ÿþ<html> <head> <title>The Way to Your Heart ~ An online comic about life, love, and Japanese visual kei bands</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="favicon.ico" > <link rel="icon" type="image/gif" href="animated_favicon1.gif" > <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=Shift_JIS"> <meta name="author" content="Emi, Emily Muto"> <meta name="Copyright" content="Copyright (c) 2010 Emily Muto"> <meta name="description" content="Online comics by Emily Muto."> <meta name="keywords" content="comic, manga, the way to your heart, universe of jewels, illustration, visual kei, j-rock, japanese, orochi, twtyh, miyabi, akito, shuya, toshio, yumi"> <META http-equiv=Content-Style-Type content=text/css> <meta name="verify-comic" content="59818fcbfd29f6d86b423603efa5468d" /> <style TYPE="text/css"> A{text-decoration : none;} <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="The Way to Your Heart" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/twtyh_manga" /> </style> </HEAD> <body bgcolor="000000"> <style TYPE="text/css"> BODY { background-image : url(bg.jpg); background-repeat : repeat; background-position : left bottom; background-attachment : fixed; } A:link {color: #024294; text-decoration: none;} A:visited {color: #024294; text-decoration: none;} A:active {color: #024294; text-decoration: none;} A:hover {color: #000000; background-color: 024294; text-decoration: underline overline;} body {color: #000000; font-size: 8pt; font-family: Arial; letter-spacing: 0pt;} <style type="text/css"> <!-- BODY{cursor:crosshair;} --> </style> <BODY topmargin="0" bottommargin="0" leftmargin="0" rightmargin="0" bgcolor="000000" text="000000" link="024294" alink="024294" vlink="024294" background="024294"> <div align="center"> <center> <!--These tables are for the vertical borders... the checkers, solid line, and white middle.--> <TABLE border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><TR valign="top"><TD width="980" bgcolor="024294"> <center><TABLE border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"> <TR valign="top"> <TD bgcolor="ffffff" width="940"> <!--This is the top image and contents links within the vertical borders.--> <center><TABLE cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD WIDTH="800" COLSPAN="9"><img src="title2011.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR VALIGN="TOP"> <TD><a href="index.html"><b>HOME</a></TD> <TD><a href="manga.html"><b>ARCHIVE</a></TD> <TD><a href="bios.html"><b>CHARACTERS</a></TD> <TD><a href="illust.html"><b>GALLERY</a></TD> <TD><a href="guest_art.html"><b>FAN WORK</a></TD> <TD><a href="about.html"><b>ABOUT</a></TD> <TD><a href="commissions.html"><b>COMMISSIONS</a></TD> <TD><a href="links.html"><b>LINKS</a></TD> </TR></table><p> <text="ffffff"> <table border="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr valign="top"> <td width="700"> <font face="arial black" size=2> CHARACTERS <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><b><br>NOTE:</b> Names are in Japanese format: surname/family name is first. <p><b>~Main characters~ <br> <a href="#yumi">Takahashi Yumi</a> : <a href="#miyabi">Otsuki Miyabi</a> : <a href="#akito">Yamashita Akito</a> : <a href="#shuya">Katsumura Shuya</a> : <a href="#toshio">Matsumoto Toshio</a> : <a href="#miyoko">Aikawa Miyoko</a> : <a href="#eizo">Tachibana Eizo</a> : <a href="#mitsuzuka">Mitsuzuka Tsuyoshi</a> : <a href="#yayoi">Mitsuzuka Nastasiya Yayoi</a> : <a href="#musashi">Natsukawa Musashi</a> : <a href="#sayaka">Otsuki Sayaka</a> : <a href="#kazuki">Aikawa Kazuki</a> : <p>~Secondary characters~ <br> <a href="#izumi">Abe Izumi</a> : <a href="#sakuzo">Fujimoto Sakuzo</a> : <a href="#renji">Sendo Renji </a> : <a href="#hayato">Ishizawa Hayato</a> : <a href="#minako">Tamatsukuri Minako</a> : <a href="#atsuko">Nakamura Atsuko</a> : <a href="#arisa">Takahashi Arisa</a> : <a href="#naoto">Takahashi Naoto</a> : <a href="#kobayashi">Kobayashi Jun</a> : <a href="#atsushi">Otsuki Atsushi</a> : <a href="#saeko">Otsuki Saeko</a> : <a href="#katsumura">Shuya's parents</a> : <a href="#natsukawa">Musashi's parents</a> : <a href="#alex">Alex Peterson</a> : <a href="#fumiko">Takeda Fumiko</a> : <a href="#asami">Matsumoto Asami</a> : <a href="#chie">Matsumoto Chie</a> : <a href="#olena">Olena</a> : <p><a href="#orochi">OROCHI</a> : <a href="#~phantasm~">~PHANTASM~</a> </b> <p><a name="yumi"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-yumi.jpg"><IMG SRC="bio-yumi-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Takahashi Yumi</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/takahashi_yumi" target=_blank>Yumi's twitter</b></a> <br><b><a href="http://www.formspring.me/takahashiyumi" target=_blank>Yumi's formspring.me</a></b> <br>St. Othello second year student <br><b>Age</b>: 16 (17 as of track 13) <br><b>Hair</b>: Black <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown <br><b>Height</b>: 162 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: A+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: July 14 <br><b>Family</b>: Arisa (mother), Naoto (father) <br><b>Love interest</b>: Toshio <br><b>Likes</b>: School, baking, studying German, going to concerts <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Confrontation, cruelty, violence <br><b>Personality</b>: Kind, devoted, somewhat shy, hard-working <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Yumi is always truthful and faithful. She'd stick with a friend no matter what. She's also a perfectionist and tries her best in school and everything else. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: She's somewhat self-conscious and shy. She also tends to jump to conclusions due to her own lack of experience/naivety. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Yumi studied abroad in Germany her first year of high school. She loved it so much she wants to go back for university. Orochi was Yumi's first real visual kei exposure and, likewise, Toshio her first boyfriend.</table> <p><a name="miyabi"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-miyabi.jpg"><IMG SRC="miyabi_blog.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Otsuki Miyabi</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/miyabi_otsuki" target=_blank>Miyabi's twitter</b></a> <br><b><a href="http://www.formspring.me/MiyabiOtsuki" target=_blank>Miyabi's formspring.me</b></a> <br>Orochi's vocalist <br><b>Age</b>: 18 (19 as of track 14) <br><b>Hair</b>: Black <br><b>Eyes</b>: Black <br><b>Height</b>: 175 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: O+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: October 12 <br><b>Family</b>: Sayaka (older sister), Atsushi (father), Saeko (mother, passed away) <br><b>Love interest</b>: Yayoi, the "little mouse" image <br><b>Likes</b>: Music (especially visual kei rock, metal, symphonic rock, classical, some techno, traditional Japanese music), performing on stage, fashion <br><b>Dislikes</b>: When things don't go his way, cigarettes, alcohol, being reminded of his past <br><b>Personality</b>: Self-serving, stubborn, cruel at times, passionate <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Miyabi has a natural gift for music. His voice is amazing, able to soar through the air in flitting falsetto one second and then dive into deep, throaty screams the next. He's very passionate with his music and won't give up on something until it's perfect. He's a dedicated leader, very organized, and knows what's best for the band. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: His harsh personality often leads to trouble with those closest to him. He can't see his own faults and sometimes won't accept help from others. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Unlike his bandmates, Miyabi doesn't like to color his hair, so he keeps it its natural black. His <i>"first time"</i> was with Yayoi, though he'd probably never admit it to the guys. He also has somewhat expensive tastes and recently bought a pair of Prada sunglasses.</table> <p><a name="akito"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-akito.jpg"><IMG SRC="akito_blog.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Yamashita Akito</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/Akito_Yamashita" target=_blank>Akito's twitter</b></a> <br><b><a href="http://www.formspring.me/AkitoYamashita" target=_blank>Akito's formspring.me</a></b> <br>Orochi's guitarist <br><b>Age</b>: 18 <br><b>Hair</b>: Bleached blonde <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown <br><b>Height</b>: 169 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: AB+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: March 9 <br><b>Family</b>: ??? <br><b>Love interest</b>: Yayoi <br><b>Likes</b>: Foreign girls, juice boxes, performing on stage, joking and making people laugh <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Being ignored, being the only single guy in the band <br><b>Personality</b>: Happy-go-lucky, carefree, cheerful, fun-loving <br><b>Good qualities</b>: His sense of humor. Akito can bring anyone out of a bad mood! He always tries his best, no matter how hard something may be. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: Sometimes Akito doesn't know when to be serious. He also can feel envious and annoyed by the fact that all of his friends have girlfriends and he doesn't. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Akito prides himself on having perfectly bleached blonde hair at all times. The moment he starts to see his roots, he'll bleach. He's also a huge gamer and wishes he could have a chocobo as a pet! </table> <p><a name="shuya"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-shuya.jpg"><IMG SRC="bio-shuya-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Katsumura Shuya</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/Shuya_Katsumura" target=_blank>Shuya's twitter</b></a> <br><b><a href="http://www.formspring.me/ShuyaKatsumura" target=_blank>Shuya's formspring.me</a></b> <br><b><a href="shuya_blog.html" target=_blank>Shuya's blog</a></b> <br>Orochi's bassist <br><b>Age</b>: 20 <br><b>Hair</b>: Dyed blue, then black with blue streaks <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown <br><b>Height</b>: 176 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: O+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: December 6 <br><b>Family</b>: Musashi (wife (as of track 12)), Mother, father <br><b>Love interest</b>: Musashi <br><b>Likes</b>: Rock music (especially metal, goth, visual kei, punk, and symphonic rock), performing on stage, smoking, alcohol, being with Musashi <br><b>Dislikes</b>: School, authority, blending in with the crowd and being told what to do, his parents <br><b>Personality</b>: Laid back and easy-going. He doesn't really think about consequences, and can sometimes be rather sarcastic. <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Shuya is quick-witted and direct, and totally capable of taking the world head on. He's got an iron will and has been astonishingly independent from a young age. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: He doesn't think about consequences and has <i>plenty</i> of vices! Shuya disobeyed his parents a lot as a teenager and didn't care about getting into trouble. He can be quite critical of others and won't waste his time on stuff that doesn't interest him. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: (as of track 12) Shuya is a newlywed! He's going to be a father soon, so he's thinking of trying to quit smoking.</table> <p><a name="toshio"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-toshio.jpg"><img src="bio-toshio-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Matsumoto Toshihiko (Toshio)</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/ToshioMatsumoto" target=_blank>Toshio's twitter</b></a> <br><b><a href="http://www.formspring.me/ToshioMatsumoto" target=_blank>Toshio's formspring.me</a></b> <br>Orochi's drummer <br><b>Age</b>: 19 (20 as of track 14) <br><b>Hair</b>: Dyed red <br><b>Eyes</b>: Deep brown <br><b>Height</b>: 182 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: B+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: August 22 <br><b>Family</b>: Chie (mother), Asami (younger sister) <br><b>Love interest</b>: Yumi <br><b>Likes</b>: Music (especially visual kei, classical, goth, traditional Japanese music, symphonic rock, and speed metal), traditional Japanese culture <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Loneliness, lying, cruelty, violence <br><b>Personality</b>: Quiet, somewhat introverted, calm, compassionate. If Toshio can come to trust and care about someone else, his personality blossoms like a beautiful flower. <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Toshio is a gentleman who wants to see more kindness and love in the world. He stands up for those he cares about and tries to right the wrongs done by others. He's also one of the best drummers around and keeps on getting better! <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: It's hard for Toshio to open up to people unless he comes to know and trust them. It can also be hard for him to forgive those who have wronged him. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Toshio's biggest influence has been Yoshiki of X Japan. His real name is Toshihiko, but he goes by Toshio because it's what his little sister used to say before she could say his name correctly.</table> <p><a name="miyoko"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-miyoko.jpg"><IMG SRC="bio-miyoko-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Aikawa Miyoko</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/Miyoko_Aikawa" target=_blank>Miyoko's twitter</b></a> <br>St. Othello second year student <br><b>Age</b>: 16 (17 as of track 14) <br><b>Hair</b>: Deep brown <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown <br><b>Height</b>: 163 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: O+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: September 2 <br><b>Family</b>: Mother, father, Kazuki (older brother) <br><b>Love interest</b>: Eizo, though it's hard for her to admit it! <br><b>Likes</b>: Going to concerts, especially ~PHANTASM~ concerts, shopping, karaoke <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Jerks and betrayers <br><b>Personality</b>: Gutsy, outgoing, enthusiastic <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Miyoko holds very strong relationships with her few friends and would do anything for them. She has a lot of confidence in herself, which makes up for Yumi's shyness. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: Sometimes Miyoko can be a little overbearing. She also doesn't like it when things don't go her way. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Miyoko is on the student council at St. Othello and worked hard to make sure that Yumi's transfer went through smoothly. She feels somewhat torn between for fandom for Orochi and her loyalty and dedication to her brother Kazuki and his band ~PHANTASM~. She loves them both and doesn't want to have to pick a favorite. </table> <p><a name="eizo"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-eizo.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Tachibana Eizo</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/Eizo_Tachibana" target=_blank>Eizo's twitter</b></a> <br><b><a href="http://www.formspring.me/EizoTachibana" target=_blank>Eizo's formspring.me</b></a> <br>St. Othello second year student <br><b>Age</b>: 16 <br><b>Hair</b>: Dyed reddish brown and naturally curly!! <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown <br><b>Height</b>: 168 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: A+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: January 26 <br><b>Family</b>: Mother, father <br><b>Love interest</b>: Miyabi, Toshio, Shuya, and Akito! <br><b>Likes</b>: OROCHI!!! ('nuff said) visual kei, school <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Missing a chance to see Orochi perform, or even just walk down the halls at school. <br><b>Personality</b>: Fun-loving, spontaneous, lively, and somewhat unpredictable. Eizo can be down-to-earth and calm one moment and then flinging himself into the air while jumping off the walls and turning into a quivering puddle of fanboy mayhem the next. <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Eizo knows exactly what he likes and dedicates himself heart and soul to it *cough*Orochi*cough* He is a very good friend and willfully sticks up for those he cares about, even if it puts himself at danger. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: Obsessing over Orochi was what ended his relationship with Miyoko. When Orochi is around, that's all he's aware of. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Eizo owns every piece of Orochi merchandise yet to be released. He prides himself on being their number one fan! Though he isn't interested in men, if one of the Orochi boys were to <i>come on to him</i>, he'd be completely head over heels.</table> <p><a name="mitsuzuka"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-mitsuzuka.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Mitsuzuka Tsuyoshi</b> <font size=2><br>Instructor and head of the music department at St. Othello. Orochi's manager. <br><b>Age</b>: 51 <br><b>Hair</b>: Silvery, long and pretty... *A* <br><b>Eyes</b>: Gray <br><b>Height</b>: 181 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: O+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: April 19 <br><b>Family</b>: Wife (deceased), Yayoi (daughter) <br><b>Love interest</b>: His late wife <br><b>Likes</b>: Music, teaching, travelling <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Miyabi's rudeness, Shuya's smoking, anyone who is unkind to anyone else <br><b>Personality</b>: Calm, understanding, and somewhat strict <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Mitsuzuka-san believes that everyone has the ability to do extremely well, given the right motivation. He's a devoted father and wants nothing more than to see his daughter happy and healthy. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: He can be very strict and at times is not afraid of speaking his mind in a negative way. He's overly protective of his daughter and has sheltered her. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Mituzuka-san is half Ukrainian (on his mother's side). He lived in Ukraine as a young adult, where he married. He can speak Ukrainian, Russian, and Japanese.</table> <p><a name="yayoi"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-yayoi.jpg"><IMG SRC="bio-yayoi-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Mitsuzuka Nastasiya Yayoi</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/yayoi_mitsuzuka" target=_blank>Yayoi's twitter</b></a> <br><b><a href="http://www.formspring.me/mitsuzukayayoi" target=_blank>Yayoi's formspring.me</a></b> <br>St Othello third year student (homeschooled) <br><b>Age</b>: 17 <br><b>Hair</b>: Blonde, wavy <br><b>Eyes</b>: Green <br><b>Height</b>: 159 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: O+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: May 4 <br><b>Family</b>: Mitsuzuka-san (father), mother (deceased) <br><b>Love interest</b>: Miyabi <br><b>Likes</b>: Lolita fashion, playing music with Miyabi, making Miyabi happy <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Being controlled and told she can't do the things she wants to do <br><b>Personality</b>: Sweet, submissive, talkative, wanting to please others <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Yayoi is very passionate about what she loves. She's an excellent musician and works hard to improve her talents. She has sympathy with Miyabi and wants to try to help him get through his hard times. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: Sometimes she lets anger and jealousy cloud her judgment, making her do things without thinking. She is also willing to change herself to please Miyabi, which also shows that she's rather obsessive. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Yayoi is noted as "gaijin" (foreigner) by Miyabi and others as she is mostly Ukrainian. She can speak Ukrainian, Russian, and Japanese. She has a medical condition which is revealed in track 12.</table> <p><a name="musashi"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-musashi.jpg"><IMG SRC="bio-musashi-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Natsukawa Musashi</b> <font size=2> <br>(name changes to <b>Katsumura Musashi</b> in track 12) <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/Mushi_Katsumura" target=_blank>Musashi's twitter</b></a> <br><b><a href="http://www.formspring.me/MusashiN" target=_blank>Musashi's formspring.me</b></a> <br>University student, musician, works part-time at a cafe <br><b>Age</b>: 22 <br><b>Hair</b>: Dyed pink (it's black in tracks 11 & 12 for the wedding) <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown <br><b>Height</b>: 167 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: B+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: February 14 <br><b>Family</b>: Shuya (husband (as of track 12)), Mother, father <br><b>Love interest</b>: Shuya <br><b>Likes</b>: Rock music (especially visual kei, metal, & symphonic rock), clubbing, making music, concerts <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Stereotypes, being told what to do, crappy jobs <br><b>Personality</b>: Outgoing, bold, fun-loving, confident <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Musashi is very strong-willed and passionate about the things she loves. Once her heart is into something, she won't give it up. She's also a great friend and dedicated to those she cares about. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: When things don't go her way, she won't hold back her objections or annoyance. She also has somewhat "loose morals," but that makes her an ideal match for Shuya. ^_^; <br><b>Notable facts</b>: (as of track 12) Musashi is a newlywed and will soon be a mother! She's very excited and looking forward to the crazy ride of pregnancy and motherhood.</table> <p><a name="sayaka"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-sayaka.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Otsuki Sayaka</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/sayaka_otsuki" target=_blank>Sayaka's twitter</b></a> <br><b><a href="http://www.formspring.me/sayakaotsuki" target=_blank>Sayaka's formspring.me</b></a> <br>University student <br><b>Age</b>: 23 <br><b>Hair</b>: Black <br><b>Eyes</b>: Dark brown <br><b>Height</b>: 164 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: O+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: June 8 <br><b>Family</b>: Miyabi (younger brother), Atsushi (father), Saeko (mother, passed away) <br><b>Love interest</b>: Kazuki (as of track 13) <br><b>Likes</b>: Visual arts, mainly drawing and photography, helping others <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Seeing others suffering, being single <br><b>Personality</b>: Compassionate, selfless, understanding, trustworthy and kind <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Sayaka is very warm and friendly and likes to help those she cares about in any way that she can. She has helped Miyabi a lot through many tough times and is good at keeping things under control, even if they're daunting. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: Sometimes she gets down on herself and feels very lonely. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Sayaka enjoys drawing and has thought about pursuing it as some sort of career. She will be taking more art courses in school.</table> <p><a name="kazuki"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-kazuki.jpg"><IMG SRC="bio-kazuki-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Aikawa Kazuki</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/Kazuki_Aikawa" target=_blank>Kazuki's twitter</a></b> <br><b><a href="http://www.formspring.me/kazukiaikawa" target=_blank>Kazuki's formspring.me</b></a> <br>~PHANTASM~'s drummer <br><b>Age</b>: 18 (19 as of track 15) <br><b>Hair</b>: Dyed platinum blonde <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown <br><b>Height</b>: 172 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: O+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: October 14 <br><b>Family</b>: Miyoko (younger sister), mother, father <br><b>Love interest</b>: Sayaka <br><b>Likes</b>: Performing on stage, music, organizing his own band <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Betrayal, mistrust, misunderstanding, hate <br><b>Personality</b>: Competitive, confident, caring, and a little arrogant <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Kazuki is constantly pushing himself to improve, especially when it comes to playing the drums. He has a bright hope for the future and puts all of his passion and energy into what he loves. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: Kazuki was very hurt by what Miyabi did, and has not been able to forget about it. He's extremely bitter still, holding a serious grudge against Orochi. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Creating Orochi was Kazuki's idea. He wanted to help Miyabi get through the heartache of losing his mother, so he thought making a band would be a great distraction and outlet for him.</table> <p><a name="izumi"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-izumi.jpg"><IMG SRC="bio-izumi-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Abe Izumi</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/Abe_Izumi" target=_blank>Izumi's twitter</b></a> <br>~PHANTASM~'s vocalist <br><b>Age</b>: 27 <br><b>Hair</b>: Dyed blonde with red tips <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown (always wears color contact lenses) <br><b>Height</b>: 173 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: A+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: July 1 <br><b>Family</b>: Chisaki (wife), Kaito (son) <br><b>Love interest</b>: Chisaki <br><b>Likes</b>: Visual kei, kawaii kei, angura kei, fashion, pop culture, Japanese food <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Rain, cold weather, mean people <br><b>Personality</b>: Upbeat, enthusiastic, confident, and happy <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Izumi can easily connect with others, whether they be his band mates or the audience. He's sweet and easy to be around, and usually has only nice things to say about others. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: He can be impatient, especially when Kazuki complains to him about Orochi. He also tends to take the negative things others say personally. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Izumi's unique voice is easy to listen to and sing along with. He can't imagine doing anything other than singing and has been in several other small indie bands before joining ~PHANTASM~.</table> <p><a name="sakuzo"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-sakuzo.jpg"><IMG SRC="bio-sakuzo-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Fujimoto Sakuzo</b> <font size=2><br>~PHANTASM~'s lead guitarist <br><b>Age</b>: 26 <br><b>Hair</b>: Dyed purple <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown (always wears color contact lenses) <br><b>Height</b>: 175 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: O+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: September 30 <br><b>Family</b>: ??? <br><b>Love interest</b>: Kazuki :D <br><b>Likes</b>: Hard rock music, visual kei, foreigners <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Homophobes <br><b>Personality</b>: He's a playboy! Smooth, charming, bold, and confident <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Sakuzo isn't afraid of being himself. He's confident in all that he does, including guitar! <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: His attitude is "eat, drink, and be merry", so he's gotten up with a hangover on several occasions. He also smokes like a chimney and has his fair share of vices and "favorite sins." <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Sakuzo is bisexual, and he can't help thinking Kazuki is just about the cutest thing he's ever seen. He wouldn't mind a fling with Kazuki, except Kazuki <i>isn't on that team...</i></table> <p><a name="renji"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-renji.jpg"><IMG SRC="bio-renji-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Sendo Renji</b> <font size=2><br>~PHANTASM~'s rhythm guitarist <br><b>Age</b>: 24 <br><b>Hair</b>: Black <br><b>Eyes</b>: Black <br><b>Height</b>: 178 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: AB+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: January 3 <br><b>Family</b>: ??? <br><b>Love interest</b>: Atsuko <br><b>Likes</b>: Music, sushi, Japanese history and culture <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Celery, arrogant people <br><b>Personality</b>: Quiet and reserved, but extremely passionate. <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Renji is a very dedicated and hard-working person. He's serious about the things he loves, including his music and his girlfriend Atsuko. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: Because he's a quiet person, Renji doesn't talk about his problems or things that are bothering him. He tends to internalize everything, which builds up and can cause him more pain. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Renji is a surprisingly good cook! He specializes in sushi and other traditional foods. He lives with his girlfriend Atsuko, who he's absolutely crazy about.</table> <p><a name="hayato"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-hayato.jpg"><IMG SRC="bio-hayato-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Ishizawa Hayato</b> <font size=2><br>~PHANTASM~'s bassist <br><b>Age</b>: 24 <br><b>Hair</b>: Dyed silver with black stripes <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown (sometimes wears color contact lenses) <br><b>Height</b>: 179 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: A+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: May 13 <br><b>Family</b>: ??? <br><b>Love interest</b>: Minako <br><b>Likes</b>: Visual kei, cosplay, going to concerts, fashion <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Social pressures <br><b>Personality</b>: Spunky, outgoing, and flamboyant <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Hayato brings his great sense of fashion to his image in the band. He loves being in the limelight and always has a positive attitude. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: Hayato tends to be cocky and sometimes looks down on others. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Before The Way to Your Heart, Hayato made his first appearance in <b><a href="http://emi-art.com/cr" target=_blank>Charmed Reality</a></b> as the boyfriend of one of the main characters back in 2004! </table> <p><a name="minako"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-minako.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Tamatsukuri Minako</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/Mina_Min_Min" target=_blank>Minako's twitter</a></b> <br><b>Age</b>: 24 <br><b>Hair</b>: Dyed burgundy, mid-back length <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown <br><b>Height</b>: 166 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: A+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: March 10 <br><b>Family</b>: ??? <br><b>Love interest</b>: Hayato <br><b>Likes</b>: Bass guitar, karaoke, shopping, h.NAOTO and other similar fashion <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Cold weather <br><b>Personality</b>: Mature, but very fun-loving! <br><b>Good qualities</b>: She's level-headed, a good leader, and makes friends easily. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: The rare occasions she gets mad, WATCH OUT. She isn't afraid to speak her mind and call others out for their crap. Then again, this could be a good quality, couldn't it? :) <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Minako is expecting Hayato to "pop the question" any day now...</table> <p><a name="atsuko"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-atsuko.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Nakamura Atsuko</b> <font size=2> <br><b><a href="http://twitter.com/Atsuko_ko_ko_ko" target=_blank>Atsuko's twitter</a></b> <br><b>Age</b>: 23 <br><b>Hair</b>: Bleached with black tips <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown <br><b>Height</b>: 163 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: B- <br><b>Birthday</b>: August 7 <br><b>Family</b>: ??? <br><b>Love interest</b>: Renji <br><b>Likes</b>: Shopping, going out to eat, concerts, street fashion <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Hangovers <br><b>Personality</b>: Outgoing and energetic. <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Atsuko is an amazing friend, and goes out of her way to include others and make sure they're getting attention and having fun. She's also very dedicated to Renji and would do anything for him. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: She's a bit of a blabber mouth. Sometimes she doesn't think before she speaks! <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Atsuko has been going out with Renji for a while. They live together and are completely crazy about each other.</table> <p><a name="arisa"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-arisa.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Takahashi Arisa</b> <font size=2><br>Receptionist <br><b>Age</b>: 31 <br><b>Hair</b>: Black <br><b>Eyes</b>: Dark brown <br><b>Height</b>: 165 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: A+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: June 2 <br><b>Family</b>: Yumi (daughter), Naoto (husband) <br><b>Love interest</b>: Naoto (of course!) <br><b>Likes</b>: Fashion, cosmetics, popular culture <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Rude people, stupid kids who made fun of Yumi for being "too smart" <br><b>Personality</b>: Fun and outgoing, loves to be the center of attention <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Arisa is a kind, doting mother with a great ability to multitask! She works full-time to help pay for Yumi's education, and when she's not working she dedicates herself fully to her family and to making sure that everyone around her is happy. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: She's a bit of a party girl, and on her days off sometimes goes off the deep end. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Arisa was pregnant with Yumi at 15. People sometimes mistake her and Yumi for sisters!</table> <p><a name="naoto"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-naoto.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Takahashi Naoto</b> <font size=2><br>Civil engineer <br><b>Age</b>: 31 <br><b>Hair</b>: Black <br><b>Eyes</b>: Dark brown <br><b>Height</b>: 172 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: B+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: May 27 <br><b>Family</b>: Yumi (daughter), Arisa (wife) <br><b>Hobbies</b>: Karaoke, reading, sightseeing <br><b>Love interest</b>: Arisa (of course!) <br><b>Likes</b>: Travelling, movies <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Boys (he doesn't trust 'em and lets Yumi know it!) <br><b>Personality</b>: A bit quiet and nerdy, Yumi takes after him a lot. <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Naoto has always had great study habits and a desire to do his best in everything he does. Over the years he's set a perfect example for Yumi to follow. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: He's low on self-esteem and often compares himself to others, especially at work. Since he's still very young but has a teenage daughter, he feels he needs to push himself as hard as he can in order to support his family, even if it means exhaustion. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Since Naoto got Arisa pregnant at 15, he is VERY protective of Yumi and generally doesn't trust males in her life.</table> <p><a name="kobayashi"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-kobayashi.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Kobayashi Jun</b> <font size=2><br>Lucidity Records President <br><b>Age</b>: 55 <br><b>Hair</b>: Black <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown <br><b>Height</b>: 172 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: ??? <br><b>Birthday</b>: ??? <br><b>Family</b>: ??? <br><b>Love interest</b>: ??? <br><b>Likes</b>: ??? <br><b>Dislikes</b>: ??? <br><b>Personality</b>: ??? <br><b>Good qualities</b>: ??? <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: ??? <br><b>Notable facts</b>: ???</table> <p><a name="atsushi"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-atsushi.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Otsuki Atsushi</b> <font size=2><br>Office drone <br><b>Age</b>: 48 <br><b>Hair</b>: Black <br><b>Eyes</b>: Brown <br><b>Height</b>: 175 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: O+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: March 29 <br><b>Family</b>: Miyabi (son), Sayaka (daughter), Saeko (late wife) <br><b>Love interest</b>: Saeko <br><b>Likes</b>: ??? <br><b>Dislikes</b>: ??? <br><b>Personality</b>: ??? <br><b>Good qualities</b>: ??? <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: ??? <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Atsushi's namesake is Sakurai Atsushi, the INSANELY sexy and amazingly talented vocalist of BUCK-TICK. *___* One of my idols!</table> <p><a name="saeko"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-saeko.jpg"><IMG SRC="bio-saeko-c.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Otsuki Saeko</b> <font size=2><br>Musician <br><b>Age</b>: 44 when she died <br><b>Hair</b>: Black <br><b>Eyes</b>: Dark brown <br><b>Height</b>: 166 cm <br><b>Bloodtype</b>: O+ <br><b>Birthday</b>: April 18 <br><b>Family</b>: Atsushi (husband), Sayaka (daughter), Miyabi (son) <br><b>Love interest</b>: Atsushi <br><b>Likes</b>: Composing music, singing <br><b>Dislikes</b>: Housework <br><b>Personality</b>: Sweet, passionate, loyal and kind <br><b>Good qualities</b>: Saeko effortlessly balanced her very successful music career with raising her family. She made music a part of every aspect of her life and included her family in every way that she could. Her easygoing, sweet demeanor made her more of a "best friend" figure rather than just a mother to her children. <br><b>Bad qualities</b>: Saeko was a dreamer, so sometimes the boring everyday stuff got pushed aside or forgotten about, leaving extra work for her husband. She wasn't very good at managing money or prioritizing. <br><b>Notable facts</b>: Saeko took a bad fall during one of her tours and lost the child she was carrying. She had miscarriages afterward and was told by her doctors she could never have children again. Miraculously, she did have another child: Miyabi, her miracle baby boy. She recorded an album during her pregnancy entitled "Miracles" but chose to not release it. Just before she died, she asked Sayaka to give it to Miyabi when he reached his first big goal.</table> <p><a name="katsumura"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-katsumura.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Mr. & Mrs. Katsumura (Shuya's parents)</b> <font size=2> <br>Shuya's parents are pretty strict and stiff. His father is a lawyer and his mother is a housewife. They wanted more than anything to see their son follow the family legacy and study law, but Shuya would have nothing to do with it. It's hard for them to accept, but they're happy to see the unfolding success of Orochi. </table> <p><a name="natsukawa"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-natsukawa.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Mr. & Mrs. Natsukawa (Musashi's parents)</b> <font size=2> <br>Musashi's parents are warm and fun-loving people. They own a beach house in Hawaii and have a lot of relatives living there, so Musashi has spent a fair amount of time in Hawaii on holiday. They're very excited about Musashi's marriage to Shuya and CANNOT WAIT for grandchildren! They've always supported their daughter's keen interest in music, but were more than a little concerned during Musashi's rebellious teenage years where she took up smoking, got a lip ring, and dyed her hair a whole rainbow of colors.</table> <p><a name="alex"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-alex.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Alex Peterson</b> <font size=2><br>Alex (30) is an Otaku Extraordinaire! He is obsessed with Japanese pop culture including anime, manga, J-pop, J-rock, and video games. He loves going to anime conventions and works to invite various guests from Japan to attend conventions in the United States. He is bilingual and talked to Miyabi on a plane from Honolulu to Tokyo, inviting Orochi to play at an American anime convention.</table> <p><a name="fumiko"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-fumiko.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Takeda Fumiko</b> <font size=2><br>Fumiko (20) is a writer/journalist at Music Minds magazine and took an assignment to write an article about Orochi. She and Toshio dated in junior high for a few weeks until he cheated on her for someone who was more willing to <i>"put out."</i> </table> <p><a name="asami"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-asami.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Matsumoto Asami <font size=2> <br><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Asami_Matsumoto" target=_blank>Asami's Twitter</a> <br><a href="http://www.formspring.me/AsamiMatsumoto" target=_blank>Asami's Formspring</a></b> <font size=2><br>Asami (16) is Toshio's little sister. Since their parents' divorce, she's been living with their mother in a small town in Hokkaido to be away from their abusive father. They just moved back to Tokyo after learning her father was arrested. </table> <p><a name="chie"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-chie.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Matsumoto Chie</b> <font size=2><br>Chie (46) is Toshio and Asami's mother. She divorced her husband after he began drinking heavily, abusing the family, and having affairs. Unable to gain custody of both her children, and receiving awful threats from her ex, she took Asami and lived in a quiet little town in Hokkaido. After seeing pictures of Orochi online, she vowed to move to Tokyo to try and find her son, and did so after her husband got arrested. </table> <p><a name="olena"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-olena.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>Olena (;5=0)</b> <font size=2> <br>Yayoi's precious companion and best friend! Olena is a loyal and playful purebred female Saluki specially trained to look after Yayoi. Her name is Ukrainian and means "shining light" since she is a light in Yayoi's life. </table> <p><a name="orochi"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-orochi.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>OROCHI</b> <font size=2><br>OROCHI is an aspiring visual kei (visual style) Japanese rock band made up of four members: Miyabi on vocals, Akito on guitar, Shuya on bass and Toshio on drums, who replaced ex-member Kazuki (now in ~PHANTASM~) Their music is darkly heavy, wired with eccentric electronica. It is brimming with energy, pulsing to life with the emotions of Miyabi's sensual voice and lyrics. Miyabi is the primary lyricist and composer of Orochi's music, though Shuya and Akito sometimes compose songs as well. Each song, in its own way, is a masterpiece that keeps Orochi's growing fan base hooked and hungry for more. <br><br>Orochi was started by Miyabi and Kazuki during their last year of junior high school. Upon entering high school, they met Akito, a talented guitarist, and then Shuya a couple years later. The four played at small venues and remained relatively unknown and overlooked as their style and image continued to develop. During one of their shows, independent music producer and instructor Mitsuzuka Tsuyoshi recognized Orochi's potential and signed them to his independent record label. He also persuaded the members to continue high school and arranged for them all to transfer to the elite St. Othello Academy through special circumstances with the music department. Later, Mitsuzuka-san discovered Toshio and introduced him to the band. Toshio replaced Kazuki as drummer, and Kazuki went on to form his own band, ~PHANTASM~. <br><br>Orochi's popularity and talent continues to grow as they perform before larger audiences, with each performance better than the last. They've recently been signed to the major record label Lucidity Records and are recording their debut album, <i>Out of Chaos</i>.</table> <p><a name="~phantasm~"></a> <TABLE BORDER=0><TR VALIGN=TOP><TD width=110><IMG SRC="bio-~phantasm~.jpg"> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"> <b>~PHANTASM~</b> <font size=2><br>~PHANTASM~ is a new visual kei/oshare kei (visual style/fashionable style) Japanese rock band made up of five members: Izumi on vocals, Sakuzo on lead guitar, Renji on rhythm guitar, Hayato on bass, and Kazuki on drums (ex Orochi). ~PHANTASM~'s music is upbeat, energetic, and full of positive and fun-loving energy from Izumi's lighthearted vocals. Their flamboyant image explodes with vibrant colors, hairstyles, outfits, and wonderfully portrayed androgyny. <br><br>Kazuki started the band shorty after he left Orochi. Bitter from being replaced, he wanted to create a band to not only rival Orochi, but to completely outdo Orochi. Though ~PHANTASM~ and Orochi have very different styles of music and visual presentation, Kazuki is determined to do his absolute best with his new band. The other members, coming from various other underground bands, agree to do the same. <br><br>Though new to the scene, ~PHANTASM~'s popularity is spreading. Their music and style is adored by those who hear it and their fans and supporters dream about what the future holds. <tr valign="top"><td colspan="2"> <span class="rss-content"> <hr align=center width=100% color=000000> <center><p><font size=1>"The Way to Your Heart" is part of <a href="http://emi-art.com" target=_blank>emi-art.com</a>. All content on this site &copy; <a href=mailto:emily.muto@gmail.com>Emily Muto</a> 2010. Do not remove or reproduce anything from this site. </script> </body> </html>