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The members of X Japan Sing forever love at his funeral.
hide's funeral report(in Japanese)
On the morning of May 2nd 1998, the world of Japanese music lost one of it's brightest and most influential musicians. Former X Japan lead guitarist Hideto Matsumoto known as "hide" was found dead in his apartment by suicide. He was found with a towel around his neck tied to the bathroom door having apparently hung himself. Hide was reportedly drunk at the time, but it still does not give any clue as to why he killed himself. He always seemed to be the most grounded member of X Japan and with a flourishing career and so much to live for, it baffles fans such as me as to why it would come to such a thing. Although I heard somewhere that sometimes guitarists do that thing to relieve pressure from upcomming concerts.
Hide's death had a huge effect. 50,000 fans reportedly showed up for the funeral, stretching a kilometer from the temple. 12,000 actually attended the wake. 26 people were hospitalized as many fans fainted and a few others attempted to commit suicide. After the wake, two people died by suicide. It was a very sad time, but the purpose of this page is not a memorial. Rather than his death, I'd like to focus on the life of this great man. He gave so much to Japanese music and it's that that I wish to talk about. Yes he died, but he left one hell of a legacy.
The New York Times ran the following obituary on May 18, 1998: DIED. HIDETO MATSUMOTO, 33, idolized, ultra-punk former lead guitarist of the defunct group X Japan, after hanging himself; in Tokyo. Following a decade of eclat with the rockers, who broke up in December, "hide" pursed a solo career to the rapture of fans, 25,000 of whom thronged to his funeral. The grieving swarm formed a line more than 2 km long to lay flowers. Though former band members pleaded with fans not to copy the suicide, by week's end at least three had decided they could not live without him.
Very rarely is a person's death documented in the history of a nation, but in the case of Hideto 'hide' Matsumoto, the date of his suicide - May 2, 1998 - is recognized as a national Japanese holiday. It happens to fall during 'Golden Week', a week-long period in May bookended by a series of workless days. The fact that a rock star's remembrance is included in a series of serious traditions speaks volumes about hide's impact on Japan - in music, style, attitude, and philosophy.
In Kanasawa (a prefecture of Tokyo), the place of hide's birth, there is an official hide museum, at which hide memorial day is celebrated in its full fervor. There are fireworks, concert videos, and various themed events.
Even outside of Kanasawa, the holiday is greeted by many music fans with shrine building, praying, and general positive reflection. (To give you an idea of how legendary hide is - there is an entire line of plush toys made in his likeness, from the big hair days of X Japan to the hat-wearing subtlety of his solo career.)
Although not everyone has access to the hide museum, hide's personality was electric enough to leave imprints in everyone, and there are personal celebrations much more appropriate than moping at the loss of a brilliant mind. Thus, I bring you...
Ten Things to Do on hide memorial day
1. Wear pink.
3. Get blazingly, blindingly drunk and hit on a member of the opposite sex.
4. Get blazingly, blindingly drunk and hit on a member of the same sex.
5. Walk around singing the masturbation song. (If anyone addresses you by any name, scream 'That's NATURAL BORN ONNANIST to you!'}
6. Randomly run up to your friends and grope them. (Nipple-rubbing is especially encouraged.)
7. Ride around in a grocery cart. (Drinking dishwashing liquid is also acceptable, though not recommended.)
8. Come up with at least five extremely original euphemisms for penis (i.e. rocket, honey blade, electric cucumber). Even better, use them on your boyfriend(s).
9. Smoke a cigarette on a street corner and see if you get mistaken for a prostitute. (Poor hide.)
10. Make yourself a 'Pink Spider' - a drink containing Bacardi 151, Beefeater gin, cranberry juice, and a cherry. Like hide, it's alcoholic, fruity, pink, and will make you want to bang everyone in sight.
And remember - approach life with attitude.
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