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barbosa2007I finally forced myself to at least complete the second part of this translation. The first part can be found here.
H magazine sits down with the members of Arashi to discuss their thoughts about their 10th year anniversary.
I mean, rather than to say that I was fired up, I think it’s just easier for things to be that way. The things we do, these [haters] can’t stand them and find them a nuisance. But that doesn’t mean that we’re necessarily doing the right thing. The answer is already there.
However, during the time when you were filming “Letters from Iwojima”, you said, “I’m not an actor, I’m an idol.” You planned to change the preconceived notion of what an idol was, right?
Nah, that’s because everyone around me started going, “You’re an actor, an actor!” I hated it when they did that. I mean, I’m not an actor! I’m just doing an acting job. I think it was an epoch in the making. Even during the Berlin Film Festival, the overseas media was going wild in reporting the movie. “I’m telling ya, I’m not an actor!” And as I kept saying that it came to be interpreted as such.
However, when we revisited your comments, you said, “Idols are extremely professional entertainers!” I mean, we feel that that comment probably caused the public to consciously change their prejudices against idols.
Well, I guess… I didn’t want to change what being an idol meant, but I just wanted to tell others that, “Look, an idol is capable of accomplishing this too.” I also thought it would be good if people could say, “It’s interesting to have an idol do all these things.” I mean, it’s no good if the meaning of being an idol has changed, right? If I were to tear down the idol framework and completely reinvent a new one, that no longer becomes an idol. The amazing thing is for someone to breathe new life into the existing framework. That’s the reason I do stuff like this and that… We kept want to do stuff which involved striking at a gray zone* of sorts. Well, we did think about doing stuff that no one else had done before. (laughs)
*Gray zone: generation gap
Does that form the basis of your motivation to work as an idol?
Well, I think the motivation lies in the projects I’m working on right now, right? That’s because I understand how great it is to have job offers. There were times when we didn’t have any work or singles which we could release. I guess that’s the main reason. In addition, our supporters have been there for us. It’s because of them that Arashi exists. We’re not hankering after status nor fame, so if people who watch our shows tell us that we’ve done a great job, that’s enough for us.
So what’s the greatest thing you’ve gained in the past ten years?
I guess it’s the mere fact that I’ve made it this far? And the fact that I was allowed to do my thing all this while. It may be easy to embark on something or to quit, but the hardest thing was to keep something going. It was really subdued. We’re not regular white-collared workers, so there are no promotions to look forward to. It’s not like we could go from an assistant director to become a director, or to become a producer from a director. We did not have any such motivation. Because there’s also this recognition that the growth process is a title that was conferred unto us, everyone thinks that they really have to give it their all. In our case, we didn’t have any such feelings. We’re really subdued; in a sense it’s because we’ve had the privilege to do all these things. I think we’re inclined to behave in that manner.
Whilst accounting for your capricious nature?
Yup. Although it’s a good thing to be rapidly engrossed in what you’re doing, I’m not the type to be sucked into what I’m doing. Let’s say, I wanna be the president of the company I just entered, and happened to become the president. I’d think to myself, oh no, what now? Say for example, even if my motivation were to be a top idol, there are countless idols produced every year and monstrous senpai. You can’t possibly determine who’s No. 1 then, right?
That is true.
You come to understand it when you’re in the job. You would inevitably think, “Even if I were appointed, I’ve got no choice.” And the thing is, there isn’t an upper echelon. What makes it even scarier is that there isn’t a lower echelon. And for Arashi to maintain status quo in that situation makes me think that Arashi is really amazing.
True.
Without having to keep leveling up, the fact that we have the privilege of trying out new things year after year is because we were able to maintain the status quo.
That’s because you guys have gathered together a bunch of level headed people, isn’t it?
That’s right. And the other fact is something which I’ve said over and over again, but it’s really how we do our job seriously. When it comes to building a house or arranging a holiday, you would choose to do it earnestly, wouldn’t you. That’s what I’m referring to here.
Even if your surroundings were to change rapidly, I feel that the charm of Arashi would not change. However, I was wondering, when Ninomiya-san mentioned at Kokuritsu, “I am looking forward to an unchanging evolution,” what exactly were you referring to?
Although Arashi wouldn’t change, but as individuals we probably will, right? For example, being a newscaster, although I wouldn’t go that far. However, when these people are Arashi members, they return to the same position in the group. Isn’t that amazing? I mean, Leader had his own art exhibition, but when he came back to Arashi, we kept speaking badly about him. (laughs)
Hahahaha.
I mean, for Sho-chan, he does an amazing job as a newscaster, but when he comes back to Arashi he acts the fool and all. But it doesn’t mean that the position always remains the same. This applies to Jun-kun and Aiba-chan too. Stuff like getting older, marriage, kids… It doesn’t mean that all that will happen. In spite of all that, there’s an unchanging quality in Arashi, and isn’t that amazing?
Why do you think that this possibility [of being unchanging] lies in Arashi?
That’s because we’re normal people, right? Yesterday when I went for a meal, I was told by the waiter, “Just the other day, I met Matsumoto Jun-kun.” According to him, when he went for someone’s birthday party, Jun-kun and Nishikido (Ryo) were both there. And they were in really high spirits. And then, “they were spinning in circles, and when they stopped, Matsumoto-san said, ‘Please favor Nishikido!’ And he kept on saying that.” (laughs)
Hahahaha!
When I heard that I laughed till my stomach hurt. It’s almost as if he’s like a company chief. (laughs) The waiter had said, “I never had such an image of Matsumoto-san, so I was really shocked.” As I listened to his story, I thought that [Jun] was really just a regular person.
H magazine sits down with the members of Arashi to discuss their thoughts about their 10th year anniversary.
Armed with a keen sensitivity and spontaneity, he’s able to make accurately a witty comeback on each member’s words. The variety chief who ascertains who to hand the conversation over to in order to achieve the best effect – Ninomiya Kazunari. To Ninomiya, who constantly does things for the sake of Arashi and keeps the other members in his thoughts, we asked for his opinion on Arashi’s status quo.
Moving on, we thought that it was interesting when you mentioned that you feel more fired up when there are idol-haters out there.
Moving on, we thought that it was interesting when you mentioned that you feel more fired up when there are idol-haters out there.
I mean, rather than to say that I was fired up, I think it’s just easier for things to be that way. The things we do, these [haters] can’t stand them and find them a nuisance. But that doesn’t mean that we’re necessarily doing the right thing. The answer is already there.
However, during the time when you were filming “Letters from Iwojima”, you said, “I’m not an actor, I’m an idol.” You planned to change the preconceived notion of what an idol was, right?
Nah, that’s because everyone around me started going, “You’re an actor, an actor!” I hated it when they did that. I mean, I’m not an actor! I’m just doing an acting job. I think it was an epoch in the making. Even during the Berlin Film Festival, the overseas media was going wild in reporting the movie. “I’m telling ya, I’m not an actor!” And as I kept saying that it came to be interpreted as such.
However, when we revisited your comments, you said, “Idols are extremely professional entertainers!” I mean, we feel that that comment probably caused the public to consciously change their prejudices against idols.
Well, I guess… I didn’t want to change what being an idol meant, but I just wanted to tell others that, “Look, an idol is capable of accomplishing this too.” I also thought it would be good if people could say, “It’s interesting to have an idol do all these things.” I mean, it’s no good if the meaning of being an idol has changed, right? If I were to tear down the idol framework and completely reinvent a new one, that no longer becomes an idol. The amazing thing is for someone to breathe new life into the existing framework. That’s the reason I do stuff like this and that… We kept want to do stuff which involved striking at a gray zone* of sorts. Well, we did think about doing stuff that no one else had done before. (laughs)
*Gray zone: generation gap
Does that form the basis of your motivation to work as an idol?
Well, I think the motivation lies in the projects I’m working on right now, right? That’s because I understand how great it is to have job offers. There were times when we didn’t have any work or singles which we could release. I guess that’s the main reason. In addition, our supporters have been there for us. It’s because of them that Arashi exists. We’re not hankering after status nor fame, so if people who watch our shows tell us that we’ve done a great job, that’s enough for us.
So what’s the greatest thing you’ve gained in the past ten years?
I guess it’s the mere fact that I’ve made it this far? And the fact that I was allowed to do my thing all this while. It may be easy to embark on something or to quit, but the hardest thing was to keep something going. It was really subdued. We’re not regular white-collared workers, so there are no promotions to look forward to. It’s not like we could go from an assistant director to become a director, or to become a producer from a director. We did not have any such motivation. Because there’s also this recognition that the growth process is a title that was conferred unto us, everyone thinks that they really have to give it their all. In our case, we didn’t have any such feelings. We’re really subdued; in a sense it’s because we’ve had the privilege to do all these things. I think we’re inclined to behave in that manner.
Whilst accounting for your capricious nature?
Yup. Although it’s a good thing to be rapidly engrossed in what you’re doing, I’m not the type to be sucked into what I’m doing. Let’s say, I wanna be the president of the company I just entered, and happened to become the president. I’d think to myself, oh no, what now? Say for example, even if my motivation were to be a top idol, there are countless idols produced every year and monstrous senpai. You can’t possibly determine who’s No. 1 then, right?
That is true.
You come to understand it when you’re in the job. You would inevitably think, “Even if I were appointed, I’ve got no choice.” And the thing is, there isn’t an upper echelon. What makes it even scarier is that there isn’t a lower echelon. And for Arashi to maintain status quo in that situation makes me think that Arashi is really amazing.
True.
Without having to keep leveling up, the fact that we have the privilege of trying out new things year after year is because we were able to maintain the status quo.
That’s because you guys have gathered together a bunch of level headed people, isn’t it?
That’s right. And the other fact is something which I’ve said over and over again, but it’s really how we do our job seriously. When it comes to building a house or arranging a holiday, you would choose to do it earnestly, wouldn’t you. That’s what I’m referring to here.
Even if your surroundings were to change rapidly, I feel that the charm of Arashi would not change. However, I was wondering, when Ninomiya-san mentioned at Kokuritsu, “I am looking forward to an unchanging evolution,” what exactly were you referring to?
Although Arashi wouldn’t change, but as individuals we probably will, right? For example, being a newscaster, although I wouldn’t go that far. However, when these people are Arashi members, they return to the same position in the group. Isn’t that amazing? I mean, Leader had his own art exhibition, but when he came back to Arashi, we kept speaking badly about him. (laughs)
Hahahaha.
I mean, for Sho-chan, he does an amazing job as a newscaster, but when he comes back to Arashi he acts the fool and all. But it doesn’t mean that the position always remains the same. This applies to Jun-kun and Aiba-chan too. Stuff like getting older, marriage, kids… It doesn’t mean that all that will happen. In spite of all that, there’s an unchanging quality in Arashi, and isn’t that amazing?
Why do you think that this possibility [of being unchanging] lies in Arashi?
That’s because we’re normal people, right? Yesterday when I went for a meal, I was told by the waiter, “Just the other day, I met Matsumoto Jun-kun.” According to him, when he went for someone’s birthday party, Jun-kun and Nishikido (Ryo) were both there. And they were in really high spirits. And then, “they were spinning in circles, and when they stopped, Matsumoto-san said, ‘Please favor Nishikido!’ And he kept on saying that.” (laughs)
Hahahaha!
When I heard that I laughed till my stomach hurt. It’s almost as if he’s like a company chief. (laughs) The waiter had said, “I never had such an image of Matsumoto-san, so I was really shocked.” As I listened to his story, I thought that [Jun] was really just a regular person.
