MORE January 2010 - Nino's IT interview

[barbosa2007]

MORE magazine sits down with Ninomiya Kazunari for an interview in their January 2010 issue.

The Ninomiya Kazunari that you see today didn’t arrive at where he is due solely due to the choices he made. That, Nino wholeheartedly believes, is due to the paths paved for him by people and events.

A day in October. Nino goes to buy a cake in the shops on the street. It was a cake generously garnished with fruits of various colours and a plate printed with the words “Happy Birthday” in the centre. “It’s my mother’s birthday today so I thought I’d buy a cake for the family to eat. However, even without disguising myself I get found out. When the shopkeeper asked me, “What name shall I print on the plate?” And I replied without thinking, “It’s alright if you don’t put in the name.” You know, I couldn’t say my mother’s name in a situation like this, right? (laughs) And I suddenly became embarrassed so I left the shop without even getting candles. Despite that, when I brought the cake home [my mother] was really pleased. “It’s the first time you’ve done something like that!” she enthuses. It’s really strange, although I remembered that I said that I had intended to celebrate her birthday every year, undeniably I was there. You only get one birthday a year after all.

It was rather unexpected for [Nino] to talk about treasuring anniversaries. This was coming from a person who said, “Arashi’s 10^th year anniversary was, to me, just a checkpoint.”

It’s fine with me if you wish to place anniversaries in work or in relationships. An anniversary to celebrate our 100^th date together can be paralleled to a television program’s compilation and highlights episode, right? Together, we [as a couple] look back at our history and look forward to the future and stuff like that. It’s the ongoing regular broadcasts which truly matter. However, things like birthdays are still special. It’s once a year so I do want to celebrate it. Although I hate to celebrate mine. If someone were to throw me a huge birthday party I’d be rather troubled! I would be awkward and have some sense of guilt. At that time, more than “thank you”, I would be thinking along the lines of “I’m sorry…” I don’t really have a strong desire to be the centre of attraction.

I’m someone who likes to bless people than to be blessed by others.

“However, that’s not because I’m a “good guy”. I don’t intentionally want to become one, I just want to be perceived as one. (laughs) So when I meet people outside, I generally treat them well and I endeavour to be kind. Just the other day, I had a meal with 4 friends and I happened to pick up a cell phone. Everyone was like, “Let’s just leave it at the police post,” but I said, “The person [who dropped it] will probably call soon, so why don’t we wait for a while and then pass it back to him directly.” In actual fact, when the event occurred that way, everyone was really pleased and said that it was great. But that’s not gentleness. I just like that side of me which demonstrates this detail of thoughtfulness. (laughs) In other words, I’m really a false Good Samaritan. You see, on the outside I’m nice and all, but on the inside I really have no compassion; cause I’m a bad guy! (laughs)”

That phenomenon probably isn’t just restricted to Nino. For many in the world, altruism can be used for selfish purposes. That in itself is a form of hypocrisy.

“Being eco-friendly can be [a self-centred act] too. Although we say that we want to save the environment, ultimately, it’s for the sake of our own egos. I’m a cheapskate, so before being eco-friendly became popular, I was already doing environmentally friendly stuff. I use the same thing over and over again until it can’t be used anymore, and I don’t switch on the lights in my home and just live by the illumination provided by the street lamps. (laughs) [Translator’s note: Oh, Nino.] And I’ve used eco-friendly bags since a long time ago. For such an obvious matter to be described as something that’s truly wonderful, I wonder how…”

Until the day I die, I would like to live like I’ve not arrived yet.

“I lose interest when I do something for my own sake. In comparison, when I do something for “someone else”, it becomes a source of motivation. There are times when you feel like you want to do something for this person but don’t necessarily feel like you have to do it for yourself right?”

That being said, Nino didn’t choose his own job. “I didn’t set out thinking, I’m going to do this.” That was because he knew that it was necessary in order to express his gratitude to the people around him.

“Actually, I feel like I’ve received the strength from others to continue living. I can probably attribute 20 percent of who I am today to my attributes and talents. The other 80 percent comes from the people who’ve helped me along the way. I’m good at reacting to the different personalities of people and their expectations, so I basically have the genes for witty ripostes (lit: tsukkomi!). Since I move in response to my surroundings, the possibilities are very varied and it brings myself to life. More than for my own sake, it’s more natural for me to [do something] for someone else. There were many times when my encounters with others led them to think that way. So far my favour with the staff and co-stars has been extraordinarily great. If I had the talent, I wouldn’t think of it as favour when meeting people. I also think that it’s partly due to covetousness that I don’t give 100 percent of myself. I have yet to want to see what I’m like when I give of myself a full 100 percent. Even if I receive a gold medal for going at full throttle, I’m still not satisfied. Until the day I die, I would like to live like I’ve not arrived yet. That’s why I live for the sake of others, though it might look like I rely on others. Oh yes, that too, is a manifestation of my own ego…? (laughs)”

The serialisations have welcomed their first year anniversary and is moving on to its second. “I’m pretty sure I’m doing this serialisation for someone’s sake.” Nino gets embarrassed just a wee bit as he laughs while saying that.

“The year has gone by in a flash! But for it to continue is a good thing, right?”

Comments

[r34lpr1nc3ss.livejournal.com]

thank you for sharing...

[zhay-rar.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing! :)

[ulilulelo.livejournal.com]

wow you're fast. thanks for translating and sharing!!
Until the day I die, I would like to live like I’ve not arrived yet. I like this thought of him. live for the sake of others.

[hisa-no-nikki.livejournal.com]

I like the talk part about *I’m someone who likes to bless people than to be blessed by others*. Sasuga from those who are born under the star of Gemini. Watashi mo..I'm also like that..Good outside but bad inside.. hahaha *ok..maybe not all geminian are like that..no offence to other gemini *

Anyway, thank you for the translation

[green-yeti.livejournal.com]

I understood this article! More or less, I attribute it to me being a gemini so you're not alone! Well as twins, we never really are though.

Does being a gemini have anything to do with being clingy? Or touchy-feely?

[raatkerani.livejournal.com]

thank you ^_____^

[shukupao.livejournal.com]

I love celebrating birthdays for my friends and family, and hate to celebrate mine as well. This article is overflowing with Nino's wise words!! Thanks for translating! ♥

[nuin27.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
Nino is a thoughtful person ne~

[dhannylyn.livejournal.com]

I lose interest when I do something for my own sake. In comparison, when I do something for “someone else”, it becomes a source of motivation. There are times when you feel like you want to do something for this person but don’t necessarily feel like you have to do it for yourself right?”


cant believe Nino said this...he's really ssuuuugggoooii...**faints**

[pebblegosling.livejournal.com]

love these translations. Thank you!

[sandreen.livejournal.com]

Gaah, Nino. It's always nice to hear what you think.
Thank you for translating, once again! :D

[bon456.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing this, I always enjoying reading about Nino's feeling. He speaks like a true Gemini.

[hisa-no-nikki.livejournal.com]

*He speaks like a true Gemini* -> I'm agree with you..

[aikyo16.livejournal.com]

oh my. the person who left his/her phone behind was so lucky to have nino get it back to him/her!


anyways, thanks loads for translating and sharing! ^^

[happyhapee.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing. This was really awesome.

[c-alen.livejournal.com]

thanks for translating.

[angy85.livejournal.com]

Nino went to buy a cake for his mother and became embarrassed because he couldn't say his name is so sweet!!*__*
I think that nino wanted to meet the person who lost the cell phone!:)
thanks for translating!^_^

[cassyclim8.livejournal.com]

wow thanks for this. Nino is special. he's got this wit and knack of being insightfully blunt that makes one admire him.

he's not doing things for show. He's just is.... oh i can't explain it well but yeah....i love him for that.

[thebambinoweeps.livejournal.com]

i like nino's philosophy. thanks for sharing!

[lujba.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing! ^^
Can I have your translation to translate into Russian?
Because I admin Russian site about Arashi ^^

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

Yeah sure. Just link back to this LJ for credits.

[leisypeisy.livejournal.com]

thank uu

[alrej.livejournal.com]

oh nino, im liking you more and more, even if youre faking it...

[alrej.livejournal.com]

oh and thanks!!

[yachiichan.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing.
Nino is really mature in his thoughts.
I respect him a lot for that!
I'm glad that Arashi is a group which not only performs.
But also let us know important values of life.

[summerlease.livejournal.com]

I really really love how this boy thinks. 'Cause I could never think so deeply or philosophically. Oh, Nino. ♥

Thanks for sharing this translation!

[lujba.livejournal.com]

Ok, Thanks ^^

[strwberry-muse.livejournal.com]

Nino's thought process is really interesting! :D
Thank you for translating as usual~ :D

[green-yeti.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the translation! I think Nino is cryptic sometimes.