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Mana
Background information
Born	March 19
Origin	Hiroshima, Japan
Genre(s)	Alternative Metal Gothic Visual Kei
Occupation(s)	Musician Fashion Designer
Instrument(s)	Guitar Keyboard Bass Drums
Years active	1990- present
Label(s)	MidiːNette
Associated acts	Malice Mizer Moi dix Mois
Website	Monologue Theatre

Mana is a Japanese musician and fashion designer, famed for his role as a leader and guitarist of the influential visual kei band Malice Mizer. It is said that he is widely considered the figurehead of Japan's Gothic Lolita fashion movement, as he helped popularize it.^{[citation needed]} Moi dix Mois is Mana's current project. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... If you hold the copyright to an image (e. ... is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Hiroshima (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Alternative metal is an eclectic form of music that gained popularity in the early 1990s alongside grunge. ... Look up Gothic, goth, Goth in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Malice Mizer, an example of visual kei during the 1990s. ... --76. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... Synth redirects here. ... A sunburst-colored Fender Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass[1][2]; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Moi dix Mois is a Japanese band, and the solo project of Mana, formerly the leader and guitarist of the influential Japanese Visual Kei band Malice Mizer. ... Malice Mizer, an example of visual kei during the 1990s. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Two girls in frilly, somewhat extreme Lolita dress that was popular around 2002 in Takeshita Street, Tokyo Gothic Lolita or GothLoli , sometimes alternatively (though incorrectly) Loli-Goth) has two definitions. ... Moi dix Mois is a Japanese band, and the solo project of Mana, formerly the leader and guitarist of the influential Japanese Visual Kei band Malice Mizer. ...

Background

Mana was born on March 19, in Hiroshima; while many unsubstantiated rumors proliferate, his real name and year of birth are unknown. At an early age, Mana was introduced to classical music by his parents, who were both music teachers; classical music has remained an influence ever since. Mana has said that he started making music when he was in high school, at which time he listened to Mötley Crüe and had a mohawk. Typically, Mana's compositions blend classical music (especially baroque music, featuring pipe organ and harpsichord; he also likes music by Johann Sebastian Bach) with heavy metal music, gothic rock, industrial music and other more unlikely elements such as French pop music. In a recent interview Mana revealed that he has no formal training in music theory. is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Hiroshima (disambiguation). ... Mötley Crüe (pronounced Motley Crew) is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1980. ... Baroque music describes an era and a set of styles of European classical music which were in widespread use between approximately 1600 and 1750. ... The baroque organ in Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by forcing pressurized air (referred to as wind) through a series of pipes. ... Harpsichord in the Flemish style A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. ... “Bach” redirects here. ... Heavy metal redirects here. ... Gothic rock (sometimes called goth rock or simply goth) is a genre of alternative rock that originated during the late 1970s. ... It has been suggested that Chicago Industrial be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the genre of popular music. ...

Project history

Mana's first known bands were Girl'e, a punk band active around 1989-1990; and Matenrou (摩天楼, Skyscraper^?), active 1990-1992. After Matenrou's dissolution in April 1992, Mana and guitarist Közi founded Malice Mizer in August of that year. Mana was the band's lead guitarist, chief songwriter, choreographer and overall artistic director. He also founded his own indie music label, MidiːNette, on which most of Malice Mizer's work was released. After Malice Mizer went on an indefinite hiatus in 2001, Mana founded his solo project, Moi dix Mois. He composes all of Moi dix Mois' music, writes the lyrics, produces, directs and designs the project members' stage costumes. Közi ) (Pronounced Koji) is a Japanese visual kei artist who plays guitar, piano, keyboard and synthesizer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In popular music, indie music (from independent) is any of a number of genres, scenes, subcultures and stylistic and cultural attributes, characterised by perceived independence from commercial pop music and mainstream culture and an autonomous, do-it-yourself (DIY) approach. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Moi dix Mois is a Japanese band, and the solo project of Mana, formerly the leader and guitarist of the influential Japanese Visual Kei band Malice Mizer. ...

In 1999, Mana created his own clothing label, Moi-même-Moitié, which features two lines of designs named Elegant Gothic Lolita and Elegant Gothic Aristocrat. Mana continues to regularly appear in the scene's top publication, the Gothic & Lolita Bible, modeling his own designs and giving updates on his various other projects. Moi-même-Moitié is a Gothic Lolita fashion label by Mana (the former leader and guitarist of the Visual Kei band Malice Mizer and now has a solo project called Moi dix Mois) which features the specific styles of Elegant Gothic Lolita (EGL) and Elegant Gothic Aristocrat (EGA). ... Two gothic lolitas in Takeshita Street, Tokyo Gothic Lolita or GothLoli (ゴスロリ, gosurori) is a fashion somewhat rare, but very highly visible, among Japanese teenagers and young women. ... Elegant Gothic Aristocrat (EGA) is a fashion style created by Japanese visual kei idol Mana, former guitarist of Malice Mizer and current producer and leader of cult band Moi Dix Mois. ...

In 2002, Mana signed the visual kei duo Schwarz Stein to MidiːNette and went on to produce for them. Despite their growing success, Schwarz Stein disbanded in March 2004, and Mana has since been looking for new bands to sign and produce. Malice Mizer, an example of visual kei during the 1990s. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In 2004, Mana started to branch out internationally by opening his fan club to overseas members (a rarity amongst Japanese musicians) and setting up international distribution channels for his music and fashion. He played his first concerts with Moi dix Mois outside Japan in March 2005 in Munich, Germany and Paris, France. In recent months he has been interviewed and featured on the cover of European music magazines such as the German Goth magazine Orkus. For other uses, see Munich (disambiguation). ... This article is about the capital of France. ...

In the end of 2007 he re-toured in Europe, visiting France (a DVD with the whole Paris concert was released on 30 January 2008) and Germany again, and also Finland, Sweden, Spain and Italy. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

Mana is also currently producing solo vocalist and cellist Kanon Wakeshima, who will have her debut in May 2008 for Sony Defstar Records.

Public behavior

Mana has rarely intentionally smiled or spoken in public. In his filmed interviews, he whispers into the ear of a band member or confidante, who then relates his words back to the interviewer. He has also been known to simply look at the camera as subtitles appear, as well as using Yes/No cards and expressing himself in mime. According to him, this is because he considers his music to be his voice, and to speak for him.^{[citation needed]} One of the few cases in which he has spoken is a 1996 Malice Mizer interview on the TV show Hot Wave, where he apparently accidentally replied with his name and his position in the band when introduced on the show. Throughout the rest of the interview, Mana whispered in Gackt's ear. In another interview, promoting their single Gekka no Yasoukyoku he was sitting on the floor. When the interviewer went to Mana and asked him, why he was sitting down there he answered her, "because it's cute". He has also offered his vocals to Kyomu no Naka de no Yuugi Though his voice was heavily distorted. He also whispered during the song "Saikai no Chi to Bara", the last song on "Bara no Seidou" in which his voice is largely the only one that can be heard. He is also heard singing in the song "Vestige" on "Nocturnal Opera", providing the higher voice during the chorus. Gackt Camui ) is a Japanese musician, songwriter and actor. ... Gekka no Yasoukyoku ) is a single released by Malice Mizer on February 21, 1998. ... Kyomu no Naka de no Yuugi ) is a single released by Malice Mizer on May 31, 2000. ...

External links

• Monologue Theater, Mana's official home page
• MidiːNette, Mana's Indie music label
• Moi-même-Moitié, Mana's fashion label
• Mon+amour International, Mana's international fan club
• Electric Sound Products - Artist Model Series, ESP Artists Series page with pictures and specs of Mana's line of guitars, jeune fille.
• [1], Kanon Wakeshima's offical home page