Mikaru 【MESSAGE REPLIES - PARTS 4】 - April 2012

What Mikaru-kun think about woman who drink alcohol since daytime?

Ng, so I’ll attack her since daytime LOL

I really like you (´･з･) I’m doing my best to aiming to be beauty artist! If I become a beauty artist, can I meet you? LOL

If you become a beauty artist, message me! To put more effort feels! LOL Someday do my hair arrange! At the same time, cut off the heart pain! Be that great beauty artist! Surely!!

My job for today is done… Today’s wind is strong! I could fly! Let’s fly together

Sorry, but I’m already fly!

Good evening(o^∀^o) For you, what age for woman who that you like? Sorry for strange question

Ng… For me, any age range or age is okay. It’s not the thing I’m looking for (when/to love someone)

Eclat d’arpege I bought that I’m intend to wear to the live seems nowhere…(´・ω・｀) (T/N: a perfume)

Please buy!

Can I put my questions here? (・ω・ I like Mikaru-san! Is there any schedule for one man? Is there also any schedule for CD release? I want to send letter, but I don’t know the address… Please write, maybe many of us want to know as well, so please write(*´人`)

There’s no schedule for one man yet. But I want to grow as the band who would have one man live soon (T/N: this is question from April last year, so they don’t have any schedule for one man nor the CDs)I don’t have post box, so I can’t receive any…

I’m thankful for just feeling like that!

ヾ(^▽^)ﾉ so, what food that you would have a women cook for you? Your mom is a great cooker, I’m jealous!

My mom is popular LOL

Food that I could receive happily ….

Fried rice (Chinese style), omelet rice, cream stew, pork miso soup, beef stew, curry, nikujaga, boiled foods, miso soup… there’s a lot

I’ll be really happy with great cooker…

Flighty temperament, but the one who I love with all might Mikaru-san… what a contradiction… I have a riddle. Won’t you get tired by somebody you love? ←<(_ _;)> sorry LOL

The love will get deeper by the time

I’m late (´;ω;｀) hoeee

Don’t cry… there, there

（・∀・）You won’t held live in Sapporo? (・◇・)？

I want to go there!!!

What’s Mikaru’s real name?

My real name is Musasabich Gonzales Andre The Giant!

Any plan for releases? My cervical vertebrae pain is on healing process so I can’t watch your live(;O;) but I want to hear the songs(ﾉ_･｡)

You’re in medical treatment…I don’t understand what treatment it is, also your pain…

with your revive form medical treatment, this band also will grow our power, so please wait eagerly!!

First, congrats for your parents’ anniversary. The present was great. Do you like Osaka dialect? Which?

Thank you! I like Osaka dialect, all of it!

But I dislike noisy girl, so please be cute. At least I’m dreaming of a girl with Kansai dialect LOL

I want some photo stickers LOL Thank you for spare time to do this project! <(_ _*)>

No, no, me too! It’s good

Is there any tour schedule? Someday, please come to Nagoya!! (;;_;;)

I have lot of memories in Nagoya. I’m really thinking, it’ll be nice if I can go there by the end of the year!

Thanks to Kazu Kireta for this translation.

Orient-Extreme : press conference with BLACK LINE

Syu: Hi, we're BLACK LINE. It's our first time in Paris and we thank you for your welcoming!

Yudai: I'm Yudai, the guitarist. Today is almost our last show in Europe, the end of our three weeks long trip. We're gonna give our best!

Syu: I'm Syu, the drummer and BLACK LINE's leader. Personally, it's been four years since I came to Paris for the last time. The city didn't change, it still stays so beautiful. I'm very touched to be back.

Mikaru: I'm Mikaru, the singer. It's the fifth time I come to Paris, and I specifically remember my participation to Japan Expo. I love Paris and I'm proud to be here tonight.

Jun: I'm Jun, the bassist. It's my first time at Paris and to be honest, I'd like to visit this city, mostly the Eiffel Tower! Unfortunately, we don't have time enough, so I'm quite disappointed...

Hi BLACK LINE. It's your first show in Paris and it's a special show, with a XMas Special Party. You gave very few informations to the fans about the surprises there will be. Can you tell us some details before, as a preview?

Yudai: We won't say everything, but here is a clue : we'll become the christmas gifts!

Syu: During our show, you'll see things that, probably, no other japanese artist did before us.

Santa Claus rewards well-behaved children with gifts. Do you think you were well-behaved enough to be rewarded?

Yudai: Of course!

Syu: We spent these last 365 days thinking about Christmas, in Christmas spirit! So, of course we were well-behaved enough!

Mikaru: I refrained myself from drinking blood to be rewarded!

Jun (taking a farmer accent): I am Santa Claus!

What gift would you like to receive?

Yudai: Love!

Syu: Kindness.

Mikaru: A naked woman.

Jun: A big peach. (big cheeks!, editor's note)

Mikaru, you seem to be a vampire, and lots of girls would like to be vampirised... Do they have their chance tonight?

Mikaru: I say it officially to you : tonight, three fans will be vampirised before the end of the show.

BLACK LINE is now one year old. What's the balance of this year?

Syu: During this year, there were ups and downs. Sometimes, we lost ourselves, but now we found our communal target. To sum up, 2012 was the year of our identity search.

Would your venue encourage other japanese artists to perform in France and Europe?

Yudai: When we are back home, we'll talk about this experience to our relatives and friends, musician friends, of course. We'll say how much you gave to us. If, one day, we can come back with them, it'll be better!

Tomorrow, the first BLACK LINE's oversea tour will end. What's your balance? Do you have some striking stories to tell?

Yudai: In my entourage, everybody forewarned me : if you leave Japan, you'll have lots of problems! It's true that our tour "well" started : the guitar and the bass weren't delivered in times. Finally, we laughed about these problems, and we wanted to carry on the show, keeping being optimistic.

Syu: For my part, that wasn't my first tour, even if it was as a BLACK LINE's member. I found again fans who came to meet us as BLACK LINE, and also new fans, and we realized that it's a 1000 time better than in Japan. It makes us forget all the rest. Each night, we talk together about our possibility to tour all around the world.

Jun: I leave Japan for the first time, and I was very touched by the european audience's reaction. It makes me very happy to see such atmospheres, and I'm really looking forward to being tonight.

Did you take with you a personnal object to help you to overcome the hard moments during the tour?

Yudai: Some miso soup!

Syu: Nothing in particular. I don't see the tour as a hard experience to live. In contrary, I really enjoy it. Actually, I'd like to stay with the other members to enjoy all these moments.

Mikaru: I'd like to drink everynight, but it wouldn't be reasonable. So, I took with me a book to read.

Jun: I love cinema, films... I knew I wouldn't have time enough to go to the cinema, so I uploaded a film on my mobile phone, and I watch it to relax myself.

French version

English translation by DEEP ★ STARS

Credits: Orient-Extrême

C-K-J-popnew's: A little write-up about BLACK LINE's convention of this evening.

As we previously said, the Visual Kei band called BLACK LINE was in Paris for a little show tonight, at La Boule Noire (near of La Cigale). For this opportunity, the members gave us a little press conference plus a photoshoot at the end of the press conference.

The members of the band firstly started with presenting themselves individually, saying their role in the band. We also discovered that some members have already come to Paris and that they were really happy to be able to come back. For the others, they were frustrated because they couldn't visit the city, because of their busy schedule. « They're always very happy to perform in Japan, but visiting some foreing countries is always very interesting » Mikaru (the singer and the band's leader) says. They've also been saying a lot of things about the Japan Expo, which takes place every year at Paris. Then, we talked about Christmas, and everyone of them thanked the reporters for being there few days before Christmas. Well, a question was also asked about their perfect gift for Christmas : Mikaru answered "family", Yudai and Syu answered "love", and Jun... Physical love... Well, you see!

Then, the conference went on with questions about their european tour. Mikaru said in the name of the band : « We have everyday another surprise in Europe. It's really pleasant to meet new fans who are so appealing! The tour conditions are harder in Europe than in Japan (food, hours, and so on and so forth), but the shows are more intensive! »

To overcome these hurdles of adaptation, Yudai added that he took a little bit of miso soup with him ; Mikaru said he likes drinking but that could be dangerous so he took some books to read during the evening ; and Jun really likes cinema, so he watches some films he uploaded before the departure to relax between one show and another.

Then a question was asked about the few japanese artists who come to perform in France, and if their venue here could persuade other bands to cross the frontier. The band answered that when they come back to Japan, they'll talk about their experiences here to their musician friends, so that they'll come in France.

French version

English translation by DEEP ★ STARS

Credits: C-K-J-popnew's

Intervew for Journal du Japon

What's the role of your music?
According to us, a rock band firstly embodies strong messages. A positive and encouraging message, because people need it, nowadays. We wish that, no matters the situation we are in, the music would stay in our memory...

What's your musical training?
We don't have any special training. It's thanks to some meetings with other artists and musicians that we found our influences, it's through these meetings that we created our own musical style, and our own vision of the world.

You precedently declared, in another interview, that you're the new J-Rock generation. What does it represent for you?
We noticed that today, the musical genres and styles are really classified, including for the japanese musical scene. But we think that it is very complex. We all consider the music is a concept, a creation specific to each, and in that case, it's complicated to truly classify it.
That's why we wanted to define our music by another word that we created. That's how the phrase "new J-Rock generation" is born.

What do you think about the J-Rock's exportation abroad?
We, japanese, are really happy and proud of this exportation of our musical culture abroad.
We think the fact that we can share our culture is wonderful, inspite of our differences of languages and nationalities. It's very rewarding.

When and how did you decide to make an european tour?
We received the offer of this european tour during June of this year. It was when our band was really evolving. We just signed with a japanese label.
This offer came from the ancient person in charge of DIO's european tour, last Mikaru's and Syu's band. That probably was the fate... So, we straight decided to accept this offer.

How did you prepare this tour?
We're a very young band, which isn't one year yet. A lots don't know neither our name nor our music. We worked ceaselessly with the aim to create very various compositions, and thus we can give you the best of us. We're waiting for you, come numerous!

Of what type of show are you thinking for this tour? A luminous show, with sets and outfits? Or more intimist and closer of the audience?
We think that the fans who have already listened to our CD or our music (which is free to be listening on the internet) get an opinion of our show, but it'll be different of what they think.
As the large majority of the european BLACKERS has never seen our show, they'll certainly be surprised. We also hope that they will realize that BLACK LINE is a band of shows. As the title of this tour "HELLO WORLD BLACKERS" shows, it's together, with the audience, that the best shows will be built up!
And, for those who already knew and followed DIO before BLACK LINE, they perhaps risk to rediscover some old good songs!

You seem to be waiting a lot from your international audience. What difference do you notice with your japanese audience?
From experience, we know that according to the country or the region, there are different ways to appreciate and to lead a concert. All the more, this time, there are some countries where we've never gone. We're really looking forward to meeting these new audiences!

What's the song you like the most to perform in live?
It's difficult to chose only one song, because it's different from a member to another. But the song SHOW TIME is our last creation as BLACK LINE, and this probably is the most known among our fans. We're looking forward to playing it in front of european BLACKERS!

BLACK LINE's music is very rythmic and rousing... Did you also compose some ballades?
We have different type of compositions. There are titles very rhythmic and quite agressive, but also some ballades. We really want that people enjoy our ballades as much as the other songs.

What do you think about BLACK LINE's start?
It wasn't so easy to find the members, and we needed lots of efforts to form the band. We're really happy to have created this quartet while overcoming all these hurdles.
We can say that each member of the band is like an everlasting treasure in the eyes of the others, because we lived good and bad moments together.

Yudai is a great fan of GUNDAM's series. Would you have liked to compose or interpret the credits of this series? According to you, could the BLACK LINE's music match with GUNDAM's universe?
I compose all my songs with some images of anime in my mind, so I always think of GUNDAM. Personally, I think tat there are some of our songs which could become credits. This being said, perhaps BLACK LINE's music would be a kind of anime... (laughs)

What's the part of your job you like the less?
All the members hate tidying up. It's really hard for us to load and unload the equipment, to clean the car... Is there somebody who'd like to work as a cleaning lady for BLACK LINE? (laughs)

How do you imagine yourself in five years?
In a great concert hall, playing a concert which is in the top of the bill ; doing a worldwide tour, or some free-range festivals. And... Why not having our music as credits of a movie?
To do all these things, we're going to work hard to create songs always better!

Thanks for your answers!
You're welcome!
SEE YOU SOON IN EUROPE !! ALL LOVE FOR YOU !!! (ndlt : in english in the text)

French version

English translation by DEEP ★ STARS

Credits: Journal du Japon

Mikaru 【MESSAGE REPLIES - PARTS 3】 - April 2012

Hi BLACKERS, how are you today?
Now you can read the part 3 of Mikaru's message replies.
Part 1&2

How’s His doing? (^o^)

I take her walk every day, seems she’s doing good

Is there any criteria for peta from BLACKLINE? If there’s any, please tell♪

There’s no such a criteria! It’s peta from me in my spare time!

I keep the purikura (sticker photo) I received during Dio era well! It's too good I can't even stick it (LOL) I want you to have purikura photos for special favor (*＞∀＜人)+.'☆ such as all members cosplay...(Ｗ∀★)

Cosplay!? As who!?

Syu is not suited with maid costume!!

What's the brand of clothes and accessories you wear nowadays(´・ω・`)?

my accessories is Justin (T/N: accessories by Justin Davis jewels). Clothes are L.G.B, Roen, roar, 5351... Pricey! And for now, DIESEL's sneakers

Are you okay with the storm today? I thought I could fly (LOL)

I get wet… The turbulence inside the umbrella and my hair is against gravity…

I have incurable sickness. Doctor said I can't act violently at the live. I'm depressed. But, I won't throw away things I like! I want to live as great as possible! And that's listening to music I really like. Somehow I want to try to write my thoughts...

I want to enforce in your belief! The only one time of human's life! Life without regret! You're the one who have lead in your life! But, don't do absurd things!

You use VO5 purple spray?

(T/N: A hair styling products brand. The purple one is a super keep hair spray, with the tag: extra hard)

Of course!! That's my daily necessities！！

Do you plan to release an album? I don’t live in Japan, so I can’t see your live. But, I want to hear Black Line’s song, I’ll be happy if there’ll be an album. I think overseas fans have same opinion as me. And when you will come to Indonesia again? (LOL)

I also want to make a CD!!

Indonesia… I want to go… Wonder if I go there without any plan 

(T/N: spontaneous travel)

Previously, I gave my swimming wear to a local friend there for memorable thing because he wants it. So, I’ll go buy swimming wear first!

You like girls with high sense of beauty, so don’t show bare face to you♪ So, you’ll be no problem if the bare face and face with makeup is totally different? (LOL) )……Σ(･口･) but maybe, you wish women wear makeup when sleeping and bathing also!? ( ﾟДﾟ)

Ng? It’s not like that. I'm interested in women with high sense of beauty, but don't show your completely bare face. If wearing makeup when sleeping and bathing, I'll tired (LOL)

I don't mind the huge difference between bare face and face with makeup.

How’s your hair today? (｡･д･｡)

I just have shower, so it’s all back!

If you don’t play the newest song on BLTV BGM, how about such as write the lyrics to us? ∥ω・｀) is that allowed?

Okay!! I’ll write it in blog!!

I work with hard feels and don't like my everyday work... Is there any way so I can't be distracted even just a bit? And on 29th, you look so exhausted. Are you okay!?

It's necessary to put all things aside when the limit comes! If it's me, I'll go overseas

Look exhausted!? Great LOL

Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri by Jiro akagawa is adapted to drama, what do you think? The main character, the detective one (I forget the name) played by Masaki Aiba from Arashi, I'm interested in Aya, played as his sister

(T/N: Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri = drama adapted from Jiro Akagawa's novel, the main character is Yoshitaro Katayama (Masaki Aiba) and his sister Harumi Katayama (Aya Oomasa). The story is about detective at the #1 investigation team in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Yoshitaro then meets an extraordinary cat named Holmes, able to understand human words and possessing heightened deductive reasoning abilities)

I don't watch drama LOL If it's in case in Japan, I want to watch Liar Game...

Where's the beauty shop you come to? ^^)v

It's Tink in Shinjuku! It's really at home shop, I start to come there around 5 years ago...

What kind of thing you're imagining in the middle of live when singing? 

As for I can imagine the world of doing lyrics and expression of my voice, I should fly away to that world first!

And I also think like this among the audience, "ah, that person is coming again, "today, she's not coming," "I also see that girl last time,"she smile a lot," "That girl is not our audience, but I see her often" (LOL)

If I can got advice from Mikaru, I can face every day with joy (^ ^) If I have difficult time, can I discuss with you?

It's ok with this humble man any time!

I'm 16 y.o now, I discover things I want to do. Since April, I'm quiting school and start to living in another prefecture! But, I'm gradually become uneasy with my own decision... I don't have any acquaintances neither know about the place. Please give some spirit to the vivid me (´；ω；｀)

You live by yourself at age16!? You may feel hopeless and uneasy by that... But, I think ability to make that decision is great.

About things you can't do... It's ok. You will know the place you don't know before in one month!

Don't think about it too seriously, go make your reliability basis with your own pace! Be patience! If you feel lonely, coming back to your parents' home is healing!

Thank you for the peta! Here's my questions: What's your favorite food by your mother? Seems you always have delicious food, I'm jealous(*´ω｀*)

Dobinmushi!! yes it is. I want all of you eat it too!

(T/N: traditional Japanese seafood broth, steamed and served in a dobin teapot with shrimp, chicken, soy sauce, lime, and matsutake mushroom)

I really love Prince Mikaru with glasses figure too much until it hurts (*´Д｀*) please took picture with glasses again ☆I'll wait!!

Only with glasses is ok? I understand, will do it!

The wind and rain were strong, are you alright? ((((゜д゜;)))) Do you fly (because of that)? (>_<) please be careful on your way home☆

I flew to Taiwan in instant, what should I do?

(T/N: the typhoon at that time was blew from Korea, Japan, then to Taiwan)

I'm healed by your blog, BLTV, and BLACK LINE's music, it brings my mood up, and I got spirits by it... Can we send some spirits and help for Mikaru to support?

If I got lot of support like this like you said now, put fighting spirit... I'm a really happy person. Thank you

Mikaru-san, there's lot of things happened in my life lately that makes me feel down (x_x;) I want to get courage from you (>_<) sorry for being so spoiled (;_;)

Yosh yosh, when you feel down, you feel small, and will gradually being like that, that's the resiliency! that's the fuel!

Time for question to Mikaru-kun(^∇^)　What’s your type? If it’s an artist, who?? (b^-゜)

Mika Nakashima!!!

Good evening. What do you do on the sleepless night?

Lately I can't sleep... I immerse myself to lyrics, playing guitar, turning mood by watching something comical.  with Bananaman, Sandwichman in Gyao (T/N: both are comedy duo, Gyao: Japanese video sharing site)

Thanks to Kazu Kireta for this translation.

Ameba translation - Mikaru

Working process of the mask until complete with photos attached and explanation - 2012-12-04

ＭＣ and skirt is good for short people! What about that？

OK。This is the origin mask。

I did nothing to it。

But it's scary just by this。

Laying this mask just like this and move it, is even scarier。
(T/N: clay for craft, can be shaped anything you like, and then leave as it is to make it dry and hard)



At this point、 I'm thinking about all the ornaments while making it。

I embedded beads used for Christmas ornament that I bought previously。

I add them rapidly while working on it。

Somehow、 it turns alike gladiator iron mask。

It's good with this。 Isn’t it？ And while thinking about it、 I make it thicker to be more solid 。

And at the same time to smoothen (the mask's surface)、 I want to left 'still in the process' feeling、 so it won't be really neat。

Last、 attached the horns!!！！



Become wonderful！

With this、 the base is done！

I did this too much、 seems the horns go to weird direction。 I'll leave it for a later change。

Leave as it is for a day to dry。

If it's dry completely、 I'll install (more parts/things to it) immediately。



Yup、 nice。

This time I'll coloring it。

The image is iron mask from ancient Roma era、 spurted by blood many times and rusting (on the mask) with time passing、 and now it discovered。



It's really good by coloring with brush only。

And then I paint the half of it with fingers。

My hands and drawing tools are messy、 full of paint！



It's thick and heavy、 and got the iron、 image that the mask got spurted by blood coming out。

Even I said to myself、 this is a good work！

And play with it when it's done。



And to the photo shoot with the blonde foreigner model I requested。

And the hairdo、 lipstick、 eyeshadow color for each of us、 all is from what I described。

Thus、 the very satisfying CD jacket is complete!!！！

Thanks to Kazu Kireta for this translation.

Interview for † Parasite Scene †

First, could you present yourself to our readers who don't know you yet?

BL:We're BLACK LINE! This name means two things : the black road, and the black line. It's something unique for us! And we'd like to be as unique as our name on the current musical scene.

How did you decide to play music?

BL: It firstly was The Beatles, and particulary John Lenon who gave us the desire to play music. And for the V-Rock side, it was Marilyn Manson who gave us our passion for this world.

Tell us more about how you met and the band's creation. What's its concept?

BL: The one who reigns supreme over extreme North's iced territory is Mikaru. The glorious and thriving country of the East's Prince is Syu. The bullet from a bandit's gun, coming from the West's dangerous wild region is Jun. The millionaire from a huge city of the South, lost between the desert and the sea, Yudai. Four unusual persons gathered by the Fate.

What are your musical influences? What does inspire you when you write songs?

BL: No matter the genres and the musical styles, what we like is romantic, exotic and dramatic music. We find our inspiration in our everyday life.

You first CD, "LEGNA", was released almost one year after your beginning. Why did you take so long? Could you explain us what you did during this time?

BL: It's quite as a newborn baby who starts to walk by himself. It takes time, and as you can understand, it represents one year of work.

Mikaru and Syu, you've previously been musicians in the band called Dio. Do you think Dio's fans could also enjoy BLACK LINE's music? And why?

BL: Of course we think they'll enjoy BLACK LINE's music! Why? It's obvious! Mikaru sings well and Syu still plays drums by his side!

It's the first european tour for BLACK LINE. Are you looking forward to playing in front of your foreing fans, or, on the contrary, do you feel a little bit stressed?

BL: We don't feel stressed at all! But if we have to find a bad side, it's that we won't have lots of days-off and that we won't be able to drink as we want (laughs). In any case, we're all excited! And we're waiting eagerly to plunge on the audience!

How do you explain your quick european success, while you released so few albums in Japan?

BL: We think it's thanks to our fans who accept us, who like us and are waiting eagerly for us. And we are really thankfull about that! We wanna hug you one by one!

How could you convince europeans to come to your concerts?

BL: If you don't come to our concerts... We'll take revenge during your sleep! (laughs)

Mikaru and Syu, you've already played in Europe as Dio's members, do you think the european audience is different from the japanese's one? What did surprise you the most?

BL: The audience is very different in Europe and in Japan. European audience really motivates us by its shouts and its crazy passion! With european concerts, there always are lots of unexpected discoveries and we love it.

On the other hand, Yudai and Jun, what do you specially expect from this "new" audience that you're going to meet?

BL: We experience this feeling... with our hearts beating loudly. We're in the same state of mind as when we met the other BLACK LINE's members. It's exactly this feeling we experience when we think that we're going to meet the europeans BLACKERS! If there weren't the four other members, the band wouldn't exist. It's the same thing for this european tour, if there weren't BLACKERS, there would be no possible success for this tour. Let's do together this HELLO WORLD BLACKERS Tour as the best rock tour the world ever known!

Are there other countries where you'd like to play soon? And are there some countries you'd like to visit?

BL: Italy, Spain, England, Belgium, Switzerland, ... Well, there are lots of countries where we'd like to play, and that we'd like to visit! And, at the same time, discover delicious local specialities! About this tour, we don't know if we'd have time enough to visit... But if it is possible, we'd like to have a look around.

If you have to describe France in one word, what would it be?

BL: Beauty.

Your next single, "BEAUTY & THE DEVIL" will be released on 19th December. What can you tell us about it?

BL: Evrything's on the title. There's beauty inside, despite of the devilish appearance. More than LEGNA (our first single), there are lots of things said in that single. You're going to see!

What are your projects for the future?

BL: We'd like to do another european tour for all our fans! And to find pretty women. (laughs) From now, we're going to become wider in our activities, as much in Japan as in the rest of the world!

Thank you for having given us a part of your time answering to our interview! A little message for your french fans?

BL: We're very happy to meet you and we'll be happier if you'd come to our concerts! Let's do together these concerts as the best party ever, with us, BLACK LINE!! No need to dress-up, no need to wear a dress. (laughs) Let's spend a crazy night! And live the madness with BLACK LINE!

English translation by DEEP ★ STARS

Credits: † Parasite Scene †