25 responses
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Dearest Issay-san,
I feel so bad that I have not written you a proper letter this past year, though I did write you plenty of poetry, it’s not quite the same right?
I’d like to apologise also for deciding to give up on dancing. I do hope somehow I’ll find in myself the strength to resume my activities and get back to honoring your legacy in one of the best ways I can.I did put together a little video from the archives of last year. Surprisingly this bit of warm-up to another song did fit quite well your rendition of 星の降る街で-Lady Blue と Mr. J from the recorded concert you gave back at the end of August 2003 at Aoyama Mandala. Still it feels lame of me to use scraps to make a tribute for you and I’m so very sorry.
I wish things didn’t take such a bad turn lately and that I fought harder to remain steadfast. In truth, I do still need to put myself together if I want to achieve anything, and there’s nothing I want more than to make you proud. To be honest I’ve considered you like a sort of fairy-godfather since the beginning. I’m quite convinced the idea would make you smile and it brings me some joy. In fact, the simple thought of your smile never fails to warm my heart.
You always had such a solar (yeah I know how ironic for a Vampire King 🤭) radiant presence i’m sure it could easily brighten up any room you ever stepped in and make anyone you met forget their worries. I guess it’s for this very reason that your absence strikes us so strongly. It is truly as if a piece of the Universe itself had gone missing. And though I am beyond grateful for experiencing it through pictures i must admit that I envy all those who got the privilege to enjoy it in person.
I am now drinking German wine as I write these words to you. I think you’d probably like that since I noticed you had quite a fondness for it in various interviews and well it does a good job of getting the words off my chest. Because if anything my heart ain’t empty at all rather impossibly full, so much that I sometimes fear it might explode and my emotions will spill all over like a flood. But for some reason it tends to remain stuck deep down and it’s suffocating me. I must find a way to cope to avoid drowning from within. Sure alcohol certainly ain’t the best way but as long as it remains occasional it’s not much harm I suppose.
Anyway I plan to end this day in a peaceful way, by watching ダンディーと私 (for the 100th time possibly 🤭). It’s a (not so) guilty pleasure of mine I admit and tremendously comforting 🥰. You’re such a sweetheart in this film, it can only ward off even the worst of my nightmares. And if ever I’d need something else to put me to sleep, I’ll simply listen to the playlist I made of all the songs where your voice is most soothing. By the way I’m still not over the dissonance between 砂時計 ‘s lullaby sound vs its heartwrenching lyrics (joke).
Now that I’m nearing the end of this letter i got such a sense of relief. I realise I missed it, though of course I’d totally favour a heart to heart conversation with you (Joke again. Too shy. I’d melt 🤭😅). Till next time dearest Issay-san, sending all my love to you always and forever.
🙏🌹💖🦎
Lile
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Dear Issay,
it’s hard to believe that two years have gone by since you left this world. I don’t think I will ever stop missing you.
I wish we could hold onto the people we cherish for as long as possible, but life often turns out quite different than we expect. Even now I wish I could have discovered you sooner and heard your beautiful voice in person.
From the time I started listening to Der Zibet, your music became a source of joy for me and something that I don’t ever want to miss. When I listen to your voice, your captivating performances linger in my mind and it feels strange that you are no longer with us.
I believe that you will continue to live on in the memories of people and in the many hearts you have touched. Your warmth is ever present and will never truly be gone. No matter how much time passes, the magic of your music will persist and won’t be forgotten.
Thank you Issay, for everything.
Lilac
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It has been almost two years since I saw you, and shortly after, it will be almost two years since you parted with this world. Since then, I’ve had a few more encounters with you and they’ve made me laugh, scared me, and offered me relief. The world feels safer and brighter with you on my shoulders. When I go places and do things, I wonder if we got to know each other if you’d be proud to have a fan like me. As much as possible, I make use of this life of mine lest it be cut short too, so that people may find me wonderful and kind at the end of it, no matter when that time is. My temper has gone since learning to feel sad. Besides giving me a lot of my determination to continue making art, this sadness feels like a gift from you too. I think it will always come and go, so I will promise to stay present with each wave that comes.
Happy birthday ISSAY,
I won’t forget you. -
Brazil, January 7, 2025
Dear Issay, it’s 2025 and I miss you so much, I deeply regret not being able to see you in your performances, you will always be remembered as someone perfect, talented and loving, your voice delicate and sweet to listen to, I remember to this day when I heard your voice for the first time, it was something sensational that I have no words to describe, you will always be my idol, I regret having met you only in August 2023, I miss you, your presence on stage, you are the most special person to me who inspires me until now and always, you are missed issay, we love you.
Dust
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致敬爱的ISSAY：
如果没有这次机会，也许我永远都不会公开并具体地形容这些感受，即使有机会亲自见你，我也不会想用这些私人故事烦扰你（语言的障碍自然会阻止我）。
作为艺术家，是你偶然触及了我生命中最深层的痛楚，只有你。刚开始试着了解你的时候，你的话语就使我印象深刻，你的歌声能轻而易举地触动我。
在发现你的时候，正巧是我感觉再也找不回明媚的生活，似乎往后要一直面对这样的命运，而你看上去“了解”这种感受。
因为你分享的人生经验，一些常年困扰我的无名痛楚终于有了解释，几乎从未在亲人朋友那里获得过的认可也是你（偶然）给予的。解放受禁锢的灵魂，让破损的心灵再生，只有你做到了这样的事。我渐渐开始觉得自己还能继续坚持下去，在破碎的天空之下前行。如果没有遇到你，也许我只能亲自光脚走在粗糙的路面上，让脚底磨出血色的痕迹。
也是由于以上原因，你的离去使我受到了前所未有的打击，让我像傻瓜一样祈盼回忆永不褪色。当去年夏季的温暖消散之时，我在寒风中感受到了彻骨的思念。也许很讽刺，我以前就很欣赏你对于“当下”的观念。因为我没有值得回望的过去，也无法相信未来，那就仅剩下此刻、当下。
“当下”却又不仅仅是关于事物转瞬即逝的冷峻定律，也是音乐点燃心火的“此刻”，这是你的存在、关于你的记忆带给我的感觉。但愿这会是我记住你的方式，渴望向更多人述说你的事迹。殷切地期盼，人们以自己独有的方式铭记你与你的艺术。 -
Dearest ISSAY-san,
I miss you and I regret not seeing you perform on stage…
From the moment I heard Der Zibet for the first time, I was so impressed by your beautiful voice & presence. During that difficult year without you, when I struggled with a feeling of loss, it was in your music & words that I could find consolation.
I’m so grateful that I could discover an artist like you. I know you put your kind heart & soul into your art. Your dedication to music, poetry, & acting inspires me to achieve my goals.
Last year, I made my promise to you & I’ll continue to fulfill it to the best of my abilities.Your legacy will live forever. You’ll be always present in my home. I’ll never stop smiling back when seeing your amazing smile. I love telling the people I meet about you. I want more & more people to admire you.
ISSAY-san, I hope you are in peace & surrounded by eternal love.
Beata
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Issay,
I don’t have much to say, but you were one of the few people I’ve ever owned an album of, one of the first in my adult life, even in a time were few Americans buy them, you stand out to me, someone so picky. I didn’t know someone so fully concerned with style and aesthetic could exist, you’re so special. Seeing how few other people live up to the same commitment, you stand out even more to me. A real artist. Your arts so engrossing. Everything you make is so romantic and free. Romance, that’s what I associate you with most.
Your style, your heart. I wish I saw you live, I wish I could’ve had a drink with you in your native tongue, I know it would have been interesting, I know I would have connected, because I already feel so connected so far away, even through indirecet means. I’m so thankful you made the art you did, and left the mark you made, almost no one could match you, no you could replicate you, I hold you up as someone I hope I can be like one day. I’m so lucky to have come across you, despite being so far from you, despite your lack of fame here. That’s how I know I’m lucky. You’ll stick with me forever, I know it. I really love you.
Abasio
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Dear Issay-san,
I don’t really know how to begin this letter. I suppose I’m a rather scattered person. Actually, I’m also a bit selfish because I wanted to keep you all to myself. I had dreams of one day attending your concert, but whenever I had a little extra money, I’d spend it on J-rock magazines instead. Even though I loved you so much, I lost my chance to come see you.
When I heard that you had left us, even my mother couldn’t console me. I didn’t know what to do because of my selfishness. It took me a few months to make the right decision after your passing. I wanted people to know you, to know that someone like you once existed among us, and to say, “His words… he was one of us.” I tried, I really did try. My Japanese and English are terribly bad, but the thought of them forgetting you filled me with fear. With every sentence I translated, I felt like I was getting closer to you.
At first, I was angry at myself for not discovering you earlier, but now I think it was better this way. If I had known you earlier, I wouldn’t have understood you. Now, as I listen to you, sometimes the understanding weighs heavily on my heart. But I’ve come to realize that you transcended something, and that has given me comfort. Because now, at the age of 26, I’m starting to transcend some things too. Maybe I’ve come to it a little late. Yes, I was late to myself. But now, with your help, I’m realizing that I’m breathing more deeply.
Your attitude when expressing your thoughts and ideas captivated me. How could this be? What kind of confidence is this? I thought. I am only now starting to voice my own thoughts out loud. There are still many things I run away from, things I can’t admit. Last year, I told myself I had to find the “TrashLand” Issay-san talked about. In truth, I was searching in my own country. I couldn’t stay in one place for long. Then I moved to another country. But I still haven’t found where I belong. Is TrashLand really real, or will it be like chasing the One Piece?
I still have a long way to go. Thanks to you, I’ve added a new window to my life. Maybe one day I’ll find that place, or as you said, maybe I’ll create it myself. I won’t let them forget you. Our existence will be proof of yours. Rest in peace, you did your very best, and now your efforts will bear fruit.
I will love you forever, Issay-san.
Blackfish Pluto
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ISSAY,
One year ago, we received news of what had befallen you and even now, it’s still hard to believe that you’re no longer around. You exuded so much energy in whatever you did that one wouldn’t have thought it could all be so easily snuffed out. It was as if the sun had disappeared overnight.
Witnessing the outpouring of love and grief mixed with all the anecdotes that so many people sprouted up online to share about you, it was clear that anyone whose lives you touched had nothing but love and respect for you. I only wish it didn’t take such a tragedy for people to talk about you more.
The sun was blistering hot, and blue butterflies and blue dragonflies accompanied our way when we visited your hometown. The wind was contrastingly cool at the beach. One of the cafés had your photo on display with fresh flowers. It was a truly lovely place despite my almost getting a heatstroke.
I attended the three tribute shows. I could hear your voice whenever a DZ song was played. Maybe it was a trick of the mind but I could’ve sworn I felt your presence. All the performers certainly believed you were hanging around, and I really do think so as well. I couldn’t stop thinking that you should be here too though.
I definitely cried at all three shows, but there’s no question that I enjoyed myself too. I’m glad I got to hear DZ’s music being played live – something I never thought I would be able to do. I’m glad you made all these connections in your life that allowed me to get to know all these amazing musicians. And I hope you got to see how much everyone loves and misses you.
It was nice to see your friends joke around as they spoke fondly of you and I believe that’s exactly how you’d want us all to continue living our lives. I believe that seeing us get sad because of you is the last thing you’d ever want, especially when you have a smile that instantaneously lights up the whole room.
One year ago, I made the decision that I would continue doing what I’ve been doing so that you’d never be forgotten. One year later, I am reassured that your friends feel the same way. DZ’s music will continue to be played. Your favourite songs will continue to be performed. Your memory will live on forever. At least, for as long as we can help it.
I will always be glad that I decided to sit down and translate that monstrous 20,000-character interview you did back in 1994. I’ve always said that’s my favourite piece of work I’ve done throughout all this time and I believe it will remain that way for a long time to come. After all, if not for this, I would’ve never grown interested in you as a person, and as an artist. You truly are what they call an “unproblematic fave” to me.
❤️ Yoshi
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Dear Issay,
Thank you for all of your wonderful music, the inspiration you brought to many, and just your beautiful soul in general. You will celebrated for years to come and never forgotten.
Rest well. -
Hey Issay,
I just wanted to say thank you for being here. For existing in this world, and even though you are no longer here in physical form, you left behind tangible proof of what an extraordinary person you were. You made my small, rather dull world spin with the hope that even the worst situations can have a way out.
I know that now you shine bright somewhere else and I wish to see you there one day.
Once again, with deepest admiration and gratitude – thank youxxx
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Dear Issay-san
I am so thankful that you came into my life. I would like to think that today isn’t a sad day, because you left for us a lot of love. I found a quote on a gravestone that said:,, Here lies a heart underneath this stone, when it was living and beating it could only love. Now he’s in peace, because he scattered himself among the ones who he loved. ” And I found that perfeclty fitting for Issay-san. The love he left us continues to spread through, and motivates us to continue on doing our best. Issay lived a life full of love, passion, beauty and authenticity. I think we as fans owe him that much, that we continue living our lives just the way he did. It is painful, sad, and hurtful. But the pain eases, when you hear his voice, and think about his smile. I’m sure he is having a great time in heaven, singing with his loved ones for eternity. Dear Issay, thank you for being the sun during a rainy night, and thank you for making my heart feel alive. I hope we can meet again in the afterlife. Until then, see you later vampire king.
With love from hungary,
Lili
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A year has passed since You left this plane and entered another. When that happened I was at my lowest, drowning and grasping for something, anything. I avoided You, avoided Your music – I associated it with my loss. I was running away from you, a prodigal daughter of a kind. And when news broke out, I returned and You welcomed me with opened arms, with warm deep voice and ageless decadent melodies. Once again I found solace in the art You left behind – one can only dream of such a legacy.
I’m much better now, Issay, so much has changed during that year. I found home, I found love. I remember the day You died, I was sitting with my then new lover by the river and was telling him about You, listening to Your music – that was a day I understood that no matter what happens Your music, Your being has become intertwined with my life, accompanying me and there’s not much I can do about it. I don’t want to do anything about it.
I hope wherever You’re, in that another world, You are singing and acting Your heart out. That You are prancing on that post-mortal stage, always so ethereal, so hypnotizing, my dandy. I hope You can see how many people still love you, still appreciate Your music and that You’re immortal because Your art has forever immortalized You.
Eternally grateful for You. -
Dearest Issay-san,
How has it been a whole year already, 365 days? Time flew away as swiftly as the wind yet it still feels like yesterday to me. You left so much love and light here with us, it’s impossible not to feel your presence, sometimes as if you were still here. If stars can shine for thousands to millions of years, I don’t see why your kindness and warmth wouldn’t last forever, as would your incredible legacy. I pray the Universe be so kind to let us keep this part of you before eventually we get to meet again in the afterlife. I know it must sound selfish and I apologise Issay-san, I sincerely do, I just cannot imagine my world without even just a flicker of you in it.
Even though these past twelve months have been hard to go through, I’m thankful I managed to gather a bit of motivation and strength to keep moving forward somehow. Through your music, I found some sort of salvation, and with it the urge to dance again, to embrace poetry in all its forms. I’m so grateful that in some way you encouraged me to get back to it, be it true or just my imagination. I feel as if I’m really healing myself through art, putting the pieces together in a beautiful way. Dancing to the sound of your voice guiding my steps has been such an honour and a truly magical experience. I can’t wait to do it again on other projects. Where I thought there was a dead end, no hope left for me, your example of resilience, determination and daring spirit showed me the way, I’ll forever look up to you as a role model.
For my tribute post today I thought that instead of a collection of pictures with a sad background music, I should edit some rare footage and share with the world how much of a poem incarnate you were. I picked the end of the production of BERLIN (2007) you starred in as part of the Nouveau Mime Project collective. Your ethereal grace, while portraying through pantomime the aches of loss, longing and parting from a loved one, is absolutely breathtaking. Such an emotionally intense scene seemed perfectly appropriate. I hope it will contribute to let your pantomime work be known by more people across the world, because to me such treasures shouldn’t remain in the shadows.
Wherever it is you are, I want to think of you still shining bright, perhaps in some paradise garden where the roses and all the flowers never wither, perhaps have you are surrounded with those you loved that are already there. I hope you can still feel our love like we feel yours and smile.
Missing you always, loving you to infinity,
With utmost gratitude and respect,
forever.Lily
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From the moment I listened to Japanese music, I really never saw such a kind and warm spirit. Both his personality and his music impressed our first hearts… It was like a flower, it lived for 3 seasons, it dried its body in 1 season, even though it was physically separated, the works it did bloomed again in our hearts… Issay is a musician who will never be forgotten, a genius whose legacy will not be forgotten, who will be discovered by a new generation even in another 10 years….I am very grateful to him for his contributions to music, even today we can see the traces of Issay if we are discovering new things…… An artist is never forgotten, he takes shape in the cosmic universe and turns into a star. I hope your star shines forever, Issay san!
So much love from Turkiye…. And thank you to Pluto for trying to promote Issay in Turkiye! 🌸
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Dearest and most beloved ISSAY san…
They say time heals … But now I know that it isn’t true… Time teaches us how to live with our pain….
You are greatly missed here…
Wherever you are, ISSAY san, please keep watching over all of us untill we need again….
Legends never die…
And you are a true Legend!
Much love and respect.
JulieK -
Dear Issay-san,
Thank you for all the wonderful things. You were such an inspiring person. It is difficult not to be moved by your deep voice, unique charisma and aristocratic grace.
I believe that people like you do not leave this world completely. They continue to exist in the hearts of listeners beyond space and time. You and your art will not be forgotten.
With respect and gratitude,
Sigurn Shingetsu -
A few months ago I drew a picture of you in my notebook and haven’t drawn anything since. It turned out bad – I actually can’t draw. And now I’ve even lost this notebook and don’t have a single photo of you. Therefore, I will put the flowers for you in the usual place – in front of the image of our mutual friend. Sure he will pass them on to you. Thank you for everything you did for him and for us. And thank you for the music. I’m the rare fool who picks a dozen of favorite songs and listens to them until he dies without listening to the others. But in recent days I’ve been adding Der Zibet songs to my playlist again. They’re really cool. Sorry for doing this so late. And sorry it all turned out this way.
Rest well, Issay-san, and we will remember.
With love,
your idiot Charlie. -
Issay is the sun. A warm, centripetal beacon that draws you right in, and he makes me want to become just like him. Not to become a performer or somebody beautiful, but somebody kind that gives others feelings of hope and love. The desire to be better evolves into a drive which permeates more and more aspects of life and as I struggle, the gentle warmth of that light still reaches me and always tells me to just keep trying.
I may never have rediscovered the joy of art again if not for Issay. It started with a drawing that my hands placed in his, and even if I never got to show him something that I was truly satisfied with, I’m grateful for that spark that’s given me the will to draw again. One day, maybe drawing will feel to me like what the stage felt like to him. I hope to never give it up until the end too.
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hey dear
i hope you know how loved you was i literaly don’t know you really long but that don’t matter right ? I HOPE you feel good on the place you are now. i miss you the same way the others do. run free to another beautiful place and life.
greetings from earth
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To the dearly well estimated ISSAY-san
Yours was a truly vivid and fruitful mind committed to the good arts, not only as a astonishing singer and composer, but as an actor as well. I’ll never forget the shock, as I was leaving for work early in the morning and the first thing I read was your dear friend Masami Tsuchiya lamenting over your loss. Never I knew that would be the first of a series of shocking losses over the year. 2023 was a sad year for music.
But 2024 is proving to be a year where the grief left it’s place for the love and good memories that your life, which brought life to Flowers, impacted such beautiful and inspiring artists, such as Kaya, Morrie and everyone else who paid their tributes over your good legacy.
I’ll dearly carry your beautiful works with me for the rest of my days.
Thank you for everything
From Erick -
Dear Issay,
I hope you know how loved you are. Every important day that concerns you has people buying flowers in your honor. You must have quite the flower garden now – one that’s full of love.
Make sure that you tell yourself how great you were. You left a huge impact on this world. You and your music will never be forgotten. Your beautiful voice will never be forgotten. Your smile will never be forgotten.
I will stay strong and keep celebrating you, no matter how much my heart aches.
Sincerely, thank you for giving me at least a small chance to witness your greatness.
With gratitude and love,
Veronika -
Love you, miss you… So much. So deep.
But… Somewhere you live and somewhere you smile like a sun now… I hope… Please, stay safe, please, be with us forever.Sorry for my English.
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yoi always be loved, dear vampire.
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Dear ISSAY-san,
Thank you. Thank you for gracing my life with that bewitching, hauntingly beautiful voice of yours. Thank you for the captivating, unparalleled words of yours. Thank you for always unapologetically being yourself. Thank you for the precious more than life connections you weaved with your music and your words.Thank you for the lives you inspired and keep inspiring.
Experiencing your art is one of the most fortunate things in my life.I will always hold your music close to my heart. I miss you.
I hope wherever you are, you are in peace. I hope wherever you are, you are surrounded by things the great ISSAY deserves.
With love and respect,
Gustavu
To ISSAY, With Love 
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