Nt2099 | JUNE 04 Photography by GARLAND GEE & EDWIN MACARAEG & SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT JAPAN

T.M.REVOLUTION ROCKS ANAHEIM!LAST YEAR, T.M.REVOLUTION ROCKED THE CITY OF BALTIMORE. THIS TIME HE ROCKED

HIS FANS IN THE CITY OF ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA AT PACIFIC MEDIA EXPO!NT2099 INTERVIEWS TAKANORI NISHIKAWA. ROUND 2! BY DENNIS A. AMITH

[WHAT’S HOT IN MUSIC]

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Nt2099 | JUNE 04

NINE YEARS AGO, Takanori Nishi-kawa and music partner, Daisuke Asakura started a project known as T.M.Revolution (Takanori Makes Revolution). Back in 1995, Takanori explained to Japanese press that T.M.Revolution is not a band, it is not a group, itʼs an “idea” that encompasses him, his fel-low members, his band and everyone who listens to his music. Upon starting the group, Nishika-wa and Asakura made three promises to each other. Three goals they would like to accomplish. The first promise was to place on the Oricon Singles Chart at least once. The second promise, to sell at least one million copies of an album. The third and last promise, to perform at the Tokyo Dome. T.M.Revolution eventually achieved its goals and promises made were kept and to celebrate this ac-complishment, in 1999 the T.M.R. project evolved to become known as “end of genesis T.M.R.evolution turbo type D”. In May 2000, T.M.R. celebrated their fifth year anniversary and the original name of T.M.Revolution returned. This became the latest chap-ter for their music known as “Neo-T.M.Revolution”. If there is one thing to know about Takanori Nishikawa, heʼs constantly inventing himself. Heʼs not satisfied to stay with one certain thing. In 2003, after a personal hia-tus, T.M.Revolution released the song “Invoke” which was used on the Japanese animation “Gundam Seed”. His album “Coordinate” was released in Japan from Sony and in North America from Tofu Records. T.M.Revolution then performed for

* A DAY AFTER HIS PMX CONCERT PERFOR-MANCE, Takanori Nishi-kawa talks to us about the future of T.M.Revolution.

[WHAT’S HOT IN MUSIC]an audience of 5,000 people at Otakon in the city of Baltimore. Outside of music, his interests in design and planning led to his own clothing line for Defröck. In May 2004, one year be-fore the 10th year anniversary of T.M.Revolution, Takanori Nishi-kawa returned to America. This time for a concert at Pacific Me-dia Expo in Anaheim, California. The concert in Anaheim brought nearly 4,000 fans to the Anaheim Convention Cen-ter. His fans from Japan as well as his fans throughout the U.S. traveled long distances to support

and meet their favorite artist. For our second interview,we wanted to walk down memory lane with Takanori Nishi-kawa. To see how things have changed for him ca-reerwise, look back at his accomplishments, talk about his new album “SEVENTH HEAVEN” and what to ex-pect for T.M.Revolutionʼs upcoming10th year anniversary.

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[WHAT’S HOT IN MUSIC]

Nt2099 | JUNE 04

the years on music shows such as “HEY! HEY! HEY! Mu-sic Champ”, “Music Station” and a few other shows. My first magazine that I read which featured you was this August 1997 issue of “Young Song” when you were promoting the song “HIGH PRESSURE”. T.M.REVOLUTION: (Looks at magazine with a big smile on his face) Whoah!

DENNIS: What is the differ-ence between the Takanori Nishikawa on this magazine and the Takanori Nishikawa of today?

DENNIS: Were you ever worried about your performance here in California?T.M.REVOLUTION: It was my first time doing a show in the West Coast, so I was a little worried be-cause I heard that the Los Angeles audience were a little bit cool and laid back and I thought about that. But actually they had a lot of fun and I had fun, so it was great!

DENNIS: We had the opportu-nity to meet many of your fans who traveled as far as Japan and many from all over the U.S.. How awesome of a feeling is it to have fans of different cul-tures, young and old, to feel so passionate about you and your music?T.M.REVOLUTION: Iʼm simply happy about this! Japanese is a minority language and for people to enjoy my music even though it is in Japanese. Iʼm very happy about it!

DENNIS: Many of us at J!-ENT have watched you perform over

* SEVENTH HEAVEN is the seventh album release by T.M.Revolution released in Japan by Sony Music Japan and released in North America by Tofu Records.

T.M.REVOLUTION: (Takanori then imitates his pose on the “Young Song” magazine) (laugh-ing) Back at that time, I have always dreamed about doing a gig or even releasing an album in the U.S., now Iʼve done it. Itʼs Amazing! Iʼm really happy about that but now Iʼm obliged to make people happy with my music which I didnʼt back then. So, now I feel that I need to make people happy with my music.

Photo taken from “Young Song” Magazine (Shueisha, 1997)

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[WHAT’S HOT IN MUSIC]

DENNIS: Earlier this year, you released your album “SEV-ENTH HEAVEN”. Was there a certain theme that you had in mind for this album or any key differences compared to your other previous albums?T.M.REVOLUTION: The key difference between “SEVENTH HEAVEN” from my other albums is before my first concert in the US and after. After my first U.S. performance at Otakon, I feel that Iʼve rediscovered myself as an artist. So, “SEVENTH HEAVEN” is the rediscovery of T.M.Revolution.

DENNIS: Next year is the 10th anniversary for T.M.Revolution. What plans do you have to cel-ebrate the tenth year?T.M.REVOLUTION: It kind of be-came a yearly thing where I per-formed in America like last year at Otakon and this year at PMX but I would like to do a normal tour in the U.S. similar to a tour that I have done in Japan.

DENNIS: Will there be another name change similar to what you did before your fifth year anniversary... “end of genesis T.M.R.evolution turbo type D”?T.M.REVOLUTION: Oh, no. I want to keep it simple. Just T.M.R. T.M.Revolution.

DENNIS: In Japan, you have talked about how important your performance at Budoh Arena and of course, Tokyo Dome was for your career. Can you explain to our U.S. fans the significance of that perfor-mance at Budoh Arena.

T.M.REVOLUTION: Perform-ing at Budoh Arena was a major footnote of my career. It was a milestone for me. In Japan, there are many concert venues big-ger than Budoh Arena but it is a special place for a music art-ist. It was the first arena that the Beatles performed in concert. Performing at Budoh Arena was such an accomplishment. And I really appreciate the fact that so many people came to watch me perform at the concert and gave me such an ovation that it gave me the inspiration to become a better artist. DENNIS: Will you pursue other music projects as Ni-shikawa Takanori outside of T.M.Revolution?T.M.REVOLUTION: I will continue to do my work as T.M.Revolution but I want to do other music works as Nishikawa and collaborate with other artists.

DENNIS: You have discussed your passion for designing and from the designs that I have seen, I think they have a potential to be popular here in America. Will your clothing merchandise that you designed for Defröck ever make it here to the United States? T.M.REVOLUTION: At this point the clothes are not sold outside of Japan and only through the Defröck Web Site. Iʼm actually opening my first clothing shop in Tokyo this year.

DENNIS: Since you and Asaku-ra have met your promises for T.M.Revolution, what new goals

have you set for T.M.R?T.M.REVOLUTION: The three promises that we had, I didnʼt think they would come true at that time. But it did. For now, I would love to have a CD single debut in the American music charts and I would love to perform in front of more American audiences. Also, to learn English and also have an English speaking girlfriend who lives in the U.S.! (laughing)

DENNIS: (Laughing) And you can finally get your green card! (Refer to our first interview with T.M.R., August 2003)T.M.REVOLUTION: (Laughing hard)

DENNIS: Would you like to per-form in Europe and other cities around the world?T.M.REVOLUTION: T.M.Rʼs show is entertainment, so I would love to share my entertainment with audi-ences around the world.

DENNIS: What final words would you like to leave with your fans?T.M.REVOLUTION: Iʼm so glad I came to America again and also I really wanna have the next oppor-tunity soon to perform here again and to meet up with people like this. So please come and see me again. Thank you.

DENNIS A. AMITH is a nt2099/J!-ENT entertainment writer-at-large.

T.M. Revolution - “SEVENTH HEAVEN” and many more T.M.R. merchandise are available now through Tofu Records. Please visit: www.tofurecords.com

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