音楽と人 - July 2008
Interview with Hoshino Hidehiko
Text by Kanemitsu Hirofumi
Translation: Lola
So what, is there some sort of conspiracy going on with you guys after 2007.
Ha ha ha ha, I think that's the plan.
Mm. In other words, it's that you don't even have a theme yet.
That too *smiles*.
That always seems to happen in June.
It often happens like that doesn't it.
Yes, if it keeps going this way it'll end up turning into 10 years. So, you're not even in the middle of recording anything with the band now are you?
No, not at all. This free time is for song writing. Well, for me, Yuuta is probably busy going to see Tiger's matches right?
Ha ha ha, well that's work too in a way. How is the song writing progressing?
There's no real form to it yet. Mostly because...I haven't met with the other members since the show in Okinawa.
You haven't met since January?
We had one meeting but that's about it. Oh, and before that I went to see the cherry blossoms with the Imais.
Cherry blossoms!
The Imais and I are promoting going to see the cherry blossoms. Nishikawa-kun came too. And after that we went to karaoke and he sang 'Dress' for us *smiles*.
Wahahaha, it must have brought back the feeling of the Buck-Tick fest from last year.
Yeah. I had that feeling for the first half of this year.
So you just went to see the cherry blossoms! Well, that must mean that now you're solely devoted to song writing right?
Actually, I have one song written but I haven't shown it to anyone yet.
Then hurry up and shooooow them!
This isn't really a consolation but I'm just the type of person who thinks I can still do a little more with it you know.
So when the song's done you'll be in touch with the other members?
No, when it's ready I'll show it to our manager and he'll send it out to everyone. But he still hasn't given us a sign yet.
So that means that nobody can do anything right?
That's it.
Seems like a rather long rest *smiles*.
What can you do?
.........
.........
So uh, do anything for Golden Week? (1)
Ah yes...I went on walks.
*laughs helplessly* Ok, um, watch anything on TV?
I don't watch TV. Except to just watch the news.
Uh, right, ok, what about CDs you listened to recently!
Recently...I haven't really bought anything except Zeppelin.
Hahaha, I meant something from this era!
No, seriously! I have a mix of heavy songs in my car right now. I know Anii loves Led Zeppelin but I'm much more a new wave person. Then, at our last show in Budoukan, I met with Tsuchiya-san afterwards and he ended up talking about them. He said things like how their Best of DVD was cool. When I watched I really thought so too. So I started to listen to them again.
Have you gone to see any lives recently?
I went...to the one in Okinawa.
I meant other than your own!
I can't really recall...going to see anyone's lives *smiles*. But now that you mention it, I was invited to go to J's live yesterday but I didn't go.
You're terrible *smiles*. So what kind of songs do you think you'll end up doing?
Well, we'll continue like last time, with a relatively simple feeling.
Could you be a little more specific?
Specific? Well, the focus will be on the guitars.
That's obvious! *smiles*
They'll be good songs *smiles*.
Please complete your songs soon. However, in 2007 I find each of you in the band showed pieces of your private lives, even the stuff you guys talked about in interviews changed.
That's because our home environment changed too. We have families now.
Until now your lives revolved solely around the band, but now it feels like you each have your own lifestyle doesn'it?
It seems that way for everyone recently yeah. The only one who hasn't changed is Yuuta *smiles*. But that's hardly a bad thing. Certainly, we don't see each other as much as we did in the past and like, when something's over, we used to go out drinking but we don't really do that now.
And yet about five years ago, all of you would drink together until morning.
We don't do that at all now.
Other bands say the same thing after about 30 years. Their values change as individuals and then their band starts to be in trouble.
I see, and I guess because of that they all end up scattered.
But Buck-Tick's values have always been one and the same right?
Yeah. But you know, this band is different in that it seems like the more our values and views change as individuals, the more we see outside of music and the band, the stronger we become.
It's like nothing can shake you.
Yes. Back in the day I would have thought that was a bad thing you know. If you had tried to ask me about it, I would have said I was comfortable in the band but I was more stoic than anything else. Now, I simply want to do good things, that's the feeling that has become steadily stronger within me. And I can do that just by being sincere in my music.
I see.
Kanemitsu-san, will you get married?
*wry smile* I've thought about it. Have you found you've matured?
Who?
You!
Well, how can I say it...maybe, I've changed within my day to day life but I think I only realized that after a little while. Already now it seems like it all happened in the blink of an eye and I don't really understand it. Perhaps after many years, I'll be able to explain.
Like how now, you can look back on how you were in your 30s.
Yes. Ah, well I can think that things were a certain way then. But maybe no-one else would see things that way. When you're too close to something, you can't understand the whole you know. But you worry about understanding. Now for some reason, I feel like I do understand things from that time.
Things that you didn't know in the past.
Yes.
But didn't you come to see yourself properly during the Buck-Tick fest too?
Yes, that's true. I think that's because we were all carefree *smiles*. Yesterday, I was texting Kiyoharu-kun and he told me he had a blog, I was surprised. When I looked at it, I saw that he had put a lot of hard work into updating it. I thought wow, he's been busy.
Will you try to make a blog?
No, because I'm busy going on walks. I go to the park nearly every day. If I wasn't doing an interview today I would have gone too since the weather's nice.
I see. So, in regards to Buck-Tick, you're working on what's next but you still have no idea how things will end up.
Well, I think it we won't do something overly complicated.
Isn't it always Imai-san that comes up with the theme? So I imagine it'll be the same this time only he hasn't come up with anything yet, right?
But, I think it'll be like last time. Well, something simple with a band sound perhaps?
I look forward to it. So, how old are you gonna be this June anyway?
42. Not so bad *smiles*.
Well that's a good attitude to have as you age.
Maybe.
After 3 or 4 years you'll think so too.
Yes, yes. But right now it's time for me to seriously work on songs!
But you already have one right. So I want you to keep building on that.
Yes, I know. So when Imai gets back into song writing, then I'll show mine.
Hurry up and shoooooow him!!
(1) I'm fairly certain most people have heard of Golden Week in Japan but for those who haven't, it's basically a week of holidays. There are four national holidays within a span of seven days. Because so many people have this time off, it's a little hectic if you want to go anywhere touristy.