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dearest_blueSince PointFive(.5) is back again this year at Chang-Gero Sonic 2019, I just want to bring back this interview translation I did last year. It's from the May 2018 issue of the magazine "Millennials"!
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PointFive(.5), the group formed 7 years ago, comes back at “Chang-Gero Sonic 2018”!
Gero X PointFive(.5)
“Chang-Gero Sonic” will take place on 12 May 2018 at Odaiba.
With the concept “utattemita festival”, the on-hiatus PointFive(.5) has been decided to participate!
With PUPI-san included, we had a discussion with PointFive(.5) and Gero-san.
When I first offered, they said “Are you okay with us!?”
After 7 years, PointFive (.5) is having a comeback
Gero: Well, let’s start with the reason why I gave the offer to PointFive(.5) in the first place. While I finding out ways to invite other participants, I was talking to the utaite Tourai-san about the participants. During that time, Tourai-san said “PointFive(.5) might be impossible, right~”, and from then, I said that I should give it a try since there’s nothing to lose! Honestly, since they were on hiatus for so many years, I felt it would be impossible, but the feeling of “I want to see that…!” also arose.
Dasoku: When I was asked if I would do it, I felt “Ah, I’ll do it. Huh, let’s do it.”
Clear: It’s really nostalgic, huh. But as I wondered if everyone would gather, there was a part of me that was half-convinced.
PUPI: I’m sure everyone thought that (lol).
Amu: Rather than thinking about what I would do, I became interested in what the others were going to do. How about you, Asamaru-kun?
Asamaru: At our last live, we sang “we’ll definitely come back” during “Ryuusei Swing-by”, and I thought, “that line definitely won’t become a lie”.
Gero: The feeling of becoming somewhat like a criminal overflowed?
Asamaru: No, no (lol). But, because we sang “we’ll definitely come back”, I always thought about wanting to do something again someday.
Gero: PUPI-san, you were originally PointFive(.5)’s sound producer, right?
PUPI: I guess I am one of the workmates that are there, huh.
Gero: That’s right. That’s why, when I thought about giving the offer to PointFive(.5), I had to talk to PUPI-san as well, and Asamaru-san helped me get in contact.
PUPI: Since I’m not one of the utaites in PointFive(.5), my role is probably known by a few people who had detailed data at that time. Because of that, this time too, I thought I would only be there to support PointFive(.5) in the shadows.
Gero: If you were to be honest, in this interview, which person have you not to talked to the longest?
Dasoku: Earlier, I thought “ah, it’s amu-kun”.
Amu: I also thought “it’s Dasoku-san” (lol).
Asamaru: It’s because originally, this group didn’t have any bonds, right. That’s why this time, I called out to PUPI, “Help! Piece us together!”
PUPI: I’ve had that role ever since long ago, huh (lol). That’s why, when I heard about Chang-Gero Sonic from Gero-kun, I thought “eh, will this be okay??” (lol)
Gero: Definitely during the initial offer, several members said “Are you sure about that, us!?” But I wished and reassured, “I’ll follow up as much as I can…!” I thought that it would be nice if they could just sing their fundamental songs. By the way, how long has it been since you’ve sung together?
Clear: 6 years?
Dasoku: 5 years…?
Gero: Oho, you’re still disconnected this time too (lol).
PUPI: Hibiya’s Open Air Concert Hall was October 23, 2011, so it’s about 7 years.
Dasoku: That’s quite a while ago.
Asamaru: We haven’t decided what songs to sing this time, but, I wonder if there are any songs that are like “it has to be this”.
Mi-chan: Immediately thinking about it, in the end, it’s “Select me”?
PUPI: It’s because that’s the first single, right.
Mi-chan: After that, I remember “COLOUR”.
Amu: I also liked “Kimi Reflection”.
Gero: When the comeback was announced, did the reactions of the fans come?
Dasoku: A lot of them came. But more so than replies coming, it felt like there was a lot more individual tweets.
Clear: It became #13 on Twitter’s trending topics, right? Personally, I was really shocked!
Dasoku: I think they maybe started tweeting a lot after seeing the article. I wonder if there were a lot of people talking about the “promise” Asamaru-kun mentioned earlier.
Asamaru: Ah. At the live, because we sang “Honno Sukoshi no Sayonara” as the final song, I also saw a lot of people saying “that wasn’t a short goodbye!” (lol)
Dasoku: During those years, elementary schoolers at the time became high schoolers.
Gero: They’ve grown, huh (lol).
Mi-chan: Perhaps there are fans of that time that don’t listen to Niconico anymore.
Gero: The possibility of that is high, huh. That’s why, at this Chang-Gero Sonic, I hope that people who don’t listen, who don’t watch anymore, come to watch. In that sense, this reaction is a huge success. It would be good if they could see it and enjoy it.
“First Meeting” Episodes
Gero: I think I was sitting next to Dasoku-san in the venue during the 2008 Omiya live. For Asamaru-san, I have memories of going to play on his and Jack-san’s “Asamack Radio”. But, how many times have we met in real life?
Asamaru: Maybe about two times. But there’s this one time I don’t think Gerorin remembers. We also met at the “Dogeza Live” afterparty.
Gero: Ah, wasn’t I really drunk that time?
Asamaru: You were. At the afterparty, I was playing with my phone, and the first words you said to me were “It’s a really important time right now! Put away your phone!” (lol)
Gero: (lol). I was still doing work at the venue, it was more or less the time when blood was coming out from Amagasaki*… Amu-san was Comiket, right? Besides PointFive(.5), I’ve met a lot of other utaites there, I feel like you’re one of them.
Amu: It’s a really old memory, but I’m pretty sure we met at absorb’s disbandment live.
Gero: Shibuya…! I was also drunk then.
Everyone: (lol)
PUPI: You’re always drunk.
Gero: Lives are fun, and I end up wanting to drink (lol). But it definitely was that. I think we met then.
Gero: Clear-chan, when was it?
Clear: For me, it was “Smiley*2”.
Gero: That’s right! There was an event called “Host Club Smiley*2”, and we did a handshake event… So it was Comiket!
Clear: Huh, I guess it was FuyuComi.
Gero: There’s a lot of Comiket (lol). I also have a lot of images of meeting PUPI-san at Comiket...
PUPI: Yeah, I’m sure our first personal meeting was at Comiket. The impression that was left on me, was that my booth was next to Dagero’s booth, and that’s when we properly chatted.
Asamaru: Talking about PointFive(.5) meeting each other, the first time I met Dasoku-san was really funny. I’m certain it was at a live venue, and I also met clear-san and PUPI as well.
PUPI: I wonder if Difa* is well known? I probably first met Mi-chan and amutan, clear-kun and Dasoku that time.
Asamaru: Oh, that’s right. I was shaking hands and greeting everyone, and just when I thought “Alright, I’m done”, Dasoku-san came beside me quickly, and asked “How have you been lately?” (lol) “W-who…?” I flusteredly said. It was really funny.
PUPI: I believe I met amutan at a live that Pokota-san hosted. But, the time when we talked a lot was when clear invited us to go to karaoke. At that time, all of us were there.
Mi-chan: Huh.
PUPI: Eh, wasn’t Mi-chan there too!?
Mi-chan: I don’t remember anything (lol).
Everyone: (lol)
Mi-chan: Oh, I might remember little by little! But, my memory is fleeting...
Asamaru: That’s true, about 8, 9 years have passed since we’ve met.
Gero: Recently, Mi-chan and Dasoku-san meet at lives and other locations, right.
Mi-chan: Ah, I’ve met with Asamaru-san after our hiatus started!
Asamaru: Ah, it was at a wedding ceremony of a friend who has no connection to utaite, right. Also, Amutan and I often play games together.
Amu: We do.
Asamaru: I’m sure we’ve also gone drinking with PUPI-san. Mi-chan, Dasoku-san, and clear-san always seem so busy, it’s hard to invite them.
Mi-chan: It’s not like that, I’m free you know (lol).
It’s been a long time, but have a fun live!
Mi-chan: To be honest, it’s been so long that I have anxiety, but I’m excited to be able to come back; the trailblazer of groups, PointFive(.5). If we can enjoy the live together with the audience, then I’ll be happy.
Clear: It’s been a long time since this feeling of excitement has been this strong! I want to enjoy it!
Amu: Usually, I can imagine the flow of how lives will go, like “it’ll probably be like this”, but this time, I’m really not quite sure! But I’m also truly excited to be able to sing together as 5 again, and that encourages me to do my best at rehearsal!
Asamaru: 6, 7 years have passed since our last live, and I think our different colors from our individual experiences over time will show, and I’m excited to see that.
Dasoku: I’m nervous because it’s been a long time since I sang in front of people, so I’ll do my best.
PUPI: Just as the members had just said, there’s a possibility that the people who come to watch this time might not know about PointFive(.5). However, it’s not a bad thing, because originally, PointFive(.5) was an unfinished project, so I think that if it was interesting the first time to the people who listened back then, that the feeling is something that won’t change for the people who will listen now.
Gero: As the organizer, in addition to PointFive(.5), I am inviting other members thinking that we will never gather like this again. We won’t release a DVD, and we won’t release a CD. We also won’t broadcast a Niconama, and because there are people that don’t show their faces, I don’t think we’ll leave any photos either. Because of that, by all means, I want everyone to come to the venue, listen and watch live, and enjoy. I think I want to do the fundamental songs that everyone knows. I might release the setlist before the event, so please also look forward to that.
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Is there a person or thing that has guided you to now?
Clear: It’s probably the girl I had gone out with long ago. She introduced me to Niconico Douga, and when we broke up, during that extra time, I started my utaite activities.
Dasoku: Even with how I am now, because I still have viewers, I’m able to continue, and I think it’s also the Vocaloid and utattemita culture.
Asamaru: It’s Asakura Daisuke. I’ve loved Asakura Daisuke-san since I was little, he was the person that made me fall in love with music.
Gero: Oh yeah, Asakura-san also did a morning radio program, right!
Asamaru: That’s right. A majority of my life has already been occupied by Asakura Daisuke-san.
PUPI: Because my video “Final Fantasy 7 [Sara ni Tatakaushatachi]” became really popular, through the popularity, I was truly able to meet a lot of people. I think that if that video didn’t exist, I wouldn’t know the people who are here in the room right now.
Gero: For me, it’s “Cirno no Perfect Sansuu Kyoshitsu”. I think because I was able to meet Faneru-kun, and do Negero together, it became my turning point on Niconico Douga.
Mi-chan: I think mine is pachinko.
Everyone: Eh!?
Mi-chan: At the time I quit my job, when I would go to pachinko, I would win a lot. When I wondered what to do with the money, I thought about buying proper recording equipment. It’s not like I couldn’t buy it originally, but because the money just welled up, the feeling of wanting to lightheartedly spend it came up.
Amu: For me, it’s PUPI.
PUPI: Oh.
Amu: If PUPI didn’t invite me to PointFive(.5), it would have been so different. From then, I was able to release solo CDs, and I think it wouldn’t have been possible if I didn’t meet PUPI and join PointFive(.5). Huh, but when I think about it, the karaoke session I met PUPI at was because clear invited me, so I guess it might be clear (lol)?
What’s an April Fool’s joke you would tell?
Asamaru: That I got married. I want to try saying it, and I want to see everyone’s reactions. According to my namahousou’s listeners, I’m the type that definitely can’t get married. If I could get married, then I want to see what the listeners would do, so I want to try saying it.
Gero: I would probably say “I’m changing my name”. I want to make my name something pretty like “Clione” or something. If I say “from tomorrow, I’m changing my name from Gero to Clione”, I wonder what reaction I would get.
PUPI: The contents of it could be anything, but I do want to tell a lie big enough that it throws all of Japan into a panic. I’d hijack TV and websites, and say something along the lines that that Japan will be destroyed.
Mi-chan: I’m going to become a pro tennis player. Lately, because I’ve been crazy about tennis, I would say that I’m shifting towards that.
Clear: I want to lie saying that I died (lol). I wonder how much people would think of me.
Mi-chan: If you prank us like that, it’d be really sad.
Clear: Sad! In that case, I’ll definitely walk to the second life (lol)!
Amu: This is hard, but I want to try saying “tomorrow, I’ll delete all my videos”. If I did that, I think the views will grow.
Dasoku: That’s not how April Fools works.
What is something you would recommend to someone?
Gero: Sauna! By all means, everyone, please sweat! Your skin will also clear up. I go about 4 times each week.
Mi-chan: I recommend playing tennis. Or at least, I want you to watch! You can watch the broadcasts on WOWOW and NHK, and if you can watch the famous “Rakuten Japan Open”, you can see players from all over the world.
Dasoku: Recently, I watched the movie “The Greatest Showman”, and it was so good, I want everyone to watch it, really.
Clear: It’s a bit close to what Gero said earlier, but I’ve been really into stone saunas. In regular saunas, you can’t stay for a long time, but in stone saunas, you can be there forever.
PUPI: For me, it’s shogi. Recently, I’ve been really into it. Oh, when I say that, it’s not playing, but watching. It’s a bit embarrassing since it feels like I’m joining a fad, but it’s interesting!
Asamaru: In that case, for me, it’s igo*. Please play igo! Go* is also really fun too.
Gero: Wait a minute, isn’t our appearance a bit too much like ojisan?
Everyone: (lol).
Clear: Sauna, stone sauna, igo, shogi, it’s all ossan (lol).
Asamaru: You can grow a lot in mind and soul with igo, I think you can become very patient. A long time ago, I used to snap easily, but as I studied igo, I calmed down.
Amu: For me, try to get on a crowded train. When you enter, you can clear your mind. When you can block out your surroundings, please think “it’s here!” I feel like the wind afterwards.
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Notes:
Amagasaki: Gero’s hometown in the Hyogo Prefecture
Difa: Differ Ariake, a sporting arena in Ariake, Tokyo (east of Odaiba), closed in 2018
Igo/Go: A strategy board game, where the goal is to surround more territory than the opponent
