Közi is one of the co-founders of Malice Mizer, (the other being Mana). He usually wears red.

Some Közi facts...

Like Gackt, Közi's parents forced him to learn the piano for 6 whole years in primary school. They also forced him to learn other things, like "a Japanese abacus." He hated it "'cause children usually want to play around, you know." But he supposes it was because he liked music that he managed to keep studying, although he admits he wasn't such a good learner. He only finished the Beyer Score book, (which is really basic). He changed instructors at least 3 times, (since one of them died...).

When he was a child, Közi was so showy that he made himself take the main roles in school festivals. But he had no leadership sense at all. "I don't like a sense of mission," he says. He was good in sports except "apparatus gymnastics." He loved painting and hoped to become a cartoon artist. At first, he was attracted to sci-fi cartoons, and gradually to impressionistic paintings and films, like Salvatore Dalí and Beardsley. "I like the kind of art which inspires my imagination," he says.

He liked foreign music at an early age. His older brother, (who is ten years his senior), had a lot of foreign LPs. Közi listened to them even in primary school. In junior high, he decided he wanted to play music in a band. He was struck by the sound of his friend's electric-guitar-playing which was highly distorted with over-drive. At that time, (his friend) played a piece of WRATH(?). Közi liked the genre of LA metal, especially showy ones.

Since his friend played a guitar, Közi bought a bass and started to practice. They never played original songs, so it was after Közi came to Tokyo that he started playing guitar in an official sense. When he was 16, he dropped out of high school, (after finishing the first semester), and went to Tokyo. "I was determined I had to go to Tokyo if I really wanted to be a musician," he says. "My parents laughed at me, saying, 'No kidding!', though. They didn't understand me, of course, but I wouldn't obey them." His father is a teacher in primary school. He was really conservative, but now understands Közi.

When Közi came to Tokyo, it was his first time. He didn't have any friends or acquaintances in the city though. He came with an older friend whom he met in a live-house in his hometown, and they drove to Tokyo from there. For 3 months, they slept in the car because they had no money. They earned money by physical labor, such as jobs in construction site. At the same time, they kept applying for joining a band as a helping-member. Közi was not really interested in becoming a musician during that period. Since he came from the countryside, he was simply excited to come to Tokyo. "I just tried to make myself suit Tokyo," he says. He got several sleazy jobs which were really "Tokyo-like." He got some bartender jobs too. "I believe I learned a lot there," he says. "I even met several people who brought me back to music."

Although he doesn't remember when exactly, he admits to eventually joining a band (as a guitar player) which played original pieces, (not MALICE MIZER). At that time, he listened to all kinds of music, such as Punk, Rock 'n Roll, and Noise. He was looking for his style. He believes it's his experience with Mana, who had his own style by then, that inspired Közi to eventually get his current style, (which has a "painting-like visual element"). When he worked in his part-time job with Mana, Közi visited his place and was suprised at the tons of horror videotapes that were housed in Mana's room. "I instinctively sensed that he must be interesting," Közi says. "Now (Mana) is not, but he was rather exclusive at that time, and he wouldn't join conversations he wasn't interested in. But he also came to Tokyo in order to become a musician."

Their encounter was like destiny. Közi was asked to be a supporting member in a band. Since they also needed a bass player, Közi recommended Mana. Although both of them were temporary members, they provided the band with pieces. The band broke up in half a year, but some of the pieces which they played in the band were the early ones played in MALICE MIZER, and Közi thinks they made the prototype of MALICE MIZER during that time. Mana already produced the pieces which had a taste of Middle Age European, classical music. Finally, they came to organize MALICE MIZER. First, they wanted to make a solid concept. They wanted to make the band very original. "In terms of guitar, Mana proposed that our guitar sounds should be like 2 harpsichords in Bach," Közi says. "I was impressed by that. I changed my style in which I employed a lot of choking, which was common. And we also talked about 'What is human?' We have been seeking something which lurks deep inside the human mind."

Közi admits that although he wasn't really into classical music, his piano lessons helped his musical sense a lot. "I am a rather adaptable person," he says. "I think I have a strong curiosity, too." He can't define what kind of artist he is exactly. "I guess it would be boring if I do know precisely," he says. "I am eager to keep being stimulated by various things. I think people keep changing..." In reference to being a stage player or composer, he says he wants to produce songs as well as stages which are not simply good, but appeals something to the listeners.

Recently, his sound has changed, (like in "Gekka no Yaso Kyoku"). He admits that it's because he quit composing with a guitar since he bought a keyboard. He says he used to like New-Roma (?), Electrical Pop, and early techno music in the 80's, so he now produces songs which have that kind of style. But he uses a really cheap sequencer. He admits he's so poor at machines that he made Kami hook up his stereo component. But currently, he is getting more interested in machinery. He finally bought a Powerbook. He says he is the first one in MALICE MIZER who has a PC. Right now he's just practicing, but he's hoping to compose with it in the future. He also bought a graphics software, so he can draw with it too. "I'm becoming a rather unsociable, gloomy person," he says.

In terms of happiness, Közi says he's unsure if he's ever really felt true happiness. This doesn't mean that he's unhappy, however. He thinks people should be optimistic. If man thinks of doing something, he ought to go out there and do it. If he fails to achieve his goal, it's simply because he didn't do anything. This is why he should be positive.

On his fave song: "Recently I sang the song 'Kaeru-no Pyonta, Sugoina' (The frog whose name is Pyonta is great!) with Kami. And the song which impressed me a lot is the piece 'Mibo-jin no Yuwaku' (Temptation of the Widow) which was composed by Mana. That was the song which caused us to get together into MALICE MIZER. When I think about this song, I can't help recalling our early period."