X Freaks Forum

The band => General chat => Topic started by: Teemeah on January 02, 2018, 11:54:59 AM

Title: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 02, 2018, 11:54:59 AM
So here is the band having some fun together on Yoshiki and Toshi's Niconico channel after the Kouhaku uta gassen gig.

I have no idea what happened to Toshi, but he is rendering the improvised songs in falsetto here....

Part 1: Leaving NHK and celebrating New Year on the tour bus (starts around 2h20m, before that a hairdresser teaches you how to make Yoshiki's spikey hairdo from the late 80s): https://www.facebook.com/XJAPANLIVE/videos/2015363952034529/

Part 2: Niconico studio eating, talks and short improvisations on piano/guitar: https://www.facebook.com/XJAPANLIVE/videos/2015370505367207/

I wish someone could translate what they talk about though.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 04, 2018, 10:02:09 AM
I watched part of this last night (a bunch of j-rockers chilling in the back of a luxury bus is a surprisingly entertaining background thing to watch while you do the dishes). Some of my thoughts:

>Sugizo sounds like a really nice, down to earth guy. Also, we have the same hook nose. High-five, bro!
>Pata drinks more than my freaking drunk-ass aunt Susan.
>Toshi is the human equivalent of My Neighbour Totoro.
>Heath totally had a bad case of food poisoning and was seriouly trying not to projectile vomit all over that van. That's what I call looking uncomfortable.
>Those guys serioulsy have assistants to help them walk. TO HELP THEM WALK, guys, let that sink in. Every two steps there's somebody guiding them as if they were toddlers.


Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 04, 2018, 10:09:45 AM
Because probably they are oversized toddlers. :) I spent a week guiding a Turkish rock band in my city, I seriously felt like a kindergarten teacher trying to look after 5 toddlers that wobble to all directions possible, just not the direction they would need to go. from assisting the lead singer in buying himself a toothbrush (cuz who packs toothbrushes when traveling, right?) to dragging the bassist into the right tour bus to combing through drunk and high festival goers to find the band members who were told to be at the rehearsal at 5pm and the 4:55 they are still nowhere, and you find them dancing at another stage grinning at you like "oopsie, it's already rehearsal time? sawwwwry" and you just want to punch them in the face :D Seriously, guys, managing rock musicians is HARD LABOUR. Kudos to the X Japan member walkers. I hope they get paid well. :)
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 04, 2018, 10:18:19 AM
LMAO, really? Assisting him in buying a toothbrush?  ;D
Yeah, I hope they get paid well. The few times I've seen Yoshiki in France he came with a horde of assistants who opened his fucking water bottle for him. And literally took him by the arm to guide him to the door, even if it was the only door in the room and I don't think the guy could miss it. I bet he has a designated assistant to help him put his socks on in the morning, seriously.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 04, 2018, 10:33:23 AM
Can I be the assistant that washes his back in the shower?  ;D In Vienna I saw the two blonde ladies from the We Are X documentary, they mostly did nothing just take photos for him. Well, i didn't get to see everything, of course. I can imagine that Yoshiki has assistants for everything. It's sad that he doesn't even find joy in opening his own water bottle. I think he must have a very boring and lonely life behind the scenes, and this is why he does anything to be constantly on the go, working, doing something, because if he stays alone, he'll be bored to death. Literally.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 04, 2018, 11:44:46 AM
I don't know, but I volunteer to be his 'How to Exist in Real Life' assistant. Basically, the guy asks me to do basic things and I slap the hell out of him and tell him to do that himself. Or at least that's what my mom used to do when I was a toddler. Thanks to that, I'm now a fully functional human being.  8) Not hating on Yoshiki, though. I get it. I too wish someone would help me with my socks.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 04, 2018, 12:03:02 PM
ahh gurl you make my fanfic writer self pop out all the time with your comments  ;D

So you see, Yoshiki-san, this is a pair of socks. This is where you put your foot in it. Yes, yes, slide it down all the way, yes. Good boy. *hands a piece of kit kat over*

Now, this is called a hoover. It is used to clean the carpet. No gasping please, yes, it exists. Push that button on it, yes. Oh yes, I know, it's loud. Please hang on, dear. You grab this long thing, it looks like a microphone, yes, no, you don't sing into it, put it downwards on the carpet. And now push and now pull. You see, it sucks up dirt, really clever, huh? Good boy. *hands a piece of kit kat over*
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 04, 2018, 03:57:42 PM
HUAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAH Teemeah, the last time I read fanfiction I was 13 and it was some fucked up Harry Potter stuff. I was traumatized for life. And now you just reopened that wound.  ;D
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 04, 2018, 04:35:01 PM
Can you imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon yaoi fanfiction for the first time? LOL. Every band member hooked up with every other band member, with scenes more explicit than any porn you find online. ROFL. But my fanfics are not like that :D :P
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: YoshToshBGosh on January 04, 2018, 09:36:44 PM
I don't know, but I volunteer to be his 'How to Exist in Real Life' assistant. Basically, the guy asks me to do basic things and I slap the hell out of him and tell him to do that himself.
;D Sounds like a hell of a job! "Born to be slapped, nobody can doooo my chores for me"
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 05, 2018, 08:49:26 AM
I don't know, but I volunteer to be his 'How to Exist in Real Life' assistant. Basically, the guy asks me to do basic things and I slap the hell out of him and tell him to do that himself.
;D Sounds like a hell of a job! "Born to be slapped, nobody can doooo my chores for me"

Born to be functional
Born to be functional
Nobody can tieeee~~~
My own shoelaces for me~~~
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: lakeisle on January 05, 2018, 10:14:42 AM
Thank you for the links. I watched the clips and registerd this site. These days I'm studying Japanese. So I'd like to share what I've partially understood. I'm worried that I'm not good at English, but I'll try to translate it. If there are mistranslations, feel free to tell me.

1st clip :

X members eat soba(そば) before getting on the bus. I've heard Japanese eat soba on new year's day. Pata doesn't eat because he has soba allergy. They say soba is tasty.

(on the bus)

Joan says just 5 minutes are left to New Year. Yoshiki asks if there are big firecrackers, and Joan answers yes.

(Heath comes and the bus departs)

Yoshiki also asks if there is any alcohol. Joan asks the staffs and answers Yoshiki that alcohol will be served after cracking the firecrackers. 

Firecrackers are handed when 2 minutes are left. They wonder in which direction should they fire the firecrackers.

Countdown. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy New Year!

The wine is handed. Sugizo says soba and wine do not match. Yoshiki says soba and red wind match. But Sugizo seems to be sorry there is no Japanese traditional drink.

Yoshiki asks Toshl if he is exhausted and Toshl answers yes. 

Yoshiki says he is also exhausted, because he had hard time to arrange the songs for kouhaku.

(They pour wine into glasses)

Yoshiki asks members to talk about their own repentance and aspiration. Pata says they should shout "Happy New Year" before talking about repentance and aspiration.

"Happy New Year!" "Cheers!"

Yoshiki asks Sugizo about his repentance and aspiration. Sugizo talks to the camera "I am sorry anyway" for repentance. And about aspiration, he would like 60kg of body weight. Yoshiki asks Sugizo how many kilograms he weighs, and Sugizo answers 55kg. And he says he's never weighed more than 60kg in his life. Yoshiki says he can achieve it easily by eating ramen everyday. Sugizo says he doesn't eat ramen because of gluten. Yoshiki asks the reason why Sugizo never get fat. Sugizo says he has something wrong with his intestines.

Yoshiki asks Heath about his repentance. Heath says he wanted to raise his physical strength and make six-pack, but he achieved just half of it. Toshl says Heath may have three-pack. Heath says he will show him later.

(Screen is often disconnected)

Yoshiki says he quit smoking 10 years ago.

They ask Toshl about his aspiration. Toshl says he wants to have a smooth and glib tongue like Yoshiki (in variety show). Toshl says Yoshiki used to knock the table on the radio because he didn't want to talk. Pata says Yoshiki didn't talk on the radio, but he talks a lot on TV. Yoshiki says he is the type who likes the place where camera is.

Joan asks Yoshiki's repentance and aspiration. Yoshiki says he made people worried last year. He also says headbanging is not good for his neck. Pata says Yoshiki realized it in 30 years. And about aspiration, Yoshiki wants health.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 05, 2018, 10:29:08 AM
Woah, this is super interesting, lakeisle, you're our Japanese-speaking hero! I had no idea what they were saying.

Let's all send Sugizo food so the poor guy can achieve his goal weight. (I feel you bro, I have Crohn's, everytime I reach 50kg I get a flareup and literally shit out the extra weight. Why did I just share this here.)
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 05, 2018, 10:51:31 AM
Wow, Sugizo has gluten intolerance? :o my bro, welcome to the club. Must be difficult in Japan, because of all the white flour stuff and lack of gluten free variants. I had a hell of a hard time in Korea, too. And gluten intolerance can cause inability to gain weight (or contrary, lots of weight gain) because nutrients cannot absorb well due to the damaged stomach walls. Soba contains wheat flour, too, though, so be careful, Sugi-chan. :)  I want to see Heath's 3 pack too! :D

Thanks a lot for the translation lakeisle!
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Mytrhil Taralom on January 05, 2018, 11:00:00 AM
Whilst eating the soba the members look so cold :o why were they made to eat it outside :')
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 05, 2018, 11:07:27 AM
Whilst eating the soba the members look so cold :o why were they made to eat it outside :')

Imagine that Perfume had to perform on top of a highrise building in that cold weather for 3 minutes. In SKIRTS. Japanese are crazy.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: lakeisle on January 05, 2018, 11:09:17 AM
matsumoto san,

I started studying Japanese in order to understand X member's talking and writing, but I'm still a beginner. I will try to upload 2nd video translation ASAP. But it's so long.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: lakeisle on January 05, 2018, 11:11:04 AM
Teemeah,

You've been in Korea? 안녕하세요! I'm Korean. Nice to meet you!
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 05, 2018, 11:18:02 AM
만나서 반갑습니다 :) That's really cool, I have never met a Korean X fan before! I've been in Korea last September, for 2 weeks. It was awesome. I am learning Korean for the same reason you are learning Japanese :D (but for me it started because of Bigbang).

Thank you for the translations :)
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: YoshToshBGosh on January 05, 2018, 07:14:45 PM
Thx for the translation Lakeisle! People like you can't be praised enough for investing time just for helping out all the fans who don't understand a word of japanese!
Who would have thought Yoshiki likes to be in front of cameras *cough*  :) I wonder if he ever wore jogging pants in his life? Maybe silk or red velvet ones.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 05, 2018, 07:34:57 PM
He is wearing jogging pants in some of the scenes in We Are X. :)
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: magucathy on January 05, 2018, 08:02:28 PM
Lakeisle, thanks for the translation.  ;)
And welcome to the forum!  :)
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: lakeisle on January 06, 2018, 01:04:39 AM
Teemeah,

X Japan is famous for their ballads in Korea. You are learning Korean as a fan of Bigbang. 힘내세요! You know Taeyang of Bigbang follows Yoshiki on Instagram? I think Taeyang admires Yoshiki.

 :) :) :)

YoshToshBGosh,

It's my pleasure. I don't like studying with Japanese textbooks, but I enjoy watching X videos.

And I saw photos of Yoshiki's wearing jogging pants many times. Unfortunately, I don't have a saved photo now. When I find it, I will upload it.

 ;) ;) ;)

magucathy

Thanks for your welcoming. I like this forum.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: lakeisle on January 06, 2018, 01:06:19 AM
2nd Clip : (0:00 ~ 43:00)


Pata says he played the bass, and Taiji and Yoshiki played the guitars, one day. Yoshiki and Toshl says Pata has a good memory. Pata says that after opening the fridge door, he often doesn't remember what he was trying to take out. Yoshiki asks Toshl if the penguin doll is fine in his fridge. Sugizo says he also has a penguin in his house. They all say penguins are cute. Pata says he has dreamed to raise penguins for a long time. Yoshiki says "What are you talking about? Are X members OK?"

(Sugizo seems to have read a comment from niconico user)

Sugizo asks if penguins really smell. Yoshiki says what if washing them with body shampoo.
Sugizo says penguins can't wash their bodies for themselves. Yoshiki says penguin's "hands" do not reach(because they have short hands). Yoshiki asks how do they know about penguin's smell. Joan says they can know because it smells whey they go to an aquarium. Toshl asks the reason why Pata wanted to raise penguins. Pata says penguins are just cute.

Yoshiki asks Pata if he wants to raise tigers. Pata says no. Yoshiki says he likes tigers.

Sugizo says he wanted to raise snakes, and he thinks snakes are cute. But Yoshiki says he dislikes snakes.

Yoshiki asks Heath which animal he wants. Heath says he wants panda. Pata asks if Panda is a kind of bears. Sugizo says panda is dangerous. ((Their endless talk about animals is like 7 year old kids' in kindergarten))

Yoshiki says he's seen panda at Ueno Zoo when he was a kid. But panda was much bigger than he thought, so he cried with fear. Toshl says Yoshiki cries whatever he sees. Toshl says Yoshiki cried when he saw Kiss.

(They arrived at the studio)

Pata and Yoshiki talk about Osechi(おせち : traditional Japanese New Year foods) on the table. Yoshiki checks the Insta with his smartphone.

(Layla arrives) (Toshl arrives)

Yoshiki plays a niconico video they got shot on the bus a while ago(new year countdown). Pata says it is surprising Yoshiki is good at handling smartphone and something like that. Yoshiki says Pata looks like ojisan who is out of date. Pata acknowledges he is an ojisan(who cannot handle new equipment).

Yoshiki says he will perform after taking requests. "Alive" is requested. Yoshiki goes to the piano and plays it. Yoshiki asks Toshl to come and sing, but Toshl refuses saying the key is too high. Yoshiki says he will lower the key. Toshl doesn't listen to Yoshiki and keeps eating. Toshl finally goes and sings "Scarlet Love Song".

(every member arrives)

Yoshiki suggests to have a toast. Sugizo asks if they should drink it bottoms up. Yoshiki says Sugizo is instigating heavy drinking.

Yoshiki says they could get together at night thanks to fan's support, so they should "celebrate(祝う)" fan's health. Other members immediately correct Yoshiki's wrong Japanese. They say he should say "wish(祈る)" in the sentence. ((Yoshiki often speaks and writes wrong Japanese))

"Cheers!" "Happy New Year!"

(Layla arrives)

Yoshiki says he is frightened by too big Osech. Yoshiki picks shrimp Osech and scares Toshl with it. Toshl is freaked out. Sugizo and Yoshiki say they are eating Herring Roe Osech. They say they had been so hungry after kouhaku stage. Layla asks if they don't eat anything on NHK station. Sugizo says he doesn't eat anything during the show. Toshl says he eats something because he has no energy without eating. Yoshiki says he just ate one banana during the kouhaku. Sugizo says he eats bananas a lot at home. Yoshiki says Sugizo is an elephant. Sugizo says animals that love bananas are monkeys, not elephants. Layla says both elephants and monkeys eat bananas. ((A very very childish talk again, Layla looks like a kindergarten teacher who mediates a fight))

Yoshiki wonders what that green food is. They say it looks like an olive or a bean. Toshl says it looks like the alien with green face who appeared to X Japan's kouhaku stage. Yoshiki tastes it carefully but he doesn't know what it is. He says it tastes of Amazon. Sugizo tastes it and says it's a plum. Yoshiki keeps teasing Toshl with the plum. Pata raises his arm and asks "Whose house is this?" Sugizo says X Japan and Luna Sea's recorded songs there. Yoshiki says he practiced drums there recently.

Sugizo pulls a carta, and it says "Popular Music". Toshl asks Sugizo what popular music is. Sugizo asks the same question to Pata, but every member seems to have difficulty answering.

Sugizo pulls another carta and it says "overseas activities and foreign fans". Yoshiki says he went to many countries for his movie promotion, and he was happy whenever he had the local cuisine. He says he really enjoyed Italian cuisine at Rome. Sugizo says the Peruvian cuisine in Peru was very delicious. They say X Japan concert in Peru was amazing. They say the concert in Brazil was amazing, as well.

Sugizo pulls another carta and it says "Yoshiki Kei". Yoshiki says (making gesture) there are Luna Sea Kei and X Kei, and Sugizo is the link of two different Keis.

Sugizo pulls another carta and it says "members". Sugizo asks Pata how many former members were there in X before Pata joined in. Pata is flustered and he doesn't know how to count.

Sugizo asks if they founded X when they were in junior high school. Yoshiki answers it was when they were in high school. They talk about early X members for a long time. But Yoshiki, Toshl and Pata don't remember exactly about their early members. Sugizo says X fans probably want to know in detail about their early members. Sugizo says he found an old magazines he use to read in high school days(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obake_no_Q-tar%C5%8D). In the magazine, there were genealogy of indies metal bands back in the days. Sugizo says the magazine introduces X has 3 members - Yoshiki, Toshl, Taiji. Yoshiki says Taiji lived in his house back then.

Sugizo asks Pata again how many former members were there in X before Pata joined in. But Pata, Yoshiki, and Toshl can't remember. Sugizo says if he had been a member of X from the early days, he would have drawed a genealogy of X completely. But Yoshiki, Toshl and Pata seem to have little interest about their genealogy. Sugizo seems to have more knowledge about the early X members than Yoshiki, Toshl and Pata. 

Sugizo asks Pata if he is the 50th guitarist of X. Yoshiki says Pata will be about the 30th guitarist of X. Yoshiki asks Sugizo how many members were there in Luna Sea before sugizo's joining. Sugizo says there was just one member-Inoran.

Yoshiki asks Sugizo, when he happened to meet X for the first time. Sugizo talks about Extasy summit in those days. He has a very good memory. Sugizo also says Hide was the first member he became friends with. Sugizo with Hide went to an Izakaya to meet Yoshiki. Yoshiki just remembered the day. Yoshiki says Hide used to vomit what he ate for fear of being fat. Sugizo says he had been scared by Yoshiki because Yoshiki was Senpai.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Mytrhil Taralom on January 06, 2018, 10:08:39 AM
Thank you for the translations! It must be a lot of work.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 06, 2018, 10:35:33 AM
Thank you again for your hard work! :) Poor Heath doesn't talk much, does he? :)
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: LEMONedMe on January 06, 2018, 04:05:34 PM
Hi lakeisle and thank you so much for your translations!  We are all so happy to have you as a member with us.   :)
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 06, 2018, 06:44:35 PM
I vote lakeisle for president - thank you SO MUCH for these translations, man! You are awesome!  :D
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: LEMONedMe on January 06, 2018, 07:06:49 PM
I'll second that.   ;D
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: lakeisle on January 06, 2018, 11:12:56 PM
Thank you for reading the long writing. I dictated every single comment of X members, and it was hard to summarize.

Watching the videos, I found

1) Heath doesn't talk much as you can see. I read Japanese fans' comments worrying about the relationship between Yoshiki and Heath.

2) Pata calls Toshl "Deyama(出山)". Deyama is Toshl's family name.

3) Sugizo is very talkative and leads a conversation.

4) Yoshiki and Toshl are very happy when they tease each other.



I've read a funny comment in Japanese forum before.

<< mental age of X Japan members >>

Yoshiki : 2 years old
Toshl : 7 years old
Hide and Taiji : puberty age (13~14?)
Sugizo : 20 years old
Pata : 70 years old
Heath : Unknown

I think this analysis is accurate. And I am going to write just the conversation about new album because the latter half of the 2nd video is so long(and I can't summarize it).


======================================================
Only Sugizo has pulled the cartas from the beginning. Toshl complains Sugizo pulls just weird cartas. Yoshiki volunteers he would pick a carta. He bets he will pick a good carta for sure.

Yoshiki picks a carta, and it says "ALBUM". (46:00)

Everybody laughs out loud looking at Yoshiki's card. (Yoshiki picked the card written "ALBUM" out of 70 cards) Other members say Yoshiki's picking the card "ALBUM" is the natural consequence of his acts.

Sugizo asks if they can have a new album this year. Yoshiki says the recordings of drums, guitars, bass and vocal are all finished. Sugizo asks if the piano recording is finished. Yoshiki answers it is finished except one song. Sugizo asks about something(I can't catch the word he says), and Yoshiki answers he has to put the female chorus for it.

Yoshiki says 3 weeks are required for finishing new album. Toshl says if Yoshiki says he can finish album in 3 weeks, it will be done as he says. Yoshiki says 3 weeks means absolute time for recording(not including time for sleeping and eating). Toshl says if they record without sleeping and eating they will die. Sugizo asks if the album could be finished in 2 months. Yoshiki says yes, and he turn a topic.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Mytrhil Taralom on January 07, 2018, 01:53:45 AM
xD what are the chances of Yoshiki pulling the album card indeed. That's amazing. I wonder if we'll finally have the album this year. Wouldn't that be fantastic?
Thank you again for translating for us! I really appreciate it
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 07, 2018, 08:47:31 AM
Thank you for the summary ^^

I totally think the age predictions are accurate haha :D Heath "unknown" LOL.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 07, 2018, 07:05:28 PM
I say it again, Lakeisle for president! Making the X fandom great again!  ;D

So we have a bunch of middle-aged men on a TV show discussing whether they should raise pandas or penguins and teasing each other with lobsters. I hereby nominate them for the Darwin awards!

Lovely to hear Pata talk a bit. He sounds like such a cool guy. Cool to hear Sugizo as well, I was convinced he was mute (or some sort of puppet with an unplugged guitar). As for Heath, let's make him our social anxiety awareness ambassador.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: friday on January 08, 2018, 01:16:55 AM
Is the concerns regarding Heath and Yoshiki to do with the management issues/Heath potentially leaving the band in 2009?

Ive been a fan of the band for a decade and a half (pre-reunion) and in that time I have never even thought about Heath and Yoshiki's friendship/relationship. Always seemed like a hired gun sort of relationship in comparison to the other members...

My brief googling of it today only bought up fan fiction... :|
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 08, 2018, 08:06:34 AM
I don't think Yoshiki has any of a real relationship with any of the members, apart from them being the members of his band. He sees them and talks to them when there is work to do. Not even Toshi is close enough, I think. Despite all the on-camera antics. You can do "fanservice" with people that are open to play along, because they have such a personality. I don't see Yoshiki acting endearingly with Pata, either. Just remember, what these guys generally know about each other: not a lot apart from what happens at work. Toshi was singing Yoshiki's songs for decades without knowing about his father's suicide. If you are best buddies, you don't talk to your bestie about THAT even? And as for Toshi, you don't even introduce your wife to your best friend? Yoshiki mentioned somewhere he only saw her once. ??? WTF. I doubt Yoshiki has ever been to any of his members' houses since reunion. They were surprised that Heath was friends with most Luna Sea members. ??? Like, really? To me it seems like these guys don't talk at all, apart from work-related stuff. And these new year's gatherings only reinforce this feeling in me, because they talk about superficial, unimportant, totally random stuff like penguins and eating banana.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 08, 2018, 09:06:53 AM
Agree, they don't sound like a tight-knit group, but hey: these dudes got together over 30 years ago to form a band. In 30 years a lot of things change, people develop new interests, make other friends, learn different life lessons. As fans, we have a static image of them and of their lives, but IRL things are lot more complex than that. How many of your friends from 15 years ago do you still regularly hang out with? (me, none)

As for Heath and Yoshiki, I remember the 2009 rumors fairly well. The issue was widely discussed here on the forum. If I remember correctly, the band's management even issued a statement adressed those rumors and denying that Heath had asked to leave the band.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 08, 2018, 10:17:05 AM
Yeah I guess they had some contractual issues. I can also imagine that Heath's management was not satisfied with certain conditions and/or money related agreements. I doubt Heath would have said no to a contract renewal with X Japan, two years after reunion. I doubt he had that many well-paying jobs during the hiatus. If anything, revenue keeps these guys together for a little while more, I think. :) I know this sounds harsh but probably this is reality. And you're right, friendships also change over time. It's very rare that a group of friends would still be best buddies after 30-40 years. Especially that they had a 10 year period where they didn't even talk to each other, except for Pata and Heath who had common projects during the hiatus.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 08, 2018, 10:28:42 AM
That's a very likely scenario. By the way, I found the old thread where we speculated about it almost 10 years ago: http://www.x-freaks.com/forum/index.php?topic=3327.0

(Holy shit, the nostalgia just kicked in. The good moments spent on this forum chatting with those guys and then meeting some in Paris for a concert that got cancelled are priceless. Please, people, let's keep this forum alive!  :-*)
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 08, 2018, 10:53:43 AM
That's a very likely scenario. By the way, I found the old thread where we speculated about it almost 10 years ago: http://www.x-freaks.com/forum/index.php?topic=3327.0

(Holy shit, the nostalgia just kicked in. The good moments spent on this forum chatting with those guys and then meeting some in Paris for a concert that got cancelled are priceless. Please, people, let's keep this forum alive!  :-*)

"” This time, my selfish actions caused big problems to our fans and all involved parties.

After X Japan’s concert in Hong Kong, on January this year, I became puzzled about what I want to do and how I want to progress, from which I fell into temporary emotional uneasiness and I ended up cutting off all communication.
I stopped communicating even with my management office, so the schedule confirmation and adjustments were neglected, which eventually resulted in a hindrance for X Japan activities.

After this, I talked with Yoshiki, who again made me realize the value of me as the X Japan bassist. And so, if the members and all the fans kindly let me, I really want to start as the X Japan bassist once again."


Wow, this kind of feels like he was going through some major self-doubt and depression, just like Toshi losing his self-confidence before the planned US debut. Heath is also only human, and I think he got a lot of fire from Taiji fans over the past decades, he has been constantly criticised ever since he became a member. I can imagie that this leaves bitter feelings, even if he knows he has a lot of fans who do love and appreciate him. We all have feelings, and so do celebrities, even if they appear to be cold on the outside. Recently there was a Korean Kpop star who killed himself, rather young, battlin serious self-doubts and depression. He knew that millions loved him, and was still doubting himself enough to end his own life. I'm glad that Yoshiki managed to convince Heath to stay.

I hope that we are not seeing another case of him losing his self-confidence again, with this distant behaviour recently. :(
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 08, 2018, 11:29:02 AM
I know nothing about Heath, but I guess the guy was miscast back in 1992. I don't doubt his abilities as a bassist, but one needs thick skin and a certain entertainer talent to thrive within a huge thing like X. He looks insanely stressed on stage, completely shuts down during interviews and social events, has virtually no contact with the fans, no social media presence, (seemingly) no interest in learning basic English to interact with the international fandom, etc. Tell-tale signs of a dude who is way too much of an introvert to be dealing with the whole thing. I know even less about management issues, but maybe he's not making that much money either.

Also, stepping in to replace a legend like Taiji is tough shit. Sugizo did a suprisingly amazing job replacing the big daddy of VK, balancing his presence with a certain low profile that suits him well. It's probably not easy to be the unplugged guitar guy replacing the dead guy when you're actually an accomplished musician who could aim much higher than that. Kudos for Sugizo for being a really cool guy!
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 08, 2018, 12:39:48 PM
Heath has his talkative moments, like that druing the Lunatic Fest interview whe he bubbled about Luna Sea members happily, much to the surprise of his bandmates, or during that comic con instance when he told the story of the band going to watch cows on a farm and getting lost in a forest  :D. I don't think he is that much of an introvert, he is a stage musician after all. He used to be a lead singer in his own band before X, he has solos, where he appears not-quite-so-shy in his music videos and his solo concerts are wild as far as I can see from youtube instances. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqh52krKoPA He really doesn't seem reserved when he is doing stuff outside of X Japan. Maybe it is just his odd position in X that makes him feel uncomfortable. With all that shit he has gotten from Taiji admirers, I am not surprised he is trying to below key in X.

Social media is not for everyone, Pata has  a facebook page but hardly any communication apart from some gig related photos and news posted by - no doubt - his management. Not everyone is as tech-savvy as Yoshiki and Sugizo  and Toshi are. Sugizo also doesn't really communicate in English, most of his posts (lik,e 97%) are in Japanese, and Toshi is almost excusively posting in japanese only, using a few random English words here and there.... I don't see anyone but Yoshiki communicating wtih international fans.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 08, 2018, 01:45:07 PM
HOLY S-------. Thanks for showing me The Other Side of the Heath. Here I go down the Heath's solo career rabbit hole!  8)

As for the social media thing, don't you think it's strange? I mean, that Yoshiki goes all ermaeeehgerd we want to be ~~~international~~~~ and then he's the only one who bothers writing in English and communicating with the international community? I know English can be hard to learn for the Japs and that the rest of the world outside your homeland might be intimidating, but I still find it weird.

Toshi speaks decent English, for instance. He gave an interview in France at Japan Expo years ago, with Yoshiki, and he clearly understood what he was being asked and could reply. Except that he kept looking at Yoshiki with an 'am I saying it right?' face that was quite hilarious. (Partial footage here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez0JjsZjKG0). So, why no posts in English, Toshi?
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 08, 2018, 01:53:55 PM
aww that's so cuuuute. His English is so cuuuuute. Aww, I'm melting here. :) awww. He definitely speaks better than Sugizo, Sugizo's pronunciation is hilarious. :D Yeah, Toshi, why no English instagrams? :(
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 08, 2018, 02:11:34 PM
Isn't he? ;D Toshi is one very damn adorable human being and I really wish us world fans could interact more with him.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Teemeah on January 08, 2018, 02:57:22 PM
Isn't he? ;D Toshi is one very damn adorable human being and I really wish us world fans could interact more with him.

we need to comment under his Insta in English, I always do. He needs to see that Intl fans are interested in what he is posting but cannot understand. But intl fans won't comment, they would only push likes.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 08, 2018, 03:34:57 PM
I comment on his insta too! And all my comments end with 'post in English puhh-lease' or 'come to France'. I do the same on Yoshiki's posts, who knows, maybe that's why he came to France 3x in 2017.  ;D
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: lakeisle on January 08, 2018, 04:02:00 PM
Is the concerns regarding Heath and Yoshiki to do with the management issues/Heath potentially leaving the band in 2009?


There are a lot of rumors in Japanese community, but most of them are groundless and have no source. I don't know much about the issue in 2009. But I don't think 2009 was the very moment their relationship worsened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9KnbmaRSFc

This is the only video Heath looks relaxed and jokes a lot(Yoshiki is not there). I wrote down their talking recently. I will translate it in English and upload it someday.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: matsumoto on January 08, 2018, 05:02:18 PM
That's an epic clip, I've watched it a bunch of times and yet I have no idea what they're saying.
Hide's hair around that time was serious goals.
Title: Re: Yoshiki channel new year's recording with X Japan
Post by: Fullmetal-Hana on January 16, 2018, 06:07:50 PM
Poor Toshi; Yoshiki keeps antagonizing him with the shrimp XD
But in all seriousness, does Toshi not like shrimp? Or was he just being silly?