Interview with The Captains

The Captains are a Group Sounds, or simply "GS", band who have just completed their second tour through the United States. With a sound that is reminiscent of The Beatles, and through the power of romance and retro renaissance, the band has continued the sixties' tradition. This year, to coincide with their tour, they have just made their second release in the United States through their American label, Tokyo No Records. I ♥ GS is a cover album, as an homage to the original Group Sounds bands from Japan. JaME had the chance to interview the energetic young band about their recent touring and releases.

Thank you for accepting our interview. Could you please introduce yourselves?

The Captains: We are a Japanese band, The Captains. We are four members: vocalist & band leader Kizuhiko, guitarist Hizashi, bassist Ted and drummer Yosuke.

You have just returned from a lengthy American tour. What are your impressions in retrospect?

The Captains: We have enjoyed it a lot! We are happy because the audience looked as if they were enjoying our Group Sounds music much more than in 2007. The most impressive show was AWA, Anime Weekend Atlanta. Many people got excited, and we really want more people to understand our culture as GS as well as Japanimation.

How long have each of you known each other, and how did you meet one-another?

The Captains: Our band formed in 2001, so we have been together for seven years. We knew each other before we began the band, so we have been friends for nearly ten years.

The Captains play a unique brand of music, known as Group Sounds. Could you explain the concept of Group Sounds for readers that are unfamiliar with the term?

The Captains: GS, or Group Sounds, was the music genre brought about by the first band boom in the late '60s in Japan. The Beatles inspired youngsters to compose their own music and play by themselves; this is how they began to sing in that particular way. It was really a revolutionary event in Japan! That boom was soon over, after just two years. But we have revived GS today, from the past.

Because Group Sounds has its roots in music from the '60s, do older people enjoy your style? Have you ever heard reactions from old Group Sounds bands?

The Captains: We once performed with The Wildones, one of the original GS bands who have been playing since the '60s. They looked like they enjoyed our set. GS generations often come to see our performances, and sometimes with their children. It makes us so happy, because it feels like that the next generation is receiving GS from their parents.

You've brought Group Sounds, now, to several places in America. How are the crowds' reactions to your unique image and sound?

The Captains: They reacted enthusiastically! We don't deserve to say this but we felt as if we were The Beatles!

Your tour in America this year was joined on some dates by Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re. What do you think of the girls? Have you ever played shows with them in Japan?

The Captains: I think they are the greatest girl rock band. We have also joined them for shows in Japan before, but this is the first time for us to tour together. They are also very cute girls.

Having two successful overseas tours, have you considered performing in Europe, or are there any other places you would like to perform?

The Captains: We would like to tour in Europe. We want to go sightseeing if we had time. (laughter) Architecture in Spain, castles in Germany... oh, we have to see soccer in Italy. But we know we would have shows every night and the schedule would be so tight that we wouldn't be able to go sightseeing. We would like to visit all places in the world. We really want people in the world to know what an amazing genre GS is. We would visit Mars if we were invited!

The Captains recently released a Group Sounds cover album. Why did you choose these songs, and how were they changed for the modern sound?

The Captains: We selected some popular songs from a variety of Japanese GS music. Each member put an ideas in to arrange the sound. We were all brought up listening to music in the '70's, '80s, '90s and more recent times, not the music of the '60s. We naturally get the sound flavour of the past and that's why we are able to arrange to the modern sound.

A part of your appeal is the unique costumes the group performs in. Can you tell us where these costumes come from, and why you chose these styles?

The Captains: Our costumes are like military clothing. It's called a "Napoleon Jacket". The GS bands of the past usually put these clothes on, and it all seems to come from The Beatles' CD jacket for Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. We have these on because we are going to fight for a World where love is missing.

How is composition handled amongst the band members? Is the band always composing, or do you prefer to compose specifically for an album?

The Captains: Kizuhiko, the leader writes and composes first. All the members arrange the sound then afterwards. We usually decide a concept for the album to then proceed.

The band has released CDs in America now, through TOKYO NO RECORDS. How did this deal arise, and what do you think about releasing overseas?

The Captains: Our good friend, Eric Bresler of TOKYO NO RECORDS, suggested to release in America. He loves Japanese culture, music and films very much. We really appreciate it. Releasing CDs overseas is really exciting, and we are happy because of it. We would like to export more of our great culture and GS.

Kizuhiko, we know you speak a bit of English, are you fluent? Do any of the other members speak languages other than Japanese?

Kizuhiko: Not fluent... (laughter) Maybe I speak more English than last year. The other members are not so fluent, and some of us even talk in faltering Japanese. (laughter) I would like to sing cover songs of GS in many foreign languages some day.

Your band obviously takes influences from very old bands, but are there any modern bands you are inspired by, or are there any bands you all like to listen to?

The Captains: I think Franz Ferdinand and The Fratellis　are great and interesting. I am also looking forward to a new album from Weezer.

Your touring in Japan is very rigorous, compared to many other Japanese bands, and you visit many venues all around the Country. Are there any venues you particularly enjoy, or any that you did not like performing at?

The Captains: I love Electric Lady Land in Nagoya and Star Club in Kobe, amongst venues in Japan. Any venue we don't like to perform at... once we play our first chord, we then enjoy playing accordingly none the less.

Your band image is very romantic. Are you like this every day, or is it a personality only for the stage?

The Captains: Haha, I'll leave it to your imagination...

Roses seem to be a running theme in your band's music and image. Is there a specific concept behind roses that applies to the band?

The Captains: Roses are flowers that mean passionate love. They just fit in for our love songs. Roses are also the symbolic flower of Kizuhiko's hometown.

Having performed at anime festivals, what is the band's opinion on anime and manga, and do you have any favorites?

The Captains: We love animation and manga! We love them too much! We have so many favorites and we just can't choose. A recent animation that we think is great is "Macross F".

Each of the members plays on instruments that look very retro. Do you have any attachments to your personal instruments? What are some of your favorites?

The Captains: We love our instruments. Kizuhiko plays a Spectrum 5 from Teisco, Ted plays "The Ventures" model bass from Mosrite, and Hizashi plays a "Stratocaster" by Seymour Duncan

The band has an official fan club in Japan, is there any interest in a fan club in America, or can Americans join the Japanese fan club? What are the benefits of being the The Captains' fan club?

The Captains: A fan club in America sounds great! We haven't even thought about it.

What are your future plans for releases? Can we expect any singles or albums next year?

The Captains: Yes, you are going to hear our releases in the next year! Our singles and album are like love letter for you. We try to keep writing new love letters for you.

Lastly, could you each leave a message for our readers?

The Captains: Thank you very much for reading our interviews! Please enjoy our sound, the latest GS. It's the music only Japanese can play. Hope to see you someday, and come to see our performances!

JaME would like to thank The Captains and Tokyo No Records for making this interview possible.