Song about "Freedom", or "Jiyu"

Hello this is Tak from Imari Tones.

Today, I want to talk a little bit about "Freedom".

Just take a look at this picture.

He is Scott Lack, a good friend of ours, from The Lacks.

Last year, we toured in Japan together on The Extreme Tour Japan.

That's when he got this new tattoo on his left arm.

It says "自由" (Jiyuu). It means "freedom" in Japanese.

He also has a tattoo saying "FREEDOM" on his right arm.

Now he has 2 tattoos that mean "freedom" both in Japanese & English.

Inspired by this, I wrote this one particular song.

Though the meaning of "Jiyu"(自由) is slightly different from the English word "freedom", I wanted to sing about freedom in my own way. Maybe somewhat in Japanese way.

That was, partly because of the current social/political situation in Japan.

Because I felt like freedom (自由) in Japanese society was fading.

Also, the current situation of the world made me want to sing about freedom.

So many wars, crisis, and disasters all around the world.

As a musician, I don't want to talk about the politics.

Because for a musician, music is all that matters. All the important things are in the music.

Also, as a Christian, I don't really talk about politics.

Because for me, spiritual things are more important than each political issue.

So I don't want to talk about right or left.

It doesn't matter, as long as you are spiritually awake and got love for Jesus Christ.

So, here is the lyric of the song called "Jee-You".

Jee-You, of course, means "自由"(freedom).

Also it represents the relationship between Jesus & You.

It's a song about a battle. Spiritual battle.

Basically I wrote this song as an "anti-war" song, but you can also read it as a "stand up bravely and fight" song. That's, well, the beautiful part of music and art, I guess. It can be construed the way you like. (Very convenient)

In either way, this is a song about "fighting for freedom".

It's a song about "rebel against power".

It's a song about "dying for what you believe in".

"We are not afraid of dying. But what we die for, who we die for, we decide by ourselves. Not you." That's what this song is saying.

So, here it is.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Jee You" (English version)

-written by Tak Nakamine

I don't want no war

Unless it's my war

We didn't realize the war had already begun

Standing in the battlefield

Who we fight for

How many people should we kill to end this nightmare

We refuse to obey

Atrocious acts

We’d rather die as human

than to follow the beast

Because we got

Jee-You (Freedom)

That's what I believe in

Jee-You (Freedom)

I say All I want is Jee-You

The system is broken

So is society

You can't divide us anymore with these shallow lines

The last revolution

in human history

Each of us must decide who we die for

We choose to obey

The only truth

We believe in future

and we're not afraid

Because we got

Jee-You (Freedom)

That's what I believe in

Jee-You (Freedom)

I give All my life To-You

Now people

Now all my friends

I wanna hear you say

I wanna hear you shout

Do you believe in future

Do you believe in God

Do you think you can die for Love

We can be brave

Because it's Revolution

Yes we can do it

With Him we can do it

Each of us give our life and we can change the world

Each of us give our life and we can change the world

Because we got

Jee-You (Freedom)

That's what I believe in

Jee-You (Freedom)

I say All I want is You

- - - - - - - - - -

That's all.

All rights reserved :)

Showing the song lyrics for a new song before playing it in public, this is the first time we do this kind of thing.

But I could not help.

We are already rehearsing this song in studio.

This coming November, we are going to tour Japan again with The Lacks.

We are going to play this new song and can't wait to shout "Freedom"&"Jee-You" with everyone.

Thanks,

God bless,

Tak Nakamine / Imari Tones

METAL JAPAN compilation CD!!

Imari Tones is honored to announce that we were included in "Heavy Chains Vol.2", Japanese heavy metal compilation CD by METAL JAPAN, Japanese heavy metal webzine!

Bunch of cool metal bands from all over Japan are on this CD. We have 2 of our songs included, which are "Faith Rider" and "Iron Hammer".
Also, Tone's side project "Atsuki Ryo with Jesus Mode" has 1 song included on this CD.

Being a part of compilation CDs is an important step for Japanese rock bands. So we are happy to be on this CD among other great bands.

METAL JAPAN "Heavy Chains Vol.2" is available on our BandCamp page.
$20 may seem like a bit pricy to those living outside of Japan (pretty normal for Japanese CDs), but there is no shipping fee. So take advantage of this opportunity and check out this CD and cool Japanese metal bands!
(For some price contract reasons, we take $1 shipping fee for shipping INSIDE Japan.)

Buy "Heavy Chains Vol.2" at BandCamp
https://imaritones.bandcamp.com/album/metal-japan-heavy-chains-vol-2

Here is the track list
01 - THE END OF SADNESS / ALEISTER 
02 - DOLL PLANT / DEATH☆LAND 
03 - Cosmic Red / HEAT ISLAND 
04 - Rebellion / Amalgam 
05 - I feel myself / EASTERN SANDS 
06 - You endure / EASTERN SANDS 
07 - Faith Rider / Imari Tones 
08 - Iron Hammer / Imari Tones 
09 - Soldiers Into Hell / Atsuki Ryo with Jesus Mode 
10 - 決壊前夜New version / Alchemy Crystal 
11 - AufHeben / AufHeben 
12 - Riot for the Reunion feat.吉村進也(BLAZE UP&WRECKING CREW) / Re-code the Name

METAL JAPAN webzine
http://heavy-metal.jp/

Thank you very much.
God bless and Rock on!

Tak "Tone" Nakamine / Imari Tones

戦争はすでに始まっていた: Short version

[short ver.]

[Long versionはウェブサイトの"Toneの日記"の中にあります]

気が付けば、もう戦争は始まっていた。

気が付けば、革命はもう始まっていた。

僕らは革命のまっただなかにいる。

いくら世の中が、世界情勢が複雑に見えても、

本当に大事なことは、ひとつだけです。

戦争とは、国家権力の命令で、人が人を殺すこと。

戦争とは、国家、組織、政府、宗教、

それらの命令で、人が人に危害を加えること。

国家権力が、君に、人を殺せと命令するとき、

君はそれにYesというか、Noというか。

国家が、国家の名で人を殺すことに対して、

君は、Yesというのか、Noというのか。

それだけです。

そして、僕が思い描く革命というのも、

そういうものなのです。

これは、新しいことでも

画期的なことでもなく、

たぶん、みんな同じことを

考えているはず。

国家権力が、人を殺せと命令するとき、

それに誰も従わないのであれば、

戦争は起きない。

そして、それは、信じるということです。

そして、それは、覚悟を選び取ること。

相手を殺すくらいだったら、

抵抗せずに自分が死ぬことを選ぶ。

もし、戦場で、ふたつの軍の、兵士が、戦車が、戦闘機が、

対峙したとき。

どちらの軍の兵士も、引き金を引かなかったとしたら。

どちらの軍の兵士も、引き金を引くことを拒否したとしたら。

そこに戦争は起きない。

これこそが本当の勝利です。

国家や、権力や、不完全なシステムに対する、

個人と、人間性の勝利です。

信じることの反対は、

疑うこと。

そして、疑うことは、

怯えること。

人を見たら泥棒と思えという世界。

そうした世界に生きる人は臆病です。

人の歴史は、血で血を洗う、

争いと、裏切りと、殺し合いの歴史。

弱肉強食の世界。

でも、俺は、

そんな世界には生きていたくない。

そして、

人類は、もうそんな幼稚な段階を

卒業しなければいけない段階にある。

もし、あなたが、

人類は、原始時代や、戦国時代と同様に、

今でも、弱肉強食の世界に生きている、

そして、これからもそうだ、

そう思うのであれば、

それは自由です。

戦国時代と同じように

武装して暮らしてください。

でも、おれはごめんです。

もう、そんな時代はおわりにしたい

戦国時代ではない

２１世紀の、本当のたたかい。

たたかいは、はじまったんです。

戦争に反対するまでもない。

平和を求めるまでもない。

ミサイルが飛んでくるのを待つまでもない。

もう戦争は始まっているんです。

今、人類がたたかうべきは、

国対国の戦争ではない。

俺たちがたたかうべきは、

暴走した権力

機能しないシステム

不完全なすべての政府

まもるべきは

愛、人間性、

人類の可能性

そして未来

たたかうのは

おれ、きみ、

ひとりひとり

そして、みんな

これは、昔の市民革命とは違う。

政府を倒したところで、

何も変えられない。

僕らは既に民主主義の国に生きているのだから。

議会制民主主義にかわる

次のより高度な人類の政治のかたち

人々の集合意識をより反映し

1%ではなく99%の一般の市民の意思をくみとれる

民主主義の次の形

それは、たぶん、制度ですらない

システムですらない

ルールや法律でもないでしょう

この革命は、

一人一人が、その内心において

行うべきものなのです。

人を疑うよりも

信じる方がいい

皆が、そう思うことがあたりまえに

なれば

世界は変わる

その先にこそ、

人類の未来の可能性はあります

さもなくば

ここまででしょう

人類も、なにもかもすべて

きわどい戦いです

手遅れかもしれない

やはり届かないかもしれない

現実は残酷かもしれない

でも、だめならだめでいい

やるだけやって死にたい

いのちがけですよ

人生すべてかけないといけない

無抵抗で死を選ぶっていうんだから

シロウトにはおすすめしません

また、人をまきぞえにするのもつらい

だから臆病なやつは

どうぞ遠慮なく

人類の未来を疑って武装してくれ

でも、おれは、

２１世紀の人類だったら

そして、なにより、日本人であれば

できると思うんだ

平和を愛し、高い知性を持ち、

高潔な精神を持つ、日本人であれば

良心に反するよりは、死を選ぶというような

すさまじいまでの生き方が

まさにサムライと神風の子孫たる覚悟が

アメリカさんは世界の警察をずっとやってきた

だから彼らはマッチョで好戦的だ

それはいい

それが彼らの役割なのだから

でも日本には日本で別の役割があるんだよ

人類の未来のため

この困難な平和の戦いの

先頭を切るという役割が。

それにね、

おれは、

自ら人類のために

十字架を背負って死を選んだ

イエス・キリストって人を

尊敬してるんだよ。

そして、

信じてるんだ。

イエス・キリストは、

死さえも克服した。

だからさ。

怖くないんだ。

死ぬことすらね。

恐れないんだ。

最後に一句。

人を殺すくらいだったら

俺は自分が死ぬ方がましだぜ。

そして、そういう人間が、たくさんいたら。

そして、そういう人間が、無抵抗をつらぬき、みんな死んでしまったら。

あとに残るのは、人を信じることのできない、臆病な人間だけ。

その残った連中で、好きなように戦争でもなんでもしてくれよ。

それで万事、うまくいくじゃないか。

Tak Nakamine / Imari Tones

Making More Music

Hello, this is Tak from Imari Tones, Japanese Christian rock band.

Again, it's been a while since we updated the blog last time.

Since last year we have been working on "The Extreme Tour Japan" thing and we have focused on working in Japan. (Tak's Facebook posts recently are mostly in Japanese.)  On the other hand, we are tying our best to share our music and spread the word on the internet. Because we want to reach out for the world audience.

We have been working on recording work, making an album called "Revive The Nation", since February this year.

In February we recorded the drum tracks.

In March, we sorted the drum tracks out and prepared for the bass recording.

In April we recorded the bass tracks.

In May we recorded the guitar tracks and lead vocals.

Finally this month June we recorded the background vocals and everything's done!

Now we have a rough mix for our new album "Revive The Nation"! (The title of the album is subject to change without notice...)

Musically speaking, it's our most diverse, most intense, most progressive album ever, yet with a positive spiritual message.

This is an very important album for us, and now we are officially looking for a record label.

If you know a good record company or management office, we appreciate your advice.

Funny thing is, we have already started rehearsing new songs for our next album. Yes, just after finishing a new album, we already have started working on the next one. 

You may think we are overworking, but "No Tour" means "More Creation" for us. (Most likely we will be touring in Japan around November, with The Extreme Tour Japan, but again it's going to be "Japan only" year for us.)

When not touring, we put all of our passion and energy on writing, rehearsing and recording. Because, as a group of musicians, we don't want to miss a moment in our life. We're here to play music. Even more music!

Also Tak is playing some acoustic gigs recently, which opens other musical doors for him.

Being in an independent band is not always easy, we are just not able to be on tour all the time, but believe me, because musically it's going be the best, most awesome time for us. With this new album "Revive The Nation" and the next one (called "Jesus Wind" at this point), we are going to rock the world.

Meanwhile, these are some of the videos we posted on YouTube earlier this year.

Check them out, if you haven't yet!

"Heroes" music video

"Ai No Iro" (acoustic) music video

"Follow The Light" music video

"The Extreme Tour Japan" promotional video

(It shows you what the Japan missionary tour looks like.)

and of course, don't forget our most awesome "Faith Rider" music video!

Thank you very much!

We will practice hard, rehearse new songs and will become even more awesome this year.

Keep in touch and see you in the rocking future!

God bless,

Tak / Imari Tones

Celebrating rocking 10 years

Our band Imari Tones actually has a long history.

The beginning of the band, it depends on how you count.
But if you think of the actual band and start gigging, our start was 2004.
And, if I remember correctly, it was the end of March 2004, we played our first gig with this initial lineup (Tone, Haratti, Minetti).

This is our little celebration for rocking for 10 years, and here is a song we played on that day.




忘れていたわけではないが、眠れずにぼーっとしていたら思い出した。うちらのバンド、Imari Tonesは、こう見えても長い歴史がある。いつからやっているのか、いつが始まりだったのか、それはどこをスタートを考えるかによって変わってくる。けれども、バンドの形ができあがり、ライヴをやるようになったところを考えると、それは2004年のことだった。記憶が確かなら、「Tone、みねっち、はらっち」という最初のラインナップ（それ以前にもバンドの形は試行錯誤していたけれど）で、最初のギグをやったのは、2004年の3月の終わりのことだった。これは、10年間バンドが続いてきたことの、僕らのちいさなお祝い(Celebration)であり、そしてこれはその日、演奏した曲のひとつだ。(そしてこれは、ジョークではないですw)

Finally "Faith Rider" music video!

Hello this is Tak from Imari Tones.

As you may already know, we released the official music video for "Faith Rider".
Faith Rider is our most popular song so far, especially when playing live.
We always wanted to make a video for this song, and it finally happened!

"Faith Rider" is a song about motorbike, motorcycle.
We had a help from "Lord's Angels Kanagawa". They are a Christian motorcycle missionary based in Japan. They made it possible and made our dream come true.

With their help and their awesome motorcycle riding, this is by far the best music video he have made!

The video starts with the introduction featuring Jesus Christ on the gasoline tank.
Watch it here and it will be some awesome 5 minutes!

This is some kick-ass rocking music video, but at the same time this is our statement saying "We Rock for JESUS here in Japan"!

We are just an independent band in Japan.
So we appreciate if you share this on internet and spread the word.
Let's make this video a hit!

Thank you and God bless you all,
Tak / Imari Tones

Yokohama Dreaming music video

This is a music video of the song "Yokohama Dreaming".

This song is included in the album "Japan Metal Jesus", by Imari Tones.

We are the first ones to admit, this song was influenced by Van Halen. (laugh)

Tak always says his all time favorite band is Van Halen.

But there was a reason he wrote this song in this way.

We wanted to write a song about our local city Yokohama.

Because our good friend and pastor, Yao Amoabeng, has a song called "Yokohama" and it sounds very good.

So we decided to write a song dedicated to Yokohama, too.

And when we thought about that, we decided to make ths song sounds like Van Halen. More specifically, "Panama" by Van Halen.

Because "Yokohama" and "Panama" sound (a bit) similar.

Of course, we added our own essence and twist to it, but we're pretty sure this song sounds like "Panama". It's like "homage" in other words.

Since we recorded this song, we had been thinking about making a video to it.

We like making videos.

I mean, we are not a famous band signed to a label.

We don't have any big production.

But still, there are things we can express through music videos.

That's why we often make this kind of cheap independent selfmade music videos.

We had a few ideas for "Yokohama Dreaming" video, but we didn't have a chance to make it happen.

However, when The Extreme Tour Japan happened in October 2013, we realized that was the best timing to make this video.

During the tour Tak spent one day with The Burn Ins (from British Columbia, Canada), and we also did some video shooting when we played Yokohama Park, just by the Yokohama stadium. 

MinatoMirai area, which is the best part of Yokohama, is featured in the video. Also, with the guys from The Burn Ins, The Lacks, and C.J. Lassiter (we toured with them together in Japan), it's like an international PR movie for Yokohama city.

And again, we tried to make it look like Van Halen song "Panama".

Some people may not agree, but we tried to make this video look like Van Halen's "Panama" video.

I'm not sure, because this is just a low budget independent video, while Van Halen video was a big production in 1980's.

But I mean, we tried to make it as "fun" as Van Halen's.

Of course, Tak loves Van Halen's Panama video, too.

We used skateboarding as the important element in this video.

We tried to make it a "skateboarding in Yokohama" video.

Aaron from The Burn Ins was a skater and he helped us so much.

Tak's skating in this video is not really good. Probably because he's still a beginner and he didn't have time to practice before/during the tour.

But there is something only the beginner can express.

Because once you become good, you will lose the beginner feeling.

In that sense, the goal is achieved.

Though Tak's skating is not really good in this video, he still managed to make a kickflip with his guitar in his hands.

Also Aaron from The Burn Ins made a heelflip, even in the very limited time.

One of the reasons I'm happy with this "Yokohama Dreaming" video is, because I feel like I made a good homage to Van Halen "Panama" video.

Another reason is, because we feel we managed to put fresh "teenager spirit" in it.

Something like dream and hope.

Every person is born to shine, I believe.

The way he/she shines,

the place he/she shine,

it depends on that person.

Some people fly in a private jet,

some people drive Porsche,

some people drive Mercedes.

But for Tak,

he plays guitar,

playing music with friends from all over the world,

and pushing his skateboard.

That's the way he can shine.

This video has it all.

That is the message of this video.

We hope this video will make you smile.

Tak / Imari Tones