 Name:
Közi
Date of Birth: May 29th
Place of Birth: Niigata
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 56 kg
Blood type: A
Közi is one of the co-founders of
Malice Mizer, (the other being Mana). He usually wears red.
Some Közi facts...
Like Gackt, Közi's parents forced him
to learn the piano for 6 whole years in primary school. They also forced
him to learn other things, like "a Japanese abacus." He hated it
"'cause children usually want to play around, you know." But he
supposes it was because he liked music that he managed to keep studying,
although he admits he wasn't such a good learner. He only finished the
Beyer Score book, (which is really basic). He changed instructors at least
3 times, (since one of them died...).
When he was a child, Közi was so showy that he made himself take the main
roles in school festivals. But he had no leadership sense at all. "I
don't like a sense of mission," he says. He was good in sports except
"apparatus gymnastics." He loved painting and hoped to become a
cartoon artist. At first, he was attracted to sci-fi cartoons, and
gradually to impressionistic paintings and films, like Salvatore Dalí and
Beardsley. "I like the kind of art which inspires my
imagination," he says.
He liked foreign music at an early age.
His older brother, (who is ten years his senior), had a lot of foreign
LPs. Közi listened to them even in primary school. In junior high, he
decided he wanted to play music in a band. He was struck by the sound of
his friend's electric-guitar-playing which was highly distorted with
over-drive. At that time, (his friend) played a piece of WRATH(?). Közi
liked the genre of LA metal, especially showy ones.
Since his friend played a guitar, Közi
bought a bass and started to practice. They never played original songs,
so it was after Közi came to Tokyo that he started playing guitar in an
official sense. When he was 16, he dropped out of high school, (after
finishing the first semester), and went to Tokyo. "I was determined I
had to go to Tokyo if I really wanted to be a musician," he says.
"My parents laughed at me, saying, 'No kidding!', though. They didn't
understand me, of course, but I wouldn't obey them." His father is a
teacher in primary school. He was really conservative, but now understands
Közi.
When Közi came to Tokyo, it was his
first time. He didn't have any friends or acquaintances in the city
though. He came with an older friend whom he met in a live-house in his
hometown, and they drove to Tokyo from there. For 3 months, they slept in
the car because they had no money. They earned money by physical labor,
such as jobs in construction site. At the same time, they kept applying
for joining a band as a helping-member. Közi was not really interested in
becoming a musician during that period. Since he came from the
countryside, he was simply excited to come to Tokyo. "I just tried to
make myself suit Tokyo," he says. He got several sleazy jobs which
were really "Tokyo-like." He got some bartender jobs too.
"I believe I learned a lot there," he says. "I even met
several people who brought me back to music."
 Although
he doesn't remember when exactly, he admits to eventually joining a band
(as a guitar player) which played original pieces, (not MALICE MIZER). At
that time, he listened to all kinds of music, such as Punk, Rock 'n Roll,
and Noise. He was looking for his style. He believes it's his experience
with Mana, who had his own style by then, that inspired Közi to
eventually get his current style, (which has a "painting-like visual
element"). When he worked in his part-time job with Mana, Közi
visited his place and was surprised at the tons of horror videotapes that
were housed in Mana's room. "I instinctively sensed that he must be
interesting," Közi says. "Now (Mana) is not, but he was rather
exclusive at that time, and he wouldn't join conversations he wasn't
interested in. But he also came to Tokyo in order to become a
musician."
Their encounter was like destiny. Közi
was asked to be a supporting member in a band. Since they also needed a
bass player, Közi recommended Mana. Although both of them were temporary
members, they provided the band with pieces. The band broke up in half a
year, but some of the pieces which they played in the band were the early
ones played in MALICE MIZER, and Közi thinks they made the prototype of
MALICE MIZER during that time. Mana already produced the pieces which had
a taste of Middle Age European, classical music. Finally, they came to
organize MALICE MIZER. First, they wanted to make a solid concept. They
wanted to make the band very original. "In terms of guitar, Mana
proposed that our guitar sounds should be like 2 harpsichords in
Bach," Közi says. "I was impressed by that. I changed my style
in which I employed a lot of choking, which was common. And we also talked
about 'What is human?' We have been seeking something which lurks deep
inside the human mind."
Közi admits that although he wasn't really
into classical music, his piano lessons helped his musical sense a lot.
"I am a rather adaptable person," he says. "I think I have
a strong curiosity, too." He can't define what kind of artist he is
exactly. "I guess it would be boring if I do know precisely," he
says. "I am eager to keep being stimulated by various things. I think
people keep changing..." In reference to being a stage player or
composer, he says he wants to produce songs as well as stages which are
not simply good, but appeals something to the listeners.
Recently, his sound has changed, (like
in "Gekka no Yaso Kyoku"). He admits that it's because he quit
composing with a guitar since he bought a keyboard. He says he used to
like New-Roma (?), Electrical Pop, and early techno music in the 80's, so
he now produces songs which have that kind of style. But he uses a really
cheap sequencer. He admits he's so poor at machines that he made Kami hook
up his stereo component. But currently, he is getting more interested in
machinery. He finally bought a Powerbook. He says he is the first one in
MALICE MIZER who has a PC. Right now he's just practicing, but he's hoping
to compose with it in the future. He also bought a graphics software, so
he can draw with it too. "I'm becoming a rather unsociable, gloomy
person," he says.
In terms of happiness, Közi says he's
unsure if he's ever really felt true happiness. This doesn't mean that
he's unhappy, however. He thinks people should be optimistic. If man
thinks of doing something, he ought to go out there and do it. If he fails
to achieve his goal, it's simply because he didn't do anything. This is
why he should be positive.
On his fave song: "Recently I sang
the song 'Kaeru-no Pyonta, Sugoina' (The frog whose name is Pyonta is
great!) with Kami. And the song which impressed me a lot is the piece 'Mibo-jin
no Yuwaku' (Temptation of the Widow) which was composed by Mana. That was
the song which caused us to get together into MALICE MIZER. When I think
about this song, I can't help recalling our early period."
Közi used to be a showy person but
recently he's wanted to be more by himself. He doesn't want to get
together with people, and he rather likes to be isolated in his room. He
guesses the other MALICE MIZER members have the same feelings. (Közi
implies that if they don't have isolated feelings, they can't be in the
group). As long as he's a member of MM, Közi says he can't be relaxed.
Even if he's on holiday, he can't help thinking about MM because what MM
is doing is what he's looking for, (referring to MM concept "What is
human?"). Közi enjoys it when he's on stage or recording, but it's
not simple enjoyment. Of course he feels some hardship, (mentally or
physically). He really likes to spend time with the other MM members
because they're strange and different, and they produce ideas which he
himself could not produce. He admits that each MM member has different
hobbies and that they don't hang out often with each other. But all of
them are thinking of MM's concept, ("What is human?"), so that
idea connects them together.
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