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As an Anime Academy press affiliate at Otakon 2003 (an American convention on Japanese animation based in Baltimore, MD), I had the immense pleasure of interviewing no other than Japanese superstar T.M.Revolution, who was holding his first concert outside of Japan the next day as Otakon's guest of honour.
Has
it always been a dream for you to perform a concert in North America?
TMR: I’ve been on promotional trips to Asia, but doing a concert outside of Japan is the very first time, so yes, I am looking forward to performing tomorrow.
Because there is a language barrier, having concerts in America is very difficult for most Japanese artists. At the same time, this convention being this big, I do believe the market and the people here, even if the focus is on anime, want to know more about the Japanese pop culture. So in that way, I think it has become more open to that idea. AA: Does a concert in a foreign country require any special attention? TMR: Because of the nature of this concert, I will do exactly the same as I do in Japan. I want people to see me for who I am and that it doesn’t matter where you go: T.M.Revolution is T.M.Revolution. I hope to show that tomorrow in my concert. For next time, I will learn more English so I can speak to more people directly. I’m very against adapting your art to a particular market. Many Japanese artists start to sing in English or start to change their melodies to follow the American way but when you do that, you lose yourself as a Japanese person. I want to keep on doing the same shows, the same music that I do in Japan, internationally. AA: You say a few Japanese artists change their music to please the American market; do you believe there is a clear difference between music from Japan and music from America? TMR: I think so because the types of melody that the American ear likes as opposed to the type of melodies the Japanese people like. I think there is a difference on how a song is structured or on what level it works. So, yes, I think there is a difference. AA: What would you say is the biggest challenge a foreign artist has to face when trying to reach North American shores? TMR: Language would be the biggest thing but it certainly isn’t the only one. Just how the business is set up is completely different. Two days ago, my staff came in early to prepare for the concert but just how shows are produced in Japan as opposed to here with the little gaps and misunderstandings made it very difficult. I think there are a lot of differences you need to overcome in addition to the language barrier. AA: I personally think a great vocalist can transcend the language barrier by conveying as much emotion in his voice as in his lyrics. Do you feel the same way?
AA: Now, only a few thousand people can fit in the Main Event Hall. I was wondering if it has been a while since you performed in front of such a small audience. TMR: I was on tour three days before I came here and that tour was about this size: two thousand, three thousand... Oppositely, I’m kind of flattered to have my first show in America in a hall with a four thousand people capacity, I feel very privileged to be able to perform my first show in America to such a big audience.
In Japan, I have played in domes that can sit twenty thousand people, but this is America and it is my first time being able to share time, space and music with American fans tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to it. AA: But do you enjoy intimate concerts more than big ones? TMR: I just love performing and the size of the venue doesn’t matter to the communication with the audience. That’s what I live for. AA: I hear you enjoy anime. Is it one of the reasons you chose Otakon? TMR: Yes, I know a lot of people have learn about or know about Japanese culture through anime and I just thought it was a great venture to perform my music to these kinds of fans. And I know a lot of people first listened to my music through anime so I thought it was a fitting venue to come here and perform. AA: Invoke and Meteor can both be found in your new album Coordinate and are part of the Gundam Seed soundtrack. Is the fact you are a fan of the Gundam series a coincidence or do you get to pick which anime you write music for? TMR: It was both things. I love the Gundam Series ever since the original series. At the same time, the director of Gundam Seed liked my music and it just happened that we met. It kind of magically happened so I am very grateful for that. AA: You also did voice acting for the Gundam Seed anime, was that a first in your career? TMR: My first experience was in Rurouni Kenshin as a character that dies right away *simulates a sword hitting him across the chest and laughs*. That was my first experience in voice acting. AA: Do you plan on doing more? TMR: The little experiences with Rurouni Kenshin and Gundam Seed were very enjoyable. There was a very creative atmosphere with all the artistic people like the director and it was a great experience If there are other opportunities to work in that type of environment again, I would love to do more voice acting work.
TMR: No, not yet. AA: A few of them have, like yourself, have been in America before on trips. Have you ever been in Baltimore before? TMR: No, it is my first time. AA: Have you had time to visit the area? TMR: The hotel and the convention centre *laugh*. I’ve looked outside my hotel room window but that’s about it, unfortunately. AA: Do you hope to visit a bit and do some shopping? TMR: Yes, I would love to. The harbour here is very beautiful; I will definitely take a stroll over there. I’m eating a lot of junk food here, which is very bad, and I also want to have more sea food *laugh*. AA: I’m guessing very few people will recognize you outside the convention centre. Is it a big change of pace for you? TMR: Yeah, I can relax more here than when I’m in Japan. AA: Does it ever become a bother when too many people recognize you in the streets of Japan? TMR: It really isn’t a bother. I play music for the fans and I think not being recognized in my position would be worse. AA: So far, have you noticed a difference between Japanese fans and North American fans? TMR: I just came out of an autograph session and the fans would ask for hugs, which doesn’t really happen in Japan. I was a bit startled at the beginning but it was very charming; they are very open about what they want. I was very happy to see them. AA: This certainly will not be the last time you come to visit us. Do you have any concrete plans or will it depend on the response you get during tomorrow’s concert? TMR: First off, I had no idea that so many people would know about me and I’m just shocked about that right now. But I would like to use the feedback I receive, so that when I get back to Japan, we can start scheduling my next concert: nothing specific but I would like to schedule that soon.
TMR: It can be anywhere: anime conventions, halls, clubs… If people like my music and enjoy the concerts, I’ll go anywhere to perform. A lot of the people here were registered at the convention before I was scheduled as a guest. So, these are initial steps to have people listen to my music, and when I eventually come back, I do hope to fill a club as T.M.Revolution on its own. That would be great. AA: The concert tomorrow must then be very important to you. Any special features we should expect? TMR: Because it is Otakon, the anime related songs I have done in the past will for sure be in the set list, so please look forward to that. AA: We sure will. Thank you very much for your time. It is an honour to have you here. TMR: Thank you.
And what a concert it was! Adorning a beautiful multi-layered kimono, T.M.Revolution rocked a jam-packed auditorium filled with not only fans but curious con-goers, as well. From TMR groupies to the most cynical, sleep-deprived anime fan, everyone was on their feet asking for more. His anime songs were there but were played in a completely new way with electric instruments and ear-banging drums. Then, Takanori-san picked up an electric guitar of his own to accompany his talented band members and the crowd just went wild. The audience greatly showed its appreciation, persuading TMR to perform two encores, one of which was impromptu, and this after an already incredibly long line-up. He is said to have shared tears of joy with his staff after the concert.
Wasting no time, TMR went straight to a second autograph session scheduled after the concert. He did overtime there, making sure the first five hundred fans got a little something to take home with them. His devotion was felt all throughout the convention, and after such an amazing concert, I know this is not the last we hear of Takanori Makes Revolution in America.
More information about Otakon 2003 in Anime Academy's report.
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Official Site: http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/TMRevolution/ (Tip: use AltaVista's Babel Fish translator)
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AA:
First of all, congratulations on your first concert in North America. We
are very proud you chose 
TMR:
I completely agree with you. When I was small, I used to listen to the
Billboard top 40. I didn’t understand the lyrics or what they were
saying, but yes, I did feel that with a strong vocalist, that emotion
comes through and if that can happen the other way around I would be very,
very happy.
AA:
Have you met with the other Japanese guests attending Otakon?
AA:
Do you think you will stick with anime conventions or perhaps expand to
regular concert halls?