ConcertReport② WajimaShinji January 25,2014 Japan

In the beginning

Well, this concert, where he probably talked for half of the live show.

I’d like to write here as much as I can remember from the chatter.

Summon

There used to be a TV program called “Ningen Isu Club” on the broadcasting station in Aomori Prefecture.

If you are a hard-core fan of them, you probably know about it.

I was in high school at the time.

I used to record it on video and watch it.

One of the projects in the program was for Wajima to meet with an Itako (Japanese psychic) at Mount Osorezan.

Wajima felt that summon to his grandfather or ancestors was not interesting enough, so he asked Itako to summon to Jimi Hendrix.

Before he could make the call, he had to submit a profile of the date and time of his death, the cause of death, and what his life was like, and he laughed at the thought that anyone could do that after seeing all this information.

Jimi Hendrix, who descended, has a Southern accent.

When asked by Wajima, “How did you feel when you were dying?” to which the weasel replied the obvious: “I was in pain at the time.”

Itako encouraged the band to get along with each other and stay healthy.

He laughed when Jimi Hendrix told him to stay healthy, even though he was a drug addict.

Hmmm?　I wonder if this is the origin of the “Kuchiyose” on the “Inugami Circus-dan” CD.

“Dear Prudence” by “The Beatles” and “Osorezan” by “Ningen Isu”

After the performance of “Osorezan” was over, he revealed to himself that if I changed the intro guitar of “Osorezan” to major… it would be “Dear Prudence” by “The Beatles”.

I hardly know “The Beatles,” but it is true that it is very similar to “Dear Prudence” by “The Beatles.”

Play with “Loudness”

I think he wrote in his blog that it was very moving to be on the same stage with “Loudness”.

When Wajima was in high school, he was also in a copy band of “Loudness.”

He was constantly impressed by Takasaki Akira’s guitar skills.

He said that after all, a world-class guitarist is something different.

“Momoiro clover Z”

For their performance with “Momoiro clover Z” at Ozzfest, he rehearsed at “Wangan Studio,” which is said to be the most expensive studio in Tokyo.

The most expensive studio in Tokyo means the most expensive in Japan, and the most expensive in Japan means possibly the most expensive in the world, he said.

In between rehearsals, he heard a series of thumping bass drums coming from the studio next door, and he noticed that “Slipknot” was rehearsing next door.

He was very excited to hear “Slipknot” and “Momoiro Clover Z” rehearsing next to each other.

As Wajima has said in many interviews, he seems to be very much into “Momoiro Clover Z.”

I guess this is what happens when an angel takes on human form, Wajima said, and he may have become a fan of “Momoiro Clover Z.”

He also said that “Momoiro Clover Z” has been aiming to become a Japanese idol since they were children, and that their spirit is not half-hearted.

I think it is indeed their spirit that has brought them to this point.

They work hard and are very attractive, aren’t they?

He also mentioned that when “Momoiro Clover Z” performs on stage, no one looks at him during their guitar solos.

He said 10,000 people were ignoring him.

Ozzfest passes

Wajima played both days of Ozzfest.

One day with “Ningen Isu” and one day with “Momoiro Clover Z.”

He boasted that he had Ozzfest passes for both days.

In fact, he had brought it to the venue and proudly showed it to us.

Besides Wajima, only the two members of “Slipknot” were able to attend both days of Ozzfest.

So I was the only one with two passes in Japan.

It’s so funny, isn’t it?

Endo Michiro

I think I heard him say so during the MC at the previous “Ningen Isu” concert, but he seems to be into poetry reading.

As an example, Wajima mentioned Endo Michiro and praised him for his powerful performance.

It is true that Michiro’s power after he became a soloist was unparalleled.

But Wajima’s poetry reading was also amazing!

The way he used the looper to enhance the poems like sound effects was one of the best parts.

It reminded me of the “Men’s Voice Boast” at “Omokage Lucky Hall.”

Looper

I was amazed to know that such a machine exists.

I heard that Yamamoto Kyoji was influenced by this machine, and it certainly has potential for live performance.

He bought a cheap one, but he said he wants to master it.

Siren

I had heard that he bought a siren for his performance of “Bride of the 13th Century” at the live show of “Ningen Isu.”

He brought it to the live performance and used it.

Since it makes quite a loud noise, he was told by the owner of Mandoro that he would be reported.

So he closed the lid and used it with some cover.

Live House Mandoro

The main activity at Mandoro now is for low-noise live music, such as singing with a guitar, but in the past it used to be a place for regular bands as well.

“Stalin” used to come to Mandoro, and it used to be a sacred place for Hirosaki’s rock music.

Incidentally, after the show, Mandoro is usually transformed into a bar where customers get to know each other better.

I was hungry and left early after the show, but it would be interesting to stay.

I will do so next time.

Memories from High School

When Wajima was a high school student, he had a graduation party at Mandoro.

He was underage, but he had been drinking, and he cried out, “What is love?”

He also told us that he was in a band called “Usuusu” at the time.

He also talked nostalgically about how he tore up the floor because he was making too much noise.

Synchronicity Diary

Wajima wrote in his blog that he has been having a lot of strange synchronicities lately, and that he keeps a diary of them.

He had brought the actual diary with him, and I was able to see it from a distance.

He said he couldn’t show us the contents of the diary because they were very personal.

Jotting down lyric ideas

He said that he wrote down lyric ideas in an ordinary schedule book.

He brought the actual book with him and read me snippets of his ideas.

Recording process chart

In his sketchbook, he wrote a process chart of the recording, circling each step as it was completed, and when everything was circled, the recording was complete.

He said that at the beginning of the recording process, he was astonished at the size of the area to be circled.

Lovecraft’s appearance

He said that if he expressed loneliness with Lovecraft’s face, and the only Japanese writer who could compete with him would be Yumeno Kyusaku.

The audience said, “Resemble!”

Togo Heihachiro

He told himself that he had been doing well in many things recently, but that he should not be too proud.

He compared this sentiment to Togo Heihachiro’s words from the Russo-Japanese War: “Win the war and tighten your helmets.”

But Wajima is an erudite man, isn’t he?

Souvenirs

Wajima handed out souvenirs to all the visitors.

First of all, apples from Aomori for those who came from outside of the prefecture.

Wajima, her sister, and her mother worked hard last night to pack the apples into bags.

Then, for guests from within the prefecture, water in a plastic bottle shaped like Tokyo Tower.

It’s very Wajima-like that it’s Tokyo Tower and not Sky Tree.

Bald story

When he returned to his parents’ house for the first time in a while, his mother surprised him by saying, “What’s wrong with you, you’re bald?”

“I’m balder than people who are not bald, but not as bald as people who are bald,” he said, which made me laugh.

Working part-time at a bookstore

He was in a band while working part-time at a bookstore.

Whenever he came up with a lyric or phrase, he would write it down on a notepad without thinking about work.

He would run home and record the phrases he came up with before he forgot them.

This shows his sincere attitude toward music.

At the end

I wonder if you can tell how much he talked.

I can only remember this amount of talk.

This kind of talk must be one of the charms of his solo live.

January 27,2014　Freakz

(Postscript)

Hmmm… I think this article is very valuable, especially for Wajima fans.

Surprisingly, he likes to chat.

Please come to Mandoro again.

January 13,2023　Freakz