Subtitles: Kaito Royale Episode 1

Remember what I said about some dramatic news?!

Well, it's here!

MICHIDO officially has a new coolie team member! She'll be referred to as Qappa and will be helping us with projects here and there. Her first project is the first episode of the new drama, Kaito Royale.

At any rate, you can find the subtitles to episode 1 of Kaito Royale here. We won't be providing the video file, but we're sure you'll be able to find it somewhere~ VLC Media Player will be able to handle this file automatically as long as it and the video file are in the same place on your computer and have the same name. :) Before you run off and enjoy yourself, keep in mind two things:

1. DON'T upload these onto streaming sites (ex. YouTube, DramaCrazy, MySoju, etc.) or profit off of them.
2. Read the notes below! They're important~

This is your chance to get smarter while you watch dramas! 8D Here're some more details about things mentioned in the drama:


“The Tear of Alexander” Cocktail (00:34)
While rather amusing to see in the drama, this “cocktail” is most likely a diluted red cabbage juice pH indicator. It can be made at home, and is really quite interesting if various liquids are tested. In the case of the cocktail turning green, it is because a liquid base (pH 8-14) was added. Though in the drama it looks to be a lemon or other garnish of some sort, it was most likely window cleaner, or another household base. If an acid is added to the pH indicator, it’ll turn bright pink! Don’t try this at home, however, if you intend to drink your concoction.






“Cursed” gem (1:22)
Though The Tear of Alexander doesn’t exist, and therefore doesn’t go around offing people, there’s the Hope Diamond, which is often claimed to be cursed, as all of its wearers or owners are brought tragedy and misfortune.











Caligula Effect (04:17)
What Rei refers to as the Caligula Effect is actually just reverse psychology. Reverse psychology is exactly what Rei states, but there is much more to it than is revealed. (It’s super interesting, so read more about it here). The real definition of the Caligula Effect is the phenomena where, in the simplest of terms, powerful men compulsively cheat (on their woman/women). Caligula (otherwise also known as Gaius) was a politically powerful Roman emperor who constantly sought to increase imperial power, and is infamously referred to by the few surviving sources as having an insatiable sexual appetite. There’s absolutely no connection between the Caligula Effect and what it’s said to mean in the drama. Don’t be fooled!


Hausmann (11:11)
Full name Johann Friedrich Ludwig Hausmann, a German mineralogist. The nice chap who wrote the screenplay for this episode clearly just needed the name of a real (and old, preferably dead) mineralogist. Hausmann didn’t actually say the line he is quoted to say in the drama.










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Magazines: H'evn Another Side vol. 008 feat. D=Out, Kouki

Wooowwwww, how long has it been since we had a magazine translation?? I'm not even going to put a date because it'd be embarrassing to admit.

With the American Thanksgiving in my lap, I want to show grateful I am for a break from my 3 jobs by putting up a project! Thanks for being so patient and still following us! I promise that we've got more projects coming up, and we've got some dramatic news on the way too! ;)

At any rate, this piece is from volume 8 of H'evn Another Side. Kouki reveals his first love and talks about how he was a sports freak when he was a kid. If that isn't enough for you, then you definitely have to read about why he couldn't date until high school--even though I'm pretty sure he had girls falling all over his feet.

If you're still interested in getting the magazine, it's available at CD Japan!

And on to monk-like Kouki we go!

---

H'evn ANOTHER SIDE VOL. 008 JULY 2009 FEATURING D=OUT

PERSONAL INTERVIEW: KOUKI

--What kind of kid were you back then?

Kouki: My dad was a track and field coach and he was always training me. I remember when I was in kindergarten I always won first place in the foot races. There's a beach called Suma beach. I always trained there and always got first place. It was sort of like if I didn't get first place then I had failed something. (laughs)

--Did you go to supplementary after-school lessons?

Kouki: In elementary school I was in the little league baseball team. I took abacus lessons starting from the 3rd year of elementary school to about 6th year up to level 2. Baseball was also from 3rd year to about 6th year.

--Did you also join the baseball club?

Kouki: Baseball was more or less like softball, but I wasn't a good player. I got 3s in almost everything on my report card except Physical Education, which I got a 5 in.
5 being highest, 0 being lowest

--Did you have a favourite school subject?

Kouki: Art and social studies. I was really bad at math though.

--I hated math too. It's like, "Isn't it enough if we can do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division?" (laughs)

Kouki: And you keep thinking about it, right? I was really bad at home economics too. There's always a girl that's really good at that class. I either got the group leader or someone really good at it to do it for me.

--What kind of personality did you have at the time?

Kouki: I guess you can say I wasn't a very bright kid. There were kids who are really good at sports that always get the top places, and kids who are good at studying always study a lot for some reason...By the time I entered junior high things suddenly changed. I was quite a mischievous kid. To put it in a more modern way I was “Oraora type.” (laughs)

--Who was your first love?

Kouki: It was Ms. Kimura, a new kindergarten teacher at the time. I still remember it, even now. But when I think back, she was really young--in her early 20s. I guess that means I was mature for my age (laughs)

--Where did you go for school trips?

Kouki: I went to Ise. For fifth years, there was something like a week-long camp at an eco-institute that was a lot of fun. We had a camp fire and even played dare. For some reason someone dared me to play a ghost (laughs). Then I thought I could probably run off to do something else if I was a ghost because I'd be a ghost wandering around (laughs). I'm the type that likes to scare people, and usually I'm in the right place at the right time to do that.

On the other hand, the school trip was 2 nights and 3 days and as a group we visited famous places. I got stuff like a toothpick holder in the shape of a fish bone and brought back souvenirs that had nothing to do with Ise. I gave my grandma a picture of rocks from Ise and the fact that she still has it for decoration makes me happy. After that, I started listening to music around 6th grade. Before that I had absolutely no interest in music. Every time my mom watched those music programs, I'd think, “Hurry up and change the channel.” But around 6th grade I started liking Nagabuchi Tsuyoshi, CHAGE & ASKA, and B'Z and after that I was completely into music.

--What instrument did you play in elementary school music festivals?

I played the pianica. And the recorder had the most people because it was a group of people who couldn't play anything, but I played the pianica (laughs). I still have it at home with my name written on it. I still use it when I want to play music.

--Do you remember what you wrote for graduation?

I wrote about my parents. “My Dream” was the title but, because my parents were always playing sports and also taught baseball, my dream was to become a baseball player. Up till then I was having fun learning baseball so for the time being I wrote that because I wanted to be like my parents. After that, I also wrote “and pro baseball players can earn millions of dollars.” (laughs)

--Did you still play baseball in junior high?

I did. I was completely sure that I'd become a baseball player. When I was a 1st year, there was a really scary 3rd year. He was seriously like those gangsters in mangas. Elementary kids know nothing about a hierarchy, right? It's after you get into junior high that you come face to face with it. But I questioned it and there was a period of time when I resisted it. It was like, the guys better at it were at the top, right? They weren't selfish and they got along with their team mates. At that time I even bullied the seniors. I was a bully (laughs). I really liked going against people stronger than me. Kids in their third year are really scary, huh.

--By the way what was your uniform?

I wore a Gakuran. Blazers aren't common in Kansai, you know. Most of the schools wear gakuran.

--You still didn't start music in Junior High?

Not at all. I didn't even think about music. Baseball was really tough and I was immersed in it. Which is why even dating was after the third year of junior high after the baseball club finished. Before that it was all about baseball.

--Where did you go for that school trip?

We went skiing in Nagano. I've skated before, but skiing was a first. And there wasn't a lot of time, so when I finally improved, it was the end of the trip. But it was fun though.

--Do you have any memories from your graduation ceremony?

In elementary, junior high and high school I cried. I cried really hard, especially in junior high, because everyone in the baseball club made a promise to stay together, but we all ended up separating.

--Was music after entering high school?

It was still baseball in high school. In junior high we were only allowed to have a sports cut on the team, so in high school nothing but buzz cuts were allowed so I had to cut it too.

--3 years of intense baseball?

It was 2 years, and honestly I was really bad at it. In the first year I was allowed to play but I wasn't motivated at all and my team mates weren't either...During junior high I was too into baseball but I felt really unsatisfied. Despite the strict relationship between the seniors and juniors in the club, I couldn't really get used to it. The 1st and 2nd years used a storage place as a clubroom, but a proper clubroom was only for the 3rd years. We ended up throwing away the captain's uniform and gloves and quitting. (laughs) A friend and I quit but in the end the captain couldn't put up with the situation either. In my 2nd year I didn't join any clubs. It was after 3rd year of high school when bands were popular and then it started when I was said, “Hey, let's start a band!”

--Did you start off with vocals?

It was the guitar. After school I went and bought an acoustic guitar and played Fuji Fumiya's “True Love.” I didn't feel like I was improving so I kept practicing. When I was in a band there were 3 people on guitar, and we didn't have anyone on vocals. And just as I was getting better at the guitar, we decided that "the person who isn't as good on guitar will be on vocals for now". It was obvious that I wasn't very good, and that's how I became the vocals.

--What made you decide to continue with vocals?

Same as baseball--when I start one thing, I don't do anything else. I'm the type that gets completely absorbed in what I'm doing and I got into vocals pretty quickly. Despite the fact that we were a cover band in high school, I thought I could make a living out of it (laughs). That's how I started with vocals.

--And that's brought you to where you are now, right?

Yes.

--Lastly, a message to the fans please.

It's the first time I've talked so much about myself. Even though it was all about baseball and not really about music, I wonder if it was because of those circumstances that I got to where I am right now. It's really a privilege for us to have a relaxed performance at Liquid Room. I always thought doing lives as usual was for the best, but for D=OUT lives are really competitive. This live for D=Out is going to be a gamble, so at the Liquid Room, even if I'm the only up there, I want everyone who has even a slight urge to see to come and watch us.

---

Wow, can anyone imagine Kouki with a pianica? Every time I see one of those, I think of Nodame Cantabile. Someone should totally convince Kouki to do a concert with his pianica.

Anyways, tell us what you think of Kouki with a buzz cut! Also, what do you think of Kouki's taste in music? I didn't really listen to B'z before working on this post, but now I think I'm becoming more and more of a fan of them!

If you liked this interview, it's still available for purchase at CD Japan.

If you like Kouki with a pianica, then don't forget to follow MICHIDO with a Email Subscription.

If you prefer him as an "oraora kei," then you definitely need to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr!

じゃ、また！

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Live Report: Hatsune Miku's Live Party 2011

Who can change stage outfits in a whirl of clothes and can disappear in and out of thin air?

Hatsune Miku can!

Hatsune Miku’s Live Party 2011 39’s Sapporo Live was screened on November 10th in nine major cities following the August concert celebrating Miku’s first birthday. San Francisco was one of them, and Mou Ichido was there with a friend from eventseekr.

So how exactly do you enjoy a virtual concert with a virtual pop star? I was wondering this for a few days when I was confirmed for the show and still wondering when the film actually began rolling.

The answer? Enjoy it like it’s a very good piece of anime that had been overlaid in a concert hall full of men waving green glow sticks, which it basically was.

It was a Hatsune Miku concert, but all the major vocaloids, the Kagamine twins and Megurine Luka, made appearances--mostly out of thin air. The virtual stars were projected onto a screen with real musicians playing on both sides.

And of course, I was watching the entire concert DVD projected onto a screen, making it a virtual concert with its virtual pop star.

Despite the number of times I’ve already typed the word “virtual” though, I will admit that there were times when this Vocaloids felt very real. The attention to detail on the Vocaloids, from their movement down to the swish of Miku’s infamous turquoise hair, sometimes made me forget that I was still watching an animation and not just a very good cosplayer dancing on stage as the music rolled. Megurine Luka particularly impressed me when she began to “sing” and demonstrated a voice that was extremely life-like and human.

In fact, my realization smacked me head on when I was confronted with Miku’s (>∀<) face. Yes, >∀< was exactly what showed up on her face. All of the Vocaloid’s inhumanely fast costume changes (Miku literally “gave us a twirl” and had a new costume on half a twirl later) were also something that real performing celebrities could only dream of.

Another giant flashing sign that the concert didn’t have a flesh and blood singer was the projector that was behind the screen. It sometimes proved distracting when the camera caught a Vocaloid at an angle where you looked directly into a flashing light instead of Hatsune Miku’s uniform.

Many of the audience members might as well have sat in the concert itself. There were plenty of cosplayers, and many attendees arrived and armed with green glowsticks, some in the shape of Hatsune Miku’s iconic welsh onion.

Audience members cheered when their favorite Vocaloid appeared, and Ooohed and Awwwed when a Vocaloid did something particularly impressive. During ballads, there was a steady wave of green glowsticks, and during more upbeat songs, rhythmic clapping in the theater auditorium matched those of the recorded audience.

The best part of the show wasn’t Hatsune Miku though. It was in fact her live band. They brought out the best of the concert. The band brought a very human and interactive talent that couldn’t be replicated by programming and synthesizers.

With Hatsune Miku’s programming, it was given that she couldn’t interact with her audience like a human performer. So with what the Vocaloids couldn’t do, the band did by showing off their many skills when solos came up. The two guitarists would shred through their solos while the bassist and drummer had no trouble keeping with the beat and energy.

The keyboard pianist was a ringleader in many ways. When he wasn’t playing wildly at his keyboards, he was cheering on the audience and encouraging them to wave their own glowsticks by pulling out his own. The other musicians followed suit and five pairs of glowsticks also lit up the stage.

All in all, the Hatsune Miku concert was definitely an interesting concept, but not one that felt quite as exciting as a live concert. It was reminiscent of when I browsed YouTube videos online, only much higher quality on a much larger screen. While interesting and definitely unique, the length of the show felt longer than necessary, especially with the lack of interaction between the Vocaloids and the audience. Plus, it didn’t help that Miku waved goodbye for the last half hour before actually getting shut off.

The concert didn’t leave me with nothing through. I definitely developed a greater appreciation for the Vocaloids, especially Megurine Luka, and I have a newfound respect for the crew that put the concept together. The concert was truly a gathering place of talent--both on the programming end and the artistic end. There was also a part of me that enjoyed this rather philosophical mix of where "reality" started and stopped. It felt as if there were deeper cultural implications that were clearly playing out on the screen in front of me.

And, of course, before I go off on an analytical distraction and forget...Happy belated birthday, Miku!

If you watched this live anywhere else in the US, let us know what you thought of it! Would you like to see more Megurine Luka? Should there have been more of the Kagamine twins? I was personally hoping for a guest appearance from Kamui Gakupo myself, but that was not to be...

Setlist

You can find some more Hatsune Miku photos at the MICHIDO Facebook along with some of the Laruku stream previews.

If you like your virtual popstars, then don't forget to follow us with an Email Subscription and some Twitter and Tumblr follows!

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Live Event: 雅 - What's My Name? - Irving Plaza, NYC 2011

Hi everyone!

With Miyavi making his way all over America, we've teamed up with the fantastic Melissa Castor, who covered AM2 Convention's big stars, to tell and show us Miyavi's rocking out of the East Coast.

Melissa sheds some light on Miyavi's costumed antics and also provides a live clip of some of that night's happenings. Enjoy!

---

Miyavi’s return to New York City couldn’t have come on a better day – October 31st, Halloween.

As is typical with New York Jrock crowds, the line outside of Irving Plaza on 14th Street and Irving Place in lower Manhattan began before the crack of dawn.

This is nothing new. When Miyavi played at Irving Plaza the previous June, the line was already down the entire block the night before. This year, it snowed the weekend before - very unusual weather for NYC.

But that didn’t stop some fans from showing up around 6am – and a very brave few who camped overnight. That was dedication.

There was never a dull moment even before doors opened. Quite a few people had arrived in costume for this Halloween concert. Regular New Yorkers also passed by, wondering what everyone was lining up for. Some even asked if the crowd was with Occupy Wall Street (“Occupy Irving Plaza” was the real mission though).

Doors opened at 8pm, with jump-the-line tickets (an Irving Plaza ticket where you can skip the line for an extra $10), VIP and CWIF (fanclub) going in first. Miyavi started promptly an hour after doors opened at 9pm.

“New York, are you ready? WHAT’S MY NAME?”

He started out with the tour’s title song, “WHAT’S MY NAME?” playing guitar off stage to rile up the crowd before his drummer Bobo and Miyavi himself appeared on stage.

This was not Miyavi’s first time in New York City, but the crowd went wild as if it was. For some, it was their first time seeing him.

Miyavi started with a few new songs, “HELL NO,” “MUSIC FREE” and “A-HEAD” (these titles, as is Miyavi’s style, are subject to change). During “Hell No” he had the audience scream, “No no no no no!” back to him.

“This is my new track--are you ready to dance?” he said before playing “A-HEAD.” It was most certainly a dance track to which one can’t help but move their body along with the beat.

“My name is Miyavi, all the way from Tokyo!”

“WHAT’S MY NAME?!”

Nobody could possibly forget Miyavi.

“It’s my second time in New York. Having a good time, people? Am I rocking everybody? You guys rocking out there?

We had a show in San Francisco, LA, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Toronto and tonight New York City! Last time we had a show here, it was crazy…hot. But I’m sure tonight will be way hotter!”

It was true: last year, he played Irving Plaza in the summer – and it was sweltering to the point that people fainted. The staff had to provide the audience with a steady supply of water. This year, it was several degrees colder outside but still HOT inside (thankfully not to the extent that anybody passed out)!

After speaking, Miyavi played another new song titled “MUSIC FREE” on the setlist. It was a special treat for fans when Miyavi sang and spelled out “S-E-X--” while panting into the microphone. Definitely H-O-T.

“We can be one, right, people?”

BOOM-HA-BOOM-HA-HA was another fun song for everyone to clap and sing along to.

“Having fun with my crazy and weird music?”

“YES!”

“We had a show in Toronto last night, then we drove down to this f*cking crazy city, New York City. We dived in Niagara Falls and swam~.”

“This is my man Bobo. You know his name, right? Bobo who wears short shorts, showing off his pretty legs, right? Haha, gross. He’s a great drummer, ya? Only two people on stage, rocking the world.”

Miyavi also gave a shoutout to one of his crew, “Stage hand Pepsi! Mr. Pepsi who likes Coke. He’s a cool dude.”

Shelter was another great live song with Miyavi dancing while weaving back and forth with the beat. Miyavi demonstrated the hand motions the audience could also do, but most people preferred waving their arms up and down.

“Getting wet? It’s freaking hot in here. Last time I was here, I almost fainted. Thanks for having me again. Seriously. We’re having a good time on the road. Bunch of people are crazy. We love you. I so appreciate it.”

“Before I got here, I was walking around Union Square, seeing all the costumes. Is anyone in cosplay?” he asked the audience if they were dressed up (it was Halloween, after all). One girl shouted she was a demon, and it took a little clarification for Miyavi to understand it was “oni.”

“Sorry, I can’t speak English. I couldn’t speak English 5 years ago. Keep on teaching me English, okay?”

“Bobo speaks English too, you know. The only word he knows is, ‘What the f*ck.’ Always--never thought he would stop. Everytime. ‘What the f*ck.’ Enter the bathroom. ‘What the f*ck.’ He’s so shy, right? He’s a really great drummer. We went to Niagara Falls and was just like, ‘What the f*ck.’ It was crazy, like ‘What the f*ck.’ ‘What the f*ck’ so many tourists. We’re also tourists though, haha.”

The audience was in for a real treat when the sheet music was brought out along with an acoustic guitar. He told the audience how he knew everyone wanted to hear everything, especially older tracks, but he could only play a few of them.

His first song was Selfish Love--definitely a fan favorite. It wasn’t the entire song, but a good portion of it.

Miyavi then taught the audience how to say Bobo’s favorite phrase “What the f*ck,’ in Japanese. After the audience shouted it back at him, he was taken aback, “…oh…”

Next, he played a song many hoped for, but few expected to hear: “Itoshii Hito.” The audience went crazy and then quiet; some held hands with fellow Co-MYV, swaying to the music, and it brought tears to many eyes.


After Bobo’s drum solo, Miyavi once again introduced his drummer, “You know his name right? Bobo! Looks like Mexican from Brazil who likes Chinese food.”

Miyavi then had the audience call out his name for the who knows how many-th time that evening.

Futuristic Love turned into a Co-MYV dance party that went on for as long as Miyavi wanted it to. “Go beyond: Race, Gender, Generation, Nation, Language, Culture, Religion, History – BE ONE!”

The audience patiently waited for Miyavi and Bobo to come back on stage for an encore and nobody was disappointed to see them emerge in costume.

“We stopped by Ricky’s [costume shop]. Got these…so how do we look?” Miyavi was dressed in a cape and mask, perfect for the first song of the encore. “Do you know what? I am so embarrassed [in this outfit]. Tonight is Halloween! We can enjoy this Halloween party. So it’s fine, put a mask on…”

Bobo was in a cape and butterfly mask, which came off quickly. Two of the stage crew/staff also joined the Halloween spirit with their costumes. Mr. Pepsi was in a blonde wig and Spike was wearing a pirate hat and eye patch. Definitely a sight to see.

As Bobo was preparing, Miyavi kept speaking until someone from the audience shouted, “Señor Señora Señorita!” Miyavi’s “surprise” encore song had been ousted.

“Don’t say that, don’t say it! How rude!” he joked.

“Sorry!” the girl replied. Miyavi asked for his camera phone from the staff, and he went around stage photographing the audience members in costume.

At this point, a fan handed him a beautiful painting of Miyavi holding Lovelie as a newborn. “Oh, wow. See, this is me…and my son Bobo 36 years ago! No, this is my daughter Lovelie. Thank you.” He displayed the painting on stage rather than handing it off to the staff.

The live finished up with a 30-minute long encore with Miyavi shouting, “HAPPY HALLOWEEN!” He lingered on stage at the end, bowing and smiling. He jumped down in the space between the barrier and the stage and high-fived and shook as many hands as possible.

Miyavi fans consider themselves Co-MYV – BE ONE – a family. The concert definitely carried this atmosphere with the old and new Co-MYV friends that people made and met. Everyone simply followed Miyavi’s message.

BE STRONG.

Be ONE.

Be Co-MYV.

Setlist:
WHAT’S MY NAME?

[Ha!] guitar/drum only

UNIVERSE
HELL NO
Ossan Ossan Ore Nanbo

A-HEAD
MUSIC FREE
Boom-Ha-Boom-Ha-Ha
Shelter

-Acoustic Sets- (Requests from the audience)
Selfish Love
Itoshii Hito
Jibun kakumei
Strong
Torture
Futuristic Love

Encore:
Señor señora señorita
Are You Ready To Rock
Survive

Report by: Melissa “Missy” Castor
Website ・Twitter

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Wow, Irving Plaza seriously got a treat when Miyavi came out in costume!

At any rate, did you also attend any of Miyavi's concerts in his What's My Name? Tour? If you have, definitely leave us a comment to tell us about your experience!

You can find more of Melissa's photos at the MICHIDO Facebook.

If you love Miyavi in costume, don't forget to catch all our updates with an Email Subscription and some Twitter and Tumblr follows!

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