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Japanese people have a funny habit of abbreviating names.

Japanimation is a whole different art form.

I feel responsible to make something original as a Japanese artist. There are lots of singers and guitarists, but I feel that on stage it's meaningless to copy something someone has done before.

We recognize the distinctness of Asian art when we turn to its traditional forms, recognize it as Japanese, Chinese and Indian, even Balinese or Thai.

In Japan, I am famous in certain special circles - mainly as someone who is trying to break down and enlighten the conventions of Japanese art.

How can people think that artists seek a name? There is no such thing as an artist - only the world, lit or unlit, as the world allows.

In Japan, artists and fans are rather far apart from each other.

Japanese people accept that art and commerce will be blended; and, in fact, they are surprised by the rigid and pretentious Western hierarchy of 'high art.'

If you take different mythologies from different cultures, the names may change and the story lines may vary but there is always something in common.

It is impossible to remain indifferent to Japanese culture. It is a different civilisation where all you have learnt must be forgotten. It is a great intellectual challenge and a gorgeous sensual experience.