On the 29th I went to Going Kobe.
My friend Watanabe Flower was playing and they did that thing were they all lifted the vocalist Kuma-chan-san (Here in Oreska we always put 'san' after 'chan') up in the air.
I'd planned to go as an audience members, but it looked fun, so I decided to do it with them! So I went on stage in a red Watanabe Flowers t-shirt.
About 8 band members headed towards the stage. It happened about 20 minutes after I got to Kobe.
It was so much fun! It's so important to try everything out!
A lot of people I knew were there, so we just hung out. There were a lot of them I hadn't seen in ages.
It was a really wonderful, energetic festival.
I hope we can play it some day.
I was never that interested in concert DVDs (because I'd always fall asleep during them) but then one of the staff at Terry Dollar lent me the DVD of Hanaregumi's Koganei Park concert, and it was so moving and so exciting that since then I have a lot of fun watching concert DVDs. My eyes are always glued to the screen.
Actually going to a show is best, but you can watch a concert DVD very calmly, so they're really helpful to find out which parts get you pumped up...
But that's a serious discussion for another day!
I think I'll just watch DVDs all day. But first I'm going to see my friend's tour finale.
Days off are the best!
I can't get to sleep.
Today is Showa no Hi. I was born in the last year of Showa, and I'll be 21 this year. There are a lot of bands my own age around now, and I have more chances to work with people close to my age, and it makes me realize that I won't always be the youngest.
Sometimes I wonder if I'm okay like this, and I feel both excited and scared to get older. The present only comes now. I'll only be 20 for 3 more months. I want to do everything I can.
Oh, I want to fall asleep!
Why do I perform? I tried thinking about it deeply but I couldn't find the answer to that.
But now things are going great. I don't have a cold anymore, and I feel great.
And I've almost found my answer.
On nights like this, I want to be with someone, but I have a lot I want to do tomorrow, so I'm going to bed early!
It feels so great to play by the river!
Good morning!
There was a bug in my nose this morning. Iy was really nervous. I blew my nose and it came out.
Gross!
Today we did pro-production for our new song. It's a great song.
I love being in the studio because it's indoors. Oh man, I'm gonna get fat!
On the way to the studio, a young woman and a homeless guy were having a deep conversation. The woman was crying and the guy was listening and nodding and saying 'Yes yes.' He was like a counselor listening to her problems.
I was really interested about their relationship.
It was a strange situation. I feel like that could be a story.
I'm looking for a good book now.
Usually when we have to go to Tokyo just for an interview I get really physically and mentally tired on the drive, but today Saki and I did our what will happen on the Shinkansen experiment, and did all these thrilling things, so I didn't feel tired at all, and I enjoyed myself a lot!
This was really important for me because when I start thinking negatively I can't stop.
Laughing! About something totally stupid!
I feel like that gets rid of the evil fairy (me) who tries to bring me into the negative.
I remembered again that we make our own power.
Leader and I are on the Shinkansen now.
○○○ ○○
↑The seats look like this.
We're sitting in the two person row.
What would it be like if the seats were flipped around and we were facing the people behind us that we didn't know at all?
Anyway, we're both really excited. (LOL)
It's almost May! It shouldn't be this cold!
Leader and I are going to be on Space Shower TV tomorrow.
We have to get up so early!
朝早っ!!!!
Thanks so much to everyone who came to our solo shows at Kobe VARIT, Kyoto Takutaku and Nagoya UPSET!!! I had so much fun!
Standing on stage, it really made me feel how many people are listening to the new album we just put out!
I can't wait for Osaka BIG CAT or the last show at Tokyo Quattro!
Tomorrow we're doing pre-production.
It's cold. Why is it so cold when it's almost time for the rainy season to start?
Brrr~!
The show at Nagoya yesterday was so great. It was really moving, the way they it felt like we all became one. It was a really good show.
Apparently, 'Ikasu' is hard for Americans to remember. Sometimes they say, "Gus?"
But the one I get most is "I...Isaac?"
But that's a guys name!
Most people mess it up. I thought it was just because it was very Japanese, but I was talking to Saki on the phone, and she was talking about how there was someone named Isaac in mythology.
Ooh, well then. Let's make it Isaku!
Ｉ’ｍ ISAKU！
And I love people in Nagoya!
We hadn't played UPSET in 6 months. It was our third time playing there, but there's something about coming to UPSET that's very calming.
It was so much fun! Everyone spends their days in all different ways. I felt such a loving energy from everyone's smiles. If I was made of elastic, I could have hugged everyone!
Today we have a day off. I woke up early and now I'm relaxing.
Thanks, Nagoya!!
I'm so glad we got to play the shows!
We'll definitely come for our next release too!
Thanks, Nagoya!
This is aphoto from when the three of us went drinking. It's mostly me.
Hurray for days with nothing! I love days with nothing! I got these from Tomi♪
I'm on the Shinkansen.
I'll get to Nagoya in 45 minutes. It's shorter than going from my home station to Shin-Osaka station.
What's up with that?
The scenery looks the same. Where's the real Nagoya!?
I'll get there soon.
Once I get to the venue, I'll set up my equipment and then we'll rehearse.
We're off to UPSET in Nagoya!
Our show! Our show!
Yaaaaaaay!
Today I went shopping with my mother. I bought a CD rack. I got home, all excited to finally be able to organize my CDs and when I opened the box, the green paint was all dirty. I know it will get dirty as I use it, but I wanted it to be clean to start out with, so I decided to return it. In the end, I can't clean up the CDs that are piled in the corner of my room. Ah.
But I did clean my room since it was dirty, and out came all the letters I've received up to now. I read some from right when we first debuted, and teared up a little.
It's such a nice thing to leave your emotions in writing like that. My letter box is full.
Terry-san is driving us in the car. We met this amazing DJ at the radio how, which was great. It got me so pumped! It was so much fun!
On the way home we ran into model Misako Yasuda. Whoa! Her features are so petite!
Leader and I went to get our hair cut today. It looks good!
Today I went the instrument store, and now I have a new to replace my beat up one.
I hadn't been in a while, so the shop clerk who's been taking care of me for ages told me I'd lost weight, which made me happy. Until they said that I looked cuter a little chubby.
Ahh...
But I think they were worried about me.
Today I've been listening to the Ulfuls all day. Their songs are so honest.
Today I woke up very nicely to my ringtone of Hiro Mizushima (a popular actor) saying,
'Good morning! Let's do our best today!'
Heh heh heh.
I'm heading to Tokyo for the first time in a while. Leader and I have a radio thing.
うひょー。
I had so much fun in the studio today. Playing in a band...it's fun in the way that it was fun to walk home with everyone after school singing some song together. It's that same kind of feeling.
Oreska sang together loudly today, and it was so much fun we started cracking up.
It made me want to pratice more. Ahaha.
That's right. We are definitely living for the 25th!
I'm waiting for you to come visit us. With all my heart.
I can swallow pills.
What a pointless talent.
I can swallow 10 big pills.
How big? About the size of my thumbnail.
the studio!!
Huh? Something feels weird.
Oh, I haven't seen the other girls in two days! Long time no see!!
Hee hee hee
I've still got allergies. The allergy pills are huge, so they always get caught in my throat. Btw, apparently Saki-san can swallow 7 pills at once, including huge ones. Wow.
Tomi and I are going to Nagoya at 4 to do a radio thing.
At night we'll be in the studio.
Wow.
I said I'd stay up because I felt so good. And the night is ending, and the sun is going Yoohoo!!
I'm going to go to sleep imagining I'm talking to Shokotan.
Good night!
Lately, I've been thinking about how now that I get grown up acne, it takes longer for the skin to get better. Blah. And I wondered if this is what being an adult means, but somehow, I still found myself using my little brothers Clearasil. This is my very last resistance.
Our solo tour has started. We've done shows in Kobe before, and this was our second show in Kyoto, but it was the first time we had no other bands with us. I got a really good sense of both towns as places, of their distinctive atmospheres, which was really fun! They're in the prefecture just next to ours, so I assumed I knew all about them, which I regret. What a wonderful world! Meeting new people is just a great thing. I love the way Takutaku smells.
Oh, also, sorry to Daniel, who wrote on our message board. The staff told me to be careful how I threw my sticks before the show started. I hope no one was injured.
It's morning now. Time for Moriko to get up. It's time for me to go to sleep.
I can't stop grinning.
I listened to the new three piece song today and I'm started grinning. And I'm still grinning.
They've done another great song! Darn them!
I feel really good today. Maybe I'll stay up all night.
I think I've got allergies, my nose is really runny. And my throat's not so hot either.
Today the three piece is going into the studio at noon. A new song was born so we're going to make it. It's so interesting.
I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad think but it's hard for the one who made the song to imagine anything other than what that melody carries, but if you've got many ears and many eyes, it's easy to come up with a lot of ideas.
In a book, I read a conversation between one of my favorite mangaka Sakumi Yoshi now, and an doll maker named Jusaburo Tsujimura, where they said, "Nothing has ever come out just the way I wanted it. It's because I'm not satisfied that I continue creating. "
Hmm, that's very true. That's what we're always heading towards.
Making things is such a deep thing.
...is really hard.
Like, I think 'Oh! I wanna buy this!' and then I walk around holding it and look at all sorts of other stuff and then I'm like, 'Wait? Do I really need this right now?'
It's hard.
Kyoto, you guys rock!
We hadn't been to Kyoto for a while, and we got to play a show too! I'm so happy!
So happy I met all of you!
Thank you so so much!
We've got a day off today, so I'm going to heal my canker sore!
Thank you all soo much!
We haven't really played much in Kobe or Kyoto, so I didn't know what the towns or people were like.
But! We found out at the shows! Kobe and Kyoto are on fire!
I wonder if you can see it? The wonderful world that I saw. The wonderful where all of you exist!
The important thing is the really let everything I wanted to do, everything I felt on the day come alive!
Thank you so much!
I can't wait for the 25th!
I had so much fun yesterday! You all looked great, and had amazing energy!
Today is Kyoto Takutaku! It's crazy! Like a secret fort!
Let's play! We can do whatever we want today!
Thanks Kobe! What a great day! I'm so glad we kicked it off in Kobe.
Today is Kyoto. They say Kyoto's really crowded in Spring!
Is it? Is it crowded?
Anyway, we're headed off to Kyoto!
Our solo tour starts tomorrow!
I'm in bed right now, but I'm so excited! Yesterday I was trying to sleep but my heart's rhythm was all funky!
It's so loud!
See you soon, Kobe!
Can you see?
what a wonderful world!
Today Ikasu and I went to Tokyo for a conversation with John B Chopper, the bassist from the Ulfuls. I was nervous because it was my first time having a conversation interview like that, but he was a wonderful person, and it ended up having so much fun, I can't even believe we just met him today. The atmosphere was really loose and before I realized it, we'd been talking for two hours! It'll be in a wonderful magazine called Rocky Racoon, which comes out on May 20th, so please check it out!
Also, I'm kind of late on this, but What a Wonderful World Vol.2 is out! Thanks so much for waiting! It's finally out! I hope that it reaches people's hearts.
Tomorrow starts our solo tour! The first show is at the Kobe Varit.
I can't wait!
It's just a peaceful afternoon while the bikers zoom on by.
Except not. I'm trying to enjoy my walk!
All I hear is:
Vrrooom vrrooom vroooom
And what's with that rhythm?
Ug!
I checked out the message board and it's really lively! There were all kinds of passionate messages from people saying they're listening. Thanks so much!
Today we had our final rehearsal for our show, and then we all when to eat udon and soba, and then I came home to watch tv.
People from Kansai have the power to turn minuses into pluses. Because we just make them part of a comedy routine!
The more minuses you have, the stronger the power of turning them into laughter.
That means that even those people who are at the lowest point in their lives right now will some day because to use it for a big laugh.
That's amazing!
I'm a little late, but our CD is out!
Sorry it's two months late. Thanks so much to everyone who was looking forward to it.
I haven't got to the record store yet, so it doesn't really feel real, but it makes me happy to think about the people who commented, or who didn't comment, and are listening to the record.
I hope that our music can get someone through things.
Our show is tomorrow!
I'm having fun today. I'm off to eat with the rest of the band. Isn't that great?
It takes me an hour to walk home.
I just passed by Ohama Middle School the middle school next door.
Ohama's gym uniforms are a really cute blue. My middle school's were green. A kind of bright green. They were totally lame.
On top of that the sweatshirt was green and the shorts were blue. What a bad combination!
I though I'd finally get to wear a cute colored sweatsuit in High school, but they turned out to be dark green!
Even worse!
It totally sucked.
I'm getting all excited thinking about our show. Heh heh heh.
I checked the message board and saw so many messages from people who've listened to the album. What do I do? I'm so happy and excited!
We had a really good practice today. I'm so glad we got to have a good practice on our release day.
Heh heh.
This band really is a good band.
Hee hee hee!
I've been waiting for this day!! Waiting so long!!
I'm so thankful, so happy and having so much fun!
I'm sooo hyper!!
April 15th. What a wonderful day.
The release day for What a Wonderful World vol.2 is finally here. I've been waiting for it for so long, and then all of a sudden it was like, 'It's tomorrow!' I feel like it's the day before graduation.
We're sticking with the same message from our album last year. 'What a Wonderful World!'
Since we released WAO!!, we've met new people, went to all kinds of places, officially become adults, and that's the answer we've found.
I still don't really know much about the world, or my own world. Everything that's happened in this two years has made me realize that, but it's also taught me what a wonderful thing that is.
I hope that the 12 songs we've written during those two years will resonate with you...
Yay!！
What a Wonderful World vol.2 is on sale now!
It's been lined up on the shelves since last night! I'm so thankful! And so sorry for having kept you all waiting!!
Thank you to all the people who've already listened to it and sent us notes! I'm so happy! Soo happy! It's wonderful! Yahoo!!
I hope our music brings you to your own wonderful world!!
If you don't go see it, you won't ever see!
We'll start it out with our solo show!
I found this branch that had totally been snapped off.
Yesterday Ikasu and I went to dinner at a local sushi restaurant.
Sushi is amazing!
We also went to Book off to look for manga it was so fun!
I'm off the the studio now.
Yay!
It's Leader. I can't wait to see how Saki's bangs came out.
Today I went with my mom (My first show with my mom) to the final show of a band named Loco-Passion.
The end of things really simply makes people stronger. What's left in your heart when everything's simplified? I think it must be love. For all the things that exist around you or everything you've done.
In other words, it's passion.
I cut my bangs too short. Blah. It's crazy. I look like a middle school student.
I don't like it.
I'm in Yamatogawa for snack time.
I was playing and before I realized it an hour had passed.
All these bugs keeps coming over to me, and it's kind of irritating. I have to stop wearing yellow when I come here.
Yahoo!
My bike is fixed!!
It's fixed, it's fixed, it's fixed!
My bike is fixed!!
Aahhhhhhh!
I was just saying how cold it was, but now it's warm. We've got practice at 2 today. Yay!
The cherry blossoms are turning into cherry leaves. We can't go cherry blossom viewing anymore.
We appeared as guests on FM8021! Did you all listen?
And I forgot to mention on the show, but Oreska Band is going to play SUMMER SONIC 09 for the first time ever!
It's not on the official home page yet, but I was supposed to mention it on the radio show, so I'll just put it here.
We're playing on the same day as the Specials! It's amazing!
We always used the Specials song 'Little Bitch' for our entrance song at shows!
I can't wait for the summer!
But before that we've got our solo show!
There are a lot of songs we can only play on solo shows, and so I think there are a lot of sides of ourselves we can only show at solo shows.
Tomorrow we're going into the studio for it. It's getting closer.
So much closer!
Our four shows are over, and next up is our solo show.
Back home in Osaka, it's warm already. The days pass by just as quickly as always.
Spring is here!
I see a lot of students in their shiny new school uniforms. There was one girl looking nervously at the ground as she entered the school gate. I could see her excitement about jumping into a new world and her uneasiness too.
Today I saw the news abut meningitis. If children under 5 get it, a lot of times they're left with complications, and sometimes they even die. But now there's a vaccine, which saves the lives of many children.
How many times would I have died if it wasn't for doctors?
I wonder if people's life spans are really much shorter?
I found a cafe I like!
ってことでサテライトがんばりやすー！
滋賀のみなさんパルコの１階にちゃちゃ入れにきてくださいねー！
We woke up from our nap and then we did a radio show in Kyoto.
We got healthy juice and huge yummy chestnuts at the station, and now we're heading to Shiga.
Lake Biwa! Lake Biwa!
We're taking a nap in the park under the cherry trees. It's so nice and warm.
I wonder when our next job stars.
Hahaha.
It's so nice and warm.
On the train I amused myself with Wikipedia, and sleeping, and now we're in Kyoto. We're on at 12, so please listen!
Today we're going to Shiga and Kyoto to do some radio shows. The first time I went to Shiga, I saw Lake Biwa and I got so excited because thought it was the ocean...
Why is Lake Biwa so huge? It's crazy!
I'm off!
After I got home from the tv shoot yesterday, I fell dead asleep in my living room. I didn't take off my make up and my eyes are puffy.
Today Saki and I are going on our campaign of Kyoto and Shiga. Tonight we'll all be on 802! Whoo hoo!
I've still got some time. Maybe I'll go back to sleep for a while.
Today we've got an appearance of Mesamashi TV abd WEST WHND. I finished getting ready earlier than expected, so I straightened my hair. And it even used minus ions.
Minus ions are amazing! My hair is so smooth and silky!
I'm also using Tsubaki brand shampoo.
When I say 'I'm going to clean my room.'
The members say 'You're always cleaning your room.'
But I can dirty a room in 3 days.
In the past, I even turned down friends a lot saying 'Sorry, I can't I have to clean my room.'
Who does that? (LOL)
This is a great DVD.
I woke up early, so I'm watching our DVD while I eat breakfast.
I'm crying right now watching a scene of myself crying.
Hahahaha.
It's over! Those four days went so quickly!
What I really want to say is how thankful I am for all of you who came to see Oreska play these four days. I'm so thankful to everyone who helped us get this far.
Here's a really special
Thank you!!!
Oooh, I made the font bigger for the first time ever.
I just want you all to laugh and call me an idiot, and then I'll be happy.
See you all at our one man show!
I love you guys!!
The four days are over!!
Thank you for SUM 41!!
Thank you for PUNK SPRING!!
AND
Of course U!!
How do the people who work there get to work?
Do they live close by?
Do they live there?
It's a mystery.
We're heading to Nagoya now.
Bye bye Makihariii!
Man, punk is just so great, isn't it?
Yahoo!
The outdoor bath felt soo good!
Thanks punk rockers! I was able to see all sort of people's show, and it made me so happy! Cheers!
I watched all kinds of shows but my favorites were our local bands GOOD 4 NOTHING and the 50 kaitens.
Both their shows were so hot!
I can't wait for Nagoya tomorrow!
Woohoo!
The main stage. There are stages to the side of it liked at Warped.
Why are Country Ma'am cookies so good?
By anyway LESS THAN JAKE are so cool! I love them!
But why are Genki Pies so good?
Yay!
I'm drinking cassis mango.
I'm having so much fun at PUNK SPRING!!
I took this photo for posterity. (LOL)
The camera man Umeda-san bought me this beer.
The show's over and we're drinking now.
Ikasu and Tae and Tomi are setting up now.
I'm soooo nervous.
Ahhhh!
I'm going to go enjoy PUNK SPRING!
Heh heh heh
Hey, I want to say something cool now.
Punk is not a genre, it's a state of mind.
Off I go!
The Dragon Ball movie opened today! But I missed opening day!
Next time I'm make it for sure.
I'm heading to the PUNK SPRING venue soon!
We've been pretty busy lately. How are you all?
Saying good bye and getting things ready and having allergies, and all of that but Oreska had a lot of shows.
The first half of the battle is over, and I'm raring to go for tomorrow.
I'm sure you all know, but there's so much about to begin.
It's your choice to do it or not do it.
We're starting from this tiny tour.
Zoom zoom
Yesterday we had a show in Tokyo and today we're in Osaka, and then we'll be in Tokyo again.
By car both ways.
It's a crazy schedule. Like a tiny tour.
We'll be driving fast as the driver rubs her tired eyes.
We're chasing after that bubbling excitement!
We're gonna rock!
It was so much fun!!
Spring ring ring ring!!
Yahoo!!
After the show, I went to the merch booth, and there was an audience member from the US.
And he asked me to marry him.
Heh heh heh
Ikasu is reading 'Music and People'. Oreska Band are in it. Hee hee
We got in early yesterday so Tomi and I went for a walk nearby.
We had a wonderful walk, with the ocean and the wind blow. The weather was beautiful.
I'm there! At ZEPP Osaka.
Today is PUNK SPRING!!
Yahoo!!
Yesterday was SUM41. SUM41 was SUM41.
It was amazing!
I can't wait for their show today!
I did backwards bungee jumping.
It was so high!
My thighs hurt.
Some person I don't know took a picture.
Who were they!? How'd the picture come out!?
Don't watch me, kids!
Don't watch me while you're eating ice cream!
But I am kind of glad they saw my courage.
Last night we all went to dinner. You have to drink wine with Italian food.
We finished one interview, so now we're just waiting.
I checked out the DVD Scott Murphy's going to be releasing.
It brought back some memories watching it. Scott has such a nice expression when he sings. He's such a wonder guy!
I hope we get to perform with him again.
I drew a picture of our new Oreska team member, Murai-san.
They're so nice. The cheery blossoms are so nice!
There were only a few blooming in Osaka.
Sakura!
Hee hee.
Saaakuuuraaaa
And while I was writing this post, I missed a beautiful row of cheery trees.
Hahahaha
For about a month now. Tae-can and I have been having the following conversation:
Tae: The teri-tama burger isn't out yet, right?
Saki: Soon...
Tae: Heh heh heh...
Saki: Hee hee hee
We were really looking forward to it.
But the teri-tama burger isn't being sold in the Kinki region!!
How could you leave us out!?
What the heck, McDonald's!?
Spring = the teri-tama burger!!
Please sell the teri-tama burger in Kinki!!!
* teri-tama burger = A seasonal menu item at McDonald's, consisting on a fried egg on a teriyaki burger. The teriyaki burger is a regional menu item specific to Japan.
I feel so much better...
I couldn't hold it any longer so I got off at the next station.
Ahaha.
I should've paid more attention and it wouldn't have got like that.
Hahaha
So then...
I felt so much better and when I got on the next train, I was shocked to find that Leader was on it too!
LOL
WAO!!!!
I'm on my way to Tokyo!
But I really have to go to the bathroom.
Ahhhhh!
Oh man oh man oh man...
Hey, how many more stops are there?
Hey, hey, hey!
Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!
I can't hold it much longer!!
I reaaaally can't!