+act mini Vol.7 feat. Aiba
Super long overdue (Gomen, nu er :p) translation of +act mini Vol.7 (released on end of 2009) featuring Aiba xD He talks about his work, acting in dramas/stage plays, his childhood etc. And he also talks a lot about Miyata Keiko-san & Shimura Ken-san, the two very influential people in his life~ Quite a lengthy interview (15 pages in Microsoft word o.O), but it's worth a read =)
Scans credit to sng :)
"I do think that the most unnecessary feeling/emotion is jealousy."
☆ Words in grey: my side-notes/comments. Please do not repost my translations & credit if using. Thank you :)
Straightforward, honest, simple, natural etc - These are some of the many words that describes Aiba Masaki’s charm. But none of them describe him perfectly, how should I put it… “Immeasurable gentleness ” - I think that is Aiba Masaki’s charm. He always reads the mood and observes the situation carefully; he looks out for the people around him and puts himself in their shoes before acting. So it feels good being around him, because he will never make you feel uncomfortable/uneasy. And it doesn’t feel like he’s just patronizing you either. It’s amazing how he does that. In this interview, he said, “The most unnecessary feeling is jealousy”. And I thought these words represent Aiba Masaki very well. He doesn’t compare himself with other people and he doesn’t want to compete with anyone. What’s most important to him is that he is “Arashi’s Aiba Masaki” and he knows that if he thinks in this way, things will be much simpler. This rare disposition and ability is Aiba Masaki’s ‘power’. To maintain this ‘power’ at a constant level is definitely not an easy task. You need tremendous amount of perseverance and determination to be able to do that… That is why I think Aiba’s “gentleness” is something precious; that is why he is liked by people; and that is why he is everyone’s “Aiba-chan”. So as the interviewer, I will put up not any pretence as well. I’ll express my thoughts and feelings honestly. I have been looking forward to this interview - “Once again, I’d like to know more about Aiba Masaki” - I put my thoughts about this in a 13,000 words long interview.
- The readers have been eagerly anticipating this issue of +act mini with Aiba Masaki on the cover. Aiba Special! They are really looking forward to it… The other 4 Arashi members have appeared in ‘+act’ and ‘+act mini’ previously and now it’s Aiba Masaki’s turn. Of course we’ll talk about your lead role drama “My Girl”… But I hope Aiba-san will also talk about some of things that you rarely talk about.
Okay (laughs).
- Amongst the many different types of work you do, I’d like to ask you what you think about acting.
Sure, let’s do it!
- Thank you! First of all… Aiba-kun, do you like acting?
Do I like acting…? Hmm, let’s see.
- Do you think acting is difficult or is it something you don’t particularly like…
No, nothing of that sort...
- I have seen you act on various occasions and my impression is that you think hard about your role and you take on acting in a straightforward manner. But… You don’t really talk much about the hard work you put in and you don’t really talk about yourself either.
Yeah…
- Like your own thoughts, how you approach your role, what you think about acting… you don’t really talk about these things.
Yeah… That’s true. How should I put it? I do like acting. Well… I don’t really know how to explain what I like about it. Because there is more than one answer. So yeah, I don’t really talk about it.
- Speaking of which, do you remember the first time you act?
In the stage play “Stand by me”.
- That’s right. How was it like? Your first time acting.
How… Well, I didn’t really think much at that time (laughs). I just memorised the script & recite my lines…
- Was it very tough for you at that time?
Tough huh… Not really, it was more like: is this really okay? I didn’t know how to act and I didn’t know what is right or wrong. Since it was the first time I act, I had nothing to compare with…
- After that, you have been acting regularly, every year.
Yeah. But… meeting with Miyata-san (Director, Miyata Keiko-san) was something big/significant for me.
- For the stage play “Tsubame no Iru Eki” (Sept 2005)?
Right. It was around that time… She was very strict with me, with my acting. It was around that time that my way of thinking changed.
- I see… So looking back upon your acting up till then (before meeting Miyata-san), it’s kind of...
Yeah… I guess I was too naïve/immature then.
- I see. Up till that point in time, you have worked on “Mukoudono”, “Shonen Taiya”, “PIKANCHI LIFE IS HARD dakedo HAPPY”, “Kaigo Kazoku”, “Engimono”, “PIKANCHI LIFE IS HARD dakara HAPPY” and… “Tsubame” (Tsubame no Iru Eki). So in all these works, you were more of still in the stage of exploring, trying to find out what acting is. Is that right?
Yeah… That’s… right.
- You said meeting with Miyata-san has changed you. How so?
I learnt that there are many different ways to do things.
- Seems like “Tsubame” has made an impact on you and on the way you act.
Yeah. But I was really scared at first (laughs). Well, maybe not really scared, but it was very tough. But thanks to this encounter, my way of thinking has changed. But it’s hard to explain how it has changed…
- You just feel that it has changed.
Yeah. I thought it’s about time for me to learn some acting skills/techniques. I worked with Miyata-san 3 times but she doesn’t really talk about the… technical part. She always says “It’s fine, it’s fine”.
- Maybe it’s because you have already understood what you’re supposed to do.
So… How should I put it? But somehow, I feel like she’s saying “You don’t need it at all”… You don’t need techniques.
- That’s true. You can’t act with just techniques alone…
Yeah… But as an actor… I think having the skills/techniques would make it easier for me to get into the role/get the right expressions. So that, you know, I will feel more secure and less fearful when I’m acting. But I also think it’s good to have some amount of insecurity or “fear”.
- Maybe she thinks that it isn’t time for you to depend on techniques to act.
Maybe… Yeah, that may be true.
- So… you worked with Miyata-san in 3 stage plays (“Tsubame”, “Wasurerarenai hito” in 2007, “Greenfingers” in 2009). I know you two have established a strong relationship, but I didn’t know that she is such an influential person to you.
Because I don’t really… talk about it.
- But it’s a very good story. Acting in a stage play is tough huh, since you have to do it live.
Yeah… that’s true. But… I like doing stage plays. Though it does get really tough and difficult sometimes.
- Erm… This may sound like a belated comment, but when I saw you in “Tsubame”, I thought you made a breakthrough.
Really? That story… I really like it a lot.
- In all 3 stage plays, there were crying scenes. The way you let your feelings out & cry left a deep impression on me.
…I don’t really… like crying scenes.
- Is that so?
Yeah.
- Why is that?
I don’t know… If you don’t keep an objective point of view, you won’t be able to control your emotions. And if you do that, you’re just satisfying your own ideals. I got scolded by Miyata-san once. It was during a crying scene. She said “You couldn’t control your emotions” & I said “I can’t…” In “My Girl” too, I had to cry in the first episode. That was… So I have been very careful since then.
- I see… A certain actress once said “No matter what kind of strong emotions I have to express, I have to maintain an objective point of view”…
Yeah yeah… That’s right.
- I’m sure that’s what she (Miyata-san) meant.
Yeah. That’s why I got scolded (laughs). At the beginning… in “Tsubame”. That’s why I don’t like it (crying scenes). Because I can’t keep an objective point of view… sometimes.
- I see… Your encounter with Miyata-san is really significant.
Yes. She is an amazing person… Of course, she is “the director - Miyata Keiko ”, but when we’re not working, she is just “Miyata Keiko-san”. And Miyata Keiko-san… How should I put it? She really looks out for me…
- She guides you along.
That and… She is really different when we’re not working together. Recently, she probably heard that I was busy with my drama… She contacted me. But I couldn’t find time to reply her. And I think she got worried… She actually came to the studio to visit me. With gifts. She wasn’t directing the show or anything yet she came over. “This is not my show & there is another director doing the work, so I will not say anything about it”… She just came to visit me & brought me some gifts…
- Wow… That’s very nice of her.
Yeah… She does this sort of things. She doesn’t just guide you in acting, but she looks out for you in other areas too. She is like my “Tokyo Mom”…
- She really understands you.
Yeah… She has helped me a lot & I’m really really grateful for that…
- Being able to have such a close relationship with a director, that’s rare.
But… For me, I think either way is fine. A director who only thinks about his/her work is good too. How should I put it…? For the sake of ensuring that the show turns out good, I think it’s okay even if the director is a little fiercer or stricter. I think this kind of working relationship is fine too. But… it’s just that for Miyata-san, the working relationship is different. When I first met her in “Tsubame”. I don’t know… But I think there are different ways of interacting with people. Like in a drama, it’s different. There is no one month rehearsal like in a stage play and you film different scenes at different locations.
- And most of the time, you start off with “Nice to meet you!” (i.e. in a drama, you mostly work with people whom you have not met before)
Right. In some aspects, dramas are totally different from stage plays.
- Are both stage plays and dramas interesting to you?
Hmm… Let’s see. It’s not just acting, I have done many different things in these 10 years. So… In variety programmes, I was given the chance to host my own corner and when I’m doing it… I’ll tell myself “My character for today is this” or “This is how I should act like today”. And when I’m talking to the common people (as in non-artistes/celebrities), I’ll think about how should I portray myself? So, in this sense, I’m creating a character, I’m “acting”. People say I could just do it naturally… But I don’t think that would be very interesting. Though it’s not really acting per se, but I’m showing a different me, I’m adding different character elements to myself. Yeah, so in that sense, it (doing variety shows) is similar to acting.
- Talking about variety shows… Around the time when you were acting in “Tsubame”, you started doing “Shimura Dobutsuen”.
Yes yes.
- And from what you have just said, I’m guessing you learnt a lot in the show…
Yeah, that’s right... I learnt a lot from Shimura-san.
- Shimura-san has a lot characters (referring to the characters in his comedy skits) too.
Yeah! I think Shimura-san is really good in acting. He can do anything. Well.... He is good in sports too.
- Eh… Sports?
I was surprised. His stamina… He is good in golf too.
- He has lots of energy & vitality.
Yes yes. I… There is something that I hope Shimura-san can teach me.
- What is it?
Erm… I want ask him how to go about acting drunk, how a drunkard moves etc. Because I can’t learn that when I’m really drunk (laughs). But Shimura-san knows how to do it. And that’s why he can do the “drunken old man” act. It has got to do with intensity too. Because if you go overboard and act too drunk, it won’t work… I had to do such a scene… acting drunk (in “My Girl”). When I know I had to do that scene, I really wanted to ask him to teach me.
- In this sense, acting techniques are important.
Yeah. I wanted to ask him to teach me… But nowadays… I don’t really get to see him.
- That’s right…. Just now, you said “I’m dying” (laughs). Concert, drama, regular variety shows plus location shooting… You’re really busy nowadays.
Yeah… I’m almost dead (laughs). The other day, in the “Dobutsu” special, I thought I could finally meet Shimura-san, but I was asked to go for location shooting instead (laughs).
- You went on a location shooting alone?
With Yamase (Mami)-san. We were filming the entire day… And I thought: Ah, so I can’t meet Shimura-san today (laughs).
Aww~ But he did finally managed to learn from Shimura-san in Arashi ni Shiyagare :)
- So you didn’t get him to teach you in the end… What a pity (laughs).
But… I like that family. Yamase-san and Shimura-san…
- You guys have a really close relationship. I can tell just by looking.
Yeah… And Becky etc.
- Everyone is part of the ‘team’.
When you work together for 5 years… you establish a kind of relationship… And my relationship with Arashi too. The Aiba in Arashi is different from the Aiba outside Arashi. It’s not like I do it on purpose, but when my surroundings change, I’ll adjust automatically. But basically, I want to be “Arashi’s Aiba Masaki”. When I introduce myself, it’s not “Aiba Masaki of Arashi” but it’s “Arashi’s Aiba Masaki”… Yeah. That’s my core… Because of that, I can do what I do now.
- You have been getting a lot of jobs recently. It’s amazing you can think of it this way…
Surprisingly huh? (laughs)
- No, not that (laughs). It’s like… You act like you can’t read the mood, but you’re actually very good at it.
But that… In my heart, I think that’s how I want people to see me.
- That may be true.
How should I put it? I don’t mind being an idiot. Being an idiot is fine (laughs).
- Idiot… (laughs).
Yeah. When people call me an idiot, I don’t particularly hate it or anything. Though I’ll retaliate & say “Hey!”, but I don’t hate it at all (laughs).
- I see (laughs). So Miyata-san & Shimura-san has made a big impact on your life. Are there any other directors, actors…
That… There are many~ Like this year, Hira (Mikijirou)-san (From “Greenfingers”)… I think he’s really amazing.
- I see…
How should I put it… I don’t know (laughs). Even if you ask me what is amazing about him, I don’t know! During the stage play, many people asked me “What is amazing about Hira-san?” I don’t know even if you ask me (laughs). Though I don’t know how to put it into words, he’s amazing.
- But you do know the fact that he is amazing!
Yeah (laughs). It’s a kind of feeling. But it’s difficult to explain why I feel that way... But I really treasure the time we spent working together.
- Do you look back upon the past?
Me? Not really. When I think it’s time, like if I think it’s time to quit, I might reminisce the past everyday. For me, reminiscing the past and going “Ah~ Those were good times” is something you do when you are about to quit. So before I have such intentions, I don’t really look back…… But recently (because it’s Arashi’s 10th anniversary), we're often asked to look back upon the past 10 years. For instance, in interviews, we always get questions like: “Looking back upon these 10 years, what were 3 most important events?” (laughs). I’ll do it when I’m asked to…
- You guys did a lot of that this year.
That’s right. If I didn’t get a chance like this, I probably won’t look back, even if it’s the 10th year anniversary... Not that I dislike it or anything, just that I don’t usually do it on my own free will.
- Aiba-kun, can I ask you a question? Just answer it as best as you can…
Okay. We have been talking about a lot of things which I have not talked about before (laughs).
- Yes… I’m really grateful for that (laughs). But I want to ask you more… You said after you met Miyata-san, the way you act has changed. So I want to ask you about how you handle acting now.
Okay.
- Firstly. You receive a script when you act right?
Yes yes.
- How do you read your script?
After I get the script… Hmm~ You mean when I read it for the first time? Or like around the 5th episode? (laughs)
- No… The first episode (laughs). The first step you take.
…I wonder. I don’t really think about anything when I read the scripts.
- So you read it to get a gist of the story.
Yeah. I read the whole story, then I look at my own lines… It’s pretty normal I guess.
- Do you do any image training? Or do anything to get into your role…
Hmm~ This time I didn’t do anything much.
- Do you have an image that you want to work towards to…?
That I have. Like in my head… I’ll try to picture myself, “It’s like this”.
- So when you’re reading your script, do you imagine how your character laughs, how your character talks?
Yeah, I do.
- So you try it out on the set.
Yeah. But I’ll make adjustments when I’m on the set, like “I should be a little more or a little less...” And when you’re acting with the other actors, the image may change too… Let’s see, at the set… I always listen to what other people are talking about (laughs). That’s about it… I often listen to other people’s lines. While doing that, I remember my own lines, how I should react etc… So I make an effort to listen to their lines. As for the technical aspects, I don’t know… I give up (laughs). I don’t know… It’s tough.
- So when the image that you have of your character changes when you’re on the set, can you switch immediately?
Yeah. That happens quite a lot.
- When you’re reading the script, trying to visualise your character, is that interesting for you? Or is it troublesome? (laughs).
Well… I don’t think it’s troublesome, but interesting…? I wonder… The script comes one after another, but… I haven’t really read them all yet.
- You prefer to do it this way?
The script is up till about episode 6 now… But I haven’t read the script for episode 5 yet. I’m filming episode 3-4 now. I know I better start reading soon but… That’s why I think my manager knows the script better than me (laughs).
- Is it because you don’t want to know what happens next, you don’t want to do ‘backwards acting’? From what you’ve said, it seems to me that you want to concentrate on acting ‘now’.
Yeah, I guess so…
- You don’t want to read your script lightly.
I guess so. I can’t read if I’m not prepared.
- So that’s why you can’t get on to reading. You need to prepare yourself, like “Okay, let’s read!” (laughs)
I do say that… “Okay, let’s read!” (laughs)
- On another occasion, when talking about “My Girl”, you said “I’m grateful that I get to do many different kinds of jobs now (dramas, stage plays, variety shows, CMs etc.). But even when I’m busy, I still want to keep doing what I usually do (Arashi shows), I’d hate losing that…” Were you referring to yourself as Arashi’s Aiba Masaki?
Yes… That’s right. Though I have opportunities to do more things now, but I want to keep doing the things that I have been doing all along. For instance, location shooting for variety shows. I want to do them myself. Location shooting is something you can’t do if you don’t have time… But I’ll say “Please put it in my schedule”…
- Because it’s what you have been doing all along.
Yeah, so I want to go. The other party will say “Since you’re busy, I’ll…”, but I’ll say “I want to go!” ……I’ll say that.
- Aiba Masaki-san, you’re really… I’m sorry I can’t find a better word, but you’re a really “good-tempered” person. You are honest & you work harder than everyone else… And I don’t feel any form of dissatisfaction from you, that’s amazing. That… For instance, Sho-kun said it in a jokingly manner that it’s because of his “parent’s teachings”. As for Aiba-chan, is it because of your upbringing?
I wonder…
- How were you like when you were a child?
When I was a child?
- Yes.
But… When I was a kid, I got lost very often.
- Lost!?
Yeah. Like in the department stores. I was always at the child-care area or something (laughs). I remember that very clearly.
- Were you scared or lonely? Or were you relatively calm?
It was like “Ah, I got separated…” (laughs).
- Ah~ So you weren’t scared.
I got separated… But I was excited & I kind of enjoyed it.
- Enjoyed it… That’s amazing (laughs).
Somehow, it’s like you’ve ventured into an unknown world, like an adventure, so it’s kind of fun! I remember these experiences very clearly. I’ll be like “Where is the toy store?” And when I can’t stand it anymore, I’ll just go up to a shop assistant and say “Excuse me, I’m a lost child” (laughs). And then I’ll be taken to the child-care area/lost kids station.
“Excuse me, I’m a lost child” -> Hahaha. Oh, Aiba is so cute~
- You report yourself as a lost child (laughs). I thought getting lost would be scary & traumatic for a child, but it wasn’t like that for you.
When I’m overseas… I go overseas pretty often for “Dobutsu” location shooting. It was fun. I would sit beside total strangers & we would have drinks together… I’m perfectly fine with that (laughs).
- Seems like you like trying out new things.
Yeah, I feel excited & I think it’s fun. Since it’s overseas, I can’t speak their language at all, and I’ll just go “Ok, ok!” all the time… (laughs).
- I see… So that’s what makes Aiba Masaki.
Somehow… I have been like this since young. Maybe it’s because I don’t have much bitter experiences/painful memories (laughs).
- Even if you did, you might not have thought it’s ‘bitter’ (laughs).
Ah… (laughs). But really… I have been surrounded by many good people.
- You aren’t afraid of new things. That is not going to change.
Yeah, it won’t… Somehow, new things make me feel excited & happy.
- Were there times when you’re really scared? Arashi-san has done some really extreme stuff (laughs).
Right, right (laughs).
- Experiments like “Can humans fly on a kite?”… That’s outrageous! (laughs) You enjoy doing that too?
I always think… it’ll turn out fine.
- That’s impressive.
And… Even if an accident happens… I won’t hate anyone or blame anyone for it…
- Really…!?
Yeah. No regrets! (laughs)
- You’re really… “good-tempered” is a very fitting description for you. It’s easy to work with you. Do people tell you that often?
Hmm… Really?
- Though you said you’re surrounded by good people, but I think it’s because you attract good people to you.
Hmm~
- Though you might not be conscious of it, but you’re really good tempered…
I am?
- Yes, I think so. It was written in the “Pikanchi” photobook - Even though you were already very tired, you still said “I’m fine. Listen to me! The location shooting was very fun.” …I was really touched. I thought: this person will never make another person unhappy.
Is that so…? I don’t notice that. But… I do think that the most unnecessary feeling/emotion is “jealousy”.
This is probably my favourite part of the interview, where he is talking about jealousy/envy. It really make sense~
- Impressive… When did you start thinking like that?
Hmm, I don’t know. But it’s the most unnecessary feeling.
- Jealousy is a source of motivation for some people…
It doesn’t motivate me at all.
- What is Aiba-chan’s motivation then? The heart-pounding excitement, the fun?
Yeah. I’m don’t really understand… But so long we have food to eat, we can live, that’s good enough right. But people keep wanting more and more… How should I put it? I do want to enjoy life.
- Yes yes.
But in the end, we’ll all die. Wasting time being jealous of somebody… That’s really unnecessary. To me.
- You don’t want to waste your time like that.
Yeah. It’s a waste of time & it might destroy relationships too. I don’t like that. I’m fine being me…
- Did you… have any bad memories related to jealousy?
When I was a student…
- Because you had a bad experience, so you thought: I don’t want to be jealous anymore…
Yeah. When I was young… I’m still very young now! (laughs)
- If the world is made up of people like Aiba-chan, then there would be no wars.
If the world is made up of the same person, of course there would be no wars (laughs).
- That’s true… (laughs). Previously, when we were talking about wars, we said “How about we do away with wars & just get the leaders involved to fight it out in a boxing ring!”
Yes yes. We just said that so lightly. Or how about rock-paper-scissors? You can get the outcome immediately (laughs).
- And we said if our leaders were to fight it out in a boxing ring, they’ll all become very macho.
We’ll have a very macho prime minister (laughs). And if you aren’t macho, you can’t become the prime minster… our values and mindset will really change huh (laughs).
- But I think Aiba Masaki is someone who is capable of changing people. With your honesty and uprightness.
It’s not that I take people’s lives lightly or anything…
- Yes, I understand. Everything in the world is too pretentious. It’s better to be simple.
Yes! It’s better to be simple. I want to be simple.
- Well, well. I got to hear really interesting things from you. Thank you. Let’s talk a bit about the drama now…
“My Girl” is simple too. It has a very simple storyline.
- Ah… You connected our conversations really well (laughs). But that’s true. It’s a simple story about how Koharu-chan & Masamune-kun get along as father and daughter.
Yeah, it’s really… straight forward. The role that I’m playing now, Masamune-kun is a simple character too… So I like it.
- You like acting as Masamune?
Yeah. I like Masamune-kun. In this complicated world, it is in times like this that you need things to be simple. I hope people will watch it this way.
- When you were reading Murakami (Shingo)-kun’s script, you said it was a good script. And you also said something very interesting - “I think men and women have different ways of thinking about things”
Right… I think it’s different.
- To be able to say that and feel that way, I think Aiba-chan is a very sensitive guy.
Because… Guys are guys after all. The way they see/feel things is different from girls. That’s what I thought when I read Hina-chan’s (Murakami) part. Really… it’s different.
- When you were reading the script, were that any scenes that touched you?
There were…
- Between episode 1 to 3, which were the scenes that left an impression on you?
Hmm~ It depends. The first two episodes were more on Koharu-chan. In the third episode, there was some interaction with my mom. Masamune’s mom (Muroi Shigeru-san) said “Not being able to take care of your own child…”, “Why did you take the child in!”… I understand both views. Though I understand, but I am put in a very difficult position. But she is saying all these because she’s my mom. We’re mother and son. Though her words may be too harsh, but she’s right... That kind of interaction between a mother and son touches me. And Masamune-kun has no choice but to become a parent/father… It has elements of human nature in it.
- Did your views change?
Somehow, it’s not something tangible or concrete… But I think family is really important. Because they are the ones who will be with you till the very end, no matter what happens. And they are ones who will scold you when you make a mistake…
- It’s your first time acting as a father. Isn’t it hard? Since you don’t have a child.
Yeah. That’s true…
- So I’m really interested in seeing how this father-daughter relationship turns out. Will Masamune-kun and Koharu-chan be all right?
I don’t know… I don’t know what a proper father-daughter relationship is like. But so long both of them are happy, I think that’s good enough. Even though it may not be something in the material sense. Really… Koharu-chan’s lines really touched me. Though it’s sad, but it’s a very heart-warming drama. Please watch it.
Scans credit to sng :)
"I do think that the most unnecessary feeling/emotion is jealousy."
☆ Words in grey: my side-notes/comments. Please do not repost my translations & credit if using. Thank you :)
Straightforward, honest, simple, natural etc - These are some of the many words that describes Aiba Masaki’s charm. But none of them describe him perfectly, how should I put it… “Immeasurable gentleness ” - I think that is Aiba Masaki’s charm. He always reads the mood and observes the situation carefully; he looks out for the people around him and puts himself in their shoes before acting. So it feels good being around him, because he will never make you feel uncomfortable/uneasy. And it doesn’t feel like he’s just patronizing you either. It’s amazing how he does that. In this interview, he said, “The most unnecessary feeling is jealousy”. And I thought these words represent Aiba Masaki very well. He doesn’t compare himself with other people and he doesn’t want to compete with anyone. What’s most important to him is that he is “Arashi’s Aiba Masaki” and he knows that if he thinks in this way, things will be much simpler. This rare disposition and ability is Aiba Masaki’s ‘power’. To maintain this ‘power’ at a constant level is definitely not an easy task. You need tremendous amount of perseverance and determination to be able to do that… That is why I think Aiba’s “gentleness” is something precious; that is why he is liked by people; and that is why he is everyone’s “Aiba-chan”. So as the interviewer, I will put up not any pretence as well. I’ll express my thoughts and feelings honestly. I have been looking forward to this interview - “Once again, I’d like to know more about Aiba Masaki” - I put my thoughts about this in a 13,000 words long interview.
- The readers have been eagerly anticipating this issue of +act mini with Aiba Masaki on the cover. Aiba Special! They are really looking forward to it… The other 4 Arashi members have appeared in ‘+act’ and ‘+act mini’ previously and now it’s Aiba Masaki’s turn. Of course we’ll talk about your lead role drama “My Girl”… But I hope Aiba-san will also talk about some of things that you rarely talk about.
Okay (laughs).
- Amongst the many different types of work you do, I’d like to ask you what you think about acting.
Sure, let’s do it!
- Thank you! First of all… Aiba-kun, do you like acting?
Do I like acting…? Hmm, let’s see.
- Do you think acting is difficult or is it something you don’t particularly like…
No, nothing of that sort...
- I have seen you act on various occasions and my impression is that you think hard about your role and you take on acting in a straightforward manner. But… You don’t really talk much about the hard work you put in and you don’t really talk about yourself either.
Yeah…
- Like your own thoughts, how you approach your role, what you think about acting… you don’t really talk about these things.
Yeah… That’s true. How should I put it? I do like acting. Well… I don’t really know how to explain what I like about it. Because there is more than one answer. So yeah, I don’t really talk about it.
- Speaking of which, do you remember the first time you act?
In the stage play “Stand by me”.
- That’s right. How was it like? Your first time acting.
How… Well, I didn’t really think much at that time (laughs). I just memorised the script & recite my lines…
- Was it very tough for you at that time?
Tough huh… Not really, it was more like: is this really okay? I didn’t know how to act and I didn’t know what is right or wrong. Since it was the first time I act, I had nothing to compare with…
- After that, you have been acting regularly, every year.
Yeah. But… meeting with Miyata-san (Director, Miyata Keiko-san) was something big/significant for me.
- For the stage play “Tsubame no Iru Eki” (Sept 2005)?
Right. It was around that time… She was very strict with me, with my acting. It was around that time that my way of thinking changed.
- I see… So looking back upon your acting up till then (before meeting Miyata-san), it’s kind of...
Yeah… I guess I was too naïve/immature then.
- I see. Up till that point in time, you have worked on “Mukoudono”, “Shonen Taiya”, “PIKANCHI LIFE IS HARD dakedo HAPPY”, “Kaigo Kazoku”, “Engimono”, “PIKANCHI LIFE IS HARD dakara HAPPY” and… “Tsubame” (Tsubame no Iru Eki). So in all these works, you were more of still in the stage of exploring, trying to find out what acting is. Is that right?
Yeah… That’s… right.
- You said meeting with Miyata-san has changed you. How so?
I learnt that there are many different ways to do things.
- Seems like “Tsubame” has made an impact on you and on the way you act.
Yeah. But I was really scared at first (laughs). Well, maybe not really scared, but it was very tough. But thanks to this encounter, my way of thinking has changed. But it’s hard to explain how it has changed…
- You just feel that it has changed.
Yeah. I thought it’s about time for me to learn some acting skills/techniques. I worked with Miyata-san 3 times but she doesn’t really talk about the… technical part. She always says “It’s fine, it’s fine”.
- Maybe it’s because you have already understood what you’re supposed to do.
So… How should I put it? But somehow, I feel like she’s saying “You don’t need it at all”… You don’t need techniques.
- That’s true. You can’t act with just techniques alone…
Yeah… But as an actor… I think having the skills/techniques would make it easier for me to get into the role/get the right expressions. So that, you know, I will feel more secure and less fearful when I’m acting. But I also think it’s good to have some amount of insecurity or “fear”.
- Maybe she thinks that it isn’t time for you to depend on techniques to act.
Maybe… Yeah, that may be true.
- So… you worked with Miyata-san in 3 stage plays (“Tsubame”, “Wasurerarenai hito” in 2007, “Greenfingers” in 2009). I know you two have established a strong relationship, but I didn’t know that she is such an influential person to you.
Because I don’t really… talk about it.
- But it’s a very good story. Acting in a stage play is tough huh, since you have to do it live.
Yeah… that’s true. But… I like doing stage plays. Though it does get really tough and difficult sometimes.
- Erm… This may sound like a belated comment, but when I saw you in “Tsubame”, I thought you made a breakthrough.
Really? That story… I really like it a lot.
- In all 3 stage plays, there were crying scenes. The way you let your feelings out & cry left a deep impression on me.
…I don’t really… like crying scenes.
- Is that so?
Yeah.
- Why is that?
I don’t know… If you don’t keep an objective point of view, you won’t be able to control your emotions. And if you do that, you’re just satisfying your own ideals. I got scolded by Miyata-san once. It was during a crying scene. She said “You couldn’t control your emotions” & I said “I can’t…” In “My Girl” too, I had to cry in the first episode. That was… So I have been very careful since then.
- I see… A certain actress once said “No matter what kind of strong emotions I have to express, I have to maintain an objective point of view”…
Yeah yeah… That’s right.
- I’m sure that’s what she (Miyata-san) meant.
Yeah. That’s why I got scolded (laughs). At the beginning… in “Tsubame”. That’s why I don’t like it (crying scenes). Because I can’t keep an objective point of view… sometimes.
- I see… Your encounter with Miyata-san is really significant.
Yes. She is an amazing person… Of course, she is “the director - Miyata Keiko ”, but when we’re not working, she is just “Miyata Keiko-san”. And Miyata Keiko-san… How should I put it? She really looks out for me…
- She guides you along.
That and… She is really different when we’re not working together. Recently, she probably heard that I was busy with my drama… She contacted me. But I couldn’t find time to reply her. And I think she got worried… She actually came to the studio to visit me. With gifts. She wasn’t directing the show or anything yet she came over. “This is not my show & there is another director doing the work, so I will not say anything about it”… She just came to visit me & brought me some gifts…
- Wow… That’s very nice of her.
Yeah… She does this sort of things. She doesn’t just guide you in acting, but she looks out for you in other areas too. She is like my “Tokyo Mom”…
- She really understands you.
Yeah… She has helped me a lot & I’m really really grateful for that…
- Being able to have such a close relationship with a director, that’s rare.
But… For me, I think either way is fine. A director who only thinks about his/her work is good too. How should I put it…? For the sake of ensuring that the show turns out good, I think it’s okay even if the director is a little fiercer or stricter. I think this kind of working relationship is fine too. But… it’s just that for Miyata-san, the working relationship is different. When I first met her in “Tsubame”. I don’t know… But I think there are different ways of interacting with people. Like in a drama, it’s different. There is no one month rehearsal like in a stage play and you film different scenes at different locations.
- And most of the time, you start off with “Nice to meet you!” (i.e. in a drama, you mostly work with people whom you have not met before)
Right. In some aspects, dramas are totally different from stage plays.
- Are both stage plays and dramas interesting to you?
Hmm… Let’s see. It’s not just acting, I have done many different things in these 10 years. So… In variety programmes, I was given the chance to host my own corner and when I’m doing it… I’ll tell myself “My character for today is this” or “This is how I should act like today”. And when I’m talking to the common people (as in non-artistes/celebrities), I’ll think about how should I portray myself? So, in this sense, I’m creating a character, I’m “acting”. People say I could just do it naturally… But I don’t think that would be very interesting. Though it’s not really acting per se, but I’m showing a different me, I’m adding different character elements to myself. Yeah, so in that sense, it (doing variety shows) is similar to acting.
- Talking about variety shows… Around the time when you were acting in “Tsubame”, you started doing “Shimura Dobutsuen”.
Yes yes.
- And from what you have just said, I’m guessing you learnt a lot in the show…
Yeah, that’s right... I learnt a lot from Shimura-san.
- Shimura-san has a lot characters (referring to the characters in his comedy skits) too.
Yeah! I think Shimura-san is really good in acting. He can do anything. Well.... He is good in sports too.
- Eh… Sports?
I was surprised. His stamina… He is good in golf too.
- He has lots of energy & vitality.
Yes yes. I… There is something that I hope Shimura-san can teach me.
- What is it?
Erm… I want ask him how to go about acting drunk, how a drunkard moves etc. Because I can’t learn that when I’m really drunk (laughs). But Shimura-san knows how to do it. And that’s why he can do the “drunken old man” act. It has got to do with intensity too. Because if you go overboard and act too drunk, it won’t work… I had to do such a scene… acting drunk (in “My Girl”). When I know I had to do that scene, I really wanted to ask him to teach me.
- In this sense, acting techniques are important.
Yeah. I wanted to ask him to teach me… But nowadays… I don’t really get to see him.
- That’s right…. Just now, you said “I’m dying” (laughs). Concert, drama, regular variety shows plus location shooting… You’re really busy nowadays.
Yeah… I’m almost dead (laughs). The other day, in the “Dobutsu” special, I thought I could finally meet Shimura-san, but I was asked to go for location shooting instead (laughs).
- You went on a location shooting alone?
With Yamase (Mami)-san. We were filming the entire day… And I thought: Ah, so I can’t meet Shimura-san today (laughs).
Aww~ But he did finally managed to learn from Shimura-san in Arashi ni Shiyagare :)
- So you didn’t get him to teach you in the end… What a pity (laughs).
But… I like that family. Yamase-san and Shimura-san…
- You guys have a really close relationship. I can tell just by looking.
Yeah… And Becky etc.
- Everyone is part of the ‘team’.
When you work together for 5 years… you establish a kind of relationship… And my relationship with Arashi too. The Aiba in Arashi is different from the Aiba outside Arashi. It’s not like I do it on purpose, but when my surroundings change, I’ll adjust automatically. But basically, I want to be “Arashi’s Aiba Masaki”. When I introduce myself, it’s not “Aiba Masaki of Arashi” but it’s “Arashi’s Aiba Masaki”… Yeah. That’s my core… Because of that, I can do what I do now.
- You have been getting a lot of jobs recently. It’s amazing you can think of it this way…
Surprisingly huh? (laughs)
- No, not that (laughs). It’s like… You act like you can’t read the mood, but you’re actually very good at it.
But that… In my heart, I think that’s how I want people to see me.
- That may be true.
How should I put it? I don’t mind being an idiot. Being an idiot is fine (laughs).
- Idiot… (laughs).
Yeah. When people call me an idiot, I don’t particularly hate it or anything. Though I’ll retaliate & say “Hey!”, but I don’t hate it at all (laughs).
- I see (laughs). So Miyata-san & Shimura-san has made a big impact on your life. Are there any other directors, actors…
That… There are many~ Like this year, Hira (Mikijirou)-san (From “Greenfingers”)… I think he’s really amazing.
- I see…
How should I put it… I don’t know (laughs). Even if you ask me what is amazing about him, I don’t know! During the stage play, many people asked me “What is amazing about Hira-san?” I don’t know even if you ask me (laughs). Though I don’t know how to put it into words, he’s amazing.
- But you do know the fact that he is amazing!
Yeah (laughs). It’s a kind of feeling. But it’s difficult to explain why I feel that way... But I really treasure the time we spent working together.
- Do you look back upon the past?
Me? Not really. When I think it’s time, like if I think it’s time to quit, I might reminisce the past everyday. For me, reminiscing the past and going “Ah~ Those were good times” is something you do when you are about to quit. So before I have such intentions, I don’t really look back…… But recently (because it’s Arashi’s 10th anniversary), we're often asked to look back upon the past 10 years. For instance, in interviews, we always get questions like: “Looking back upon these 10 years, what were 3 most important events?” (laughs). I’ll do it when I’m asked to…
- You guys did a lot of that this year.
That’s right. If I didn’t get a chance like this, I probably won’t look back, even if it’s the 10th year anniversary... Not that I dislike it or anything, just that I don’t usually do it on my own free will.
- Aiba-kun, can I ask you a question? Just answer it as best as you can…
Okay. We have been talking about a lot of things which I have not talked about before (laughs).
- Yes… I’m really grateful for that (laughs). But I want to ask you more… You said after you met Miyata-san, the way you act has changed. So I want to ask you about how you handle acting now.
Okay.
- Firstly. You receive a script when you act right?
Yes yes.
- How do you read your script?
After I get the script… Hmm~ You mean when I read it for the first time? Or like around the 5th episode? (laughs)
- No… The first episode (laughs). The first step you take.
…I wonder. I don’t really think about anything when I read the scripts.
- So you read it to get a gist of the story.
Yeah. I read the whole story, then I look at my own lines… It’s pretty normal I guess.
- Do you do any image training? Or do anything to get into your role…
Hmm~ This time I didn’t do anything much.
- Do you have an image that you want to work towards to…?
That I have. Like in my head… I’ll try to picture myself, “It’s like this”.
- So when you’re reading your script, do you imagine how your character laughs, how your character talks?
Yeah, I do.
- So you try it out on the set.
Yeah. But I’ll make adjustments when I’m on the set, like “I should be a little more or a little less...” And when you’re acting with the other actors, the image may change too… Let’s see, at the set… I always listen to what other people are talking about (laughs). That’s about it… I often listen to other people’s lines. While doing that, I remember my own lines, how I should react etc… So I make an effort to listen to their lines. As for the technical aspects, I don’t know… I give up (laughs). I don’t know… It’s tough.
- So when the image that you have of your character changes when you’re on the set, can you switch immediately?
Yeah. That happens quite a lot.
- When you’re reading the script, trying to visualise your character, is that interesting for you? Or is it troublesome? (laughs).
Well… I don’t think it’s troublesome, but interesting…? I wonder… The script comes one after another, but… I haven’t really read them all yet.
- You prefer to do it this way?
The script is up till about episode 6 now… But I haven’t read the script for episode 5 yet. I’m filming episode 3-4 now. I know I better start reading soon but… That’s why I think my manager knows the script better than me (laughs).
- Is it because you don’t want to know what happens next, you don’t want to do ‘backwards acting’? From what you’ve said, it seems to me that you want to concentrate on acting ‘now’.
Yeah, I guess so…
- You don’t want to read your script lightly.
I guess so. I can’t read if I’m not prepared.
- So that’s why you can’t get on to reading. You need to prepare yourself, like “Okay, let’s read!” (laughs)
I do say that… “Okay, let’s read!” (laughs)
- On another occasion, when talking about “My Girl”, you said “I’m grateful that I get to do many different kinds of jobs now (dramas, stage plays, variety shows, CMs etc.). But even when I’m busy, I still want to keep doing what I usually do (Arashi shows), I’d hate losing that…” Were you referring to yourself as Arashi’s Aiba Masaki?
Yes… That’s right. Though I have opportunities to do more things now, but I want to keep doing the things that I have been doing all along. For instance, location shooting for variety shows. I want to do them myself. Location shooting is something you can’t do if you don’t have time… But I’ll say “Please put it in my schedule”…
- Because it’s what you have been doing all along.
Yeah, so I want to go. The other party will say “Since you’re busy, I’ll…”, but I’ll say “I want to go!” ……I’ll say that.
- Aiba Masaki-san, you’re really… I’m sorry I can’t find a better word, but you’re a really “good-tempered” person. You are honest & you work harder than everyone else… And I don’t feel any form of dissatisfaction from you, that’s amazing. That… For instance, Sho-kun said it in a jokingly manner that it’s because of his “parent’s teachings”. As for Aiba-chan, is it because of your upbringing?
I wonder…
- How were you like when you were a child?
When I was a child?
- Yes.
But… When I was a kid, I got lost very often.
- Lost!?
Yeah. Like in the department stores. I was always at the child-care area or something (laughs). I remember that very clearly.
- Were you scared or lonely? Or were you relatively calm?
It was like “Ah, I got separated…” (laughs).
- Ah~ So you weren’t scared.
I got separated… But I was excited & I kind of enjoyed it.
- Enjoyed it… That’s amazing (laughs).
Somehow, it’s like you’ve ventured into an unknown world, like an adventure, so it’s kind of fun! I remember these experiences very clearly. I’ll be like “Where is the toy store?” And when I can’t stand it anymore, I’ll just go up to a shop assistant and say “Excuse me, I’m a lost child” (laughs). And then I’ll be taken to the child-care area/lost kids station.
“Excuse me, I’m a lost child” -> Hahaha. Oh, Aiba is so cute~
- You report yourself as a lost child (laughs). I thought getting lost would be scary & traumatic for a child, but it wasn’t like that for you.
When I’m overseas… I go overseas pretty often for “Dobutsu” location shooting. It was fun. I would sit beside total strangers & we would have drinks together… I’m perfectly fine with that (laughs).
- Seems like you like trying out new things.
Yeah, I feel excited & I think it’s fun. Since it’s overseas, I can’t speak their language at all, and I’ll just go “Ok, ok!” all the time… (laughs).
- I see… So that’s what makes Aiba Masaki.
Somehow… I have been like this since young. Maybe it’s because I don’t have much bitter experiences/painful memories (laughs).
- Even if you did, you might not have thought it’s ‘bitter’ (laughs).
Ah… (laughs). But really… I have been surrounded by many good people.
- You aren’t afraid of new things. That is not going to change.
Yeah, it won’t… Somehow, new things make me feel excited & happy.
- Were there times when you’re really scared? Arashi-san has done some really extreme stuff (laughs).
Right, right (laughs).
- Experiments like “Can humans fly on a kite?”… That’s outrageous! (laughs) You enjoy doing that too?
I always think… it’ll turn out fine.
- That’s impressive.
And… Even if an accident happens… I won’t hate anyone or blame anyone for it…
- Really…!?
Yeah. No regrets! (laughs)
- You’re really… “good-tempered” is a very fitting description for you. It’s easy to work with you. Do people tell you that often?
Hmm… Really?
- Though you said you’re surrounded by good people, but I think it’s because you attract good people to you.
Hmm~
- Though you might not be conscious of it, but you’re really good tempered…
I am?
- Yes, I think so. It was written in the “Pikanchi” photobook - Even though you were already very tired, you still said “I’m fine. Listen to me! The location shooting was very fun.” …I was really touched. I thought: this person will never make another person unhappy.
Is that so…? I don’t notice that. But… I do think that the most unnecessary feeling/emotion is “jealousy”.
This is probably my favourite part of the interview, where he is talking about jealousy/envy. It really make sense~
- Impressive… When did you start thinking like that?
Hmm, I don’t know. But it’s the most unnecessary feeling.
- Jealousy is a source of motivation for some people…
It doesn’t motivate me at all.
- What is Aiba-chan’s motivation then? The heart-pounding excitement, the fun?
Yeah. I’m don’t really understand… But so long we have food to eat, we can live, that’s good enough right. But people keep wanting more and more… How should I put it? I do want to enjoy life.
- Yes yes.
But in the end, we’ll all die. Wasting time being jealous of somebody… That’s really unnecessary. To me.
- You don’t want to waste your time like that.
Yeah. It’s a waste of time & it might destroy relationships too. I don’t like that. I’m fine being me…
- Did you… have any bad memories related to jealousy?
When I was a student…
- Because you had a bad experience, so you thought: I don’t want to be jealous anymore…
Yeah. When I was young… I’m still very young now! (laughs)
- If the world is made up of people like Aiba-chan, then there would be no wars.
If the world is made up of the same person, of course there would be no wars (laughs).
- That’s true… (laughs). Previously, when we were talking about wars, we said “How about we do away with wars & just get the leaders involved to fight it out in a boxing ring!”
Yes yes. We just said that so lightly. Or how about rock-paper-scissors? You can get the outcome immediately (laughs).
- And we said if our leaders were to fight it out in a boxing ring, they’ll all become very macho.
We’ll have a very macho prime minister (laughs). And if you aren’t macho, you can’t become the prime minster… our values and mindset will really change huh (laughs).
- But I think Aiba Masaki is someone who is capable of changing people. With your honesty and uprightness.
It’s not that I take people’s lives lightly or anything…
- Yes, I understand. Everything in the world is too pretentious. It’s better to be simple.
Yes! It’s better to be simple. I want to be simple.
- Well, well. I got to hear really interesting things from you. Thank you. Let’s talk a bit about the drama now…
“My Girl” is simple too. It has a very simple storyline.
- Ah… You connected our conversations really well (laughs). But that’s true. It’s a simple story about how Koharu-chan & Masamune-kun get along as father and daughter.
Yeah, it’s really… straight forward. The role that I’m playing now, Masamune-kun is a simple character too… So I like it.
- You like acting as Masamune?
Yeah. I like Masamune-kun. In this complicated world, it is in times like this that you need things to be simple. I hope people will watch it this way.
- When you were reading Murakami (Shingo)-kun’s script, you said it was a good script. And you also said something very interesting - “I think men and women have different ways of thinking about things”
Right… I think it’s different.
- To be able to say that and feel that way, I think Aiba-chan is a very sensitive guy.
Because… Guys are guys after all. The way they see/feel things is different from girls. That’s what I thought when I read Hina-chan’s (Murakami) part. Really… it’s different.
- When you were reading the script, were that any scenes that touched you?
There were…
- Between episode 1 to 3, which were the scenes that left an impression on you?
Hmm~ It depends. The first two episodes were more on Koharu-chan. In the third episode, there was some interaction with my mom. Masamune’s mom (Muroi Shigeru-san) said “Not being able to take care of your own child…”, “Why did you take the child in!”… I understand both views. Though I understand, but I am put in a very difficult position. But she is saying all these because she’s my mom. We’re mother and son. Though her words may be too harsh, but she’s right... That kind of interaction between a mother and son touches me. And Masamune-kun has no choice but to become a parent/father… It has elements of human nature in it.
- Did your views change?
Somehow, it’s not something tangible or concrete… But I think family is really important. Because they are the ones who will be with you till the very end, no matter what happens. And they are ones who will scold you when you make a mistake…
- It’s your first time acting as a father. Isn’t it hard? Since you don’t have a child.
Yeah. That’s true…
- So I’m really interested in seeing how this father-daughter relationship turns out. Will Masamune-kun and Koharu-chan be all right?
I don’t know… I don’t know what a proper father-daughter relationship is like. But so long both of them are happy, I think that’s good enough. Even though it may not be something in the material sense. Really… Koharu-chan’s lines really touched me. Though it’s sad, but it’s a very heart-warming drama. Please watch it.