[Cover Feature] KISAKI Special Interview

The Legendary Finale

──At the peak of your activities…

Yes, just when UNDER CODE PRODUCTION was growing significantly as a label, I was arrested and convicted for tax evasion. Originally, three bands from UNDER CODE PRODUCTION (Phantasmagoria, Vidoll, 12012) were supposed to graduate and make their major debut together, but everything went awry. The debut plans were scrapped, and we had to discuss with the members what to do next.

──How did you feel at that time, and what were your thoughts towards the members?

I felt incredibly guilty. I blamed myself for not studying these matters thoroughly. I apologized to the members, and they were very understanding. But I didn’t want to keep aiming for higher goals in such a state and burden the members.
Eventually, the band had to disband, but we decided to do a final tour. We toured the nation, including the first live music club I played in my hometown, the Wakayama Prefectural Cultural Hall where I first saw Tokunaga Hideaki, and finally at the Osaka International Exchange Center, our base of operations. By having a disbandment live, Phantasmagoria became a legendary phantom band.

──Other members also said that Phantasmagoria without KISAKI was unthinkable. What was your determination for the final tour?

There was a strong desire to make it a tour without regrets, for the future of the members and myself. The last tour was about having pure fun and creating good memories together. That was the most important thing. The atmosphere among the members during the tour was good. We sold out at all the major cities.

──Impressive, that’s Phantasmagoria for you!

That’s why I consider it a legendary national tour. The same goes for the “Japan Conquest” tour we did with label mates before that; the atmosphere within the label was great back then. So, from 2005 to 2006, I pride myself on having led the indie scene. But in the end, Phantasmagoria disbanded, and I, for the time being, retired from music activities.
After retiring, I studied management and produced various bands. Then, fans sent in petitions, and we decided to do a one-day revival in Tokyo.
We thought of doing it one year after the disbandment live in Tokyo. From there, my feelings towards my band turned positive again, and things started looking up. The Phantasmagoria that ended on August 31, 2007, in Osaka, was brought back by thousands of signatures from everyone…

──They wanted a revival, for you to perform again, didn’t they?

Yes. We announced that we would perform in Tokyo on August 31, 2008. Phantasmagoria was a band blessed with great members and fans. Shortly after that announcement, we got involved in the Hide Memorial Summit.
If we hadn’t revived, we wouldn’t have had this opportunity. It was a dream-like event for us, participating in the important memorial summit of Hide, who influenced us the most. X JAPAN and LUNA SEA also rejoined for this. We couldn’t refuse such a significant stage offered by Hide. Despite some backlash, we were grateful to be part of the event and contribute to livening it up for the people we respected.