Mana

is a Japanese musician, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer, best known as guitarist of the visual kei rock band Malice Mizer from their formation in 1992 until their indefinite hiatus in 2001. A year later, Mana formed the gothic metal band Moi dix Mois as his solo project.

Mana founded the independent record label Midi:Nette in 1994. In addition to signing electronic music duo Schwarz Stein, it has released the majority of Malice Mizer's musical output and all of Moi dix Mois' material as well as 2 albums and 2 singles by Kanon Wakeshima. His clothing label, Moi-même-Moitié, was established in 1999 and is credited with helping popularize the Gothic Lolita fashion movement.

Early life Mana was born in Hiroshima. His real name is not known publicly. Mana is a stage name, and is sometimes written with the kanji , which reads "evil name" or "devil's name". His fans refer to him as Mana-sama.

Mana started playing in bands when he was in high school, with his first two live performances being as vocalist. Inspired by Mötley Crüe and their drummer Tommy Lee, he switched from vocals to double-bass drums. In addition to most of Malice Mizer's work, and most of Moi dix Mois' work, Midi:Nette has also released music by the electronic visual kei duo Schwarz Stein. Signed to the label in 2002, Mana also produced for them. Despite their growing success, Schwarz Stein disbanded in March 2004.

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". He regularly appears in the scene's top publication, the Gothic & Lolita Bible, modeling his own designs and giving updates on his various other projects. He is recognized internationally for his fashion endeavors; in 2007, British author Philomena Keet included him as one of seven designers in her Tokyo Look Book. Moi-même-Moitié clothes and apparel were also sold in boutiques in Paris and the Netherlands, as well.

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, during which he was interviewed and featured on the cover of European music magazines, such as the German goth magazine Orkus.

At the end of 2007 Moi dix Mois returned to Europe, performing in France (a DVD of the concert was released on January 30, 2008), Germany, Finland, Sweden, Spain and Italy.

In 2012, Moi dix Mois announced their first Latin America tour titled Tetsugaku no Kakera - Chapter Six ~ Latin América Tour. The band planned to visit Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Mexico, but the tour was canceled. In 2013, Mana was featured in the music video for Kamijo's single "Louis ~Enketsu no La Vie en Rose~".

Mana has also produced solo vocalist and cellist Kanon Wakeshima, who debuted in May 2008 on Sony Defstar Records.

Musical style and equipment Mana was heavily influenced by 1980s metal, particularly Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden and Slayer. He has only ever used humbucker pickups in his guitars. 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 or through musical instruments. He has also offered his vocals to the song, "Kyomu no Naka de no Yūgi". Mana has stated on Twitter that his vocals were not distorted for this song when he sung it live, but he did whisper the lyrics.

Mana is known for wearing female clothes. Mana himself has said that he wanted to be the ultimate onnagata. English-language Japanese music website JaME said he started discovering his "feminine side" before Malice Mizer. His lack of speaking, combined with his commitment to feminine dress, led to people believing he was actually female. Japanese music website Barks stated that after Mana and Malice Mizer, the number of visual kei bands with onnagata members increased.

Band history Ves.tearge – guitar as Serina (1986–1987) Girl'e – guitar, synthesizer as Serina (1988–1990) – bass (1990–1992) Malice Mizer – guitar, synth guitar, keyboards, programming (1992–2001) Moi dix Mois – guitars, programming (2002–present)

Other appearances Art Marju Duchain – guitar (1994 Visual Art Collection Vol.1 ~喜劇的晚餐~ – 1996.11.08 "Visual Art Collection" ~喜劇的晚餐~, Shibuya O-West) Mana's Not Dead – drums (Dis Inferno Vol. V at Shibuya O-East on 2007.12.26, Visual-Kei DVD Magazine Vol. 2) JVM Roses Blood Symphony – guitar (2023)

Discography

Malice Mizer

Memoire (1994) Voyage Sans Retour (1996) Merveilles (1998) Bara no Seidou (2000)

Moi dix Mois

Dix Infernal (2003) Nocturnal Opera (2004) Beyond the Gate (2006) Dixanadu (2007) D+Sect (2010)

As a producer Schwarz Stein – "Perfect Garden" (2002) Schwarz Stein – New Vogue Children (2003) Schwarz Stein – "Current" (2003) Schwarz Stein – Artificial Hallucination (2004) Kanon Wakeshima – "Still Doll" (2008) Kanon Wakeshima – Shinshoku Dolce (2009) Kanon Wakeshima – Lolitawork Libretto (2010) JVM Roses Blood Symphony – "Kyōsōkyoku ~Tanbinaru Kettō~" (2023)