Allen is a "madam celebrity" who has attracted many passionate fans with her one-of-a-kind appearance, her own words of wisdom, and her unique charisma. Her currently on sale essay collection, "To All Those Who Say They Want to Be Happy" (Gentosha), in which Allen writes about her "theory of happiness," has been well-received. Allen, who says that his talent for writing that captivates readers is "naturally born," spoke about the thoughts he puts into his essays and an episode from his time in juvenile detention (part one of a two-part interview).
◇The third book is "I gave it my all"
Allen has published two books so far, and each time has garnered word-of-mouth buzz with comments such as "my life has changed" and "life has become easier." This is his third book, and was adapted from a web serial, but he is enthusiastic, saying, "I put just as much effort into this as I did into my first book. I didn't cut any corners and I put 100% of myself into this book."
"To give you an idea of how serious I was, the editor in charge was on the verge of dropping out of the project, as I snapped at him, saying, 'If you're going to do it, do it properly?' It was a book that the editor was in charge of, but it was my book at heart, so I didn't want to produce something weird. I didn't want him to be half-hearted about it, and I spoke so strongly to him that it almost brought him to tears. That's how passionate I was about this book."
"I set my standards for happiness low on purpose. I'm super happy if the sun is shining the moment I wake up," says Allen, whose book is filled with his "philosophy." He also says that he was extremely particular about the visuals, including the photos and designs that are featured, and adds, "The highlight is undoubtedly the gorgeous costumes."
"The dress I'm wearing took six people about 30 minutes to put on. The book is sprinkled with gorgeous scenes, including real fireworks, and magnificent photographs taken in hotel lobbies and on cliffs, creating a world view that only I could create. I've released three books and a calendar in the past year and a half, so I wanted to make something different and went all out with art. The jet black lip gloss I'm wearing in the cover photo is hard to find, so my makeup artist found it for me. I have very large lips, so I put on so much that I used up an entire bottle."
The book features photos of Allen in a gorgeous dress and other photos filled with a private atmosphere, allowing readers to enjoy his diverse charms, and one "Curiman" (a term used to describe Allen's fans) has reportedly purchased 15 copies.
"Those people then distribute 15 copies to their friends. It's a form of 'missionary work'. Like, 'Wouldn't you like to be saved?' (laughs). If people who read it and discover my charm for the first time recommend it to someone else, then even more books will sell. In that sense, I'm really grateful to those who buy multiple copies. On average, Climan buys three or four copies, which I'm really grateful for. It's not something that happens often, I'm not an idol. Just a guy in his 30s (laughs)."
◇ "Japanese has always been my favorite subject" - The reason for his excellent writing skills
Allen candidly recounts his tragic past, including his delinquent behavior in junior high school and his time in a juvenile detention center. His extraordinary literary talent was evident even back then.
"The truth is, out of all the subjects, Japanese has always been my favorite. What's more, at the juvenile detention center, there are presentations. You have to memorize the essays you've written and present them in front of everyone. I won first prize every time. That's why I loved writing. I think my writing ability is probably something I was born with."
Allen-sama is known for his writing in the "Kuriman language," which makes extensive use of half-width kana, emoticons, and unique phrases that resemble wordplay, but how did this unique language come about?
"I say a lot of really strange things. Like calling a necklace a 'necleria corsage'. That's why people ask me if it's a spell, but those kinds of words that come to mind naturally became Kuriman. For example, the word 'part-time job' doesn't sound funny when you say it normally, but I added 'ria' to the end of the word. So I added the ria coast that I learned about in social studies class, and it became 'Arbaitoria (Ria coast).' That's how it was born."
This book allows readers to enjoy the unique Kriman language, and the author is confident, saying, "This book will really resonate with everyone, including young people today, and people in their 30s and 40s, my generation."
"I definitely want anyone to read this book, regardless of gender or age, but I would especially like people in their teens and twenties, or those who haven't yet decided on a clear goal or how they want to live their life, to read it. I think it will be a life-changing book."
Allen himself says that he read a lot of books while in juvenile detention, and that the knowledge he gained at that time is "still with him today."
"Just as the book helped me a lot back then, and that still helps me today, I hope that this book will remain in the hearts of the junior high school students who read it when they reach their 30s and 40s." (Continued in Part 2)
