This is the 3rd translation I am reposting from my previous account, this is a Karyu interview (Angelo lead guitar), released before the Phenomenon tour (Factor/Result) era; from the Interplay Magazine volume at the time.
Question: This time I intent of only asking about private matters. Karyu is not always too excited about talking about private matters, I wonder if it be will okay…
Karyu: Oh no, it’s actually a good time. Recently I finally got a hobby, it’s something I’ve liked since some time ago: Soccer.
Q: In the past you formed a futsal team with your previous bandmates, right?
K: That’s right, but recently watching soccer has also become my hobby. I go like every week to the stadium to watch games. And since the Nabisco cup started, I’m going around 2 times a week due to the momentum (laughs)
Q: Is there a team or player from the J League that you liked from before?
K: In the past, I didn’t like the J league that much, but I did like soccer at the time.
Q: Do you have any favorite overseas team?
K: It is cliché, but my number 1 favorite team is Barcelona. I also like Messi. Although I haven’t watched live broadcasted games, I really want to watch them, I’m sure it must be awesome. I always watch the highlights from old games in sites like Youtube.
Q: When you were little, you played soccer, right?
K: Yes. When I was in primary school, I joined the soccer club. My position was forwarder.
Q: Isn’t that the star position?! Don’t tell me you were the center forwarder?
K: No, I don’t know what’s the position called nowadays, but my position was the right-side wing forwarder.
Q: While fully attacking, this is a very important position to do the centering to the player who will score the goal, right?
K: In regards with that position’s role, that’s right, however I don’t have any memory of doing something like that… (laughs). In the prefectural tournament, the school’s team would advance up to 3-4 rank approximately, but I didn’t participate in the game (laughs).
Q: Did you have the position of warming the bench? (laughs)
K: I was not warming the bench (laughs). There are tons of kids that join the soccer clubs, there are things such as C team and D teams. I was in the B team, and I was a regular player there.
Q: Team B, that sort of feels like AKB48. Did you continue to play soccer throughout middle and high school?
K: Unfortunately, I ended up quitting. When reaching middle school, that’s the year where you start picking up balls (ball boy), isn’t it? I hate that.
Q: And then I’m sure it was a period where there was a lot of teasing done by the older students and advisors, right?
K: That’s right, it was a hierarchical relationship. During this period, it was forbidden to drink water during club activities, and you could be slapped by the advisors too, all of that sum together, made me dislike it and eventually quitted.
Q: So, what triggered your soccer passion to rise again?
K: I did futsal about 5-6 years ago, however, my soccer passion heated up again since I went to watch a soccer match (laughs). After going 1 time, I ended up being completely addicted to it.
Q: I am an Urawa (fan), however the streets are painted in red when there are games and such
K: Urawa Reds! The supporters are said to be vicious… (laughs)
Q: Is that so?! But the Reds have many female fans. I wonder if among the members of the Angelo fanclub are there any ladies who like soccer?
K: I don’t think there are too many.
Q: That is why I want to ask, what’s the charm of watching soccer? If there are people who can understand that charm, we could watch soccer together, even a fan club project perhaps could be good
K: Well, soccer is something possible to enjoy together with friends or by yourself. Unintentionally I had never been to a stadium to watch a soccer game until just recently. Which reminds me there was a time when I was elementary school student, where my parents took me to a game, but at the time I didn’t think it was too interesting. However, recently the players are very skilled, and surprisingly the supporters are always singing, and they make it feel like a regional-wide festival, which to me has caused that sports watching makes me feel more excited than what I thought it would.
Q: So, you’re the type of saying important things twice. When you say you’re deeply moved, in a corny way of saying, doesn’t soccer feel like a drama without plot?
K: That’s right, if by chance I was watching an interesting game from the beginning. I’d be like: put it in… can it get in…
Q: That’s crude. Are you talking about sex?
K: No, you’re wrong! That’s the kind of passionate talk that people have about soccer (laughs). To put points in (scoring goals), being able to score. That happens repeatedly in the games, and then in the last moments that the team you were cheering for wins the game. I watched such a moving game live and I got addicted to it.
Q: I understand that feeling. When I saw the news about the Japan women’s national team winning at the last minute after a lot of struggle in the world cup, although I didn’t have much interest, I was deeply moved.
K: That’s right, that is exactly what I mean. Moreover, because I watched it live, when I saw the news, the level of emotion was different. In addition to the high levels of enthusiasm from the supporters. There’s also enthusiastic cheering parties. It becomes amazing. When an artist stands on the stage, perhaps there’s a similar feeling, but I guess that the way that soccer players are showered with encouragement becomes different too. That’s why I think I can understand pretty well the feelings of the fans, the feeling of those fans that come to the concerts, who irresistibly scream and raise.
Q: When speaking about yourself, since long ago, you were fan of various bands, right?
K: That’s right. Even now when I go to concerts of bands that I like, I really want to get excited without worrying about how I look, but from a professional point of view, I worry about the people’s gaze and I end up watching the concert very calmly. But, when it comes to soccer, around me there’s only people I don’t know (laughs).
Q: Umm I don’t know, probably among the supporters of the opponent team there could be people you know, err… and if Karyu is more excited than in the concerts, maybe those people would think “that bastard…”
K: There isn’t such person. But if for some reason I was seen, I would be embarrassed, I would really lose it. (laughs)
Q: As expected, when you go to watch games, are there goods that suit your style?
K: Yes, there are (laughs).
Q: Team’s goods? Like wearing team uniforms or t-shirts?
Surely, I bought those. Later I also bought the muffler towel. I wear that to go to the games!
Q: There is a lot of energy in the way you say it (laughs). So as expected, you don’t change your clothes on the stadium, instead you go wearing this costume from your house?
K: Of course, I’ll go forward while appealing throughout the town, but I do wear a coat to hide it (laughs).
Q: And of course, as you get near the stadium, the group of supporters gather, and I’m sure the tension rises before the game.
K: Certainly, there’s that feeling. Another interesting thing is the festival-like food stands lined up around the stadium, you can enjoy it normally.
Q: And then when the game reaches the minute 90, you will be singing “war war” with your arms around the shoulder of some fellow you just got to know a while ago, and you will become friends.
K: Although I haven’t got to that point, it happens (laughs).
Q: And after the game, would you go out to drink and reflect about the game with the supporters you became friends with? To talk about thing such as what did you think about that player’s move, or how you wanted him to score?
K: No, I don’t do that (laughs).
Q: You can see a lot of that with the Urawa reds. It’s said that the power of the Urawa’s is the sports bars. It gets very passionate.
K: That’s right about the Reds. The first time I went to watch a soccer game, as a complete beginner, I had not bought any merchandise either, I was looking quietly from the back, and then there was an old man beside me who was terribly booing at a player, if they failed he would get angry and say things like “why did you do it like that?!” however, if they scored a point, the old man’s tension would go up, and then he wanted to do a high five with me (laughs). At the time, it was the first time I went to a game, so I didn’t think the tension was so high, so I refused politely (laughs). Then, the second time I went, in the seats of the front, there was a family, and when a point was scored, they wanted to do high give with me too, this time I ended up doing it. Although it was just the second time going, I did high five with an unknown family (laughs).
Q: Something like, “we are family! We are the passionate supporters of this team!” kind of thing?
K: That’s right, certainly those people, because they were a very genuine family and I also had the same feeling; the tension was very high (laughs). And this is why, I feel regrets for having refused that first time; mister I’m sorry.
Q: So now, every week when you go watch games, you search for this mister?
K: I am not looking for him (laughs). But now I can do high five now, mister. Now I am also a trueborn supporter! And also, I have another hobby.
Q: Oh what? In the style of an attack that makes you think of consecutive goals. So, what is this other hobby you have?
K: It’s remodeling my room.
Q: Buying replacement furniture? Or you mean interior design?
K: Interior design. Things like changing the wall patterns and changing the flooring, I am addicted to it.
Q: The so-called “DIY”. I’ve done it sometimes. By the time you finish, you end up with muscle pain in both arms and your lower back.
K: Right now, I am like that (laughs). My back hurts.
Q: Do you have an ideal image for interior design?
K: I change them according to the room. The room to work on music composition has a bit of an American diner feeling.
Q: An American country side café, is it just like going along the Route 66?
K: Certainly, actually I have a Route 66 tin sign decorating the room (laughs).
Q: I understand, I can imagine. Do you also have an old cola sign put on?
K: That’s right (laughs). Then, the room’s illumination is only with color changing LEDs, which surround the floor and ceiling.
Q: Neon beer lights and such?
K: That’s right (laughs).
Q: That’s so cool. I feel like driving up to Karyu’s house in a Harley (motorcycle). So, what’s the image of the living room?
K: That’s also American, brick style. Compared to the working room, this one has a more natural American style (laughs). By chance, the wall pattern is the kind that splits up and down with wood. So, I just replaced the wall pattern on the lower side. By changing the wall pattern’s interior design on one spot, the atmosphere does feel good (cute もんね). It’s a different atmosphere.
Q: Since it’s naturally American, you also wanted to buy things like decorative plants, right?
K: You are right on, I bought it (laughs). Something that I haven’t done yet is behind the TV, there is a window there but there aren’t curtains. I’m making a plan to fill out maybe with lots of green.
Q: If you happen to go to the Home Center to buy wall patterns, I’m sure there are mountains of treasures that would stimulate the plan even more, right?
K: Yeah, recently I enjoy going to the Home center (laughs). I bought the wall patterns with a meter, and because I see various American nice feeling things being sold. But I have to think thoroughly about the ideal, it will cost a lot of money.
Q: You’re a very busy person in Spring. You go all out watching soccer games, you go to the home center to search for particular things, you paste the wall patters in your house, and even raise decorative plants
K: Although I go to the Home center, I am considerably indebted to Amazon. When I search for things in Amazon, I find them very cheap.
Q: Because there’s also wholesalers who accept Internet orders.
K: That’s right. And that’s how I improved the atmosphere of my house, and a change is happening. Until now, when it was time to compose music, first I would head towards the first song’s material, but if on the way I came to a standstill, I would just face towards a different material. But if still there isn’t any progress, it would feel even more like a different material. And in this way in the process, I would make many half-way shaped pieces, then I would face towards the one that grew the most on me. However now, when I face the materials of the first song, I am able to silhouette it towards the end. I would think “ah so it was like this”. I feel that the atmosphere of the working room is working great for the creative direction.
Q: By having a hobby where you move your body, it becomes a mental break. And that’s why when you get into music creation work, maybe the level of concentration will be different than how it was before.
K: I agree. I am able to successfully switch my mind, right? It’s great! I’m so happy to have a hobby.
Q: That’s right, and always during the song composition period, it would get very exhausting. Usually that would be the feeling during the private time which is from early spring through early summer.
K: Yeah, probably I would be just taking walks if I didn’t have a hobby. (in previous interviews his only hobby was taking walks).
Q: You mean like going up to the convenience store and such?
K: No, I mean normal walks.
Q: But maybe small walks like those of Junji Takada (Japanese comedian), not walking into unknown towns.
K: I only walk around the vicinity of my house within a small scope (laughs). And then, I also rented a movie at TSUTAYA. Ah, I also bought an Apple TV for movies, it comes with an application to watch streaming videos movies as much as you like. It can’t be helped that it’s so comfortable (laughs).
Q: And also, since the interior design is American style, you can have popcorn and cola while watching movies, and eat nothing but burgers and hot dogs at home to get into the mood.
K: It isn’t the type of development that can be easily understood, but the ambience is spread with it
Q: If you were to receive a gift, would you hope to get things like American style tin signs and neon lights?
K: I’m already mostly satisfied with what I have. Besides, I have ended up using a lot of electricity. I feel like I am using the power strip to its full capacity (laughs).
Q: And because you are spending such a fulfilling private life, you will show your ability in the best way during the May tour?
K: That may be so. Right now, my creative direction is in great condition. Maybe there won’t be any new songs announcement, but good songs will come out so please look forward to it.
JAPAN MUSIC SEKAI ~ Jrock & Jpop talk ~ 