2010/02/05＊Takuro
「Arrival at Toyama」
We left Tokyo at noon and arrived in Toyama at around 9. On route we had to get off the highway because of heavy snow and get back on it later, so it was a long drive. I was asleep during half of it, though. Toyama’s much more of a snow country than I imagined it. It’s like I’m back home. Playing with us tomorrow are LITE. It’s our first time playing together, huh. I’m looking forward to it, even if it is just one venue. Everyone, watch out for the snow when you come. With that, later.
2010/02/04＊Takuro
「Even so, we’re on tour right now」
The tour began in snowy surroundings. It’s Tokyo’s first snow of the year. “Could well be the last, too” is what I was saying until it snowed again. That’s right, we haven’t actually departed yet. To those of you who came to the first show and especially to the one who was bad at watching his step: welcome to Lizard. Once the band starts playing, it gets really hot and humid, there’ll be drops of water from the ceiling during performance and I had them hitting me several times as if they were like a diagonal meteor shower, but it seems that was just Taki’s sweat. In any case, thank you. I’m sure there was at least one among you who fell over on his way home.
Peeking outside now, it looks like it’s stopped snowing. It’s sure to be snowing heavily in Hokuriku which is where we’ll be heading next. 9mm has performed in harsh snowfall, in rainfall so heavy you wouldn’t believe… so, we’re still not quite sure if we’re sun men, rain men or what. However, when it comes to snow, especially on tours, I think it’s safe to say that we’re definitely snow men in that regard.¹ It’s snowing on every tour we do. Once, it was snowing when we arrived in Hiroshima. “That’s to be expected if you tour this time of the year” is what some of you might say, but I’d like to clarify that just seeing snow is alright, but for us it always results in trouble commuting so we have to be on guard. Being told stuff like “using this highway is forbidden right now!” is very possible (happened to us last year).
I haven’t tried them yet, but it seems there’ve been several people sending me anti-travel sickness medicine. That really helps me out. Thank you very much. Also, if you like, if someone knows of something that instantly puts you to a sleep that you won’t wake up from before 3 hours, definitely do tell me about it please. One that puts you to sleep before you get sick, if possible. (laughs)
I still haven’t gotten ready for the tour though. I’ll leave it at that. Later.
¹ Again, for an explanation on “sun/rain/snow man”, see this.
2010/01/31＊Takuro
「The night before the tour」
“Inochi no Zenmai Daijungyou” is at last starting tomorrow. We’ve been rehearsing both yesterday and today and I’m quite calm. Well, it’s my guess that as we descend those stairs at the entrance of Lizard tomorrow, my excitement level will conversely go way up. We do this every now and then, but this time we’ll be uploading the setlists after the show’s over. Then the people coming to the second half of the tour will be able to make predictions based on that. The maniacally enthusiastic kids can try looking for laws there and stuff, so they’ll get to shout “ha, told ya so!!” and stuff. Not that we’ll hear it though. (laughs) I’m sure it’ll be an amazing time. Looking forward to Lizard. With that, see you at the venue! Later.
2010/01/05＊Takuro
「2010」
Happy New Year.
What kind of a New Years did everyone have? For me, as I was getting home for New Year’s Day, the weather got bad so my train had to stop and make a U-turn before successfully getting there. I already have lots of good presentiments for the new year. My fortune said I’d have slightly good luck, but it also said something like “depending on yourself, your luck may change into excellent luck, or alternatively, terrible luck“… I’m not sure if I was muttering “…let’s do this…” to myself or not, but in any case I’m full of motivation.
Now then! Though it’s released tomorrow to be exact, I think there are some among you who already got “Inochi no Zenmai“. My mom went out and bought it just now at any rate. If you look at it, you’ll notice that all the titles on the release are in Japanese. That’s a first for us. It might not sound like I’m very excited about it, but to show you how much I really think it’s nice CD, I say all the elementary, middle and hich school students should buy it using their otoshidama and just think of it as their parents giving them less money than they were supposed to get (maybe it’s too late for that now, huh (laughs)).
We’re hoping for your support this year as well! Please! With that, later.
2009/12/30＊Takuro
「Last day of 2009」
Thank you to everyone who came to Chaos no Hyakunen. How was our show with GO!GO!7188? There are still lots of other bands we’ve been wanting to play with but haven’t gotten the chance to, so look forward to the upcoming tour as well. Each show is sure to be insane. This reminds me that we haven’t yet announced a Tokyo show, nfufu. Please wait a bit longer on that. On that note, thank you to the many people who came to see us at Makuhari.
After the 25th (thanks to all the people we met at BOO Xmas) the Christmas songs have completely disappeared from both the streets and the radio. The year’s coming to its end in no time. There’s less than 24 hours to go now. If this year was called the year of 9mm, then I think we’ll call next year 9mm’s year 2. It doesn’t look quite as cool when you write it down like that.
But before that, I think we’ll be enjoying some beers as we play our show on New Years Eve. We normally never drink during shows — we’ve played when hungover — but in any case, it fits the theme. I’m looking forward to it. We’ll be slurping toshikoshi soba backstage. I wonder if there’s soba on the stage itself, too. That’s a no, huh. It’s sure to be a hot show at Quattro, though.
http://www.diskgarage.com/sp/live-diga-series/
So how was this year for everyone? We finished making an album even while touring all over the country. Next year we’re planning on releasing it — beginning with Inochi no Zenmai — and running about country-wide again. Even if you try to avoid it, next year is going to be here soon, so I think I’ll try to receive it as warmly as possible. Thank you, This Year. You were a strange one. You brought an insane number of people to you. There’s a limit even to greed, you know. Or were you just lonely? However, thanks to that, I think you became an unforgettable one. Goodbye, This Year. Welcome, Next Year. No matter what kind of a guy you are, I’m going to accept you as you are. But, if I had a say in it, I wish you’d be a lonely, fun and unforgettable one, too.
Alright. I might do one more update but in any case, have a good New Years everyone.
With that, later.
2009/12/22＊Takuro
「This and that」
It sure is an autumn/winter where the writing brush (or keyboard?) isn’t making much progress. It’s really cold lately, huh. My hometown of Yamagata is supposed to have a meter of snow piled up. To all the people who live in areas of heavy snowfall, be careful not to get buried (half joking, half serious).
For the past several days, I’ve been busy bustling about trying to find an amp, which I finally did. It’s not rare at all, it’s one you can find anywhere, but I didn’t order one or anything. So, I’m finally linked to one today. Via cable. Into the amp. Nah, nothing. Can’t I express that in a more to-the-point, clear cut sentence? Well, it’s not like I’m a writer or anything so I guess that’s fine. When it’s cold, creatures get slower. Can’t be helped. Everyone, if you don’t keep your body warm, your immune system gets weaker, so be careful. Ah, now I’ve started sounding motherly. Huh. Even though I’m supposed to be playing in a rock band. I wonder if it’s because everyone’s showing signs of getting ready to get back to their hometowns for New Years.
For me though, our shows continue all through the end of the year～. Let’s just try not to catch a cold. 9mm and 10-FEET are keeping away the viruses by excessive mouth rinsing and hand washing. Lastly, I’ll upload a picture of us two at the wrap-up party after getting back, not having been able to escape raspy throats. With that, later.
2009/12/08＊Takuro
「Higanjima Jack」
Long time no see, everyone.
We’re already a week into December. Time sure flies, huh. To tell you the truth, 9mm was being busy especially last month as we were recording like previously announced. We’ll tell you about what we’re going to do with the recorded material later but just to reveal one thing right now, the first of the songs we’re releasing is “Elevator ni Notte“, the b-side to “Inochi no Zenmai“. To say “it’s a waste to have this as a coupling track” is an expression that’s been very overdone already, but unfortunately that’s the only way to describe this song. At any rate, even when we finished mastering it and started recording another song, the band, staff and engineer were all still thinking “it’s such a waste“. But, someone saying “guys, it’s going to get released anyway, what’s with saying it’ll go to waste?! (laughs)” allowed us to calm down. To sum it up, I just want lots of people to hear it. I thought I’d just make this one long, drawn-out blog praising myself, but I’ll restrain myself and get back on topic. Sorry about the long introduction.
Just like the title says: “Higanjima Jack“
Oh dear, just what’s that all about? (laughs)
To make it a little easier to understand:
Higanjima(‘s website will be)
Jack(ed by 9mm, so do take a look at it～!)
That’s it. The clever individuals among 9mm fans would probably be able to guess what it’s about with this alone, but we’re jacking the site of the movie Higanjima on the 9th.
We’re sending out the details on our email magazine, so check that out for more information. I’ve shown you beforehand how the site’s going to look. It’s quuuite intrusive. I feel really good about going into someone else’s website like this with our shoes on. (laughs) Definitely do have a look, everyone. Well, it’s only like that for the 9th though.
Speaking of the 9th, we’re playing with Midori at Shibuya AX on that date. It’s not only just the fact that we get to play together with Midori, but that it’s overall also our first show in a while that makes me look forward to it. We might play new songs or we might not. I’m not revealing anything even if it is the day before the show. (laughs)
Everyone, be careful not to catch influenza or any other viruses. With that, later.
2009/11/17
「Still some ways to go in recording」
A little notification.
The limited time shop, glsp, who handle sales of the T-shirts and sneakers me and Lessthan’s dop created together is open until tomorrow. It’s located at Laforet Harajuku right at the entrance, so definitely go and have a look please.
That’s my hand in the picture. The ring is a joint work by Miyata Kazuya and dop called “laghing” (sic). It sure is grinning widely, huh. I traded for it with Kazuya in exchange for our sneakers & T-shirt. I’m wearing it everyday. Ya～y. I don’t have a picture of the sneakers and T-shirt handy right now, so those of you close-by, definitely go and check it out at the shop. (laughs) They have the ring there too, of course～.
Somehow!
As I was writing this, we finished recording a song.
With that, later.
2009/11/16
「Past the halfway point of recording」
We’re at the studio. The recordings are proceeding perfectly. We also finished a surprising number that’s going to become the coupling song. It’s going to be another interesting one. Do look forward to Inochi no Zenmai.
Finishing playing a song and returning to the control room, this lovely view awaited me.
It’s gonna be a bunch of good songs.
With that, later.
2009/11/09
Long time no talk.
We’ve started recording.
This army of toys are aiming at my Mac.
I think I’ll try snatching it without getting in their way.
Ah. I’m Takuro, by the way.
