Utada Hikaru

It's a fairly recent thing but I've become very fond of making drinks myself.

The Japanese version comes with a translation, but that's different from the lyrics, so people could look things up and find a translation of their own if they're interested.

For the version of this CD released in Japan, a translation of the English lyrics is included, but there are lots of places where meanings are lost in the process of translation.

Sort of like, I have to make the Japanese lyrics really deep.

And also, I think Japan places great value on the lyrics.

But in Japanese, there's actually not much of a relationship between the music and the words.

In English, the sounds and melodies I created were an inspiration to me, and words came to me as I explored the sounds, and from there I was able expand on the meaning.

The thing is, in English I'm able to write the lyrics as I'm making the song, once I'm done with the melody.

It's just that, when I'm in Japan I could foretell to a certain degree what would be accepted, so I certainly don't come up with any crazy arrangements.

No one told me I had to make something that would sell, but I personally want everyone to like my music.

Since I was doing all of it myself, I had to decide where I wanted to go with the songs, how to proceed with the chords, if the sound was alright, and all that detail on my own.

Actually, the fun part was not knowing what the heck I was going to be doing.

I do feel really determined, and that I have to pull myself together, but I don't really think like, my market has changed and my company has changed, and I'm going to make it BIG in America!

And it was then that I realized wow, I'm able to write lyrics and sing and stuff like that.

For cubic U I didn't know how it all got started at all.

I bought an espresso maker and coffee maker and make them myself every day.

I get strangely obsessed about the cleanliness of my house.

I've been missing Japanese literature so much of late.

People do ask me if I think I can make it in the States.

I don't like going to the gym because I don't like being with people I don't know in that intense environment.

I just want people to see that I do my own stuff, that I'm not stupid, and I can make fun of myself.

The same parts of my brain get as excited as when I study bio or read a novel and write a paper on it.

In Japan, people don't really sing about sexual content.

Americans are somehow obsessed with her, and something about me hit a spot with people in Japan.

The world is in motion, as it seems.