Well, this is the last part of the interview 'A meeting at Hikousen' between Maaya and this Oosumi Masaki guy which was originally posted here. There's a follow interview which has been posted on his website (hence the 'to be continued' at the bottom of this entry which is in the actual original interview) which I will probably get around to looking at soon - I hope!! Anyway, this interview was challenging for me >_<;; at least I got the last part out swiftly to follow the other I did this week. Enjoy!
Interview Title: 'A meeting at Hikousen'
(continued from post below)
Sakamoto: The work we did on CM songs and such, we couldn’t do the so-called ‘beautiful singing’ but opposite that we would receive work that had a feeling of ‘elementary school students’. Because it was that kind of production group, it never felt like ‘work’ at all. Everyone would go to cram school, go to piano lessons and such, and I can say that I was always related to drama.
Oosumi: I see.
Sakamoto: Even the monthly tuition fee was so cheap you’d be really surprised *laugh* There were only about 10 of us, and then the teacher. That teacher was both president and manager of the firm! It always suited me and I was there right up until I graduated university.
Oosumi: You really entered into a good place then.
Sakamoto: That’s right. Yes, I think so. I was also the last, they don’t take children now, there is not longer a ‘Komodori’. For me, by entering that production group, I never came to hate ‘acting’ or ‘singing’. That was the fortune of being in the atmosphere of ‘Komodori’. Thinking that ‘this is business’; until I became an adult I had never thought that it might have a good or a bad meaning, I was in an environment where I could love drama. I’m really thankful for that.
(to be continued)
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Japanese iTunes Updates
If you're lucky enough to have access to Japan's version of iTunes (and by buying a gift voucher here you too can get songs of J-iTunes) then you may have noticed some recent Maaya related releases, namely:
Escaflowne Pack
Brain Powerd Pack
Both of which have Maaya songs included. Escaflowne being 'Yakusoku ha iranai' and 'tomodachi' while Brain Powerd is, of course, the beautiful 'Light of Love'. Other Maaya stuff up for grabs on J-iTunes are as follows:
Saigo no Kajitsu/mitsubachi to kagakusha (single w/o instrumentals)
Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta (radio podcast)
Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta (digital release only best)
I'm not sure if any of you remember the Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta (maps and letters and love songs) digital release but basically it was an album of songs chosen by Maaya under that title as a theme and put up on various J-pop download services to buy. Not very useful for those who already have the songs included, but intended for new listeners I guess, and the fact that her radio show of the same name is also on iTunes = introduce listeners to radio AND music = more exposure. Anyway, the songs were:
I.D
Uchuu Hikoushi no Uta
LOOP
Hashiru
Alkaloid
Koucha
Wakaba
Kimidori
park amsterdam (the whole story)
Yuunagi LOOP
Okitegami
It was released in March last year, and has four and a half stars out of five for listener ratings on iTunes. Which is nice. Anyway, that's just a small....kinda....thing I wanted to share. Ha, ha.
Escaflowne Pack
Brain Powerd Pack
Both of which have Maaya songs included. Escaflowne being 'Yakusoku ha iranai' and 'tomodachi' while Brain Powerd is, of course, the beautiful 'Light of Love'. Other Maaya stuff up for grabs on J-iTunes are as follows:
Saigo no Kajitsu/mitsubachi to kagakusha (single w/o instrumentals)
Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta (radio podcast)
Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta (digital release only best)
I'm not sure if any of you remember the Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta (maps and letters and love songs) digital release but basically it was an album of songs chosen by Maaya under that title as a theme and put up on various J-pop download services to buy. Not very useful for those who already have the songs included, but intended for new listeners I guess, and the fact that her radio show of the same name is also on iTunes = introduce listeners to radio AND music = more exposure. Anyway, the songs were:
I.D
Uchuu Hikoushi no Uta
LOOP
Hashiru
Alkaloid
Koucha
Wakaba
Kimidori
park amsterdam (the whole story)
Yuunagi LOOP
Okitegami
It was released in March last year, and has four and a half stars out of five for listener ratings on iTunes. Which is nice. Anyway, that's just a small....kinda....thing I wanted to share. Ha, ha.
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Maaya Sakamoto X Osumi Masaki (Part II)
Sorry it took so long, here's the next part of the interview!! I've been busier than I thought I would be, but here's a little bit to keep you occupied. Enjoy!! As before, it's taken from here.
Interview title: A meeting with Hikousen
(continued from post below)
Sakamoto: *looking at a voice actor pamphlet* I was doing dubbing work since I was in elementary school, so it came about that with Hikousen I was able to work a lot with the ‘Echo Theatre’ production group.
Oosumi: is that so?
Sakamoto: While thinking ‘That’s the person whose voice I heard in that play’, I was actually saying ‘Oh I always watch Hikousen’
That experience was kind of unique…
Sakamoto: Hmmm, but I really didn’t get the sense that I was doing anything special. You could say that drama had always been in the middle of my life.
Oosumi: It was orginary because it was in the neighbourhood, right?
Sakamoto: It was like having lessons in a sense.
Oosumi: So there wasn’t any culture shock of entering a whole different world.
Sakamoto: No there wasn’t. The theatre group I was in was called ‘Komodori Production group’.
Oosumi: Oh, I know ‘Komodori’.
Sakamoto: It was a pretty ordinary audition, and everyone always had a beautiful way of greeting ‘good morning!!’. The kids at ‘Komodori’ were, in the nicest sense of the word, really ordinary. When we took profile pictures and stuff, the teacher was like “Ok! There are three photos left on this disposable camera so we’re gonna shoot you three kids!!” and even if it had red eyes on the photo it would be presented like that *laugh* We were all siblings in hand-me-downs, snot coming out…like that! *laugh*
Oosumi: That sounds great! *laugh*
Interview title: A meeting with Hikousen
(continued from post below)
Sakamoto: *looking at a voice actor pamphlet* I was doing dubbing work since I was in elementary school, so it came about that with Hikousen I was able to work a lot with the ‘Echo Theatre’ production group.
Oosumi: is that so?
Sakamoto: While thinking ‘That’s the person whose voice I heard in that play’, I was actually saying ‘Oh I always watch Hikousen’
That experience was kind of unique…
Sakamoto: Hmmm, but I really didn’t get the sense that I was doing anything special. You could say that drama had always been in the middle of my life.
Oosumi: It was orginary because it was in the neighbourhood, right?
Sakamoto: It was like having lessons in a sense.
Oosumi: So there wasn’t any culture shock of entering a whole different world.
Sakamoto: No there wasn’t. The theatre group I was in was called ‘Komodori Production group’.
Oosumi: Oh, I know ‘Komodori’.
Sakamoto: It was a pretty ordinary audition, and everyone always had a beautiful way of greeting ‘good morning!!’. The kids at ‘Komodori’ were, in the nicest sense of the word, really ordinary. When we took profile pictures and stuff, the teacher was like “Ok! There are three photos left on this disposable camera so we’re gonna shoot you three kids!!” and even if it had red eyes on the photo it would be presented like that *laugh* We were all siblings in hand-me-downs, snot coming out…like that! *laugh*
Oosumi: That sounds great! *laugh*
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Maaya Sakamoto X Osumi Masaki (Part I)
I did a little work translating the interview between Maaya and the man who was in Hikousen, here's the first part. Note: Hikousen means 'airship' and is the name of the theatrical company.
Interview title: 'A meeting with Hikousen'
Sakamoto: Through a connection at my dad's work, from being really, really small I was able to go see what was put on by the Hikousen Theatrical Company. I think the very first time I experienced a play was through Hikousen.
....
Sakamoto: When I was first taken at about 2 years old, my mother seemed to be worried
and said "In the blackout at the theatre, won't you cry?" *laugh*
Oosumi: Wow.
Sakamoto: Well that story is from about 25 years ago already *laugh* Well, then I became and adult and I guess I was affected in no small way by it, I’m doing work where I stand on the stage.
Oosumi: I’d always done work for children, I cannot give form to my feelings to express the reaction that I get from children in the audience. So, I gave up doing that. But recently, the children who watched Lupin and are in their 40’s now, when I meet them at work they always look really happy and start by saying “Back then…”. And I think “Oh, I see, even though it’s work for children as time passes I can still hear their impressions”. I had never expected that.
Sakamoto: Really?
Oosumi: Yes. However, when I belonged to and directed the ‘Masked Play Musical’ in Theatre Company Hikousen, to be able to fathom a wide range of reactions from the mass media like TV – there’s no opportunity to do that. So I was really looking forward to meeting you today.
Sakamoto: Of the memories from when I was small of plays, they are all Hikousen!! The impressions that remain are of a time when my dad took me to dressing rooms, where people from the masked play musical were in. When the witch came out during the play, I was so surprised when a man came out from the middle of the witch!! And then, they let me touch the little tools and such, they let me look behind the scenes – I had thought the scenery was really evocative but if you try peeping around the back it’s got notes written all over it and stuff *laugh* I think that as a child “Wow, I really knew a lot!”
Oosumi: You weren’t a very good audience member then *laugh* Usually it’s usual for children not to know about what’s behind the scenes, isn’t it.
Sakamoto: *looking at a program* Wow!!!! This is so nostalgic!! I really especially loved ‘The Wizard of Oz’, you know!
Oosumi: Oh, so the play where a man came out of the witch was that one, was it.
(To be continued)
Interview title: 'A meeting with Hikousen'
Sakamoto: Through a connection at my dad's work, from being really, really small I was able to go see what was put on by the Hikousen Theatrical Company. I think the very first time I experienced a play was through Hikousen.
....
Sakamoto: When I was first taken at about 2 years old, my mother seemed to be worried
and said "In the blackout at the theatre, won't you cry?" *laugh*
Oosumi: Wow.
Sakamoto: Well that story is from about 25 years ago already *laugh* Well, then I became and adult and I guess I was affected in no small way by it, I’m doing work where I stand on the stage.
Oosumi: I’d always done work for children, I cannot give form to my feelings to express the reaction that I get from children in the audience. So, I gave up doing that. But recently, the children who watched Lupin and are in their 40’s now, when I meet them at work they always look really happy and start by saying “Back then…”. And I think “Oh, I see, even though it’s work for children as time passes I can still hear their impressions”. I had never expected that.
Sakamoto: Really?
Oosumi: Yes. However, when I belonged to and directed the ‘Masked Play Musical’ in Theatre Company Hikousen, to be able to fathom a wide range of reactions from the mass media like TV – there’s no opportunity to do that. So I was really looking forward to meeting you today.
Sakamoto: Of the memories from when I was small of plays, they are all Hikousen!! The impressions that remain are of a time when my dad took me to dressing rooms, where people from the masked play musical were in. When the witch came out during the play, I was so surprised when a man came out from the middle of the witch!! And then, they let me touch the little tools and such, they let me look behind the scenes – I had thought the scenery was really evocative but if you try peeping around the back it’s got notes written all over it and stuff *laugh* I think that as a child “Wow, I really knew a lot!”
Oosumi: You weren’t a very good audience member then *laugh* Usually it’s usual for children not to know about what’s behind the scenes, isn’t it.
Sakamoto: *looking at a program* Wow!!!! This is so nostalgic!! I really especially loved ‘The Wizard of Oz’, you know!
Oosumi: Oh, so the play where a man came out of the witch was that one, was it.
(To be continued)
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Web Related News
Maaya's official homepage posted up a link to an interview between Maaya and a Oosumi Masaki who was in the same theatrical production as her: Hikousen (airship). So Maaya basically debuted on the stage and grew up in the company of this man. They discuss the old days and there are pictures of Maaya looking through old production programs.
Interview page.
According to his blog profile and his Japanese wikipedia page Oosumi Masaki is famous for his work on the Moomin's and Lupin III. Small sample:
Sakamoto: Through a connection at my dad's work, from being really, really small I was able to go see what was put on by the Hikousen Theatrical Company. I think the very first time I experienced a play was through Hikousen.
....
Sakamoto: When I was first taken at about 2 years old, my mother seemed to be worried
and said "In the blackout at the theatre, won't you cry?" *laugh*
Maaya got into theatre at a young age apparently!
Interview page.
According to his blog profile and his Japanese wikipedia page Oosumi Masaki is famous for his work on the Moomin's and Lupin III. Small sample:
Sakamoto: Through a connection at my dad's work, from being really, really small I was able to go see what was put on by the Hikousen Theatrical Company. I think the very first time I experienced a play was through Hikousen.
....
Sakamoto: When I was first taken at about 2 years old, my mother seemed to be worried
and said "In the blackout at the theatre, won't you cry?" *laugh*
Maaya got into theatre at a young age apparently!
Sunday, 20 January 2008
gravity X maaya
Now, I thought this was interesting. Hence why I translated it. In Maaya's lyric/photobook 'Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta' the english songs have japanese translations. That in itself is not obviously exciting, but the translation of 'gravity' is done by Maaya herself. Maaya has said herself before (just as this song was released on Nikopachi actually) that she doesn't understand English and I thought it was really interesting to see what Maaya was thinking about as she sang. Obviously it's pretty close to the English but the slight differences make it quite poignant. So I translated it for you all.
gravity - Maaya Sakamoto version
I wonder how long I’ve been walking
Tomorrow has faded into the distance over and over again
Continually being told to part with yesterday
Are the thoughts I grasp tightly in this hand still genuine?
If this time tomorrow the rain changes into mist
There will be one more tomorrow there ahead
Someone or something is continually calling out to me
The place that I’m always searching and longing for
A voice called to the moon is shining in the darkness guiding me
And there is surely a world of zero gravity
Shaking myself free of the pain clinging to my feet
Is there really someone waiting ahead for me?
The road is simply telling me “Come on, let’s go”
Something is pulling me closer
I feel the gravity of everything
The translation of 'Kissing the Christmas Killer' from the Yoko Kanno mini-album 'The Other Side of Midnight: Music for the 23rd Hour' was also done by Maaya and was an 'image translation'. It wasn't really similar to the English at all. I'll translate it soon but as for now, enjoy!
gravity - Maaya Sakamoto version
I wonder how long I’ve been walking
Tomorrow has faded into the distance over and over again
Continually being told to part with yesterday
Are the thoughts I grasp tightly in this hand still genuine?
If this time tomorrow the rain changes into mist
There will be one more tomorrow there ahead
Someone or something is continually calling out to me
The place that I’m always searching and longing for
A voice called to the moon is shining in the darkness guiding me
And there is surely a world of zero gravity
Shaking myself free of the pain clinging to my feet
Is there really someone waiting ahead for me?
The road is simply telling me “Come on, let’s go”
Something is pulling me closer
I feel the gravity of everything
The translation of 'Kissing the Christmas Killer' from the Yoko Kanno mini-album 'The Other Side of Midnight: Music for the 23rd Hour' was also done by Maaya and was an 'image translation'. It wasn't really similar to the English at all. I'll translate it soon but as for now, enjoy!
Thursday, 17 January 2008
One Week Goes By
Well, it's still the first week of this blog but a lot as already been put up. I archived the original few I.D journal entries that I had from my site. I'll get around to putting up the other random things I collected at some point too. Frecklegirl was also kind enough to donate her translation of an I.D entry yesterday. It's turning into a good week!!
Maaya-related stuff in my world. I relistened to 'Shounen Alice' yesterday in order from beginning to end and I remembered how much I love that album. I really relate to all the songs...except, you know, Amsterdam Park because that's sort of...insane. However, for the rest of the songs, I definately remember listening to all of them and thinking 'yes, yes, this is exactly how I feel' at some point or another.
'Mahiru ga yuki' in particular recently strikes a chord. I think it's just a great album. Yep, yep. And it's great for cold weather!! Even the jacket shoot is perfect for this season (*_*) awesome!!!
Maaya-related stuff in my world. I relistened to 'Shounen Alice' yesterday in order from beginning to end and I remembered how much I love that album. I really relate to all the songs...except, you know, Amsterdam Park because that's sort of...insane. However, for the rest of the songs, I definately remember listening to all of them and thinking 'yes, yes, this is exactly how I feel' at some point or another.
'Mahiru ga yuki' in particular recently strikes a chord. I think it's just a great album. Yep, yep. And it's great for cold weather!! Even the jacket shoot is perfect for this season (*_*) awesome!!!
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
I.D Journal Entry 11.22.2007
Translation by Frecklegirl
The Last Fruit
I do nothing but search.
It’s probably not just me but everyone.
For reasons, for causes, for plans, for truth.
We’re always, always searching and wanting to know.
In seeking out that knowledge, it’s not easy, but rather tiresome, so we soon think that we want to forget all about it. And yet, I know that throughout our lives we can never escape that desire called “I want to know.”
Moreover, the truth is we don’t really think about being able to find it someday.
We plan to find it, but soon enough we lose sight. And this happens over and over. Somehow or other we resign ourselves to having that kind of unending game of chase throughout our lives.
We keep getting closer to answers while gathering hints that have been dropped here and here. And yet, it’s never just kind touches. Getting hurt a lot, breaking down, one by one we tire of it all. Because we get a little sulky, we chase after it again.
Despite all that, we want to know – “loving,” “living on,” what kinds of things are those after all?
Though we know that no matter how far we go we’re alone for eternity, what is it with these feelings of thinking we want to be with someone?
What’s the difference between a perpetually-constant eternity and a moment that continues to change?
Maybe it’s even that the answer is different from the shape of what I wished for, and is just trying to listen with an open ear.
When I murmur “Tell me” from the bottom of my heart, I feel like the world seems to simply nod its head without saying anything.
*maaya*
jo
The Last Fruit
I do nothing but search.
It’s probably not just me but everyone.
For reasons, for causes, for plans, for truth.
We’re always, always searching and wanting to know.
In seeking out that knowledge, it’s not easy, but rather tiresome, so we soon think that we want to forget all about it. And yet, I know that throughout our lives we can never escape that desire called “I want to know.”
Moreover, the truth is we don’t really think about being able to find it someday.
We plan to find it, but soon enough we lose sight. And this happens over and over. Somehow or other we resign ourselves to having that kind of unending game of chase throughout our lives.
We keep getting closer to answers while gathering hints that have been dropped here and here. And yet, it’s never just kind touches. Getting hurt a lot, breaking down, one by one we tire of it all. Because we get a little sulky, we chase after it again.
Despite all that, we want to know – “loving,” “living on,” what kinds of things are those after all?
Though we know that no matter how far we go we’re alone for eternity, what is it with these feelings of thinking we want to be with someone?
What’s the difference between a perpetually-constant eternity and a moment that continues to change?
Maybe it’s even that the answer is different from the shape of what I wished for, and is just trying to listen with an open ear.
When I murmur “Tell me” from the bottom of my heart, I feel like the world seems to simply nod its head without saying anything.
*maaya*
jo
New ".hack//G.U.TRILOGY" Role Announced
Maaya's homepage updated with the info that she'll be taking on the role of Aura （アウラ） in the new show 「.hack//G.U.TRILOGY」.
.hack//G.U.TRILOGY official page
.hack//G.U.TRILOGY official page
Monday, 14 January 2008
Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta - 13.05.2007
Hey everyone, I managed to get another radio episode under my belt today in between studying for my Japanese exam tomorrow. As before the italics are Maaya's speech and then I've summarised some parts I had trouble translating exactly into a transcript. The jist of it, I guess you could say. Hopefully it's not too far out. Anyway, Enjoy!
Good evening this is Maaya Sakamoto! For the next 15 minutes please join me for ‘Chizu to Tegami to koi no uta’! Another week has ended, hasn’t it? Everyone were you working? Did you go to school?
As for me, well, the musical Les Miserables premier is in about a month so increasingly it’s coming closer. I’m doing a lot of training, and this year as well I’m playing the role of Eponine. Even though this is the fifth year running I’ve played this role, while I put on an accent I’m really trying my hardest. There’s a practice everyday and of course because I have other work to do every day apart from that, I’m pretty much powerfully working every day at the moment.
Within that, there are a few little breaks from practice and when I have time there so many other things to be stopped by.
Maaya tells a story about going to change her drivers licence. She was worried that she wouldn’t be able to make it but she got there just in time. She has just a normal licence but this was her first time to renew it so she was really kind of happy but a little nervous, wondering what kind of thing they were going to do. She didn’t really know what would happen so like that she went to the examination centre.
She talks about what she had to do an exam and how it was kind of boring to wait about two hours of her waiting around before it and being nervous. She describes the test itself about how there is a test of strength where everyone was, in a very business like manner, in a line going one after the other with each having a number. When she finally got there the person she met was sort of staring at her and then asked questions normally until right at the end when he said “I have your cd!!” at the end. That was unexpected. Without thinking, right in the exam room she said ‘EEEHHHH????’ and the people behind were like ‘what’s going on?’. Maaya ponders this man’s work and how he was just going over normal matters had lots of people to see but how he wanted to say ‘I have your cd’ to her. She was really surprised.
Anyway, I managed to get my licence all done normally. “Ah that’s good, that’s good” I thought to myself. Well, after all that is the recent Maaya Sakamoto (laugh).
Well! This program ‘Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta’ is to introduce your mails about a theme to do with a certain word and this month I’m introducing mails to do with the keyword theme ‘promises’. This week again we had a lot of mails so now I’d like to introduce them.
Maaya introduces a mail from a man in Tokyo who promised his wife to stop smoking. His wife was against it to the point of divorce! So he stopped and although it was hard it is now his 5th month anniversary and he can think ‘it was bad but promises are good things’.
I see. This seems like it was hard, doesn’t it? I don’t smoke, so although I don’t understand if I had to give up coffee I think it would be really gruelling...it’s hard, isn’t it? As I said earlier I’m in the middle of rehearsals for a musical, and in the point of view of a singer or someone who uses their voice for their work tobacco is definitely not good for your throat so a lot of people decide to quit. But, in my production there is one person who last year smoked a lot, but in order to do difficult songs, this year he said “I’m going to give up” and after that his voice was completely different his oral ability stretched. However, because his lips were lonely he began to eat a lot of sweet things and…got fat (giggle). He even said “I got fat!”. Also, he found that his sense of smell and taste became more intense, his food was delicious and he said how he was often going out to eat.
Of course, giving up smoking seems hard but, you know, I understand your wife’s feelings. I think that she must of course be thinking about her husband’s health and so said ‘Quit!’, but if I was the wife I think ‘I’m breathing in your smoke so stop it’ is kinda strong. But for both of them, I think that this is best for their bodies. If you continue feeling in this spirit and continue your promise of not smoking, it’s good, huh?
Continuing on, I have one more mail to do with promises to introduce! Moomin Mama-san from Chiba prefecture.
Maaya reads out a letter from a mother who promised her son who just went into elementary school to do help him lose his pickiness about food. It seems he hates a lot of food such as peppers and eggs etc. This boy especially hates vegetables! The mother though if she bought them then he would eat a lot and finally come to like them. They’ve promised each other that if he eats them then she will reward him with a toy that he likes! However! The mother has decided to think of something else to reward him with instead.
This is bad!! The promise is being broken from the mother. You said “I will buy you a toy”, didn’t you? You did give this phrase yourself, didn’t you Moomin Mama-san. But a child will probably remember that you did that, if you don’t keep your promise it might be kind of hard. When I was a child, I remember people saying ‘next time I’ll buy you such and such if you get this in your next test’ and replying ‘ok!!’ and such even though I was thinking ‘Not possible!’ (laugh) I had those kind of parents, securing more and more promises.
Well, if he becomes able to eat things then I guess it’s a good thing (laugh) Please do your best to get him the toy!
Now, this program would still like to receive your mail and postcards about promises! There is no problem about the contents of them. Promises you have kept, promises you haven’t, people have lots of different memories so I’m waiting for lots of messages! On that note, the 6th episode of ‘Chizu to tegami to koi no uta’ has now been broadcast and our time has come to an end. It’s already been a month since this show started, we have a long program name but did you begin to get familiar with it everyone? ‘Chizu to tegami to koi no uta’! I’m waiting for letters about promises but also it’s not limited to that theme, opinions about the show and you impressions and normal letters addressed to me, questions and stuff, anything is ok! Things that you would like the show to do are also waited for.
[Contact details read out]
You can also send mails from TBS’s homepage. I’m looking forward to meeting you all next week, for today it’s time to part. See you next week, bye bye!!
This episode was less than 10 minutes and it still took quite a while to do. But I guess I'll get faster soon. Maaya's voice is easy on the ears so let's hope!! See you guys soon!
Good evening this is Maaya Sakamoto! For the next 15 minutes please join me for ‘Chizu to Tegami to koi no uta’! Another week has ended, hasn’t it? Everyone were you working? Did you go to school?
As for me, well, the musical Les Miserables premier is in about a month so increasingly it’s coming closer. I’m doing a lot of training, and this year as well I’m playing the role of Eponine. Even though this is the fifth year running I’ve played this role, while I put on an accent I’m really trying my hardest. There’s a practice everyday and of course because I have other work to do every day apart from that, I’m pretty much powerfully working every day at the moment.
Within that, there are a few little breaks from practice and when I have time there so many other things to be stopped by.
Maaya tells a story about going to change her drivers licence. She was worried that she wouldn’t be able to make it but she got there just in time. She has just a normal licence but this was her first time to renew it so she was really kind of happy but a little nervous, wondering what kind of thing they were going to do. She didn’t really know what would happen so like that she went to the examination centre.
She talks about what she had to do an exam and how it was kind of boring to wait about two hours of her waiting around before it and being nervous. She describes the test itself about how there is a test of strength where everyone was, in a very business like manner, in a line going one after the other with each having a number. When she finally got there the person she met was sort of staring at her and then asked questions normally until right at the end when he said “I have your cd!!” at the end. That was unexpected. Without thinking, right in the exam room she said ‘EEEHHHH????’ and the people behind were like ‘what’s going on?’. Maaya ponders this man’s work and how he was just going over normal matters had lots of people to see but how he wanted to say ‘I have your cd’ to her. She was really surprised.
Anyway, I managed to get my licence all done normally. “Ah that’s good, that’s good” I thought to myself. Well, after all that is the recent Maaya Sakamoto (laugh).
Well! This program ‘Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta’ is to introduce your mails about a theme to do with a certain word and this month I’m introducing mails to do with the keyword theme ‘promises’. This week again we had a lot of mails so now I’d like to introduce them.
Maaya introduces a mail from a man in Tokyo who promised his wife to stop smoking. His wife was against it to the point of divorce! So he stopped and although it was hard it is now his 5th month anniversary and he can think ‘it was bad but promises are good things’.
I see. This seems like it was hard, doesn’t it? I don’t smoke, so although I don’t understand if I had to give up coffee I think it would be really gruelling...it’s hard, isn’t it? As I said earlier I’m in the middle of rehearsals for a musical, and in the point of view of a singer or someone who uses their voice for their work tobacco is definitely not good for your throat so a lot of people decide to quit. But, in my production there is one person who last year smoked a lot, but in order to do difficult songs, this year he said “I’m going to give up” and after that his voice was completely different his oral ability stretched. However, because his lips were lonely he began to eat a lot of sweet things and…got fat (giggle). He even said “I got fat!”. Also, he found that his sense of smell and taste became more intense, his food was delicious and he said how he was often going out to eat.
Of course, giving up smoking seems hard but, you know, I understand your wife’s feelings. I think that she must of course be thinking about her husband’s health and so said ‘Quit!’, but if I was the wife I think ‘I’m breathing in your smoke so stop it’ is kinda strong. But for both of them, I think that this is best for their bodies. If you continue feeling in this spirit and continue your promise of not smoking, it’s good, huh?
Continuing on, I have one more mail to do with promises to introduce! Moomin Mama-san from Chiba prefecture.
Maaya reads out a letter from a mother who promised her son who just went into elementary school to do help him lose his pickiness about food. It seems he hates a lot of food such as peppers and eggs etc. This boy especially hates vegetables! The mother though if she bought them then he would eat a lot and finally come to like them. They’ve promised each other that if he eats them then she will reward him with a toy that he likes! However! The mother has decided to think of something else to reward him with instead.
This is bad!! The promise is being broken from the mother. You said “I will buy you a toy”, didn’t you? You did give this phrase yourself, didn’t you Moomin Mama-san. But a child will probably remember that you did that, if you don’t keep your promise it might be kind of hard. When I was a child, I remember people saying ‘next time I’ll buy you such and such if you get this in your next test’ and replying ‘ok!!’ and such even though I was thinking ‘Not possible!’ (laugh) I had those kind of parents, securing more and more promises.
Well, if he becomes able to eat things then I guess it’s a good thing (laugh) Please do your best to get him the toy!
Now, this program would still like to receive your mail and postcards about promises! There is no problem about the contents of them. Promises you have kept, promises you haven’t, people have lots of different memories so I’m waiting for lots of messages! On that note, the 6th episode of ‘Chizu to tegami to koi no uta’ has now been broadcast and our time has come to an end. It’s already been a month since this show started, we have a long program name but did you begin to get familiar with it everyone? ‘Chizu to tegami to koi no uta’! I’m waiting for letters about promises but also it’s not limited to that theme, opinions about the show and you impressions and normal letters addressed to me, questions and stuff, anything is ok! Things that you would like the show to do are also waited for.
[Contact details read out]
You can also send mails from TBS’s homepage. I’m looking forward to meeting you all next week, for today it’s time to part. See you next week, bye bye!!
This episode was less than 10 minutes and it still took quite a while to do. But I guess I'll get faster soon. Maaya's voice is easy on the ears so let's hope!! See you guys soon!
Sunday, 13 January 2008
Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta - 04.04.2007
Translation note: I started to do a summary but it ended up much easier to write in first person as I could hear it in second half of the show. I'm going to dodge in an out of summary and first person. Italics mark Maaya's speech! If you have any corrections or additions to make please don't hesitate to contribute. I'm a first timer (^_~) I'll clear up my technique from this entry *hopefully*. Anyway, as
Good evening, this is Maaya Sakamoto!! Starting from today this is my radio show: Sakamoto Maaya: Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta! For the next 15 minutes please spend some time with me. This is my first radio show with TBS and I'm really nervous, and today is the first time so I thought I'd introduce myself.
My real name is Maaya Sakamoto and I actually debuted as a singer, but for the last ten years I've been a singer, and an actress, do stage shows and as do work as a seiyuu (anime, dubbing western films). Well, you could say a 'voice' for dubbing.
Maaya gives an example of playing Padme in the new Star Wars films because she thinks it the work that the Japanese listeners will know best. It’s a really famous film so maybe everyone watched it with subtitles but people with the dvd can listen to the Japanese dub. She'll be really happy if you listen to it once to hear her voice.
As for Stage works she talks about being in Les Miserables again from June. She's been playing Eponine for about five years and the show will be in Tokyo till September then will go on to be played at Fukuoka.
Maaya then discusses her music career and finds the fact she has 13 singles and 9 albums surprising, she’d never counted but it was written down in front of her and she thought to herself ‘oh that’s right…' and thought that 'wow, I did that unexpectedly!!'. The newest of which is 30 Minutes Night Flight but she catches herself and says 'oh well this is probably boring if I keep talking about this information!'.
The programs title is a bit long but please remember it everyone! Why it was chosen? Well actually this month my lyrics book of the same title is being released. Tt's the first time I’ve produced a lyrics book but actually in my ten years as a singer I’ve sung a lot of songs. Close to 100 songs!
She says she's written a lot of songs but:
Something separated from the melody, just the world of the words in the song – because I wanted to make a piece of work that could be left behind I wanted to make a lyrics book. That wish was granted and it will be put on sale on the 18th.
Maaya comments that there will be about 84 songs that are in it that she feels come completely from herself.
For myself, these songs are the ones that when I hear the music, I can think that being a singer is very important. When I hear the music, I’m the type that thinks the number one thing is the lyrics and when I write them myself too, honestly it takes a long time as I want to write them carefully. Always as I write them, even separated from the music, I form the lyrics carefully and because the words are always there at the forefront of my mind as I write them I think it will be enjoyable even if you just read them as a poem. So to people who have heard the name Sakamoto Maaya before now as a singer, once more please look at the lyrics and I will be happy!
On the topic of words, I always take them as an important thing. In this program I will take a word as a theme and try to communicate it by, for example, receiving your mails. The words will be ones we always use and hear a lot and I want to once more think carefully about them and introduce lots of different people’s stories. I thought that would be good. So your mails are the life of this show, from today please send lots more.
Firstly, as for what kind of word would be good I’ve been thinking about “thank you”. An extremely singular word. I think first I’d like to talk about that as a theme
"Thankyou". Recently when did you say that? What do you think? As for me, basically I try say it as much as possible. It’s difficult. Well, as you might expect, when one is grateful really from the bottom of one’s heart, ‘thank you’ is sort of….I think it is glossed over and said too easily. Somehow…I don’t think there is a word that can communicate gratitude more, but it’s said too easily. I think to the point where ‘thank you’ falls short. But after all, the number one simplest phrase is ‘thank you’, isn’t it?
Overseas when I was travelling the first word I learn is that country’s word for ‘thank you’ and also ‘its delicious!’. Even with just this, we can communicate. And the most important word (thank you) is also very simple. But, there are even times when it won’t come out easily - So I would like to send out your episodes about ‘thank you’ on this show
For myself, I have a lot but right now the first one I can remember since I was born is the theme contained in the foundation of this programs title. A theme of a ‘Journey’. An event I can remember to do with journey as a theme is the first journey I took by myself.
In the first grade of elementary school, I lived in Tokyo and one time I went by myself to my mother’s home prefecture Saga in Kyushu. Well, my parents took me to the airport, and sent me through and at Saga by grandparents came to get me. My journey alone was only the airplane, but for me as an elementary school student it was a huge journey! I was really nervous and it was really sad even though it was only an hour or so. I felt like I was really all alone, if something went wrong then who would it be ok to ask to save me?
Because I was nervous the flight attendant brought me juice and I tried to drink it but I spilt it all over my hands! It went all over the top of the seat too as well as my clothes. Because I didn’t know who to ask for help, I was just completely lost. There was a man in the seat next to me, some kind of office worker returning home maybe, an older man in a suit. Actually, I thought the whole time he was next to me ‘woah he’s kinda scary’ and I didn’t want to look at him. He had a scary aura. But that man quickly took out a pure white handkerchief from his pocket and said ‘use this’ and passed it to me.
This was a pure white handkerchief and I was really sorry to mop up with it and get orange juice on it. So after only mopping up a little I handed it back to him and sort of said ‘thank you’. However, I’m not sure if he heard it or not and I will still all wet. And so he said ‘Mop up!!’ (laugh) and again I was really, really sorry about it. However, I was REALLY soaked and so I mopped up that as well as my seat and table. I returned it to him like all orange but when I gave back that soaking handkerchief, I couldn’t really say thank you. I think I was embarrassed. I was a child and because I had made that kind of failure in front of him I guess. Even now I feel like crying when I think about it but I held back the words and couldn’t say it to that scary old man. I couldn’t meet his eyes or say nice words like thank you and until the plane's touchdown I felt really bad and I remember sitting there very quietly.
But like this I became an adult and even those it's years ago I remember it now and even now I’m grateful. Since then at many points at work and in my private life I’ve been to many places aboard and in japan. I became able to go many places. And in the middle of those trips when I didn’t know the way and such many people have helped me out, and when that happens I remember that old man and so I think that was my very first good ‘encounter’ with someone on a journey. I was moved that this type of kind person was travelling as well.
That I couldn’t say thank you in this particular episode has been left in my heart. Since then I’ve become to like journeys more and although the people I meet on those journeys I might not meet again now I can think ‘I want to be able to say it [thank you]'. So everyone, the stories about the thank yous you have and have not said are fine, andalso stories about the thank yous you want to say and other various messages can be sent to me, so please send them.
[contact details read out]
You can also send emails at TBS radios home page. And on that note today was the first time and since I was nervous I might have spoken quite fast but how was it? From today please tune in and I’m looking forward to seeing you again next week. Now is the time to part, bye bye!!
Maaya tunes off. And that concludes the first 'Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta' (Maps and Letters and Love Songs) from TBS Radio!! You can download the podcast on itunes if you search for Maaya's name in kanji for free!! I hope this translation wasn't too bad!! Did you enjoy it?? ^_^ see you soon!!
Good evening, this is Maaya Sakamoto!! Starting from today this is my radio show: Sakamoto Maaya: Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta! For the next 15 minutes please spend some time with me. This is my first radio show with TBS and I'm really nervous, and today is the first time so I thought I'd introduce myself.
My real name is Maaya Sakamoto and I actually debuted as a singer, but for the last ten years I've been a singer, and an actress, do stage shows and as do work as a seiyuu (anime, dubbing western films). Well, you could say a 'voice' for dubbing.
Maaya gives an example of playing Padme in the new Star Wars films because she thinks it the work that the Japanese listeners will know best. It’s a really famous film so maybe everyone watched it with subtitles but people with the dvd can listen to the Japanese dub. She'll be really happy if you listen to it once to hear her voice.
As for Stage works she talks about being in Les Miserables again from June. She's been playing Eponine for about five years and the show will be in Tokyo till September then will go on to be played at Fukuoka.
Maaya then discusses her music career and finds the fact she has 13 singles and 9 albums surprising, she’d never counted but it was written down in front of her and she thought to herself ‘oh that’s right…' and thought that 'wow, I did that unexpectedly!!'. The newest of which is 30 Minutes Night Flight but she catches herself and says 'oh well this is probably boring if I keep talking about this information!'.
The programs title is a bit long but please remember it everyone! Why it was chosen? Well actually this month my lyrics book of the same title is being released. Tt's the first time I’ve produced a lyrics book but actually in my ten years as a singer I’ve sung a lot of songs. Close to 100 songs!
She says she's written a lot of songs but:
Something separated from the melody, just the world of the words in the song – because I wanted to make a piece of work that could be left behind I wanted to make a lyrics book. That wish was granted and it will be put on sale on the 18th.
Maaya comments that there will be about 84 songs that are in it that she feels come completely from herself.
For myself, these songs are the ones that when I hear the music, I can think that being a singer is very important. When I hear the music, I’m the type that thinks the number one thing is the lyrics and when I write them myself too, honestly it takes a long time as I want to write them carefully. Always as I write them, even separated from the music, I form the lyrics carefully and because the words are always there at the forefront of my mind as I write them I think it will be enjoyable even if you just read them as a poem. So to people who have heard the name Sakamoto Maaya before now as a singer, once more please look at the lyrics and I will be happy!
On the topic of words, I always take them as an important thing. In this program I will take a word as a theme and try to communicate it by, for example, receiving your mails. The words will be ones we always use and hear a lot and I want to once more think carefully about them and introduce lots of different people’s stories. I thought that would be good. So your mails are the life of this show, from today please send lots more.
Firstly, as for what kind of word would be good I’ve been thinking about “thank you”. An extremely singular word. I think first I’d like to talk about that as a theme
"Thankyou". Recently when did you say that? What do you think? As for me, basically I try say it as much as possible. It’s difficult. Well, as you might expect, when one is grateful really from the bottom of one’s heart, ‘thank you’ is sort of….I think it is glossed over and said too easily. Somehow…I don’t think there is a word that can communicate gratitude more, but it’s said too easily. I think to the point where ‘thank you’ falls short. But after all, the number one simplest phrase is ‘thank you’, isn’t it?
Overseas when I was travelling the first word I learn is that country’s word for ‘thank you’ and also ‘its delicious!’. Even with just this, we can communicate. And the most important word (thank you) is also very simple. But, there are even times when it won’t come out easily - So I would like to send out your episodes about ‘thank you’ on this show
For myself, I have a lot but right now the first one I can remember since I was born is the theme contained in the foundation of this programs title. A theme of a ‘Journey’. An event I can remember to do with journey as a theme is the first journey I took by myself.
In the first grade of elementary school, I lived in Tokyo and one time I went by myself to my mother’s home prefecture Saga in Kyushu. Well, my parents took me to the airport, and sent me through and at Saga by grandparents came to get me. My journey alone was only the airplane, but for me as an elementary school student it was a huge journey! I was really nervous and it was really sad even though it was only an hour or so. I felt like I was really all alone, if something went wrong then who would it be ok to ask to save me?
Because I was nervous the flight attendant brought me juice and I tried to drink it but I spilt it all over my hands! It went all over the top of the seat too as well as my clothes. Because I didn’t know who to ask for help, I was just completely lost. There was a man in the seat next to me, some kind of office worker returning home maybe, an older man in a suit. Actually, I thought the whole time he was next to me ‘woah he’s kinda scary’ and I didn’t want to look at him. He had a scary aura. But that man quickly took out a pure white handkerchief from his pocket and said ‘use this’ and passed it to me.
This was a pure white handkerchief and I was really sorry to mop up with it and get orange juice on it. So after only mopping up a little I handed it back to him and sort of said ‘thank you’. However, I’m not sure if he heard it or not and I will still all wet. And so he said ‘Mop up!!’ (laugh) and again I was really, really sorry about it. However, I was REALLY soaked and so I mopped up that as well as my seat and table. I returned it to him like all orange but when I gave back that soaking handkerchief, I couldn’t really say thank you. I think I was embarrassed. I was a child and because I had made that kind of failure in front of him I guess. Even now I feel like crying when I think about it but I held back the words and couldn’t say it to that scary old man. I couldn’t meet his eyes or say nice words like thank you and until the plane's touchdown I felt really bad and I remember sitting there very quietly.
But like this I became an adult and even those it's years ago I remember it now and even now I’m grateful. Since then at many points at work and in my private life I’ve been to many places aboard and in japan. I became able to go many places. And in the middle of those trips when I didn’t know the way and such many people have helped me out, and when that happens I remember that old man and so I think that was my very first good ‘encounter’ with someone on a journey. I was moved that this type of kind person was travelling as well.
That I couldn’t say thank you in this particular episode has been left in my heart. Since then I’ve become to like journeys more and although the people I meet on those journeys I might not meet again now I can think ‘I want to be able to say it [thank you]'. So everyone, the stories about the thank yous you have and have not said are fine, andalso stories about the thank yous you want to say and other various messages can be sent to me, so please send them.
[contact details read out]
You can also send emails at TBS radios home page. And on that note today was the first time and since I was nervous I might have spoken quite fast but how was it? From today please tune in and I’m looking forward to seeing you again next week. Now is the time to part, bye bye!!
Maaya tunes off. And that concludes the first 'Chizu to Tegami to Koi no Uta' (Maps and Letters and Love Songs) from TBS Radio!! You can download the podcast on itunes if you search for Maaya's name in kanji for free!! I hope this translation wasn't too bad!! Did you enjoy it?? ^_^ see you soon!!
Welcome, welcome!!
Welcome to this little blogging adventure which I've been meaning to start for ages. There's been a lot of requests for Maaya Sakamoto translations - and there were a few archived on my old site Guitar Chords and Grapefruits. In light of this I decided to upload them here for the general public to see once more and in order to generally blog Maaya as much as possible.
So! In order to further serve the community of my beloved Maaya I set up this small project. I hope you all enjoy it and find it useful. Don't be afraid to post comments here or over at Maaya's the very enjoyable unofficial international fanclub. If you would like to contribute of course that's fine as well!!
Content-wise I'm hoping anything-Maaya related will make it up here. Whether it's just random musings and such like over at halcali day by day or blog entries like Hikki Texts it should be active and regular with updates. I'm hoping anyway!
Remember to check out Maaya's official homepage for the original postings. Other official pages and interesting Maaya links can be found on the left hand side bar.
See you!!
So! In order to further serve the community of my beloved Maaya I set up this small project. I hope you all enjoy it and find it useful. Don't be afraid to post comments here or over at Maaya's the very enjoyable unofficial international fanclub. If you would like to contribute of course that's fine as well!!
Content-wise I'm hoping anything-Maaya related will make it up here. Whether it's just random musings and such like over at halcali day by day or blog entries like Hikki Texts it should be active and regular with updates. I'm hoping anyway!
Remember to check out Maaya's official homepage for the original postings. Other official pages and interesting Maaya links can be found on the left hand side bar.
See you!!
I.D Journal Entry 04.19.2006
Translation by Duncan and touched up by Philosoranter (jpopmusic.com)
My 26th birthday
I became twenty-six years old on March 31st. Recently at work the number of people younger than me has increased, and it's also the tenth anniversary of my CD debut, somehow many scenes where my age has become material. The other day when I had been silent with a troubled face, active high school student actress I was working with said “There was such a time for me also...”
However at 26 years old I am not really an adult, but not young either. A halfway state I think. Using my youth as a shield to laugh things off is no longer acceptable, [something about turning a corner...], as disposable money increases the time to enjoy it decreases, and yet in the world up till now grown-up adult, I rather don’t accept various dilemma days.
But after all, it is a splendid thing to get older! I think that from my heart. Every year when birthday arrives, workmates, friends and family, all celebrate it and a happy feeling comes. Of course, I receive birthday cards from you fans too. Reading one by one these heartfelt messages, so many people celebrating my birthday like this, I am truly grateful.
I want to think that every time a birthday comes, I prefer the present to my one year ago self. At the moment, every year it seems I can think so. But, between my last birthday and this birthday, the good things, bad things, indifferent things that happened, all are raw material for my current self [...something? ]
This year too, recently met people and old friends, in each place people celebrate my birthday, it is something happy I thought fondly. Thank you everyone. Please look kindly on 26 year old Maaya Sakamoto
xmaayax
My 26th birthday
I became twenty-six years old on March 31st. Recently at work the number of people younger than me has increased, and it's also the tenth anniversary of my CD debut, somehow many scenes where my age has become material. The other day when I had been silent with a troubled face, active high school student actress I was working with said “There was such a time for me also...”
However at 26 years old I am not really an adult, but not young either. A halfway state I think. Using my youth as a shield to laugh things off is no longer acceptable, [something about turning a corner...], as disposable money increases the time to enjoy it decreases, and yet in the world up till now grown-up adult, I rather don’t accept various dilemma days.
But after all, it is a splendid thing to get older! I think that from my heart. Every year when birthday arrives, workmates, friends and family, all celebrate it and a happy feeling comes. Of course, I receive birthday cards from you fans too. Reading one by one these heartfelt messages, so many people celebrating my birthday like this, I am truly grateful.
I want to think that every time a birthday comes, I prefer the present to my one year ago self. At the moment, every year it seems I can think so. But, between my last birthday and this birthday, the good things, bad things, indifferent things that happened, all are raw material for my current self [...something? ]
This year too, recently met people and old friends, in each place people celebrate my birthday, it is something happy I thought fondly. Thank you everyone. Please look kindly on 26 year old Maaya Sakamoto
xmaayax
I.D Journal Entry 12.09.2005
Translation by Philosoranter (jpopmusic.com)
Texas Size
I returned from Dallas, Texas, America yesterday. Taken from the event in July in L.A., this was my second participation in an event overseas. At both of the events, I was truly happy to be so warmly greeted by fans. It makes me happy to think that my songs have crossed an ocean to be heard by so many people.
The 5000 people who came to hear me sing in L.A., seeing the guests in Texas singing along with me in Japanese, buying western boots in some free time in Texas, the delicious meals...there are so many wonderful memories. But if I had to pick the one which had the biggest impact...
I was in the hotel in Texas, gracefully taking a morning bath, when something large the color of burnt tea crossed before my eyes. Yes. You know what I'm talking about. As I had just woken and did not have my contacts in, I could not see it very well, but it was definitely that. Dashing quickly here and there, unexpectedly flying about, that hated thing. In a word, a roach.
However, it was quite a one. No matter how much I say, "It was huge!" it's just so difficult to transmit the shockingness of it, I almost wish I had put something like a cigarette next to it and taken just one picture. Almost.
Anyway, since I was in the middle of my bath, I first put on some clothes and went to the room next door where the director was supposed to be. However, as she was just as bad with bugs as I was, it did no good, and I woke my manager.
Timidly opening the bathroom door, what was there but a very big cockroach, the likes of which had never been seen before!!
At this point, I dashed into the other room, so I could only grasp the situation by listening. It seems my manager caught it in a paper cup! Or so he thought - it wouldn't fit!! It's stuck out the side! Then it ran away! HUGE!!!
At this point, we finally called the hotel security to come and exterminate it.
Thus came an old man who spoke, "Whoa, Texas Size!" I knew it, even in the eyes of a local, this size was something unique!
He radioed something to headquarters like, "I've arrived at the scene and am proceeding with extermination, over," and slowly took a newsppaer into his hand and began to roll it up as he entered the bathroom.
BANG BANG! BANG! was the sound that came from the bathroom as he let loose the clinching blow. And he left with a smile.
Texas: Enormous!!
xmaayax
Texas Size
I returned from Dallas, Texas, America yesterday. Taken from the event in July in L.A., this was my second participation in an event overseas. At both of the events, I was truly happy to be so warmly greeted by fans. It makes me happy to think that my songs have crossed an ocean to be heard by so many people.
The 5000 people who came to hear me sing in L.A., seeing the guests in Texas singing along with me in Japanese, buying western boots in some free time in Texas, the delicious meals...there are so many wonderful memories. But if I had to pick the one which had the biggest impact...
I was in the hotel in Texas, gracefully taking a morning bath, when something large the color of burnt tea crossed before my eyes. Yes. You know what I'm talking about. As I had just woken and did not have my contacts in, I could not see it very well, but it was definitely that. Dashing quickly here and there, unexpectedly flying about, that hated thing. In a word, a roach.
However, it was quite a one. No matter how much I say, "It was huge!" it's just so difficult to transmit the shockingness of it, I almost wish I had put something like a cigarette next to it and taken just one picture. Almost.
Anyway, since I was in the middle of my bath, I first put on some clothes and went to the room next door where the director was supposed to be. However, as she was just as bad with bugs as I was, it did no good, and I woke my manager.
Timidly opening the bathroom door, what was there but a very big cockroach, the likes of which had never been seen before!!
At this point, I dashed into the other room, so I could only grasp the situation by listening. It seems my manager caught it in a paper cup! Or so he thought - it wouldn't fit!! It's stuck out the side! Then it ran away! HUGE!!!
At this point, we finally called the hotel security to come and exterminate it.
Thus came an old man who spoke, "Whoa, Texas Size!" I knew it, even in the eyes of a local, this size was something unique!
He radioed something to headquarters like, "I've arrived at the scene and am proceeding with extermination, over," and slowly took a newsppaer into his hand and began to roll it up as he entered the bathroom.
BANG BANG! BANG! was the sound that came from the bathroom as he let loose the clinching blow. And he left with a smile.
Texas: Enormous!!
xmaayax
I.D Journal Entry 31.05.2005
Translation by Philosoranter (jpopmusic.com)
"Loop", are you doing it?
Since the new single Loop went on sale, I want to thank the many people who listened to it. I will be happy if it becomes a song you can enjoy for a long time. Thank you.
This is really a bit of a dark thing to say, but on the day Loop went on sale, my grandmother whom I loved very much pased away. From the time she collapsed to her death, I was the only one who could not go to see her. It was such a busy time for me, I couldn't make it all the way out to Saga-ken.
My grandma, whom I did love very, very much, was always one who supported me. She was bright, stout-hearted, cute person. To not have been able to see her at the end, it hurts my heart. It seems she passed quietly and painlessly, surrounded by her brother and sister, children and grandchildren. Having just come out at that time, Loop was playing on her pillow.
Late by several days, I was able to make time to get out to Saga-ken. After having spent so long away from it, it really was a nice town. Seeing my grandmother's bright, smiling face in a photo on the Buddhist altar, I got a very strange feeling. I'm still not used to the fact that she's no longer around.
However, staring at that photo, I did wish I'd spent more time with her, wished I'd loved her more, but at the same time I got a strange feeling somewhere in my heart, a kind of warmth, and I thought it was because I was being saved by the lyrics of Loop, which just chanced to go on sale that day.
Loop has entered my heart in an even deeper, bigger way now. Life and death always come as a set. Meeting and parting, too. This entire world is looping like that. And that's why I get the feeling I'll be able to meet her again. It's sad now, but I feel like she's next to me even now.
And it's certainly not like I was doing such a cold-hearted thing as just futzing about work in Tokyo on the day my grandmother died. For one, my grandmother was like my biggest fan, and also the type of person to keep on working until the end. She'd have taken it badly if I'd shirked work. That's why I thought to just do everything as I had planned.
Just holding someone's hand is not love. When you're not next to someone, when you can't touch someone, if you can feel that person's worries as you live, that's what connection really is. I understand that now. I think at the end, my voice singing that in grandma's ear, I think the message carried.
On the plane back home, I discovered my song on the plane's Japanese music channel. I returned home listening to Loop.
Grandma, did I meet you again-!
Xmaayax
"Loop", are you doing it?
Since the new single Loop went on sale, I want to thank the many people who listened to it. I will be happy if it becomes a song you can enjoy for a long time. Thank you.
This is really a bit of a dark thing to say, but on the day Loop went on sale, my grandmother whom I loved very much pased away. From the time she collapsed to her death, I was the only one who could not go to see her. It was such a busy time for me, I couldn't make it all the way out to Saga-ken.
My grandma, whom I did love very, very much, was always one who supported me. She was bright, stout-hearted, cute person. To not have been able to see her at the end, it hurts my heart. It seems she passed quietly and painlessly, surrounded by her brother and sister, children and grandchildren. Having just come out at that time, Loop was playing on her pillow.
Late by several days, I was able to make time to get out to Saga-ken. After having spent so long away from it, it really was a nice town. Seeing my grandmother's bright, smiling face in a photo on the Buddhist altar, I got a very strange feeling. I'm still not used to the fact that she's no longer around.
However, staring at that photo, I did wish I'd spent more time with her, wished I'd loved her more, but at the same time I got a strange feeling somewhere in my heart, a kind of warmth, and I thought it was because I was being saved by the lyrics of Loop, which just chanced to go on sale that day.
Loop has entered my heart in an even deeper, bigger way now. Life and death always come as a set. Meeting and parting, too. This entire world is looping like that. And that's why I get the feeling I'll be able to meet her again. It's sad now, but I feel like she's next to me even now.
And it's certainly not like I was doing such a cold-hearted thing as just futzing about work in Tokyo on the day my grandmother died. For one, my grandmother was like my biggest fan, and also the type of person to keep on working until the end. She'd have taken it badly if I'd shirked work. That's why I thought to just do everything as I had planned.
Just holding someone's hand is not love. When you're not next to someone, when you can't touch someone, if you can feel that person's worries as you live, that's what connection really is. I understand that now. I think at the end, my voice singing that in grandma's ear, I think the message carried.
On the plane back home, I discovered my song on the plane's Japanese music channel. I returned home listening to Loop.
Grandma, did I meet you again-!
Xmaayax
I.D Journal Entry 11.01.2005
Translation by Philosoranter (jpopmusic.com)
2005 is Finally Here
2005 is finally here. Where, with whom, and in what way did you spend the new year?
As for me, gratefully celebrating the new year while looking at the faces of friends and family was something I could not do. Happening at the end of last year, that disaster that was bigger than memory shocked me. Of course, I don't know any more than what I get from TV and newspapers. But the thing that was there a moment ago dying in an instant, being snatched away, the terror and sadness of that, I can only guess the kind of feeling that comes. How that could happen to those ten thousand, to those many, too many people in an instant! Observing one by one the state of the damage, my heart begins to ache. From now until the reconstruction is complete, when I think of how long it will take, I feel the irritation of not being of any help.
As I'm writing this first I.D. of 2005, I want to wish everyone a healthy, strong, and kind new year. Since there's nothing we can do to stop nature, I wish we can build a closer connection to the Earth. In this world of decadence, environmental destruction, and unending conflict, I wish that as much as possible, the many people of the world can hold on to their hopes and work together in cooperation.
In our family this New Year's, a beautiful, splendid scene unfolded. My niece (9 months) proudly stood on her own, and my heart melted. In meeting the radiance of this new life, I understand how this brightness grows. She made us all smile, as with a satisfied and boastful expression, she rose joyfully, boldly challenged falling down or banging her head.
Her eyes are brimming over with hope. From here she'll absorb so many things with unbelievable speed. And after that, she'll meet with sad things, unreasonable things. But whatever is out there, it's still like you thought when you were born: this world is overflowing with beautiful things. That's what I want to say as her aunt. "Morning and night and water and life and songs and stars and love, we're wrapped up and surrounded by these things."
It seems my strength is insignificant, against questions that are too big, but I hope if I wish for those I care for to live in happiness it will come true. This year, too, for your family, your lovers, your pets, let's be concious of those important to us. And while we're at it, ourselves, too.
xmaayax
2005 is Finally Here
2005 is finally here. Where, with whom, and in what way did you spend the new year?
As for me, gratefully celebrating the new year while looking at the faces of friends and family was something I could not do. Happening at the end of last year, that disaster that was bigger than memory shocked me. Of course, I don't know any more than what I get from TV and newspapers. But the thing that was there a moment ago dying in an instant, being snatched away, the terror and sadness of that, I can only guess the kind of feeling that comes. How that could happen to those ten thousand, to those many, too many people in an instant! Observing one by one the state of the damage, my heart begins to ache. From now until the reconstruction is complete, when I think of how long it will take, I feel the irritation of not being of any help.
As I'm writing this first I.D. of 2005, I want to wish everyone a healthy, strong, and kind new year. Since there's nothing we can do to stop nature, I wish we can build a closer connection to the Earth. In this world of decadence, environmental destruction, and unending conflict, I wish that as much as possible, the many people of the world can hold on to their hopes and work together in cooperation.
In our family this New Year's, a beautiful, splendid scene unfolded. My niece (9 months) proudly stood on her own, and my heart melted. In meeting the radiance of this new life, I understand how this brightness grows. She made us all smile, as with a satisfied and boastful expression, she rose joyfully, boldly challenged falling down or banging her head.
Her eyes are brimming over with hope. From here she'll absorb so many things with unbelievable speed. And after that, she'll meet with sad things, unreasonable things. But whatever is out there, it's still like you thought when you were born: this world is overflowing with beautiful things. That's what I want to say as her aunt. "Morning and night and water and life and songs and stars and love, we're wrapped up and surrounded by these things."
It seems my strength is insignificant, against questions that are too big, but I hope if I wish for those I care for to live in happiness it will come true. This year, too, for your family, your lovers, your pets, let's be concious of those important to us. And while we're at it, ourselves, too.
xmaayax
I.D Journal Entry 29.12.2004
Translation by Philosoranter (jpopmusic.com)
2004's Postscript
Ah, it's the shoal of the year. I'm terribly sorry to have delayed the update to my id until now. It has been a long time. How has everyone been?
This month, I have been appearing in the Les Misérables Concert Version that's been performed in Nagoya and outer Kanto. To all those who came to see it, thank you very much! I was performing Eponine again this year, but that performance is over. If I think about it, this year began with the acclaimed Les Mis. At new years, I remember thinking that to begin the year performing on such a huge stage really meant it'd be a good year. The year has really flown by in a short time, but maybe I've grown a little? I should have grown. I thought recently, next year, too, I want to move forward not by one step but by a lot of steps.
What will 2005 bring? I'll be turning 25 in March, soon I'll be a quarter-century old. The day is coming when I'll turn into that sort of adult. It's terrible, it's happy, it's strange, it's natural. But even in 25 years, I feel like there's so much I still haven't done, so much I don't know.
I've been performing in theatre troupes, singing and acting since I was a child. I've done so many things, but even so, I'm certainy glad to continue doing the work I love, this unique dreamworld. But it's been 16 years since that juvenile theatre, and I feel I've been trying my hardest since then, but each day is filled with things I don't understand, times where I feel inexperienced. When I've finished climbing one hill, there's still a long path of hills far in front of me. It's a repetition like that. Of course, when one sets out to master something one has to spend an outrageous time or else nothing comes of it, right? There's still a long way to go on my path. For the time being, I'll just think about climbing the hill in front of my eyes.
I'm grateful for everyone who has looked after me this year. I hope next year turns out to be even more wonderful.
I wish you a happy new year.
xmaayax
2004's Postscript
Ah, it's the shoal of the year. I'm terribly sorry to have delayed the update to my id until now. It has been a long time. How has everyone been?
This month, I have been appearing in the Les Misérables Concert Version that's been performed in Nagoya and outer Kanto. To all those who came to see it, thank you very much! I was performing Eponine again this year, but that performance is over. If I think about it, this year began with the acclaimed Les Mis. At new years, I remember thinking that to begin the year performing on such a huge stage really meant it'd be a good year. The year has really flown by in a short time, but maybe I've grown a little? I should have grown. I thought recently, next year, too, I want to move forward not by one step but by a lot of steps.
What will 2005 bring? I'll be turning 25 in March, soon I'll be a quarter-century old. The day is coming when I'll turn into that sort of adult. It's terrible, it's happy, it's strange, it's natural. But even in 25 years, I feel like there's so much I still haven't done, so much I don't know.
I've been performing in theatre troupes, singing and acting since I was a child. I've done so many things, but even so, I'm certainy glad to continue doing the work I love, this unique dreamworld. But it's been 16 years since that juvenile theatre, and I feel I've been trying my hardest since then, but each day is filled with things I don't understand, times where I feel inexperienced. When I've finished climbing one hill, there's still a long path of hills far in front of me. It's a repetition like that. Of course, when one sets out to master something one has to spend an outrageous time or else nothing comes of it, right? There's still a long way to go on my path. For the time being, I'll just think about climbing the hill in front of my eyes.
I'm grateful for everyone who has looked after me this year. I hope next year turns out to be even more wonderful.
I wish you a happy new year.
xmaayax
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