Translation ( Please feel free to correct me if i have any mistake)
On June 21, Kami passed away due to a subarachnoid hemorrhageā¦ The event was so sudden that it left not only the editorial team, but also writer Mitsuru Hirose, who has long followed MALICE MIZER together with this magazine, unable to hide his shock. Yet, to move beyond the sorrow, and to keep sharing what Kami left behind for us, we look forward and bring you this memorial feature. From the bottom of our hearts, we pray for Kamiās peaceful rest.
Even now, I donāt use a computer, i still type my manuscripts on a word processor. When I hit the key for ākaā in hiragana, sometimes it converts instantly to āKami.ā From now on, as I type out these words filled with mourning for Kami, how many times will I press ākaā? And someday, will there come a day when I forget that ākaā once became āKamiā?
That day was my 35th birthday.
And on top of that, it was the release date of the MALICE MIZER book that compiled my serialized articles in this magazine: āAa, Mujouā (Ah, Cruelty). After finishing my usual job teaching at a vocational school twice a week, I went into town that evening. At this age, I wasnāt planning to have a birthday party or anything, but just out of habit, I stopped by a bookstore. Seeing the book lined up on the shelf, I thought:
āOh, itās properly being sold,ā and smiled to myself, feeling a quiet satisfaction. Around 8 PM, just as I was thinking of heading home, my cell phone rang. It was Sasaki san from MALICE MIZERās record label.
āHello, is this Hirose san? What time will you be getting home today?ā
Startled by how suddenly and quickly he spoke, I wondered what could be happening.
āIām going to send a fax to your home now. Please check it as soon as you get back.ā
āHmā¦ this must be MALICE MIZER related,ā I thought. Maybe theyāre finally announcing the new vocalist? I let my imagination wander and smiled quietly. But thenā¦ why wouldnāt Sasaki-san just tell me directly? I reasoned he might be trying to surprise me, so I asked:
But Sasaki san, flustered, shot back immediately:
Then he abruptly hung up. Question marks flooded my mind. Anyway, I figured Iād better hurry home and see the fax. Ten minutes later, as I walked toward the station, my cell phone lit up again, it was Nishikawa san from the magazineās editorial department.
āHirose-san, something terrible has happened. Kami san hasā¦ā
That was how, for the first time, I learned the sad news. Still holding the phone to my ear, I sank down onto the sidewalk in shock.
2) Second photo translation:
Kami Memorial Special Feature ā Rest in Peace... Kami
The drummer of MALICE MIZER, Kami, whom this magazine has supported over the years, has left this world. After the announcement of this sad news, we received many messages from readers addressed to Kami. We would like to share some of them here.
āJune 25 was the release date of the special book, wasnāt it? And on that very day, it was announced that Kami had returned to the sky. Is this fate too? It feels so merciless. Butā¦ we must keep walking forward, right? Iām grateful to have lived in the same era as these five members of MALICE MIZER, and to have experienced their music and their stage performances. I know I must move on, butā¦ please, just give me a little more time.ā
<Kumiko Seki, Tochigi Prefecture>
āA friend called to share the sad news. I had just been watching the Yokohama Arena video recently and was thinking, āMALICE MIZER seems to feel even stronger now.ā In the magazine photos, Kami had been looking really good lately, too. I want to keep being a fan of MALICE MIZER from now on, whether itās when they were five, four, or each one of them individually, because I love them all.ā
āI read the special book āAh, Mujouā (āOh, Crueltyā). I was deeply moved. The change in the membersā feelings, especially Kamiās (his growth), feels almost too heavy for me right now. Iāve realized once again that Kami and MALICE MIZER will remain in my heart forever.ā
<Rie Terada, Gifu Prefecture>
āWhile I was in the middle of reading āAh, Mujouā, I heard from a friend about Kamiās passing. I donāt even know how many hours I cried. Now, Iāve calmed down a bit, but when I finished reading, I was speechlessā¦ His every word kept swirling in my headā¦ I donāt know what to do now. I still canāt quite believe itā¦ But I want to keep living, believing in what he did. I want to keep trying my best.ā
āToday, on the 25th, I just learned of Kamiās sad passing. My heart is filled with so many emotions I canāt put into words. But I believe that MALICE MIZER will continue from here on. Iām glad I got to know them.ā
āKami passed away on June 21. When I heard this sad news, I was so shocked I couldnāt believe it. I believe Kami will be watching over the future of MALICE MIZER from heaven. I too want to support and watch over them from now on.ā
<Miyuki Hamada, Saitama Prefecture>
āRight now, my mind is completely blank. Kami once said, āI donāt think God exists,ā but if God really does exist, I find myself blaming Him right nowā¦ āWhy?ā But then I also think, if it were Kami, heād firmly say, āThis too is fate, destiny.ā It feels like Iām trapped in a dream. I wish I could wake up soonā¦ā
<Mikiko Sakurauchi, Miyagi Prefecture>
āThat Kami died right before the release of the special book feels so frustrating. I wanted him to do so much more. I wanted to hear more songs by Kami. Even with just the remaining three members, I want MALICE MIZER to remain immortal.ā
<Sachiko Kobayashi, Gunma Prefecture>
āAt first, I looked to MALICE MIZER only for answers, but my way of thinking has clearly changed. I respect them so much now, and Iām proud of them for having such influence. Even now that Kami is gone, I want to accept both that he lived and that he has left this world, and to keep loving MALICE MIZER. That feeling wonāt change. Theyāve reached a new crossroads, but I hope theyāll keep going forward toward the truth. No matter what happens, I want to keep looking forward and moving on.ā
<Aki Kanazawa, Chiba Prefecture>
UV is inviting messages from readers addressed to Kami.
ć102-18679 ę±äŗ¬é½å代ē°åŗäŗēŖēŗ6-2 (ę Ŗ)ć½ćć¼ć»ćć¬ćøć³ćŗ UVē·ØééØćARNć»Kamićäæ
You can also send messages through the UV website (see address below).
If sending by email, please make sure to put āARNć»Kamiäæā in the subject line.
We look forward to hearing from you.
3) Third photo translation:
Kami Memorial Special Feature ā Rest in Peace... Kami ~au revoir~
We present messages sent to the UV editorial department for Kami. Surely they have reached Kami.
Kami, please rest peacefully. It has been about a month since Kami left this world so suddenly. There were many messages we could not introduce this time as well, but may they all reach heaven.
(Sorry for crying so muchā¦ sorry for making you worry. The way you lived your life was manly and so cool. Even if our forms change, I hope fate will let us meet again. I will always, always keep loving MALICE MIZER. Kami, itās because you were there. And because youāll always be in my heart, I can go on living. So many people who loved you will never forget you, and will keep moving forward with their lives. The feelings entrusted to your drumming, and the sounds born from it , I love them. And above all, I love Kami himself. Ukyou Kamimura, thank you so very much.)
āMoa (Asako Maeda, Saitama Prefecture)
āIām truly happy to have met you and to have lived in the same era as you. Without knowing you, I donāt think Iād be who I am now. When I was deeply troubled and feeling down, Kami, you reached out your hand to save me. Of course, you didnāt know me, but you canāt imagine how much your voice, your drumming, and your existence saved me. Finally, finally, I got your photo from the fan club lottery. Iāll treasure it forever. And I promise to keep loving MALICE MIZER. If souls really can meet again, please come see me. Because Kami will forever be a member of MALICE MIZERā¦ā
āKami san, thank you for teaching us so many things through your drumming. I promise Iāll keep supporting MALICE MIZER for your sake too. If there really is a place called heaven, please watch over the remaining three members from there. And rest peacefully. Finally, thank you so much for all the memories. I will absolutely never forget you.ā
āOn June 25, I learned of Kami sanās passing through the newspaper, but I couldnāt believe it for a while. Since becoming a fan of MALICE MIZER, Iāve always been supported by their songs and by their very presence. For someone like me, itās unbearably sad and hard to accept that one of them, Kami san, is now gone from this world. But Iām proud to have encountered a band like MALICE MIZER, and a wonderful drummer like Kami san. From now on, together with Kami-san in heaven, I want to keep watching over and supporting MALICE MIZERās new journey. I also hope that UV magazine will keep supporting MALICE MIZERās activities. And from the bottom of my heart, I pray for Kami sanās peaceful repose. Please rest gently and peacefully in heavenā¦ā
āNatsumi Miyake, Osaka Prefecture
āThe other day, I saw you in a dream. We talked and talked as if we had been old friends for years. That morning, I felt strangely happy, and even my normally painful work felt enjoyable. But after work ended, I got the worst email from a friend. I didnāt know what to do. You used to talk often about ādeath,ā but I never thought it would come like this. Getting to see you the day before the news (even if only in a dream) meant so much to me. Thank you. Iāll do my best to keep living , for your share too. And Iāll keep watching over MALICE MIZER from now on. Well then, see you again. Someday, in a dream.ā
āShihoko, Ibaraki Prefecture
āOn August 11, Kami returned to the sky. But itās only his form thatās gone; Kamiās spirit will never die. Even now, my heart is still full of sadness and disbelief. But just like before, I still love MALICE MIZER more than anyone. Yet, if we keep clinging to our grief, Kami wonāt be able to ascend to heaven. Thatās why I chose to accept the truth of Kamiās passing, and to keep supporting the MALICE MIZER that Kami loved so much. I believe Kami has become a god and is watching over us. And also watching over MALICEās futureā¦ Kami chan, thank you for everything. Iām always with you.ā
āKina Kimura, Hiroshima Prefecture
āKami isnāt sleeping. Even now, he lives on inside us and inside MALICE MIZER. It took me time to face reality too. The day I heard the sad news, I opened my mailbox and found the fan club newsletter, with Kami smiling so brightly. Turning the pages, tears just kept flowing and wouldnāt stop. The many important and precious things Kami entrusted to us . Iāll never forget them and will keep them in my heart. Thatās what I can do now. Though I always relied on Kami and couldnāt do anything for him, from now on I want to do everything I can for him. Iāll keep walking forward too.ā
āTenjin Kaion, Aichi Prefecture
āOn the morning of June 20, when I saw the article about Kami-san, I couldnāt believe it and read it over and over. MALICE MIZER are people who made me love music even more deeply. They changed my life, truly. Iām so grateful. I never got to meet Kami san even once, but his drumming was really cool. Please, someday in heaven, let me hear your amazing drumming.ā
āOn the night of the 15th, I heard about his death on the radio. I couldnāt understand what had happened, and all I could hear was the pounding of my heart beating so fast. Now that about a month has passed since his death, sometimes I find myself forgetting heās gone, and then suddenly remember he isnāt in this world anymore, and Iām overwhelmed by deep, helpless sorrow. Even though I know that being sad forever wouldnāt make him happy, the grief of losing someone I loved so much is deep and seems endless. I still canāt overcome it. But I believe that someday, Iāll be able to get past his death and move forward with MALICE MIZER, carrying what he left for us. So for now, is it okay if I still cry for him?ā
āAtsuko Hasegawa, Ibaraki Prefecture
āKami. Iām so glad I got to meet you. I can no longer confirm your existence with my eyes or ears, but in my heart, I feel your heartbeat continuing, gently pushing me forward. So I think itās about time for me to return to the self I was when you were alive, and devote myself even more to what I must do. When will we meet again , decades? Hundreds of years? Or maybe itāll be sooner, who knows. When that time comes, Iāll have so many stories about this world to share, so please wait for me. And I want to play Othello with you too. Thank you for everything up to now. And thank you in advance for whatās to come.ā
