The title of The FLARE's second single, "Uetiko," is a Native American word meaning cannibalism. It touches on war, hatred, and the desires that surround it. I talked with these two about this work that shines a light into the darkness that engulfs this world and also includes an important prayer.

- Back when only the title, Uetiko, had been announced I thought about what kind of song it would be but I never thought it would be such an aggressive song!

Yuna: But we didn't want to put out something aggressive. We just had a strong message that we had to communicate and this is what our means of expression became.

- The lyrics send out a powerful warning to the power that is leading the world towards war but do you have an even stronger sense of danger with regards to the environment of the world?

Sugizo: I always have a sense of danger. I want to change negativity into positivity and I want to consider light more important than warnings and consider increasing love more important than increasing evil. I think everyone feels the same. But even if I continue singing with love as my sole focus, there will be times when the things I want to say won't stick, right? In order to continue moving towards the light, I felt that there was a need to stare at the problem we have to confront in the face and that became the message of "Uetiko."

- Like pinching yourself to feel that you're alive?

Sugizo: Yes, like that. I wanted to fling out the problems and questions that cannot be avoided or ignored. Nobody realizes how incredible the surroundings that protect the current Japan like a lifeline really are, do they? And they're brainwashed by the things found in the media whose information is managed by the government and the people in power. Do most people think that the information they get from the TV is all there is in the world?

- Yuna, do you also feel that the information you receive is being manipulated?

Yuna: I do. Of course, we're still learning so it's not like we know all there is to know about the world. But, by reading books I find in the bookstore and thinking about them, I feel that there are really a lot of things that are not being communicated by the media today. I think that the important thing is that people think about what they can do on a personal level when they realize this lack.

- I know that the way you two think is "From darkness to light." Why did you use a word taken from a Native American idea to express this message?

Sugizo: A book called Addicted to War (by Joel Andreas) was the original prompt. The subtitle is "Why America Can't Kick Militarism." It's a wonderful book and I suppose you could say that I wrote this song in order to introduce this book to a wider audience. Because it's interesting, we're all passing it around and reading it. (laughs) America, at first glance, is based on democracy and freedom and such and the image of success is strong, but if you look beyond that, it's controlled by white superiority and it continues to encroach upon other countries with military force. And if you ask when this started, it started when the white people came over from Europe and slaughtered the Native Americans.

Yuna: They didn't choose co-existence but massacre and oppression. It was genocide.

Sugizo: "Uetiko" is cannibalism. It means encroaching upon other people.

- Like the heroes of Westerns.

Sugizo: In Westerns, which were made by Caucasians, cowboys are portrayed as heroes but they are really nothing but butchers. But the lie that we are the heroes, Indians are the villains, "We are in the right" has continued for hundreds of years. And while that has continued the Native Americans, who were the victims of the search for land, are, in fact, even now continuing to do that which is most important.

- What is it that is most important?

Sugizo: Co-existing with the earth and with nature.

Yuna: Something that really affected me when I found out about it is the fact that Native Americans think of the world as "one woman." They approach the earth as if it were the most precious woman in the world. Which is why they don't recklessly trample or kick her.

Sugizo: Of course they still cut trees and eat vegetables and kill animals and eat them. But they always give thanks when they eat them. They say, "I truly thank you. I accept your life." I heard that when they cut a tree they decide which one to cut by conversing with nature. They protect trees that shouldn't be cut and as for the tree they cut they choose a tree for the sake of the earth and cut it. They can communicate with animals and converse with plants. We think of ourselves as civilized but...

Yuna: In truth we are behind on an emotional and spiritual level and what's more, I think we may be degenerating.

Sugizo: Even saying things like that, we don't think that we should return to the original tribal lifestyle. (laughs) Simply, we think that if you look over history there is a lot of violence, isn't there? But we should pay attention to what's behind that.

- There are times when I think that while we don't pay attention to it we are becoming "uetiko."

Sugizo: That's exactly what I mean. That's why the most important part of that song it the second half. The first half is a forceful "I'll expose you!" kind of feeling (bitter smile), but the second half lifts its hands up to heaven, reaching for the light.

Yuna: The first half is direct and trying. (laughs) Each word come out at you and so I have to reach that point when I sing. It is not in any way light so I have a duty to send out that weighty message. But I'm not in any position to lecture anyone, I wanted, along with everyone else, to ask a question, to pay attention and to be concerned. When I sing the second half there is a feeling of sanctity. I felt a holy energy and I helped me as well.

Sugizo: Have you ever heard the last phrase, "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do?"

- Who said that?

Sugizo: They are the words Jesus Christ said as he died. It means, "Father, forgive them (the Jews who tortured him). They simply don't know what they are doing." We quoted Jesus for the most important message in "Uetiko." For instance, I think that those who are in power in America are "victims" devoured by desire for the material, desire for money and the desire to control and continuing to fight. I pity them. If only they would realize it, they could head toward the light. ...And what's more Jesus was an incredible person, because he was able to say that kind of thing to the people trying to kill him.

- If one is living in the 21st century world, one cannot help but live caught up in toxins but it seems that in this one song there are two seeds. Maybe like having a bifidus seed and a cholera seed in one's gut.

Sugizo: A seed of good and a seed of evil. (laughs)

Yuna: The necessary thing is how one will purify oneself using the seed of good.

Sugizo: In order to purify yourself you need to let the bifidus seed do its work. If that's the case this song is something like diarrhea. (explosive laughter) - And then the second song is "Don't forget you ~I'll never and ever~." Yuna wrote this song and the lyrics. Because there are so many units organized such that the vocalist is only a lyricist and the guitarist is the sound producer, the think this song will increase awareness of The FLARE.

Yuna: With The FLARE we want to put out music we like together and while sharing in this way try to find more things on which we can agree. The truth is that this is a very old song. I wrote it when I was about eighteen. The sound of it is a sixties rock sound and I had an image of adding a funky groove to that. I wanted a song that would match Uetiko's sound so I picked this.

- The lyrics can be read as a simple song of heartbreak but what was behind that?

Yuna: It's a normal love song but because I think that love is the source of life I wrote a single love story and I think I'll be happy if I can communicate that truth. I also wrote it thinking that the message of a prayer enveloped in light was important.

- And the third song is "Sunday Morning," which has a beautiful guitar ensemble. It's a Velvet Underground cover.

Yuna: As far as the lyrics go, they aren't connected but looking at it from a musical point of view, the first two songs were heavy with a funky groove so we wanted to choose a sweet song. It's a song that both Sugizo and I love.

Sugizo: Although it's a sweet song, the lyrics are a little twisted. (laughs) The lyrics are like, "There's always someone hidden behind you and making fun of you." (laughs) It's what you'd expect from Lou Reed. He can't make things that are one-dimensional.

Yuna: But if you don't listen to closely it's romantic. It puts you to sleep. (laughs) When I sang this song I thought that because "Uetiko" is the scream of a passionate prayer, I wanted to give those people who listened until the end a feeling of it's alright, I want you to relax if only for a moment. If you don't have that kind of song it's harsh. (laughs)