EMIRU 10 ITEMS INTERVIEW
April 1999
please send thanks and fanmail to Tyran Grillo for the translation.
and, learn about Tyran's own music (as Murasaki) at his official site
Monochrome no Kokoro
interview by: AZUSAKO MATSUSHITA
1 If you were a Hollywood movie producer, what kind of movie would you make?
"An ultra-monumental movie with an abundance of special effects. Maybe something like 'Armageddon.' I like movies about the end of the world, because they deal with things like warfare. Over such a big theme, though, I think it is important for a romantic or sad tale to develop. I am always inspired and moved by an unrequited love between two people, such as that brought on by freedom from separation, or the death of a loved one. I think that mere romantic love between two people begins to lose its meaning."
---What things impressed you the most when you were younger?
"For me, the best would have to be 'Chinese Ghost Story.' It really confused me! In the end, after all the various stories had unfolded, the hero and the ghost woman tried to unite together, but of course they couldn't because he was a human being and she was a spirit. I saw the film version in middle school, and even then I wanted to show it to my grandchildren, so I bought the laser disc as soon as it came out. (Laughs)"
---Your grandchildren? (Laughs) So, did you cry when you watched the movie?
"I wept tears of joy! I have often become sad and cried at manga, soap operas, and even Mitokoumon.[1] (Laughs) I have seen the movie more than 100 times, but I won't cry again until I watch it for the last time! (Laughs)"
---Whether a friend or lover, what kind of sympathy or perspective do you want from those who are dear to you? Are there things you do not want them to show?
"There are, there are! When I was a student, I dubbed that laser disc onto video and distributed it throughout my class! (Laughs) From then on, it became a trend for everyone to value the experience of watching that movie. It has even extended into the other members within our band. (Laughs)"
2 What do you do for fun when you are alone? Are you good at amusing yourself?
"I am very good at it! ...as long as my friends aren't around. (Laughs)"
---Your range of activities must be quite extensive, right?
"Of every member in the band, I think that I am the most extensive. Basically, I do the kind of things alone that most others do together, like games and sports. When I am alone, I usually go shopping, take a walk, or go out drinking."
---Aren't you a little young to be drinking?
"I only started recently~!"
---Do you play drinking games? (Laughs)
"I never lose! (Laughs) Also, I occasionally play basketball by myself at a nearby park.
---I heard that you just bought a car.
"Yes, but only because I am concerned about gasoline. (Laughs) It's congested within Tokyo and troublesome, so I don't drive very often. But sometimes, at night, I love listening to music while driving around. Aside from that, I haven't really benefited from buying a car~~. (Laughs)"
3 If you could have any one of DORAEMON's [2] tools, what would it be?
"Time machine! In the past, I have always wanted to see various parts of history, like the era of pirates in foreign lands. I absolutely loved the 'Pirates of Caribu" at Disneyland. If I could travel to that period in time, I would search for all of the treasure and bring it back. Then, I would sell everything! (Laughs) I wouldn't need to worry about the future."
---Would you prefer a life that is unpredictable?
"I would like to know some of what is going to happen in the future. However, it would be deceitful to know everything, like winning a game completely and flawlessly because you knew what your opponents were going to do. I think that, if I knew my entire future, I would become very bored."
---Would you feel the same about knowing Lareine's future?
"Ah...yes, I think I would. Do you think that we would still possess any creative energy after knowing that?! (Laughs) If we were fated to become a great success, we could probably say something like, 'Well, since we're going to be famous and successful no matter what we do, we don't really need to do anything.'"
4 If you won the lottery, what would you use the money for?
"Wow, that would be a lot of money, wouldn't it? (Laughs) I could buy a big mansion, couldn't I? If I could build one, I would want it to be a three-storey house with a burglar alarm system and various other extravegances. (Laughs) I would want to buy two cars: a Coontach and a Ferrari. In a car, I grasp all of the important things in my life within my hands."
---Even if you didn't like driving, would you still feel good about owning cars?
"If I owned such expensive cars, I would probably find it to be a good thing! (Laughs) It would be an important part of my fashion. Something just for personal satisfaction. I think that boys would see my car say, 'Wow! A Ferrari!' The color? Red, of course! (Laughs)"
5 Please tell me the tale of your past life.
"I have the feeling that it was unpleasant."
---.........(Laughs)
"I think that I was a well-known swordsman who battled in the riots of the Bakumatsu.[3] (Laughs) But, in the end, I was slain by a righteous fencer......I was a real scoundrel! (Laughs) For 10 generations, my abilities rose, and my splendid reputation became known to all, but in my final moments, I was defeated with a single strike. The last words I heard were, 'Your evil reign is now destroyed.' Thus concluded that chapter of my life. But are we not doomed to repeat our past lives?"
---Did you have any lives before that one?
"Before that, I was probably a woman in the Heian Era. [4] Was I a beautiful woman? (Laughs) I was bored every day. I hated my husband because he was always out getting drunk and fooling around, so I would spend my days quietly to myself. Even now, I have a tendency to do the same thing. Collective action is a weak point of mine."
---Do you think that women of that time had such full-cheeked faces?
"Oh yes ~ (Laughs) I think that they were born that way. Was I a super-beautiful fencer during the Bakumatsu? (Laughs) If that were true, it would have become legendary, and there would be paintings of me left behind. (Laughs)"
---It that beautiful woman had become an equally beautiful man, then she still would have been appealing.
"That's true both then and now, but I am the standard of popularity. (Both burst out laughing) But how could anyone like running away from me? (Laughs)"
[1] Mitokoumon: a famous "jidaigeki" or historical television drama
[2] DORAEMON is a famous animated show in Japan. The lead character (of the same name) is known for his humorous and varied abilities.
[3] The "Bakumatsu" is a time period that marked the end of the Tokugawa regime (ca. 1600-1868) in feudal Japan.
[4] Heian Era: (794-1185)