Q&A Session with machine at Japan Expo

With HAKUEI having attended Japan Expo in 2007 as a model for Black Peace, this year he returned, with KIYOSHI, as machine, to perform at the event. Following their performance, the duo was introduced and the members prepared to answer questions put forth by the press and an audience of fans.


Last year, HAKUEI, you said you would talk to KIYOSHI about Japan Expo. After your performance today, how do you feel; how did it go?

HAKUEI: Well, let's say there were several technical problems, so it didn't go as I wished it would, but the fans were wild so I'm happy about it.
KIYOSHI: Hi, I'm KIYOSHI. The audience was good so I had fun.

Was this the first of several gigs in Europe?

HAKUEI: Of course. I've always wanted to tour in Europe and today I am more than sure about it.

KIYOSHI, it was your first time in France, what are your feelings about France and the French?

KIYOSHI: Paris is a beautiful, gorgeous city. As far as the audience's reaction, I would have liked it to be better and it would have been if it hadn't been for those technical issues.
HAKUEI: Yes, going back to the concert, it was tarnished by some technical issues and I would have liked for it to go steadier.

KIYOSHI, HAKUEI told us last year that he would convince you to come to Japan Expo. What did he tell you?

KIYOSHI: When he came back after his fashion show, he said that, strangely enough, he didn't want to come with PENICILLIN, but with machine, so here we are with machine.

But why with machine?

HAKUEI: Well...(he thinks about his answer while trying to pour two glasses of water at once, slowly, in front of everyone. Everyone laughs).
KIYOSHI: Eh...it's a Japanese joke!! (Everyone laughs).
HAKUEI: Japanese gag, Japanese comedy. PENICILLIN and machine are two completely different things. If I chose to come here with machine, it's because this band is more expressive and that, even if you don't understand the lyrics, the sounds speak more on their own, so we think you will better understand what we have within us.

Why did you chose the name machine?

HAKUEI: I can't remember. But if I try to think about it, when I formed this band with KIYOSHI, we wanted something that sounded more digital, so the English word machine seemed appropriate to express our wish.

What are your plans for the future? New releases, touring with machine, PENICILLIN, solo?

HAKUEI: Well, I would like to release something new with machine, but as KIYOSHI usually writes the lyrics, I'm waiting for KIYOSHI's lyrics.

Now we go on with the audience's questions.

We are Russian fans, do you plan to come and perform in Russia?

HAKUEI: Thanks a lot.
KIYOSHI: Is it cold in Russia? We won't go if it is too cold!

We are from the south of France, do you plan to perform there?

KIYOSHI: Is it really hot weather in the south of France?
HAKUEI: We won't go if it's too hot!

How did HAKUEI convince KIYOSHI to come to Japan Expo?

HAKUEI: French women are so beautiful, so you have to go there at lease once.

And?

KIYOSHI: I think they are beautiful.

We are fans from Austria, we'd like to know what you thought of each other when you first met?

HAKUEI: At the beginning, we were both working with the same label. Some ten years ago, we both knew the band the other was playing in (PENICILLIN and Media Youth) and, because I liked what he was doing, we decided to work together.

What are the themes of your songs? Your sources of inspiration?

HAKUEI: It is KIYOSHI who writes the music and lyrics, so the inspiration is from KIYOSHI.

The name machine sounds like one for an electro/rock band. Will the band release an electro/rock single? And for HAKUEI, will you come back with PENICILLIN and machine?

HAKUEI: No, I wouldn't come back with those two bands at the same time; it would be too tiresome.
KIYOSHI: For the first part of the question, I really don't know.

I am a Polish fan and would like to know if KIYOSHI was using the same guitar here that he had with hide with spread beaver?

KIYOSHI: Yes, it is the same one.

This ended the press and fan question and answer session with machine at Japan Expo 2008.

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JaME would like to thank Japan Expo and Orient Extrême.