[ Interviews | Live Reports | Event Reports | Guides | Miscellaneous ]
Interviews
- Interview with Fukashi Yagasaki, Executive Producer of Dystopia MV (December 24, 2024) - When ONE OK ROCK set out to create one of their most ambitious music videos to date, they tapped Stink Films to bring their song to life. I had the opportunity to speak with executive producer Fukashi Yagasaki about the challenges of incorporating AI into the “Dystopia” music video and more.
- Interview with Rob Herrera, On-Camera Music Host (June 9, 2020) - Being a fan of a relatively niche band is tough, and even more so when they’re not from your country. We appreciate anyone who can bring us new content in a language we can understand, and Rob Herrera of Front Row Live Ent. is one such person. His interactions with ONE OK ROCK over the years has helped bring us closer to the band.
- Interview with Jamie Carter, Videographer and Photographer (November 1, 2019) - Director. Editor. Videographer. Photographer. Based in London and Essex in the UK, Jamie Carter is a man with many titles. In recent years, his photos and videos have become an integral part of documenting ONE OK ROCK’s journey when they tour in Europe. Jamie also contributed to NHK’s documentary program, ONE OK ROCK World Tour Document, which aired on October 19, 2019.
- Interview with KENTA MORI, Graphic Designer (October 9, 2019) - You may not be familiar with his name but his designs are instantly recognizable to any ONE OK ROCK fan. From those Nagisaen triangles to the recent “with Orchestra Japan Tour” logo, KENTA MORI is the man behind of some of the band’s most iconic designs. He was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about his work.
- Interview with JulenPhoto + Tour Dreams Book Review (July 29, 2019) - The man needs no introduction. If you follow ONE OK ROCK in any capacity, you are sure to have seen his photos. Julen Esteban-Pretel (aka JulenPhoto) is beloved among the OORer community as one of ONE OK ROCK’s regular photographers. But did you know that his day job is actually an associate professor in economics in New York? Yeah, I didn’t either.
- Interview with Kyle Cogan, Director of Wasted Nights MV (March 8, 2019) - ONE OK ROCK’s highly anticipated new music video Wasted Nights was released on January 31, 2019, ahead of the band’s release of their new album Eye of the Storm. In less than a month, the video has received over 7 million views between the Japanese and English versions. It has been praised for its stunning visuals and high production values.
- Interview with Steven Chau, Star of Stand Out Fit In MV (January 1, 2019) - ONE OK ROCK’s new Stand Out Fit In music video has been viewed over 8 million times between the Japanese and English versions in just a month, and deservedly so. It tells a sympathetic story of a young Asian boy growing up in a western society who is teased for standing out and who later tries to change himself in order to fit in.
- Interview with Peter Huang, Director of Stand Out Fit In MV (December 25, 2018) - On November 23, 2018, the official ONE OK ROCK YouTube channel released the music video for the band’s latest song, Stand Out Fit In. In just a month, the video has garnered over a combined 8 million views between the Japanese and English versions. It has been praised by viewers all over the world for its poignant depiction of the challenges faced by minorities and the efforts they sometimes make to fit in with those around them.
Live Reports
- SUPER “DRY” Special Live organized by ONE OK ROCK – Belluna Dome Live Report (June 26, 2024)
- ONE OK ROCK Luxury Disease Japan Tour 2023 – Tokyo Dome & Belluna Dome Live Report (May 3, 2023)
- ONE OK ROCK 2019-2020 “Eye of the Storm” JAPAN TOUR – Yokohama Arena Live Report (January 19, 2020)
- Eye of the Storm World Tour 2019 @ Ventura VIP Experience (July 25, 2019)
- ONE OK ROCK @ Vans Warped Tour 25th Anniversary Live Report (July 24, 2019)
- Eye of the Storm World Tour 2019 @ Sacramento VIP Experience (July 24, 2019)
- Ed Sheeran Divide World Tour w/ Special Guest ONE OK ROCK @ Kyocera Dome Live Report (April 25, 2019)
- Ed Sheeran Divide World Tour w/ Special Guest ONE OK ROCK @ Tokyo Dome Live Report (April 10, 2019)
- Eye of the Storm North American Tour 2019 @ Vancouver VIP Experience (March 31, 2019)
- ONE OK ROCK with Orchestra Japan Tour 2018 – Saitama Super Arena Day 2 Live Report (October 22, 2018)
- ELLEGARDEN THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN TOUR 2018 Live Report (August 16, 2018)
- ONE OK ROCK @ DEAD POP FESTiVAL 2018 Live Report (July 1, 2018)
- ONE OK ROCK 2018 Ambitions Japan Dome Tour – Tokyo Dome Live Report (April 7, 2018)
Event Reports
- One Museum Report (February 9, 2019) - Preceding the release of ONE OK ROCK’s new album Eye of the Storm, a “museum” showcasing the album’s cover art by JonOne was held at Omotesando. Titled “One Museum” for the fact that there was only one art piece on exhibit (and I assume the artist’s name), the event was admission free and open for three days, February 9-11, 2019.
- Five Finders Photo Festival Report (July 5, 2018) - The Five Finders Photo Festival runs from Wednesday, July 4 until Monday, July 16, 2018 between 10AM and 9PM, and is located on the 6th floor of the Seibu Shibuya Movida Building. Admission is free.
Guides
- Guide to PRIMAL FOOTMARK - PRIMAL FOOTMARK is a photo book released annually which documents ONE OK ROCK’s activities from the previous year. If you’re serious about seeing ONE OK ROCK live in Japan, purchase of this book could be your best chance at tickets.
- Guide to ONE OK ROCK Concerts in Japan - It is the dream of any overseas OORer to see the band in their home country, but getting tickets can be next to impossible if you don’t know how to navigate around Japan’s confusing ticketing system. This guide gives you a quick rundown of the Japanese concert scene and how ticketing works.
Miscellaneous
- Falling feat. Taka by BTS Jin Lyrics + Translation (November 25, 2024) - Taka bumped into one of BTS’ producers one day and that chance meeting resulted in Taka and Toru producing the track “Falling” on Jin’s solo album Happy. On November 26, a Japanese version titled “Kimi ni Todoku Made” (“Until I Reach You”) featuring Taka’s vocals was released.
- Taka x Rurouni Kenshin Special Interview Part 2: Future Translation (June 3, 2021) - This is a translation of the second part of the Taka x Rurouni Kenshin Special Interview, titled Future.
- Taka x Rurouni Kenshin Special Interview Part 1: Bond Translation (May 28, 2021) - This is a translation of the first part of the Taka x Rurouni Kenshin Special Interview, titled Bond.
- ROCKIN’ ON – “Renegades” Interview with Taka Translation (April 22, 2021) - This is a translation of Hiroki Tokuyama's interview with Taka for the release of "Renegades," published on April 19, 2021 on the ROCKIN' ON website.
- Mou Ichido by [ re: ] project Lyrics + Translation (June 5, 2020) - The [ re: ] project was born from discussions between Taka and fellow music artist Shota Shimizu. They wondered what artists of their generation could do during these times (of the coronavirus) if they got together, and the result was the song “Mou Ichido“.
- Asics RUN for X Special Interview with Taka Translation (February 29, 2020) - Considering he is usually seen wearing Nike and New Balance, Taka surprised the fan community when he appeared in Asics' RUN for X campaign under the title "RUN for MUSIC." This is a translation of the special interview with Taka for RUN for X.
- Music Natalie – ONE OK ROCK “The Beginning” Interview Translation (November 22, 2019) - This is a translation of Takuya Ooyama’s interview with Taka for the release of The Beginning. It was originally published in 2012 on the Music Natalie website. While it’s an old interview, it’s interesting to hear Taka’s thoughts back then and think about what they’ve accomplished since.
- MTV ? & ! 100: ONE OK ROCK Translation (April 17, 2019) - Throughout the month of January 2019, MTV solicited fan questions for ONE OK ROCK via Twitter. 100 questions were selected and answered on a special program aired in February. Here is a translation of those 100 questions and Taka’s answers to them.
- Ongaku Shugi – Tales of an On-Location Manager #120: ONE OK ROCK Manager Yoshitaka Goto Interview Translation (March 11, 2019) - This is a translation of an interview with ONE OK ROCK’s manager Yoshitaka Goto. It was originally published on the Ongaku Shugi website on March 15th, 2017. Some of the questions are a bit dated, but I think it still has some interesting information.
- We are [Official Video from “Ambitions” JAPAN TOUR] MC Translation (April 30, 2018) - I’m sure everyone has seen by now the amazing edit of the performance of We are from the Ambitions JAPAN TOUR on the official ONE OK ROCK YouTube channel. There is an MC in the middle of the song and Taka gives the audience an inspirational speech. Here is a translation of what he said.