TATTOO BURST Vol. 63 September 2011 - Kyo x Miyuki Matsuda Interview

「Why do people find the need for tattoos?」

Every time, when meeting a guest with tattoos, at the place where the subject is able to relax the most, with that frankness, Matsuda Miyuki delves into the real intention behind the tattoos

photographs and interview: Matsuda Miyuki
hair&make-up: Yamaguchi Atsushi (EKYQ)

Matsuda: How was the photo shoot this time?

Kyo: It was interesting. It felt unrestrained.

Matsuda: I have been told a lot that I am quite an unusual photographer (laughs)

Kyo: Really unusual (laughs). It was very interesting. It was so different from the usual today that I can’t imagine how it will look; it was fun.

Matsuda: In that sense, it was chaotic (laughs)

Kyo: I don’t appear much in magazines themselves, and also don’t get a lot of pictures taken.

Matsuda: The tattoos were very beautiful. I like such delicate designs. I am fascinated with them. In the beginning what made you think of getting a tattoo?

Kyo: In the past, during a live I forgot a particular timing and my left ear suffered damage. Because of that I lost the ability to hear low-pitched sounds. From that, I made a resolution, and thought, “I want to do something desperately, without regrets.” “More earnestly, I want to go to a deeper place.” With that I thought, “It’s no good if I don’t change,” It was then that I decided to get a tattoo.

Matsuda: DIR EN GREY is a bit different from being “bad”; isn’t there introverted darkness present?

Kyo: It is not that I particularly like beautiful things, if it’s an unrealistic world-view, and if anything, I love unclean/filthy and scary things.

Matsuda: With frightening things there are various types of fears.

Kyo: That’s right. Like something from inside, something painful, or ambient.

I want to do something desperately, without regrets
It was then that I decided to get a tattoo

 Matsuda: Like symbolizing the pain in one’s heart?

Kyo: That sort of world-view has been easy to put into form. I wanted to do an underground expression that other people haven’t done yet. And also, from that I let out blood and steadily became extreme; recently it’s become more real, I want to tell my thoughts directly; with only body and sound I think I want to be able to express it.

Matsuda: Within that sort of world-view, what do you think about the point where the fans are dragged in?

Kyo: During lives, I don’t want to express the bright/cheerful parts, but after the live ends I think there are a lot of people who feel refreshed. I’m not trying to speak for everyone’s voices, but those fans also have things that they carry, who look at I who is in their place, who screams when they are unable to scream. I don’t want to suggest anything from here, but naturally I think it becomes a good feeling.

Matsuda: If giving help with something, or thinking of giving something, you wouldn’t accept, would you?

Kyo: That may be the case. Basically, I am singing and writing lyrics for myself. I am doing it for my self-satisfaction, that’s why you can perceive it any way you want, and do what you want with it.

Matsuda: I think it’s amazing to make people buy a ticket, go to the venue and make them think “I want to listen to you sing”. Do you have any thoughts regarding the audience?

Kyo: It would be nice if they were there purely. No matter what kind of behavior they act out with, there is constantly unnecessary thinking and anxiety, but I think I want them to purely do their best. I am also doing what I love without thinking too much, if they were to watch with that stance then I think that would be interesting.

Matsuda: How does Kyo-san think of himself as a person?

Kyo: Maybe a weak person (laughs). I want to become strong but it’s quite difficult. When dealing with people, I may be a coward.

Matsuda: Are you saying that in terms of communication?

Kyo: As expected I am afraid of being betrayed, I know that if I don’t believe in someone, then the other person won’t believe in me, but it’s pretty difficult. I do have feelings of wanting to believe in someone and that it would be all right to get hurt, but it’s like I cannot become honest. If I were to say it simply, then it’s almost in that way.

Matsuda: For example with tattoos, does it feel like it is defending that fear?

Kyo: With tattoos it’s not like that. It’s just that I like them that I have them. There isn’t any deep meaning behind my getting tattoos. “I want to get them that’s why I get them.” “I like this picture/sketch so I’ll get it.” That’s all there is to it. Putting it simply, it’s just that, but I’m doing it honestly.

Matsuda: Have you ever wanted to get them removed?

Kyo: No. Basically I’m a person who gets easily bored, but I guess not with regard to tattoos. After all, it was painful getting them.

Matsuda: When did DIR EN GREY start?

Kyo: Around 13 years ago

Matsuda: Within those 13 years, what changed the most, and which aspect of you grew?

Kyo: Definitely the matter about my ear was the biggest change. “Beyond this, I have to do this with one ear,” is what I thought, I didn’t know if I could continue music. But I thought, “I need to get my act together,” at that time my appearance changed instantly; the way I performed, even the core within myself is stronger/harder. That was the greatest change/growth.

Matsuda: How long ago was that?

Kyo: Around 10 years ago. Also at the time when we went abroad, we were surrounded by many amazing bands; it wasn’t a win or loss,but I wanted to express more that there is also such a band like that in Japan.

Matsuda: How did the audience from abroad respond?

Kyo: There were a lot of audiencesthat were enthusiastic. I don’t do MCs at all which is why all the words I have are from lyrics. That’s why I think there are a lot of people who, with their utmost effort, try to comprehend the lyrics.

Matsuda: As expected, the sensation is different from Japan.

Kyo: The way we do it doesn’t change, but Japanese audienceslisten inan organized manner. For example, when it’s quiet they read the atmosphere and become quiet. Over there, they’re constantly noisy; in a good way and bad way they act freely.

Matsuda: Which places did you go to?

Kyo: America, Europe, Canada, we went to different places. But truthfully I dislike going abroad, because it’s tiring (laughs).

Matsuda: Is that so (laughs). Why?

Kyo: The meals don’t fit my taste, and I don’t speak English so I can’t communicate. When the lives are over everyone drinks alcohol. During tours it’s bad for my throat so I don’t drink. While everyone gets noisy I stay quietly at the side. (laughs)

Because I needed to get my act together
the core within myself became stronger

Matsuda: So after all here (STUDIO COAST) is where you can be calm.

Kyo: That’s right, for a long time this is where we’ve done lives the most.

Matsuda: What kind of things do you like to do during your private time?

Kyo: The thing that calms me the most is watching movies at cinemas and going for walks at night. When out on tours staying alone in the hotel makes me feel depressed, so I go outside. Basically I am the type who doesn’t want to be alone.

Matsuda: That’s a good feeling of being human-like. That sort of sensation may be connected with expression. An actor, for example, their form of expression is made of words. They read the script and theoretically create it, and that’s why words can have different kinds of meanings. But for a musician, he thinks of things with rhythm and sound.

Kyo: Today, while being photographed, I thought that it was very similar to writing lyrics and composing music. “A, let’s not do this after all,” or “more like this.” I also do it with my senses “That guitar shouldn’t be like that,” or “It should be like this.”

Matsuda: With that said, when standing on stage you completely change. That is definitely amazing. Now I really want to see a DIR EN GREY live. Can I go next time?

Kyo: Of course, please do come.

Source: http://www.orchestrated-chaos.com by myvinushka