hide Memorial Summit Press Conference

The press conference for the hide Memorial Summit, which will be held on May 3rd and 4th, was held on April 7th, in Tokyo. In attendance were YOSHIKI, RYUICHI (LUNA SEA), TAKANORI NISHIKAWA (T.M. Revolution), members of MAXIMUM THE HORMONE, Hiroshi Matsumoto; the exclusive president of Headwax Organization and younger brother of hide, and some charity-related individuals.


First of all, I'll introduce you to the exclusive president of Headwax Organization; Hiroshi Matsumoto, who is the organizer of the hide Memorial Summit and the real younger brother of hide. Please give us a few words as the organizer of the hide Memorial Summit, Mr. Matsumoto.

Mr. Matsumoto: Thank you very much for assembling here today. This time, thanks to the cooperation of many artists and staff, such as YOSHIKI of X JAPAN, we were able to hold the hide Memorial Summit. Thank you all so very much.

By the way, how did you inform hide about this hide Memorial Summit?

Mr. Matsumoto: We have been holding an annual event called "hide Memorial Day" on May 2nd, for the past ten years. I'm very pleased that such a big event can take place this year.

As you were someone who could watch hide from a close distance, do you have anything you want to say to fans and artists who will gather for this event?

Mr. Matsumoto: Up until now, we have been managing the hide museum, a place where his fans can assemble with our staff, but I don't think we will see an event as big as this one again, so I'm really glad to be able to do it. Again, thank you so much.

As the event will continue hide's wishes, this hide Memorial Summit will be for charity. I think many people already know about the relationship between hide and the Make a Wish of Japan/MPO Corporation: National Bone Marrow Bank Promotion Communication Council. It is great to have these organizations participate in this special event.

Mr. Matsumoto: Yes. It all started with a girl who needed a bone marrow transplant and came to the Tokyo Dome lives after Ms. Oono from Make a Wish of Japan introduced her to hide of X JAPAN. After seeing the concerts, she got the courage to undertake the transplant and has now recovered. It all started from there.

Ms. Oono, as the secretary-general of Make a Wish Japan, please say a few words about your participation in this event.

Ms. Oono: It was 1995. The girl was struggling with the rare serious disease gangliosidosis type III, with only twenty-three cases reported in the world. The girl wanted to see hide of X JAPAN, and hide was so kind to quickly accept her proposal. On the day that the girl met hide, she had a very difficult treatment, where the success rate was only about thirty percent. hide put his ear close to the girl's mouth to hear what she was trying to say with all her might. Then she said, "I'll do my best and will send you a letter, so could you write back, please?" hide said, "Yes, I will, as we are good friends", and made a promise by linking their little fingers. I think that I will always remember that. I am so happy to be asked to be the charity partner in this event; I think that hide can still live on, helping children just like her, even now.

Thank you very much. Now let's have a few words from Ms. Houjou, who is the chairman of the National Bone Marrow Bank Promotion Communication Council.

Ms. Houjo: Thank you once again for your assistance. After meeting that little girl, hide registered at the Bone Marrow Bank. When fans found out, they too registered and appealed to others over the internet to do the same. I know three people who actually donated bone marrow, saying they did it because they were fans of hide. I'm sure that hide moved many people to do the same. I think hide will be glad to know that people know more about the Bone Marrow Bank now than they did before. Thank you very much.

From the Heart Ribbon Project, Seiji is here today. Please tell us a bit about why you decided to join this event.

Seiji: I first started to listen to music because I wanted to be like hide, and I joined hide Memorial Day last year as an artist. This year I want to tell people about the importance of the early discovery of uterine and breast cancer. I have been spreading this message since before I started music. I think that hide would share the same feelings, so I decided to join this charity memorial event. By participating in this summit, I hope that it, in some way, raises the consciousness in people about women's health.

Thank you very much. And now Ms. Takagi, who is the Pink Ribbon/NPO Cooperation Breast Health Research Secretariat, please give us a few words.

Ms. Takagi: Thank you very much for asking us to assist on this special occasion. When I got a phone call from Seiji directly, I wasn't sure what was happening (laugh) as I usually do work in the background. However, I'm very happy to be here and see you all today. I think you already know about the activities of Pink Ribbon, with about eighty percent of women knowing about our activities. However, only twenty percent of females actually have examinations. As for young females, there is still a tendency to not have a mammography, and I have the impression that even information about self examinations and diagnosis using echo graphs hasn't been spread well. This time, we have the help of X JAPAN and Seiji, who have many young fans, to assist us in sending the proper information to young females. I really am thankful for this opportunity and hope that you all support us.

Thank you. I hope that more people will assist us in promoting this cause.
Many of the artists who will appear at the hide Memorial Summit are here today. First of all, YOSHIKI, who is the producer of this event and the leader of X JAPAN, TAKANORI NISHIKAWA of T.M.Revolution, MAXIMUM THE RYOKUN, DAISUKE-HAN, UE-CHAN and NAO from MAXIMUM THE HORMONE, and RYUICHI from LUNA SEA . LUNA SEA has not re-started their activities. However, they have agreed to play just for this occasion. And now, I would like to introduce another person who is here today too. Let's welcome him.

(The appearance of Mr. X who is the host of this press conference causes a stir in the audience. )

Mr. X (TOSHI of X JAPN); Eh~, hello ladies and gentleman! I'm Mr. X.

(All: burst out laughing)

Mr. X: I was ordered by YOSHIKI to be a host today. (laugh) I'm not good at this kind of thing, but I'll try to do my best as host, so please give me your support. First of all, we would like YOSHIKI, who is the producer, to tell us how this hide Memorial Summit was determined to take place. Many artists will participate in this event, so I think you had many difficulties in choosing them. How was it?

YOSHIKI: Thank you very much for doing the MC today. (laugh)

Mr. X: You are welcome. (laugh)

YOSHIKI: I tried to do this project ten years ago but, understandably, it was too difficult, mentally. Now, ten years later, I am able to undertake this project, although I had never imagined that we would be able to create something as wonderful as this. There are various reasons for thinking this, but I never imagined X JAPAN would be reunited, or that LUNA SEA would accept to join this event, as well as Mr. Nishikawa of T.M.Revolution and the other artists that agreed to come today. I am really thankful and encouraged by their participation. It has not started yet, and I don't know how it will go, but I am sure it will start on time. (laugh)

Mr. X: Please start on time.(laugh) So RYUICHI from LUNA SEA, can you tell us a little about hide and any memories that you may have?

RYUICHI: I think hide's music and visuals were always new. LUNA SEA was influenced by him a lot, and seeing the X JAPAN lives recently reiterated that feeling for me even more.

Mr. X: For the lives, SUGIZO played as a guest guitarist. How did you feel as a member of the same band?

RYUICHI: Well, I was uneasy and nervous, but I could see that Sugi-chan (SUGIZO) was loved by YOSHIKI, TOSHI and all the members. I could see he was really loved and was well taken care of.

YOSHIKI: You know I love RYUICHI too. (laugh)

RYUICHI: Thank you very much. (laugh) I felt very happy for him. So please continue to take good care of him.

YOSHIKI: Of course, he's always welcome.

Mr. X: Well, he has been working very hard, even during the rehearsals.

YOSHIKI: Hey, MC, you are talking too much!

(All: burst out laughing)

Mr. X: Now Mr. Nishikawa, please tell us why you decided to participate.

TAKANORI: Well, the event was gaining momentum, becoming very significant, so I decided T.M.Revolution would join the event. I am very proud to be able to participate in it.

YOSHIKI: We often pass by one another, but never have enough time to talk.

TAKANORI: Yes, I know. We haven't had an opportunity to talk like this for such a long time now.

YOSHIKI: Now I'm really happy.

TAKANORI: Thank you very much.

Mr. X: Mr. Nishikawa, what kind of T.M.Revolution do you want to show to hide's fans who will gather at the venue?

TAKANORI: Well, I remember that just ten years ago, in Nippon Housou, standing next to this building, hide had a radio program that I was in charge of just before him. Through his radio programs, I was very impressed and influenced by his original way of sending his affection to the people around him, including members of X JAPAN. After that, the radio program finished, but I was moved by his original way of creating such an environment around him. On the day of the Summit, I want to send my feelings to fans in my own way.

Mr. X: Then, as a representative of MAXIMUM THE HORMONE...why did you put "HAN" at the end of your name?(laugh)

DAISUKE-HAN: Um...

Mr. X: Ah, OK, you don't have to answer that. (laugh) Please tell us why you decided to join this event.

DAISUKE-HAN: I'll tell you why I put "HAN" on my name. It's because...

NAO: You don't have to say why! (laugh)

DAISUKE-HAN: I think most of you gathering here think "Who are MAXIMUM THE HORMONE?" When we were asked to join this event, we were surprised and very glad. But to be honest, we thought that it was candid camera or something. While we were puzzled at first, as my favorite words in Chinese say that "@\&%$#@\&%$#@\&%$#"(DAISUKE-HAN says something strange that sounds like Chinese pronunciation)(laugh), I don't know what it means (laugh). That's why we decided to join the event.

Mr. X: (laugh) What do you think, YOSHIKI?

YOSHIKI: (laugh) It sounds great, but I don't really understand what he said. (laugh)

Mr. X: Wel... I'll stop him here, or he may go on a rampage. (laugh) LUNA SEA, T.M.Revolution and the members of MAXIMUM THE HORMONE have told us their thoughts on the summit. So now I'll ask you, YOSHIKI, as the leader of X JAPAN. What kind of show are you going to produce?

YOSHIKI: Well, I just finished the Dome lives, so I haven't thought about it yet, but I'm going to create a show where we can play with hide as we did at the Dome lives. I'm very glad to be able to inform hide that hide's younger brother is working very hard and has been working hard over the past ten years to make hide's will come true. Now returning to X. What do you think, TOSHI?

Mr. X: I played the Dome lives feeling like I was playing with hide. I was wearing an ear monitor so I could hear his sound all the time, so even though it has been ten years, I felt like I was playing with him. This time too, I want to enjoy the concert, make sound together and feel like we are playing together again. By the way, as we have all these people playing on that day, I think that there will be some expectations for a session all together. What do you think, YOSHIKI?

YOSHIKI: So everyone, do you want to?

Mr. X: We used to play sessions as "Muteki band (=unbeaten band)" often.

YOSHIKI: Well it's up to you, RYUICHI. (laugh)

Mr. X: What do you think, RYUICHI?

RYUICHI; Is it really up to me? (laugh) Then I'll do my best.

Mr. X: There are many artists who will take part in the event besides those who came here today. I'll introduce you to the artists who will appear on stage. On May 3rd, hide with Spread Beaver, T.M.Revolution, DJ OZMA、RIZE, MAXIMUM THE HORMONE, hurdy gurdy, Phantasmagoria, Versailles, MarBell and DaizyStripper will appear. YOSHIKI, do you think DJ OZMA will join us?

YOSHIKI: Yes. We want to make the event like a festival, so I think he'll give it a good feeling.

Mr. X: And on May 4th, X JAPAN, LUNA SEA, Dir en grey, oblivion dust, MUCC, D'espairsRay, THE UNDERNEATH and heidi. will appear. Here, DJ OZMA himself sent us a message.

(TOSHI reads the message instead of him): I'm DJ OZMA, who will be joining the event. And most of you who hear this will probably think "Why are you coming?" That is probably a good question, and you are right to ask it. I don't really have anything to do with it musically. But I dare to say that I'm a big fan of X JAPAN and hide, and I think that it would be strange if I didn't participate in this historical event. I know that this event is a Memorial Day, but I think hide wouldn't like it to be gloomy, so I take it as my role to make sure we all have a good time! Thanks to YOSHIKI for inviting me. Thank you very much, and I'm sure I'll live up to your expectations. Something will happen, something in Ajimonoto Stadium, something that will be worth the wait. We are X!...by DJ OZMA.

Mr. X: Now we'll accept questions from the media.

Overseas, Japanese anime and manga have become very popular from several years back, and Japanese music is also becoming popular. Many people pay attention to Japanese bands. Among the artists coming to this press conference, some of you have already experienced lives overseas, and some of you received responses from overseas fans through mail and letters. Could you tell us how you feel about that?

TAKANORI: Until now, we were the side to accept and import foreign music, but now we are going to be the side that releases our own music to foreign countries. There are many things that I don't yet understand, but I just want to get out there and give it a go. You might think it strange if I advertise for them (laugh), but X JAPAN just announced a live at Madison Square Garden in New York, and we'll go to New York next week too. As for music, people can enjoy it all over the world now, so I want to appeal to as many people as I can.

RYUICHI: I like many overseas bands, so I really hope that I can one day stand on the same stage with them.

DAISUKE-HAN: We actually did live concerts overseas in March. There were many people who knew Japanese music and artists through Japanese anime. No matter what their reasons were for becoming interested in Japanese culture, they got very interested in Japanese music, came to our lives and sang together with us, which impressed me very much. It's great that people look at us and think "This is Japanese music!" You know, from the viewpoint of a music lover it's just awesome, which my mom (NAO) said. (laugh)

Mr. X: You have nothing to say, YOSHIKI? (laugh) Then, next question please.

YOSHIKI, X JAPAN is becoming very popular overseas, and since many of the artists that will be at the hide Memorial Summit have already been overseas, are you considering taking this overseas too? You know that a great many people would like you to do that.

YOSHIKI: That is a great question. First of all, before this event, ten years ago, I think that this was too hard for me to do, as just to say hide's name at the time would make me want to cry. But now, ten years later, it's a miracle that we are back together and X JAPAN has reunited. So for the moment, I want to make sure that these events will go well, and then of course, if you support us, it could be fun. Maybe we would change the name, but it would be something like this.

Actually, some people have been asking that we do this.

YOSHIKI: Also, as long as X JAPAN is part of the tribute, it's, you know...

You'll finally do a live event after ten years. Could you tell us how you feel about hide and what existence hide is for you, YOSHIKI?

YOSHIKI: I think everyone who gathers here has various thoughts for him, but I was quite close to him. Before being a musician to me, he was more like "a mother" to me personally. For RYUICHI, I think he is like "an elder brother". As he existed beyond our music, he was like my family. For me, he was like a mother because whenever we had a rehearsal, he kindly said to me, I'll say it again but, "Don't be late." (laugh)

Mr. X: Finally, once again, please give a few words to your many fans, about the hide Memorial Summit, YOSHIKI.

YOSHIKI: I thank you, the fans, for making this event possible. And I also really thank the wonderful artists who will perform at the summit. You now, what I tried to do ten years ago will come true, so I feel like I'm dreaming. In the later half of the recent X JAPAN lives, I also felt like I was dreaming, but I had a muscle pain when I awoke (laugh), so I knew I wasn't. (laugh) This time, I want to have the same dream; great concerts that will never make you sad, which will release positive messages, and have a real festive feeling to them. We'll do our best together, so please support us.