Interview with An Cafe in Munich

Eventhough An Cafe's schedule for their second world tour was packed and despite their tiredness, they still took their time after their signing session in Munich to answer some questions.
We would also hereby like to thank the band and their German management for this opportunity again.

Nippon Project: To start with the interview, I would like for each one of you to describe the person to their right with three words.
Takuya on Teruki: neat, stoic, likes to practise
Teruki on Miku: extraordinary, honest, kind
Miku on Kanon: Mascot, Otaku, Gamer
Kanon on Yu-ki: Atze, DJ Ozma, Peter from Spiderman
Yu-ki on Takuya: cool, very neat, cheeky

Do you have any nicknames for each other?
Teruki: We also call Yu-ki „Garufi“, but other than that we usually address each other with our stage names.

You spend a lot of time with each other during a World tour. Are there any quirks that the others have which at other times don't bother you, but become bothersome if you spend so much time with each other?
Teruki: Are there any? (thinks about it)
Nah, we find it quite enjoyable on tour. Because we spend a lot of time with each other even if we're not on tour, we have gotten used to one another, therefore there's nothing that would bother us about each other.

Were there any funny incidents on the last tour?
Teruki: In France last year there was a fan who climbed on stage and hugged Takuya. That was very funny.
What about the thing with the bass, did that happen in Sweden?
Kanon: Yes, that was in Sweden.
Teruki: Well, in Sweden Kanon held up his bass at the end of the show and then let it *wamm* drop down towards the ground. Unfortunately at this very second our manager stood right below in the press pit and was fully hit by the instrument. The blow was so heavy that he passed out.

This is the second time that you are on tour overseas on a grand scale. Do you learn more English in order to be able to communicate better with your fans, or do you let your music do the talking?
Teruki: We do both actually.
Miku: Yes, we want to do both really: On one hand we want to learn more English, on the other our music should of course continue to speak for us.

During your MCs you always make an effort to speak in the respective country's language. Which one is your favourite expression?
(Everyone looks at each other)
Teruki: Ich liebe euch! („I love you“ in German)
(Thereupon everyone else says the same phrase)

Do you also try the local cuisine when you're travelling around the world? Do you have any favourites or things you didn't like that much?
Kanon: Brown bread!
Yu-ki: Yes, the brown bread. We had that in Finland. And there was a kind of spread on the bread, which approximately had the consistency of honey, kind of gooey...
Miku: …and there were a whole bunch of different things mixed into it. To be honest, it tasted like crap! (The others agree)

I myself have never been to Russia. You were there for the first time a week ago – what were your impressions of that country? Was it cold?
Kanon: The airport was totally deserted.
Teruki: It was really cold.
Miku: The cars there were very dirty.
Teruki: After every show the fans usually call „An Cafe, An Cafe“, but in Russia everybody called „A-Ri-Ga-Tou“; we thought that was really awesome!

What other band would you like to go on tour with?
Miku (thinks about it for a long time): With Dir en grey.
Teruki (nickt): Yes, with Dir en grey.
(The other three agree)

Nowadays many „old bands“ like The Rolling Stones or Queen are on tour again. Where do you see yourselves in 30 – 50 years' time?
Teruki: We really hope that we will still be touring then!

The bunny on the cover of the „小悪魔ＵＳＡＧＩの恋文とマシンガンe.p." (Koakuma USAGI no Koibumi to Machinegun e.p.) is holding up a machinegun, and so is Miku in the corresponding pictures. Why did you decide on such a provocative object?
Miku (laughs): Provocative... Yes, in Japan, such a cover isn't really provocative, but I have only found out later that this is not perceived in the same way overseas. In retrospect I regret holding this machinegun.
Teruki: We mainly chose this subject to show the two sides of An Cafe. Everybody knows we make upbeat, happy music and are also perceived as sweet, just like the bunny, but at the same time, An Cafe wants to provoke and to make people think, and the machinegun stands for this aspect.

„Harajuku Dance Rock" - This is the title of your most recent European release. Do you enjoy going out and dancing?
Miku: Yu-ki oftens goes to Roppongi. He is the dance king of Roppongi!
Yu-ki: No, no, no! I don't really go there that often, and neither am I king!
Miku: Of course. Yu-ki goes to a club every Monday, and he also likes to spin records and is a DJ.

„Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everybody I've known." - Chuck Palahnuik
What do you think about this quote?
Miku: I think that this quote is absolutely true. It is like that.
Teruki: Yes, I agree.
Takuya: Me too.
Kanon: When I heard this quote, I felt like it had been written about me.
Yu-ki: My opinion is the same as everyone else's, and I like this quote a lot!