[TRNS] TVGuide Person vol.5 "北山宏光 Cool or Not Cool?"
Happy 11 year anniversary of joining JE to Kitayama!
+ Yay first day of 2nd album tour!
+ JiaYan is the best for scanning this mag! XD
Being uncool is being cool. To be able to show this is to have courage.
In order to become a cool man, perhaps the very first thing you must do is throw away your pride. Having said that, for a man in his 20s to pull it off, it's very difficult. However, member of Kis-My-Ft2 who's been debuted for a full two years this summer, Kitayama Hiromitsu has noticed this even before jumping into the major scene. The importance of having the courage to throw away his pride, and that being uncool is cooler than anything.
-High school student, police academy student, you've continually acted in student roles; but in Kasuka na Kanojo, your role Hayashi Kunihiko is a teacher. It's [coming from] the opposite side, isn't it?
It was inconceivable that I would be doing a teacher role! To begin with, the first thing that surprised me was the view from the teachers' platform. It was completely different from looking at things from the students' side, and just by standing there I felt "Ah... right now, I'm a teacher!" (laugh). Furthermore, up until now I've had more roles that were cool and repressed their emotions, it's very fun to boldly express all sorts of emotions. It's also interesting to be able to move around freely.
-This piece is your third drama, has your acting changed for the better?
There's really still a lot to improve but I've come to have a feeling for where I come in inside the shot. Even though I say that, I can't act the role of someone who says such remarkable things... On the other hand, I've stopped being aware of what angle I'm being filmed from. Before, I probably had some consciousness somewhere of like which angle is cooler to be filmed from, but that's disappeared. To that effect, around Misaki No.1!! times, when I was talking normally I would try to tilt my head a little bit. Now, that footage is too horrible that I can't watch it (laugh)! I'll get embarrassed like "what was that move just now?".
-You're saying, be natural, even in front of the camera.
That's right. It's impolite to the people I'm acting with, as well as to the people watching, and if the acting isn't natural then you can't be a sympathetic character [TN: the viewers won't be able to empathize with the character]. Normally, I think about how to present myself, but that has nothing to do with acting. I came to the location in order to act that role, so if I don't get that across... Well, it's an obvious thing.
-I see. Up until now you've been acting amongst young actors a lot. Together with acting as a teacher, your co-actors have changed. Because of that, have you received a lot of inspiration?
It's impertinent for me to say it but like the instant force, the reactions, of everyone's acting is amazing. When someone starts moving, the character that I'm playing would naturally act like this right, that sort of thing. They react immediately with movements that are ordinary and casual. Because of these people's reactions, the way I express myself has changed. Right now, I think I'm able to insert a little bit of what I want to do in my role I've created in the atmosphere with others.
-Actors often say, "When acting, there's a synchronicity that can be felt only by the people in that atmosphere"...
Ah~ sometimes there is! Towards the things I want to do myself, what the other person returns... how should I say it. Extending and continuing an adlib; I'll do this; in response what the other person will do; again the way I react to this; the feeling of these things built up on top of each other. It's the sense of random things coming together well. That's why, thinking about what the other person will do next is extremely interesting. There's a feeling that everyone is dyeing their roles a little bit with their own color.
-This is how everyone creates the flavor of the drama, but do you personally have a plan regarding your character?
Honestly, when I said to the producer, "He's very uncool but there's cool-ness in the way he does things with all his might, I want to be a teacher like that," I was told "That's exactly what I was thinking. I'm glad that got across." Though he gets looked down on by the students (laugh), to be someone who can turn that around and be himself [around the students], I genuinely think that kind of teacher is good.
-In reality, what's the feedback been to the role you're attempting?
U~m... I don't know what kind of critiques I've received at all yet, but I've always wanted to act this sort of role so I'm genuinely having fun. To put it into words, I've always been the comedic relief right? In '09's PLAYZONE butai, I was the comedic relief. At least, when I rewatch the footage from that time, I think I was the most sympathetic character. In that piece, (Shounentai's) Nishikiori-san directed it but he kept saying, "If it was me, I'd want to be Kitayama's role. You might not understand right now but being uncool is being cool." I understand the meaning of those words now; in the future, even if it'll always be on film, I don't want to just show my good parts... I'd like to do roles where being uncool is being cool.
-"Being uncool is being cool," there's a feeling that it'll become the way to live as a man.
That would be ideal huh. Though I didn't think that way when I was a Jr at all (laugh). At the time, as an idol, I thought there was no demand for that. Being popular is the absolute requirement, to be one step ahead amongst the many Jrs, it was important to show oneself as cool no matter how. I didn't even occur to me [TN: he didn't even consider "being uncool is being cool"].
-That way of thinking happened after debut?
No... must've been about a year before debut. About where my position was in the group, I started thinking about it when we did our pre-debut solo tours. I mean, we're full of people who are cool, and after this there'll be lots of kouhai appearing right (laugh)? Of course, as an idol, it's necessary to be cool as a basic spec. But with just that, people will get sick of you in 3 months. What you have besides just that is important.
-However, if you show uncool-ness, you can't do it unless you throw away your pride...?
Yeah yeah. That's why you have to have courage. To show uncool aspects, it's taking one step further into people's hearts... However, in the end, the people who are loved in regular society aren't only cool either. They're funny, and they put their all into things... That's as an individual character as well, and for us, because we have a group, we're able to show various sides of ourselves.
-So as a result of showing various sides, the end point is to become "cool"...
I definitely think that would be good. For me. Apart from when I'm an idol and being a part of Kis-My-Ft2, I'd like to do lots of different things. To that extent, when we have concerts, I think it's good to put my all into acting cool (laugh).
-That's true (laugh). Speaking of which, this summer you'll have debuted for fully 2 years. Including things that aren't acting, are there differences your thoughts towards work before and after debut?
I've come to feel that there's nothing that's no good. My focus is on variety shows, so for example, when there's something I "can't do" and it goes bad, that can be turned into something funny.
-You're not just resigned to it, but from the condition of not being able to do something, laughter and emotion are born...
Yeah yeah, the interest/humor of being forced to do things I can't, and like there's the birth of laughter and emotions from doing things with all my might. It's an extreme example but even if there are people who get really sleepy in the middle of filming a show and fall asleep, there's something interesting about that too. As long as you aren't warped as a person, even the no good parts [of a personality] can become idiosyncrasy.
-Is that what you think from your experience having your own variety show that puts your bodies on the line?
I think there is that. When I was a Jr. I thought that it was no good to have things I can't do, when I was asked "Can you do it?" I'd definitely answer "I can!" Because if I didn't do that, then there wouldn't be a next time.
-You're here now because you experienced the Jr era and severe work huh. But honestly did you never think of resigning...
Not even once. I've said "I'm gonna quit~" jokingly, but never like I was really going to quit. That's... there wasn't an opportunity to quit (laugh); there were boring times in the middle. More than anything, because there were things I wanted to do that I hadn't done, so quitting would definitely be bad right? That's why, I worked with my all so I wouldn't have regrets, I worked with the feeling that if I got fired the next day it wouldn't be anything I could have helped. Of course I would've been frustrated if in the end I hadn't remained, but if I did things thoroughly then I wouldn't leave any regrets. Moreover, if I became completely engrossed in just doing this, then even when I'm doing something different in the future I'd definitely be okay.
-To work so that it wouldn't be anyone's fault in those circumstances is amazing. However, in that case, the things you're burdened with would increase...?
Because that's how I am, I'm glad I'm in a group. Because there are friends to bear burdens with me. To me, it's more important how people value the group rather than myself individually, and after debut the members have changed too. I think everyone's become even more required. Not just in performances, also stuff like our roles in variety shows, and in the world... that kind of wide meaning.
-I think that, now, because you've become required, you have strength [TN: could also be impetus, vigour, spirit] with just this, but what do you think of you guys' current condition?
Honestly, I'm scared... yeah, I'm scared. Actually, whether we have strength isn't something we know ourselves. At 2 years after debut, we're still full of things we don't know. Within that, the things demanded of us are constantly changing. And sometimes of the 100 demanded of us, we have to give back 120; when we do 80 it makes people think "something's wrong". Whenever I think about if we can do 100%, or if we can do more and surpass others' expectations, I think we're still lacking in ability. Of course, if we fail, that's not a bad thing. But when it comes to crunch time, we have to have done all the obvious preparations. For that, experience is important after all, so right now we just have to make appearances on locations no matter what.
-For you personally, what would you like to become?
I've constantly been saying this recently (laugh), I'd like to become a person who's required as an MC. When I was on Nakai Masahiro's Black Variety [Kurobara], I couldn't keep up with the speed of the talk. But I thought "I want to be able to talk here!" Nakai-san is funny right. But actually he's someone who calculates things in extreme detail. Seeing that side of him, I thought that MC is really deep. Also, I'd like to challenge acting more. This time, because I am able to do my desired comedic relief role, I want to be able to receive the praise that "he can do this kind of role too." That's like a secret goal for this production (laugh).
To the people who've only seen Kitayama's film work up or his graceful figure up until now, he might appear to be a cool person. However, in truth he's a person who can also burst with all his might, throw away his pride and struggle desperately. Because that's who he is, it seems like a day will come when he'll become "the most uncool, yet the coolest man." Moreover, that day is not far off.
* notes inside [brackets] are TNs, added to make things clearer
cr: original scans courtesy of pgycjk
Don't want to leave a comment?
I'd appreciate a webclap too! :D
+ Yay first day of 2nd album tour!
+ JiaYan is the best for scanning this mag! XD
Being uncool is being cool. To be able to show this is to have courage.
In order to become a cool man, perhaps the very first thing you must do is throw away your pride. Having said that, for a man in his 20s to pull it off, it's very difficult. However, member of Kis-My-Ft2 who's been debuted for a full two years this summer, Kitayama Hiromitsu has noticed this even before jumping into the major scene. The importance of having the courage to throw away his pride, and that being uncool is cooler than anything.
-High school student, police academy student, you've continually acted in student roles; but in Kasuka na Kanojo, your role Hayashi Kunihiko is a teacher. It's [coming from] the opposite side, isn't it?
It was inconceivable that I would be doing a teacher role! To begin with, the first thing that surprised me was the view from the teachers' platform. It was completely different from looking at things from the students' side, and just by standing there I felt "Ah... right now, I'm a teacher!" (laugh). Furthermore, up until now I've had more roles that were cool and repressed their emotions, it's very fun to boldly express all sorts of emotions. It's also interesting to be able to move around freely.
-This piece is your third drama, has your acting changed for the better?
There's really still a lot to improve but I've come to have a feeling for where I come in inside the shot. Even though I say that, I can't act the role of someone who says such remarkable things... On the other hand, I've stopped being aware of what angle I'm being filmed from. Before, I probably had some consciousness somewhere of like which angle is cooler to be filmed from, but that's disappeared. To that effect, around Misaki No.1!! times, when I was talking normally I would try to tilt my head a little bit. Now, that footage is too horrible that I can't watch it (laugh)! I'll get embarrassed like "what was that move just now?".
-You're saying, be natural, even in front of the camera.
That's right. It's impolite to the people I'm acting with, as well as to the people watching, and if the acting isn't natural then you can't be a sympathetic character [TN: the viewers won't be able to empathize with the character]. Normally, I think about how to present myself, but that has nothing to do with acting. I came to the location in order to act that role, so if I don't get that across... Well, it's an obvious thing.
-I see. Up until now you've been acting amongst young actors a lot. Together with acting as a teacher, your co-actors have changed. Because of that, have you received a lot of inspiration?
It's impertinent for me to say it but like the instant force, the reactions, of everyone's acting is amazing. When someone starts moving, the character that I'm playing would naturally act like this right, that sort of thing. They react immediately with movements that are ordinary and casual. Because of these people's reactions, the way I express myself has changed. Right now, I think I'm able to insert a little bit of what I want to do in my role I've created in the atmosphere with others.
-Actors often say, "When acting, there's a synchronicity that can be felt only by the people in that atmosphere"...
Ah~ sometimes there is! Towards the things I want to do myself, what the other person returns... how should I say it. Extending and continuing an adlib; I'll do this; in response what the other person will do; again the way I react to this; the feeling of these things built up on top of each other. It's the sense of random things coming together well. That's why, thinking about what the other person will do next is extremely interesting. There's a feeling that everyone is dyeing their roles a little bit with their own color.
-This is how everyone creates the flavor of the drama, but do you personally have a plan regarding your character?
Honestly, when I said to the producer, "He's very uncool but there's cool-ness in the way he does things with all his might, I want to be a teacher like that," I was told "That's exactly what I was thinking. I'm glad that got across." Though he gets looked down on by the students (laugh), to be someone who can turn that around and be himself [around the students], I genuinely think that kind of teacher is good.
-In reality, what's the feedback been to the role you're attempting?
U~m... I don't know what kind of critiques I've received at all yet, but I've always wanted to act this sort of role so I'm genuinely having fun. To put it into words, I've always been the comedic relief right? In '09's PLAYZONE butai, I was the comedic relief. At least, when I rewatch the footage from that time, I think I was the most sympathetic character. In that piece, (Shounentai's) Nishikiori-san directed it but he kept saying, "If it was me, I'd want to be Kitayama's role. You might not understand right now but being uncool is being cool." I understand the meaning of those words now; in the future, even if it'll always be on film, I don't want to just show my good parts... I'd like to do roles where being uncool is being cool.
-"Being uncool is being cool," there's a feeling that it'll become the way to live as a man.
That would be ideal huh. Though I didn't think that way when I was a Jr at all (laugh). At the time, as an idol, I thought there was no demand for that. Being popular is the absolute requirement, to be one step ahead amongst the many Jrs, it was important to show oneself as cool no matter how. I didn't even occur to me [TN: he didn't even consider "being uncool is being cool"].
-That way of thinking happened after debut?
No... must've been about a year before debut. About where my position was in the group, I started thinking about it when we did our pre-debut solo tours. I mean, we're full of people who are cool, and after this there'll be lots of kouhai appearing right (laugh)? Of course, as an idol, it's necessary to be cool as a basic spec. But with just that, people will get sick of you in 3 months. What you have besides just that is important.
-However, if you show uncool-ness, you can't do it unless you throw away your pride...?
Yeah yeah. That's why you have to have courage. To show uncool aspects, it's taking one step further into people's hearts... However, in the end, the people who are loved in regular society aren't only cool either. They're funny, and they put their all into things... That's as an individual character as well, and for us, because we have a group, we're able to show various sides of ourselves.
-So as a result of showing various sides, the end point is to become "cool"...
I definitely think that would be good. For me. Apart from when I'm an idol and being a part of Kis-My-Ft2, I'd like to do lots of different things. To that extent, when we have concerts, I think it's good to put my all into acting cool (laugh).
-That's true (laugh). Speaking of which, this summer you'll have debuted for fully 2 years. Including things that aren't acting, are there differences your thoughts towards work before and after debut?
I've come to feel that there's nothing that's no good. My focus is on variety shows, so for example, when there's something I "can't do" and it goes bad, that can be turned into something funny.
-You're not just resigned to it, but from the condition of not being able to do something, laughter and emotion are born...
Yeah yeah, the interest/humor of being forced to do things I can't, and like there's the birth of laughter and emotions from doing things with all my might. It's an extreme example but even if there are people who get really sleepy in the middle of filming a show and fall asleep, there's something interesting about that too. As long as you aren't warped as a person, even the no good parts [of a personality] can become idiosyncrasy.
-Is that what you think from your experience having your own variety show that puts your bodies on the line?
I think there is that. When I was a Jr. I thought that it was no good to have things I can't do, when I was asked "Can you do it?" I'd definitely answer "I can!" Because if I didn't do that, then there wouldn't be a next time.
-You're here now because you experienced the Jr era and severe work huh. But honestly did you never think of resigning...
Not even once. I've said "I'm gonna quit~" jokingly, but never like I was really going to quit. That's... there wasn't an opportunity to quit (laugh); there were boring times in the middle. More than anything, because there were things I wanted to do that I hadn't done, so quitting would definitely be bad right? That's why, I worked with my all so I wouldn't have regrets, I worked with the feeling that if I got fired the next day it wouldn't be anything I could have helped. Of course I would've been frustrated if in the end I hadn't remained, but if I did things thoroughly then I wouldn't leave any regrets. Moreover, if I became completely engrossed in just doing this, then even when I'm doing something different in the future I'd definitely be okay.
-To work so that it wouldn't be anyone's fault in those circumstances is amazing. However, in that case, the things you're burdened with would increase...?
Because that's how I am, I'm glad I'm in a group. Because there are friends to bear burdens with me. To me, it's more important how people value the group rather than myself individually, and after debut the members have changed too. I think everyone's become even more required. Not just in performances, also stuff like our roles in variety shows, and in the world... that kind of wide meaning.
-I think that, now, because you've become required, you have strength [TN: could also be impetus, vigour, spirit] with just this, but what do you think of you guys' current condition?
Honestly, I'm scared... yeah, I'm scared. Actually, whether we have strength isn't something we know ourselves. At 2 years after debut, we're still full of things we don't know. Within that, the things demanded of us are constantly changing. And sometimes of the 100 demanded of us, we have to give back 120; when we do 80 it makes people think "something's wrong". Whenever I think about if we can do 100%, or if we can do more and surpass others' expectations, I think we're still lacking in ability. Of course, if we fail, that's not a bad thing. But when it comes to crunch time, we have to have done all the obvious preparations. For that, experience is important after all, so right now we just have to make appearances on locations no matter what.
-For you personally, what would you like to become?
I've constantly been saying this recently (laugh), I'd like to become a person who's required as an MC. When I was on Nakai Masahiro's Black Variety [Kurobara], I couldn't keep up with the speed of the talk. But I thought "I want to be able to talk here!" Nakai-san is funny right. But actually he's someone who calculates things in extreme detail. Seeing that side of him, I thought that MC is really deep. Also, I'd like to challenge acting more. This time, because I am able to do my desired comedic relief role, I want to be able to receive the praise that "he can do this kind of role too." That's like a secret goal for this production (laugh).
To the people who've only seen Kitayama's film work up or his graceful figure up until now, he might appear to be a cool person. However, in truth he's a person who can also burst with all his might, throw away his pride and struggle desperately. Because that's who he is, it seems like a day will come when he'll become "the most uncool, yet the coolest man." Moreover, that day is not far off.
* notes inside [brackets] are TNs, added to make things clearer
cr: original scans courtesy of pgycjk
Don't want to leave a comment?
I'd appreciate a webclap too! :D