いまいなかんじ
Imai Hisashi Presents
-An interview with Imai Hisashi and Yokoyama Kazutoshi the Manipulator-
Translation: Lola & w_b
Did you two end up drinking together for New Year's?
Yokoyama: A little bit for New Years, a little bit before the tour started....
Outside of recording, did you get in touch with Yokoyama-san about the opening music?
Yokoyama: When I came over to get it, I got a huge shock as I walked in. He...chopped all his hair off!
Imai: A-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Yokoyama: Usually I don't notice when people cut their hair but this time I was like, "Ah!".
Imai: Well me too but it was just getting to be so annoying so that was my solution *smiles*.
Yokoyama: That's what I thought *laughs*.
Imai: Ha-ha-ha!
How do you prepare the opening music usually?
Yokoyama: You just work on it during rehearsals don't you Imai-san?
Imai: Right, I come up with things all at once and then give it to Yoko-chan and say, "Here you go... make it pretty~".
Yokoyama: I do the sound treatment right.
I guess it wouldn't flow if you did it before the tour?
Yokoyama: It ended up coming to you out of nowhere right?
Imai: ...it'd probably be better if it did happen like that but...it just kinda happened along the way without me realizing it *laughs*. It's like if I were to say..."Ah! That's it!". It's a new tour so...yeah, I get new ideas. But the opening music was rather dull for that hall show wasn't it? *smiles*
Yokoyama: Even though it was New Years??? *smiles*
Imai: Well I thought why is it the same thing again for New Years?! *laughs* I've had enough of this! So you know, I made a new one *bursts out laughing*.
So you do it, but obviously it's not really work....
Yokoyama: No no, I mean I understand it's part of the tour and all *smiles*.
I see. Do you two drink together during tours?
Yokoyama: In some places, yeah, like Niigata. Was it two years ago? For Imai-san's birthday.
You ended up singing right. It'd be nice if you were able to go there again.
Yokoyama: I absolutely want to go and I'm really grateful to my father for going.
He's always sending us care packages, we're very grateful, thank you so much.
Yokoyama: Ah, yes he was very happy when he saw Imai-san's blog *smiles*.
Your father is able to see it then?
Yokoyama: Yeees. And he checks up on me through my blog too *smiles*.
Let's talk about work a little bit...when you're recording, do you have little impromptu meetings with Imai-san?
Yokoyama: Like when I'm waiting for Imai-san's songs? This time, Imai-san was creating while he was recording so...I was tense waiting for what he'd give me.
So what do you do when you think Imai-san's ideas are brewing?
Yokoyama: He doesn't tell me anything and even if I ask, he might not answer so.... He goes through these phases when he doesn't even let the other members listen to the data before giving it to me and since I figure he's got ideas brewing in there, I wonder if he'll tell me anything about it. Because I don't know whether the data's gonna be used or not.
What do you take into consideration when you're working like that Imai-san? Other people's opinions...?
Imai: Yeah, there are times when I want that. ...of course, like hey, what d'you think? It happens.
So when that happens, you get people to come to you.
Imai: Once I'm satisfied with it...I'd like to hear other people's opinions.
But there are times when I think you've been rather harsh with those people....
Imai: Huh? Oh what, you mean like to Yoko-chan? Ha-ha-ha. That's not being harsh, I'm just annoyed *bursts out laughing*. Mm yeah...it happens *smiles*.
Well what kind of response are you looking for in those times?
Yokoyama: I wanna know what the right answer is~!
Imai: Well, I'd like a clear answer and what do I get? Yoko-chan being Yoko-chan and mumbling. *smiles*
Do you think if you talked it over, the answer would come through in the conversation?
Imai: Yeah. I think it would. Mufufu...
Yokoyama: Ah, now he's laughing *laughs*.
Yokoyama-san, does he make you nervous?
Yokoyama: He really does! But because there's a point to it...it's not debilitating.
Um what are you saying...?
Yokoyama: Well what would you say if you were screamed at?!
Imai: Gyahaha!!!
So when he asks your opinion...
Yokoyama: When he asks my opinion, I tell him what I really think but there are times when nothing comes to mind and then he pushes me so I guess I get messed up but that's only sometimes, and I do want to give a quick answer. It is fun figuring out how to help Imai-san with his work so it's not debilitating...I swear! It is fun!
You two get to drink together a lot don't you? And usually you guys talk about music right?
Imai: Once~ in awhile~.
Yokoyama: Occasionally....
When does Imai-san ask you out?
Yokoyama: When he's lonely I guess *bursts out laughing* ha-ha-ha! Or when he wants to eat meat...or hiru soba *laughs*.
Imai: Mea~t. Mea~t.
I do hear you talking about hiru soba a lot.
Imai: Gyahahaha!
Yokoyama: Yeah, hiru soba is an Imai thing. Back in the day we used to drink all night until noon then go out for soba. But lately, we meet in the afternoon, and go to a soba restaurant. I've come to enjoy it *smiles*.
So you have similar taste in food?
Yokoyama: Not sure about in the past but...recently I think...we do. And today is a drinking day!
Imai: It's the Hoppy Festival. I got a commemorative bottle of Hoppy for AUTO-MOD's 30th anniversary~ and that's what we're drinking.
And so the feast went on and on just like that....