An Cafe - Interview of 5 members for DI:GA ONLINE (EnglishTranslation)

Interview & text by:  Rie Makino
Original: diskgarage.com/digaonline/interview/166089

An Cafe, which was suspended in 2019, will be resurrected at Zepp Haneda (TOKYO) on the 5th (Thursday) and 6th (Friday) of January 2023, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's formation. It's decided! Live for the first time in 4 years since the activity was suspended. Interview with all members, including those who participated remotely, is now available on DI:GA ONLINE! Recalling the time when the activity was suspended, we asked each member about their current feelings and their enthusiasm for the performance of Zepp Haneda (TOKYO).

──First of all, "Welcome back".

Teruki: I'm home (laughs)

──Please tell us how you arrived at the "resurrection" decision live.

Miku: Personally, as I was thinking about the 20th anniversary of the band's formation, I was spending quite a bit of time waiting for one of the members to say something. At that time, OSAKA MUSE said, "I'm holding an event for OSAKA MUSE's 35th anniversary, so would you like to play with 5 people?" From that point on, everyone started to gather, and soon it was heard "Let's do a 20th anniversary show". It was a very natural process.

Teruki: However, there are many members who live outside of music, so I said, "I don't know if the schedule will fit, but I will." I'm grateful that OSAKA MUSE's appearance at the event led to my resurrection live.

──Did you all get together for the first time in a long time?

Teruki: I agree. In fact, I still haven't met five people directly (laughs).

Yuuki: Certainly. Even if it's two or three people.

takuya: I haven't met anyone personally... (laughs)

──Takuya-san and Kanon-san are participating remotely today, but why don't you meet with these five people?

Miku: I was surprised that takuya is really cute.

Kanon: (laughs)

Teruki: There's a guy (Kanon) who is telescopic (laughs)!

Miku: It's not about him (Kanon), he's saying (everyone laughs)! I thought I couldn't lose weight the moment I went on stage, but look at takuya.

takuya: Hahaha.

──You said that your appearance at an event organized by OSAKA MUSE was the trigger, but you all immediately thought you wanted to do it?

takuya: Well, I was wondering if everyone would get together and do something on the 20th anniversary. But I thought "if that happens, how will I react?" When I got a call from Teruki, I was just happy. I'm looking forward to getting on stage again! Huh?

Kanon: When Teruki called me to dinner and I was already looking forward to it; told me without any prior information.

Teruki: Kanon was silent until the last minute, because there is a risk of information leakage (laughs).

Kanon: I was living with a vague idea that "I wonder if I'll do something for the 20th anniversary" somewhere, so I wasn't too surprised. It's a light feeling like "Oh, OK! OK!". I was a little worried about the schedule.

Yuuki: I was with everyone and I thought, "Sounds like fun, I'm happy."

Miku: I felt half guilty and half excited. Because there is one thing to stop without permission. That's because during the holidays, fans would say something like: "The band disbands and activity is suspended, we can only watch". So I thought, "Remembering that makes me sad." An Cafe is like family and that includes the fans, I feel guilty for stepping back and watching. However, I wanted to play with An Cafe again, so I wanted to do it if I could do it.

──First of all, what was the reason why you decided to suspend An Cafe activities at that time?

Miku: It's an objective opinion, but I think everyone has thought through life. takuya was only 30 years old.

Teruki: To be honest, we didn't say to each other: "I'm giving up for this reason". But when they told me they were leaving An Cafe, I didn't say "Why!?". I think I heard each other's thoughts from time to time as we continued to work together. However, for me at that time, the feeling of “I don't want to end as a band, I don't want to stop” and the feeling of “I don't want to continue by force” coexisted. So even when three people decided to leave An Cafe, I thought I would be able to continue An Cafe with Miku. A few days later during the 15th Anniversary tour, during one of the shows, I felt like "Is it really possible for me to do my best when these three people are gone?... not be able to do my best"...

──If you don't have these 5 people, you have to BE An Cafe.

Teruki: Not only in terms of music, there were many moments where I was supported as a teammate. Now I'm able to do it myself, but I think it was a good contribution to my personality. If not, I don't think I could have done this 15 years ago. "Can you do your best without everyone's support?" That's when the question mark first appeared.

Miku: I like bands too, and it's not fun to sing karaoke without any members. Even now, I depend on the members to support me, so I don't have the power to do it alone. At that time, I gave up on continuing An Cafe... it wouldn't be nice.

──When the suspension of activities was announced, some members commented that they had concluded their musical activities. So, as I said earlier, I couldn't believe everyone was happy and okay with this live resurrection.

Miku: "Completed activities in the song"? Who? What else would I do (laughs).

Teruki: No, it was Miku. It's Yuuki and Takuya.

Yuuki: Yeah, I remember saying that. So, once I ended An Cafe's activities, and taking a different path, I often thought about the past. When I was organizing my room, I found an An Cafe DVD and watched it. There were times when I thought "I miss you" and "I liked that time".

Teruki: There was a reason for each one when the activity was suspended. There were a lot of difficulties, but I don't think everyone gave up because they hated An Cafe. But I can't say much now.

──I understand. Did you get a chance to listen/watch An Cafe as Yuuki-san after it stopped and activities were suspended?

Kanon: Rarely. I listened while working on my own songs and thought "I can use this rhythm in my music"

takuya: I appeared in a related video while watching YouTube (everyone burst out laughing).

──Ah, as a “recommendation” (laughs).

Teruki: You were watching something up close (laughs).

Miku: Before the live was decided, I tried not to listen to An Cafe's music and videos, I avoided the very word "An Cafe", unlike Yuuki. It's a beautiful memory, but it was difficult. How can I say...?

Teruki: I did the same thing, treated like an ex girlfriend. I tried not to get it in my eyes. It's a good memory, but I tried not to remember as much as possible.

Miku: Yes Yes. But when we met again, and when the live was decided, I got positive and started watching live videos.

──That's right!

Miku: I was delighted. It's natural that I like it because it's our own music, but over time, I think it's a good song again.

──What kind of concert do you want Zepp Haneda (TOKYO) to have on January 5th and 6th?

Miku: This is my personal opinion, but I want to have a live performance that doesn't betray me. When I watch resurrections live as a spectator, I'm often disappointed that it's the opposite of what I was looking for. I hope I can deliver the time that everyone is happy to arrive. After that, I want to smile with the members and Cafekkos to make up for the time I've been away!

── It's been a long time since the concert, but there are some members who are completely away from music since the concert before the suspension of activities, right?

Teruki: People who didn't play the instrument... (laughs).

Miku: I'm scared (laughs)!

Yuuki: It's because I'm doing a completely different job. I didn't evolve anything especially, so I was a little relieved to hear Miku-san's story now (laughs). I can do the usual... Can't I?

Miku: You didn't say that in that sense (everyone burst out laughing)

Yuuki: The thing that worries me the most is physical fitness.

Yuuki: It's annoying if you run out of oxygen or get sick. I am walking daily and getting ready.

Miku: But what about the keyboard?

Yuuki: During that time, when I opened the keyboard for the first time in a while, it was a little dirty, so I decided to start by making it shiny and clean (everyone burst out laughing).

──Takuya played guitar?

takuya: I didn't play at all.

──Is there a problem (laughs)?

takuya: During that time, I took a lot of guitars out of the warehouse, so it's okay.

── Does everyone look good!?

Kanon: The bass was still active, so it's okay! As Miku said earlier, instead of saying "Let's show evolution" I would like to deliver the pattern of the pattern, "This is An Cafe!".

Teruki: This is the only place where I can be on stage as a "member". I'm really looking forward to it. I've been a drummer for a long time, so it doesn't matter what happens to everyone else! I feel like playing on the drums.

── Finally, leave a message for the fans who are waiting for you!

Teruki: I would be happy if people who watched An Cafe once could get together. You may "want to go back to that time" and come see us now.

Kanon: I believe An Cafe has brilliant material, so I'm going to deliver a wonderful performance.

takuya: It's been so long I can't imagine anything. So I want to be on stage with a clear mind and enjoy every moment.

Yuuki: The live is the time when you can be stupid, so we want to create a space where you can forget about your everyday life and have fun. Let's make everyone remember the choreography and have fun together.

Miku: I'm filled with regret for hurting you in so many ways, but I want you to come and play. I look forward to seeing everyone again!

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INFO

LIVE CAFE 20th Anniversary「reiwa de hatsu NYAPPY o(≧∀≦)o」
2023.1.05-06 Zepp Haneda (Tóquio)
Special Home Page: https://ancafe-20th.com/