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One day, his
father told him to put on some nice clothes. They were going to
a relative's wake. Hisashi was reluctant as that would deprive him
of his time but at his father's insistence he grudgingly went along,
walking a distance behind his father. Later at the wake, his father
suddenly collapsed, shocking Hisashi and his elder brother. His
father died. Even now, Hisashi still remembers how his father would
do things and feels guilty for not having spent his dad's last moments
with him peacefully.
When he got
older, Hisashi started learning the guitar. He somehow had a gift
for it. Later, he was to join a band called Ari, meaning Ant. The
band's songs had a punk influence. It was when he was in Ari that
he got to know Takuro, who was in the same college as he was.
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Hisashi's
high school photo.
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| Takuro
needed a guitar player, and had heard that Hisashi played one. Though
initially Hisashi had his comments about GLAY, the band Takuro was
forming. He didn't quite like their sound, "different from what
he was playing". Later, when Ari broke up inevitably, he reconsidered
Takuro's offer. It was some time after the initial offer and he had
grown to like this rock-pop sound that GLAY was having, and so he
became their 3rd member. (Vocalist Teru was 2nd. He originally played
drums, then at Takuro's insistence became the vocalist). |
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| When
GLAY first came to Tokyo, life was hard. They didn't get their big
break with Platinum Records until 1993. Before that, while going to
the occassional practices and single-digit-audiece gigs, Hisashi had
to take up many jobs to make ends meet. Not that it was all that smooth-sailing
within the band. Before Jiro became a member, Hisashi had once taken
on the task of bassist when the band's left. He held on strongly to
the reassurances that Teru gave that they would get their big break,
soon. |
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Things
took a better turn after Yoshiki, from popular visual-kei
band X-Japan, attended one of their lives. Generally, the
then-young lads were overwhelmed and happy, at the same time
still uncertain about how their future would go with this
new turning point.
Their
debut single RAIN, was to be produced by Yoshiki. A typical-Yoshiki
pattern, the song was a mixture of sweet piano sounds and
on its own, a good ballad. However, that was not really what
GLAY had set out to do. Their sound were considered still
too amateurish at that time, and they were generally given
more guidance by their 3rd and current producer, the likeable
Sakuma Masahide.
|
| Hisashi's
wonderful Captain-Pirate shot. |
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| Prior
to the period before 1997, Hisashi began writing monthly columns for
rock magazine GiGS. Thereafter, the column became rather popular and
in 1997 (during GLAY's HIT THE WORLD Tour), a wonderful book called
"Arigato" was released by Shinko Music Publishing, containing
new essays written by Hisashi and also a remix of the articles he'd
written for GiGS. The "main storyline" of the book traces
a young man from the countryside who came to Tokyo to make it big.
The book became extremely popular with GLAY fans and is still selling
well. It is a must among GLAY collectibles. Not one Hisashi fan should
miss it. |
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Though
GLAY was a good band and did rather moderately, if not well,
in their music, the sales almost didn't have much to prove
it. It almost seemed unfair, for the band was a rare group
of hardworking young individuals with immense talent. Personality-wise,
they were very likeable and are always friendly.
The first
real break came when their 2nd album, BEATout!, debut at number
1 on the Oricon charts. As Takuro recalled the incident, they
were waiting to board a plane and Teru's friend had called.
They thought they were number 10 instead. On the flight, Takuro's
tears could be seen flowing down his cheeks, his teary eyes
covered by sunglasses.
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Hisashi
and Takuro during
break-time for BE WITH YOU in New York, 1998. |
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Consecutive
singles such as GLORIOUS, BELOVED and a Boy~zutto wasurenai, all
did relatively well on the charts, leading to the success of their
3rd album BELOVED in late 1996. BELOVED was the first GLAY album
to break the 1-million mark. That was something to cheer about by
the band, who would later go on to release the emotional ballad
HOWEVER, one of the best-selling singles for 1997, and also REVIEW,
the 3rd best-selling album in Japan's music history.
Of course, part
of the reason attributed for REVIEW's sweet success was the inclusion
of HOWEVER. The reggae beat in the song was slightly different from
GLAY's usual offerings, and definitely much contrasted from their
previous single Kuchibiru, a flavour of high-energy rock.
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Hisashi's
fashion also took a dramatic change. Previously, especially
evident during 1996 and GLAY's trip to Iceland to make photobook
Midnight Sun, the common dressing-up for Hisashi included
heavy dark eyeshadow, animal-like print tops and very tight
pants. Those gave a most feminine impression of Hisashi, sometimes
he could practically pass off as a girl.
With GLAY's
dramatic success, Hisashi's fashion made a pleasant change.
It may be considered as a redirection towards pop, but somehow
the irresistible rock element still remains. In the beginning
of 1998 when they took pictures for TDK's MD campaign, the
band don smart suits. That was also in accordance with their
singles Yuuwaku and SOUL LOVE. Hisashi's hairstyle was changed
to a spiky, ever-changing do. It has more or less remained
that way. Of course, the cute grin that came along with it
also helps.
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| Hisashi
during pure soul~SUMMER of 98. |
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| One
concert scene that most fans often mention was Hisashi's remix of
the classical tune Canon (originally written by Baroque composer Pachebel)
during GLAY's Dome Tour in 1999 (see GLAY Live in Big Egg 1999 video).
Lights were shut, and the music was so outrageous and innovating,
it took many breaths away. With his usual little dance on stage, Hisashi
delivered Canon, with his guitar that light up. |
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Other
than Jiro, Hisashi's wacky and fashionable costumes are always
the subject of talk and also the theme for most cosplayers.
Like the black cheongsam cross-embroidered with golden dragons
during GLAY EXPO 99 in Makuhari. The outfit was a piece of
art itself and when Hisashi was put in it, that became a masterpiece.
Of course,
one of the most shocking pieces of Hisashi in 2000 should
be his secret marriage. Apparently, the publicity-shy guy
had gotten married to his girlfriend of 2 years in December
1999 (How did they get to know each other? When he broke his
leg during a concert and she took such great care of him he
fell head-over-heels in love with her. The name is Izumi by
the way.). He was supposed to have proposed during Christmas!
How wonderfully romantic, especially when Hisashi has always
been perceived as proud and cold, far less one of the earliest
in GLAY to tie the knot. The latest bit about him is a rumour
that his wife supposedly gave birth to twins in June 2000.
This is still under investigation but we figure that if true,
its not a bad thing at all. (imagine, all the burden of pregnancy
gone in one go)
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Hisashi's
cool outfit during
LIVE IN BIG EGG. |
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