Akadot: Here we are, it's sunset here in Hollywood, it's blazing hot, but it doesn't get much hotter than this. Right now, I am here with the awesome TM Revolution.

T.M. Revolution: Hi everyone, my name is Takanori Nishikawa.

Akadot: And for those of you who don't know who TM Revolution is, get out from that rock that you are sleeping under, because TM Revolution... if you're an anime fan (and I know you guys out there are anime fans), Rurouni Kenshin, Gundam SEED, been listening to the songs, that's him right there, he's got some of the hit series, the ones that you're up there on your computer downloading off of Napster or whatever, that's him right there, he's doin' what he's doin' right there, he is the man. How was Otakon?

T.M. Revolution: You can't imagine how much fun it was.

Akadot: This was your debut concert in America, wasn't it?

T.M Revolution: Yeah.

Akadot: How was the experience and what was the audience like?

T.M. Revolution: Before I came to Baltimore, I was very nervous. I didn't know what kind of response I would get. But when I arrived in Baltimore, I performed in front of an audience of 6,000. Many [Japanese] artists come to play in the U.S., but about 80% of the audience are usually Japanese. The audience that I had was 100% American. I was lucky to have that audience, and a chance to play in front of them.

Akadot: How does the American audience compare to the Japanese audience? Any differences?

T.M. Revolution: [TMR holds both his hands up.] The voices from the audience that I can hear is just like the videos that I am always watching on MTV. It was so much fun, it was a dream. When I was singing the ballads, and the couples were pair-dancing, it was so amazing.

Akadot: So they don't do that in Japan?

T.M. Revolution: No.

Akadot: So, how do you feel about debuting in America? How do you feel when you have American fans coming up to you, and they know all of your songs? That's gotta feel great.

T.M. Revolution: I really didn't feel anything before and after. This is a great opportunity because the Japanese language and the Japanese people are still a minority in America. But Japanese lyrics are beautiful, the melody is different, and the music is very different. I am very happy to have the opportunity to bring this music to the United States.

Akadot: Well, before we go off on too much of a tangent, I've got to know why all of a sudden TM Revolution has decided to come to America?

T.M Revolution: It's not only music, but the Japanese culture, food, design, architecture, and everything else, are slowly coming into the United States, and the timing really matches, people are starting to know about Japan more and more. That's what I think.

Akadot: So it's kind of like a full circle of everything coming around and exchanging more ideas. Everything is becoming a little more universal or so.

T. M. Revolution: I think that I am very unique, even among Japanese people, approach-wise, and my music, styles, fashions, so if you think that there are many TMRs in Japan, it's very different. [laughs]

Akadot: So just to sum it up, there is only one TM Revolution.

Akadot: So, you've done singing, and acting (Beautiful Life was broadcasted here in Los Angeles), and radio, so what's next now that you're in America? Would you like to do more acting or concentrate more on music?

T.M. Revolution: My life is entertainment, I entertain people, of course music is my core, but I like to try anything else to please other people. In the future, if American producers ask me to do something, I need to study more English. I could find an American girlfriend, and if possible, I would like to live here, too.

Akadot: Let's talk about TM Revolution's new CD, Coordinate. It came out in Japan already, but the English release is coming out in October 2003. How was the process in creating this album? What kind of challenges did you have between this album and all your other albums? Did you try anything new?

T.M. Revolution: [TMR scratches forehead, then nods] It's been a few years since my last album, and I didn't do any albums for a couple years after the previous one. This was a new challenge and I was preparing what's next and what's new for TMR. I was preparing a new image, new concept, and new style. For me, this album was a new start, a restart. It's a coincidence that this album happened to be an American new release, a new start in America, and a restart in Japan.

Akadot: Do you have any American musician influences or so, is there anybody out there that when you hear their music, it hits you and you think, "I don't necessarily want to copy that, but I want to get that same sort of feeling in my music."

T.M. Revolution: When I listen to the music, I listen to the Billboard Top 40, I remember Van Halen's sound, and this sound really hit me, and then I moved into U.K. Rock, Duran Duran, more stylish music, and Jesus Jones.

Akadot: Are there any current American or western artists that you're interested in right now?

T.M. Revolution: I Love Linkin Park, they are coming to Japan pretty soon, Evanescence (they just came to Japan and I went to see them), and many more, Hoobastank, and P.O.D.

Akadot: I read online that one of your hobbies is critiquing anime.

T.M. Revolution: I love to watch anime, and I enjoyed Otakon because I could enjoy anime with the fans, and as a fan.

Akadot: Do you have any anime recommendations?

T.M. Revolution: I love Hayao Miyazaki's art, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Laputa, Nausica... I love Gundam SEED, it's coming to the U.S. next year, and I was a voice actor for one of the characters.

Akadot: So, is this your second role? You did a voice in Rurouni Kenshin sometime ago... he died.

T.M. Revolution: Yes, very quickly.

Akadot: It's all about writing the music; feeling the vibes, so to speak.

T.M. Revolution: Yes.

Akadot: On all of your covers and videos, you have lots of different fashion styles. Where do you get those ideas?

T.M. Revolution: I am influenced by lots of things, but particularly anime.

Akadot: Any in particular?

T.M. Revolution: My style is more to mix all elements [of different anime] together. In my music I like to combine a few different things. I like to mix digital with analog music to create my style. Mix digital sound, plus the band sound. That's my style.

Akadot:One of the things that we do here at Digital Manga is that we do tours to Japan, and what we did last time when we were interviewing Yumi from Puffy AmiYumi, was get the "Official Puffy AmiYumi Recommendations for Pop Japan Travel." So what I want to ask you, is for the "Official TM Revolution Pop Japan Travel Recommendations." When we go to Tokyo, where is the place that we should go to; the place nobody else would think about?

T.M. Revolution: I was born and raised in a city near Kyoto, so I go there to get a silent moment. It's just beautiful. I like Kyoto and Osaka food more [than Tokyo food].

Akadot:Do you have any message for your American fans?

T.M. Revolution: As an artist, many people don't know me yet, but I am very unique here. Many of the Asian artists are just looking into the U.S. market, and trying to mimic it, but I'm not and I really think it's very important to keep my originality and identity and I would like to be hand-in-hand with other Asian artists to break into the American market.

Akadot: Don't forget, the new album from TM Revolution, Coordinate, is coming out in October, so go pick it up. It's available at tofurecords.com. Sign on, find out about it, and you can even join their mailing list. It's a very good album and the Akadot staff loves it.

Interested in T.M. Revolution's Coordinate? Get your copy of the Coordinate album available from Akadot Retail.