[TRANS] WiNK UP (Nov 2021): Charming!! + “Come Come Everybody” Featurette
C h a r m i n g !!
We investigate SixTONES’ charms this month! What do they think is charming about their group? We bring you that along with a cute spread of them wearing matching outfits and making the same poses.
Kouchi too… look.
You’ve got a banana on your head.
Tanaka: Over a year has passed since we debuted and the general public has come to recognise us too, but there are still lots they don’t know about yet.
Kyomoto: There are parts they don’t know yet and parts that we haven’t shown too.
Jesse: Yeah. What should we do to show our goodness even more?
Morimoto: Hmm. The first thing is that we’re often seen as “cocky” or “flippant”, but we’re surprisingly level-headed.
Matsumura: People who don’t know much about us would probably get an impression that we’re cocky from when we perform, or from our promotional photos.
Kouchi: Before this crosstalk too, we were discussing seriously about the details of our next meeting. But the staff-san said “I thought you were going to say silly things” (laughs).
Kyomoto: Even staff-san who know us will think that way so (laughs).
Matsumura: But take a look at Juri in a suit. He looks super charai [shallow/a flirt] (laughs). Usually you’d look proper when you wear a suit!
Tanaka: I was shocked myself when I looked in the mirror (laughs).
Jesse: You can join the “looks-like-a-bad-person championship”. [T/N: Referring to Chocopura’s (CHOCOLATE PLANET) popular YouTube skit series]
Matsumura: Kouchi too… look. You’ve got a banana on your head.
Kouchi: There isn’t one! (laughs) Juri’s comical side is getting some traction from things like “Sukojyani~”.
Kyomoto: I watched the first one but I haven’t been able to watch the second one. When I hear that Juri is going on a variety show, it gives me nothing but comfort. I’m sure he will definitely leave an impression on the viewers.
Kouchi: From watching that show, I found out just how funny Tatsumi (Yuudai)-kun is. So I’m sure there must be people who think that way about Juri.
Tanaka: That show, it had a really really early start. Like from 5am.
Jesse: It’s tough to have to get into the variety show mode from that early in the morning.
Kyomoto: If it’s not with a Johnnys senpai or kouhai who I’ve interacted with, I don’t think I’d be able to be my natural self at all. In “Sukojyani~” terms, personally, I’ve troubled Totsuka (Shota)-kun more than Kawai (Fumito)-kun, and I talk more with (Nakajima) Kento than with (Kikuchi) Fuuma.
Tanaka: I see. But I have the confidence to do it no matter which kouhai or senpai is there!
Morimoto: That must be what gives us peace of mind. I want more people to know about it Juri’s funny side, and out of our group, Hokuto could do it too right?
Matsumura: Yeah, I think so too. I’ll do anything.
Jesse: Yeah, he doesn’t look it, but Hokuto is actually suited towards variety shows too. But he’s got his image to keep. Hokuto is the ikemen actor after all.
Morimoto: We’ll have to save Hokuto for later!
Tanaka: With SixTONES, all of us can do well in variety shows once the cameras are rolling right? That image you mentioned just then, from people who aren’t our fans, they probably don’t think that we’d be such bright and silly boys.
Kyomoto: Out of SixTONES, the ones who are kinda recognised as “funny people” are Juri, Jesse and Shintarou right?
Tanaka: Kouchi’s funny too behind the scenes, but he tends to take the “makes proper comments” position when the camera’s on.
Kouchi: Ah~ I think I’m like that.
Morimoto: We need someone like that in the group though.
Tanaka: But to highlight Kouchi’s funniness, it has to be through teasing. It gets better the more we tease him.
Kouchi: But since everyone I meet right now are all new faces, there’s no way they’d tease me off the bat (laughs). And anyway, I want to put on a “SixTONES’ face” when I’m out, so it’s like I’m wearing a half translucent mask (laughs).
Kyomoto: Your casual face.
Kouchi: Yeah. But I feel like my mask’s translucency has increased since going on “Love It!” (laughs). My mask is becoming clear, and if Hokuto’s true personality is going to get revealed too, then SixTONES’ image will… (laughs).
Tanaka: In my opinion, when Hokuto goes on a talk show to promote his dramas and things, how about suddenly showing that [hidden] side of yours?
Jesse: Yes yes. People would be surprised that “eh, he’s so good with his words?!”.
Kouchi: Hokuto knows how to word things well so rather than putting his body on the line, it’s about his talking skills.
Tanaka: Yes. Don’t be like me and eat quail eggs nonstop (laughs).
Morimoto: Eh~ In my eyes it’s “Degawa Tetsurou-san, Ueshima Ryuuhei-san & Matsumura Hokuto”. I hope more people can see what good reactions he makes! [T/N: Both are ‘reaction’ comedians who are known for being pranked/doing gags that involve putting their body on the line]
Tanaka: To be honest, I think Hokuto will probably be an MC for his own program one day.
Kouchi: Ahh, I get you!
Matsumura: Oh, seriously?!
Jesse: A variety show with Hokuto as the MC, isn’t that something even the fans can’t imagine yet?
Matsumura: I got it. Well then, all of us can reveal our funny sides bit by bit to the public so that they’d gain immunity and think “Oh? SixTONES are like that [on stage] but they’re actually bright and fun youngsters”, and that’s when I’ll go forth!
Kyomoto: Things like the timing for him to break out of his shell - Hokuto observes everything about the group carefully after all.
Jesse: On the other hand, Juri only switches on when he’s with us and when the cameras are on. He doesn’t talk to anyone when he’s in the waiting room before a TV show recording. But once the cameras roll, he’ll get into the zone in a flash and makes everyone laugh. That kinda makes me proud!
Kouchi: You sound like a producer (laughs).
Tanaka: I’ll be in the corner of the waiting room, sipping on juice by myself. But Jesse will let me be and imme~diately go and chat with Kamaitachi-san!
Kyomoto: That sounds like something he’d do.
Jesse: I talk to Juri sometimes as well though.
Tanaka: Hahaha! True. It’s not that I’m shy so you don’t need to worry about me at all.
Kouchi: I’m that type too so when I go to variety shows with Juri, the both of us are just standing near the door of the waiting room… (laughs).
Tanaka: Yeah, Kouchi doesn’t say a word either!
Jesse: Eh~ Don’t you chat with the other guests in the waiting room? No no no, that’s terrible! They’d think you’re a scary person you know?
Morimoto: Hokuto, Kyomo and I don’t really understand this waiting room business…
Kyomoto: Yeah. I have zero experience with waiting rooms!
Jesse: So to explain to the readers as well, the waiting room is the stand-by space for the guests in front of the recording studio.
Kouchi: Uh-huh. There’s a long row of chairs and drinks available too, and that’s where we are in the short time before cameras start rolling.
Jesse: The 3 of you can come and visit our “Love It!” recording next time. A social studies field trip where you learn “oh~ so this is the waiting room” (laughs).
Kyomoto: If I told the manager-san “I want to learn about waiting rooms”, do you think he’d open up a slot in our schedule for it? (laughs).
Kouchi: But there are waiting rooms at drama sets too right?
Morimoto: I think the waiting rooms for dramas are totally different to the ones for variety shows.
Matsumura: Yeah. Everyone is reading their scripts and such in the waiting room, they aren’t chilling and having a gas.
Tanaka: For me, even when filming dramas, I’ll be in the manager’s car during lunch.
Jesse: Seriously?! I can’t believe you! But since Juri has that mysterious side, it’s probably why fans think “I want to know more about him! I want to see him even more!”.
All: Ahahaha!
Kouchi: Eh, really?! Is that how they think about me too then?!
Tanaka: Ahaha! But Jesse, you’ve forgotten one important thing. The fans don’t know about us not going into waiting rooms yet (laughs).
Morimoto: Well, when this magazine gets released, they’d think “Juri-kun is so mysterious! I’m curious! I want to know more!”.
Tanaka: Welcome to Tanaka Juri’s world (laughs). Shintarou… This goes back on the variety show topic, but he’s someone with exceptional variety show skills.
Kyomoto: Today’s theme is “SixTONES’ and variety shows” huh (laughs).
Matsumura: Shintarou goes on variety shows with senpais often right? It’s amazing that he’s able to read the atmosphere well in those situations!
Kyomoto: He has a keen sense in the first place.
Morimoto: And also, I’m the type of person to fulfil what I’m asked of. Even instructions like “please do ____ here” from the staff-san, I’ll say “yes, I got it!” to all of them.
Tanaka: Out of SixTONES, Shintarou is a projectile-like character right? Like saying or doing things out of the blue. But since we’re newly debuted, he still hasn’t been able to show that side of his fully.
Morimoto: Moreover, if I were to act as usual, Juri and Jesse wouldn’t be able to flourish right?
Tanaka: …Eh, so you’re saying, if you were at 100% then we’d pale in comparison?
Morimoto: Yup yup. I’m letting the two of you run free at the moment.
Jesse: Thank you for your consideration!
Morimoto: It’s okay, no worries. I’m in the middle of getting warmed up right now.
Kyomoto: So Shintarou, right now you’re supporting the ‘variety show’ pop-up lifter that Juri and Jesse are on?
Morimoto: Yep. I’ll shout “here you go!” and push them up.
Kouchi: It’d be hilarious if Shintarou tried his best and fell flat though (laughs).
I’m the secret weapon, so I’ll go at the very end
Matsumura: By the way, from Shintarou’s perspective, who jumps the highest from that pop-up lifter?
Morimoto: Kyomoto Taiga.
Kyomoto: (avidly) Me?! Eh, have I been jumping from Shintarou’s pop-up lifter?!
Kouchi: He himself had no idea at all (laughs).
Morimoto: That’s right. With Kyomo, no one has realised yet, but he’s a super funny person.
Tanaka: I too think that Kyomo is funny, but I’ve never felt a shadow of Shintarou’s presence (laughs).
Morimoto: Ah, is that so? I excelled too far at being a shadow then. Soz!
Kouchi: Shintarou’s the one that’s a producer (laughs).
Morimoto: That’s exactly what I think I am.
Kyomoto: So, will you market the 5 of us?
Morimoto: Of course, of course! I’m the secret weapon so I’ll go at the very end.
Matsumura: You, you can’t say that yourself (laughs).
Kouchi: Hahaha! But you know, Shintarou is recognised by quite a lot of the public isn’t he?
Jesse: You’re right. There’s “~DASH!!” and he was also in the getsu9 drama “~Asagao” as well. More people recognise him now than before right?
Morimoto: The other day, an old lady asked me “isn’t it tough on ‘~DASH’?”. After I chatted some more, I found out that she mistook me as a staff member on the show (laughs).
All: That’s not good! (laughs)
Kouchi: But that also means you have a friendly disposition.
Kyomoto: Even during the radio show where we asked people on the streets about our impression, there were answers like “he seems friendly” and “I want him to be my kouhai”.
Morimoto: I’m glad to hear that! I think I’d be a good kouhai. I’m a yes-man after all (brightly & resolutely)!
Matsumura: I don’t think that’s something to boast about (laughs).
Kouchi: And to be precise, it’s “a yes-man with a rebellious spirit”. He’ll do the things you ask him to, but he’ll complain about it afterwards (laughs).
Morimoto: Yes! Well then, what’s Kyomo’s “good point that the world needs to know more about”?
Kouchi: Maybe about his deftness.
Kyomoto: Eh~ I’m not deft at all. It’s either climbing mountains, or singing on “FNS Kayosai”... it’s these 2 options.
Morimoto: You can release a recipe book though can’t you?
Jesse: A tomato-only one!
Kyomoto: Why is it tomato-only (laughs). But I did eat tomato pasta the day before yesterday. It’s true that I want to release a recipe book one day.
Morimoto: Doesn’t it feel like it’d work if Kyomo came up with a strong character? Like “the tomato prince from planet tomato”.
Kyomoto: Isn’t that a bit sad? Why would that be my merit? (laughs).
Matsumura: The public probably think he’s “a pale and quiet person”.
Tanaka: It’s probably a prim oujisama [prince] image. But the real Kyomo is more of an idiot and an airhead. I think that’s what’s good. It’s showing here and there, but I hope he can reveal it more in the future. That duality is his weapon. People would think “I thought he was a cool person but he’s cute!”.
Jesse: Yeah. I think he has the biggest gap within SixTONES.
Kyomoto: Hmm, but I still want to stay underground (laughs). I don’t want them to find out about me. Because I feel like I’ll lose sight of myself if they seek that.
Jesse: And that, just like Juri and Kouchi earlier, is what captures the fan’s hearts. The deeper they dig to discover “what sort of person are they?”, the deeper they get. SixTONES’ mole (laughs).
Kouchi: In that sense, we do have “mysteriousness”. “Please wait a moment until we surface” (laughs). Ok, last is Jesse!
Tanaka: The complete opposite to everyone so far, I want to see him being serious.
All: Ahh~! (agreement)
Tanaka: On TV and things, Jesse has an image of being a little cheeky and messing about right? But he’s thinking about things carefully behind the scenes - he’s a serious person at the core.
Morimoto: Yes. You know when you watch him from close. I hope he can tell us the things he’s thinking about too.
Jesse: Hmm… (cheekily) What will it be~??
Matsumura: That’s what we mean. He’s actually 2, 3 steps ahead but.
Morimoto: Especially when he’s fooling around during MC and things. You think about boke-ing [acting dumb] there and about which member will tsukkomi [quip] on it right?
Jesse: Well, for some of them. I’m an idiot so I have to do my best and think them through!
Kouchi: He’ll reflects like this suddenly as well. It surprises us since he’ll suddenly go “aah, I should’ve said that there!” (laughs).
Kyomoto: That effort, in addition to his sociability, gives him high visibility to the public and people in the industry. What should we do to let more people see Jesse’s good side?
Tanaka: The only way is to have them join SixTONES (laughs). Letting them join in crosstalks like this, and communicating with Jesse in private or something; I think they’d discover that “so he has such a serious side too!”.
Matsumura: Not just Jesse, but they’ll get to discover unexpected sides about all of us right?
Kouchi: True, that’s the best. So as a small step, let’s invite a single fan to our work every month (laughs).
Morimoto: We’d need to invite around 10,000 people each month for the whole public to discover about us then (laughs).
******
Come Come Everybody
November 1st start!
Asadora “Come Come Everybody” which Hokuto will act in is going to start airing in November! He talked passionately about his character and the story.
STORY In 1925, Japan started radio broadcasting for the first time. At a certain wagashi-ya [Japanese sweets shop] situated in the streets of Okayama, Yasuko (Kamishiraishi Mone-san) was born. Surrounded in the sweet scent of anko [red bean paste] and born into a loving family, Yasuko wished to live a happy life with her family forever. As the tides of war approach however, Yasuko finds herself being tested again and again.
The member who first contacted me was Tanaka Juri
My appearance in the serial television novel “Come come everybody” was decided through an audition. However, at the stage when I thought there was going to be another round of interviews, Takizawa (Hideaki)-kun casually told me “I’m glad for you. Work hard”. I replied “ah, thank you. Has it been decided?” - I found out about it in a slightly abnormal way (laughs). The member who first contacted me was Tanaka Juri. He purposely gave me a call, saying “That’s amazing. You’re going to be in it. What’s it like?”, so I explained to him but he hung up on me when I was up to around 70% of the story. But that happens often so he probably called me up so he could do that (laughs).
Kijima Minoru who I play is the eldest son of a family running a big corporation, and also a university student who’s fluent in English. Minoru is seen as a very diligent person who’ll be on the road to success as the heir, but there are parts of him that haven’t matured yet; a young man with hints of recklessness. That felt human to me. What was difficult was the regional dialect. The Okayama dialect that the story is written and set in was simply difficult. I received English lessons as well before the filming, but the production is set in early Showa; just like how Japanese changed with the periods, the English is also different to modern day. Minoru studied English through the English lesson radio broadcasts, so the intonation is slightly different to present day native pronunciation. That’s why I didn’t get Jesse to teach me. If anything, I think it was better for him to not get involved (laughs).
“Asadora” are different in make to 30 minute, 1 hour or 2 hour dramas; each 15 minute episode contains story development and the mood changes frequently, and has a message to tell too. It’s condensed and has no room for any blanks. I thoroughly understood the difficulty in digesting and expressing that, and I genuinely think it’s a precious experience for me to be able to act in an “asadora”, a genre with such a long history. I believe it’ll become a great strength of mine as I continue down this path, and it’s a place that I want to return to after evolving even more. There are fans who also said “I’m able to chat on the same topic with my grandparents because of this drama”. When I think that people of different generations are able to communicate by means of this person ‘Matsumura Hokuto’, I feel a sense of responsibility of sorts.” I hope to gain the support of the viewers through this “asadora, and I also hope it can link back to SixTONES and my members.
We investigate SixTONES’ charms this month! What do they think is charming about their group? We bring you that along with a cute spread of them wearing matching outfits and making the same poses.
Kouchi too… look.
You’ve got a banana on your head.
Tanaka: Over a year has passed since we debuted and the general public has come to recognise us too, but there are still lots they don’t know about yet.
Kyomoto: There are parts they don’t know yet and parts that we haven’t shown too.
Jesse: Yeah. What should we do to show our goodness even more?
Morimoto: Hmm. The first thing is that we’re often seen as “cocky” or “flippant”, but we’re surprisingly level-headed.
Matsumura: People who don’t know much about us would probably get an impression that we’re cocky from when we perform, or from our promotional photos.
Kouchi: Before this crosstalk too, we were discussing seriously about the details of our next meeting. But the staff-san said “I thought you were going to say silly things” (laughs).
Kyomoto: Even staff-san who know us will think that way so (laughs).
Matsumura: But take a look at Juri in a suit. He looks super charai [shallow/a flirt] (laughs). Usually you’d look proper when you wear a suit!
Tanaka: I was shocked myself when I looked in the mirror (laughs).
Jesse: You can join the “looks-like-a-bad-person championship”. [T/N: Referring to Chocopura’s (CHOCOLATE PLANET) popular YouTube skit series]
Matsumura: Kouchi too… look. You’ve got a banana on your head.
Kouchi: There isn’t one! (laughs) Juri’s comical side is getting some traction from things like “Sukojyani~”.
Kyomoto: I watched the first one but I haven’t been able to watch the second one. When I hear that Juri is going on a variety show, it gives me nothing but comfort. I’m sure he will definitely leave an impression on the viewers.
Kouchi: From watching that show, I found out just how funny Tatsumi (Yuudai)-kun is. So I’m sure there must be people who think that way about Juri.
Tanaka: That show, it had a really really early start. Like from 5am.
Jesse: It’s tough to have to get into the variety show mode from that early in the morning.
Kyomoto: If it’s not with a Johnnys senpai or kouhai who I’ve interacted with, I don’t think I’d be able to be my natural self at all. In “Sukojyani~” terms, personally, I’ve troubled Totsuka (Shota)-kun more than Kawai (Fumito)-kun, and I talk more with (Nakajima) Kento than with (Kikuchi) Fuuma.
Tanaka: I see. But I have the confidence to do it no matter which kouhai or senpai is there!
Morimoto: That must be what gives us peace of mind. I want more people to know about it Juri’s funny side, and out of our group, Hokuto could do it too right?
Matsumura: Yeah, I think so too. I’ll do anything.
Jesse: Yeah, he doesn’t look it, but Hokuto is actually suited towards variety shows too. But he’s got his image to keep. Hokuto is the ikemen actor after all.
Morimoto: We’ll have to save Hokuto for later!
Tanaka: With SixTONES, all of us can do well in variety shows once the cameras are rolling right? That image you mentioned just then, from people who aren’t our fans, they probably don’t think that we’d be such bright and silly boys.
Kyomoto: Out of SixTONES, the ones who are kinda recognised as “funny people” are Juri, Jesse and Shintarou right?
Tanaka: Kouchi’s funny too behind the scenes, but he tends to take the “makes proper comments” position when the camera’s on.
Kouchi: Ah~ I think I’m like that.
Morimoto: We need someone like that in the group though.
Tanaka: But to highlight Kouchi’s funniness, it has to be through teasing. It gets better the more we tease him.
Kouchi: But since everyone I meet right now are all new faces, there’s no way they’d tease me off the bat (laughs). And anyway, I want to put on a “SixTONES’ face” when I’m out, so it’s like I’m wearing a half translucent mask (laughs).
Kyomoto: Your casual face.
Kouchi: Yeah. But I feel like my mask’s translucency has increased since going on “Love It!” (laughs). My mask is becoming clear, and if Hokuto’s true personality is going to get revealed too, then SixTONES’ image will… (laughs).
Tanaka: In my opinion, when Hokuto goes on a talk show to promote his dramas and things, how about suddenly showing that [hidden] side of yours?
Jesse: Yes yes. People would be surprised that “eh, he’s so good with his words?!”.
Kouchi: Hokuto knows how to word things well so rather than putting his body on the line, it’s about his talking skills.
Tanaka: Yes. Don’t be like me and eat quail eggs nonstop (laughs).
Morimoto: Eh~ In my eyes it’s “Degawa Tetsurou-san, Ueshima Ryuuhei-san & Matsumura Hokuto”. I hope more people can see what good reactions he makes! [T/N: Both are ‘reaction’ comedians who are known for being pranked/doing gags that involve putting their body on the line]
Tanaka: To be honest, I think Hokuto will probably be an MC for his own program one day.
Kouchi: Ahh, I get you!
Matsumura: Oh, seriously?!
Jesse: A variety show with Hokuto as the MC, isn’t that something even the fans can’t imagine yet?
Matsumura: I got it. Well then, all of us can reveal our funny sides bit by bit to the public so that they’d gain immunity and think “Oh? SixTONES are like that [on stage] but they’re actually bright and fun youngsters”, and that’s when I’ll go forth!
Kyomoto: Things like the timing for him to break out of his shell - Hokuto observes everything about the group carefully after all.
Jesse: On the other hand, Juri only switches on when he’s with us and when the cameras are on. He doesn’t talk to anyone when he’s in the waiting room before a TV show recording. But once the cameras roll, he’ll get into the zone in a flash and makes everyone laugh. That kinda makes me proud!
Kouchi: You sound like a producer (laughs).
Tanaka: I’ll be in the corner of the waiting room, sipping on juice by myself. But Jesse will let me be and imme~diately go and chat with Kamaitachi-san!
Kyomoto: That sounds like something he’d do.
Jesse: I talk to Juri sometimes as well though.
Tanaka: Hahaha! True. It’s not that I’m shy so you don’t need to worry about me at all.
Kouchi: I’m that type too so when I go to variety shows with Juri, the both of us are just standing near the door of the waiting room… (laughs).
Tanaka: Yeah, Kouchi doesn’t say a word either!
Jesse: Eh~ Don’t you chat with the other guests in the waiting room? No no no, that’s terrible! They’d think you’re a scary person you know?
Morimoto: Hokuto, Kyomo and I don’t really understand this waiting room business…
Kyomoto: Yeah. I have zero experience with waiting rooms!
Jesse: So to explain to the readers as well, the waiting room is the stand-by space for the guests in front of the recording studio.
Kouchi: Uh-huh. There’s a long row of chairs and drinks available too, and that’s where we are in the short time before cameras start rolling.
Jesse: The 3 of you can come and visit our “Love It!” recording next time. A social studies field trip where you learn “oh~ so this is the waiting room” (laughs).
Kyomoto: If I told the manager-san “I want to learn about waiting rooms”, do you think he’d open up a slot in our schedule for it? (laughs).
Kouchi: But there are waiting rooms at drama sets too right?
Morimoto: I think the waiting rooms for dramas are totally different to the ones for variety shows.
Matsumura: Yeah. Everyone is reading their scripts and such in the waiting room, they aren’t chilling and having a gas.
Tanaka: For me, even when filming dramas, I’ll be in the manager’s car during lunch.
Jesse: Seriously?! I can’t believe you! But since Juri has that mysterious side, it’s probably why fans think “I want to know more about him! I want to see him even more!”.
All: Ahahaha!
Kouchi: Eh, really?! Is that how they think about me too then?!
Tanaka: Ahaha! But Jesse, you’ve forgotten one important thing. The fans don’t know about us not going into waiting rooms yet (laughs).
Morimoto: Well, when this magazine gets released, they’d think “Juri-kun is so mysterious! I’m curious! I want to know more!”.
Tanaka: Welcome to Tanaka Juri’s world (laughs). Shintarou… This goes back on the variety show topic, but he’s someone with exceptional variety show skills.
Kyomoto: Today’s theme is “SixTONES’ and variety shows” huh (laughs).
Matsumura: Shintarou goes on variety shows with senpais often right? It’s amazing that he’s able to read the atmosphere well in those situations!
Kyomoto: He has a keen sense in the first place.
Morimoto: And also, I’m the type of person to fulfil what I’m asked of. Even instructions like “please do ____ here” from the staff-san, I’ll say “yes, I got it!” to all of them.
Tanaka: Out of SixTONES, Shintarou is a projectile-like character right? Like saying or doing things out of the blue. But since we’re newly debuted, he still hasn’t been able to show that side of his fully.
Morimoto: Moreover, if I were to act as usual, Juri and Jesse wouldn’t be able to flourish right?
Tanaka: …Eh, so you’re saying, if you were at 100% then we’d pale in comparison?
Morimoto: Yup yup. I’m letting the two of you run free at the moment.
Jesse: Thank you for your consideration!
Morimoto: It’s okay, no worries. I’m in the middle of getting warmed up right now.
Kyomoto: So Shintarou, right now you’re supporting the ‘variety show’ pop-up lifter that Juri and Jesse are on?
Morimoto: Yep. I’ll shout “here you go!” and push them up.
Kouchi: It’d be hilarious if Shintarou tried his best and fell flat though (laughs).
I’m the secret weapon, so I’ll go at the very end
Matsumura: By the way, from Shintarou’s perspective, who jumps the highest from that pop-up lifter?
Morimoto: Kyomoto Taiga.
Kyomoto: (avidly) Me?! Eh, have I been jumping from Shintarou’s pop-up lifter?!
Kouchi: He himself had no idea at all (laughs).
Morimoto: That’s right. With Kyomo, no one has realised yet, but he’s a super funny person.
Tanaka: I too think that Kyomo is funny, but I’ve never felt a shadow of Shintarou’s presence (laughs).
Morimoto: Ah, is that so? I excelled too far at being a shadow then. Soz!
Kouchi: Shintarou’s the one that’s a producer (laughs).
Morimoto: That’s exactly what I think I am.
Kyomoto: So, will you market the 5 of us?
Morimoto: Of course, of course! I’m the secret weapon so I’ll go at the very end.
Matsumura: You, you can’t say that yourself (laughs).
Kouchi: Hahaha! But you know, Shintarou is recognised by quite a lot of the public isn’t he?
Jesse: You’re right. There’s “~DASH!!” and he was also in the getsu9 drama “~Asagao” as well. More people recognise him now than before right?
Morimoto: The other day, an old lady asked me “isn’t it tough on ‘~DASH’?”. After I chatted some more, I found out that she mistook me as a staff member on the show (laughs).
All: That’s not good! (laughs)
Kouchi: But that also means you have a friendly disposition.
Kyomoto: Even during the radio show where we asked people on the streets about our impression, there were answers like “he seems friendly” and “I want him to be my kouhai”.
Morimoto: I’m glad to hear that! I think I’d be a good kouhai. I’m a yes-man after all (brightly & resolutely)!
Matsumura: I don’t think that’s something to boast about (laughs).
Kouchi: And to be precise, it’s “a yes-man with a rebellious spirit”. He’ll do the things you ask him to, but he’ll complain about it afterwards (laughs).
Morimoto: Yes! Well then, what’s Kyomo’s “good point that the world needs to know more about”?
Kouchi: Maybe about his deftness.
Kyomoto: Eh~ I’m not deft at all. It’s either climbing mountains, or singing on “FNS Kayosai”... it’s these 2 options.
Morimoto: You can release a recipe book though can’t you?
Jesse: A tomato-only one!
Kyomoto: Why is it tomato-only (laughs). But I did eat tomato pasta the day before yesterday. It’s true that I want to release a recipe book one day.
Morimoto: Doesn’t it feel like it’d work if Kyomo came up with a strong character? Like “the tomato prince from planet tomato”.
Kyomoto: Isn’t that a bit sad? Why would that be my merit? (laughs).
Matsumura: The public probably think he’s “a pale and quiet person”.
Tanaka: It’s probably a prim oujisama [prince] image. But the real Kyomo is more of an idiot and an airhead. I think that’s what’s good. It’s showing here and there, but I hope he can reveal it more in the future. That duality is his weapon. People would think “I thought he was a cool person but he’s cute!”.
Jesse: Yeah. I think he has the biggest gap within SixTONES.
Kyomoto: Hmm, but I still want to stay underground (laughs). I don’t want them to find out about me. Because I feel like I’ll lose sight of myself if they seek that.
Jesse: And that, just like Juri and Kouchi earlier, is what captures the fan’s hearts. The deeper they dig to discover “what sort of person are they?”, the deeper they get. SixTONES’ mole (laughs).
Kouchi: In that sense, we do have “mysteriousness”. “Please wait a moment until we surface” (laughs). Ok, last is Jesse!
Tanaka: The complete opposite to everyone so far, I want to see him being serious.
All: Ahh~! (agreement)
Tanaka: On TV and things, Jesse has an image of being a little cheeky and messing about right? But he’s thinking about things carefully behind the scenes - he’s a serious person at the core.
Morimoto: Yes. You know when you watch him from close. I hope he can tell us the things he’s thinking about too.
Jesse: Hmm… (cheekily) What will it be~??
Matsumura: That’s what we mean. He’s actually 2, 3 steps ahead but.
Morimoto: Especially when he’s fooling around during MC and things. You think about boke-ing [acting dumb] there and about which member will tsukkomi [quip] on it right?
Jesse: Well, for some of them. I’m an idiot so I have to do my best and think them through!
Kouchi: He’ll reflects like this suddenly as well. It surprises us since he’ll suddenly go “aah, I should’ve said that there!” (laughs).
Kyomoto: That effort, in addition to his sociability, gives him high visibility to the public and people in the industry. What should we do to let more people see Jesse’s good side?
Tanaka: The only way is to have them join SixTONES (laughs). Letting them join in crosstalks like this, and communicating with Jesse in private or something; I think they’d discover that “so he has such a serious side too!”.
Matsumura: Not just Jesse, but they’ll get to discover unexpected sides about all of us right?
Kouchi: True, that’s the best. So as a small step, let’s invite a single fan to our work every month (laughs).
Morimoto: We’d need to invite around 10,000 people each month for the whole public to discover about us then (laughs).
******
Come Come Everybody
November 1st start!
Asadora “Come Come Everybody” which Hokuto will act in is going to start airing in November! He talked passionately about his character and the story.
STORY In 1925, Japan started radio broadcasting for the first time. At a certain wagashi-ya [Japanese sweets shop] situated in the streets of Okayama, Yasuko (Kamishiraishi Mone-san) was born. Surrounded in the sweet scent of anko [red bean paste] and born into a loving family, Yasuko wished to live a happy life with her family forever. As the tides of war approach however, Yasuko finds herself being tested again and again.
The member who first contacted me was Tanaka Juri
My appearance in the serial television novel “Come come everybody” was decided through an audition. However, at the stage when I thought there was going to be another round of interviews, Takizawa (Hideaki)-kun casually told me “I’m glad for you. Work hard”. I replied “ah, thank you. Has it been decided?” - I found out about it in a slightly abnormal way (laughs). The member who first contacted me was Tanaka Juri. He purposely gave me a call, saying “That’s amazing. You’re going to be in it. What’s it like?”, so I explained to him but he hung up on me when I was up to around 70% of the story. But that happens often so he probably called me up so he could do that (laughs).
Kijima Minoru who I play is the eldest son of a family running a big corporation, and also a university student who’s fluent in English. Minoru is seen as a very diligent person who’ll be on the road to success as the heir, but there are parts of him that haven’t matured yet; a young man with hints of recklessness. That felt human to me. What was difficult was the regional dialect. The Okayama dialect that the story is written and set in was simply difficult. I received English lessons as well before the filming, but the production is set in early Showa; just like how Japanese changed with the periods, the English is also different to modern day. Minoru studied English through the English lesson radio broadcasts, so the intonation is slightly different to present day native pronunciation. That’s why I didn’t get Jesse to teach me. If anything, I think it was better for him to not get involved (laughs).
“Asadora” are different in make to 30 minute, 1 hour or 2 hour dramas; each 15 minute episode contains story development and the mood changes frequently, and has a message to tell too. It’s condensed and has no room for any blanks. I thoroughly understood the difficulty in digesting and expressing that, and I genuinely think it’s a precious experience for me to be able to act in an “asadora”, a genre with such a long history. I believe it’ll become a great strength of mine as I continue down this path, and it’s a place that I want to return to after evolving even more. There are fans who also said “I’m able to chat on the same topic with my grandparents because of this drama”. When I think that people of different generations are able to communicate by means of this person ‘Matsumura Hokuto’, I feel a sense of responsibility of sorts.” I hope to gain the support of the viewers through this “asadora, and I also hope it can link back to SixTONES and my members.