Utaite Spotlight: ASK

[fascinates]

ASK

mylist | community | mixi | blog

I am sure no one, even newbies in this fandom, does not know about ASK. He is one of the most popular singers in the utattemita world as well as one of the most secretive. The reason it took so long to write this writeup for him is because there is virtually no information on ASK, save for his songs and works (CDs, live events, etc.).

There is no need to describe ASK's voice in terms of genre or singing style. He can sing ballads, rock, pop, etc. Sometimes, his voice tends to get shaky in his solo works, especially during high parts. He also often appears to sing with less force compared to his contemporaries like clear, Tourai, Kettaro, etc. However that doesn't mean he doesn't have a wide range or strong voice; a proof of this is his numerous Nico Nico Douga medley covers, where he most often sings all the songs (high, low, super high, loli, etc.) using various pitches and styles of his voice. His medley covers alone show how well he manipulates his own voice to bring life to his songs. He has minimally, though, borrowed Hanatan's voice in a few of his medleys.

One reason why ASK is popular is because of his lighthearted take on songs, sometimes even bordering on crack. He started singing Kamen Rider songs before delving into medleys and eventually into Vocaloid songs. He has several collaborations with other utaite including the infamous AsuNeGero and Smiley*2. At the moment, he hasn't put out any covers because he is busy with his live events and doujin works.

ASK was born in Aichi on March 26, 1985. He stands at 180 cm, one of the tallest utaite I know. He likes playing MMORPGs and video games. Despite those info, ASK is a very secretive individual. He rarely appears in live events and rarely has radio shows (he guests in shows but rarely holds them alone). In his blog, there is a page dedicated to telling people the sites he frequent and that he never uses the name ASK in sites other than those, encouraging people to report to him if someone from other sites are using his name and posing as an utaite. He also states that aside from his e-mail and twitter, he cannot offer any other way of correspondence, and keeps his Skype and other vital information private. He also said that he never uses his utaite name when playing games.

Furthermore, he has a statement for people who want to send him gifts and discouraged them from doing so. While he is thankful for everyone, he thinks that people should not waste money on him, especially since they already bought tickets for his events. There is also no way to send him gifts other than during live events. Instead of material gifts, he strongly encourages sending him letters instead because it doesn't cost much to buy paper ^^;. As for fanart, he welcomes them but he doesn't personally allow BL-themed art because he thinks it might be a breach of etiquette ^^;.

ASK also says that he can read little English but he is quite bad at it. People are free to leave him messages in English (in his blog/email) but he pleads to keep the English very basic.


sample songs
• Ningen ga Daisuki na Kowareta Youkai no Uta (Touhou/Cool&Create)
• Piano x Forte x Scandal (original by OSTER Project)
• Cendrillon [with aomofu] (original by SignalP)
• Wash my Blood (original by DeadballP)
• Wanderlast (original by SasakureP)

• Nico Nico Douga medley
• Nico Nico Ryuuseigun
• Nanairo no Nico Nico Douga
• Fukutsu no Tama de Gocchani! medley
• Nijigen medley


nikki says
ASK has included all the information you need in his blog as I stated above, but I find it hard to understand most of his posts (not to mention he's very tl;dr ;;). But since I promised I'd do a writeup for him, here it is even if it's late XD.

I first knew ASK because of his heart-wrenching cover of Aku no Meshitsukai which is still my favorite cover of the song to date. I honestly like only a few of his covers but I admire his medleys so much. For me, he gives off an 'older brother' attitude even when he is among older fellow utaite. He's pretty much level-headed and always seems to have a cool aura except when doing some crack with NeGero w. His songs aside, he is one of the few utaite I admire because of his diligence to separate his private from his online life as well as saying his points across without hesitation, like for example, his stand on the proposed Virtual Child Porn Ban in Japan.

Comments

[lunahonou.livejournal.com]

FIRST!! YES!! ASK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[crimsonfire3]

ASLKDJAS;; ASK ASKJDAS;; COMMENT FIRST BEFORE READ |DDDDDDD

[sanzycheshire.blogspot.com]

"While he is thankful for everyone, he thinks that people should not waste money on him, especially since they already bought tickets for his events."

Aww.. I think that's really considerate of him. x3

"Instead of material gifts, he strongly encourages sending him letters instead because it doesn't cost much to buy paper"

*nods* I think letters are very precious. :3

[nozombier.livejournal.com]

AAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

Ahhhh~ <3 I love this man~ >/////< I love how he's so straight forward~ And I agree about the letters~ <3 Man i wanna send him some letters too. ;u;

I heard he's really handsome... OH GOD TALL AND HANDSOME AND SO TALENTED AND SMART-/shot

I also love how he separates work/hobby to private life. It shows how mature he is!~ <3

[nxia.livejournal.com]

YES! ktkr--!!!

... "doujin works" asdkjhcd what the, HE DRAWSS?! & 5'11 woah i wonder if his into basket ball. My gosh... ASK is such a STRAIGHT guy!! OAO; Hhggnnn his mysterious personality makes it all interesting! ♥

[bloodcaramel]

amg FINALLY A POST ABOUT HIM!

He's one of my top favourite utaite since he's one of the earlier uttatemitas that i've came across while running around in Youtube back in 2008 or earlier.

I adore his sense of crack in most of his songs, he makes me smile xD Though some of his songs like Aku no Meshitsukai makes me melt xD

Although i wish i could get into his community or at least have a peek at his real face. Also I can't believe his that tall. Not many boys I come across here have reached that height or more xD and seeing the fanarts, he seem to be a megane, which makes things even better *shot*

By the look of it, he seems to be a considerate person, wanting his fans not to waste so much money on gifts and willing the banning virtual child porn. Then again i don't really know what his opinions were about that proposal because of my lack of japanese skills orz.

Still he's a very cool person to me. Mature and considerate and an awesome sense of humor as an epic side dish xD

Thanks for writing this, Nikki!

[kyokugen]

I definitely love this. ASK. ♥ *^* I personally think he makes one great voice actor. >^<

[takaraikarin]

Have to admit, ASK's voice is always too nasally for my taste, but I do think he's got a good voice and I like a handful of his covers. Also, I never heard a peep of negative comments from fans, so I'll take off my hat for his professionalism =)

And yes, he always sounded so... reisei (the only word I think that sums up him so well. oh, and-) shikkarishiteiru ^^

[kuuki-chan.livejournal.com]

ASKKKKK!!!*A*
Thank you for writing this!! XDD
ASK is the first Utaite I know + one of the people that sucked me into the utattemita hole psshhh ( and he's still one of my favourites <3)
I agree with "his tl;dr post" part though XDD He reminds me of an ojii-san with his long post and sometimes with his use of uhh..too many kanjis /is lazy :<


/now I wish I have an older brother like him DD:

[seraphictune]

ASK~~~~
so pro *w* separating private/online life XD

although honestly, I haven't really heard much of his stuff (knows him from AsuNeGero XD) but I do like his medleys, they're so crack-tastic~~~ XDD

tall and handsome *w* ooooooh. XD

letters are so sweet~ =)

[ureshiitoki]

ASK is really smart for knowing how to pick apart his life. I also think that's it's really cool of him to set up "rules" (because most people are afraid of offending the fans)

ASK <3

[stephieku.livejournal.com]

I actually haven't listened to much of ASK's stuff, but after reading this, I have much respect for him. Although I'm curious about him, this is probably the best way to avoid drama and keep professional

[sillygrl1990.livejournal.com]

I really respect how ASK is so considerate and mature!
He should totally voice act though... so talented. *_*

[lluvia]

... I like how he discourages BL even after doing that magnet with NeGero. O-Oh ASK. But he's such a classy guy, overall. I ♥ him, definitely the cool/mature type.

[akari-misaki.livejournal.com]

ASK is the first utaite that I heard and like my fangirling of utaite start from him LOL (his "SPICE!" is so nnnggghhh...! for me and that "Servant of Evil"! X3 )
thank you for write this up it really brighten me up and remind me again why I love him so much XD XD

[yanii]

ASK is also the first utaite I've heard of, as I have told you.
Does he even hold his own lives? I'm in the comm but man he does not.

While reading the the only thing that went in my brain was gaaash asuke is so cool so cool so cool so cool oh man so coool. I totally look up to him. :S

[valxonia.livejournal.com]

ASK is definitely my FAVORITE utattemita ><,, I love his voice and his personality so much!

His "Aku no Meshitsukai" is definitely heartbreaking (ARGHHHH those serifu!!!!)

and awwwwww Not to spend money on him?? THAT'S SO SWEEEEEETTTTT!!

he's such a professional ,, I'd love to go see his live at least once T_T (i'll die happily LOL)

Thanks alot for posting this up!

[ravient.livejournal.com]

ASK!!!! FINALLY U DID HIM~~ XDD that sounds so wrong but u know what i mean.. XP

thanks to him, i entered this fandom~ XDDD he does sound like aniki~ I'd like him as my aniki~ XP

that's really sweet of him for telling his fans not to spend their money for the gifts~ X3

ah.. i'm srsly curious bout his face.. wwwww

[haine-x3.livejournal.com]

ASKKKKKK!
He holds a special place in my heart because he was the first Nico singer I heard. Or least that I'm aware of anyway. I also knew of him through his Servant of Evil cover...my fav song and fav cover to this very day. T^T

After hearing his cover, I was intrigued. Listening to other songs by him led me to discover all those other singers and BAM! I brought into the world of utattemita.

[(Anonymous)]

I got ASK's photos!! i'm not sure though..:-/ and it's just his back though.. anyone want it? i will upload and post the link here later if you guys want.. :D the link here

[tempestbreak]

Do you have a picture of ask where his face can be seen? It's really hard finding one...