Art of Life 1

RUNNING HEAD: Art of Life

Art of Life:

The Depth of the Human Soul Revealed

Andrew Quackenbos

A.P. Literature and Composition

Mrs. McFarland
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April 20, 2006

Abstract

Art of Life is one of the most beautiful and artistic pieces of poetry ever written,

and later put to music. Written by Hideto Matsumoto in 1993, it has been hailed as one

of the best pieces of modern poetry (and music) from outside of the western world

(Tarrant 2005). Over 28 minutes long when recorded, hide (a nickname which he never

capitalized, notably) wrote it as an epic work of poetry when he was in a depressed time

(None 2005). Following no poetic form, it best fits as an ode, an ode to his spirit and

soul. While the context of the work deals directly with death, love, and suicide, deeper

within is more hidden meaning through which Matsumoto can show a deeper part of

himself (Tarrant 2005). By analyzing the poem and connecting it to clues in his life, the

text offers a great deal of substantial meaning that is important to understanding the piece

as a whole.
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Art of Life:

The Depth of the Human Soul Revealed

Written in 1993 by Hideto Matsumoto, Art of Life is one of the best pieces of

eastern poetry written in English currently known (Tarrant 2005). Later recorded (rather

beautifully) to music, Matsumoto wrote it during a depressed time and that is reflected in

the poem's subject matter: primarily focusing on death, love, and suicide (Tarrant 2005).

However, Matsumoto (who often used the nickname hide, but never capitalized it) left

a much deeper meaning inside Art of Life than a basic reading or listening would

provide. Matsumoto reveals in this masterpiece his deep and true feelings, and you see

that the poem is almost a plea for help as he reveals his addictive, suicidal life through

poetry.

Hideto was born on December 13, 1964 in Kanagawa, Yokusuka, Japan (None

2005). During his childhood, he transferred schools often, even spending a few years in a

school in the United States, where he became very literate in the English language (None

2005). After his secondary education, he became a musician, and joined several Jrock

(Japanese Rock) bands before ending up as the lead guitarist of X Japan (IMDb 2005).

During this time, he wrote most of the lyrics for the rock bands he was in, along with

many unrecorded pieces of poetry and solo works (None 2005). However, Matsumoto

was often depressed and at times resorted to drugs and alcohol like many artists are prone

to do (None 2005).

In 1993 he wrote quite possibly his best work, Art of Life. Though originally

intended as a solo poem, he later had it recorded into a twenty-eight minute and fifty-six
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second ballad by X Japan (Tarrant 2005). The surface of the poem shows a depressed

author, with a low speaker voice almost pleading with the listener, immediately opening

intrigue of the work. In fact, Hideto almost sounds ominous with his opening lines of,

Desert Rose / Why do you live alone / If you are sad / I'll make you leave this life. He

goes on at this point, making it clear that it is the speaker in pain, possibly relating to

hide's common fancy with addictive substances (None 2005).

Following the opening segment, Matsumoto goes into a discussion of emotions,

and mentions blood and a desire for death often over the next few lines: if it's all dreams

/ then wake me up / if it's all real / just kill me seem to echo a theme over the next few

stanzas. He goes on, mentioning that he wants to forget the past and create a new future,

similar to what he was doing around the time trying to put everything behind him and

move on in his music career (None 2005). This could also be symbolic of the heart

moving on at that time in his life, and his desire to start new. Turning away from the

wall / nothing I can see / the scream deep inside / reflecting another person in my heart

symbolize how he feels: he accepted his addictions and felt as if the real Hideto was deep

inside, hiding, wanting to be released.

Changing his mood slightly, Matsumoto goes into a rant almost in his work, and

begins a discussion from his heart about love and passion (Tarrant 2005). I begin to lose

control of myself / my lust is so blind, destroys my mind. These lines show the idea and

thought pattern during the next stanza, revealing his deep want for love. Noting the lack

of love in his real life, this may be a plea out, that he was looking for something deeper

than what he was getting as a musician at the time, and he represents it in this part of the

poem: I don't know the meaning of hatred / my brain gets blown away hearing the words
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of lies / I only want to hold you, love (None 2005).

This mood only progresses as the poem goes on, revealing Matsumoto's deep

hidden state of depression and addiction (Tarrant 2005). In the lines past and future

prison my heart / but time is blind / but I wanna trace my love he shows his underlining

desires for peace and love, and his regret of past situations (Matsumoto 1993). As the

poem closes, he comes full circle with almost acceptance, saying can't let my heart kill

myself / still I'm feeling for / a rose is breathing love / in my life and seeming to come to

terms with his problem overall making the piece even more masterful (Matsumoto

1993).

Hideto Matsumoto truly created a masterpiece when he wrote Art of Life.

Through its subtle delving into his real life, it reveals his nature as a musician, and shows

the cries for help he made with his addictive and suicidal problems, and also his desire

for a better life and romance. He obviously poured his heart and soul into this poem,

which explains the nature by which it was later recorded to music (a form like a ballad,

very soft but angry at times). Perhaps if more people had taken notice to his writing, he

may not have come to such a tragic end, marking another lost great artist of the world.
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Works Referenced

Tarrant, Gerald (2005, March). ART OF LIFE Analysis and review. Retrieved April 20,

2006, from

http://web.archive.org/web/20050321004653/http://www.chaoticempire.org/artofl

ife.html.

None (2005, May). Hide . Memorial. Retrieved April 20, 2006 from

http://www.jrocker.com/hide/index.html.

IMDb (2005, September). Biography for Hideto Matsumoto. Retrieved April 20, 2006

from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0559512/bio.

Matsumoto, Hideto (1993). Art of Life. Retrieved April 20, 2006 from

http://www.lyricsbox.com/x-japan-lyrics-art-of-life-zgxl78t.html.