Back in the day...
Writer: Well, this is the last installment of this column. Let's give it our all! If we make this ending the best we can, it'll all be worth it. On the other hand, if the ending isn't great, it'll ruin EVERYTHING.
Yasuno: Hey, hey! You're the writer, right? (Laughs) What's the big idea, putting those thoughts in my head?! (Laughs) Anyway, aren't I the host for today?
Writer: Yes. All of this rests on the host's shoulders--
Yasuno: HEY HEY HEY, come on! (Laughs)
Nao: It's already fall, but it's reaching 30C outside. We have the AC on in the room, and my body...it feels....cold. (Said with conviction in monologue-style)
Writer: ..............
Nao: (Gathers his joke fell on deaf ears) Hm? Is something wrong?
Yasuno: Somethin' wrong?! You're the one with somethin' wrong, ha! At this point, who's to say if we're gonna have a normal conversation, or be maniacs and just babble about drumming the entire time, we two.
Nao: True that!
Yasuno: At any rate, Nao, to whom I'm inseparably bound to, has come in today. Nao, we met, what, like over 15 years ago?
Nao: Is that how it's starting? I don't think it was more than 15 years, but at least 10 years ago.
Yasuno: Yeah, yeah, when I was in the band before Kra, in Niigata. We were just finishing up rehearsals at Nagoya's Heartland, I think that's when we first spoke.
Nao: Oh yeah! We played together that night, I was in my band prior to Alice Nine then.
Yasuno: Yeah, yeah! We talked about how our getting into playing the drums as a hobby was similar, it got me all excited! That was the first thing we talked about.
Nao: Notti (Yasuno's nickname) helped carry my China dress in for me. I thought, awe, he's a really nice guy. Back then, we still didn't know much about visual kei, so there was still a lot of learning to do.
Yasuno: Is that so?! Ahh, it was that time, wasn't it. There were a lot of bands around at that time, we played with about 10 of 'em. Oh, but y'know, what I remember most is when we had just gotten signed and did the PSC tour with everyone in 2005.
Nao: Yay! We all traveled in one big bus. Oh, yeah! While we were on the bus we'd watch footage of the day's concert. All the bands would review each other ...Aaah, that was awwwful!
Yasuno: Hahaha! It was kinda like an open execution, wasn't it!
Nao: Yeah, but because of that, our vocalist, Shou, he said to me, "Yasuno gave me some great advice!" And he was so grateful. Such a sweet 'senpai,' I thought.
Yasuno: Oh wow, you remember that talk, huh? Yeah, I feel like because of that, we all grew a bit closer together.
Nao: That was over 8 years ago.
Yasuno: Yeah, it was a fun time.
Mr. Pay...
Nao: Ah!! I've got a funny story from that tour! At that time, Saga and I shared a hotel room! And the day after that while we were waiting for the bus to head out, they told us "Somebody give us the fees for the paycard, they need to settle the bill!" That was from my and Saga's room.
Writer: A paycard...that's a card you use to pay extra to watch naughty movies, isn't it?
Nao: Yes, yes (laughs). But they don't have just porn, they have regular movies too! (Laughs) Well, it seems to have mostly an association with porn, though. At any rate, I got called out when they asked for the extra cash!
Writer: AHAHAHA! If it's Saga and Nao, Nao's the culprit, huh?
Nao: Yeah! Saga wanted to watch some American movies, and I actually ended up wanting to check out some porn. Ahhh, this is an embarrassing storyyyy (laughs). I got the nickname "Mr. Pay" that day! And thus began my own personal tragedy--for about 3 years after that, everyone called me Mr. Pay!
Yasuno: Ahaha, that did happen, didn't it! Speaking of Nao, something happened with you when we went on tour again with one other band, didn't it! It was when we were transferring buses. Nao was supposed to sit next to me and Saga, and we were on our way to the live house in Nagoya, and just as we were about to get on the bus and head out a staff member was verifying that we were all there. "Everyone here?" And Saga says "Yes! We're all lined up!" And I was like, "Huh? I coulda sworn Nao was here, I guess he changed seats." And sure enough, we made it to maybe the first traffic light, and we realized, "Ah, yep, Nao isn't here." (Laughs) So we turn around and go back, and it turns out Nao had been pushing other people waiting on buses out of the way as he was desperately trying to catch up to the bus. (Laughs)
Writer: Saga screws you over a lot, doesn't he, Nao? (Laughs)
Nao: It's so true though, totally!! (Laughs)
Writer: We're gonna revive the 'Mr. Pay' nickname starting today!!
Nao: NO WAY!! (Laughs) And you know my fans are probably like "Nao's a little fairy, he wouldn't watch porn!"
Writer: ....... (Dead silence in the room)
Yasuno: What...what's up with the atmosphere in here?! (Laughs)
Nao: AHAHAHA! (Busts a gut)
Little drummer boys...
Writer: Let's talk about even more secrets you guys have, stuff we don't already know.
Nao: Secrets? Hmmm.... Oh yeah! Notti's (Yasuno's) chair for his drum set is really crazy high!! Almost like a high chair! I can't even get my legs up on it.
Yasuno: It's 'cause I like to hit from a shallow stance on my chair.
Nao: Notti's super original with his composition of his set-up, he's really unique.
Writer: Nao's bass drum looks a lot bigger than Notti's, though.
Yasuno: They're the same size, but they look different due to how we set up our drums. My setting has them all up a bit higher, while Nao's drums are set lower.
Nao: Yes, yes! And that's why it looks bigger!
Yasuno: And the drums I have set up above the bass drum are full-sized, so that also makes mine look smaller.
Nao: That makes a lot of sense! But hey, y'know, for drummers, setting up the drums depends on play style and personality! In that respect I think Notti's a little greedy (laughs). But I don't mean he sets them up in a gaudy fashion, he just aligns everything up according to his feelings. You can set it up to accommodate any style!
Yasuno: Yeah, that's true. I remember getting the chance to sit at your drum set once and thinking, Nao's drum set is really set up for rock music! But Nao, he's a serious guy. I don't think I know of any other musician who practices as hard as he does. At least in the past, he seemed to spend more time in the studio practicing than people who actually worked in the studio!
Nao: Yeah, I was, I was! I'd get the studio around lunchtime, and I wouldn't get home until midnight, 1, 2, 3am sometimes. After that I'd watch instructional DVDs, then work on musical scores: then I'd sleep, then go back to the studio and practice some more, over and over. Inside, I felt like I got a later start than everyone else, so I practiced with every ounce of my being.
Yasuno: Really? But it seemed to come so naturally to you!
Nao: No no no, I had to work really hard at it.
Yasuno: That is amazing. With such little free time to yourself, having an opportunity to just sit and chat like this would never happen!
Writer: So you guys have never hung out together?
Yasuno: Nope.
Nao: I don't even go out to go shopping! I do it all online.
Yasuno: Really?!
Nao: Yep! (Laughs) This morning I bought a mattress online! (Laughs) And then, and then, I bought ingredients for cooking! And, and, and I set up an appointment, right? For the delivery guy to bring my stuff. So the doorbell ringing with my orders has become my alarm clock! (Laughs)
Nao the Happy Egpplant Man...
Yasuno: AHAHAHA! Don't make the delivery guy your alarm clock! (Laughs) So, what kind of ingredients did you buy?
Nao: Vacuum-packed pork in broth, and some mackerel! (Laughs)
Writer: What about vegetables?
Nao: Oh, I go to a greengrocer nearby to get those (laughs). Oh, but for a little while, I grew my own!
Yasuno: EH?! You grew veggies yourself?! DO TELL.
Writer: Oh yeah, I remember you saying you had rented part of a field to plant things!
Yasuno: Wait, you rented a field...?
Nao: Yes (laughs). I rented a plot of land for growing, and I cultivated them myself! I actually started growing on my veranda, but transferred it to the field (laughs).
Yasuno: Do you still do it??
Nao: Right now I don't, but I think if I get some more time, I'd like to do it again!
Yasuno: Well, if ya do, wouldja like some guidance from a farmer's boy like me?
Nao: Oh, really?! Yes, please!!
Yasuno: Well, y'know, I'm from an onion farm in Awaji, after all (laughs).
Nao: Aaaah, that's soooo cool. But hey, the veggies I grew were especially delicious!
Yasuno: What did you grow?
Nao: EGGPLANT! Oh, god, they were so tasty I couldn't believe it! I'd harvest them and grill them afterwards and they were SO GOOD! I was so surprised!!
Writer: But, if you were always practicing or going on tour, whenever did you find the time to grow eggplants?
Nao: Oh, that! Yeah, well, I couldn't go during the day, so at night I would go to fertilize the plants, and people would think I was up to no good, and I got reported! (Laughs)
Yasuno: Ahahaha! What, did someone think you were stealing the vegetables?! (Laughs) What else did you grow?
Nao: Hmm, I grew tomatoes! And basil! And lettuce! I grew a lot of different things.
Yasuno: That's so coooool! (In admiration) But...why on earth did you decide to grow vegetables?
Nao: Well, in a world where you can get ahold of anything you want so quickly and easily, I just felt like going back to basics. I wanted to feel the joys of life! That sort of thing.
Yasuno: ...Waitasec. You just said you only shop online. Aren't you kinda contradicting yourself a bit?!
Nao: Ahahaha...yeah, a little. (Laughs)
Let's go drinking!
Yasuno: Is there anything you've been obsessed over lately?
Nao: Lately? Yes, yes there is!
Yasuno: What is it? Tell me! (Laughs)
Nao: Nitamago! (boiled egg in soy sauce marinade)
Yasuno: Nitamago?!
Nao: Yeah, yeah! (Laughs) I've really gotten into making it myself! (Laughs) No really, it's so tasty! It takes some time to make it, but once you do, IT IS SO GOOD!
Writer: Really tasty things are the best, aren't they!
Yasuno: The trick for good nitamago is to soft-boil the yolk!
Nao: Yeah! To get it that amber color!
Writer: How do you do that?
Nao: It's a secret! (Laughs) That's a trade secret . But, I make it over the span of several days. It takes a lot of effort, but the fruits of one's labor is definitely sweet!
Yasuno: Dang, Nao, you're a strange fellow! Up on stage you're rocking out playing the drums, but you farm, and make nitamago...
Nao: A gap, there's a gap. (laughs)
Writer: For some people the gap can be weak, isn't that right? (Laughs)
Yasuno: For real (laughs). I'd really like to chat about even more interesting things with you, Nao!
Writer: Maybe go drinking sometime?
Yasuno: Yeah, we've never done that!
Nao: Definitely invite me! (Laughs)
Yasuno: Well, I have gone to a drinking party you hosted once!
Nao: Oh yeah, you have!
Yasuno: I do believe I remember Nao to be quite the weepy drunk.
Nao: Ahahaha! I may have even cried! Let's definitely spend some more time drinking together! (Laughs)
Yasuno: Indeed! Let's keep talking after these 30 minutes are up. And babble on about drumming like maniacs!
Nao: YES!! I can't wait!!
Translation credits: alisteners
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