Kyo (京) is the stagename of a Japanese artist belonging to the group Dir en grey. He was born 16 February 1976 in Kyoto. There is much debate to his birth name, but most accept it to be -- (西村 亨). At age fifteen he chose to forego High School and instead began a career in music. When he was eighteen he moved from his home to Osaka, where he met his current bandmates.
Kyo is the vocalist and self-proclaimed 'Prophet' of a popular Japanese rock group named Dir en grey. He has written lyrics to over eighty songs for Dir en grey alone, and composed music for at least four of the group's songs. Known for his outspoken and opinionated manner, his lyrics are typically nothing less than vivid, poignant, and controversial.
As a poet he has published two books of poetry, both containing CDs of Kyo's original songs.
Kyo has also designed items for Japanese clothing brands BATSU and ID-JAPAN. He has worn and modeled some his and other's designs onstage and in fashion magazines.
While some people might find his lyrics and poetry sadistic or disgusting, there are many others who believe Kyo to be a brilliant alchemist. Some even believe that his title as a modern-day 'Prophet' is deserved and fitting title. Kyo himself has admited to writing things that will make it hard for people to accept him. His subjects are often unpleasant for most readers. They are often filled with perverse images of violence, rape, and paraphilia. One of his more artistic ventures is mazohyst of decadence - a song written from the mind of an unborn child being ripped from its mother's womb during an abortion.
Kyo often uses words with double meanings and puns which can make fully understanding his lyrics or poems difficult. Deeper meanings also lie in cultural references that foreign readers may not fully grasp. His work has carried continuing themes for years which connect even his earliest and latest poems together. Some of these include flowers (sakura blossoms), religion (god and christianity), parents, colors (blue and red), suicide, and sex (innuendo and blatant references). Kyo enjoys making his songs hard to understand, and apparently 'likes to take a story and remove all the bare-bones and main points of it to leave a complex piece that we cannot fully comprehend since most of the main facts are gone'. Many of his songs are based on own experiences and feelings of self-hate, suicide and worthlessness that he apparently felt in his youth, including one song which is based on a girl he loved and was to marry but left him for his friend. Despite this, Kyo is described as a very well-balanced person.
