Arlequin Presents "Tsukanano Sekai 2026" Vocalist Dialogue vol.4: Akatsuki × Raimu "We Want to Stab Everyone Who Should Be Pierced Without Missing a Single Person"
This interview was originally published in Japanese on barks.jp. Translated by VK Chronicle.
Visual Kei Interview: Akatsuki (Arulukan) & Kuremu (Kizu)
On March 1st (Sunday), Arulukan will host the event <束の世界 -SONOSEKAI- 2026> at EX THEATER ROPPONGI in Tokyo, featuring MUCC, Kizu, DEZERT, and 甘い暴力. This marks the first time the event has been held in four years.
BARKS has been running a series of interviews between Akatsuki and the vocalists of each participating band. This final installment features Kuremu from Kizu. Most readers are already aware that these two share a deep connection, though many aspects of their relationship remain unknown. We hope you’ll enjoy the genuine exchange between these two artists who share common ground yet possess crucial differences.
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Q: This is the fourth and final installment of the interview series. I imagine your image of the March 1st event has become much clearer by now, hasn’t it?
Akatsuki: Yeah, that’s true. It’s hard to say exactly what, but I really only invited people who are important to me. And as I’ve had these conversations with everyone, I’ve been able to reconfirm why each of them matters to me. I tend to get too focused on what’s right in front of me, so I forget things easily. But going through this before the actual event day, I’ve been able to reconsider all that within myself, which has been really valuable. And I think that’s going to help me cherish that one day even more.
Q: So you’re experiencing firsthand how meaningful this interview series has been?
Akatsuki: Yeah. It was a reckless proposal at the last minute, but I’m glad I did it (laughs).
Q: Your words sound almost like a love confession—that you understand why someone is important to you. Kuremu, hearing that, what do you think?
Kuremu: Yeah, I thought the exact same thing. So just now I was like, “Wait, who’s actually performing at <束の世界> again?" and checked the lineup (laughs).
Akatsuki: (laughs)
Q: Are you aware that you’re being cherished?
Kuremu: I’m not sure (laughs). But honestly, I’ve always thought of Arulukan as important comrades. They were with us from the very beginning of Kizu, even before that during our previous band days. Akatsuki has constantly been nearby, so he’s naturally become someone really important to me too.
Q: You’re not necessarily the same generation, but it’s a relationship that needs no explanation.
Kuremu: Right. We were born in the same era, saw the same things, felt the same emotions. That kind of connection isn’t something you find often.
Akatsuki: From my side too, I’ve thought since the previous band days that Kuremu had great vocals. But like I said earlier about the “love confession” thing—I don’t usually say things like that. I don’t really try to convey how I feel about someone.
Kuremu: Yeah, I can’t even imagine you saying stuff like that.
Akatsuki: Right? But we’ve known each other since the previous band, so our history is long. Actually, earlier I was scrolling through our LINE history thinking, “What kind of exchanges have we had with Kuremu?”
Kuremu: Oh, it still exists?
Akatsuki: All of it’s there (laughs). Looking back, I’ve actually consulted with Kuremu pretty frequently about all sorts of things—computer stuff, singing, everything.
Kuremu: You ask me about new things a lot, don’t you?
Akatsuki: That’s true. But I noticed you don’t consult me that often.
Kuremu: I don’t really consult people about things, you know.
Akatsuki: There are some small instances though. Like about the setlist for
Kuremu: When someone reaches out, there’s always some kind of purpose or reason. That’s exactly why they want an answer, and that’s precisely why the answer becomes simple and honest.
Akatsuki: I see. That actually makes sense.
Kuremu: I think whenever either of us reaches out, it’s usually because one of us is having trouble with something or needs help. You don’t really contact each other when there’s nothing on your mind, right?
Akatsuki: You’re right. And I think that’s what makes our relationship special—it’s kind of inevitable that we became important to each other.
Q: I see. So your relationship isn’t just “we get along and hang out a lot,” but rather something based on trust. That’s quite clear.
Kuremu: When you explain it in words like that it sounds really formal, but it’s not like that at all (laughs). I changed my phone, so I don’t have much LINE history left. The oldest one is from 2024, and even then it was just a random line like “Let’s do 『反撃』!” (laughs). Then it went “What should we sing?” “Man, I’m struggling,” that kind of thing.
Akatsuki: Yeah, that happened too. And like I said, I don’t usually express my feelings, but…
Kuremu: It’s kind of creepy when you do (laughs).
Akatsuki: But when we did the <九命> tour together, Kuremu said he thinks of Arulukan as family. At the time, I didn't really get it—the words didn't quite land for me. But then later when we did a two-man with MUCC, Tatsurou said something similar, and that's when it kind of clicked for me in this soft, fuzzy way. So I texted Kuremu about it... though I'm pretty sure that message isn't on your new phone (laughs).
Kuremu: Yeah, there was something like that. But honestly, I really do think of you guys as family in many ways. Family is something you don’t choose, and the same goes for rivals—you don’t choose those either.
Akatsuki: That’s true.
Kuremu: If we hadn’t been born in the same era, seen the same things, and felt the same sense of wonder, we probably wouldn’t be in the same place right now. So in that sense, you’re more like family than actual family in some ways.
Q: So being in the same time and place together is coincidental in appearance but actually inevitable?
Kuremu: Yes. And what’s important is that we’re both doing music in a genre that’s not trendy right now. That’s when it feels like fate, you know?
Akatsuki: It really isn’t trendy (laughs). At this point, only people who genuinely love it are doing it.
Kuremu: Exactly. That type of person—the one who’s like “I do a Visual Kei band, but honestly I’m not really into Visual Kei”—they’ve basically disappeared. There used to be a lot of them. Maybe they just thought that stance was cool. But they’re all gone now. Both seniors and juniors in the scene nowadays—they all genuinely love Visual Kei. There aren’t people doing it just for the business side of it.
Q: So it’s been filtered down over time, leaving only those who are truly passionate?
Kuremu: Yeah. Especially going through things like the pandemic…
Akatsuki: Right. There’s been a certain amount of culling. For example, hip-hop is huge right now, and those aspiring artists are probably looking in that direction. But among people who’ve genuinely been doing hip-hop, some are probably frustrated by the “noise” that’s entered their world. But that’s true everywhere, isn’t it? Even among Visual Kei seniors, some probably chose it just because “makeup brings in audiences.” I’m not saying that’s bad or anything. Everyone dreams of success in their band, wants to make money—those desires are natural. That’s why people pursue it.
Q: So if there’s a “formula for success,” it makes sense people would follow it?
Akatsuki: Yeah, in a way you can’t help but feel that way.
Q: But you two are doing this because you genuinely love it.
Kuremu: That’s what it means to be doing this in this era (laughs). It’s definitely not easy. I think doing a band in this day and age is a path of hardship.
Akatsuki: (laughs)
Q: Could it be that part of why you feel that way is because album production is currently giving you a hard time?
Kuremu: That’s part of it (laughs). But more than that, the biggest thing is keeping a stage presence in this era. And doing it in a genre that isn’t even trendy—that’s incredibly difficult.
Q: I understand this genre isn’t trending right now. But conversely, it’s hard to tell what is trending.
Akatsuki: Yeah, entertainment consumption has become really diversified.
Kuremu: There’s less clarity about what’s actually trending. With social media and everything, we’re overwhelmed with information constantly. And everything we see comes with numbers attached to it. Since social media became widespread, it’s become harder to see what’s actually trending. I’d argue that what’s advertised through old media—what money is actually being spent on—that’s what’s genuinely trending. But now advertising budgets are going all over the place, some of it invisible, so you can’t see the trends anymore.
Q: This is starting to sound like a marketing meeting (laughs). In this era, it’s hard to see where the mainstream actually is. Meanwhile, things positioned as counter-movements are everywhere.
Kuremu: I think it’s become harder to identify who our actual rival is. There’s so much out there, and when people ask “What’s actually selling?” in the old days it was just CD sales numbers, but now there are downloads, streaming numbers—all these figures in places you can’t see. So when someone says something’s trending somewhere you don’t know about, you’re like “Is that even actually trending?”
Akatsuki: It’s definitely become harder to see. But in a way, it’s easier when there’s a clear enemy… I’m not sure. According to Kuremu, I’m the type who “only has one camera” (laughs).
Kuremu: (laughs) Well, I think it’s up to two or three now. Even listening to you talk, you’re a genius at making confusing things even more confusing (laughs). Seriously, I lose track of what you’re saying.
Akatsuki: Basically, my subjectivity is too strong—I can only speak my own language. Even when I’m trying to have a conversation, I just talk about my own stuff. That relates to this too, but when I look at trends, I’m not really swayed by them. I might think “That’s cool” or “That’s interesting,” but I only accept things in a way that’s convenient for me. Arulukan started not long after I became known through social media, so there wasn’t much anger or rebellion toward the mainstream in my initial impulses. That came later, and by then things were already confusing. So I haven’t been too…
Q: …thrown off by it?
Akatsuki: Right. Like, I started doing TikTok about a year ago, but not to follow trends—I just naturally thought “Let me try that.” I’ve lived at a pretty convenient distance from these things.
Q: Listening to you speak, I notice you’re good at phrasing things without creating enemies.
Akatsuki: Oh, really (laughs)? But you might be right—I don’t think I have many specific enemies. I feel discomfort or unease about certain atmospheres, but there aren’t particular people I feel strongly against. And since I haven’t yet faced situations where close friends or people around me are suffering from these things, I don’t have much social anger either. I think with Kuremu, there might have been times in his life where he saw specific targets for that kind of feeling, but in my case, I can probably answer honestly without creating enemies. Who knows what’ll happen down the line though (laughs).
Kuremu: Hearing your answer just now made me think “Akatsuki’s changed” (laughs). You were just saying you can’t have conversations and can only talk about yourself, right? But from my perspective, it always felt like you were talking to someone other than me. Maybe you were talking to something inside yourself? And since the conversation still worked, I’d be sitting there asking questions without understanding anything, going “Huh?” So I was surprised by this answer. I didn’t think you could give such a well-structured response (laughs). Honestly, you seem like you’re living more easily now, and I’m kind of jealous (laughs).
Q: That sounds like both a compliment and not a compliment (laughs).
Kuremu: No, I’m definitely complimenting you.
Akatsuki: That’s funny (laughs).
Kuremu: Compared to before, you seem to be living much more easily now. You used to seem way more troubled.
Akatsuki: I probably was like that.
Kuremu: Akatsuki writes setlists on a blackboard, and he does it with this face like he’s about to die tomorrow, you know? When he’s writing those, if you try to talk to him, all his consciousness is on that setlist, and you can tell his responses don’t have any heart in them.
Akatsuki: (laughs)
Kuremu: That setlist is charged with some serious spiritual power (laughs). I don’t know if you still write them like that now, but that sight is incredible. Everyone should see you do that (laughs).
Q: When it happens, could we get some secret footage (laughs)?
Kuremu: It seriously looks like he’s writing a suicide note. That’s the vibe.
Q: Is Akatsuki aware of this?
Akatsuki: About half aware (laughs).
Kuremu: He’s rewriting the same characters over and over with this scary face (laughs). But it doesn’t seem to be about writing neatly or anything.
Akatsuki: Yeah. It’s more like something doesn’t feel right.
Kuremu: Having watched Akatsuki do that all this time, I think he seems easier to live with now, and honestly, I’m envious (laughs).
Q: Akatsuki, have you noticed any change in how you think about things or perceive things over the past few years? Was there some trigger for this shift?
Akatsuki: Hmm… I think becoming a four-member band made me feel like “I need to get serious.” There was a time when I couldn’t really draw a line between myself and others. I didn’t understand where my responsibility ended and where I could entrust things to someone else. Also, when many similar words line up, other people might see “the word second from the right is the clearest and most understandable,” but to me, they all look the same temperature, the same color. That lasted a long time. But when the band became four members and it was like “We need to work harder from here on,” I started making an effort to draw those lines too. Through trying things, failing, and trying again, I naturally started being able to draw those distinctions. So when I try to convey something to someone else, I can choose words that are compatible, and communication has become smoother than before. I think there are fewer moments where I feel that particular difficulty now.
Q: I’d imagine that alongside the sense of “We need to work hard,” you also realized you didn’t have to carry everything yourself—that you could share the burden with others. Is that accurate?
Akatsuki: Hmm… I’m sure I’m getting help from people around me. But I probably have more success experiences where I’ve put myself out there, genuinely clashed with something, and as a result something changed. So I think it’s better for me to raise my own capacity limits rather than rely on people. Though I guess in the end, what I’m doing is handling everything I can handle, and only relying on people for what I can’t do. Maybe that’s the same thing.
Q: That said, Akatsuki had to become clearer about conveying your vision to the other members and people around you. That naturally led to more careful word choice, smoother communication.
Akatsuki: I guess I am speaking more smoothly. My Japanese has gotten a little better (laughs).
Kuremu: Just a little bit (laughs).
Akatsuki: Japanese is difficult (laughs).
Q: Beyond language, I sense the difficulty of managing a band. Kuremu, do you feel that difficulty?
Kuremu: No, I only feel difficulty (laughs). In our case, we know each member well, and we can see all the dynamics between us.