Returned Home Last Night at Midnight

2004/01/31

I'm back from my campaign trip on the 29th and 30th to the Kansai District and Fukuoka. Everyone involved really focused themselves on the various radio appearances and interviews (which included radio comment appearances) we did, so before anything else, I'd like to say thank you for your efforts.
Oh, but.....
There was one thing that I regret... The thing is, I don't really know what day and time I go on-air until I actually get to the radio station and so on, so I really regret letting all of you know about this on such short notice.
Therefore, as of the 29th and 30th, we will try to post up onto makusonia the air time, etc., of my appearances as soon as I know them.
For the next few weeks, though, we might not be able to post up new information well before the event, so please check back often. My next plans include traveling to Sapporo on February 11-12. We'll be posting event news and information here as they are finalized, so please keep checking! Thank you~. m(_ _)m

Starting Tomorrow

2004/01/28

I'll be traveling to various locations for the upcoming campaign. It's Kansai District tomorrow and Kyushu on the day after.
What shall I eat... is what I'm thinking about, but I think I won't have the time for that...
I'll be on the go from dawn til dusk!

Polling Seems Well Underway

2004/01/26

Thank you for your participation.
It also looks like our friends on the makusonia BBS know a lot of the songs.
I keep thinking, "Oh, I see... That's right, I haven't sung that one lately, have I?".
It's often been the case that I chose songs based on the feeling I get from the band members, so lately I've always been singing my stronger rock songs. Especially considering that Shuffle is such a good towel song (that is, a good towel-waving song)... It's a very energizing song, too, that song. Speaking of which, there are a lot of songs that sound good played accoustic, and an "accoustic live" makes you feel... very relaxed, right at home. I hope we can have a concert like that. It'd be nice for the female audience, wouldn't it?
Well, I'm presently getting myself into the spirit for the tour starting February 21.
Come one, come all.

On the Page for ReBirth Live

2004/01/24

A poll is now open for "Songs You'd Like Makkun to Sing", and since it'll stay up for probably a month or so (since I still have to do rehearsals), please do send in your votes. (^-^)/

Interviews...

2004/01/23

I've been doing a lot of interviews for my new album "ReBirth" and my "best" album "S-mode #2". I had an appointment at the dentist's today (I'm still in the middle of dental treatment) but couldn't go because I had an interview today. Between an interview and the dentist's office... the interview is definitely more important!! It seems, though--and this is always the case with me--that as soon as the dentist starts to make me better, I start to slack off on my dentist's appointments. Hm... If I'm not careful, my face will puff up again. In any case, to everyone who caught my interview, thank you very much.

Media Page

2004/01/20

There's been a lot of updates. (^-^)/
It's posted there, too, but I'd like to announce that, in the March issue of the monthly magazine "Newtype", will be the last installment of my essay series "Ottokomae de Ikou". Hm... how many years have I been doing it....???
My next project is to compile all of the essays and drawings I've had in store into a tankoubon book.
Thank you very much for reading for all these years. m(_ _)m

Happy Birthday, Yuming!!

2004/01/19

Today we had a birthday party for Matsutouya Yumi-san.
I received an invitation from her female staff members addressed to "The Army of Past Back-Up Singers", so I accepted. The guys in her band, the office people, people from the record company, and many other people came to wish Yumi-san well. It was the first time in a long while that I got to speak to Yumi-san, but wow! She was really energetic! I energized myself, too, saying I'm going to keep doing my best from here on out! There were so many of the past back-up singers there, and all of them were wonderful, I was so happy.
I loved that feeling, almost like it was a class reunion.
This picture is of 3 people in the chorus of the "U-miz" tour.
From the left, there's Yuki-chan, Oku-chan, and Tina.
Tina is even now still doing well as a back-up singer for Yuming.

These Past However Many Days

2004/01/18

...I've been thinking about a lot of things.
There are times when people run across a crossroad in their lives, but I wonder how many times I've come across a crossroad in my life...?
During those moments, mankind relies on its instincts and on instances of inspiration.
I hope our descendants continue to do so.
Just my two cents.

I've lived through many of those kinds of days. Like January 17.
It's been 9 years since the Great Hanshin Earthquake.
Whenever I return to Kobe and Osaka, I feel the extent of the love and power which got everyone through such painful times (I guess that's a kind of strange sentence, huh?).
I'll keep doing my best, too.

JAM Recording Finished

2004/01/15

The 3-day JAM session has ended (that is, the recording part, at least). Yesterday, we ate together with all the staff and talked a great deal about our plans for this year and the future. How can I say this... to have so many of these people there who were so much like me was truly reassuring to me; rather than "friends", I felt it was more fitting to call them "comrades".
I'm sure everyone out there has "comrades" like these, too (that is, people who are on the same path of life as you). Please make sure to treasure these "comrades".

Feb. 4 Release "ReBirth" Jacket Intro!

2004/01/13

Everyoooonne! Have you seen it yet???
The jacket photo for the new album is up for viewing on a special page. Plus, the entire track list is also available.
Please do check it out before the release.

Oh oh, my tooth (and the swelling in my face) is slowly getting better.
Yesterday's JAM recording session somehowended uneventfully, too.
There's JAM again today, and more JAM recording tomorrow.
Thanks to you all, I've gotten a full start on the 2004 new year. Thank you!!

My Face is Swollen...

2004/01/11

Not too much into the new year and my teeth suddenly began to get irritated, so yesterday I went to the dentist's. He examined me and said that there was some inflammation due (most likely) to some wearage of one of my teeth, even though I had already gotten it fixed before. I immediately received treatment for it, but... as soon as I got home, my face began to swell... It's one of my front teeth, so my face (around my nose) are completely red.
After that, it started aching, too... (ToT)
Today I stayed in bed.
I have a recording session with JAM tomorrow... Will I be able to sing??? I guess I'll just have to see.

Oh, right!
It seems the white stork came to visit Hayashibara-san!
A really big congratulations. m(_ _)m

Sabu-chan

2004/01/09

Today I went to King Record's Sekiguchidai Studio for the mastering of the best album "S-mode#2".
For some reason, the atmosphere there today was different from usual.
Although the parking lot was completely empty, the parking booth officer seemed to be really busy. Just as I was thinking to myself, "Why?", I was told that Kitajima Sabuo-san was coming.
Wow... That's the amazing Sabu-chan!
When I met Steve Lukather in America, I thought, "He's so famous!", and if I had to guess, I'd say he was the worldwide version of Kitajima Sabuo-san, but today I got to see the original man first-hand. What a entrance he had with his grand aura! I tried to suck up as much of that "grand aura" as possible (so I could maybe exude even a little bit of it myself... just on impulse). Well... I was really grateful for the opportunity...!

A Fan from Italy

2004/01/08

...sent me a present.
It was a Christmas / Happy New Year present, but since it was sent to my record company I didn't receive it until now. The present was a pair of mufflers that were characteristically Italian... It looks really fashionable. (^^)
Japanese anime really is famous throughout the world, isn't it?
I really want to tour (in concert) outside of Japan...

Has Everyone Started Back to Work?

2004/01/05

Has everyone started back to work?
Tomorrow will be my first day of work this year.
For some reason, ever since the concert on Dec. 27 all I've been doing is playing around. (-o-)
ANd for some reason, whether it's because all Japanese do this or just bums like me, I get pangs of guilts if I'm not working even when I'm on vacation.
It's bad, isn't it...
This year, I want to apply myself to work when I'm supposed to work and rest from the bottom of my heart when I'm supposed to rest.

Happy New Year! m(_ _)m

2004/01/01

A new year has safely begun.
First of all, thank you for your support in the year 2003.
To the fans and to all the staff, thank you very much.
Please continue your support for me this year.
My first business of the year will be the radio program "KISS3", I believe. Please tune in!!
In any case, I hope to spend today getting a taste of the New Year's air and praying for a peaceful world. (^o^)