Despite it being a Dir en grey album I felt that ARCHE was musically very straight.



It may be big that Un deux comes first. I don’t think what we’ve done on ARCHE is that much different from what we’ve done previously. Like “we’re grey, but positive” It’s hard to explain but I think that we’re not just going downwards like DUM SPIRO SPERO, instead the angle has changed again. And I think that the variation is more pronounced than before. That doesn’t mean we’re becoming looser, rather I think it connects to the future of Dir en grey and I believe we were able to pack in well the colours we already held.





Did you name the album ARCHE, which means origins in Greek because you were expressing the foundations of Dir en grey, rather then re examining the roots of Dir en grey?



In regards to the lyrics and the music too, the fundamentals haven’t changed. While reflecting once more on what we’ve achieved up until now, and not just returning to the past but searching for the next thing… Thinking about how we feel about and how we would express now the things that we’ve done in the past and the emotions we held then lead to the naming of ARCHE. The name is Greek but it’s not that I had a grand image for it. We did the GAUZE tour recently didn’t we? When asked if we gained anything from that, each of our answers are different but, in my case there’s parts of me that are like “no” and parts that are like “That’s right, I see” That may have also had an effect on ARCHE.



Your vocals on this album are again simply amazing. I think you are good at thinking up such things.



Reversely, I think that almost all other artists make such good melodies. I only ever think that i really suck in comparison to those other artists. In particular, recently I haven’t had time to listen to music, and even if I did I wouldn’t know what to listen to, but when I hear songs walking down the street I’ll think “that’s a really good melody” Sometimes when I listen to old rock I can only sigh. Then when I listen to our music afterwards I think man we suck. Only that. (Laughs) But I’m giving it my all so I have no regrets.



I think the melodies you sing are wonderful. And I’m also surprised about the things you do that, as only one person you shouldn’t be able to.



Certainly there aren’t many people who can make such a large variety of vocals as me, but I don’t think my singing is good or that I make good melodies. Although saying that, I don’t want to be second or third best. If I’m gonna do it then I must be number one. So while creating songs I’m always thinking about what things only I can do. Which involves increasing my range of vocals and giving form to what naturally floats to my mind. But I don’t think I’m number one yet. I need to fight, until I can think “this is good like this”



Dir en grey has always used negative emotions as its inspiration for its music. Is that still the same now?



Using negative emotions and pain hasn’t changed but… I think that Un deux, which has the easiest to understand lyrics, is positive. I write those lyrics while thinking “Even if you’re worn out, by continuing forward something will come to be won’t it?” It’s not the same for every song on ARCHE but I think Un deux is representative of the album as a whole.



So do you mean that what inspires you hasn’t changed but how you express things has?



It’s a bit… Easier to understand… Not that but, before I was often like “I don’t need to say that much”. I used indirect expressions. But this time I actually tried to be more direct. I thought it would be good to have at least one song like that. It was fresh for me and also when I sing it it goes straight inside of me. Like it seems normal but to me it doesn’t feel normal. The other songs also have a different taste from those on DUM SPIRO SPERO, like they’re more human like and closer maybe. That might be different from before.



But like normal there weren’t any lyrics or songs born from happy things?



No there weren’t. If I had to say, they were from things not going well and before you know it being hurt. Most of the songs were like that. For the lyrics I just intersected that with the images the music brought to my mind. Even if something happy happens I always think that it will end but if something bad happens I always think that it will last forever. (small laugh) I don’t believe that I will someday be rewarded. I always just think negatively. So it’s very strange for me to write a song like Un deux which has the message that even if bad things happen and even if you’re worn out you have to keep going forward.



Your life is still continuing so is there anything about the future that you worry about?



I think that now is the time in my life in which I am living to the fullest so even if I become unable to sing or I get sick and die I won’t have any regrets.



So for you recently everyday is your peak?



I’ve always got another voice inside of me that says things like "What, are you gonna rest here?“ In the past year that voice has become especially strong and loud. So I need to become stronger. No matter what as you age you lose physically strength, however that voice gets stronger. For example for exercise I’ll think like "I just can’t today” and not do any. After that I’ll do work, but in the back of my mind I’ll always be thinking about how I didn’t do any exercise. Then when I get home I’ll exercise (laughs) that voice has something to say about whatever I do so sometimes I think “I’ve had enough!” I want like 2 days a month where the voice isn’t there (laughs)



Is there any specific things you’re aiming for in the future?



I think it’s enough if Dir en grey can be more Dir en grey like… I mean doing what only we are capable of. I have a bunch of intense people around me so I think we’ll naturally rise up. And without losing I want to have an existence in which I can go the furthest. I’m not aiming for anything specific like I want to do this kind of music or sing this kind of song.



What things are vital for you to keep on living?

Like I said before, that voice in my head. If it wasn’t there I’d be much lazier. Also, I feel that even more than before the people supporting me are important. In the past I used to say that whether or not I had an audience I could perform the same concert. But now it’s not a matter of whether I could or not, it’s that I receive power from the audience. It’s said that people live while supporting each other, but I didn’t understand that before. But I think I finally understand that now. I’m not performing for the sake of the fans and the fans aren’t living for the sake of me. Putting it simply, we’re just one part of each others’ life. But where our lives intersect is very important and we share power with each other. If I didn’t have that now I might now be an able to do my best. The voice in my head may have also become stronger for that reason.