Ten Reasons To Adore Kozi This Month:
This month’s J-rocker of the month is the often overlooked, but pivotal and skeletally beautiful former member of Malice Mizer ~KOZI~ Mistress Nakiko:
Name: Közi Date of Birth: May 29th Place of Birth: Niigata Height: 175 cm Weight: 56 kg Bloodtype: A Közi is one of the co-founders of Malice Mizer, (the other being Mana).
The following is taken from the Secret World of Malice Mizer (Linked for credits is the link section. All opinions/text belong to Kronut 1998)
Like Gackt, Közi's parents forced him to learn the piano for 6 whole years in primary school. They also forced him to learn other things, like "a Japanese abacus." He hated it "'cause children usually want to play around, you know." But he supposes it was because he liked music that he managed to keep studying, although he admits he wasn't such a good learner. He only finished the Beyer Score book, (which is really basic). He changed instructors at least 3 times, (since one of them died...).
When he was a child, Közi was so showy that he made himself take the main roles in school festivals. But he had no leadership sense at all. "I don't like a sense of mission," he says. He was good in sports except "apparatus gymnastics." He loved painting and hoped to become a cartoon artist. At first, he was attracted to sci-fi cartoons, and gradually to impressionistic paintings and films, like Salvatore Dalí and Beardsley. "I like the kind of art which inspires my imagination," he says.
He liked foreign music at an early age. His older brother, (who is ten years his senior), had a lot of foreign LPs. Közi listened to them even in primary school. In junior high, he decided he wanted to play music in a band. He was struck by the sound of his friend's electric-guitar-playing which was highly distorted with over-drive. At that time, (his friend) played a piece of WRATH(?). Közi liked the genre of LA metal, especially showy ones.
Since his friend played a guitar, Közi bought a bass and started to practice. They never played original songs, so it was after Közi came to Tokyo that he started playing guitar in an official sense. When he was 16, he dropped out of high school, (after finishing the first semester), and went to Tokyo. "I was determined I had to go to Tokyo if I really wanted to be a musician," he says. "My parents laughed at me, saying, 'No kidding!', though. They didn't understand me, of course, but I wouldn't obey them." His father is a teacher in primary school. He was really conservative, but now understands Közi.
When Közi came to Tokyo, it was his first time. He didn't have any friends or acquaintances in the city though. He came with an older friend whom he met in a live-house in his hometown, and they drove to Tokyo from there. For 3 months, they slept in the car because they had no money. They earned money by physical labor, such as jobs in construction site. At the same time, they kept applying for joining a band as a helping-member. Közi was not really interested in becoming a musician during that period. Since he came from the countryside, he was simply excited to come to Tokyo. "I just tried to make myself suit Tokyo," he says. He got several sleazy jobs which were really "Tokyo-like." He got some bartender jobs too. "I believe I learned a lot there," he says. "I even met several people who brought me back to music."
Although he doesn't remember when exactly, he admits to eventually joining a band (as a guitar player) which played original pieces, (not MALICE MIZER). At that time, he listened to all kinds of music, such as Punk, Rock 'n Roll, and Noise. He was looking for his style. He believes it's his experience with Mana, who had his own style by then, that inspired Közi to eventually get his current style, (which has a "painting-like visual element"). When he worked in his part-time job with Mana, Közi visited his place and was suprised at the tons of horror videotapes that were housed in Mana's room. "I instinctively sensed that he must be interesting," Közi says. "Now (Mana) is not, but he was rather exclusive at that time, and he wouldn't join conversations he wasn't interested in. But he also came to Tokyo in order to become a musician."
Their encounter was like destiny. Közi was asked to be a supporting member in a band. Since they also needed a bass player, Közi recommended Mana. Although both of them were temporary members, they provided the band with pieces. The band broke up in half a year, but some of the pieces which they played in the band were the early ones played in MALICE MIZER, and Közi thinks they made the prototype of MALICE MIZER during that time. Mana already produced the pieces which had a taste of Middle Age European, classical music. Finally, they came to organize MALICE MIZER. First, they wanted to make a solid concept. They wanted to make the band very original. "In terms of guitar, Mana proposed that our guitar sounds should be like 2 harpsichords in Bach," Közi says. "I was impressed by that. I changed my style in which I employed a lot of choking, which was common. And we also talked about 'What is human?' We have been seeking something which lurks deep inside the human mind."
Közi admits that although he wasn't really into classical music, his piano lessons helped his musical sense a lot. "I am a rather adaptable person," he says. "I think I have a strong curiosity, too." He can't define what kind of artist he is exactly. "I guess it would be boring if I do know precisely," he says. "I am eager to keep being stimulated by various things. I think people keep changing..." In reference to being a stage player or composer, he says he wants to produce songs as well as stages which are not simply good, but appeals something to the listeners.
Recently, his sound has changed, (like in "Gekka no Yaso Kyoku"). He admits that it's because he quit composing with a guitar since he bought a keyboard. He says he used to like New-Roma (?), Electrical Pop, and early techno music in the 80's, so he now produces songs which have that kind of style. But he uses a really cheap sequencer. He admits he's so poor at machines that he made Kami hook up his stereo component. But currently, he is getting more interested in machinery. He finally bought a Powerbook. He says he is the first one in MALICE MIZER who has a PC. Right now he's just practicing, but he's hoping to compose with it in the future. He also bought a graphics software, so he can draw with it too. "I'm becoming a rather unsociable, gloomy person," he says.
In terms of happiness, Közi says he's unsure if he's ever really felt true happiness. This doesn't mean that he's unhappy, however. He thinks people should be optimistic. If man thinks of doing something, he ought to go out there and do it. If he fails to achieve his goal, it's simply because he didn't do anything. This is why he should be positive.
On his fave song: "Recently I sang the song 'Kaeru-no Pyonta, Sugoina' (The frog whose name is Pyonta is great!) with Kami. And the song which impressed me a lot is the piece 'Mibo-jin no Yuwaku' (Temptation of the Widow) which was composed by Mana. That was the song which caused us to get together into MALICE MIZER. When I think about this song, I can't help recalling our early period."
Közi used to be a showy person but recently he's wanted to be more by himself. He doesn't want to get together with people, and he rather likes to be isolated in his room. He guesses the other MALICE MIZER members have the same feelings. (Közi implies that if they don't have isolated feelings, they can't be in the group). As long as he's a member of MM, Közi says he can't be relaxed. Even if he's on holiday, he can't help thinking about MM because what MM is doing is what he's looking for, (referring to MM concept "What is human?"). Közi enjoys it when he's on stage or recording, but it's not simple enjoyment. Of course he feels some hardship, (mentally or physically). He really likes to spend time with the other MM members because they're strange and different, and they produce ideas which he himself could not produce. He admits that each MM member has different hobbies and that they don't hang out often with each other. But all of them are thinking of MM's concept, ("What is human?"), so that idea connects them together.
PREVIOUS J-Rockers Of The Month:
(November 2002) HYDE (L'Arc En Ciel)
(December 2002) Gackt (Malice Mizer/Gackt JoB)
(January 2003) hide (X Japan/ Spread Beaver)
(February 2003) Kaoru Niikura (Dir En Grey)
(March 2003) Toshiya (Dir En Grey)
(April 2003) Kyo (DEG)
(May 2003) Yoshiki (X Japan)
(June/July 2003) Ryutaro (Plastic Tree)
(August 2003) Sugizo (Luna Sea)
(September 2003) Klaha (Malice Mizer/solo)
