We Love All

From the Not Greatest Site updates page:

2013-04-04 Update! We have posted a live report of "We Love All," the special extra final show on the Cosmic Dreamer tour, which was held as a charity event to support relief for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake on the two-year anniversary of the tragedy, March 11th, 2013.  Needless to say, this will be our last live report of this tour, so savor it!  I feel like I've been doing nothing but write live reports since last June.  I'm developing carpal tunnel syndrome and I've used up all my jokes!  My brains are fried, like brain tempura!  I think it's about time for me to cut off to Hawaii.  But don't worry, I'll be back in June for a review of BUCK-TICK: THE MOVIE.  Starring Johnny Depp and John Hamm as Atsushi Sakurai, Ken Watanabe as Hidehiko Hoshino, Russell Brand as Toll Yagami, Peter Dinklage as Yutaka Higuchi, and Tilda Swinton as Hisashi Imai.  See you at Shinjuku Wald 9 on June 15th.

Please leave your comments here.

Mr. Imai says "Fuck Off"

As I don't currently have time to translate the whole of Imai's most recent blog post, I'll give you curious Blog-Tickers a little summary of it instead. 

HOWEVER...those of you studying Japanese, stop right here!  Do NOT scroll down!  This is a homework assignment.  Read the post yourselves, looking up all the words and kanji you don't know.  You may find Monash University's online Japanese-English dictionary helpful.  Once you're done reading, answer me the following questions:

1) The fan who sent Imai the email wanted to know one thing, but she also specifically mentioned a number of other things she didn't want to know.  What were the things she didn't want to know?

2) Who is the owner of the bar, and where is the bar located?

3) At the end of the post, Imai wonders what would happen if he started selling Buck-Tick goods at another store run by someone close to him.  Which store is he talking about?

If you get all three questions right, you get an A.

Okay, ready to go?

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Here's what happened.

An indignant fan of Imai's sent him an email expressing the sentiments of a group of Japanese Buck-Tick fans who like to make trouble online because they have nothing better to do (sound familiar?)  These fans were angry because they'd gotten wind that Imai had sold a number of the charity tote bags he'd designed at a certain store, without making any announcement about it on the Buck-Tick website.  The fans spent a lot of time bitching about this kerfuffle on Japanese Buck-Tick fan forums, and finally they decided to email Imai.  

The writer of the email accused Imai of "betraying the Buck-Tick fanbase" by secretly selling charity bags without letting the fan community know about it.  The writer then went on to ask Imai if he were really donating the proceeds of the sales to help Buck-Tick fan victims of the Great East Japan Nukequake, or if he was just saying that he would donate the money and in fact was keeping it for himself.  The writer concluded by saying that in her opinion, Imai should be free to be as much of a slimeball as he wants to be, but  whatever slimy things he does, he shouldn't put Buck-Tick's name on them (because that would make Yuta's pants slimy, and how can you slime up poor lil' Yuta?!?!111)

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Imai would like to clarify.

First of all, the "store" where the Tote Bags in Question were sold is a tiny bar owned by one of Imai's friends.  Some of the customers at this bar are Buck-Tick fans but most customers have never heard of the band.  However, the owner of the bar, being Imai's friend, had decided to advertise Imai's charity collection initiative at her bar.  She showed customers Imai's design, and several of the non-Buck-Tick fan customers liked Imai's design and expressed interest in buying the bag, since it was a charity donation.  Imai was pleased that they were interested, and sent the bar owner some bags to sell directly on his behalf so that the customers wouldn't have to go through the hassle of ordering off the Buck-Tick website.  Imai collected the money and donated it to charity.

Another friend of Imai's, who happens to be a musician, also sold some of the tote bags at a small concert he performed.  Once again, Imai collected the proceeds and donated them to charity.

In total, Imai sold 17 bags for a total of 17000 yen, all of which was donated to the Japan Red Cross along with all the proceeds from the Buck-Tick charity goods that were sold at live venues and through Buck-Tick's web shop.

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Second of all, Imai clarifies that the donations are not going to specifically help Buck-Tick fans, they are going to help Nukequake reconstruction at large.  And since the money is a charitable donation, it really doesn't matter whether the people who buy the charity goods are Buck-Tick fans or not...after all, the more people who buy them, the more money donated, and the more money donated, the better.  Naturally, the money is actually really being donated.  Buck-Tick is not pocketing it or embezzling it.  Therefore, Imai struggles to understand why these irate fans think he has betrayed his fanbase...

...he wonders, could it be because Imai has a bad reputation as being that guy who got arrested back in 1988?

Oh wait.  Imai realizes, he doesn't give a shit.

In conclusion, Imai says, "Fuck Off."

He also invites fans to send nice emails to bt@buck-tick.com.

寿記 02.04.2011 Report

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I have a report to make~

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As of Wednesday, 3/30, our collected earthquake relief funds totaled

2,460,580 yen.

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Thank you all so much.

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I'll report on it again soon.

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Also, keep checking the official site.

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IMAI 12:00

寿記 29.03.2011 March 29th (Tuesday) Email

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I got a whole slew more emails today.

Thank you.

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But, among them was an email from someone who is misunderstanding my purpose.

So, I'm going to write a little public message to that person.

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To K.Y.-san

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The link I posted on my blog, to the "Yokohama Romankan,"

It's not a link to a fan site.

It's the website of an art gallery.

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The reason I posted the link is that, as part of the Yokohama Romankan charity auction,

I will be exhibiting some of my own work.

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Also, with regard to your accusations that I am "waaay too pushy" and "totally full of myself"

on the topic of the Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake,

this isn't a matter of being "pushy" or not.

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Actually, I did (with a certain irony) think to myself, to use your own words,

"Why are you being such a fucking tight-assed downer all of a sudden?"

But, that's really not the point.

The point is, I'm actually just writing stuff that's common sense.

Yeah.

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And, well, it's my blog, so, I might as well write some of my own feelings.

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And about your comment,

"you don't have to keep going on about it till your blog looks like a fucking billboard"

I really don't give a crap about advertising or billboards

I just want to encourage people to do whatever it is they can do.

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And hmm, yeah...it's my blog.

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And, whatever I get criticized as being, really "hanging in there" is all anyone can do, at this point.

So, people, let's all hang in there.

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IMAI 22:05

All readers of Blog-Tick should know that since January 2006 (yes, you heard me, 2006) the Not Greatest Site/Blog-Tick team have had a strict policy of responding to flames in exactly the same way Imai so eloquently did: witty, level-headed public ridicule.

Also before you flame me and tell me that there is no Japanese profane interjection equivalent of "fucking," be aware that I translated this entry for diction and tone rather than for word-for-word accuracy...I wanted to give you a good feel of what the exchange might have sounded like if it had taken place in colloquial internet English instead of colloquial internet Japanese, and to highlight the difference in tone between the fan's email and Imai's response to the email.

Did I mention...Blog-Tick loves Imai?

寿記 25.03.2011 March 25th (Friday) Self Discipline and Indulgence

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Thank you for all your emails every day.

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In a lot of emails, I'm hearing people voicing doubts about these things, "self-discipline" and "indulgence."

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I know exactly how you feel.

I think a lot of people are being misdirected in the best way to channel their emotions and their desire to do something.

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I'm sure you all know this already, but

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What all of us who have not been directly injured by the disaster need to be doing is keeping the economy going.

The people under the jurisdiction of Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Tohoku Electric Power Co. will be saving electricity.

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There are stores in Western Japan that are shortening their hours to avoid "indulgence."

But, for them, I think there is really no need for this excess "self discipline," in the form of saving power.

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Instead of doing that, Western Japan needs to be building up steam economically, to help buoy up Eastern Japan, whose economy is currently largely at a standstill.

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You have to use money, consume products and services, keep the economy going.

If you keep the economy going at full speed, it will be easier for the people who have lost their jobs to find new jobs.

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Okay, we postponed the Buck-Tick tour, but it wasn't about "self-discipline" or about "indulgence," it's because there is a lot of danger and anxiety in the air and we felt there was no way we could have a live show without that interfering.

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Even if we got people all sweaty and worked up in the live house pit, people would still be thinking, "somehow, I feel down..." or "overall, I just feel bad..."

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But, yeah. Western Japan, I'm talking about Kansai, Shikoku, Sanyo/San'in and Kyuushuu, please, just keep spending money and keeping the economy going.

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If you do that, soon we'll be able to announce the new schedule for the postponed tour.

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For now, just sit tight.

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IMAI 14:51

I'm going to put in my two cents now, because this is a hugely important point that Imai is making. Western Japan has been largely undamaged by the disaster, and the Western Japanese power grid isn't even connected to the eastern power grid, so saving power does approximately nothing to help with the power shortage up north, though profligate consumption of resources is not something I endorse. But Imai's point is, holding back on normal life activities because you feel bad or worried about the quake/tsunami/meltdown not only doesn't help, it's actively bad for the country. And to a certain extent this goes for people in Kanto, too. For example, a lot of stores may be closed, but if there are stores that are open, shop at them. If there are restaurants/bars that are open, go out to eat and drink. Go to work, and work as productively as you can. I know most of the readers of this blog don't live in Japan but I'm going to say it anyway.

寿記 24.03.2011 March 24th (Thursday) Charity Auction

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I'm participating in an exhibition and charity auction at the Yokohama Romankan Gallery.

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I'm exhibiting three drawings I did for the mobile graphics download campaign.

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They'll be up next to a lot of wonderful pieces by a long of distinguished artists.

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Please come and see it.

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[official home page]

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IMAI 20:00

寿記 24.03.2011 March 24th (Thursday) Mobile Graphics Downloads

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About our mobile site fundraiser.

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We finally made it so that Docomo users who are not paid members can download the graphics, too.

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If you find one you like, please download it.

IMAI 16:32

A Picture of Romance

It appears that our very own Imai Hisashi has made his first foray into the world of visual arts. We knew he was an avid patron of the arts and art collector, as evidenced by the photos he displays on his blog of the many pieces he has displayed in his home, but now, it seems, he's actually drawing pictures. Funny in a way, since Sakurai, with his illuminated kanji, eerily expressive cartoon faces, minimalist yet evocative big-eyed cats, and meticulously lifelike swarms of sperm, has hitherto been the band's most accomplished visual artist. (Fun fact: according to his biography in the Love Me book, Sakurai won several awards for his drawings when he was in elementary school.)

However, now it seems Imai is determined to upstage him! Imai will be exhibiting three works as part of the "Otogibanashi no Sekai" ("Fairytale World") exhibit at the Yokohama Romankan ("Romance Gallery") from Saturday, March 26th, to Sunday, April 10th. The exhibit will be open every Friday-Monday from 1PM-6PM.

The works to be displayed will be used as designs for the downloadable mobile phone graphic schemes Buck-Tick is using in their Love & Media Portable site charity campaign. Unlike the other works on display at the exhibit, Imai's works will all be for sale by silent auction. Bids can be made at the exhibition or by email. The starting bid is 5000 yen, with bids increasing in 500 yen increments. Bidding will close at 6PM on April 10th, the last day of the exhibition, with all proceeds to be donated to the Japan Red Cross disaster relief fund. So, all you fans who were wondering what to do with your refunded Razzle Dazzle tour ticket money, or who just happen to be lucky and rich, unlike most of the unlucky, poor world, bid away, knowing safely that your money will be used to (hopefully) send food and diapers to homeless babies up in Tohoku, or life-saving medicine to sick, elderly folks evacuated from the irradiated regions of Fukushima.

To send in a bid by email, send a message to this address with the following info:

1. The title of the work you wish to bid on

2. The amount of your bid

3. Your name

4. Your address

5. You phone number

6. You email address

Bidding opens at 1PM on Saturday, March 26th.

The works to be exhibited can be viewed here.

If this sounds to you like somewhat late in life for Imai to have taken up a new hobby, well, it has to be said that music is probably still his most shining talent...he may have to keep working if he wants to beat Sakurai at kick-ass doodling. But his concern and dedication also counts for a whole lot.

Edit: Buck-Tick have added photos to their Love & Media Portable Download campaign. To reiterate, anyone can download these things, only suckers who use Docomo may still have to have a registered, paid identity. What do I know, I use SoftBank...the worst service but the cheapest rates, and they have SMAP as their official posterboys.

Also, Buck-Tick's Twitter is still full of boring repetitions of the same old news.

寿記 24.03.2011 March 24th (Thursday) Email

There's an email I want to share with you all.

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I'm just going to post the original text, as is.

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Day by day, little by little, the levels of radioactivity were going down.

We're so very, very grateful.

All those people at the site of the plants, who are putting their lives on the line for us--we can never thank them enough.

Yesterday I got my dispatch to come to work. I have rainy days off.

The other day, I heard from my father, who was talking to someone in the neighborhood, that people who had fled Fukushima were being placed in a special section in some restaurant, and the someone was asking them to be labeled somehow, as having come from Fukushima.

It really makes me sad.

And now all the television programming has gone back to normal.

My friend in Toyko was upset and asking me what to do because he missed out on a chance to meet someone.

People from Fukushima are just human beings like everyone else. Don't let yourself forget it.

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IMAI 9:42

寿記 23.03.2011 March 23rd (Wednesday) Feelings

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By the way, there has been some bashing going on, talk of "hypocrisy" and "self-aggrandizement," but...

What's really important is that the money and supplies actually get to the right place.

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(I mean, at times like these, you need to be careful of "smooth talkers")

(People also get taken in by rumors and chain emails)

(There are people who plot nasty schemes)

(Of course it's really foolish to put up collateral)

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It's not easy to figure these things out sometimes. There's a lot to take in.

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What's important is

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Maybe there is hypocrisy and self-aggrandizement involved, but what's important is that the money and supplies go to the right place.

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That's what the people in the areas hit by the disaster need.

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The point is, to help them, in a practical sense.

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Try not to use words like "hypocrisy" and "self-aggrandizement" too lightly.

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If putting my name or face on a campaign gets more people to donate money and supplies, I'll put my name or face on that campaign.

Collect the donations, and send them to Tohoku.

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That is the important thing.

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Whatever my "feelings" about it are...that stuff can come later.

IMAI 13:38

寿記 23.03.2011 March 23rd (Wednesday) Jojo

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I got a bunch more emails again today.

Thanks.

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Everyone's saying, "let's get the smiles back on our faces as soon as we can!"

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People who get it will get it.

This guy's strong spirit will never be broken. It's amazing.

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Hang in there.

IMAI 11:35

寿記 22.03.2011 March 22st (Tuesday) From a Classmate of Mine

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Today, I got an email from an old classmate of mine.

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Apparently he's gone to Sendai to help with the earthquake relief efforts.

(He says he's staying on the floor of an office, in a sleeping bag!)

Hang in there!

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Up north...

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Basically, they have nothing.

Wherever you go, people are waiting in long lines in the cold, and there's all these little kids with their mothers...

It's painful to watch.

Let's all work and pray for a quick recovery!!

(His email to me)

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...it's painful to imagine.

Yeah, let's hang in there!!

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He sent me these photos.

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I'm posting them, so I won't forget.

Let's hang in there.

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IMAI 11:56

寿記 21.03.2011 March 21st (Monday) Hyper Rescue

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The hyper rescue.

They are really working hard for us.

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Right now, it's raining here.

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Let's keep it up today.

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IMAI 08:49

Note: the hyper rescue team are the ones in the fire trucks dumping water on the nuclear reactors. To be honest, I'm not sure it's helping...radiation levels in Tokyo have risen slightly since the mysterious fire this evening. Please, all of you out there, keep sending us your prayers.

寿記 20.03.2011 March 20th (Sunday) Mobile Phone

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Thank you for all your downloads of our graphic scheme.

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Right now, only Docomo customers have to pay to become a member before they can download it, but

We're planning to fix it by Monday

So just wait a little longer.

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We'll also be adding more graphic schemes.

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Lend us your "love, courage, and a cell phone" spirit.

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We're strong.

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IMAI 11:05

A note: "I have love, courage, and a cell phone" is a line from the Buck-Tick song "Rhapsody," off the album One Life, One Death.

寿記 19.03.2011 March 19th (Saturday) So Many Emails

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I got even more emails today.

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Everyone's thinking hard.

About what they can do to help.

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About the way everyone's buying all the food in the supermarket

About the blackouts, and the people who are on the front lines at the nuclear power plants.

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Even here in Tokyo, rice, water, instant noodles and batteries...

They're all sold out, and have been for a while.

All this ridiculous buying up of everything is causing chaos.

Please, calm down.

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It's really hard for the people who don't have power.

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And the people who are on the front lines at the nuclear power plants, they've been putting their lives at risk from their first steps in there.

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Everyone's doing what they can do.

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At the company where one fan works, they've decided to donate all their profits to the relief effort.

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Just staying alive, it's like you've just been born.

Let's keep living, and be strong.

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This is always, the sky I see looking up from my house.

IMAI 14:50

寿記 19.03.2011 March 19th (Saturday)

I read all your emails.

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Let's live strong, for our friends.

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IMAI 13:45

寿記 18.03.2011 March 18th (Friday) Email

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Everything you're thinking, everything you're feeling.
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What you're experiencing.
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I got a lot more fan emails today.
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One from someone who was planning on buying tour goods, but decided to donate the money instead (wonderful!)
One from someone who just wants to make an ass of themselves going nuts at a live show (I promise it will happen in good time.)
People are also worried about my own personal health and well-being (I'm totally, totally fine, thanks for worrying.)
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I got some emails from people who were having trouble contacting their families and friends, but found out they were safe.
And from some other people who haven't found their families or friends yet.
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Aftershocks, rolling blackouts, the nuclear accident, and disconnected phone lines...
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But even at a time like this, we're all hanging in there, and helping each other.
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Thank you all so much for your emails.
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Our manager was also finally able to contact his family in Iwate Prefecture.

IMAI 11:53

寿記 17.03.2011 March 17th (Thursday) Campaign

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Everyone's wondering, "is there something I can do?"
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Well, we're collecting money.
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We made a new mobile graphic for download.
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All the proceeds from the downloads go straight to earthquake relief
To the Japan Red Cross.
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Tomorrow we should have it up on the Buck-Tick website.
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So, if you want to help us, please download our new graphic scheme.
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I'm using the one with the hearts and the angels.
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IMAI 20:54

寿記 16.03.2011 March 16th (Wednesday)

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Let's just stick with it

For just a little longer

It'll be all right

I know we're moving forward.

IMAI 23:09

寿記 15.03.2011 March 15th (Tuesday) Hang in There

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Today I got an email from a person in Tohoku.

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Everyone's scared and uncertain, but they're hanging in there.

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Hang in there!

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Let's meet on the "Utakata no Razzle Dazzle" Tour.

I promise you we will.

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IMAI 20:25