[Translation] Jun's anan interview (anan 2011.6.22 edition)
Interview (page 56-57)
片思いは苦い （Unrequited Love is Bitter)
It’s fun because it is one-sided, but I’m not fantasizing
This is the unrequited love special edition, right? Why me? Do I always have the image of the unrequited love?
(T/N: Italics are Anan, the rest are Jun)
With that kind of light joke from Matsumoto Jun-san, the atmosphere at the photo shooting site was immediately at ease. No, no, on the contrary, we think there are many girls out there who love you one-sidedly. First, would you please tell us about the first one-sided love experience in your life?
My teacher, when I was in kindergarten used to call me, and me only, by first name, “Jun”, I wondered why, and I had butterflies in my stomach because of it. People outside of family never called me like that.
She would sit me on her lap and treated me kindly, I liked her a lot.
One day, a postcard from the teacher reached Matsumoto boy who was already in primary school.
「I got married」. And her husband’s name was “Jun”, but with a different kanji character. “Ah, so that’s why”, my child’s mind understood. The name Jun was special to my teacher, I explained to myself.
That’s how his first one-sided love ended.
After that, after you’ve grown up into an adult…..
I once had a one-sided love for a long time. It was never reciprocated, though. What I have learned from that experience is, what can’t be done, can’t be done. Isn’t it the same with everything? Everything related to relationship between humans, can’t all go as we like. That’s why I stopped overthinking about that. What’s fun about one-sided love is the one-sided part of it. We probably won’t see the minus sides of the partner.
If we try to always be together with someone, for instance, we have to accept the differences in our feelings and theirs, and I think, in a way, it would be necessary to give up something, but in one-sided love, it doesn’t happen.
I think, one-sided love, including fantasizing our relationships with the ones we love, is fun. I don’t fantasize though (laugh).
If a girl consults you about her one-sided love, what kind of advice will you give her?
I will listen to her. But it depends on each condition. Moreover, when a girl wants to talk, usually it’s when she wants someone to listen, and she doesn’t demand for an answer. If she asks, “What do you think?” I will answer, “I think this and this”, but I can not offer her the most accurate advice.
Well, if there’s a technique to make a one-sided love reciprocated, if there’s such a thing, I really want to know!
Although he was a bit confused about “what to talk” within the topic of “one-sided love”, Matsumoto Jun-san answered the questions sincerely, one by one. Even if we asked something sort of impossible, he certainly would do it. It must be encouraging if we have this kind of friend.
It is alright to try to devote our hearts, changed by love, to others
We love someone very much, even though we confessed many times and they never answer our feelings, we still love them. It will never be reciprocated but we will always love them. If there’s someone with that kind of situation, I think it will be nice if it changes to a better direction. Of course if that someone is fine with it, it’s not necessary to say anything, but I would think it’s a waste.
Love is a matter of fate. It doesn’t matter if we tried our best or not, “if people are meant to be together they will be, if not, they will not”, that’s what I think.
It’s a wonderful thing to be able to think about others, and be a kind person because of the one-sided feeling. So, if we have changed because of an unrequited love, I think it’s alright to devote our feelings to others that would accept us, who had grown up because of that experience. Well, things don’t go that smoothly though.
Of course, love can not be simply controlled by reason. As a representative of boys to whom many girls are one-sidedly in love with, what do you think is the borderline of “pleased” and “annoyed” when a girl confesses to you?
It depends on the relationship, right? For example, if we receive emails from the one we love, I think we’ll be happy to receive them no matter how many we will get in one day. Even if we don’t know whether we can reply them, but I think we can be satisfied by reading the emails and say “thank you”.
On the contrary, I think I will not fall no matter how much someone would approach me, if I don’t have the slightest feeling for that person.
I don’t fall in love at first sight, and my feeling doesn’t change drastically just like that. Although I do sometimes think a girl is “cute”, things like “whoa!” don’t happen to me.
I do have preferences in physical appearance, but I don’t fall for a person only because of that. I also absolutely will not love someone just because that person loves me.
If I don’t have the feeling inside me, nothing will happen.
We could not reveal the one-sided love strategy, if he doesn’t have the feeling at all. At least, can you tell us what kind of physical appearances that you like?
Hm…I wonder? Perhaps the typical gestures of women? For instance, putting aside locks of hair to behind the ear when they eat, something like that.
What she is doing now? The time I spend to think about her gets longer.
If we see the flow of the interview, we can say, Matsumoto Jun is an “unconquerable” man. What happens if he has a one-sided love?
I think I would want to know about her more, and I would want her to know more about me. Also, I think the time I spend to think about her will grow longer.
(note: Jun used the word 相手(aite)=the partner, the other party, I used "her" for practical reasons)
What she is doing now, etc. When I go shopping, maybe I would unconsciously look at women’s things. I always love giving presents to people, not only to women but also men. When I go shopping, I would think “this will suit her/him nicely”, or remember “she/he said she/he wanted this”, and buy. It doesn’t have to be something expensive. We don’t need any reasons to give presents, and I’m not expecting anything in return. I’m doing it because I like it.
What if a girl who loves you one-sidedly gives you presents?
I think I’ll be happy with her good intention, but I will feel bad, and feel kind of obligation to give something back to her, which is distressing.
It seems that the strategy to make him fall by giving presents is also not feasible. Is it as expected? No way at all to make one-sided love reciprocated?
I'm sorry, I keep saying harsh things (laugh).
Suddenly Matsumoto san apologized. No, it’s alright, because many girls out there also like it.
I never divide girls according to my type, or maybe you can say that as the “strike zone”? I don’t understand it either.
I heard before from some discussions about love, it is said that women line up their boyfriends -the past and present ones-vertically, while men line up their girlfriends horizontally.
Women always put the present boyfriends in the foremost position, and if they change to the new ones, the new ones will replace the previous ones, but men line up their girlfriends horizontally, and compare their present girlfriends with the previous ones. In this case, maybe the way I think is like women.
He’s faithful to the one he loves. He doesn’t let any openings at all for anyone else to get in. Sometimes he even seems awkward because of that straight and honest heart.
Now we understand why many love story dramas starred by Matsumoto san are so persuasive, and gained supports from many women.
Next, we will still persistently ask about the one-sided love. If you have to choose whether one-sided love is sweet or painful, which one will you choose?
I think it’s painful, or perhaps bitter? It’s different in each case. I think it depends on whether it’s reciprocated or not, and on what kind of one-sided love that we have. Even if it is reciprocated and you can be together, it doesn’t mean that that love is sweet either. Because you'll have many things coming after that. Nevertheless, I think one-sided love is absolutely fun, even if it is not reciprocated.
For example, when you consider the right timing to send an email for the first time, and feeling nervous about it, or when you think what is the right time to contact that person, and wonder if she/he’s a morning or night person, or when you are restless waiting for the reply, I think romance is fun (laugh).
By the way, when I confess, I would do it by talking face to face. Emails or phone calls are the preliminary steps. I want to convey my feelings by meeting that person directly. People influence me quite easily, but, what shall I say….I like being eroded (influenced).
The influencing power of love is quite strong, I think.
From page 58
Q: If the girl you like confesses to you, will you reply right away? or will you wait?
I will say "Me too" immediately.
I think I'll be so happy. So very happy. I think I would feel like I want to fly. But, if possible, I want to be the one who confess to the one I love.
Q: Your one-sided love is reciprocated, and you are on your first date. Where will you take her?
If I'm together with that person, anywhere will be fine.
I don't have any special date courses. I won't tell even if I do. If my partner is happy, the place doesn't matter.
Q: What will you say to your male friend who has one-sided love, confessed but then rejected?
I will not say anything and behave as usual.
When someone is really down, I think any comforting words won't have any meanings. If he talks, I'll say "Oh, I see", and I'll listen.
Q: What Arashi love song that will comfort girls who have one-sided love?
Depends on your interpretation.
Everybody has their own thoughts when they listen to the songs.
I don't want to give instructions like "This one!"
I would feel bad If I give limitations.
Q: If you were to produce a movie about "Unrequited Love" what kind of scene will you make for the opening?
I'd look up from the window and let my heart goes to the one I love.
Eh? I'll be on that scene too? what should I do......maybe a scene by the window, looking outside absentmindedly?
For example, gazing through the window, look up to the sky and think about the one I love.
-end-
Translators note: I used "one-sided love" and "unrequited love" alternately both for the same word 片思い (kataomoi), because I thought it was more accurate, considering the context.
I used "she/her" if Jun stated clearly he referred to a girl/women, otherwise, I used "someone" or "that person" or "she/he", because Jun used "sono hito" = that person or "aite"= the partner, the other person/party, unless stated otherwise (like in note)
Anan scans are here, take whatever you want, credits are not necessary.
Translation credit is not necessary as long as you don't claim it as yours, and let me know if you want to translate it into other languages.
Thank you for reading :)
[EDIT] : Thank you so much for the comments and discussions, I read, enjoyed, and appreciated them all. It seems that many girls are indeed one-sidedly in love with Jun, me included :)
I will post more translations although not regularly, please feel free to use this community to discuss your opinions, etc
thank you ^^/