⚠ 日本語版へこちら。

DEN-NO HIMECA (電脳ヒメカ), thank you very much for this opportunity!

Please introduce yourselves.

[Koshijiya Aoi] I'm Koshijiya Aoi (越路屋 葵), the vocalist.

[NAOCHI] I'm NAOCHI, the genius composer and guitarist!

[Gaku] I'm Gaku (楽), the guitarist.

[Dokuga Meno] I'm Dokuga MENO (毒牙メノ), bassist, and my member color is purple.

[Urara] I'm Urara (うらら), drummer, and my member color is pink.

In October 2022, DEN-NO HIMECA “logged in.”

You refer to yourselves as a “subculture delusionist type visual kei band.” Could you explain what that phrase means to you?

[Koshijiya Aoi] [It's our] specialization.

Ed. note: this is likely a reference to HUNTER×HUNTER in which some characters have a special power called a tokushiketsukei {specialization}.

[NAOCHI] We have a variety of songs, but at our core, as the name suggests, we're subculture × delusion.

[Gaku] I'm bad at language, so I don't fully understand it, but I think it means something like hijacking radio waves (like in an SNS sense), maybe? I don't know!!

[Dokuga Meno] Subculture × delusion × visual kei = DEN-NO HIMECA = the strongest.

[Urara] I think it's like the highest form of kirakira kei!

How did you choose the name DEN-NO HIMECA? What does it mean?

[Koshijiya Aoi] Personally, it has a radio-wave kind of feel and sounds like a cute girl's name.

[NAOCHI] There isn't much meaning behind the name! Haha. I always wanted to include the word “Dennou,” and for “HIMECA,” we chose it purely for its sound.

[Gaku] It's all about flow and momentum, plus the aesthetics of the characters and how they feel to say out loud.

[Dokuga Meno] The name was already decided when I joined, but it's a good one—easy to remember.

[Urara] I didn't come up with it, but I think it has a modern vibe that's unique yet relatable.

From the start, you have been very active on social media and YouTube, and often have clever event ideas. How do you come up with new ideas?

[Koshijiya Aoi] It's all thanks to the members' senses.

[NAOCHI] Ideas just pop up suddenly or come flooding in during meetings!

[Gaku] I think it's because our members are geniuses!!

[Dokuga Meno] Late-night meetings ~with Fujisoba noodles~

[Urara] We can do whatever we want because there are so many things other bands don't do, so it's fun!

The band that releases dynamic songs at a breakneck pace!

You are very prolific, with new songs about every month or two. Is there a strategy behind this? How do you create so much music without burning out?

[Koshijiya Aoi] Evolution.

[NAOCHI] TikTok and other trends change in that time span, so it feels stagnant to stay the same for more than three months. I want the performers and the audience to always feel fresh! (pressure)

[Gaku] Always staying attuned to trends and what's current. (Though honestly, I don't give it 1 millimeter of thought.)

[Dokuga Meno] DEN-NO HIMECA is the most dynamic band in visual kei right now, so we keep releasing music to match that momentum. Kudos to our genius composer and lyricist members who make it all possible!

[Urara] Thank you, NAOCHI!

What is your typical process when creating songs?

[Koshijiya Aoi] The song gets made, and then the lyrics are written.

[NAOCHI] We either decide on the band's next moves during meetings and I write a song to fit, or I create the song first and we build plans around it. Aoi and I then discuss who'll handle the lyrics.

[Gaku] It starts with a feeling!

[Dokuga Meno] Aoi-sensei and NAOCHI-sensei handle the songs entirely.

[Urara] I think about how to make the demo my own.

How do you want someone to feel after they listen to your songs?

[Koshijiya Aoi] Thank you for listening.

[NAOCHI] We have many songs, so I hope they fit people's moods and become essential to their daily lives.

[Gaku] No matter how you feel, I want our songs to make you experience a range of emotions and feel like they're always there for you.

[Dokuga Meno] Our music is so diverse that everyone will find a song they love. I've been a gyaotoko for over 10 years so there's no doubt about it. I guarantee it'll leave a lifelong impression.

[Urara] If you're not moved by our music, you probably don't have good taste in music!

What is one recent song and one older song that you would recommend to new listeners?

[Koshijiya Aoi] Please listen to all of them.

[NAOCHI] For older songs, I'd say Kyururu chan (きゅるるちゃん). For recent ones, definitely Supervision.

[Gaku] BLONDE SHORTCAKE (ブロンドショートケーキ), Bakuraten (獏羅天), and ESTER (エスター). These are somewhat atypical for DEN-NO HIMECA but showcase how much we can do as a kira kira kei band. Also, during live performances of all 3 songs we're possessed by demons!

[Dokuga Meno] The past song is Kyururuchan (きゅるるちゃん). I think you have an image of that one when you think of DEN-NO HIMECA. Personally, I'd like you to listen to the lyrics of the songs I wrote, Doku MawaRU Hime WO Kurau (毒廻ル姫ヲ喰) and PAKPAKA CHAMPIONSHIP (パカパカチャンピオンシップ). For newer songs, SIGMA (シグマ)! It's the best!

[Urara] For older songs, CHEMICAL NIGHTFISH (ケミカルナイトフィッシュ). Recently, SIGMA (シグマ) is a standout!

What is your favorite song to play live, and why?

[Koshijiya Aoi] It's hard to choose.

[NAOCHI] COTTON CANDY (コットンキャンディ)! It feels very subculture-delusionist and fits our recent vibe.

[Gaku] Byou × CHOCOLATE (病×チョコレヰト) and BLONDE SHORTCAKE (ブロンドショートケーキ). The former has fun facial expressions during performances, and the latter gets fiery!

[Dokuga Meno] ESTER (エスター)! It really gets the gyaotoko blood boiling.

[Urara] Ballads like CHEMICAL NIGHTFISH (ケミカルナイトフィッシュ) and Ikebukuro PARADISE (池袋パラダイス) are great because I enjoy performing them as a drummer.

You have several MVs. Which was your favorite to film, and why? Were there any fun incidents you recall?

[Koshijiya Aoi] SUBCULTURE ERROR (サブカルエラー) holds special memories.

[NAOCHI] Ikebukuro PARADISE (池袋パラダイス) was new and fresh since we all sang together for the first time.

[Gaku] Supervision was amazing because we collaborated with a rapper I love!

[Dokuga Meno] COTTON CANDY (コットンキャンディ)! It was entirely green screen, and we ran around like crazy—it was so fun!

[Urara] SUBCULTURE ERROR (サブカルエラー) is nostalgic because I directed the MV. I still watch it sometimes!

The roots of DEN-NO HIMECA.

Many of your songs have an electronic base, but integrate elements of metal, pop, and even rap. How did you arrive at that style?

[Koshijiya Aoi] By taking on challenges.

[NAOCHI] It's a blend of my tastes and trends, divided by 2!

[Gaku] It's all thanks to NAOCHI's roots.

[Dokuga Meno] The genius composer's roots at work.

[Urara] It's great because we can knock out bands that play it safe ^^

In your opinion, what makes for a “perfect” song?

[Koshijiya Aoi] I don't really know.

[NAOCHI] The strongest melody and lyrics!

[Gaku] A harmony of the best vocals and compositions—like a DEN-NO HIMECA song!

[Dokuga Meno] A song that influences someone's life.

[Urara] A song that makes you think “wow that's a great song~” when it comes to mind.

What kind of music did you grow up listening to?

[Koshijiya Aoi] Porno Graffiti (ポルノグラフィティ) and others.

[NAOCHI] Kana Nishino (西野カナ)

[Gaku] Shonan no Kaze (湘南乃風), AK69, and CHEHON.

[Dokuga Meno] SMAP—my mom was a fan.

[Urara] Kishidan (氣志團) and Kome Kome Club (米米クラブ)

How did you discover visual kei? Do you have any visual kei heroes?

[Koshijiya Aoi] I was drawn to their colorful hair and discovered MIYAVI.

[NAOCHI] A friend lent me a CD. My hero is KIZU (キズ)!

[Gaku] I learned about visual kei after joining this band! Royz is my favorite; Subaru-san is in a class of his own.

[Dokuga Meno] I discovered SID (シド) while watching TV at home, and I started playing bass because of Aki-san.

[Urara] DOG inThePWO (DOG inTheパラレルワールドオーケストラ). Without them, I wouldn't have started visual kei!

How did you decide to join a band?

[Koshijiya Aoi] The potential it held.

[NAOCHI] I wanted to create a modern band! Sorry if that's vague, but that's the gist of it.

[Gaku] I wanted to turn close friends into comrades on a battlefield.

[Dokuga Meno] When I was invited, I listened to the demos, met the members, and felt this band had what it took to succeed.

[Urara] I instinctively felt we'd succeed if people heard us.

What are the strengths and challenges of being a visual kei band?

[Koshijiya Aoi] The wide range of expressions.

[NAOCHI] We look cool! But we want to increase media exposure.

[Gaku] Exactly what NAOCHI said!

[Dokuga Meno] The freedom, individuality, and coolness! I want more people in different circles to understand and spread the appeal of visual kei.

[Urara] It's definitely the visuals, right? We look way too good!

In 2024, DEN-NO HIMECA “hijacked” four cities: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, and Harajuku.

The “DEN-NO JACK” concept is really unique. How did you come up with this plan?

[Koshijiya Aoi] Personally, it came from the image of youth-centered cities.

[NAOCHI] Releasing three or four consecutive singles is a common move, but we thought, “Why not take it further?” Costumes, visuals, and MVs customized for each city, with events to match. That's how it hit me during a tour! I almost died squeezing it into our oneman tour, though! Haha.

[Gaku] It came from the brilliant minds of our genius members.

[Dokuga Meno] Ahead of a major stage like Zepp Shinjuku, we wanted to fully “jack” the atmosphere and turn everything into DEN-NO HIMECA.

[Urara] We wanted to dye everything in DEN-NO HIMECA's colors!

Each month, you released a single tailored to one specific city. How did you capture the spirit of each area in those singles? Do you have personal connections to them?

[Koshijiya Aoi] We based it on the city's image.

[NAOCHI] We tried to incorporate the culture and fashion that is popular or rooted in each area, but in our own way as much as possible.

[Gaku] While I didn't work on the songs, I focused on visuals and expressions that matched each city's concept.

[Dokuga Meno] The music was entrusted to others, but I expressed the shifts between cities in performances.

[Urara] We adjusted the atmosphere for each place! Filming was so exhausting that I felt like I could die!

How did it feel to see yourselves on ad trucks and billboards in Tokyo's four major districts?

[Koshijiya Aoi] I felt immense gratitude towards everyone involved and our fans (Dennou Girls and Dennou Boys) who made it possible.

[NAOCHI] It was aimed at rewarding our fans and impressing industry professionals. It inspired me to work even harder!

[Gaku] I was honestly just really happy!!

[Dokuga Meno] It was great knowing that many people discovered us through this exposure. It was all thanks to our fans, so I'm deeply grateful!

[Urara] I was simply thrilled!

Was the response to this campaign what you hoped for? Would you ever do a similar campaign again?

[Koshijiya Aoi] I'd like to keep doing bigger projects.

[NAOCHI] There were both hits and misses! If inspiration strikes and I have the stamina, sure! Haha.

[Gaku] It made me want to try even more ideas!

[Dokuga Meno] There were good points and things we could have done better. Next time, I hope to deliver something even greater!

[Urara] It was a great opportunity to learn what we can and can't do.

In October 2024, the band held their two year anniversary oneman, Second Carnival -Gekirin ni Fureru- (Second Carnival-逆鱗に触れる-), at Zepp Shinjuku.

Congratulations on your two-year anniversary! Looking back, how have you improved over the past two years?

[Koshijiya Aoi] The weight on my shoulders has grown, and I feel like there's no time to tremble anymore.

[NAOCHI] It started as an extension of a hobby, but now it feels like a proper job!

[Gaku] Just as we've evolved, so have our Dennou Girls and Dennou Boys, in a good way. I've been loving every moment of performing recently!

[Dokuga Meno] I've always been serious about this, but I've come to understand what it means to truly be serious. We still have room to grow, so I'm excited for year three!

[Urara] It was tough, but I'm glad we made it through! I feel ready to move forward confidently into year three.

How have you stayed the same over the past two years?

[Koshijiya Aoi] My gratitude.

[NAOCHI] The hungry spirit that says “I'm going to sell even more!”

[Gaku] The drive to be the best and the love I feel for our fans!

[Dokuga Meno] My love for visual kei and the belief that this is my one and only calling.

[Urara] The feeling that I'm so glad I kept playing drums.

What were your feelings about tackling such a large venue like Zepp Shinjuku?

[Koshijiya Aoi] It felt like we'd finally made it here.

[NAOCHI] Honestly, I was scared.

[Gaku] It's exhilarating to prove people wrong when they think it's too ambitious.

[Dokuga Meno] It's been a long journey to Zepp. I'm so glad I kept going and never gave up!

[Urara] As normal I was terrified.

Were there any memorable incidents during the live or while preparing for it?

[Koshijiya Aoi] I felt the strength and bond of our amazing members and the fans who supported us.

[NAOCHI] I feel like I remember every moment of that day!

[Gaku] I was almost in tears five minutes before the performance. Haha.

[Dokuga Meno] I was unusually nervous and spent the moments before quietly. Once we started, it felt amazing!

[Urara] I cried every day because it was so tough.

What is your feeling now that the live is complete?

[Koshijiya Aoi] I want everyone to keep their eyes on us. I also want more people to know about us and see our live shows.

[NAOCHI] I was burned out for a while, but now I feel ready to start our third year. We need to surpass Zepp Shinjuku!

[Gaku] My determination to succeed has grown, and I want to continue this journey with my bandmates.

[Dokuga Meno] I'm relieved it went well. I think DEN-NO HIMECA still has so much potential, and I'm excited for what's ahead.

[Urara] I'm glad we succeeded! I want to keep pushing forward as the strongest band!

After the oneman, you launched a project called HIMEHIME FINANCE (ヒメヒメファイナンス) to help recover the production costs. How was the actual response to this project?

[Koshijiya Aoi] I'm always grateful to our fans for accepting and supporting us.

[NAOCHI] Personally, I think the response was great! Haha.

[Gaku] Urara's Anthony (アントニー) was the highlight for me.

[Dokuga Meno] The Okintama Boys (おきんたまぼーいず) fans brought the heat, so it was exciting! Though, our jokes flopped!

[Urara] My mental toughness was really tested ^^

The future of the “subculture delusionists.”

You announced that you will release your 1st live DVD of the 2nd anniversary oneman! Do you have any more details to share?

[Koshijiya Aoi] Please buy it and watch it as much as you can.

[NAOCHI] The details are still being finalized, so I can't say much yet! (Sorry.)

[Gaku] Speaking as a fan of DEN-NO HIMECA, it's honestly super cool! (Even though the content isn't finalized yet.)

[Dokuga Meno] I'm thrilled about my first-ever DVD release. I can't wait to see it myself!

[Urara] It's not finished yet, but I was in charge of camera placements, so I'm excited to see how it turns out!

Can you tell us anything about upcoming releases?

[Koshijiya Aoi] Please look forward to them!

[NAOCHI] Listen to Gekokujou BULLET DREAMER (下剋上バレットドリーマー) a lot—it's amazing!

[Gaku] Every song we release is something I can proudly recommend, so stay excited!

[Dokuga Meno] In year three, you should listen to DEN-NO HIMECA every day!

[Urara] They're going to be super cool! Honestly, I don't think there's a drummer better than me. ^^

At the beginning of the new year, you will be holding the Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka oneman tour TWOFACE~Kinjitou~ (TWOFACE~金字塔~). Could you share your goals for this tour?

[Koshijiya Aoi] Since it marks the start of 2025, we'll kick it off together with the best beginning for the future.

[NAOCHI] I want this to be the perfect start to year three!

[Gaku] In year three, we won't stop—we'll keep moving forward, so follow us!!!

[Dokuga Meno] You'll regret missing it! Give your 2025 to us!

[Urara] It's the first big event of year three, so we're going all out. I'm really strong! ^^

In 2025, you will embark on a 12-consecutive-month concept oneman series. Could you please tell us a little bit more about it?

[Koshijiya Aoi] I'd love for as many people as possible to come to all the shows.

[NAOCHI] Instead of doing simple instores, we thought, “why not bring exciting concepts and costumes to live performances?”

[Gaku] You'll understand when you see it live, so please come and experience it yourself!

[Dokuga Meno] Each month will be insanely fun.

[Urara] I think it's going to be weird ^^

What are your goals for the band for the coming year? What do you hope to achieve?

[Koshijiya Aoi] We're a band that's constantly challenging ourselves, so please look forward to it.

[NAOCHI] I want us all to become influencers among band members—kind of a strange goal, I know.

[Gaku] To be number one in everything.

[Dokuga Meno] To grow even bigger!

[Urara] I want to smash through limits and find a worthy rival for myself ^^

You once described yourselves as the “strongest rookies” (最強ルーキー). Do you still feel like rookies?

[Koshijiya Aoi] Personally, I don't feel like one anymore.

[NAOCHI] I think we're about to graduate from being rookies!

[Gaku] Whether we're rookies or not, we're still the strongest! That doesn't change.

[Dokuga Meno] I feel like we've outgrown it. With so many juniors around, it's our turn to show them my cool side.

[Urara] We'll keep moving forward while remembering our beginner's mindset!

Finally, please give a message to your readers.

[Koshijiya Aoi] Thank you for reading to the end! I hope DEN-NO HIMECA can always be a part of your life.

[NAOCHI] Thanks for reading! Look forward to the future! We've got tons of fun stuff lined up, so stick with us!

[Gaku] Thank you for reading all the way through! Year three will bring challenges for all of us, but let's overcome them together and make great memories. Let's live a happy life together! Sorry if I made any kanji mistakes!!!! Haha.

[Dokuga Meno] Thanks for reading! Please keep supporting DEN-NO HIMKEA in year three and beyond!

[Urara] Thanks for reading all the way! If you love HIMECA, you've got great taste! ^^

Thank you for this interview. We wish you the best of luck!

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Thank you to vkeijonas and inartistic for translation and coordination.

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