Translated from the book "Watashi mo Visual Kei Datta Goro" , 2006.05.05
Original Text: Tetsushi Ishikawa.
As yasu has said, Janne Da Arc as something like Visual Kei even though they're not.
Janne Da Arc, as well as PIERROT, appeared on the music scene around the same time as I was getting really involved in it as visual kei bands. With the self-produced image of the latter band's Kirito being a sort of "aggressive presence", it was clear that PIERROT put itself in the visual kei genre. On the other hand, though Janne Da Arc was somewhat established as a "superior rock band", they too had a so-called "visual kei-like" element.
The first time I met Janne Da Arc was in 2003, when I was writing for "Visual Culture". In February, they had released their full concept album, "ANOTHER STORY", which was their fourth album. By this time, they still had their visual kei-like appearance intact in part, but were increasingly showing a different side of themselves as "Ordinary, but still interesting, people."
Within the band, they have a sort of self-asserting battle taking place, or perhaps it is just as far as the scene itself is concerned all of them are lacking in any sort of hostility or aggressiveness toward it as a whole. As musicians, they are searching for their own ways to improve their individual skills, but though their guitarist, you, is currently hoping to become the best guitarist in Japan, he is also incredibly and deeply humble. Furthermore, out of the five members, only one indulges in alcohol. Even on tour, they don't go far away from the venue to go eat dinner together—because they sit in the green room and eat lunches brought by the caterers, or get takeout, bringing it back to their individual rooms. Even though this may make it seem that relations between the band members are quite strained, they are, in fact, the best of friends, and have been since they were all in school.
In my 20 years of being a music journalist, I have never seen a band that approaches a visual aspect with both body and soul so differently—even among those bands who consider themselves visual kei. Even more interestingly, they record under Avex, a record label hailed as "Japan's Number One Pop Factory".
In the seven years since their major debut, they have released 6 albums, 2 best-of compilations, 25 singles, and 11 DVDs! From their musical level to their rigorous schedule, while reacting to what they can offer, Janne Da Arc is also on the way to celebrating their tenth year anniversary continuing as "The Number One Melodic Band in the World". Though they are a band who you may not have been introduced to at first, they are now on their way down the road to becoming one of the most hardworking rock bands.
As a live band, they've been able to play both Osaka-jo Hall as well as Saitaima Super Arena, and they've sold out even the very difficult to sell local halls. In their audiences, there are more office ladies and students, their numbers getting so high that they even make it seem as if there are few visual kei fans in the audience at all. With the increasing appearance of band kids that have been with them for several years before, there is a real sense of "admiration" about them. Wow.
Naturally, the "Janne Da Arc sound" that has a heart in catchy melodies, a favorable band ensemble and a unique approach to musical composition has established itself as something "fresh" in the current scene. While they are still related to visual kei in some ways, Janne Da Arc are very mysterious in the image they currently have as a band who although they arose from visual kei, is becoming the antithesis of it.
Currently, yasu, in the MC talks at their shows, says time and again that they have "some element of visual kei". Though yasu has also said that "To this point, things have been done at our own pace," their refined path makes Janne Da Arc seem as more "the aftermath of visual kei". In that, we come together.
[Interview Part 1//Interview Part 2//Author's Notes]