[EN] SODA (Mar 2024) & Pia MOOK: SixTONES Kouchi Yuugo’s Casual Weekend Trip vol.2
SixTONES Kouchi Yuugo’s
Casual Weekend Trip vol.2
Onsen Edition
Volume 2 of the popular collaboration project “Casual Weekend Trip” with “SODA” magazine!
This time, Kouchi-san relished his time at Yoro Keikoku onsen. Here’s the maniac onsen knowledge that Kouchi-san is versed with as an onsen sommelier.
Kouchi Yuugo’s Onsen Talk
“If I were to go to an onsen with a member”
♨️With Jesse
I think he’ll come along to where I want to go if it’s just the 2 of us, so I’ll probably choose Dogo onsen in Matsuyama. Strolling on the traditional streets and eating fresh seafood would be nice.
♨️With Kyomoto Taiga
Taiga keeps saying he wants to go to Yomiuri Land, so visiting the nearby day-trip onsen resort sounds good. It’ll be a trip where we play at the amusement park and then refresh ourselves at the onsen before leaving.
♨️With Matsumura Hokuto
I feel like we’d ask ourselves “what the heck are we doing?” if there’s a long transit, so we’ll meet up at an onsen in Tokyo (laughs). I’ll choose Maenohara Onsen Sayano Yudokoro at Itabashi, where you can enjoy views of beautiful gardens.
♨️With Morimoto Shintarou
Since Shintarou has bought some camping gear lately, I want to go lakeside camping before heading to the onsens at Lake Toya or Lake Akan in Hokkaido. We share the hobby, so I’d like to go bike riding together too.
♨️With Tanaka Juri
I feel like Juri wouldn’t mind if it was a huge public bath or an ensuite bath in a room, so I think I’ll choose a place where there’s an open-air bath in the room. I’ll search for somewhere in Katsuura so that Juri can drop by alongside visiting his family home in Chiba.
I want to enjoy the changing scenery through the seasons
- I’ve heard that you’ve been interested in visiting Yoro Keikoku onsen for a while.
You’re right. Chiba-wise, I often go to Tateyama or places near the coast, but I want to go to the onsens more inland too. This time, since you asked where I wanted to go, I unreservedly put in that request (laughs). I knew that it was an area with a beautiful waterfall for sightseeing, so I’m here visiting for the first time. It’s great that it’s close to Tokyo too. I think it’s the perfect thing to enter the onsen after hiking at Yoro Keikoku too.
- You soaked in “Goriyaku no Yu” today.
Going to the typical resorts you find in onsen towns is great, but local baths where the community visits often and can come on a whim are nice too. I think I’d visit frequently if I had this in my neighbourhood. The view from the open-air bath is gorgeous too. I relaxed while enjoying the sights of the Boso mountains, surrounding myself in nature. There was autumn foliage today, but apparently you can enjoy the Sakura blossoms in spring as well, and seeing the fresh green foliage [in summer] sounds amazing too. I think to be able to savour the sights of each season and bask in the smells of nature while soaking in an onsen is a true indulgence. I’d like to drive my bike or car here again to soak in this open-air bath in a different season.
- The indoor baths are also designed to feel open.
Totally. Although they were indoor, there was a spaciousness that made if feel like I was outdoors. There was a huge window that was left open, so it didn’t feel cramped at all. I think it’ll have a completely different vibe if it was a solid wall there. The sauna could fit around 4-5 people. It was a little space where one could relax. There’s a small window, and you can see a little bit of the change room. That might be quite a rare thing (laughs).
- It’s known as a beautifying bath, but how do you feel after experiencing it?
When I read the onsen composition chart, it showed hydrogen carbonated springwater for its source, with a pH value of 8. The water is soft when there’s a high pH value. It really is a “beautifying bath” that’s great for your skin. My skin was even more supple after it (laughs). What surprised me was the low temperature of 16°C. This might be one of the hallmarks of Chiba onsens. To be able to enjoy a bath heated to a moderate temperature, without needing to add water [to cool/dilute it down] is great after all. There was an area to cool down outside too, and the corridors and dining room were all constructed with wood, which gave the whole place a warm atmosphere.
- Fukuda onsen and Manza onsen also came up as candidates for today’s shoot. Please tell us your reason for choosing them.
Of the famous onsen towns, Manza onsen is the place where I’ve yet to visit. It’s at a high altitude, so I’d love to enjoy the view during the bath. It’s a milky-coloured sulphate springwater bath, and I think that’ll look great in pictures too (laughs). There’s a waterfall near Fukuda onsen, so I’m interested in that too. I realised that I might have some attachment to waterfalls (laughs).
Levelling up my onsen knowledge whilst enjoying the onsen
- You’re putting your onsen sommelier qualification to full use and getting even more onsen-related jobs.
New York-san’s “New York’s ‘secret baths’ trip” was lots of fun. It wasn’t easy to find people on the spot to go into the baths with us, but I did my best knowing that there would be a bath waiting for me at the end of it (laughs). I get to learn more about onsens, and since it’s for a job, I get to learn about the area too. That’s the thing, there are secret baths that I wouldn’t be able to enter usually, and [the staff] have planned the schedule efficiently too. And I’ve received more offers for not only onsens, but camping as well. I’m grateful that I can do jobs that relate to my own hobbies.
- Has there been an onsen that you’ve visited for a job that you’d like to go to again?
I’d like to visit the onsens again that I went to for the program “Watashitachi no seichi ga toutosugiru”. Gero onsen was great, and Shinhotaka onsen’s Shinzansou was a real delight. I was able to experience a bath where I could go between an onsen and the river. I think the snowscapes would be beautiful too, so I’d like to visit again in winter. It’s the same with Goriyaku no Yu that we went to today, I’d like to enjoy the same onsen again in a different season.
- If a onsen and bath lover like you were to come up with some sort of project…?
I’d love to draw up a floor plan for a super-sento and onsen. I think, it’d be great if I could design a place where I can move comfortably from the wash-up area to the baths. I’ll have two indoor baths; one with a higher water temperature and another with a more comfortable one for long soaks. I’d love to have an area outdoors to cool down too. If it were an onsen, I have this idea of installing a springwater fountain in the cool down space. If the springwater is naturally on the hotter side, the outside air should cool it down to a nice temperature, and it’ll also raise the humidity of the space. If you gaze at the springwater fountain while in the bath, you really get a sense that it’s coming from the earth! I think it’s a rather brilliant idea and adds another layer for people to experience. And, if it’s possible after conducting tests, I’d like to create a spot where people can drink the spring water. Lots of ideas come to mind when I’m thinking about my ideal onsen (laughs).
This is where we went to today
Takimi-En Kenkou-mura
Goriyaku no Yu
Situated in Yoro Keikoku abound with nature, this onsen has distinct pillars and beams that give it an impressive atmosphere. In the open-air bath where you can see the surrounding mountains, you are able to enjoy the landscapes of the changing seasons.
-----
Strolling Edition
Alongside the members who I respect
Volume 2 of the collaboration project with Pia MOOK “Day-trip Onsens & Super Sento & Sauna 2024”.
In SODA, we asked him to reflect on last year and talk about his thoughts on his members while he strolled in the Yoro Keikoku area.
- After the onsen, you enjoyed a stroll through the streets of Yoro Keikoku.
I usually drive my car or bike, so I enjoyed being able to stop by the train station which had a very nostalgic air to it. A train went pass just at the right time too (laughs). It wasn’t the sunniest of days, so the shot on the swings amidst the greenery might have an ennui mood to it. It was a great experience as someone who loves to feel the energy of each season. I often keep the window down when I’m driving toward someplace, whether it gets a little warmer when I enter a tunnel in winter, or feel the chill when I enter a town, I love that moment when I can physically feel the change.
- In general, are you the type to make plans when you go out casually?
I plan almost nothing. I’ll drive, and swing by the park if I see a sign for it, or I might buy something light at the convenience store to eat in the park. But when I go camping, it’s routine that I visit an onsen on the way back. When I take off my clothes, I realise, “I’ve been smelling so smoky!” (laughs). I pack underwear and socks in my luggage so that I can always enter an onsen.
- For SixTONES’ YouTube, you visited Ikaho onsen with you as the driver.
We left early in the morning and I was driving the whole time, but it was lots of fun, like going up the stone steps and playing shooting games. Juri’s how-to-wash guide wasn’t edited out either (laughs). I think it’ll be fun if we go to onsens together for YouTube at regular intervals, so it’s a good idea for me to suggest [to staff] onsens that I’d like to visit (laughs).
Respect towards members that generates passion
- Last year, I think successfully completing “Kansei no Housoku in DOME”, an addition to your nationwide arena tour, was a big thing.
I am thankful that we’re able to hold an arena tour in the first place, so being able to add dome performances to that made me super happy. When I look back, rather than being stiff with nervousness, I remember it being like a grand festival. Fun is the word to describe it. I think a part of it comes down to the choice of not adding back-dancers, but I felt like one with the audience. Sharing a space with people that love us, it was a concert that gave me warmth. I do want to do concerts at bigger venues, but more than that, I want to perform with the confidence that we are the best in this very moment, and connect with the audience.
- Your 4-dome tour “VVS” led with the album “THE VIBES” will be starting soon.
It’s an album that was made with the idea of conveying SixTONES’ passion. It’s filled with our favourites, but “Anthem” is the perfect energetic number to be the lead track. For the MV too, I almost got dizzy from filming it (laughs). Atmospherically, I think it’s similar to “Kokkara”, which many people watched. Both the song and dance are upbeat, so it’ll definitely be a banger at the concert, and I’m eager to see how the audience will respond to it.
- I look forward to the performance of your unit track with Jesse-san, “Blue Days” too.
I’m singing with Jesse in a genre of Japanese hip-hop that I like. The lyrics are positive, but there’s a tinge of sadness to it too, and Jesse’s gentle tone of voice is perfect for singing about someone. I’d like to deliver that world that we’ve created on the stage as well.
- I’m sure you are a busy person, but are you continuing to take vocal and dance lessons?
No matter how busy I am, I think it’ll be game over for me if I slack on that. I receive different sorts of jobs, but my main priority is to satisfy fans with our performances. SixTONES is a group that loves concerts. Each of us are challenging things like stage plays and musicals, and there’s lots to learn from them, but I also consider taking singing lessons privately. In relation to dance, the time we spend learning [choreography] is meaningful for us. SAYA-san, who choreographed “Kokkara”, gave us a group lesson before teaching us the choreography [for “Kokkara”]. Being able to feel the groove of the song before actually learning the moves was a great experience.
- What do you think you gained from the stage play “Hoshifuru Yoru ni Dekakeyou”, that you performed in last year?
My love towards theatre work, where you can flexibly change your performance daily, has grown even stronger. Between rehearsals, the first day and the last day, there isn’t one performance that’s exactly the same. When my partner’s performance has a different nuance, I respond to it differently too and that’s fascinating. A scene usually with callous tones, is performed with a slight smile today - what meaning is concealed behind that…? Thinking about those details is lots of fun. The fact that there’s a rehearsal period for stage plays, I think is something that suits me. For filmed jobs, there’s only a quick run-through and no [lengthy] rehearsal period, so I feel uncertain about whether my performance is good or not, even if the director says it’s okay. For stage plays, when I receive an okay from the director, I will ask them what parts were good and use that to improve my acting.
- Each of you work individually significantly too. I think you must often feel respect towards those members.
I really do feel that. Each of us working hard in our respective fields is becoming more defined. I feel a lot of respect towards them when I see everyone’s solo work, and it’s cool when I turn on the TV at home and see a member (laughs). Shintarou tells me “I’m envious that you can do onsen and camping related jobs”, and hearing that simply makes me happy. Of course, there are times where we need to be competitive, in a good sense, but SixTONES is a group where we all respect each other’s individual work. Because of those solo jobs, we realise that “ahh, this is it” when the 6 of us gather for group activities. Taiga’s dependable side as the troupe leader for a stage play may not be present when he’s with SixTONES (laughs), but all of us will rise to the occasion when it’s time to. Since we can all flourish alone, I believe what we bring at concerts when we’re gathered together is all the mightier.
- Do you look forward to it when you see group work on your schedule…?
I mean, I do my job properly, but I think there’s a part of me that doesn’t consider it as work (laughs). We end up talking about random things and before we know it, we’re all rolling with laughter. At a work place, I think it’s the norm that you have less time to chat with your colleagues. But in SixTONES’ case, on days where we’re gathered together, the 6 of us will go to the canteen at the TV station as if it’s clockwork and have fun amongst ourselves. That being said, it doesn’t feel forced; you don’t have to talk if you don’t feel like it, and if you want to talk then you can talk till you’re sick of your voice (laughs). Moving on to talk about concerts after rambling on about random stuff might be a SixTONES trait.
- Please also tell us about your thoughts on turning 30 years old in March.
As I’ve previously mentioned, I plan to keep my age undisclosed when I turn 30 (laughs). Jesse often says that age is just a number, but I really believe that. I don’t want to let my age hinder me, and always feel like a university student, studying ferociously. Though in variety shows and things, I might say that I’m already an ojisan (laughs). No matter how old I become, I can learn something new, wear what I want, and do what I want. I think, I can hold onto this belief even when I turn 40, or 50. No matter my age, I want to focus on the principle of hibi benkyou [study everyday] and hibi egao [smiles everyday].
Casual Weekend Trip vol.2
Onsen Edition
Volume 2 of the popular collaboration project “Casual Weekend Trip” with “SODA” magazine!
This time, Kouchi-san relished his time at Yoro Keikoku onsen. Here’s the maniac onsen knowledge that Kouchi-san is versed with as an onsen sommelier.
Kouchi Yuugo’s Onsen Talk
“If I were to go to an onsen with a member”
♨️With Jesse
I think he’ll come along to where I want to go if it’s just the 2 of us, so I’ll probably choose Dogo onsen in Matsuyama. Strolling on the traditional streets and eating fresh seafood would be nice.
♨️With Kyomoto Taiga
Taiga keeps saying he wants to go to Yomiuri Land, so visiting the nearby day-trip onsen resort sounds good. It’ll be a trip where we play at the amusement park and then refresh ourselves at the onsen before leaving.
♨️With Matsumura Hokuto
I feel like we’d ask ourselves “what the heck are we doing?” if there’s a long transit, so we’ll meet up at an onsen in Tokyo (laughs). I’ll choose Maenohara Onsen Sayano Yudokoro at Itabashi, where you can enjoy views of beautiful gardens.
♨️With Morimoto Shintarou
Since Shintarou has bought some camping gear lately, I want to go lakeside camping before heading to the onsens at Lake Toya or Lake Akan in Hokkaido. We share the hobby, so I’d like to go bike riding together too.
♨️With Tanaka Juri
I feel like Juri wouldn’t mind if it was a huge public bath or an ensuite bath in a room, so I think I’ll choose a place where there’s an open-air bath in the room. I’ll search for somewhere in Katsuura so that Juri can drop by alongside visiting his family home in Chiba.
I want to enjoy the changing scenery through the seasons
- I’ve heard that you’ve been interested in visiting Yoro Keikoku onsen for a while.
You’re right. Chiba-wise, I often go to Tateyama or places near the coast, but I want to go to the onsens more inland too. This time, since you asked where I wanted to go, I unreservedly put in that request (laughs). I knew that it was an area with a beautiful waterfall for sightseeing, so I’m here visiting for the first time. It’s great that it’s close to Tokyo too. I think it’s the perfect thing to enter the onsen after hiking at Yoro Keikoku too.
- You soaked in “Goriyaku no Yu” today.
Going to the typical resorts you find in onsen towns is great, but local baths where the community visits often and can come on a whim are nice too. I think I’d visit frequently if I had this in my neighbourhood. The view from the open-air bath is gorgeous too. I relaxed while enjoying the sights of the Boso mountains, surrounding myself in nature. There was autumn foliage today, but apparently you can enjoy the Sakura blossoms in spring as well, and seeing the fresh green foliage [in summer] sounds amazing too. I think to be able to savour the sights of each season and bask in the smells of nature while soaking in an onsen is a true indulgence. I’d like to drive my bike or car here again to soak in this open-air bath in a different season.
- The indoor baths are also designed to feel open.
Totally. Although they were indoor, there was a spaciousness that made if feel like I was outdoors. There was a huge window that was left open, so it didn’t feel cramped at all. I think it’ll have a completely different vibe if it was a solid wall there. The sauna could fit around 4-5 people. It was a little space where one could relax. There’s a small window, and you can see a little bit of the change room. That might be quite a rare thing (laughs).
- It’s known as a beautifying bath, but how do you feel after experiencing it?
When I read the onsen composition chart, it showed hydrogen carbonated springwater for its source, with a pH value of 8. The water is soft when there’s a high pH value. It really is a “beautifying bath” that’s great for your skin. My skin was even more supple after it (laughs). What surprised me was the low temperature of 16°C. This might be one of the hallmarks of Chiba onsens. To be able to enjoy a bath heated to a moderate temperature, without needing to add water [to cool/dilute it down] is great after all. There was an area to cool down outside too, and the corridors and dining room were all constructed with wood, which gave the whole place a warm atmosphere.
- Fukuda onsen and Manza onsen also came up as candidates for today’s shoot. Please tell us your reason for choosing them.
Of the famous onsen towns, Manza onsen is the place where I’ve yet to visit. It’s at a high altitude, so I’d love to enjoy the view during the bath. It’s a milky-coloured sulphate springwater bath, and I think that’ll look great in pictures too (laughs). There’s a waterfall near Fukuda onsen, so I’m interested in that too. I realised that I might have some attachment to waterfalls (laughs).
Levelling up my onsen knowledge whilst enjoying the onsen
- You’re putting your onsen sommelier qualification to full use and getting even more onsen-related jobs.
New York-san’s “New York’s ‘secret baths’ trip” was lots of fun. It wasn’t easy to find people on the spot to go into the baths with us, but I did my best knowing that there would be a bath waiting for me at the end of it (laughs). I get to learn more about onsens, and since it’s for a job, I get to learn about the area too. That’s the thing, there are secret baths that I wouldn’t be able to enter usually, and [the staff] have planned the schedule efficiently too. And I’ve received more offers for not only onsens, but camping as well. I’m grateful that I can do jobs that relate to my own hobbies.
- Has there been an onsen that you’ve visited for a job that you’d like to go to again?
I’d like to visit the onsens again that I went to for the program “Watashitachi no seichi ga toutosugiru”. Gero onsen was great, and Shinhotaka onsen’s Shinzansou was a real delight. I was able to experience a bath where I could go between an onsen and the river. I think the snowscapes would be beautiful too, so I’d like to visit again in winter. It’s the same with Goriyaku no Yu that we went to today, I’d like to enjoy the same onsen again in a different season.
- If a onsen and bath lover like you were to come up with some sort of project…?
I’d love to draw up a floor plan for a super-sento and onsen. I think, it’d be great if I could design a place where I can move comfortably from the wash-up area to the baths. I’ll have two indoor baths; one with a higher water temperature and another with a more comfortable one for long soaks. I’d love to have an area outdoors to cool down too. If it were an onsen, I have this idea of installing a springwater fountain in the cool down space. If the springwater is naturally on the hotter side, the outside air should cool it down to a nice temperature, and it’ll also raise the humidity of the space. If you gaze at the springwater fountain while in the bath, you really get a sense that it’s coming from the earth! I think it’s a rather brilliant idea and adds another layer for people to experience. And, if it’s possible after conducting tests, I’d like to create a spot where people can drink the spring water. Lots of ideas come to mind when I’m thinking about my ideal onsen (laughs).
This is where we went to today
Takimi-En Kenkou-mura
Goriyaku no Yu
Situated in Yoro Keikoku abound with nature, this onsen has distinct pillars and beams that give it an impressive atmosphere. In the open-air bath where you can see the surrounding mountains, you are able to enjoy the landscapes of the changing seasons.
-----
Strolling Edition
Alongside the members who I respect
Volume 2 of the collaboration project with Pia MOOK “Day-trip Onsens & Super Sento & Sauna 2024”.
In SODA, we asked him to reflect on last year and talk about his thoughts on his members while he strolled in the Yoro Keikoku area.
- After the onsen, you enjoyed a stroll through the streets of Yoro Keikoku.
I usually drive my car or bike, so I enjoyed being able to stop by the train station which had a very nostalgic air to it. A train went pass just at the right time too (laughs). It wasn’t the sunniest of days, so the shot on the swings amidst the greenery might have an ennui mood to it. It was a great experience as someone who loves to feel the energy of each season. I often keep the window down when I’m driving toward someplace, whether it gets a little warmer when I enter a tunnel in winter, or feel the chill when I enter a town, I love that moment when I can physically feel the change.
- In general, are you the type to make plans when you go out casually?
I plan almost nothing. I’ll drive, and swing by the park if I see a sign for it, or I might buy something light at the convenience store to eat in the park. But when I go camping, it’s routine that I visit an onsen on the way back. When I take off my clothes, I realise, “I’ve been smelling so smoky!” (laughs). I pack underwear and socks in my luggage so that I can always enter an onsen.
- For SixTONES’ YouTube, you visited Ikaho onsen with you as the driver.
We left early in the morning and I was driving the whole time, but it was lots of fun, like going up the stone steps and playing shooting games. Juri’s how-to-wash guide wasn’t edited out either (laughs). I think it’ll be fun if we go to onsens together for YouTube at regular intervals, so it’s a good idea for me to suggest [to staff] onsens that I’d like to visit (laughs).
Respect towards members that generates passion
- Last year, I think successfully completing “Kansei no Housoku in DOME”, an addition to your nationwide arena tour, was a big thing.
I am thankful that we’re able to hold an arena tour in the first place, so being able to add dome performances to that made me super happy. When I look back, rather than being stiff with nervousness, I remember it being like a grand festival. Fun is the word to describe it. I think a part of it comes down to the choice of not adding back-dancers, but I felt like one with the audience. Sharing a space with people that love us, it was a concert that gave me warmth. I do want to do concerts at bigger venues, but more than that, I want to perform with the confidence that we are the best in this very moment, and connect with the audience.
- Your 4-dome tour “VVS” led with the album “THE VIBES” will be starting soon.
It’s an album that was made with the idea of conveying SixTONES’ passion. It’s filled with our favourites, but “Anthem” is the perfect energetic number to be the lead track. For the MV too, I almost got dizzy from filming it (laughs). Atmospherically, I think it’s similar to “Kokkara”, which many people watched. Both the song and dance are upbeat, so it’ll definitely be a banger at the concert, and I’m eager to see how the audience will respond to it.
- I look forward to the performance of your unit track with Jesse-san, “Blue Days” too.
I’m singing with Jesse in a genre of Japanese hip-hop that I like. The lyrics are positive, but there’s a tinge of sadness to it too, and Jesse’s gentle tone of voice is perfect for singing about someone. I’d like to deliver that world that we’ve created on the stage as well.
- I’m sure you are a busy person, but are you continuing to take vocal and dance lessons?
No matter how busy I am, I think it’ll be game over for me if I slack on that. I receive different sorts of jobs, but my main priority is to satisfy fans with our performances. SixTONES is a group that loves concerts. Each of us are challenging things like stage plays and musicals, and there’s lots to learn from them, but I also consider taking singing lessons privately. In relation to dance, the time we spend learning [choreography] is meaningful for us. SAYA-san, who choreographed “Kokkara”, gave us a group lesson before teaching us the choreography [for “Kokkara”]. Being able to feel the groove of the song before actually learning the moves was a great experience.
- What do you think you gained from the stage play “Hoshifuru Yoru ni Dekakeyou”, that you performed in last year?
My love towards theatre work, where you can flexibly change your performance daily, has grown even stronger. Between rehearsals, the first day and the last day, there isn’t one performance that’s exactly the same. When my partner’s performance has a different nuance, I respond to it differently too and that’s fascinating. A scene usually with callous tones, is performed with a slight smile today - what meaning is concealed behind that…? Thinking about those details is lots of fun. The fact that there’s a rehearsal period for stage plays, I think is something that suits me. For filmed jobs, there’s only a quick run-through and no [lengthy] rehearsal period, so I feel uncertain about whether my performance is good or not, even if the director says it’s okay. For stage plays, when I receive an okay from the director, I will ask them what parts were good and use that to improve my acting.
- Each of you work individually significantly too. I think you must often feel respect towards those members.
I really do feel that. Each of us working hard in our respective fields is becoming more defined. I feel a lot of respect towards them when I see everyone’s solo work, and it’s cool when I turn on the TV at home and see a member (laughs). Shintarou tells me “I’m envious that you can do onsen and camping related jobs”, and hearing that simply makes me happy. Of course, there are times where we need to be competitive, in a good sense, but SixTONES is a group where we all respect each other’s individual work. Because of those solo jobs, we realise that “ahh, this is it” when the 6 of us gather for group activities. Taiga’s dependable side as the troupe leader for a stage play may not be present when he’s with SixTONES (laughs), but all of us will rise to the occasion when it’s time to. Since we can all flourish alone, I believe what we bring at concerts when we’re gathered together is all the mightier.
- Do you look forward to it when you see group work on your schedule…?
I mean, I do my job properly, but I think there’s a part of me that doesn’t consider it as work (laughs). We end up talking about random things and before we know it, we’re all rolling with laughter. At a work place, I think it’s the norm that you have less time to chat with your colleagues. But in SixTONES’ case, on days where we’re gathered together, the 6 of us will go to the canteen at the TV station as if it’s clockwork and have fun amongst ourselves. That being said, it doesn’t feel forced; you don’t have to talk if you don’t feel like it, and if you want to talk then you can talk till you’re sick of your voice (laughs). Moving on to talk about concerts after rambling on about random stuff might be a SixTONES trait.
- Please also tell us about your thoughts on turning 30 years old in March.
As I’ve previously mentioned, I plan to keep my age undisclosed when I turn 30 (laughs). Jesse often says that age is just a number, but I really believe that. I don’t want to let my age hinder me, and always feel like a university student, studying ferociously. Though in variety shows and things, I might say that I’m already an ojisan (laughs). No matter how old I become, I can learn something new, wear what I want, and do what I want. I think, I can hold onto this belief even when I turn 40, or 50. No matter my age, I want to focus on the principle of hibi benkyou [study everyday] and hibi egao [smiles everyday].