NINO MORE interview - Beginnings (1/?)

[barbosa2007]

Nino talks about his views on the ocean, acting and directing.

“I hate the ocean…” (laughs)

 

This kicked off what should have been a commemorative issue on a clear and windy autumn day in Yokohama. These were the first words that came out [of Ninomiya’s mouth] as he gazed at the glittering water surface.

 

“Well, I’m not comfortable with objects bigger than myself or wide spaces! (laughs) I feel calmer in narrow spaces like closets and stuff, rather than in the ocean.”

 

He basks in the sea breeze and quietly focuses on the cameraman.

 

“As I’m being photographed, right now, I feel that there’s only the two of us.”

 

Regardless of the situation around him, he blends into the atmosphere with a nonchalant and casual air.

 

“It’s precisely because it’s the ‘Beginnings’, that’s why I don’t get worked up. The same attitude applies when I film on the set of “Ryusei no Kizuna”. Well it wasn’t that I didn’t get excited on purpose; there were other big events like the Asia Tour that was happening simultaneously and the drama [Ryusei] also something important to me.

 

“Even if I hadn’t thought of being the one to pull people forward, everyone exhibited their efforts in their own right. However, I probably was the one who enthusiastically initiated communications with the staff and co-actors. Even though I was playing a rivalling role [to someone on the set], if we could converse naturally it would definitely have a good influence on the script.”

 

I didn’t think that forming the group Arashi would change my life

 

From the opening of a new game to the crank-in of a movie. Everyday, there are various “beginnings”. However, the greatest Beginning that started the ball rolling in Nino’s life has got to be the moment when Arashi’s debut was determined.

 

“Even so, I didn’t think that the formation of Arashi was such a big deal. Even though I was 16 at the time, I had the privilege of acting in various roles and was more interested in directing than in acting. Just when I had plans to go to America to study to become a director, I was suddenly told in September that very year I would be debuting. (laughs) Although I thought that the group would probably be disbanded rather soon after its debut, in the blink of an eye, it’s almost been 10 years…

 

“At that time I was seriously considering being a director. Although it was my dream to direct my own stage play by the time I was 22 or 23 years old, I’m already 25. Right now I’m just enjoying my acting job. I don’t comment on the script nor directing. Although I do enjoy creating something, I don’t like to comment on jobs [like scriptwriting] which I was not involved in from the very beginning.”

 

That being said, as he’s immersed in various jobs, he does have his likes and dislikes. As he thrusts himself into [various jobs], there are also times when that was not the case.

 

 

“It’s alright. There are jobs and people which I prefer, but the dislikes decline as the years go by. Well, I’m a Johnny after all! (laughs) I’ve done all kinds of jobs under the sun so that’s trained me quite a bit. I can just take about everything that’s thrown at me. Rather, I’m thinking that to be fussy [over the jobs I take] is boring. I could live up to expectation A, whilst doing B and C, rather than taking the easy way out and just doing the things that I like. And I’m enjoying that. Although I’d like to try my hand at directing, I’m alright with putting it off for now. I’m happy where I am."