#yokan

[acquired-stardust]

Mega Man Legends 2 Playstation 2000

[alienorchids]

Dir en grey 予感 card, 1999

[saimusage]

"Anne Shirley" Japanese opening (non-credit version)

Song title is "Yokan" sung by Tota.

The anime is currently available to watch in Crunchyroll (US and Europe) and Ani-One Youtube channel (Asia).

Source: Official "Anne Shirley" channel on Youtube.

[yridenergyridenergy]

Dir en grey interview translation notes around The Devil In Me

Just some of the more interesting bits from the single's booklet and from PHY vol. 25.

Kyo

He was the one who came up with the title, and the title was determined before they even attached a song to it. The band basically decided to set a date for a new single ahead of time, not too long after 19990120's release, then they had just one song selection meeting (usually, they have three) to pick a song to work with toward becoming "The Devil In Me". After scheduling a release date, they had to pick a title before even knowing what song would be part of that release for production/logistical reasons.

Kyo wrote the lyrics of The Devil In Me based on his sense of dissociation from world events, how his own issues are not aligned with what the world cares about. He finds that people's lives are sometimes pre-determined the moment they are born. It's really a reflection on: "Why am I the way I am?"

The chorus has so many layers because Kyo wanted to illustrate that inner evil, or wickedness.

While re-recording Yokan, Kyo realized that he used to sing in short bouts, taking a breath more regularly, whereas he's evolved to sing as much as he can in a single, long breath now.

The small changes made to the lyrics of Cage just serve to help Kyo feel more immersed in that old poem, but if he'd wanted to change the lyrics to represent his current mindset, clearly he would have composed a completely new, different song.

Kyo commented in PHY vol. 25 that if the producers wanted a band that sells a lot, they would have had to replace him with someone who is taller, has a nice face and that composes songs that appeal to a wider audience. But around their debut, Kyo had to bend to some of the producers' demands because he had to rely on their knowledge of what would make the band successful. He wanted to make a very dark band, but he had to accept to make songs like Yokan.

"It wouldn't be appropriate to sing about corpses and internal organs to a melodious song such as Yokan (lol)."

Kyo feels like Dir en grey is the toughest band for him to be a part of, because the band's shows are especially mentally difficult.

Kaoru

The music of The Devil In Me was Kaoru's idea.

Kaoru agrees that the song kind of ends in a way that the band could have, in the past, followed up on with a second section of the song, but they felt like ending it in a more simple way now, which still represents the band's current state.

Die

The band had a discussion in a dressing room during Tour23 Phalaris Final –The scent of a peaceful death- and that's where they came to an understanding of where they wanted to take the band next. Kyo brought them ideas on what he felt that the next single song should sound like, but in the end, at the selection meeting, the majority of the band chose a completely different song than the other of the 5 that Kyo preferred. He's fine with letting the majority win.

Die started working out in 2018 to make sure to stay in shape for stage performances, and I think that he mentioned that it's important for him to appear young and healthy so that the fans who follow the band also don't feel old.

For Die, he was in part less active on stage during the Dum Spiro Spero era because the songs were dark and complex, so he had to focus more. Because of that, he couldn't enjoy the actual shows as much.

Toshiya

Toshiya mentioned that doing commemorative tours and shows is really just fan service.

Toshiya described Dir en grey as a group of five dictators. Their enemies and friends/allies are all inside that group, and the past 25(+) years have been a continuation of challenges to bring the band forward despite this type of chemical reaction between five egos.

Apparently the band never has casual "weird" conversations where they chat about their interests of the moment, but they quietly observe the others without interacting, like by observing what kind of clothes they wear or are into.

Shinya

Contrary to the band's habit, the vocals did not even exist yet when Shinya had to compose and record his drumming for The Devil In Me. When the vocals were eventually recorded, they kind of matched what Shinya had expected.

However, overall, a couple of members of the band feel like The Devil In Me might be a song that people react to with: "I don't get it", rather that just liking or disliking it.

Shinya dissing The Marrow of a Bone again hahah.

Shinya described The Devil In Me as mysterious, inexplicable.

He started taking some lessons from Buck-Tick's "Anii" (Toll Yagami) to learn a new drumming method. In the past, at the very beginning of his career, Shinya used to wear lead weights at his ankles to hit the pedal heavier and develop muscles, but Yoshiki and other seniors told him how to actually play and he quickly got rid of the weight belts.

[hebezuart]

[2024] I think my favorite thing about Yokan is that he has absolutely no game but still manages to bag the baddest bitches ever. Funniest of these is literal actual Frieza.

[ninaskylight]

The Most Handsome Man! 💖

[beneaththetangles]

Top Five Anime Openings (OPs) for Spring 2025

It’s time once again to drop our picks for the top five openings of the anime season! Here are our selections for the best OPs of spring 2025:

Here are the OPs we selected:

“Honey Lemon” by NACHERRY, The Shiunji Family Children

“Yokan” by Tota, Anne Shirley

“Kekka Alright” Kocchi no Kento, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes

“Kaseijin” by Yorushika, Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary Season 2

“Watch me!” by YOASOBI, Witch Watch

Honorable Mention: “INERTIA” by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Rei, To Be Hero X

What’s your favorite OP of the season? Are there any we missed?

We hope you enjoy our selections! Please follow us and share our video on Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter!

[tanuki-kimono]

ADORABLE cat themed autumnal wagashi by Beniya entitled [neko no sanpomichi] or “cat stroll”. It has yokan (bean jelly) and red beans mimicing autumn leaves with an ukishima (steamed cake) iron-branded with tiny paws.

They also have a super cute black cat design:

which also exists in other variations: