Kamalpur

Morning in Ikebukuro. Not the best view but being able to see above the tops of buildings in Tokyo, that is pretty nice.

So this adventure was back to a place I had been before. Once again I saw the Oyoko River

Why so out of the way to a place that in November doesn't have much to see? Because someone mentioned South Indian Curry. Which made me want to try it. A search came up with a place in Kiba. Not this place.

That place. That tiny sign up there. For Tandoor Bar Kamalpur. Although it sometimes gets translated into Kamarupool...

Which is actually on the first floor, with the front door at the corner of the building. Inside, you get to eat with Indian gods. Like many restaurants in Japan, it's a very small place.

I should explain a little. Because the wait staff does not speak English and there is not an English menu. The chefs do but don't usually converse with customers. But to make it easier for anyone wanted to try to eat here, I went for lunch. And there are only three items for lunch. Mild lentil curry, medium heat chicken curry, and if I remember correctly, spicy hot keema curry. I do think you can add items like naan bread with cheese, kulcha. If you go for lunch, just ask for lentil, chicken or the third hot curry. The third curry may be different at times since I see some people mentioning a dry curry in online reviews.

I went with the lentil curry lunch.

What an amazing taste! There was so much depth to the flavors. I was extremely pleased with this. I remember eating it so fast because it was great. Very happy that I went here.

Even though it was a cloudy day with the possibility of rain, I walked a bit through Kiba.

I keep seeing squirrel statues in Japan.

I will have a little more from Kiba in my next post.

Kamal Pool's address is 3 Chome-20-9, Toyo, Koto City, Tokyo. The closest train station is Kiba Station. It is a short walk from there, but you do have to look a little for the actual door for the restaurant.

And after I posted this I found their website https://kamal-pur.com/lunch.html
With the actual translation of the restaurant name. Google Maps has Kamarupool, in case anyone is trying to find this place.

Pick Happiness

I realized that to get a feeling for my posts about the restaurant Manmaru, something more is needed. Pick your favorite Beatles song and play it. Or go with "Baby's in Black", which was what I heard while there. Because all Manmaru plays is the Beatles.

I've written about the manga and show "Wakakozake" before. The premise is a woman who enjoys going out alone and drinking and dining. Part of that is she has a favorite little restaurant she likes to visit. I kind of feel that way about Manmaru.

So of course it was the first place I stopped at for dinner on my recent trip. Each time I order sake just so they can overfill their little glass so it runs over and fills the saucer below. It's my Murasaki moment. As to the sake, it's a jumai ginjo that is called "Pick Happiness". I didn't know the name until the lovely server told me.

Something Manmaru specializes in besides unagi is dojo or loach. So I ordered it.

Dojo is a fresh water fish and in November, Manmaru was offering a tempura styled dish served with lemon. It was salty and crispy.

I went with the smaller unagi don set that came with their delicious miso soup and cucumber tsukemono.

Finally I have a good photo of the unagi.

It's fun to find all the eel images in Manmaru. Like this little decorated plate.

I was tired from the long flight but I decided to walk a little. There were a couple things I wanted to buy over on Sunshine 60 Dori. Not wanting to deal with chaotic Ikebukuro Station, I took one of the tunnels that runs under the many train tracks to get to the other side.

This tunnel actually has an official name. We Road, and it's been in the news recently because they have an artist who has been painting the walls and ceiling. I've seen her there a few times, but unfortunately I don't know her name. The colorful walls and ceiling do lighten up the long walk way with the very low ceiling.

I was also looking for a specific restaurant that night. Sometimes locations are not clear on Google Maps. I noticed this SEIBU window display that someone else had posted online. So I had to take a photo.

I also couldn't help but noticed the trains in this shop window.

It's MARUZEN, a book and stationary store with a cafe. If you feel like dining with the Haneda Airport and Toshimaen Express Trains, this is the place to do it. MARUZEN is located at 2 Chome-25-5 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima City.

It seems there are a number of fruit parlor cafes in Ikebukuro. This one is Kajitsuen Riberu. The brightly lit store caught my attention. I may visit here in the future. This is located at 1-chōme-19-1 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima City.

Something I definitely wanted to see during this trip were illuminations. I remembered viewing a few back in 2010 and I wanted to see more this time. Ikebukuro's contribution were these lit "trees" along Meiji Dori outside the train station.

I really did not plan this photo. But I like the way it turned out.

And my little purchases. A couple bath salts and hair clips from Tokyu Hands because I forgot my hair clips that I use when bathing. And a couple more bath salts from Tomads. Along with perusing the craft and kitchen sections of Tokyu Hands. Because I like cooking and crafting and it's fun to see what Japan has to offer.

Returning

As long as I am able to, I will be traveling to places I want to see. And those where I want to be. So at the end of November, I found myself back at Portland International Airport. Which is rated highly by many. I think because it's one of the more easier to figure out which way to go airports along with the vendors there keeping prices more in line with what is sold outside of the airport. Along with decent places to eat at like Tamale Boy. Breakfast was a Portland bowl without eggs this time.

While watching the planes roll by.

And there's my non-stop flight. Flying on a day before most people fly, it worked out for me.

Up in the air they made an announcement. Because below was Alaska. Without clouds.

Apparently, it's rare when Alaska is visible from the air, like this. Snow covered mountains and frozen glaciers for miles.

Meanwhile, I actually got the meal I wanted. I don't know why airlines are so bad with meal planning, but almost every flight I get stuck with having to eat something I don't want. This time it was miso salmon from Chef Naoko of Shizuka restaurant and MUJI bentos. Wonderful Japanese food at those places. This meal might not have looked like much, but it was delicious. Also I was happy to enjoy those little heirloom tomatoes.

Finally reached my destination. Japan.

More snowy mountains below.

Far away city in Hokkaido. Possibly Kitami.

Goodbye Hokkaido. Maybe one day I will see you from the ground.

And hello Iwate, Honshu. 

While I had been remembering the last time I was in Japan at this time, this flight down the coast was a lot like that flight on March 11th, 2011. Kamashi below.

Over Miyagi Prefecture and that's Kesennuma below. Thankfully this time nothing bad was happening below.

Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture. One day I want to explore the northern coast of Honshu. One day.

And after a short time in immigrations and customs and then a short wait for my train, I reached Ikebukuro in Tokyo. While it was early for it to be dark, the nice thing was I could see some illuminations from the train. Including one that isn't mentioned by most websites, but was extremely pretty and I knew I would want to see it. This was the view from my hotel room. Not the most exciting but better than having an office building directly opposite.

Mana x Yu~ki Moi-même-Moitié Online Salon Conversation Translation

Once again I've translated a recent online conversation, this time between MALICE MIZER founders Yu~ki and Mana. This is from the Moi-même-Moitié website, not what was posted in the Moitié Online Salon. The link for what I translated is here: https://moi-meme-moitie.com/?tid=5&mode=f65

I did this because online translation programs miss a bit of what is actually said, and some nuances and ways of speaking are lost. I am not a trained translator so I may miss something here and there. But I do spend time checking and also finding out a bit about cultural references that I may not know. Along with knowing a little bit. I've added a few explanations here and there, since some words and phrases may not be familiar to everyone, using () for this, or just filling in missing words to make more sense also using (). I've tried to keep punctuation and all close to what was originally written. I hope people enjoy this, since there is a bit that doesn't make it through using just machine translation. 
~~~

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the brand Moi-même-Moitié, established in 1999 by guitarist Mana of MALICE MIZER/Moi dix Mois, this is the special content of the online salon "Mana-sama x compelling conversations with famous guests".
This time, this long-awaited person!
MALICE MIZER bassist Yu-ki Earl arrived.
Because of their long relationship, Mana's conversation is now rarest among rare!
Don't miss the precious words that Yu-ki Earl says about fashion.
(Moi-même-Moitié Transcriber/ Mizuko Honda)

--When you met, what kind of clothing did you each wear for personal wear?
Mana: Since my hair was very long and I was wearing women's high-heeled shoes, I think my personal clothing looked quite suspicious. Weren't they?
Yu~ki: Mana-chan's plain clothes were an image that will never change with me. He wore a wide-brimmed hat and wore sunglasses.
Mana: Certainly. At that time I was so thin that I was mostly wearing women's clothing. Actually.
Yu ~ ki: That's right. So was I.
Mana: Yu~ki-chan was wearing women's clothing too?
Yu ~ ki: I was wearing them. Because I was thin at that time (laughes), and there wasn't much that I was interested in with ready made men's clothing.
Mana: That's right.
Yu ~ ki: Then surely, go to ladies (clothing) for design.
Mana: That it was. After all, what they made in men's (clothing) was big. When I wanted to wear something with a shaped waist, I had to look for it in ladies. Well, I was a woman. So I went to a shop for women.
Yu-ki: Also stage costumes at that time, might have been more of a female role (style) than now, Mana-chan.
Mana: Was that so?
Yu~ki: What I mean, it is closer to the realistic clothing women wear now. Suits. It is like the line of the body is shown. You liked wearing skirts above your knee?
Mana: Because it was the Bubble era. It might have been a little Juliana (smiles). (Juliana's was a famous discotheque in Tokyo where fashion like "bodycon" was worn)
The impression of Yu-ki-chans's regular clothing is that he is a mature man wearing nice blue jeans.
Yu~ki: N-fu-fu-fu (laughing)
Mana: I, while I did not wear blue jeans, it was not a genre to shy away from, Yu~ki-chan looked stylish when wearing something coordinated. What you do to dress well, it's impressive.
Yu ~ ki: I see.
Mana: Certainly, was it Lee? (Lee brand jeans)
Yu ~ ki: That's right. In fact, it was a terribly short time when I wore jeans, but it was my one time boom (trend) for myself. There might have been a short period of time wearing jeans a lot. My nickname was Lee at that time (laughs)
Mana: Yes!
Yu ~ ki: I was suffering from it (the nickname) not only being (related to) jeans but also (it being related to) Bruce Lee.

Mana: I, probably decided not to challenge blue jeans in my life. Without self confidence that they would look good.
Yu ~ ki: In those days, members were wearing plain clothes with shoes with high soles. When it happened just to balance (with the others) I was forced to wear platforms different from my usual (shoes) for example. So, I mean, I specifically could not aesthetically allow the sole part to be seen.
Mana: Yeah.
Yu ~ ki: Then, I decided to choose boot-cut (pants), so that moved into denim. Pantaloon style. Mana-chan wore black pants at that time, had a strong shirt image. Paisley pattern.
Mana: That's right. Paisley, I was wearing it since I was a middle school student. (laughs)
Yu~ki: I like it (laughs)
Mana: I bought it at a department store. (laughs)
Yu~ki: fu fu fu
Mana: I guess, I had a strange addiction to paisley, mysteriously.
Yu ~ ki: Why?
Mana: I wonder if I liked paramecium.
Yu~ki: (laughs)
Mana: Perhaps I was sensually attracted to paramecium. From the time I was a middle school student I preferred to wear paisley clothing. I haven't worn it recently. When I came to Tokyo, I asked costumer Oba-san to make a kotatsu table cover that was velvet on the front and paisley on the back. I liked it.
――Did you ever go out and buy clothes together?
Yu~ki: We did not...
Mana: Yeah, in the first place we did not go shopping together. Maybe I've never been (shopping) with Yu~ki-chan.
Yu~ki: We used to go to meals together a lot.
Mana: Yeah. Did Yu~ki-chan often go clothing shopping with Közi?
Yu~ki: Yeah, Közi was the most often. For example, I went around to the innovative puller (finding) DC brand thrift stores. Why thrift stores, it was because I didn't have any money when I first started the band. I often went to Ebisu or Shibuya. So, I bought second hand some expensive brands such as Issey or Garçons.
Mana: You wanted to wear cool clothes even at that time.
Yu~ki: That's right. At that time, LUNA MATTINO and other brands were quite popular.
Mana: That was fashionable.
Yu~ki: But it was expensive. So I would get it second hand. At that time, many foreign artists wore really nice LUNA MATTINO.
Mana: It was even (fashionable) as a costume.
Yu~ki: Yeah. It's a time when to those in that era a little something gorgeous was popular. Such as Versace. Even Mana-chan's stage outfit, was there a suit with a little Versace atmosphere?

Mana: It was still the Bubble (era). Somehow.
Yu~ki: Yeah.
Mana: But the world was Bubble, but the band wasn't at all in the Bubble, it was very tough to try to find regular clothing that had that gorgeous feeling.
Yu~ki: I always wanted commitment to always show how I liked visuals. Not only music. There was a strong part of that commitment to all the things worn, it was hardship.
Mana: Yeah.
Yu~ki: I mean, because I only stuck to the world view on the stage, I was not that disappointed if I wore jeans and a T-shirt when leaving the venue. I had a hard time until I met Oba-san. I think our very first meeting was with Mana-chan.
Mana: Yeah. I don't quite remember any more when when I referred (members) to (Oba-san).
Yu~ki: It was the Revival Drama..., wasn't it at that time of shooting in Ebisu? (Outside the restaurant
at Yebisu Garden Place)

Mana: I was trying to do the story of the Revival Drama as large scale.
Yu~ki: At that time, Oba-san had not been asked to make (a costume) for me, and I have a memory of preparing a tailcoat myself.
Mana: Oh ~! In the image of Gary Oldman, to say.
Yu~ki: Yes yes.
Mana: So, was that the first time of the beard?
Yu~ki: Yes. It was around that time.
Mana: Your beard in the photos of the Revival Play caused a rumble in the band industry.

Yu~ki: Nfufufu. I thought about the various concepts at Mana-chan's house, inside that (house) the word "beard" came up.
Mana: Yup. Yeah. At that time, we had a lot of talk with members about how to bring out individual personalities. Because I was the female role from the beginning, after it was the important point to shake the direction of personalities of male team which were there.
Yu~ki: Me specifically (personally) in the meantime, I was making visuals in a lovely atmosphere. This was right in the initial days of MALICE MIZER, and in the previous band. A neutral image. That was the type that was common in bands. At that time, the visual system was makeup as such.
Mana: That's right.
Yu~ki: I wanted to show my personality somehow, I think I started thinking. It would be what is my original what I could only do. This came out of the“beard". Also color, originally yellow color or brown color or earth color that I liked, I decided to go with a yellow image since no one was wearing that, I think everywhere it was a strange time.
Mana: That's right.
I remember, I came out to Tokyo from Osaka and out to do MALICE MIZER, the first beautiful shooting maybe was taken at the place Morgana (live house in Mitama), they were placed in SHOXX or something.
Yu~ki: Yeah.
Mana: And then a friend, "Mana-chan's band OO (voluntary restraint *on mentioning the band name*) I wonder are there two people". Ghan! That made me.
(A little difficulty with this but I think Mana was saying that there was another musician who looked similar, based on what was said after. Perhaps the friend thought Mana was in two bands at the same time?)
Yu~ki: Ah~. Maybe it was felt the way of hair was raised up was similar.  Separated from the middle and fluffy and stand up feeling? A bit of bangs and sides are long and the back looks short.

Mana: Yes yes. So I needed to break away from it, I think that is what I thought.
Yu~ki: It  was time to start making originals, and it was time for greedy things to grow. You don't want to imitate someone, you don't want to. Do you want to bring about an innovative revolution? Because it is useless unless original is always made, I think it was a time to be greedy and more and more seedlings to bud, inside all members. It was not good when I imitated someone, I did not want to. I mean we wanted to cause an innovative revolution.
Mana: So, (you) woke up the beard revolution.
Yu~ki: Yup. It was pros and cons (laughs).
Mana: That's right.
Yu~ki: It was said it would be better for me not to have a beard.
Mana: Because there was the concept of “visual system = beautiful thing” was a basic premise for both people who were fans and people in the band. You came there and I thought “Oh, beard!?”
Yu~ki: That's right.
Mana: The beard, did you grow it from the onset?
Yu~ki: Well I...no, I affixed it. There were increasing variations of things to put on (laughs) like wings.

Mana: Right.
My make-up, it has a certain degree of standards. But you Yu~ki-chan are very good, did you come to change your make-up from time to time?
Yu~ki: That's right.
Mana: I remember a time when Yu~ki-chan's eyebrows looked like this? (hand gesture as to how they looked)
Yu~ki: Ahhh (yes yes)
Mana: So, a little while ago I was told by an another acquaintance, "Yu~ki-san's eyebrows, they are like the handlebars of a (Harley) motorcycle!".
Yu~ki: (laughs)

Mana: You Yu~ki-chan are really good, you were trying novel attempts like bang bang (rapidly). Wearing glasses over. (This may be that Yu~ki wore glasses as part of the costume sometimes, or maybe he drew glasses on his face)
Yu~ki: Well. Because the internet was not widespread at that time, so there were limited ways of doing makeup information and research, I think I was doing a sense of another self. Such as to try and do 2 or 3 eyebrows.
Mana: Your hairstyle, the feeling was far removed from the concept of the visual system.
Yu~ki: Like the Seventy-Three Parts. (laughs)
Mana: Picchiri! (No gap or tightly)
Yu~ki: It was also such a hairstyle.
Mana: I think it had to have been a lot of challenges.
Yu~ki: No, I think all the members attacked. After all everyone was each an individual, I think personalities collided and something original was born.
Mana: Yeah.
I simply wanted to pursue the ultimate beauty anyway, I always felt like searching for it. I didn't have that big of a challenge, thoroughly more beautiful, I wonder if I was chasing more beautiful like (I was) chasing the wind.
Yu~ki: Mana-chan is, a narrow (focused) and deep person. Rather than people who dabble in anything and everything, (Mana) goes deeper than anyone in the direction of what you want with a thorough investigation. I think that is the person who is properly Mana-chan. What was reverse from Mana-chan or rather whether that was to compliment a different approach like me (and) like Kozi. Was it not a good balance?
Mana: That's right. In the genre of visual system, I think originally there was a direction that was "neutral", in my case I penetrated through the neutral, I think my aim of the phase was to be more feminine, throughout, So the things I wore became more and more feminine. Strange story, To not be dressed or change clothes in a place where there were members was embarrassing! It was like a feeling that emerged (smiles)
Yu~ki: Fu-o-fu-o-fu-o-fu-o. (maybe this is laughing) Here too, when I occasionally witnessed I got this strange heart beat.
Mana: Somehow, I ended up a girl. Heart too.

The rest of the conversation can be seen at the Moi-même-Moitié Online Salon, by subscribing at that site here https://lounge.dmm.com/detail/1686/
Thank you for reading this.

Mana x Közi Moi-même-Moitié Conversation Half Shave Translation

Knowing that online machine translators might miss some nuances, I decided to do a little translating of the recent online conversation between MALICE MIZER founders Közi and Mana. This is from the Moi-même-Moitie website, not what was posted in the Moitié Online Salon. Since this is only the first half of the conversation, and given the topics, is the reason I called this "Half Shave Translation". The link for what I translated is here https://moi-meme-moitie.com/?tid=5&mode=f66

I am not a trained translator so I may miss something here and there. But I do spend time checking and also finding out a bit about cultural references that I may not know. Along with knowing a little bit. I've added a few explanations here and there, since some words and phrases may not be familiar to everyone, using () for this, or just filling in missing words to make more sense also using (). I've tried to keep punctuation and all close to what was originally written. I hope people enjoy this, since there is a bit that doesn't make it through using just machine translation. (and yes they sometimes repeated what they said)

~~~

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the brand Moi-même-Moitié, established in 1999 by guitarist Mana of MALICE MIZER/Moi dix Mois, this is the special content of the online salon "Mana-sama x compelling conversations with famous guests".
　
This time, Közi-san, an avant-garde guitarist from MALICE MIZER, is here!

Please enjoy the long-awaited Red x Blue conversation.

(Moi-même-Moitié Transcriber / Mizuko Honda)

---This two-shot conversation is quite unusual.

Közi：Although it may not have never been.
(This is what Közi said in Japanese. I am not completely sure what he is referring here. My guess is that it could be that he's saying he and Mana have not talked just the two of them, for publication, for some time. I base this on Mana's reply.)
Mana：Not in recent years.
Közi：Is it better to talk about fashion since I have been invited by the Moi-même-Moitié Online Salon?
Mana：No, that's not the case. (Talk about) Anything that is interesting to the reader.
Közi：I don't know much about fashion. What (to talk about)?
Mana：Even interesting stories that I haven't talked about so far (are okay).
Közi：Would you like to share interesting stories that I and Mana-chan haven't shared so much? So that, thank you.
Mana：Well then the first time we met, I was dressed in black with long green hair down to my waist, so was it like there a feeling of a suspicious guy coming in?
Közi：The part time job before. Previously I had a part time job first. I was in that part-time job first. This story may be a little bit different, but at that time there weren't many places where you could work as a band man with flashy hair or long hair. I was working at a karaoke pub.
Mana：Yup.
Közi：Mana-chan came from Osaka. Oh! “It's a great heavy metal kid!”
Mana：Maybe it wasn't amiable?  That first impression.
Közi：It was unfriendly, Mana-chan (laughs)
Mana：Yeah, that is right (smiles). I was sharp because I was still in my early 20s, maybe.
Közi：Was my impression bad also?
Mana：You had a bad expression in your eyes, it was a bad look that made everyone sharp. Since I came from Osaka and didn't understand the situation in Tokyo well, I wondered what band man in Tokyo looked like.
Közi：(While) there, I had not been working only as a band man at that time.
Mana：Yeah.
Közi：I had a band called GIRL in Tokyo before I met Mana-chan, but Mana-chan was also in a band called Girl in Osaka at the same time?
Mana：I was doing that. (Girl'e was Mana's band name)
Közi：Before I met Mana-chan, I happened to see an indie band live announcement page behind a music magazine called “Rockin f” and noticed a band announcement about an Osaka Girl (band). And then I thought, “Is there a band with the same Girl name in Osaka?” It's pretty flashy.
Mana：That's right. It was rather flashy.
Közi：At that time, I thought Osaka bands were often flashy. Later, I met Mana-chan at the part-time job, but later, it turned out that Mana-chan was in that Osaka Girl.
Mana：Well, now I remember that story.
Közi：It's quite a coincidence that I and Mana-chan had the same band name. Well, at that time there were two bands who called themselves Girl. (laughs) Going with two bands with the name Girl. But I'm sorry. The impression when I met at that time is like this person who has a long green hair, and always wearing a paisley shirt.

Mana：(laughs) I said it many times, but I liked the paisley pattern.
Közi：You have not worn it recently.
Mana：(laughs) I haven't worn it recently.
Közi：Is the desire already gone?
Mana：No, I want to wear it.
Közi：Paisley clothes at Moi-même-Moitié, why not put them out?
Mana：Will it sell ... (looks far off)
Közi：Why not? Paisley at Moi-même-Moitié.
Mana：Well, I've been saying paisley paisley a lot, finally it came out! Maybe it's a long cherished feeling.
Közi：Long cherished...I, who!? My! That I like. (laughs)
Mana：(laughs)
Közi：But at all, if you want to add paisley to your gothic taste, you'll be addicted to nuances. If you match it with black in a cool color rather than psychedelic colors.
Mana：Yeah, I guess so.
Közi：I think you really liked paisley at the time.
Mana：The lining of the school uniform was paisley when I was in high school.
Közi：I like this too! Special order?
Mana：Special order. What was Közi's school uniform?
Közi：I wonder what it was. Although it had an embroidery scheme, I don't remember it clearly.
Mana：Short uniform?
Közi：Short uniform. It was a short uniform bonsuri. (Slim pants)
Mana：Oh! We were the same!

――By the way, what is Bonsuri?

Közi：Oh, don't you know? Bontan (wide pants) and (bonsuri) slim guy (pants).
Mana：Before, they were made skinnier.
Közi：Yes Yes Yes. Recently, it is Mitsuhashi's (manga character) style of “I am from today/ Kyō Kara Ore Wa!!”. Do you know Mana-chan? “From today I am” (manga about two boys who transfer to a new school and decide to change from average to being delinquents.)
Mana：I know, I know.
Közi：Oh, surprising Mana-sama drama watching!
Mana：Pretty much a Yankee comic generation (smiles)
Közi：Oh, yeah.
Mana：So, I was very particular about school uniforms and I went to Hiroshima City to get school uniforms made. To get a special order.
Közi：Ho.  Well, there weren't many stores selling modified school uniforms.
Mana：There was naught.
Közi：Was it slightly Yankee?
Mana：No. That percent...it was rocker. At that time, it did not change, Yankee or rocker. (smiles)
Közi：That's right. Well, the more you go to the countryside, the more you were both.
Mana：My hair was also a mohawk. I am told why paisely with mohawk, that is rough. (I'm a little unsure about this sentence but it makes sense)
Közi：(laughs) When we met, I felt like I heard from Mana-chan, before you became female impersonator "Mana-sama", studded jean flashy punkish style...was that the feeling?
Mana：Anyway, I loved the 80's hardcore fashion. I was doing also doing innovative rivet boring (Mana was boring holes for rivets in clothing). Oh, I think I drew Baphomet on Közi's leather jacket!
Közi：Oh, it was drawn!
Mana：Right?
Közi：It is still at home, mine (my home).
Mana：Eh!?
Közi：It's there. That's the one I bought the next time when I came to Tokyo. A shop in Ameyoko (Ueno shopping street).
Mana：There is.
Közi：So I bought a rider (motorcycle jacket), and it was the one I had for a long time, but I had Mana-chan draw a picture.
Mana：I was going to draw a cool Baphomet. And jargon on the back!
Közi：I don't wear that much so I think the preservation is good.
Mana：Oh.
Közi：There are many other drawings besides Baphomet.
Mana：That's right! ? I remember drawing Baphomet with jargon.
Közi：The Mission logo. ("Les Sorcières : Fiancées de Satan", "Witches, betrothed to Satan", from a book by Jean-Michel Sallmann)
Mana：Ahh! I remembered! ”Közi  said he liked The Mission, so  I’ll write The Mission ”(laughs)
Közi：Yes yes yes (laughs) You drew it quickly with something like markers.
Mana：Basically, I didn't do drafts.
Közi：You didn't hesitate.
Mana：I'm not at a loss when drawing.
Közi：Then, when I get home, I'll send you a copy (image) of the leather jacket.
Mana：Oh! I want to see it.
Közi：Wouldn't it be nice to upload this article with it?
Mana：Yeah. Speaking of which ... I had a leather jacket too. It had a picture of a skull playing a violin ... but it was given to Kinzo (MALICE MIZER roadie)?
Közi：Somehow I feel like I remember.
Mana：I drew jargon and a violin being played with a skull sickle.
Közi：It was bones?
Mana：Just bones.
Közi：Somehow I remember.
Mana：I gave it to Kinzo. Said "I don't need it anymore because I'm going in an aesthetic direction" (laughs)
Közi：Did you get rid of the punk and paisley things around you since you decided to go aesthetically?
Mana：Yup……. But now in the future, I regret it. I had a lot of punk riders, and I had a lot of punk things, but I threw it away, and now it is a great failure.
Közi：I was shown the pictures of the guy you used to be when you were in Hiroshima, but since I first met you in Tokyo, you were a woman from the beginning.
Mana：That's right. I wasn't a punk path character, maybe.
Közi：There were times when your bangs were like Shizuka Kudo's (singer).
Mana：Well, it was the era (smiles)
Közi：(like) Blinds？
Mana：Times were hard. (Mana said カチカチ, tick tick, sound of a clock)
Közi：In the early 90s.
Mana：At that time, I had already thrown away that character path. I really liked punk. When was it when Közi had semi-shaved (head) with red hair?
Közi：Yup. Wasn’t it about “Kyomu no Naka de no Yuugi 虚無の中での遊戯”?
Mana：Yup. Those days, you made a horn.
Közi：Ah. When I left only a part of the half-shave, shaved. (I think this is in reference to the one braid that Közi had on the shaved side of his head.)

Mana：I really liked that visual.
Közi：The reason was I knew of Death Side (Japanese hardcore band).
Mana：Yes yes. Still I think, I want to do like that.
Közi：Is it okay now?
Mana：Uh, no.
Közi：Let's shave a little!
Mana：Half shave... ...
Közi：Mana-sama shaving!
Mana：Hmm. But I like it, that kind of hardcore style.
Közi：Of course, you like elegant and gothic things, but on the other hand, you also like intense opposites.
Mana：So it seems. I really like it.
Közi：Mana-chan, likes sea urchin head.
Mana：Anyway, a mohawk needs absolute height!
Közi：Yup.
Mana：But Ultraman (mohawk style) is not pleasant.
Közi：Thin guy? ("guy" is referring to mohawks)
Mana：A thin guy. I really like a big guy standing in an arch.
Közi：But a true hardcore mohawk, isn't it thin (ペラッペラ/pella pella) guy without the reverse hair raising? (reverse hair is most likely back combing hair)
Mana：Yeah. But I don't like chubby (mohawk).
Közi：It’s a huge guy with reverse hair.
Mana：It becomes fuwaa (my guess is "fluffy")
Közi：Mana-chan is a complete mix of different aesthetic senses.
~~~
The rest of the conversation can be seen at the Moi-même-Moitié Online Salon, by subscribing at that site here https://lounge.dmm.com/detail/1686/
There is a little more of the conversation that is visible to non-members on DMM, but I chose to just translate what was on the Moi-même-Moitié website. Thank you for reading this.