Ninomiya Kazunari's "It" - More 2017.06 [TRANSLATIONS]
To celebrate Nino's 17th 34th birthday, I decided I'd make a post on my personal LJ as well. ;)
His views on makeup and physical appearances in general will make you think about how you view yourself. I do have to admit: when he said he doesn't understand why people think he's youthful-looking, I wanted to give him a side-by-side comparison of his photo now and one from a decade ago. Let's be honest here: he invented the fountain of youth.
Just a few notes:
☆ The translations under the cut appear in page order, and the translations follow below the thumbnail.
☆ My translations are not available for retranslating purposes.
No.102
As You Are
As the seasons change, what scenery he chooses to see and what he chooses to feel are up to him. What reflects in Ninomiya Kazunari's eyes? What unwavering values remain?
It's mid-March. A small patch of cherry blossom trees by the river began to bloom early. It must be a sunny spot. Such images of spring gives us feelings of new beginnings. Whether it be fashion, makeup, or dieting goals, it makes us want to find a "new me"... To this, he replies, "I don't ever feel that way [laugh]. Could it be because I'm a guy?" It was an answer I was expecting. He explains that no matter the season, he has no interest in adorning himself. What's his take on women's makeup?
Ninomiya (hereafter "N"): Makeup, clothes... honestly, I don't care [laugh]. Thick, black eyeliner, bright red lipstick. Those tend to be unpopular with most guys, but if the woman herself likes that look and it makes her feel good, who's to tell her otherwise? I will say, though, that the effort a woman puts into her makeup doesn't always make for the best look for her. You have to try different styles to know what works best. What an individual thinks looks "good" on her might be more of a familiarity thing.
Yoshi (hereafter "Y"): Don't men prefer it when women don't wear any makeup?
N: I can understand that sentiment. It's more of a mental thing. Think about it: makeup is an external thing. You're creating a mask you want the world to see; it's not something you do for anyone in perticular. Women may argue, "I doll myself up for my boyfriend," but wouldn't you wear makeup anyway, even if your boyfriend told you he prefers otherwise? So, actually, you wear makeup for yourself. On the flip side of that coin, a woman typically wears no make up when she's home alone with her boyfriend. That's why men like it. We think it's cute, your embarrassed face and all. Most of us men, we don't date women so we can show them off in public. When a girlfriend or wife puts herself together nicely so she can be "the woman we can brag about," we still think to ourselves, "You don't have to do that. We love you just the way you are."
Y: In those words, we find a gentleman's kindness and Nino's romance style. Still, as women age, we feel more and more self-conscious about our imperfections and feel the need for makeup.
N: I see. There are men who only prefer the "cute, no makeup" faces, after all [laugh]. As for me, though, I like it when men and women look their age. For example, even if my mother gained a little bit of weight, I'd think it fits her age. I don't demand eternal youth and beauty from her. That's unnatural. However, if acquaintances in their 30s or 40s gain weight in an unhealthy way, I'd probably point it out honestly. By that, I'm not implying that they should lose weight. I'm merely stating a fact [laugh]. I mean, being overweight can be bad for the knees, and makes one more prone to diseases. That'd trouble others, wouldn't it? So, I'm just giving them a warning, in that sense [laugh]. Gaining weight and other health issues, that's your responsibility. You have to take care of yourself.
If a woman complains about becoming an old lady, she's probably already is one [laugh].
Y: The man himself looks far younger than he actually is. Yet, he continues to tell us that he doesn't do anything special to maintain his youthful look and figure.
N: In the entertainment industry, no one really looks their age. Besides, I don't focus on age when I interact with people, so I've never thought myself as youthful-looking... I do have this friend with whom I play games, he's the same age as I am. He's not in showbiz, and he acts like an old man [laugh]. When I compare myself with him, I kind of understand why I may look younger than I really am. But, that's normal. I lack the societal experiences most people have, which explains how I look. I've never had to work hard to get into a good school or send out numerous job applications for employment. These are things people my age have all experienced. Of course, I have completely different kinds of skewed experiences that others don't have. But, you see, this type of profession. Time doesn't flow the same in this industry. Mornings, days, nights, even seasons don't really determine time. It's like... time is defined differently for us.
Y: I asked him if he meant that he lives beyond the confines of time. He nodded.
N: I think those who worry about age or how old they look are wasting their time. No matter how old you really are, the moment you tell yourself, "I don't want to become an old lady," that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy [laugh]. It's useless to declare that you want to remain young. It's far better to live in the moment and enjoy the changes that come with age. It's true, though, that the general public demands that we remain unchanging. They see us on TV and think, "They stay so young, look how much I've aged." I feel we are a means for viewers to notice how much time has passed [laugh]. Personally, I want to be someone who changes naturally with age. I want viewers to think, "Oh, he's aged, too." I prefer that [laugh].
The reason why men prefer women with no makeup is more of a mental thing. Makeup is a mask you choose to wear for the world. Wearing no makeup is a side of yourself you only show a special someone.
Kazunari Ninomiya
Born on June 17, 1983 in Tokyo. Arashi's 51st single, "I'll be there", is on sale now. Nino says he "doesn't workout at all," but he does maintain a 'mobile body.' "I don't really care about how I look, but the other four members have some kind of workout routine. I try to maintain my physique so my body doesn't stop Arashi from doing what they want to do [laugh].
His views on makeup and physical appearances in general will make you think about how you view yourself. I do have to admit: when he said he doesn't understand why people think he's youthful-looking, I wanted to give him a side-by-side comparison of his photo now and one from a decade ago. Let's be honest here: he invented the fountain of youth.
Just a few notes:
☆ The translations under the cut appear in page order, and the translations follow below the thumbnail.
☆ My translations are not available for retranslating purposes.
No.102
As You Are
As the seasons change, what scenery he chooses to see and what he chooses to feel are up to him. What reflects in Ninomiya Kazunari's eyes? What unwavering values remain?
It's mid-March. A small patch of cherry blossom trees by the river began to bloom early. It must be a sunny spot. Such images of spring gives us feelings of new beginnings. Whether it be fashion, makeup, or dieting goals, it makes us want to find a "new me"... To this, he replies, "I don't ever feel that way [laugh]. Could it be because I'm a guy?" It was an answer I was expecting. He explains that no matter the season, he has no interest in adorning himself. What's his take on women's makeup?
Ninomiya (hereafter "N"): Makeup, clothes... honestly, I don't care [laugh]. Thick, black eyeliner, bright red lipstick. Those tend to be unpopular with most guys, but if the woman herself likes that look and it makes her feel good, who's to tell her otherwise? I will say, though, that the effort a woman puts into her makeup doesn't always make for the best look for her. You have to try different styles to know what works best. What an individual thinks looks "good" on her might be more of a familiarity thing.
Yoshi (hereafter "Y"): Don't men prefer it when women don't wear any makeup?
N: I can understand that sentiment. It's more of a mental thing. Think about it: makeup is an external thing. You're creating a mask you want the world to see; it's not something you do for anyone in perticular. Women may argue, "I doll myself up for my boyfriend," but wouldn't you wear makeup anyway, even if your boyfriend told you he prefers otherwise? So, actually, you wear makeup for yourself. On the flip side of that coin, a woman typically wears no make up when she's home alone with her boyfriend. That's why men like it. We think it's cute, your embarrassed face and all. Most of us men, we don't date women so we can show them off in public. When a girlfriend or wife puts herself together nicely so she can be "the woman we can brag about," we still think to ourselves, "You don't have to do that. We love you just the way you are."
Y: In those words, we find a gentleman's kindness and Nino's romance style. Still, as women age, we feel more and more self-conscious about our imperfections and feel the need for makeup.
N: I see. There are men who only prefer the "cute, no makeup" faces, after all [laugh]. As for me, though, I like it when men and women look their age. For example, even if my mother gained a little bit of weight, I'd think it fits her age. I don't demand eternal youth and beauty from her. That's unnatural. However, if acquaintances in their 30s or 40s gain weight in an unhealthy way, I'd probably point it out honestly. By that, I'm not implying that they should lose weight. I'm merely stating a fact [laugh]. I mean, being overweight can be bad for the knees, and makes one more prone to diseases. That'd trouble others, wouldn't it? So, I'm just giving them a warning, in that sense [laugh]. Gaining weight and other health issues, that's your responsibility. You have to take care of yourself.
If a woman complains about becoming an old lady, she's probably already is one [laugh].
Y: The man himself looks far younger than he actually is. Yet, he continues to tell us that he doesn't do anything special to maintain his youthful look and figure.
N: In the entertainment industry, no one really looks their age. Besides, I don't focus on age when I interact with people, so I've never thought myself as youthful-looking... I do have this friend with whom I play games, he's the same age as I am. He's not in showbiz, and he acts like an old man [laugh]. When I compare myself with him, I kind of understand why I may look younger than I really am. But, that's normal. I lack the societal experiences most people have, which explains how I look. I've never had to work hard to get into a good school or send out numerous job applications for employment. These are things people my age have all experienced. Of course, I have completely different kinds of skewed experiences that others don't have. But, you see, this type of profession. Time doesn't flow the same in this industry. Mornings, days, nights, even seasons don't really determine time. It's like... time is defined differently for us.
Y: I asked him if he meant that he lives beyond the confines of time. He nodded.
N: I think those who worry about age or how old they look are wasting their time. No matter how old you really are, the moment you tell yourself, "I don't want to become an old lady," that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy [laugh]. It's useless to declare that you want to remain young. It's far better to live in the moment and enjoy the changes that come with age. It's true, though, that the general public demands that we remain unchanging. They see us on TV and think, "They stay so young, look how much I've aged." I feel we are a means for viewers to notice how much time has passed [laugh]. Personally, I want to be someone who changes naturally with age. I want viewers to think, "Oh, he's aged, too." I prefer that [laugh].
The reason why men prefer women with no makeup is more of a mental thing. Makeup is a mask you choose to wear for the world. Wearing no makeup is a side of yourself you only show a special someone.
Kazunari Ninomiya
Born on June 17, 1983 in Tokyo. Arashi's 51st single, "I'll be there", is on sale now. Nino says he "doesn't workout at all," but he does maintain a 'mobile body.' "I don't really care about how I look, but the other four members have some kind of workout routine. I try to maintain my physique so my body doesn't stop Arashi from doing what they want to do [laugh].