Otakon, Washington, D.C. August, 2023
This interview was conducted by Amishmoth for Ryuuza Media.
Ryuuza Media: Alrighty, so good morning guys. We are interviewing Kouki, the vocalist from the
visual kei rock band D=Out. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today, we do
appreciate it. Now first question is, for people who aren't familiar, what is visual kei rock?
Kouki: So in Japan, male makeup is sort of seen as like, sort of not welcoming and it's sort of
discriminated. So I think for visual kei rock, visual rock, free expression is really at its core and also
just really like self-expression, expressing myself. It's a group of people who want the most
attention, who want to be flashy.
RM: Alright, so next question, how did you become interested in music?
K: So when I was a student, I had a lot of insecurities, but when I was able to find visual rock, I
really felt saved and freed and also it's just that I really want to have the most attention.
RM: Now how did you create the idea of visual arts within your performances? That's the
next question.
K: Out of all the visual kei rock bands, I think our group is unique in that we display Japanese
traditional culture. And we're the only ones who really use shamisen and use sensu, Japanese fans, in
our performance. So I think our goal is really to be the only one.
RM: Nice, okay, well speaking of incorporating traditional Japanese music, it says here that you are
described as being a mood enka singer. I'm somewhat familiar with the idea of enka, but if you
could go ahead and refresh on how you would describe enka and that style of being a mood
enka singer.
K: So nowadays in Japan, music is largely made to be overseas export, but enka is more of a
traditional music. So I felt like I really wanted to protect this traditional music rather than relying on
overseas exports. And I still am learning from enka to this day. He wants to sing enka in America too
someday.
RM: Oh, that'd be really nice. Alrighty, so now next question is, it says you've performed in both
the US and in Europe. Is there a favorite place that you've been to and do you get to explore when
you tour and go to the US and Europe?
K: Well, every year we would go to Taiwan. But since I want to live in America and go to
Hollywood and Disneyland, and I really want to just go on Route 66 someday.
RM: Oh, wow. Those are really nice places to go. Alrighty, next question is, what are the challenges
of incorporating visual and audio art?
K: I feel like people should be always updating and improving. So the music that I create, it should
always be better than the last music song that I created.
RM: Yes, of course. Artists are always improving, especially the older artists that I've noticed.
Speaking of, are there any particular artists that you look up to? Whether they are Japanese or
American? Or whoever you really think deserves to be put on a pedestal?
K: He really admires Yasu from John Dark.
RM: Next question is, do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?
K: People tend to just look at other people and compare yourself to them but really just look at
yourself and just see what you can become and what you can do.
RM: That’s really good advice.
K: I really only focus on music, I really don’t do anything else. So I talked earlier that I don't watch
any TV or shows. I really want to learn English and be able to just talk with people without
needing an interpreter.
RM: Hopefully one day you will be able to learn English. I'm sure the fans would enjoy that a lot,
actually.
K: I think I'll just study abroad and stay somewhere.
RM: Alright, last question. Do you have any favorite band memories, by chance?
K: I don't think there's anything more fun than performing live. I think that's the most fun thing
in life. I don't think there's anything more fun than that. For example, there's a problem with drugs
in Japan right now. But performing live feels the best, so I don't need anything like that.
