-- First of all, you have changed your credit from Chisato to "MSTR (MR)." Does this have any specific reason?

MSTR: I don't know if changing name itself has a meaning or not, but I just wanted to start different things. The name "Chisato" strongly reminds people of the guitarist of Penicillin or the previous solo works.

-- I see. This is the second album released under the name of Crack 6. How do you feel about "Solo Works"?

MSTR: Many people may think that it's called "Solo Works" because one of the band members works individually. However, for me, this is actually another project like working for different companies at the same time. It may seem like I work alone, but I'm still a member of the band.

-- So, you don't think you are doing "solo works"?

MSTR: No, things can change when people are changed, especially in music. Many parts change with each player's style. Besides, in Crack6, I am not only a guitarist, but also a vocalist. I have many things to consider, for example, band's overall balance, & more. Maybe, "Solo Project" makes sense much easier.

-- I see. So you are not drawing a clear line between the "Solo" and "Band" activities.

MSTR: No, simply I've got more things to do. (Laughter)

-- The first album "Trinity" was a kind of mixture. And, what type of album is "Fight Without Frontiers"?

MSTR: This can be musically a mixture too, but suppose the sound of "Trinity" was macho, the new album is lighter.

-- So you mean, in comparison with the first album, you added more straightforward numbers?

MSTR: In short, that's right.

-- Where did the title "Fight Without Frontiers" come from?

MSTR: I usually think about the trends of the times, but usually their shelf lives are very short. So, for example, if I named the album "Bae Young-Joon," it may sound very weird. (Laughter)

-- (Chuckles)

MSTR: "Trinity" was largely inspired from "The Matrix" film. This time, when I watch the Iraqi war, their fighting seems no longer predictable. It is like a fight without humanity and justice. Today, what is right or wrong becomes quite ambiguous, so I wrote the songs to lament the current situation. I'm not Michael Moore, so I don't intend to sing only those songs. (Laugher) Perhaps, everyone fights with something in their daily lives. Or some people can resist temptations. So, I named the album "Fighting without Frontiers." "Frontiers" means "Front Lines." This title figuratively indicates the fighting without the front line like a guerrilla war.

-- Dou you mean the title represents the total concept of the album?

MSTR: That's right. But even if you read lyrics, you don't think so. There are not any specific rules and connection among them

-- So you wrote the songs spontaneously, not according to the concept.

MSTR: Actually, I spent more than a year for the new album, so the first ideas may differ from the final ones. But, I can still tell the concept as a message. What's more, generally it is also my lifelong challenge. So I put "Fight Without Frontiers" (FWF) on the new album.

-- I see. What was the most difficult song in the album?

MSTR: Everything.

-- Are you sure?

MSTR: There wasn't any easy one.

-- You mean, everything?

MSTR: Yes, it was not as challenging as "Trinity" though.

-- Do you always suffer when you compose?

MSTR: Yes, I do.

-- You don't make it quickly, do you?

MSTR: When I can write a song smoothly, it's maybe already in my heart. In that case, it is extremely fast, and just put it into my computer for other members. But when I don't have enough ideas and worry how to start, it will take more time.

-- I see.

MSTR: Especially this time, I wanted to mix other cultures. For instance, "Maneuver 6" is a surfing song, and "ROCKETEER" is based on a dog rave. It took much time to blend various cultures other than music to our songs.

-- Are you interested in surfing?

MSTR: Yes. I happened to watch surfers on TV and I found them quite active and exciting. I have some surfer friends, so I thought it might be suitable as a motif for my song. I'd never written about such a motif. And "ROCKETEER" sounds very speedy. I was much inspired by things that make me feel as if I am completely pushing the accelerator down.

-- Well, let's change the topic. Could you tell me any fun episodes during the recording session?

MSTR: It usually takes a long time. Mr.Shigemori is the producer, but a guitarist at the same time for our sessions. But, he didn't want to play it at all. (Giggles)

-- What? (Laughter)

MSTR: He made me do everything! He was always saying, "I'm the producer, so I don't have to play." It was annoying. (Laughter) This is not a funny story after all.

(Everyone laughs)

MSTR: He only played slow or beautiful acoustic part, and I did the rest of it on my own.

-- Is that true? (Laughter)

MSTR: Yeah, he hardly played anything! I did all the guitar parts of the first and second numbers. (Laughter)

-- Oh, really? (Laughter)

MSTR: Yeah, I sang and played the guitar, and the recording was completed in a relatively short time. I usually take more time for composing rather than recording.

-- Oh.

MSTR: Recording music is easy peasy.

-- Jee.

MSTR: But when it comes to the lyrics...but I'm not complaining. (Laughter)

-- (Chuckles)

MSTR: I know producing is a tough work, but he really didn't play the guitar at all, even if I asked him.

-- Ha ha ha.

MSTR: Besides, the pre-production of "Fight without Frontiers" was completed at the eleventh hour. Kento, the drummer, didn't have enough time to prepare, so he panicked a bit. But I was deeply impressed his ability. He completed "Maneuver 6" in only one or two takes.

-- Really?

MSTR: Amazing. The drum part of "Maneuver 6" is really cool.

-- Your album always has a song featuring your "friends," doesn't it?

MSTR: Oh! That strange one.

-- (Laughter) I'm wondering what it is like this time

MSTR: Of course I did it this time too. I tried it for the first solo album "Organic Groover." At that time, it was sensational. The producer asked me to put funny lyrics on a cool tune, and at first I felt a bit odd. But everyone is getting quite used to it. Penicillin is also influenced by the idea, so they want to do something more exciting. I called many people this time, but in fact only close friends came for the recording.

-- (Chuckles)

MSTR: They were all busy people, so it was difficult to assemble them.

-- Oh.

MSTR: It was also hard to tell what part they should sing. There were a lot of outtakes.

-- Oh, is that so?

MSTR: Actually, it's a rather detail work.

-- It sounds more laborious than I thought.

MSTR: Yeah, that ridiculous part was the hardest.

-- (Giggled) I never imagined that.

MSTR: Only three interesting words in ten-minute recording. Or sometimes, only one in 30 minutes, so it was extremely tough.

-- It sounds very low-key.

MSTR: They are not actors, so I don't want to use scripts.

-- Did you attempt anything new for this album?

MSTR: As I mentioned, I tried simple rock songs without using looping (sampling). "1996" is obviously so. I made it vigorously, and I'm quite contended.

-- You are vocalist of Crack 6, and what does singing mean to you?

MSTR: Singing is very physical, so it is very tough to maintain body conditions. When I'm exhausted, songs sound tired too. In my case, vocals and even my guitar sound heavily depend on my mental conditions. So I have to make my condition best so that listeners would always feel nice.

-- Do you like singing, don't you?

MSTR: Yes, indeed. But keeping in good shape is tough. (Chuckles)

-- (Laughter)

MSTR: I can play the guitar even when I'm laying down.

-- Oh! But you can't sing as soon as you get up? (Laughter)

MSTR: No, I can't. Fortunately, I don't drink alcohol and don't smoke cigarette, so maybe it's easy for me to stay in shape.

-- I see. Would you tell me the charm of Crack 6?

MSTR: Well, it's the fickleness of the producer Shigemori and my endurance in short.

-- Is that really so? (Giggles)

MSTR: Yes. (Chuckles) I think the balance is comical. I'm very hasty, on the other hand Mr. Shigemori is quite patient. So we maintain well-balanced relations. I don't know it's good or bad. (Laughter)

-- You can't do it alone, can you?

MSTR: Of course not. That's what makes Crack 6 more attractive.

-- Well, how do you describe the other members including Mr. Shigemori?

MSTR: Only Mr. Shigemori and I are fixed members of Crack 6. For example, Dragon Ash members played the drum and bass parts for our first single. "Shige-san" (Mr.Shigemori) is very temperamental. When he is in a bad mood, it's like a storm. (Laughter)

-- (Laughter)

MSTR: It's my job to calm him down.

-- (Giggles) Usually, it must be reverse.

MSTR: Yes, indeed. I guess he thinks I'm bad-tempered when he's well.

--So, Mr.Shigemori may have totally opposite views.

MSTR: Well. I suppose we are completely on opposite sides.

-- I see.

MSTR: I myself have to like music or enjoy for entertaining people. I wanna work with people who can draw my attention, especially when I'm working with fixed Penicillin. I want to shuffle members of Crack 6. Perhaps, our next album will feature a percussionist or a dancer. (Chuckles)

-- Are there any special points you stick to when creating music?

MSTR: It's greatly up to listeners, but I'd like to write a song that'll be welcomed by majority of people. I hate songs that only indulge me. At the same time, I also consider how much I can accomplish what I want to do. These two points always conflict each other. But fundamentally my music is universal to everyone. (Laughter) I think I don't have to go against the mainstream. I absorb many different ideas and utilize them for my next project.

-- You are the guitarist of Penicillin, and how do you distinguish between your activities of Penicillin and Crack 6?

MSTR: Actually I don't need to switch myself. Penicillin members have little egos. I think I'm musically the most egoistic in the band. When I started Crack 6, one of my managing staff had suggested creating music with impressive guitar sound. There were many bands with exciting guitar sound in the 1970s and the 1980s. So I wanted to recreate that type of band, and the idea greatly influenced Penicillin. "Trinity" has common characteristics with "Kakkaku," last year's album. Although "Kakkaku" was released before "Trinity," I started to make the "Trinity" a little earlier. I've been playing the music for a decade, so I'm already on my royal road to music. Starting Crack 6 was a great opportunity to think over it as a musician.

-- So, your activities have been helpful for both Penicillin and Crack 6?

MSTR: Yes, good for both. Crack 6 has greatly inspired me. I feel I've found my own way. I'm convinced that I wasn't wrong. (Laughter) I confidently reckon this is a great project.

-- When do you feel best at a gig?

MSTR: I feel the best when things go smoothly and everyone feels "I like it!" Unlike CDs, everything at a gig is instantaneous. The video is just a one-dimensional recording. It means I can't possibly watch the gigs of Penicillin and Crack 6 by myself. It's impossible to experience any past gigs again. That's the beauty of the gig. In particular, when my guitar solo and my singing go very well, and if I could see fans singing together, I am very happy. At Crack 6 gigs, I want to increase momentary things like improvising.

-- Would you like to challenge something new?

MSTR: I'm going to join more events.

-- Play with other bands?

MSTR: I've already done that. I like bigger events like music festivals, because I can listen to more various kinds of music. Perhaps, I simply want to enjoy myself. (Giggles)

-- I see. (Laughter)

MSTR: It's really enjoyable, because I can see various styles of bands. Besides, I'd like to meet people with different values.

-- You mean, you want to encounter other people or various different things...

MSTR: I always like meeting interesting guys.

-- Heh? Really? (Laughter) By the way, what is the most important thing to you?

MSTR: Well, I shouldn't say money.

(Everyone laughs)

-- It sounds misleading... (Giggles)

MSTR: Perhaps, time is the most precious.

-- Could you recommend your favorite album other than yours?

MSTR: I don't listen to many CDs these days, but I like Good Charlotte. I was very impressed so I couldn't imagine that was called punk. Or maybe I noticed it was punk for the first time, it sounds very pop. I guarantee their performances are truly great.

-- That's one of your favorites, isn't it?

MSTR: Yes, I recommend Good Charlotte to everyone.

-- Is there anything you want to get involved other than music?

MSTR: I'd like to try many things, but I haven't got enough time. I want to try some sports.

-- Anything particular?

MSTR: Not really, but I want to sweat apart from gigs. Compared with my 20s, I can't overdo any more. It sounds like middle-age crisis. (Chuckles)

-- (Laughter)

MSTR: I always try to think more systematically, because I'm often messed up due to my characteristics. So, in some way, workout could be helpful.

-- So, you'd like to try any sports...

MSTR: Something quiet like yoga would be nice. I want to exercise very much. I didn't like sports at all in the past though.

-- Are you kidding? (Laughter)

MSTR: No, I didn't move my body at all. (Giggles)

-- Really? (Chuckles)

MSTR: Definitely.

-- That's unexpected. Well, would you give a message to your fans?

MSTR: As I said, time is precious. For the album "Fight Without Frontiers," the release date (January 26th, 2005) has a meaning, because some people may regard this album as a treasured memory, and other people may change themselves in good ways. I just hope there are many of such people. Once my favorite musician said it's very fortunate to create memorable music. I wish the listeners would come to my gigs to experience the sensation. Well, I'm eager to change myself, so let's roll together. I'm not going to stop.

-- Thank you very much.