic when I was invited to dinner by my friend. So I said, "I want to participate in Summer Sonic." And the reply was "Would you really do it?" "Yes, we will." Something like that. So it happened. Festivals are great. It suits us quite well. Because we felt being off of our home turf, we tried to charm people who saw us for the first time and make them become our fans. We were like that before, and now we are enjoying that again.
Our band is a rookie in the global market.
- Especially in the late 90's, X Japan itself was an enormous project. In comparison, we get the impression that you are now doing this with more flexibility.
Overseas, some say, "Who the hell are you?" Occasionally, our pride is torn into pieces. Yet, if we want to move forward, we have to go back to where we started. At the global market level, our band is a rookie.
- How do you think the relationship among the band members has changed before the breakup and after the revival of X Japan?
I suppose it's changed. When we are on the world tour, we spend the ample time together. We have limited number of staff on the tour, and this has enabled us to get closer. We drink together on a tour bus. We are more like a band now.
- We can look forward to your future activities then.
Honestly, when we did the 3-day concert at the Tokyo Dome after we got reunited, at first, I was not sure if we were going to continue X Japan or it was only for the time being. Because the last live (concert) was too intense, all I had was pain. So that live show was only meant for us to get back together and to end with a great success, so that we can put a period at the end. But to the extent possible, we just did not want to just have a reunion-like live show. We want to be always progressing. So, on the tour we have just finished, our song list contained 50% of new songs and 50% of old songs, thinking we want the audience to see the present X Japan, we don't want to be in the shadow of X Japan of the past.
- Especially in the late 90's, X Japan itself was an enormous project. In comparison, we get the impression that you are now doing this with more flexibility.
Overseas, some say, "Who the hell are you?" Occasionally, our pride is torn into pieces. Yet, if we want to move forward, we have to go back to where we started. At the global market level, our band is a rookie.
- How do you think the relationship among the band members has changed before the breakup and after the revival of X Japan?
I suppose it's changed. When we are on the world tour, we spend the ample time together. We have limited number of staff on the tour, and this has enabled us to get closer. We drink together on a tour bus. We are more like a band now.
- We can look forward to your future activities then.
Honestly, when we did the 3-day concert at the Tokyo Dome after we got reunited, at first, I was not sure if we were going to continue X Japan or it was only for the time being. Because the last live (concert) was too intense, all I had was pain. So that live show was only meant for us to get back together and to end with a great success, so that we can put a period at the end. But to the extent possible, we just did not want to just have a reunion-like live show. We want to be always progressing. So, on the tour we have just finished, our song list contained 50% of new songs and 50% of old songs, thinking we want the audience to see the present X Japan, we don't want to be in the shadow of X Japan of the past.
The new album is almost complete
- By the way, how is the new album coming along?
I intended to complete it before the European tour. (laughs)
- Does it mean it is almost done?
Yes. I'm done with the vocals. Recording on drums is almost done. I want to add one more song, but I am still thinking about it. But basically, it is done.
- How does it look like?
It's a mixture of new and old songs. I am hoping to release the all-time best ever album of X Japan. We are a rookie overseas, so I want to make this album our business card as if we were saying "THIS is X Japan!"
- Did you record the old songs in English?
I was intending to do 100% in English prior to the North American tour. However, in the middle of the tour, I began to think it would be better to deliberately include Japanese language. Yet, I don't think more than 20% will be in Japanese.
- I assume there are new songs which we have not heard yet.
Yes, there are. I think you can really feel X Japan of the moment.
- When are you going to release it?
If you tell me to release it tomorrow, I could release it with what I've already recorded/edited...
- But you cannot decide the last song to add?
That's right. I also think that the meaning of the album has changed over the years. Nowadays, the digital downloading of the music is mainstream. So it is the question of how to get the concept of the album across. I also say to myself, “Is the album really important?" to begin with. That is troubling me a bit.
- By the way, how is the new album coming along?
I intended to complete it before the European tour. (laughs)
- Does it mean it is almost done?
Yes. I'm done with the vocals. Recording on drums is almost done. I want to add one more song, but I am still thinking about it. But basically, it is done.
- How does it look like?
It's a mixture of new and old songs. I am hoping to release the all-time best ever album of X Japan. We are a rookie overseas, so I want to make this album our business card as if we were saying "THIS is X Japan!"
- Did you record the old songs in English?
I was intending to do 100% in English prior to the North American tour. However, in the middle of the tour, I began to think it would be better to deliberately include Japanese language. Yet, I don't think more than 20% will be in Japanese.
- I assume there are new songs which we have not heard yet.
Yes, there are. I think you can really feel X Japan of the moment.
- When are you going to release it?
If you tell me to release it tomorrow, I could release it with what I've already recorded/edited...
- But you cannot decide the last song to add?
That's right. I also think that the meaning of the album has changed over the years. Nowadays, the digital downloading of the music is mainstream. So it is the question of how to get the concept of the album across. I also say to myself, “Is the album really important?" to begin with. That is troubling me a bit.
Deliberately adding Japanese accent to the English lyrics
- The recording has been taking a really long time. Why do you think it is taking so long?
I know I have to say, this is it, at some point. (laughs) To be specific, we digitally released "Jade" recently. After that was done, I asked four of the top professionals in the world to do mastering of the song.
- Wait, so you have 4 versions of it completed?
I'll select the best version out of them. I think the fact that I have the best recording environment in my own studio is having a negative effect. (laughs) Because I have so much equipment, it's taking me too much time to pick the right equipment for recording.
- That's a luxury problem. (laughs)
Yeah, but we have been known as a band who takes too much time. We pay too much attention to detail. At times, we cannot see the complete picture. But when we see the complete picture later, we say, "Let's do it all over." Take the vocals for instance, ToshI has to mainly sing in English, so he's making such an effort in English pronunciation. Yet, we are not English speakers, so we feel that we should sound a bit Japanese with the accent. So we have been continuously selecting what we like for a while now.
- Trying to sound deliberately Japanese with the accent?
That's right. Instead of simply singing in clear English, we deliberately try to add some Japanese accent on certain words.
- The recording has been taking a really long time. Why do you think it is taking so long?
I know I have to say, this is it, at some point. (laughs) To be specific, we digitally released "Jade" recently. After that was done, I asked four of the top professionals in the world to do mastering of the song.
- Wait, so you have 4 versions of it completed?
I'll select the best version out of them. I think the fact that I have the best recording environment in my own studio is having a negative effect. (laughs) Because I have so much equipment, it's taking me too much time to pick the right equipment for recording.
- That's a luxury problem. (laughs)
Yeah, but we have been known as a band who takes too much time. We pay too much attention to detail. At times, we cannot see the complete picture. But when we see the complete picture later, we say, "Let's do it all over." Take the vocals for instance, ToshI has to mainly sing in English, so he's making such an effort in English pronunciation. Yet, we are not English speakers, so we feel that we should sound a bit Japanese with the accent. So we have been continuously selecting what we like for a while now.
- Trying to sound deliberately Japanese with the accent?
That's right. Instead of simply singing in clear English, we deliberately try to add some Japanese accent on certain words.
In the 90’s, I could not see a wall that I could break through
- After the band got reunited, have the musical elements changed?
I'm not consciously intending to change them. I just want to write the best possible song. If the song does not touch my own heart, it will be not possible to touch others’. So I want to write a song which will touch my heart when I listen to it.
- While the band leader is you, Yoshiki-san, we see each member's strong originality in each song. Do you think Sugizo-san's jointure influenced the sound in some way?
I think so. He plays the violin, so I believe it widened the sound. I asked Sugizo to play different versions of "Jade" solo on violin, or taking timbre for another example, I said to him, "Add some noise as you wish around here" and chose the one that I liked afterward.
- You are in a band.
Yeah, whether it's guitar or bass, I basically leave it up to them in creating sound. But my instructions are also quite detailed. (laughs)
- As I am speaking with you, you seem to be enjoying it a lot.
You're right. Because I am now reaching the world, I am able to think positively regardless to how painful it is, I think.
- I feel that the tragic sentiment that existed prior to the breakup is diminishing, and the happy side is now appearing.
Back then, I even said "X Japan is no longer a band" without any hesitation.
- You no longer think so.
Consciously, I am trying to make us a band. Otherwise, we would not be able to put on a great show.
- So I guess something has changed in you.
For example, there is a wall. When I am going over the wall or breaking the wall, I get really fired up. But in the 90's, I was not able to see a wall that I could break through. I was at a loss not knowing what and how I should fight for. But now, whether the wall is high or thick, I can think that I will break through it regardless. It is so important that I now know what my objectives are.
- After the band got reunited, have the musical elements changed?
I'm not consciously intending to change them. I just want to write the best possible song. If the song does not touch my own heart, it will be not possible to touch others’. So I want to write a song which will touch my heart when I listen to it.
- While the band leader is you, Yoshiki-san, we see each member's strong originality in each song. Do you think Sugizo-san's jointure influenced the sound in some way?
I think so. He plays the violin, so I believe it widened the sound. I asked Sugizo to play different versions of "Jade" solo on violin, or taking timbre for another example, I said to him, "Add some noise as you wish around here" and chose the one that I liked afterward.
- You are in a band.
Yeah, whether it's guitar or bass, I basically leave it up to them in creating sound. But my instructions are also quite detailed. (laughs)
- As I am speaking with you, you seem to be enjoying it a lot.
You're right. Because I am now reaching the world, I am able to think positively regardless to how painful it is, I think.
- I feel that the tragic sentiment that existed prior to the breakup is diminishing, and the happy side is now appearing.
Back then, I even said "X Japan is no longer a band" without any hesitation.
- You no longer think so.
Consciously, I am trying to make us a band. Otherwise, we would not be able to put on a great show.
- So I guess something has changed in you.
For example, there is a wall. When I am going over the wall or breaking the wall, I get really fired up. But in the 90's, I was not able to see a wall that I could break through. I was at a loss not knowing what and how I should fight for. But now, whether the wall is high or thick, I can think that I will break through it regardless. It is so important that I now know what my objectives are.
Basically I am spending my time either in the hospital or at the studio
- By the way, how are you spending your day now, Yoshiki-san? I am curious to know your typical day.
I have been on tour, so it's been a mess. Basically I'm suffering from insomnia, so I cannot really sleep. I only sleep once every other day roughly.
- What? Once every other day?!
Yes. As a result, I have 4 assistants in the U.S. who are able to support me any time I am awake. It does not matter if it's night or day. I go to my studio 2 o’clock in the morning to work. Though my doctor says, "That's not good."
- I agree with him. (laughs) Are you basically spending your time in L.A. now?
Because my residence is there. But from now on, I want to spend more time in Europe and Asia.
- When you are not on tour, what do you mainly do when you are awake?
Basically I am either seeing a doctor or recording. I am not in good health, so I am getting an IV every week. Otherwise, I am at the studio.
- Any hobbies...?
I used to love cars. What do I like now....? Ah, having the world tour, I got interested in different languages. I've been studying French for a while now. Recently I've added Spanish and Chinese.
- So you'll never have enough time.
When I am learning new language, I don't have to think about anything else. I feel at ease 'cause I can just focus on that. If I am not doing anything, I keep thinking of recording or about touring, and I end up getting tired. But when I'm learning a language, I can relax.
- Now, I am looking forward to the new album. Are you planning on playing live again after that?
I think so. We will be on tour with our new album.
- By the way, how are you spending your day now, Yoshiki-san? I am curious to know your typical day.
I have been on tour, so it's been a mess. Basically I'm suffering from insomnia, so I cannot really sleep. I only sleep once every other day roughly.
- What? Once every other day?!
Yes. As a result, I have 4 assistants in the U.S. who are able to support me any time I am awake. It does not matter if it's night or day. I go to my studio 2 o’clock in the morning to work. Though my doctor says, "That's not good."
- I agree with him. (laughs) Are you basically spending your time in L.A. now?
Because my residence is there. But from now on, I want to spend more time in Europe and Asia.
- When you are not on tour, what do you mainly do when you are awake?
Basically I am either seeing a doctor or recording. I am not in good health, so I am getting an IV every week. Otherwise, I am at the studio.
- Any hobbies...?
I used to love cars. What do I like now....? Ah, having the world tour, I got interested in different languages. I've been studying French for a while now. Recently I've added Spanish and Chinese.
- So you'll never have enough time.
When I am learning new language, I don't have to think about anything else. I feel at ease 'cause I can just focus on that. If I am not doing anything, I keep thinking of recording or about touring, and I end up getting tired. But when I'm learning a language, I can relax.
- Now, I am looking forward to the new album. Are you planning on playing live again after that?
I think so. We will be on tour with our new album.
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