Musicnet CLOSE UP Miyavi 25th Anniversary Special

[Mr Miyavi, lately, what "kanji"? Eh, well, uh...this kanji] 1 Special Edition
We've been presenting [Mr Miyavi, lately, what "kanji"? Eh, well, uh...this kanji] from [WHAT's IN?] magazine since his major debut. In this special edition he expands upon a theory in response to a letter from a reader in a manner that'll make anyone satisfied, and at the end gives a single symbol and a song. What symbol will Mr Miyavi write in answer to problem about a name? His human nature, and current state of mind will bring relief.

For original Japanese and to see the symbol Miyavi drew, please visit http://www.musicnet.co.jp/close_up/miyavi/rensai.html

This round's [what kanji]
"No matter what I just can't come to like my own name. It's an extremely girly name, but I'm absolutely much more of a boyish type. I really hate it when I'm told that it 'doesn't fit me'. As for myself, I don't hate the fact that I'm boyish, but whenever someone calls my name I feel like I'm being told to 'be more like a girl', and I start thinking that maybe I should......" (19 years old / Anonymous)

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"Humans can't decide which environment or parents or geneology or name which they are both with...... But, because of those parents, that environment, you were born - if it wasn't for that environment then you wouldn't be. If you deny that you're denying your own significance, and even your own identity; so this....let's say you're Hanako (laugh), she wants to first be greatful for, and also proud of the fact that she's born as Hanako.

So, in regard to names, they are from the parent's imagination, after all. For example Manabu, they wanted him to learn a lot so they though they'd name him that2. However, there a lot of Manabu's who don't learn much, aren't there (laugh)? There's not much you can do about it. For parents a child is like another one of them, so they leave their expectations on them, but after all from the time a human is born, it's an individual, and I think the most important thing is to know who you want to be as a person.

As for me, saying tenjoutenge-yuigadokuson3, I don't particularly think like that or want to be 'OREsama dot com' all year round, and it's not the case that when I say 'oresama' I mean I wanna be self-absorbed. What I means is that I want to be myself. I mean that I first want to live to my potential and like, my ability, and my character.

All things considered, this Hanako too, without giving in to the label of 'Hanako', she should improve herself as if she's winning against her name, to the extent that she can say 'So what?' in regards to her name Hanako. In the extreme case, I think it's ok to even change your name. If you put up the name that you like, you can probably delve further and further into who you are, and from that you will probably come to like your original name.

Incidentally, there have been times when I've thought that I could've had a cooler image, but right now I'm into the name Miyavi. Lately, I've dropped the romaji part '-miyavi-' from my name, but that's because it was to link my style of music with my name Miyavi, and because I've come to like my own name more after all. I've become much more strongly aware of that which is called the self, which I can establish using just the kanji ' 雅 '.

So like that, the kanji that I (would) present to that 'Hanako' would be the 'ga' of 'jigajisan'4. And, the song I would give would be my 'jikoai, jigajisan, jiishiki kajou'5. The meaning is......as you read the symbols, just that (laugh). Well, so that kind of 'kanji'---."6

Composition: Yuki Morihide
Translation: Jessica Rains

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Notes:

1. "kanji" can either mean "symbol" or "feeling". Without spelling "kanji" in symbols on purpose, the topic of this composition is both "what symbol?" and "what feeling?"

2. manabu means "learn" in Japanese.

3. "tenjoutenge-yuigadokuson" is the tattoo he has going down his right arm, meaning "I am solely the best one in Heaven and Earth". That, along with "ore-sama" (a very egotistical, boastful way of referring to oneself) are kind of like his themes, and the image which he has chosen to portray as himself since he became a solo artist.

4. "jigajisan" means "self-praise" though the "ga" alone means "image". However, he replaced that symbol with the symbol for "miyabi" (his name - meaning elegance), which can also be read as "ga". He gives to her the "image" part of "taking pride in yourself", but putting emphasis on your own name. So, what he wrote this time, is the symbol of his own name "miyabi" with the reading "ga".

5. "jikoai, jigajisan, jiishiki kajou" is the first track (instrumental) on his latest album [Miyabiuta]. The meaning of the title is "Excess of self-love, self-praise, self-consciousness".

6. "kanji" (meaning symbol) is the symbols he's writing for this interview, and what this whole composition is about. Though when people end a speech or something, they often say "sonna kanji de..." (using the "kanji" meaning "feeling") to mean like "And with that.../So like that.... [I end the speech]" or something similar