Aka-san: A couple days after the amazing performance by Nami Tamaki and TM Revolution, Akadot is right here with the man himself, Mr. TMR (TM Revolution).

Aka-san: How are you doing, man?

TMR: Hi, I’m back in the U.S.! Hi, this is TMR!

Aka-san: The last time Akadot had a chance to sit with you, it was actually right after your first performance at Otakon. How was that for you? -actually, the first question would have to be: how are us Los Angelinos doing compared to Otakon. How was PMX in comparison to Otakon: your first and second performance in America?

TMR: For the first performance in America, I was a bit nervous, but this time, I could really play, and enjoy the show together with the audience.

Aka-san: That’s great to hear. You had quite an outfit going on this time. Your costume; it almost had a kind of “Star Wars Jedi turns into the mummy” look. Very, very nice! So just a quick question behind that: what is your inspiration behind your costumes? I know you design your own costumes, but for this PMX concert, what were you thinking basically?

TMR: Same as Otakon, especially for PMX, I made a special costume for the concert; and both times, the image was about Japanese spirit. The concept was taken from the kimono, of course. It was a mixture of something like karate and judo clothes. Since it was an L.A. show, and Hollywood and movies, I was thinking about my favorite movie Star Wars; and combined the costume together with Star Wars and this Japanese kimono/judo style.

TMR: The last concert, I did last year, was free admission to everybody. But this time, you had to purchase tickets to come to the show. So this concert was the start; the beginning of my American career, I would say. It’s hard to say, but the “fighting spirit” is something that I would want to express. Going back to the basics, like really Japanese, with strong spirit. This was the big inspiration.

Aka-san: Ah, I see. But still kind of taking the fusion of Japanese meets Western influences. Mixing the two together; a little bit like that.

TMR: Yeah!

Aka-san: Is that to say that, if you happened to be a Jedi, your light saber is your mic.

TMR: Yeah!

Aka-san: Excellent! I knew I got it!

TMR: Yup, you got it.

Aka-san: “The force” of TMR’s music is conducted through the mic. Very nice. Very nice to know.

TMR: Thank you.

Aka-san: Good. Well, it’s good to see you back and again, last time I saw you, Japanese animation and manga in particular happened to be on the rise; you go into Barnes and Noble, or Borders bookstore, and you just see rows of manga. I mean, what does that mean to you? What do you think about all this? The “Japanese invasion.”

TMR: I do feel that the Japanese animation has been getting popular here, but still, there are many other; really good animations still existing in Japan that still haven’t been introduced. I hope these get introduced soon. At the same time, I hope that people would know more and more about TM Revolution here as well.

Aka-san: What would you recommend? You say that there’s more animes in Japan that have yet to be introduced, or manga. I know that you are a big fan of anime and manga. What’s the “TMR Recommendation?”

TMR: Gundam Seed, and just recently, the director who did the first series of Gundam did another Japanese TV series called King Gainer, and that has come out on DVD recently, and that’s something that you might want to watch. Another is the very popular Ghost in the Shell; a new series is out on TV.

Aka-san: Stand Alone Complex?

TMR: Yeah.

TMR: There’s about 13 or 14 series out, but I’m really enjoying it.

Aka-san: Have you seen Innocence, Ghost in the Shell 2?

TMR: No, not yet.

Aka-san: It just came out. When I was in Japan a couple of months ago with Pop Japan Travel, it had just come out. There was so much promotion. You go into the 711, or the Family Mart, and it’s everywhere. It’s really good.

Jodi: Japanese pop music is catching on in the U.S. Considering that there are not a lot of people who speak Japanese in the U.S., and can understand the lyrics. Why do you think that it’s starting to take off? People don’t understand the lyrics, but there’s something that speaks to them. Do you have an idea, or maybe your opinion as to why?

TMR: For instance, when I was a teenager, I used to listen to MTV, and the Billboard Top 40, and listening to international music, mostly coming from America, and nobody understood English, of course, but there was always something about it that you would be fascinated by. Maybe in America, it’s the opposite; the other way around, and that’s the way people might be feeling.

Jodi: It’s odd that it doesn’t matter what’s being said, it’s what’s being expressed.

Aka-san: That’s a very good point because sometimes, when I’m just at work, I’ll be sitting there; for instance, the first CD that comes into my mind is Hikaru Utada’s Deep River. I’ll sit there and listen to Deep River; and even though I don’t know what she’s saying, I can hear her emotion in her voice, and it will get to me. The same thing your music is; you’ve quoted before that your music is not necessarily a Japanese thing, but a universal sound that anybody can adhere to. So, I definitely think that’s one of the reasons that people have adapted so well. Of course, there is the “otaku catch” to get them; Kenshin and Gundam Seed, but at the same time, but I think that most fans, if they really listen into your music, they’ll find more of the universal feel.

TMR: Thank you.

TMR: Being Japanese, having thought of America as being made up of various cultures, we have had influences, for instance, even animation; even Tezuka was inspired by Walt Disney’s works; even Astro Boy could have been inspired by America. But now, Japanese animation is going to the U.S., and anywhere in the world, and I hope that it will also be music that will spread to the world; and it is now, us Japanese, who have learned from others, to export our music, or our culture.

Aka-san: Speaking of influences, I’ve noticed that your English is getting a lot better; you’re understanding a lot more of what I’m saying. So, what’s your secret here, there’s something different here; have you been practicing while you’re touring? What’s going on TMR?

TMR: The last time I came I really felt like I wanted to communicate with everybody, I really couldn’t understand and express myself, but this time I started to learn… little by little.

Aka-san: Well, I think that was a great idea for you actually, to speak to your fans during the concert and during press conference. I mean people knew that you were reading from a script, but I think that’s really a special treat to see that you’re trying to communicate with your audience.

TMR: Yeah, last night in my hotel, I practice my English over and over again. I glad that the efforts were appreciated.

Aka-san: Ok, well let Akadot be the first to start the new rumor. Does that mean that sometime in the future, we’ll be seeing a TMR ENGLISH ALBUM!?!?!

TMR: Hmmm, I’ve never thought about it. But, recently to have an in-depth communication with people, this may be something I should possibly consider.

Aka-san: Good! Well, back to the anime thing. Recently you just did some voice over work for a character in Gundam Seed, but he died! Early in your career you did a voice for a character in Kenshin, but he died! So my question is: “Is this some sort of conspiracy to KILL TMR ?” “Why are you getting the dead roles?”

TMR: [Laughs] Hmmm… Schedule… Well, yes that is true. But since I am a singer and I had previously spoken to the director of Gundam Seed. He was thinking of something that would have strong impression and the role I took was a person who battled with a strong gundamn. And maybe playing a person with a strong impression was the right choice for me.

Aka-san: Something to leave the audience remembering you by? Because when you die there's no coming back from that…

TMR: Yes.

Aka-san: Or is really just an excuse to have everyone cry over you?

TMR: {Laughs}

Aka-san: I've decoded your secret eh?

TMR: [Thumbs up] Yes, you have.

Jodi: Your here now, your popular but one of the major ways that you became popular over here, was through filesharing of fansubs and mp3s. Considering the illegalites of that channel, how do you feel about that?

TMR: That's really a problem and quite the difficult issue, but Japanese animation and music wasn't accessible for the American fandom in the past. Which indeed, is an issue that new technology has helped make more accessible. But I will try to supply my music in a better way. The development in new technology is a great thing, but as I've said, it's a catch 22 since you have a mass amount of illegal things going on. It’s a very difficult situation...

In China right now, they have a huge copyright problem. There's many Japanese artist that would like to perform in China, but since the copyrights are not being protected, there's this giant blockade happening. It's a shame because we really want to go.

This problem is big in Asia and it's definitely apparent in America as well. Maybe record companies in Japan, America and Europe should get together and think up a solution.

Aka-san: Very strong points, by TM Revolution. Now as you know Pop Japan Travel has been doing very specialized and catered tours for over a year now. We've gone to places all over Japan. Including areas you’re very familiar with. Kyoto your hometown, and Odaiba where you broadcasted you radio program at Fuji TV.

My question is, when will we see the “TM Revolution Pop Japan Travel tour”? Is that something that you would be interested in?

TMR: Oh definitely!! Let's do this!! You know if I'm on a tour, I'll reserve a seat for you!

Aka-san: Right on! The Gaijin group front center row eh?

TMR: YEAAAAAAH!

Aka-san: Well, TMR is been a pleasure once again. "Mata aete ureshii!" (Nice to see you again) An absolutely amazing performance, myself, America and Akadot can't wait you to come back again.

But please make sure to call me next time your in town ok?

TMR: Heh, I promise...

Aka-san: Any message for your fans?

TMR: I'll try to come back to Los Angeles as soon as possible. See you all soon!