Regarding Impostor Profiles

Every so often I get inquiries from readers about whether various social media accounts purporting to belong to the Buck-Tick members are legitimate or not. In fact, this question has already been addressed in the Fish Tank newsletter, albeit in a teeny-tiny article tucked into the back pages of the magazine that no one actually reads. So don't take it from me, take it from Fish Tank:

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Regarding "Posing" Social Media Accounts

It has come to out attention that there are accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking services registered under the same names as the Buck-Tick members, however, none of the Buck-Tick members are registered on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social networking service. In addition, the only blogs written by the band members are Imai's blog "Hisashi's Diary" and Higuchi's blog "Yuuta's Yuu-Yuu Lifestyle," both of which are linked from Buck-Tick's official web sites. Sakurai, Hoshino, and Yagami are not blogging at this time. Please take great care in checking the veracity of statements or information regarding Buck-Tick posted by anyone outside Buck-Tick's official management team.

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So there you have it. That fake Sakurai Twitter account is fake, people. So are all the fake Facebook profiles registered in South America. None of the Buck-Tick members can speak Portuguese! If you see a Buck-Tick member posting in Portuguese, that's not a Buck-Tick member! (Sorry, Brazilian fans. Sorry to crush your fantasies.)

Of course, Fish Tank may very well not be telling the whole truth about this. Japanese people of Buck-Tick's generation are often quite indifferent to technology, and many don't even own computers, so I do find it perfectly plausible that none of the Buck-Tick members maintain any internet presence to speak of...but then again, Twitter is hugely popular in Japan, so I also wouldn't be surprised if some of the band members were tweeting a bit on the down-low. You never know. But if they are, you can bet that they're not advertising who they really are in any way, shape or form. If they wanted fan attention on social media, they could get it - plenty of Japanese musicians use Twitter, Facebook and other platforms publicly, all the time - Sugizo, Kiyoharu, Tsuchiya Masami, Kiyoshi, Ryuutaro, Ken Morioka, the list goes on and on. The fact that the Buck-Tick members don't means that they don't want to.

As for trusting in the veracity of the information regarding Buck-Tick posted by anyone outside Buck-Tick's official management team, I've said it before and I'll say it again: everything you read on the internet is true. Fish Tank is wrong.

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In the same announcement about social media profiles, Fish Tank also goes on to remind people that copying or uploading the articles, info and photos contained in the Fish Tank newsletter is strictly forbidden. I've gotten questions about this one from readers, too, but in this case, I wouldn't take Fish Tank words terribly seriously.

Think about it...if they really didn't want people disseminating the information in the newsletter, they'd post the announcement in a more readily visible location than tiny print at the back of the magazine. I'm aware that certain holier-than-thou alpha fangirls out there get their kicks from trying to police the rest of the fanbase for unauthorized distribution of fanclub-only materials, but the fact is, a little bit of piracy of the Fish Tank newsletter is good for Fish Tank - once people see all the cool perks afforded by Fish Tank membership, they're more likely to want to join, and Fish Tank is almost certainly aware of this.

So next time you're on tumblr and some killjoy comes along and starts whining at you to take down those super-duper restricted fanclub-only photos of Acchan-chan cuddling his kitteh, you have my blessing to kindly direct her to a YouTube video of "Nakayubi," and continue on your merry way.

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If any of you readers have any other questions you want answering, just drop me a line, and I'll write another article.

寿記 11.01.2015 Victims of Love ~With Kokushoku Sumire~ {{The Full Story}}

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Re-arrange

I kept thinking that I wanted to record the re-arranged tango version of "Victims of Love."

I already had the idea, and we had already performed the prototype version several years ago

Was it at the Budoukan? [note from Cayce: it was the 2010 Go on the Razzle Dazzle tour]

Anyway, we'd already done it live.

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I thought I would make that tango version tighter.

I did some more work on the chord progression.

I fixed up the riffs.

For the re-arranged version, I had already decided which new instruments I wanted to add.

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Accordion and violin.

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~

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I made a demo with a programming synthesizer and sent it to Yoko-chan

Saying, "Make this really get to you,"

but actually, it came together a bit too clean,

so I thought...I want this to be more raw!

So I set it aside for a while.

(By which I mean, I was keeping it safe, because it was important to me)

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~

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I would often go to the theatrical productions that Uno Aquirax was involved in at the Sogo Art Museum.

The two ladies of Kokushoku Sumire were performing in the play, both as actors and musicians.

"They have stage presence, and they're skilled performers...

"They're not just 'whatever'...

"They're pros." [note from Cayce: Imai, don't you know that 'pro' is short for 'prostitute'? The correct abbreviation for 'lolita' is 'LOL'. Get your terminology right!]

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I bought Kokushoku Sumire's album and listened to it.

Into their classical style, they mixed avant-pop, toy music, modern music...

Anyway, they're women of limitless talent, and I was enjoying listening to their musical world.

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One day, I went to see one of Uno Aquirax's plays.

Kokushoku Sumire were acting and playing music that day.

"They have stage presence, and they're skilled performers...

"They're not just 'whatever'...

"They're pros."

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Accordion and violin.

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!?

Wait!?

Oh!  Right!

I should just ask them to do it! (a unilateral decision)

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Even for me, this is an unusually good idea! (if I say so myself)

It's an amazing idea! (if I say so myself)

As I was watching the performance, I got excited about this completely separate idea, all alone in my own head. (so selfish of me)

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This shy old man couldn't let go of his idea and had to make it happen no matter what, because he's got a touchy personality.

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But, I didn't know them at all.

So I contacted artist Nomura Naoko, who is a mutual acquaintance,

and I got her to introduce me.

(In fact, at this point I also told the other Buck-Tick members about my idea.

Actually, more like, I told them I'd already made my decision and that was that. But don't worry about that, it was fine.)

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A cafe, in the middle of the day.

I met them.

But,

"Sitting in a cafe making fun small talk with people you've only just met"

was too frightening a hurdle for me to contemplate jumping,

so I gave up on it entirely.

My greeting to them was, "So, I would like to quickly get to the point."

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"....ummmm, we have this song called 'Victims of Love,'

"~~~~in~~~song~~~~I~~~~you~~~play~~~howboutit~~~

"By which I mean, I would like to ask you two to play in this song.

"Please do it.

"Accordion and violin."

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Thank goodness.  With this, "Victims of Love" is now complete.

By which I mean, this is the way "Victims of Love" should have been all along (grinning)

...hm, my ginger ale is warm and gross now, so...

"Excuse me, I'd like to order a beer."

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This is basically how it went (heh.)

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Send your "this is basically how it went" emails here.

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Oh, also, it wasn't an "exchange" or anything,

But I did guitar and vocals on two tracks on Kokushoku Sumire's album "Cosmopolitan."

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Now, let's enjoy Kokushoku Sumire's breakout hit together, shall we?  I would like to call your attention in particular to Ms. Yuka's stunning vocal prowess at around 4:17.




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She sounds so much like a cat that even Acchan-chan was thrilled.

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P.S.


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