"Malice Mizer's Stage Is Like A Scene From A Movie."

Photos of Mana-sama at the International Nail Expo 1999

All the scanning credits to yurisubtext on twitter

“There are many things to do when returning to love. While we dive underground and study you all feel various things at home! So when we meet again, please look forward to what MALICE MIZER will be like. I am truly happy to have met you all in this arena!”

“Brise” and then, “au revoir.” The stage was illuminated with blue lighting, creating a beautiful scene. The last number was “ma cherie.” The audience joined in singing the call and response of “Ma Cherie.” KAMI, who had been relentlessly playing the drums, surprisingly engaged with the audience from the stage and at his signal the grand chorus of “Ma Cherie” erupted once again. Silver streamers burst from both sides of the stage and the main performance concluded with a united front of the audience and the five members.

And then the encore. The encore was a grand performance that decorated the finale of this tour. KAMI, YU~KI, KOZI and MANA appeared one after the other, each adorned with large wings. Their gorgeous costumes were worth seeing on their own. And then, at the end, Gackt spread his black wings and descended from above the set. It was breathtaking! The song was “Le ciel,” a single scheduled for release on September 30. Finally, in the center of the stage, Gackt spread his arms and looked up to the heavens, causing the star sphere set high above the stage to shine all at once across the entire width of the hall. Oh! It was truly a star filled sky! The dynamic ending evoked a wave of emotion. I felt like giving a tremendous round of applause to the members as they quietly disappeared from the stage.

The blend of musicality, theatricality, and various elements at different moments is what makes their stage interesting. If not done well, it could easily turn into a jumbled and unmanageable situation, but MALICE MIZER skillfully connected the delicate pieces, showing a unique space. And what they will show us next is completely unpredictable. That’s why you absolutely want to see what comes next. Yes, MALICE MIZER is quite dangerous.

YU-KI (B.)

1) August 8

2) Blood Type: A

3) Height: 175 cm, Weight: 58 kg

4) Shoe Size: 26.5 cm

5) Lark (Cigarettes)

6) Basically, can't drink

7) Likes sweets

8) Mushroom Family

9) Prefers people with beautiful hair, fair skin, distinct facial features, and those who are not too gentle

10) Interests: Clothes, etc. Cigarettes, clothes, etc.

T: MANA chan has a shortcoming! He never stops at the stop line. He stops right in the middle of the crosswalk (laughs).

Y: My shortcoming is that when I start thinking, I overthink endlessly. I get completely absorbed. My strength is that I’m usually calm and might not be thinking about anything at all (laughs). But I think I’m a pretty calm person. Though it doesn’t really mean anything in particular (laughs).

T: You're not listening, are you? (laughs). When we’re all talking together, I sometimes wonder if you’re seriously listening... I think, "Maybe Yu~ki chan will sum it up," but when I ask, "What do you think, Yu~ki chan?" you respond with "Huh?" like you weren’t listening at all (laughs).

K: My strength is that I don't overthink things. I quickly forget unpleasant things! That might be my strength. My weakness is that I'm lazy.

T: My shortcoming is that I talk too much and am noisy. But sometimes that weakness turns out to be a good thing, so it might be a strength too.

Q: Have there been any incidents around you lately?

T: When we went to Osaka, there was something we called the "Box Riding Incident" (laughs).

Q: Was that with the equipment vehicle? (laughs)

T: No, it was with a Benz.

K: A 560SEL (laughs).

T: And then our support member Yukyo-kun was zooming through the streets of Minami in Osaka, shouting "Yukyo!" (laughs).

K: That was a major incident, right? (laughs).

T: It was seriously a huge incident! We laughed so hard (laughs).

Q: Can you boast about yourself within the group?

T: Among the members, I’m the weakest and only have about two good days a year.

Y: Among the members, I’m the strongest. You can call me the "luggage carrying captain" (laughs).

K: I’m the most twisted among the members. My belly button is crooked and the crooked end is withered (laughs). What am I even saying? (laughs)

M: Well, I’m probably the most knowledgeable about horror videos. I’m a collector (laughs).

K: Yeah, you have tons of videos. Almost as many as a video rental shop (laughs).

Q: What’s next for Malice Mizer?

T: We haven't decided on a drummer yet, but once we do, we’ll let everyone know, especially our fans.

K: Once we have a drummer, we’ll start working hard. This year, we’re aiming to have our own solo concerts!

T: For now, we’ve done about 10 lives in March and April, so from around June, we’ll slow down to about 2-3 lives a month.

K: During that time, we’ll be planning various things.

Q: Any plans for a tour?

T: We’d like to go on tour around summer. We hope to visit Osaka, Nagoya, and if possible, the Tohoku region as well.

Q: Finally, do you have a message for your fans?

M: We’re putting everything into the music, so please listen with your whole body.

Y: Please come to our lives.

T: Listen to the beautiful, sorrowful Malice sound!!

K: Eat Yoshinoya’s Tokumori (extra-large beef bowl)!!

T&K: Très bien!

NOTE: T is for Tetsu and K is for Közi since this interview was back in Malice Mizer Tetsu era. I hope you enjoyed it xxx

Check Out the Fashion of the Stars!

Vol. 5

Mana (MALICE MIZER)

Paying Attention to Invisible Style

Finally, the long awaited MALICE MIZER is here! This time we talked mainly about the costumes for their new song “The Blood and Roses of Reunion,” which will be released on November 3rd. Use it as a reference for cosplay. Also look forward to Közi in the issue coming out on November 1st and Yu~ki in the issue coming out on November 29th!

What About This Time’s Costume?

Mana: It’s inspired by “The Bloodline,” and we’ve unified the costumes for the three members. My role hasn’t changed. It’s supposed to be unclear whether I’m alive or dead...

Any Particular Details You Focused On?

Mana: The flouncy part of the mini skirt is a focus. This time, I wanted to create a sense of heaviness overall, so the fabric is relatively heavy, but the skirt is fluffy. Also, since the song is “The Blood and Roses of Reunion,” we’ve placed the emblem on each member's chest as a focal point. The color is blue, and I’ve also used a slightly darker lipstick than usual. And the knee-high socks—they’re worn over stockings. The color matches the blue theme. Even if they aren’t visible? It’s important to be stylish!

The Hair Roll Looks Great Too.

Mana: This time, setting the roll higher is key. Start by creating rolls at the roots, then curl them up and pin them. The number of rolls depends on the mood of the moment. The trick is to avoid making them too thick or too thin; use the curling iron carefully for each one. Straight hair is fine, but using the curling iron is tricky, so it takes practice. If you’re not used to it, it won’t curl easily. It’s better not to use too strong a hairspray; if it’s too hard it loses its natural softness.

It Won’t Show, You Know (laughs). This time all the lace parts of the costume are made from the same fabric and the headpiece is also made from the same lace.

You’ve Slimmed Down a Lot, Haven’t You?

Mana: I’m opening an original fashion brand shop (“Moi-même Moitie”), so the owner can’t be overweight (laughs). Plus gothic fashion doesn’t suit someone who isn’t slim. I’ve lost a few kilograms for that reason.

Are the Accessories for the Costume Store Products?

Mana: They aren’t store products; they were made specifically for this occasion. The earrings, rings, and necklace are all crosses, and they have a specific meaning. In “The Blood and Roses of Reunion,” the cross represents “spiritual communion.”

Regarding Mana’s Look...

Mana: It hasn’t changed; it’s the same (costume) (laughs). There are a lot of skirts. The points of style are mysterious, alluring, elegant, and extreme. The hairstyle is also carefully adjusted to match the occasion. It feels like “mysterious gothic horror,” right?

Any Future Challenges You Want to Try?

Mana: Maybe a pompadour. I really like pompadours. A big pompadour. It looks cool. I might incorporate that into a costume.

It comes back around. That way we discover and grow together. We are also a mirror, and so are the people who come to watch. When you send out a signal, it doesn’t become one way.

The live tour "Ville de merveilles - Transparent Spiral" by MALICE MIZER at the end of last year had many surprising aspects. Among them fans who had previously associated them with a medieval image were amazed by the futuristic stage set and costumes, as well as the band's new side and the wide range of their concepts.

In this page we focus on the first half of the live show featuring a photo session with the debut of the futuristic costumes and move on to discussions about their vision of the near future from the live performance.

From the opening the two songs featuring synchronized dance by all the members were eye catching. Gackt, Mana and Közi stepped in a regular pattern while Kami and Yu~ki played the percussion wildly behind them.

Kami and Yu~ki joked, “We can do anything so it’s okay.”

It was a moment that reaffirmed that they are a group that can use any means of expression. First let’s discuss the concept behind each of their costumes.

Mana: “It was designed with the awareness of a near future era with something easy to move in.”

Közi: “Surreal and inorganic. I added a slit on the side to make it easier to move.”

Yu~ki: “I tried to incorporate my previous image with the top hat and tailcoat while adding a more inorganic feel.”

Kami: “...I forgot.”

Gackt: “I wanted to make sure it didn’t reflect too much light and liked the color scheme so i chose that material. I aimed for something androgynous that isn’t distinctly male or female and that’s how it turned out.”

Next, we’ll introduce their individual visions of the near future, not just as a band.

Gackt: “When asked what I would be like in 10 years i always give the same answer. It’s too bright to see. Some people might see it as positive others negative but in any case it’s too bright to see.”

Mana: “It’s a fine line between rosy and worst case scenarios.”

Közi: “I’ll swim. While scattering salt in the sulfur.”

Kami: “I’ll spread my wings. The end.”

Yu~ki: “I haven’t thought about it. I want to feel my current self and the thoughts of people so i want to live without worrying about it.”

Now, let’s talk about the concept of the stage. Mana explains:

“The stage set was a little different from the initial design. 'Ville de merveilles' means a mysterious city. To put it concretely, it’s a futuristic and mysterious city. The transparent spiral is a keyword. You remember the mark that was projected onto the stage at the opening, right? There’s a mystery hidden in that, but I can’t tell you its meaning. Actually there is an 'aha' moment.”

ARENA 37°C (アリーナサーティーセブン) Vol.181 1997年10月

KAMI: When you go on tour i think the tour finale is the culmination of how much you’ve grown during the process. For now, i want to make this tour something great and take it on as a challenge. Touring is such a valuable learning experience and i'm always thinking about how best to express myself as i go through it.

- Previously, Mana mentioned that recent stage performances are completely different from those a year ago. Does the way you present yourselves change as the venues grow larger?

MANA: It’s completely different. For example, when performing at a large hall like Shibuya Public Hall versus a live house there’s a significant difference in the distance between us and the audience. Back in the day we used to incorporate theatrical elements but in larger halls, those details can’t really be seen. That’s why we adjust our presentation and stage direction to suit the venue.

- At your recent performance at Akasaka BLITZ, I felt that while your image evokes dreams and illusions, there seems to be a stark reality behind that. Is that intentional?"

MANA: Yeah, you’ve touched on something pretty important. I think we give off a very fantastical image but at the core we’re actually expressing raw, visceral human emotions. If people can pick up on that contrast, I think that’s ideal.

- Alright, Gackt we’ll wrap up with you. Could you tell us about the significance of the upcoming 'Deuxième Anniversaire ~ The Magnificent Revival' performance on the 10th?"

Gackt: The 10th is a very meaningful day for Malice Mizer. As the name suggests, it’s a resurrection, a rebirth of sorts. It’s also an opportunity for those who have never seen Malice Mizer before to witness us. It might sound misleading, but Malice Mizer is Malice Mizer no matter the occasion. I often say that we are ever-changing but even if the way we express ourselves changes, the core remains the same. We are changing, yet unchanged. I want people to feel that duality. Additionally, the meaning of the 'Blank Moments' in the 'Pays de Merveilies ~ Blank Moments'... I personally felt those blank moments during the 'Voyage ~ Vérité' tour. I want to express that."

- Could you elaborate on that?"

Gackt: On July 20th, during the BLITZ performance, my dog, who had been my only family for over 20 years, collapsed just before the live. While I was performing, they were undergoing surgery. By the time I rushed over after the show, they had already passed away. I don’t know if that was the reason, but everything that day was utterly chaotic. I revisited the metaphorical 'door of blank moments,' and i came to realize that everything starts from that point. That’s why i want to present something meaningful every single day. During the first half of the tour, i was in a slump, but in the second half i want to get even a step closer to the ideal version of myself. I want to remain positive in all aspects, convey that to people and hope they can feel it.

Moi dix Mois

Welcome to the Strange Year End Party

Moi dix Mois' annual grand year end party, sandwiched between their signature dark live performances with a spectacular ending! This year as well Seth (Vo) appeared as the character "Umezawa Sesuo" performing the song "Yume Shibai," while Mana (G) displayed his brilliant drum and bass playing.

The evening's feast began with a comedic opening hosted by K (G, Voice) and included highlights such as the anime "Martin Theater," which evoked shouts of "kawaii!" from the audience. Of course when Moi dix Mois performed they swiftly shifted from the fun atmosphere to their signature coolness, impressing as always.

Now witness an entertainment show infused with the dark aesthetics that define Supreme Commander Mana.

Dis inferno Vol. IV LAST YEAR PARTY 2006.12.26, Shibuya O-East

The venue dimmed and the host K appeared on a small stage on the right side of the floor, announcing today's opening act. The band was called MANALEY CRUE (a play on the name Mötley Crüe). As the curtain opened to "Red Hot," Mana appeared first, wearing tight slim pants decorated with mesh and handcuffs in a very Mötley Crüe like outfit. For a moment, you could almost think you were witnessing the LA metal scene of the early '80s. As the other members appeared, their resemblance to the original band was quite impressive, especially Sugiya (G), whose appearance was strikingly similar to Mick Mars. It seemed like Mana's choice for sure.

After playing drums in the past, Mana took the double bass drum kit for this show, setting the tone for this two-year comeback event, Moi dix Mois' Last Year Party under the name Dis inferno. Though usually known for their serious live performances, on this night, it was all about fun, giving fans a rare glimpse into the band members' hidden talents and unique sides. As always, the central figure was Moi dix Mois' leader, Mana.

The band played "Looks That Kill" with enthusiasm continuing the Mötley Crüe tribute and series of covers. The next act saw a dazzling Seth take the stage as "Umezawa Iku," performing Umezawa Tomio's "Yume Shibai." Seth's performance was remarkable, fully immersing himself in the song's world. Hayato dressed as a stagehand, added manual effects like tossing confetti, making it a full-fledged show.

Following the metal and enka (Japanese ballad) performance, Fukuyama Kenji's "Squall" was performed with an acoustic guitar, not by K, but by Keiny-chan. Although casually dressed in a white shirt and jeans, his face was still decked out in the usual death/gothic makeup, with half of his hair braided and the other half spiked—an extreme look that added an eerie touch to the performance. Despite the visual contrast, his voice resonated powerfully.

Next up was "The King of Knowledge" Sugiya, who appeared as "Sugick" to perform... balloon art! Yes, twisting long balloons into shapes like animals and flowers in a street-performer style. In a short time, he created a parrot, leaving the audience exclaiming, "Amazing!"

Afterward, the atmosphere completely shifted as "Now the other side in blood" began, marked by the intense double bass drumming. The live performance by Moi dix Mois proper started, powerfully leading with "Front et Baiser." The band's signature sound, featuring crushing metal riffs, had the audience headbanging enthusiastically, creating an electric atmosphere.

During the break, an animated short, "Martin Theater," featuring Mana as a chibi character, was shown on the screen. The whole band appeared in super-deformed (SD) style in a cute and comical story, delighting the audience with its adorable depiction.

On this night, the setlist was built around particularly aggressive songs, driving the audience into a frenzy. The combination of metal riffs and fierce melodies, like in the nostalgic track "Lamentful Miss," echoed strongly through the venue. Moi dix Mois’ performances, such as "Ange," highlighted their unique style, combining intensity and a haunting beauty that remains true to their essence.

The visual spectacle also included Mana’s new guitar, "Jeune Fille X Bronze -Cross Ray-," which had a glowing blue cross in the center. He concluded his performance by collapsing dramatically on stage, leaving a lasting impression. This glimpse into the recording of their upcoming album, due in March, hinted that intensity would be a major theme.

After the show closed with a powerful and flawless performance, the grand year-end party concluded with the entire Moi dix Mois band plus K performing a massive singalong to "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," with giant balloons floating through the crowd, bringing the festive night to a spectacular finish.

By Mana-sama

Nostalgic Game Inferno

The Xbox, which I will be discussing this time, made a striking impression with its beautiful, green-glowing icon that was visible beyond the earth sliced by an "X."

When the announcement of a new hardware invasion from America came i was excited back in 2002. At the time of the Xbox's arrival, the gaming market had seen Sega's Dreamcast defeated, while Nintendo's N64 and GameCube were struggling. The market had become a stronghold for Sony, led by the PS2.

Speaking of the PS2, it had a significant advantage with its DVD playback function. Even though the DVD market wasn’t established yet, the ability to play games and watch DVDs was quite impressive… Sony’s strategy was ahead of its time. Then, Microsoft which had dominated the global PC market launched an attack on the firmly established PS2 empire from across the sea! "Microsoft's game entry with immense wealth. They must be a terrifying enemy for Sony," I shivered at the thought.

The reason I felt this way was due to my encounter with the "ATARI 2600" from the American company Atari. I recall when I was still a young child. At a time when even the Famicom hadn’t been born yet I was familiar with games through a system at toy stores where I could play for a few minutes by inserting 50 yen. Despite being in such an era, the price of the ATARI 2600 was around 60,000 yen. It was an astonishingly expensive item for a child, and of course, I couldn’t get one. In the midst of this, the infamous "Atari Shock" occurred leading to Atari's downfall! This created a dark history in the gaming market with its collapse.

Now, back to the Xbox's invasion of Japan. The advertising campaign was tremendous. Leading up to its release, Shibuya was dyed in Xbox colors, creating a huge buzz! My first encounter with the actual Xbox was during an interview with Famitsu about the Xbox. I visited the Famitsu editorial department to be interviewed and got to see the console before its release!

As a result, the first American attempt at entering Japan ended in failure. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t the first attempt, but let’s leave it at that for now.Then, in 2002, a time leap occurred, marking the start of America’s third attempt at entering Japan with the black ship Xbox.

Why is it the third attempt? Because the 3DO, which I love dearly and discussed in the first installment of this series, attempted its second entry in 1994. Some might think it’s a Japanese-made game console since it was released by Matsushita Electric Industrial in Japan, but in reality, the 3DO is American-made. Japanese companies had licensing agreements with the "3DO standard."

Now, getting a bit sidetracked—my first impression of that black, square object was striking. It felt substantial, and a line forming an X ran across the middle. Inside it was a semi-transparent green dome of the Xbox, which gave it a presence that made me think, "This is really cool!" and I couldn’t help but shout that in my heart.

The only disappointment was that the green dome didn’t light up. If it had lit up, it would have been perfect. That said, the original Xbox is one of my favorite consoles.

February 23, 1997, Clear skies

FC (Fan Club) Exclusive Event

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAMI - 17,432 Days Left Until Extinction Commemoration

Strawberry Picking and Hato Bus Tour

So, we went on the Hato Bus Tour. It's a bit late, but here's a report on the event. The schedule was:

8:00 AM: Meet in Shinjuku

8:40 AM: Departure

Trip to Nagatoro Town in Saitama Prefecture, where we visited Hodosan to view the plum blossoms (we took the ropeway).

Lunch at Seibu Nagatoro Hotel.

Then, we went strawberry picking in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture.

We returned to Shinjuku at 6:00 PM.

Of course Kami and all the members seemed to have a great time. As for everyone who participated… there's no need to say anything more, right? Now, please enjoy along with the photos.

Here’s the ropeway we rode that day (edited by Közi). It’s called "Monkey No. 1". It was super comfortable (Kami). - Photo 1 top left

Yes, everyone, this is the Ume Hyakka-en (Plum Hundred Flowers Garden). Please don’t lag behind and follow along! (Mana) - Photo 2 top right

To my beloved…MaCheri - Photo 4 bottom right

In front of MaCheri - Photo 3 bottom left

As you can see from the two photos above, the “MaCheri” part of the tour name was somehow changed to "MaSeri", which gave us a big laugh. This happened at the hotel where we had lunch (even though the name on the bus was correct...).

I did a little translation on Mana's personal interview. Corrections are very welcome! Thank you so much in advance!

The dark-themed works that were released in the early days. I was captivated by these eerie and unsettling creations, which were far from being considered suitable for children.

I had the opportunity to have a discussion with the person in charge of producing that series of dark games.

All of those games were illustrated by a single designer. That designer had an aura about him and would immerse himself in work for about a month, isolated, to complete the projects. The resulting works had a unique sense of fear, and I was told they even went to Asakusa Shrine for a purification ritual before the games were released. I heard various behind-the-scenes stories like that.

Another memorable discussion was with Konami’s director, Yakushiji. I’ve always been a big fan of the "Castlevania" series since the Famicom days, and I had completed all the previous versions, including the Disk System and PC Engine versions. Our discussion took place around the release of the N64 version, "Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness."

"Legacy of Darkness" was the first 3D installment, breaking away from the traditional side-scrolling action format of the series. Yakushiji asked me, "Did you feel any discomfort with the transition to 3D?" I remember getting quite passionate and responding, "I was deeply moved by the experience of navigating the 3D space in that iconic Castlevania world, which was originally in 2D!"

A landmark encounter that marked the final installment: A conversation with Koichi Sugiyama.

The final interview in this series brought me to visit the home of Koichi Sugiyama, a pioneer of game music. Sugiyama is also a collector of game hardware, and he showed me various rare consoles like the "Intellivision," which surprised me. His collection room was truly a treasure trove for me.

Including the previous interview with Eno-san, my column for "Jugemu" brought me many valuable encounters. Sugiyama, who integrated classical music into game soundtracks and revolutionized game music, had a dramatic and theatrical approach to sound. It’s no exaggeration to say he sparked a revolution in game music. As a musician who also incorporates classical elements into my work, we had many conversations about music. I learned a lot that benefited my own musical activities, and I remember how educational the discussions were.

The world I express in my work was born from the inspiration I received from various games. Though it was only a short period of a year, the experiences I had talking to people involved in game development have become a great treasure to me.