Interview ~ Riku: July 4, 2008
Anime Expo 2008
We got a chance to interview Riku as he made his final appearance as a member of Phantasmagoria in the USA.
So far, how has the event been for you?
Riku: This is the second time I've been to an event like this and I really love the energy that the American people have. I mean, I can totally see that Americans really like Japan and I think that's cool.
You actually came to Anime Expo before in 2005. How does the trip last time compare to the trip this time?
Riku: Compared to the last time, the scale is a lot bigger!
What do you feel about the reaction of the fans? Well, not just the fans, but everyone.
Riku: The fans here compared to the ones in Japan, well the energy level's a lot higher. So I feel like I receive that energy and I feel really good about that. I feel very welcome.
Have you recognized what people are cosplaying as?
Riku: I've... um, seen a lot of cardboard cosplayers. (Laughs)
Cardboard cosplayers?! Ohhh... What do you think of those?
Riku: I think it's really fresh and new!
Surely you might have noticed a difference between American and Japanese cosplayers right?
Riku: The general picture is the same. You know, cosplay is cosplay right? But Japanese animators don't get to go to America very often so I can tell whoever does cosplay in the US has really done their research.
Yeah, speaking of, Phantasmagoria has a history of really elaborate costumes with a lot of detail. Why did you pick those costumes for yourselves?
Riku: Well from the get-go Phantasmagoria was about beautiful costumes and beautiful music put together. So it just went from there. Depending on the song we would change the image of our outfits and it would evolve from there.
What costume is your favorite?
Riku: We disbanded in August and the costumes we wore for the final song are the most memorable to me.
Well, now you are in LA. Does it feel quite different from Japan?
Riku: Ah, there is... there's some parts in LA that doesn't feel any different from Japan!
Oh? You didn't think it was that different when you first arrived?
Riku: But--Yes, that's right. Um, I saw the view from when I was landing in the airplane and I saw how wide everything was. Maybe that's one of the biggest differences between Japan and America is how spread out everything is here.
Have you had a chance to see things in LA besides the convention?
Riku: Ahh, I haven't. But if I did have the chance to go anywhere I'd want to go to Universal Studios. My home in Japan is really close to the Universal Studios we have there so I'm looking forward to seeing what the one here is like.
Would you like to go to Disneyland?
Riku: Of course I definitely want to go to Disneyland! Actually, I've never had the chance to go even in Japan! (Laughs)
Oh? Well, given that you are here, how does it feel to you being the representative of Phantasmagoria to say good-bye to all your fans?
Riku: Um, I remember from my last visit that everyone welcomed us so warmly. I really liked that. Recently a new band was formed called chariots and I want to move forward with that. Hopefully, even though Phantasmagoria has disbanded, I'll be back in the US with this new band. [ed. note: chariots is indeed coming to the US. Check them at at Onicon in November!]
So with chariots, did you form it because you felt that it wasn't your time to stop music?
Riku: Um, last year we were already saying we would stop all our activities as Phantasmagoria. I felt like, you know, I didn't want to make the fans wait for us to start back up again. We ended up disbanding but that's how the idea of chariots first started. I wanted to keep the energy going and gain even more momentum for the fans who were waiting.
How would you say chariots differs from Phantasmagoria in terms of style and music?
Riku: Ehh they are pretty different. Visually, of course it's still visual kei type, so we're going to keep that elaborateness. But the style is going to be a little bit different because Phantasmagoria was all about beautiful, flowing melodies whereas chariots is momentum and force and just pure energy.
Ahh so what could we expect from a live performance by chariots?
Riku: Hmmm, well I noticed that with Phantasmagoria American fans were already cheering us on and felt really energetic about us. With chariots I want to go above that. I want to bring up the energy level and I want to feel the audience's energy rising higher.
What would you say is your ultimate goal with chariots?
Riku: Goal... Hm, ah, I'm not sure about an ultimate ultimate goal. But for now since chariots is only in Japan and we haven't come to America yet, I want to build up the anticipation in hopes that fans will be pumped up and really looking forward to us when we do come to America.
Do you have an ultimate, like an ideal concert you'd like to perform for?
Riku: Ummmm, there's a lot of Jrock events in Japan and they all seem the same after awhile. What I'd really like to see happen is people of all countries in that genre to come together as some sort of conglomerate. That'd be a really cool live concert to have.
There was an event yesterday for CURE magazine. How was that?
Riku: This is the third time representing Phantasmagoria for this event, and everytime I come back and more and more people are familiar with me. The fanbase seems to grow larger too so that's what I've liked most about these events.
Phantasmagoria recently came together to participate in a hide tribute concert. What are your feelings on that concert?
Riku: Ah, well the sheer amount of people who showed up to remember hide was incredible. I could sense how much everyone loved hide and how great he was as an artist. It moved me and I felt inspired to pursue becoming a musician as great as hide.
What are your personal feelings regarding hide?
Riku: In Japanese the Chinese characters that we use to represent music are "sound" and "fun." So basically it means to enjoy and have fun with sound. I totally feel that hide is the type of person who enjoyed and had fun with the sounds he made. So that's what I want to pursue, to be someone who actually enjoys music that sounds fun.
When you performed at the hide tribute, how did you feel knowing this would be the last time you would perform as Phantasmagoria?
Riku: Well, in my mind the last performance as Phantasmagoria will be August 31st this year. Generally we feel the hide memorial concert was the last performance of Phantasmagoria, but we are open to our fans. If fans really want us back, we may come back.
What does the chariots album sound like?
Riku: (English) Break. Destroy. Chaos!
With chariots, are you hoping that you'll be making new fans in addition to fans of Phantasmagoria?
Riku: Yeeaahh. It's as I thought, some people may not have liked the style when I was in Phantasmagoria, so I am hoping that the new sound will draw out new fans. I'm really looking forward to more fans, not just Phantasmagoria or Riku fans, but different fans also.
What would you like to say to American fans right now?
Riku: This is the last performance as Phantasmagoria in America. I feel sad to leave that but I want to move forward with chariots. chariots hasn't performed in America yet but... I really, really, really want to perform. Please support chariots! I'm looking forward to performing in America with them, so please look forward to it. We will do our best! Thank you very much!
Interview by Sarah; photos by Kei
Thank you to Riku for taking time to answer our questions; thank you to CURE for making this possible.
links
chariots Official Website
chariots Official MySpace
CURE Official Website
CURE Official Myspace
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