10,000 Character Interview 2018 - Hamada Takahiro

[adiweingarten]

Before you start reading I just want to warn  you that this interview brought me to tears so please don't be stupid like me and read it in public!

I wish that the 7 of us can be together forever

When that topic came up I got emotional

• The issue of MYOJO that this interview will be published in goes on sale on April 23rd

Our debut date! I’m so happy!

• It’s been four years since debut. Has it felt long? Short?

It was fun. More than anything every day has just been really fun!!

• Anything that particularly stands out?

Ehh. There is so much that comes to mind. But I suppose, Kyocera Dome is the first thing that pops into my head after all. Dome was the next thing we aimed for after debuting. It was huge.

• How was the stage at dome?

Before the concert started I looked out at the audience seats while they were still empty, thinking ’how will this look if all the seats fill up?’ and then the cheers when it started was more amazing than I’d imagined. It felt as if the audience’s cheers were making my whole body vibrate. I got like ‘WOOOH’. I was happy. It was the moment when Johnny’s WEST’s name got carved into Kyocera Dome’s history.

• On the last day you cried while singing ‘All My Love’ didn’t you?

I did. The lyrics fit exactly with what I was feeling at the time. I was out to make the audience cry, but I ended up crying myself (lol). All these feelings and memories suddenly hit me like ‘waah’, like a revolving lantern. The faces of those who’d quit; coming up to Tokyo and not being able to do anything; the days I was always looking down thinking ‘I couldn’t leave my mark’. Of course, the New Year’s Eve of 2013 too… all the hard times came back to me first all at once, but I didn’t cry then. It was after, while I was singing that I remembered all the happy times, the fun times and I was like ‘’uh-oh’’. For example, during our junior days when we were at Matsutake-za for ‘Naniwa Zamurai Hello TOKYO!!- (Kiriyama) Akito’s expression when he was half-crying and said ‘’we need Hama-chan!’’, and when Shige (Shigeoka Daiki) said ‘’now we have everyone we need!’’ I remembered all that, and all the tears I was holding back came out.

• Then you debuted on April 23rd 2014. But at first it wasn’t the debut you’d imagined was it?

Hmm…, it was especially frantic right after our debut. How can I put it it, it was kind of bitter, unlike now. There were a lot of trying times. Seeing others get job offers was painful and of course I always felt ‘’I want to sing more!” But at the same time I wanted to sing after I improved my singing because I thought there was no point of saying “let me sing” if it wasn’t part of my arsenal.

• Did you know that (Fuji) Ryusei-kun was the on that spoke up to have more singing parts for you and Kamiyama (Tomohiro)-kun?

Seriously?! I didn’t know at all. I’m so thankful. (Nakama) Junta also did a lot for me. Like when he looked at the outfits he would say ‘’hmm, the balance doesn’t look so good like this’’ and would casually ask for a change. So of course there were things that didn’t go according to plan but I did achieve my dream of debuting, and then I thought, ‘now I can change the future’. Because everyone was trying to change the condition at that time. I also changed my feelings to make the group as big as possible. For example, being happy no matter where my position is. Like at an arena, when we’re being watched from 360 degrees, when I turn around to face the audience behind me suddenly I’m at the front to them.

• How was that change in mental state?

I wonder when it started… Like I said before, when members besides myself got solo work, after I was happily congratulating them, frustration took over. When Ryusei got the main role in ‘Again’, at first it was painful. But I watched Ryusei appear in promotions, and he introduced himself as ‘’Johnny’s WEST’s…’’ so naturally. I came to my senses after seeing that. Realizing that each one of us is carrying the group. Of course the frustration is important too. So I want to keep those kinds of feelings with me as well. On top of that, all of us minus Ryusei were rehearsing for the stage-play ‘Typhoon Dreamer’ at the time and we all said ‘’Ryusei will come to practice late because of his drama so let’s cover for him’’. At that time too I also felt ‘we are a group’. I noticed it as if it was common sense you could say. After a while when I started getting solo work, everyone pushed my forward and that made me happy too.

• I’m going to ask something horrible, but did you feel a sense of inferiority after debut?

I did. At first all I could think was ‘if it wasn’t for those four, I wouldn’t be here at all’. I don’t feel that anymore now though.

• How did it go away?

I wonder how. No, seriously, how. Hmmmm… but the fact that I can’t think of a reason is the answer I suppose. I think that the other four got rid of it before I even noticed. While we were ‘members’ we never talked about it. And during interviews whenever that topic came up everyone got a little uncomfortable. Because it really hit me every time it came up. Though my face was smiling. So the reason that now I can talk about it like ‘’ahh yeah. There was a time like that’’ is the other members, especially the four, who always watched out for me to make me feel like I wasn’t needed.

In the past it really pissed me off (lol)

• You went to see the movie ‘Principal’ with all the members before the concert in Niigata right?

We did, we did. We all decided to go and then (Kotaki) Nozomu was like ‘’then I’ll buy everyone’s tickets and popcorn!” but then when we got there he started saying ‘’Damn, damn! I’m really happy but this is so embarrassing!” I was sitting next to Nozomu during the movie and whenever I would laugh aloud he would start fidgeting. Sticking to his chair like he wanted to become a part of it (lol).

• Everyone really is close aren’t they. Both Ryusei-kun and Kotaki-kun said that the reason they are all so close is because you are there

That’s too much praise. Though I’m happy they think that. Everyone smoothly teases my fails  It’s really only that everyone smoothly teases my fails and just a few times it just happened that one sentence from me changed a tense atmosphere into a good one. But the same number of times, no, more than that, I’ve been the one to ruin the atmosphere as well. There are lots of time when they must have been thinking ‘would have been better without him here’ (lol).

• Hahahaha. Playing the fool and getting teased. Have you consciously become the position in the group that livens the atmosphere?

I’m not conscious of it at all, not at all. Not in the slightest. But once, when everyone’s wasn’t feeling too great, I’ve mucked around on purpose. That role seems to have stuck I guess. I guess trying to make everyone get more excited got really fun. So from then on I have just kept mucking around.

• Johnny’s WEST is made up of people from different groups in Kansai Juniors. I think it’s amazing that you’re all so close despite that.

That’s because even if we were in different units, we were always together.

• Even so, didn’t being called to like ‘’Oi Hamada!’’ by Kotaki-kun who is younger then you bother you?

In the past it did piss me off a lot (lol). Before we became Johnny’s WEST. Even after we weren’t that close at the beginning. That guy (Non), didn’t even properly greet me in our Junior days*. He would sit in the audience seats at Matsutake-za and say “yo!’’ lifting one arm up in the air, to me, a senpai 8 years his senior. I was thinking ‘’I’m definitely going to smack him around later.” “I’ll never forgive this guy’’ (lol).

(T/N: In Japan it’s really important to greet your seniors with respect when you see them - especially in Johnny’s with your senpai)

• The person that taught Kotaki-kun proper etiquette was Hamada-kun wasn’t it?

That’s right. At first, I was the one teaching him, but lately it feels like I’m the one getting taught… actually, he scolded me once before. I taught him once, ‘’get moving 10 minutes before work starts!’’ Nozomu is following that rule properly till this day, and the other day he told me ‘’You aren’t able to get to work 10 minutes early anymore, huh Hama-chan!’’ Our positions have completely flipped. On top of that, Nozomu arrives 10 minutes early and is the first one to get friendly with the staff. When I get there just on time, there’s already kind of a warm atmosphere. Communication with the staff is really important.

• I wonder when you started getting so close to Kotaki-kun

Probably about a year after our debut, I thought ‘’huh? Why is this guy next to me?!” Apparently he once thought the same thing. I don’t know when we got friendly. But when we had work in Tokyo, at first we lived in hotels. Before debut we had to share rooms but after debut we got our own and everyone rejoiced like ‘’yay!” But Nozomu came to my room. Maybe he just didn’t want to say that he was lonely, or he just needed a reason to come, but he said ‘’I can play the guitar’’ and started playing. But he couldn’t play well at all, to the point that it was so boring, but because it was so boring it was so hilarious. Seeing Nozomu trying so hard made me think ‘I guess this is what it would feel like if I had a little brother’. I guess it was from then that we got close.

• But now Kotaki-kun is the older brother…

Before I knew it (lol). There are times when Nozomu insistently clings tight to me and things like that. Rubbing his chin against my shoulder like a dog and stuff. So he’s a little brother, an older brother. a dog… No but really, nowadays there are so many times when Nozomu helps me out. When I need advice I always go to Kotaki-san. I’ve gone to him for advice many times, seriously asking ‘’what should I do to do this properly?’’ and he’d answer, ‘’just be as you are. Just like that you are interesting enough.’’ and at those times I’ll be like ‘’I see’’. But after a while I’ll get anxious again and go to consult him again over and over. Recently, even before I go to talk to him he’ll scold me by saying ‘’you tried to be all proper just now didn’t you. It wasn’t interesting at all’’ (lol).

• How are the Hamada Army Corps* lately?

We haven‘t had any activities lately. Recently Kotaki-kun is so, so busy. Me the captain, and Ryusei the sauna have a relatively free amount of time but Kami-chan is busy too.

(T/N: *The Hamada Army Corps or ‘濱田軍団Hamada Gundan’ is a legion that follows Hama-chan. The members are Ryusei and Non - though Kami-chan has joined recently too - because they often get together in private, doing marine sports in Summer and snowboarding in Winter like real boys lol. Hadn‘t heard about ‘Sauna Ryusei‘ before but as he frequents saunas that’s probably just the name of the name of the position they gave him because they all dorks xD)

• How is Ryusei-kun recently?

He`s so forgetful! We changed in the bus when on location for `Sotsugyou Bakamentali` and the moment we finished changing he shouted `my phone is gone!` and started freaking out. He asked me to lend him my phone and he used it to call himself and his phone rang from a luggage rack pretty much right next to his head (lol). He left it on the rack and forgot about it the second he put on his jacket. So dumb.

(T/N: I LOVE RYUSEI SO MUCH)

• Has that Ryusei-kun matured too?

Of course. When we talk just the two of us he’s an idiot, but we think the same way and you can tell he’s giving it his all to aim for what he wants. As an idol and as an actor. He easily says great things… sorry, you probably want an example of what he says but I’ve forgotten (lol).

• What about Kamiyama-kun?

Kami-chan keeps maturing too. The way he puts effort in is genius after all. He’s always been fiddling with the computer so I was thinking he was playing games, but actually he was writing Evoke which is included in our WESTival album. He’s the type of person to do the things he likes thoroughly. Not just with writing music, he practices dance and instruments too. It’s not a matter of whether he can do it or not, or if he can make it into something bigger or not. If he likes something, he’ll give it a try. He’s a master of perfecting the things he likes.

• Kamiyama-kun offered to host last years End of Year gathering at his house didn’t he?

Yes. When all the members are together it’s just a gathering of idiots so you never know what we’ll do. So because of that no one wanted to do it at their places. Even so he let us come with a generous heart. Even cooking for us. He cut ham into the shape of roses to decorate the food for us. With a big smile he said ‘’I wanted everyone to be amazed.‘’ He’s so cute! During our Junior days he was the lonely wolf and never showed us that smile.

• Next, how is Shigeoka-kun?

The groups biggest doofus (lol). It took him 4 years to perfect it. There is no center like him. He’s the type that wants to do something the moment you tell him he can’t. The genius of freaks. He’s probably had worries of his own, but in a good way he’s pushed past all of them.

• He used to be the idol of idols. How did he end up as he is now?

That’s what I’d like to know (lol). Well I guess he must have snapped somewhere?! The string that made him an idol must have been cut. We tried to bring that version of him back but the real Shigeoka had already made his appearance and we were too late (lol). Even if we feel that it’s no good we can’t cure him now. And if we took that crazy part of him away, he probably wouldn’t be Shige anymore. But even though he’s like that, he’s held my niece and nephew before and is really sweet. His feelings are intense and he has a lot of personality.

• What about Kiriyama-kun?

He’s the partner I can be the most at ease with, we have definite trust in each other. His thought process is really fast. Like he’s not just one, but two steps ahead. Also he thinks about the group more than anyone. In variety shows and stuff when the MC asks ‘’How about the members of WEST?’’ Probably no body but the members know that we all wait for Akito for just a moment. He’d be looking the other direction but there’d be this moment of silence where he’ll be thinking ‘is Hamada going to take this? No, he won’t? Then I’ll go’. Until just a little while ago I really didn’t get variety. I always was one step back thinking about what I should do. But instead of saying ‘’Go, Hamada!’’ with a glance or using words, I can feel it with that silence so I know that I can speak up at that moment. Because I want to live up to Akito’s expectations.

• That’s amazing.

We have a history after all. But it’s not like Akito’s talent in variety shows was there from the beginning either. Akito really thought about a lot and worried a lot to make it to where he is today. Before our debut, he wasn’t the representative for the Kansai Juniors but he act to act like a representative. It surely must have been a lot of pressure and stress. The old Akito was really sensitive so he got hurt easily. But even so he took a lot onto his shoulders, it must have taken a lot for him to get to where he is now. People think he’s strong because of his appearance, but he has a glass heart. That Akito looks like he’s really having fun when he’s with the members so it puts me at ease.

• Lastly is Nakama-kun

Junta is… umm… what should I say? He’s a weird old man (lol).

• Please tell me, in a way that can be published, how he is weird

He gives his all in things that only Primary Schoolers would do. I guess he resembles Shige a bit. I guess their wavelengths match. He really is an amazingly fun person when he says ridiculously stupid things. When I muck around there are a lot of times when only Junta laughs. That makes me really happy. When I muck around in a really small way, no one but Junta gets it and he laughs. Thinking that our sense of humor is the same makes me happy.

• When you were Juniors you often went home on the train together didn’t you?

We did. We had a lot of opportunity to talk to each other and even now if I’m with Junta we can just be quiet together and it doesn’t feel uncomfortable at all. Also, he lived overseas when he was younger so from way back there have been a lot of times when I’ve thought ‘ah, what he’s really trying to say is this’ which happens even now so I’ve always thought he’s at a disadvantage.

The only back that was shown to me was…

• For you personally, has there been a turning point in these past 4 years?

The butai ‘Shibasanrou‾Onsen yado no Koi’ was a turning point. That was a super turning point. There were so many things I learnt. The other members were really cruel about it though. I was the chairman so I kept freaking out thinking I had to be really proper about it. When I went to all the members saying ‘’Save me, save me’’ and wanting advice, they just laughed at me. Watching me struggle they just said ‘’just go in like that!’ (lol). When Akito came to watch the play, he said ‘it made me want to try doing a stage play too’ though, which made me happy.

• There were  lots of things you learnt huh

Acting is really tough and difficult and fun. I learnt that I’ll never fully learn it. During the performance, from the side of the stage I heard the actors I was working with mutter ‘’acting is difficult’’ and I thought, ‘if people who are that good at acting don’t understand it, then I never will’.

• The producer Masahiko Kawahara also directed the script for the movie ‘Pikanchi*’ didn’t he?

Yes. He is greedy. Even at Senshuraku he kept adding things wherever he could, saying ‘’There is no such thing as ‘it’s good enough as it is’’’. As hard as that stage was, there was a huge sense of accomplishment as well. The other actors I worked with as well told me ‘’if you experience this you’ll won’t be scared wherever you go next’’. But I was so bad that Kawahara-san had to direct me so many times that even now when I see him I feel like I start standing stiff and upright (lol).

(T/N: *Pikanchi is one of Arashi’s really, really old group movies - it’s pretty funny if you’re interested, lol)

• You co-starred with Yokohama (Yu)-kun in the movie ‘Hammon Futari no      Yakubyougami’ didn’t you. Did you get any advice from him?

Co-starring with him was like a dream so while we were eating together I boldly asked him “do you have any advice for me?” and he told me “Hamada-san, you are so funny when you eat vegetables”. He laughed aloud and said ‘’you kind of look like a horse when you eat veggies’’. I’m sorry, that’s the only kind of conversation we had.

• Hahahaha. What kind of group is Kanjani∞ to you?

A group I’ll never be able to beat, really. They’re too great. When I go see their concerts I purely just enjoy myself, but I also feel like they’re trying to show-off to us, like “How was that? Try getting to this level!” It was after debuting that I really understood how great they are. Kanjanji∞ are too big to reach. It feels like a child growing up watching their parents from behind.

• Haven’t Johnny’s WEST also shown-up to their Kouhai?

I wonder?! I guess we are? Though I personally haven’t at all.

• So then, what did you think about King&Prince’s debut?

It’s really something to celebrate. The only ones I know personally are (Hirano) Sho and (Nagase) Ren though. Sho especially had a hard time. He started as a Nagoya Junior and then was a Kansai Junior and then became a Tokyo Junior, so I think there was probably a lot of things he was thinking about. Though as well as feeling congratulatory, there’s also the enormous pressure of our kouhai catching up to us. When I watched Miyacchi (Miyata Toshiya) and the Juniors performance in the Baseball Tournament last year*, it was so impressive. To the point where I felt “Why were we the once to debut?!” Miyacchi and I had this moment where we were just cheering each other up “You have to work harder Hama-chan!”, “You’re right. Do you best Miyacchi!” (lol)

• What do you think about the Kansai Juniors?

To be honest, it’s not like there’s just a few of them who I think of us like ‘what the hell dude’, really they’re all like that. That’s what being a Kansai Junior is. We watched so many debuts. We all go through the same experiences, like “Wow, I totally get that feeling!” The difference between those who think ‘I’m going to give up here’ and those who think ‘I’ll do better next time’ really shows up strongly. Those who say ‘‘the next to debut will be us!’’ always grow stronger. It’s not a pinch, it’s a chance. The President (Johnny-san) probably comes to watch the Juniors with eyes like ‘who will debut next…’ after all. At that moment the people who shine the most have the biggest advantage. In saying that though, I know from experience that it’s not so easy to flip you switch on like that, so I can’t really say anything. Not even words like ‘’you’ll be fine’’. I can’t say much more than those who are working hard right now will be closest to getting a chance next time. It’s not the exactly the same as what I said earlier about watching others to grow up - but the only backs I saw were those of people who kept pushing forward even if they looked uncool. I think that’s the kind of thing I’ve been able to show my kouhai too.

It’s not a given to be 7

• What is Johnny’s WEST to you?

Hmm, that’s hard. A group… oh but, I wonder… best friends, family, workmates… Ummm, they all seem right but at the same time don’t quite fit. I can’t express it with my vocabulary. I guess you could say Johnny’s WEST is it’s own special genre.

• Then what are the fans to you?

Umm… I might be the only one who doesn’t feel like they are fans?! Because we really are pretty much the same. They’re the same as us. The seven of us and the fans, together we make Johnny’s WEST, that’s how I think of it. They sing together with us during concerts after all. And up until now they’ve cried with us and laughed with us too. I can’t fit all that into just the word ‘fan’. It’s not just the seven of us. If it weren’t for the fans, the Johnny’s WEST of today surely wouldn’t be here.

(T/N: Hama-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaa TT_TT I love you~~!)

• This is a weird question - but what would you have been doing had you quit Johnny’s?

I can’t think of anything! Not a thing! I’ve thought about it many times. But I have never been able to come up with anything. When I close my eyes and try to imagine it, the last think I always think of is the member’s smiling faces… Ah, but there was one just one time that I seriously thought about what I’d be doing if I wasn’t in Johnny’s.

• When was that?

The New Years of that year. That I talked about in the last interview, when I got the text from Junta in the group chat saying “It’s been decided that the four of us will debut”. I really wavered at that moment. What I thought of was becoming a wedding planner. I don’t think it’s really this simple, but at the time I was thinking that wedding planner gets to see the moment where people are at their happiest. I thought there would never be a moment to feel down (lol).

• But you didn’t quit. You put your foot in and continued.

I thought about whether I wanted to quit or continue. But the feelings of wanting to continue as a Johnny’s were stronger. But then I realised ‘there’s no point in continuing’. It was fun because it was the seven of us. It was as seven that I wanted to debut. Even if I continue, if I have to walk a different path to the other four it won’t be fun at all. I decided to quit, and I sent the others a text saying ‘’I’m thinking of quitting’’.

• You never mentioned that in the last interview.

Oh, didn’t I? I might have been hiding it. Yeah. Right after I sent that message, I got a call from Ryusei and he said “I’ll do whatever it takes to join you. So Hama-chan don’t give up!” It was because of Ryusei that I stayed. I am greatful.

(T/N: I AM CRYING SO HARD RIGHT NOW!! HAMA-CHAN HAMA-CHAN HAMA-CHAN! RYUSEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII)

• Five years since you started moving forward as seven. What kind of group do you want to become?

We talked about it between us during the end-of-year gathering. At first it was just friends gathering together to muck around but eventually we started breaking up into groups of two’s or three’s and talking. I think it was Junta and Shige first, who were sitting at the dining table talking about the future of the group. Then Nozomu who was sitting on the sofa fooling around with Ryusei was like ‘’Oh it’s getting interesting’’ and they came over to the table together. The dining table at Kami-chan’s place is for seven people. Before we realised it the seven of us were squished together at the table talking directly to one another. What kind of group we want to become. We all thought the same thing. We want to become a group that’s ‘friends with the nation’. There are lots of ‘the nations idols’ in the agency, but we want to become the group that’s closest to everyone, the nation’s friends.

• You don’t need to reach the top?

We’ll aim for it. But even though we are idols, we don’t want to be thought of as hard to reach, or hard to get close to. If we were to say ‘’we want to be friends with everyone!” while shining brightly, you wouldn’t want to be friends with someone like that right? I think that without losing sight of things, without trying to act big and always continuing to do stupid things with our heads held high, we will be able to keep making friends and before we know it, we will have reached the top… Huh?! Is this something I should be talking about (lol). Well, what I want to say is that of course our agency is an idol agency and so being flashy and bright is necessary. We’re always being saved by that, but we also destroy the image of Johnny’s in a good way, and mix it together to create a chemical reaction and make amazingly beautiful fireworks fly out of it. In order to do that we are exploring many things, but aiming to be the friends of the nation is one thing we will never waver from. Because it’s something that all the members promised together.

• I see.

There’s one other thing we promised to each other. When the gathering was reaching its end, Ryusei said “Let’s try not to take the fact that the seven of us are together for granted”.

• That’s more important than anything.

Ryusei always casually says the things that I want to say. But seriously, you never know what’s going to happen. So that’s why I really think it’s important to never take the fact that we are together for granted. To be honest we do fight from time to time. But even if we face-off sometimes, I think it’ll be fine as long as each of understands how special it is that the seven of us are together. This is something that I am personally aiming for, but when we are all old men, I want us to be able to say “Well then, lastly let’s go Karaoke!” and have everyone sing ‘Ee jyanaika’ together.

• Can you imagine the members with children and grandchildren?

I can. I can imagine a kid who looks exactly like Shige having Shige saying things like ‘’An idiots son is an idiot too!” in his ear (lol).

• ‘‘I try not to think of the seven of us as being a given’’ is a good thing to say, but I also think the way Hamada-kun often says ‘’From now on I wish that only happy things befall everyone” is also a very beautiful thing to say

Right?! This line started when I was thinking that I really needed to try say something good. I thought about it and thought about it but all I could ever say were things that didn’t quite hit right. And so I was always scolded by Nozomu “you don’t have to act cool. Even if it’s short just say what you really feel”. So from then I stopped acting cool and thought about what it was I really felt, and said what first popped into my head, “I wish that only good things come to everyone”. When I went off stage, Nozomu came up to me with a really happy face and said “See? Today’s was the best right?” Since then I’ve kept saying it.

• I think those words are very like you

I think that way now too. We made the fans feel such pain at the beginning after all. I want to send them only happiness from now on. When the members are in front of me I think so too. ‘I wish that the people in front of me only meet happy things. And that the time we can spend as seven never ends’.