With Mass of the Fermenting Dregs' extensive European tour on the horizon, we looked back at how the band has evolved over the years (more than 2 decades!) and found international success.
Once an underground secret of Japanās indie rock scene, Mass of the Fermenting Dregs have overcome breakups and reinvention to become one of
Honest Choice! (In 2006 too!) - Pick your Best 3: Aran Kei
This GRAPH feature ran in the mid-2000s. Takarasiennes would be given categories to pick theirĀ āTop 3ā² for. Aranās ran in the September issue.
An outtake from the back of the magazine is included.
Honest Choice! (In 2006 too!) - Pick your Best 3: Aran Kei
Choice! - What do you usually drink during a show?
#1: Water
I feel like drinking water is purifying to the body, so during a performance Iāll drink water rather than sports drinks or other things. I like soft water better than hard water, so Iāll always order mineral water from the Zaiho onsen in Kagoshima and drink that.
#2: Luo Han Guo*/Hawthorn broth
Yabuki Shou told me that this was good for the throat: you dissolve blocks of concentrate made from Luo Han Guo fruit and Hawthorn in hot water. Itās a little bit sweet and really soothing to the throat. Even during the summer I always use it in hot water. During a performance Iāll put the Luo Han Guo/Hawthorn broth along with regular water in a container so that I can choose which one I want when I go into the wings.
#3: Grape Fanta
I like how it has just the right amount of sweetness, and the carbonation isnāt too intense, so Iāve been drinking it for ages. After a performance, the junior actresses will always leave a chilled can of it on my dressing room table for me (laughs). Honestly, I like this one the best, but I only drink one 160ml can of it a day, and only after a performance, so Iām putting it third.
Choice! - What are the most interesting books youāve read?**
#1: Soukyuu no Subaru
This novel is set in China, at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Iām so into it (laughs). In the story, the boy whoās the main character believes what heās been told by a fortuneteller and decides that he should make it reality, so he sets out to open the way through his own strength. I can really sympathize with the main characterās lifestyle, and it also makes me think āitās incredible that he can believe thatā.
#2: Tokyo Tower - Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad
This is an autobiographical novel from the life of the author, Lily Franky, and it mainly tells the story of Lily and his mother. Itās written in plain language, so Lilyās love for his mother resonates directly with my heart...itās really moving.
#3: Half a Confession
This is a story about a man who killed his sick wife. The reason why he committed the murder, and what he did afterwards, come to light through the point of view of everyone investigating the case. When the whole situation became clear, I cried so much that I couldnāt keep reading. I read this kind of really emotional novel a lot, but since Iāll cry at the drop of a hat (laughs) I canāt really read them in places where a lot of other people are around.
Choice! - What countries do you most want to go to?
#1: Egypt
I want to see the Pyramids and the Sphinx and everything in real life with my own eyes and experience how big they really are. Iāve always been interested in Egypt, and once I had made plans to go, but just then it suddenly got a lot less safe, so I ended up not being able to doā¦ I definitely want to go one day.
#2: The Maldives
This is the resort I most want to go to. When I first saw a photo of the cottages above the water, that beach in the Maldives was so beautiful that I can still picture it clearly. I really want to stay in one of those cottages over the water and read books and things and just relax.
#3: Monaco
It has that image of being āthe country for celebritiesā, so itās a place Iām really longing to go to (laughs). And according to the song I was singing in the show I performed in about Monaco, Meet Again, it seems like itās safe too (laughs). Although Iād actually like to live thereā¦ (laughs). Well, even if thatās never going to happen, Iād like to visit at least once.
*A fruit that is used in Chinese traditional medicine.
** As far as I can tell, none of these books have English releases, but #2 and #3 have film releases that would be available with subtitles.
Outtake:
Touko-san (Aran) says she canāt really read novels in places where there are other people around.
āIf I was reading a novel by myself and then became so moved that I started to cry, that would look really weird, right? But, when Iām on a train or something, so I have some time, Iāll end up dying to read... And then, if I start reading, Iāll end up in tears... (laughs), so it just doesnāt work, you see (laughs).ā
New Article Feature: Vulkan | The Grammy's Must Watch Performances
New featured article up over on Vulkan! I dive into the most highly anticipated performances happening this Sunday at the Grammy Awards. Ā Check it out here!
thank you so much Drawing Locus for writing this article about my artwork! it made my day! they feature artist regularly and you will learn so much things from it. check out their site.
