Last week on the 16th of March 2013 the Samurai Rock band OROCHI, the winner of theJaME x Râmen bandscontest, came to the Netherlands to perform. This was my second time going to a concert performed by Japanese musicians. I can’t say much more about the performance apart from the fact that I thought it was great. It was my first time seeing a Visual Kei band live, I really enjoyed myself and was pretty impressed!
Normally there would’ve been a very detailed report of their performance, but we’re doing something entirely different: an interview with the band! I’m happy to announce that it all worked out well and we’re very enthusiastic about this. Not only because this is our first interview, but mainly because the band responded so fast and in such a nice way.
AVO Blog: First off I’d like to thank you for returning to the Netherlands. I’ve really enjoyed your concert. What was your experience when it came to how welcoming the audience was during the concert in 330 live?
Ushiwaka: It was a great show. We didn’t think we could experience such a great moment in Europe. We’re very happy to see just as many fans as we saw in 2011.
Shin: The performance was great. It was my first time coming to the Netherlands. I’ll take the spirit of these fans with me to Japan.
AVO Blog: Is there a message, an idea you’re sharing with your fans through your music?
Ushiwaka: Our music is pretty original, based on traditional music and Western modern Rock. Please listen to our music as much as you can so you can become one with OROCHI’s world, then we’ll always be with you.
Shin: I want the world to become one. Thank you very much.
AVO Blog: Ushiwaka, I thought your skills with the katana on stage were very cool. Since you are a Samurai Rock band, have you practiced any sports or martial arts that relate to a samurai’s way of life (bushido) or the way of the sword?
Ushiwaka: I was born into an honorable samurai family. I’ve been practicing the katana since I was a child. I’ve practiced most of the traditional martial arts. I like meditation.
Shin: I used to practice sumo wrestling.
AVO Blog: You have a certain image on stage. How much of your off-stage personality was put into creating your on-stage personality? Which do you like better? Your off-stage or on-stage self?
Ushiwaka: On stage I want to become one with the audience. When I feel that during a show, I feel alive. I’d chose my on-stage personality, my off-stage me is just there for the preparations.
Shin: I’m the same on-stage and off-stage.
AVO Blog: You visit a lot of diverse countries in a short time span. You have probably learned a lot during these travels. Of all the places you’ve seen so far, what’s the thing you remember the most?
Ushiwaka: We didn’t know much about Russia. Even though Russia and Japan aren’t very close to each other, we still quickly had the Russian vote. So, we didn’t discover the friendships between many countries where we hadn’t been to. The whole world exists out of friends, I think.
Shin: I was surprised when I visited Paris, it’s a really beautiful city. In Japan we call Paris the capitol of flowers.
AVO Blog: What do you miss most when you tour outside of Japan?
Ushiwaka: Nothing!
Shin: I lost my iPhone, so that’s what I miss.
AVO Blog: Is there something you’d like to say to the readers of AVO Blog (or your fans in the Netherlands)?
Ushiwaka: We will return to the Netherlands, so ask your friends to listen to our music and spread our samurai rock!
Shin: I will never forget you! I’ll return shortly! Samurai rock on!
We would like to thank OROCHI for their time and Râmen Events for the possibility of interviewing the band. We wish OROCHI all the best in the rest of their Europe tour and we hope to see them again soon!
