INTERVIEW ~ Takuya Angel: April 15, 2009
Anime Matsuri ~ Houston, TX
After both a wildly succesful fashion show and a rave, Takuya Angel managed to extract himself from the busy dealer's room at Anime Matsuri to answer a few of our questions.
Could you please introduce yourself for all of your American fans reading JRockEventsUSA.com?
Takuya Angel: My name is Takuya, and I'm from Tokyo. I do DJing there, and clothing lines. And I just recently made a new mini-album CD and I hope everyone listens to it. Yoroshiku!
About your CD; you named your new mini-album Ima wa Mukashi. What do the words Ima wa Mukashi mean to you?
Takuya Angel: Like a traditional Japanese story, just kind of equivalent to how long, long ago, how we start our traditional stories. Um, for Ima wa Mukashi, basically it means at this moment right now, it will be considered as a "past" after a few years. And that's how I see things. Old things can also equal new things, depending on how you see it. And so, whatever we think is new right now- "it's new, it's new"- it's actually going to be old. That's what it means.
You wrote the wa in Ima wa Mukashi in katakana. Is there a reason for that?
Takuya Angel: In the beginning of the Showa period, lots of people mostly would use katakana in their writings, so it's kind of in that style.
What words would you use to describe your designs?
Takuya Angel: In English, it will mean "mix". But in Japanese, I will say "wa". Wa basically means "traditional Japanese", but at the same time, it also means "mix".
Do you and Aiko-san have an equal part in designing for your line?
Takuya Angel: We talk a lot about fashion things, and that's where lots of ideas are born. She also helps with creating the image, and she gives me ideas. She doesn't draw, but I basically use what she gives me as inspiration, and I make that into a drawing, and make them into clothes. So she's very important in part of creating the clothes.
Hariko-chan and Hariko-kun feature prominently in many of your designs. What made you use a dog as your mascot?
Takuya Angel: It's kind of like a mascot of a gift shop in Asakusa, which is in Tokyo. But in a deeper meaning, it's actually from Japanese temples. At the entrance, there are two dogs- two guard dogs for the gods inside. There's a female, and a male. And so, it kind of basically means female and male... they have a good relationship; it also means husband and wife having a good relationship. And to me, I think family is very important in the world, and it's kind of like a key to having peace everywhere, world peace, so it's very valuable to have a good relationship.
What is your design process like?
Takuya Angel: So basically I have a key word, and then I think of an image, then I draw them out. And then I create the clothing, and that's my path.
What's the key word for this? Takuya Angel was wearing pink hakama pants
Takuya Angel: For this, I really like samurai fashions, and so I had an image of hakama and haori*. And then the way the Japanese dressed like this with samurai fashions, and that's an image I can create that's good. [*Ed. note: the haori is a men's lightweight silk kimono-style jacket, worn to denote increased formality.]
What advice would you give to someone just beginning to discover their own fashion style?
Takuya Angel: Just... to do a whole top and bottom and things like that is very hard, so you should just work with what you're good at right now. Like if you're good at doing shirts, keep working on that, and then take time, and start to do other parts. Like my clothing basically has no genre, because I mix lolita, punk, gothic, and see what they end up as. So... yeah.
This is your first time appearing for an event in the US. Have you ever been to the US before?
Takuya Angel: I haven't been here for vacation or anything, so this is my very very first time. But I have been to Guam... but I haven't been anywhere here.
Why did you go to Guam?
Takuya Angel: I was on a business trip from where I used to work.
Ahh. What were your impressions, or what did you expect coming to the US?
Takuya Angel: I thought that America loves war, and they make good movies, and have good music... and kind of like "world police" type of thing. I was actually very surprised to see lots of Japanese culture incorporated.
There's a double-influence: America influences Japan, and Japan influences America. Do you think Japan influences America more than America influences Japan, or is it the other way around?
Takuya Angel: For Japan, historically, they have lots of influences from China, you know? They basically incorporate those influences into their own culture. And then after the war, Americans decided to come in, gave a bunch of influence, and they started to make that into their own as well. And recently, anime culture kind of has risen... and this actually has come to America a little bit, like some fans. But I still feel probably Americans influence Japan a little bit more.
Since you have DJed both in America and Japan, what are the biggest differences between the two?
Takuya Angel: In America, it's like... the people start dancing since the beginning, but in Japan, they don't necessarily start in the beginning. After a little bit, so...
Americans are very immediate people.
How would you describe your DJing style?
Takuya Angel: Recently, I've been listening to a lot of European type... I used to like American techno type of things, and I really want to mix genres together. And this time I was thinking of gothic pop, but... really, um, I really didn't have any genres, I just kind of work with what image I have then.
How did you get started DJing and designing?
Takuya Angel: I used to go to clubs a lot, and that's how I got started with DJing. For designing, I used to work with selling clothes for like, seven years, and that's how I got into the world of clothes.
You often collaborate with different artists on projects. Who has been your favorite to work with so far?
Takuya Angel: I worked with this person called Agni-Vayu for accessories, and it was pretty fun. I just recently worked with SiSeN, and he helped me make hair pieces, and he helped me choose colors for things I was making. It was very fun to work with him too.
Personally, what is your favorite piece you have designed?
Takuya Angel: Hairpieces.
What message would you like to give to your American fans?
Takuya Angel: I hope you wear my clothes, and wear them outside, wear them at conventions, or go to a club!
Thank you!
Takuya Angel: Thank you. (laughs)
interview by Kara; photos by Jerusha; transcription by Casey
Thanks to Takuya Angel for taking the time to answer our questions; thanks to Darkest labyrinth, Tainted Reality, and Anime Matsuri for making this possible
links
Takuya Angel Official Website
Takuya Angel Official Myspace
Takuya Angel Official Music Myspace
Tainted Reality
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