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.
2. Write '
stay free my misery' on a cardboard sign and hold it up at the nearest
intersection. {Don't forget the
donations cup.}
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.