As a very very late offering, here is the transcript of a radio interview held last month with Chris Peppler on the popular "TOKIO HOT 100" program - it made me keel over with laughter. You'll see. If you remember, Chris Peppler was featured on the ORCHESTRA + PLUS album for the song "Rakuen Baby" as the reader. He as well does side work as the voiceover for movie trailers.

Since I'm afraid my translation errors may jade or just fuck up the information: here's some small points raised in the interview:

• Chris thinks Pes has gotten quite "gentlemanly" and cool. An example is the tie he wore to the interview. Ryo-Z thinks it's manly too heh
• For New Year, they spent it with Hotei at his house (this was raised on Music Station as well). They got treated to shabu shabu. Pes says the house was like a rock star's while Ryo-Z says it was the house of success.
• Though they were Boowy fans (who wasn't?), when they were big Pes & Ryo-Z were still pretty much primary school kids and they were mainly just inspirations.
• Ilmari has attended one Boowy concert "LAST GIGS". Fumiya on the other hand used to be a huge Hotei freak. (they mention it in several interviews. Ryo-Z in one remarks that they sent a photo of Hotei playing the guitar to Fumiya).
  
• Since the song "Hot Chocolate" was slowly developed over time - something they say because of their attitude of "My Pace" - the timing of it being a Valentine's Day single was purely coincidental.
  
• People say it's very "Pes" - they talk a bit about making the song etc. The absence of Fumiya meant that Pes learnt a lot. As well Pes remarks that he's usually lazy when Fumiya's around and dumps everything on him. Pes wrote some tracks for the Masterpiece album so Ryo-Z has a lot of faith in him.
• New Years resolutions: Ryo-Z wants to have more work with Rip Slyme since the fact that Teriyaki Boyz ended sort of depressed him. Ilmari has an easy answer "Sleep lots, eat lots, work lots" and Su as well goes "No change". Pes has no answer so they beat around the bush - including Pes saying that he wants to join Teriyaki Boyz - they settle on enjoying turning 30 (he's 29 and will be 30 at the end of December). They as well remark on the maturity of Pes.
• When was the last time you cried? Ryo-Z takes the spotlight on this one. He says he always drinks alcohol at night and watches a movie and eventually cries. He reccomends the Korean film "Last Present". He says he even cried aloud at the actor and his sick girlfriend. They all agree that Korean movies are really good at making you cry.
• What do you really want to do now? Pes says he wants to go surfing with the shortboard. They talk a bit about surfing and Pes' hobbies with snowboarding and whatnot. They end up talking about Chris Peppler's involvement with the Rakuen Baby song on Orchestra + Plus album where Ryo-Z was really like a director.
• People you like - your recent obsessions? Last time they said it was Kumada Youko.
  Ryo-Z: (laugh) Now, it's Teppei
  Chris: MTV's?
  Ryo-Z: Nah WaT's
  Chris: WaT's? Ah.............. OK OK.
  Ryo-Z: It just seems I've probably become obsessed with Teppei.
  Chris: What sort of things?
  Ryo-Z: On Music Station - that crying feeling? It's like you just can't sing those words, it's really fresh.
  Pes comments that it's quite rare to see this sort of "vigor".

That pretty much ends the interview. Though I would like to share my thoughts on it. Especially the big question mark that's placed above Ryo-Z at the moment. I couldn't stop laughing at the Teppei reference that he as well mentions in a different interview (Pati-Pati magazine). And as well his mention of crying over movies. What sort of 30-something rapper says this sort of stuff? I guess this is what makes me love them - that unending frankness.