【Interview】ClubZy x Vijuttoke x アンティック-珈琲店-
LIVE CAFE 21th spring NYAPPY
LIVE CAFE 21th spring NYAPPY
--The current members of AN CAFE have been together for 18 years. In September of last year, the music video for "Cherry Saku Yuuki!!" was re-recorded and released on YouTube, filmed in the same location as 16 years ago. What are your feelings about "Cherry Saku Yuuki!!"?
Teruki: That's right. Although the credits say that I composed the song, the truth is that I just brought the original song to the studio and then all the members took it apart and worked on it together. To be honest, I don't even remember what the first demo I made was like now (laughs). The producer at the time and Miku were the ones who created the core, and then everyone else added substance to it.
Miku: I think the studio was NOAH in Yoyogi.
Teruki: Yeah, that might have been it! Back then, it wasn’t like today, where people would send data back and forth; everyone would gather in a studio to make music.
Kanon: Yes, yes, that’s right.
Teruki: Everyone’s opinions on the original song were incorporated into the song and it was completed that way. That’s where the magic happens.
Kanon: Yes, yes, that’s right.
takuya: That was 17 years ago.
Yuuki: Wow, it’s been so long.
--It was a good time, wasn’t it? It was a time when bands could create their own sound by playing instruments live together. Nowadays, people don’t even jam in the studio to make songs.
Miku: We don’t make songs by improvising anymore.
Teruki: The singles we released as part of the Harajuku Trilogy in July, August, and September 2005 (Tekesuta Kousen, Escapism, Merrymaking) were songs that we created by improvising in the studio.
Miku: At that time, we had the goal of making punk music, and I think we were all working towards that goal.
Kanon: That's right. Takuya and Yuuki hadn't joined the band yet when we made "Harajuku Trilogy," but when we made "Cherry Saku Yuuki!!," we were still making music the same way we did back then.
Miku: Before our first hiatus (after our performance of “LIVE CAFE 2010 King of Harajuku Dance Rock” ~Suddenly Nyappy Legend~” on January 4, 2010 at Nippon Budokan), I feel like we used to write songs with a theme in mind. The theme was “We want to make a song like that,” and all the members created the song with that image in mind.
Kanon: Yes. It wasn’t something that was firmly decided, but rather that we were given a general theme, so I felt really free to create a variety of songs and take them with me.
Takuya: The first song I wrote for An Cafe was “Koritsu Hospital.” I wrote that because I wanted to add my own unique style to the style of An Cafe at the time. Thinking about it now, I feel elements of the hard rock and metal that I liked at that time in many places (laughs).
--That’s right, Takuya’s roots were in hard rock and metal.
takuya: That’s right (laughs). I loved metal. from the 80s and 90s. Teruki also liked metal, but he liked Nordic metal, so it was a bit different (laughs). But gradually I started thinking that I wanted to write songs that Cafekkos would like, so I started listening to a lot of genres that I don’t usually listen to, and it felt like I was in front of An Cafe’s songs. But it didn’t feel forced, and I actually found it quite fun at the time.
Teruki: At first it felt like we were trying out different personalities. I definitely feel like I have more freedom after the first hiatus (laughs). I have the impression that a variety of songs were born under those circumstances.
Miku: Before our hiatus, my producer and I lived close to each other, so we would talk about the direction of our songs and costumes until the middle of the night (laughs). I talked about what I had said there with the other members and we solidified a lot of things around the theme that we thought was good.
--I see. Ah, sorry, Yuuki, you haven’t said anything yet (laughs).
Miku: (looking at Yuuki) Huh? Yuuki-kun, are you awake (laughs)? Aren't you sleeping?
Yuuki: I wasn't sleeping (laughs)! I'm awake! I'm listening carefully (laughs)!
--Ahahaha. Miku's comments and the way Yuuki gets teased haven't changed at all since then (laughs).
Miku: Nothing has really changed (laughs).
Yuuki: Nothing has really changed (laughs)! "Cherry Saku Yuuki!!" was written about a year after Takuya and I joined the band, but it doesn't seem old at all when I listen to it now. It's been a long time coming, but before I joined, during the interview before auditioning, I was given all of An Cafe's recordings and listened to them. That was when I really fell in love with An Cafe. I liked J-POP, and at the time, I wasn't very familiar with visual kei. I thought that visual kei music was only heavy songs with death voices and screaming vocals, so even that concept was completely destroyed. I became a fan right away. My impression was that there were a lot of catchy and great songs. Among them, "Cherry Saku Yuuki!!" was my favorite song. That hasn't changed to this day.
takuya: An Cafe's songs are strange, aren't they? Time has passed, but they still feel fresh. I really think An Cafe is a mysterious place. Even when I listen to it now, it doesn't feel old at all. In that sense, I think An Cafe's music and visuals were all different from others.
--Certainly. Even back then, it was unique. Both the sound and visuals are in the "AN CAFE" genre. An Cafe's unique artwork and visuals are also part of its personality. So, what do you think of the changes in that regard?
Miku: Back then, we were very particular about creating artwork that was synonymous with An Cafe. Of course, that's still something I value, but now that I've resumed my activities, I want to put more emphasis on the message I want to convey. But we think that there are many fans who like An Cafe's art and visuals, so it wouldn't be right to change them completely, and it's an aspect that we want to keep unchanged, so we'd like to present "the current An Cafe" without losing sight of our core values. To give an example, it's a change similar to Shinohara Tomoe's. Shinohara-san had such a unique appearance that she was nicknamed "Shinora," and that was her individuality, but now, instead of the unkempt appearance she had back then, she has become more beautiful over the years, and I think she is able to present the "Shinohara Tomoe of today" without losing her essence. I hope that An Cafe can change or evolve in this way as well. We want to convey what we want to say as a band through our music and songs, and also continue to deliver works of art that are true to our roots as An Cafe.
Kanon: I think it would be great if we could create a relationship where both our fans and ourselves feel, "We've both grown up." I think a relationship like that is really wonderful. It seems like aging isn't a negative thing for either of us. I think it's really wonderful to be able to say to each other, "We've both aged well." I would be happy if everyone felt the same.
--It's a really wonderful relationship.
Kanon: The visual kei veterans are very energetic and the fans seem very happy about it, so when I see that, I admire them and think it’s great. I want to be like that too. I want to stay a cool older man forever.
takuya: Cool older guys are great (laughs). But An Cafe is really weird, and although we have an idol look, our songs are heavy and pop, and since we’re a real band, we have a lot of male fans, and it was a place that made us think, “Bands are great. An Cafe is great,” so I hope An Cafe will remain the same for everyone. Before I joined An Cafe, I had never worn such bright clothes, but they suited the band well. I hope we can continue to show the An Cafe of today without changing what was great about it back then.
Speaking of changes, Yuuki was the one who changed the most. Back then, people would wear afros and things like that, and their personalities were more distinct.
Yuuki: That's true (laughs). I wonder if this will be the first time I'll be standing in front of you with black hair. But I want to be the most active member of An Cafe, and I think it would be great to be a character. I also feel very happy when my fans tell me that "the essence hasn't changed."
Miku: Does "You haven't changed inside" mean you haven't grown up (laughs)?
Yuuki: No, that's not it (laughs)! Because now I'm a real adult!
Yuuki: I guess we can say that fundamental human nature doesn't change.
Miku: We're still dancing.
Yuuki: Can I say I'm dancing... Can I really dance (laughs)? Well, it looks like it's moving (laughs).
Miku: Well, this is Yuuki, so I guess it's okay (laughs)?
Yuuki: That's right (laughs).
Teruki: I think An Cafe's visuals and art aren't restrictive in the sense that you have to dress in a pop style, but rather send a more fundamental message: "Wear what you like! Do what you like!" It's great that we and our fans can live our lives the way we want, without worrying about what others think! Like that. I think there are a lot of fans who want to see An Cafe from back then, and I think it would be great if fans put on their old clothes and come to a live show. Let's make the live performance day a day like that! I think so. We're the same.
--I agree. Has there been any change in the way the songs you composed in the past sound now compared to when you sang them?
Teruki: There are a ton. It's true that the way I feel about "Cherry Saku Yuuki!!" is different now than it was back then. When we were shooting the music video last year, I listened to it more than ever. The lyrics of that song, which I listened to as a graduation song back then, really touched me now that I'm over 40.
--It's true that sometimes your own words from the past can give you the push you need.
Miku: That's true. Even if I'm writing the same thing, the way I express it can change the way I feel about it. As expected, my way of thinking doesn’t change much, so sometimes I realize that I was expressing my feelings with those words back then. I’m surprised at how little I’ve changed since the old days.
--There are times when I feel proud of myself for still being able to think that way.
Miku: Yes. In the past, I was positive about negativity. I believe that something can be born from negativity. Being negative also means being sensitive and easily hurt, but I think that because of that, you can notice those parts of other people, be sensitive to their kindness, and understand the value of it. I think if you’re too positive, you might not notice those kinds of things. I still believe that negativity is a very important emotion. So I think that’s something that won’t change.
Teruki: I understand that completely. Lyrics like “Even if I look back, there’s no tomorrow, but I won’t forget” really resonate with me. Even now. Let’s work hard in the future to achieve the things from the past that we’d like to redo! Like that. It’s become one of my life goals.
--That's the title of the concert on April 29th and 30th at Zepp Haneda.
Kanon: Exactly! Even when I practice "Cherry Saku Yuuki!!" alone, I always think to myself, "What a great song." It gives me a boost. It gives you motivation to look forward. It's brilliant, but I also really like the sentimental side of it. I think it's a song that has a mysterious power.
takuya: For me too, "Cherry Saku Yuuki!!" really touches my heart. It still touches me deeply when I hear it today. Messages like "Let's cherish the time we have now" and "Let's do our best even if we're apart" really resonate. I was 20 years old at the time and had a way of sounding like a 20-year-old, but it still resonates with me today.
Yuuki: I love the song, the lyrics, and the title "Smile Ichiban Ii Onna." It's the most important thing to me in life, and it's also become a lesson I've learned. When you talk to people, smiling changes their impression of you. It makes the other person smile too. Laughing can change you.
--That's absolutely true. What's also amazing is that just hearing the title makes the song play in my head. I think An Cafe's songs and words are very powerful.
Miku: That makes me happy. Even back then, I was trying to come up with an impressive sentence that would stick in people's minds. I hope people will listen to the song at Zepp Haneda on April 29th and 30th and relive all their memories.
--On the 29th, we will all say, "I hope to see you again when we grow up, when the cherry blossoms bloom" o(≧∀≦)o. I'm sure your fans are looking forward to seeing you again after so long, and it's also a time for them to relive their youth, but what kind of live show do you want to do?
Miku: I think a lot of Cafekos have come to see us over the years, and many of them have watched our shows multiple times, so I would like to create a setlist that includes a variety of songs that everyone would like to hear. I believe that this is truly a time when we reconnect with our youth, so although we will do our best to perform as we are now, I would be happy if we could create a show where Cafekkos can go and reconnect with their own youth.
takuya: I can only be grateful for being able to do this again. It's truly something I'm very grateful for. I thank the members, the cafe staff, and the employees, and I hope that this feeling can be conveyed in a live.
Yuuki: The other day, I hurt my knee while walking. I've recovered now, but as I get older, there are some things that I won't be able to push myself to do, so anyway, while I can, I should move as much as I can and enjoy it to the fullest! That's what I thought. So I would be really happy if we could all enjoy this time together.
Kanon: I sound like an old couple enjoying climbing mountains, saying "we have to go while we can" (laughs). But it's true. I want to enjoy this time to the fullest. In that sense, I want to put on a live show that everyone can enjoy. I think there were different times when people became fans of An Cafe, so I want to touch everyone's youth. Poke poke.
--The ending... (laughs).
Kanon: Poke poke (laughs).
--It's comforting to see that nothing has really changed (laughs).
Teruki: Seriously (laughs). What can we do to make people who gather here smile? I'd like to create a live performance with that in mind. I want to do everything I can on this day to enjoy every moment.
--On May 2nd, Psycho le Cému will be hosting the "Himeji Shirasagi ROCK FES 2025" at the Himeji Acrie Grand Hall. How does Antique Coffee Shop feel about performing alongside artists like Psycho le Cému, PENICILLIN, SHAZNA, and DEZERT?
Miku: I just want to do my best to entertain all the Cafekos who come. In the past, I used to approach places like festivals thinking of them as a battle, but now I think that if I can entertain the Cafekkos in front of me, that fun will spread. So I want to put together an exciting setlist and do my best to cheer up the audience.
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