Sakurai Sho 10,000 Word Interview, Final
part 1 parts 2&3 part 4 part 5
Sorry it's taken me a while, but I've been looking at every blog that had a even little mention of the happenings at NYCC, not to mention all the dramas and scans that came out this weekend (has the RESCUE ep. 3 raw come out yet? Because I can't find it edit: found it, just have to find time to watch it ><). I also had quite a load of homework this weekend (should actually be doing some now, but finishing this is so much more interesting). Anyway, I decided to finish this in one fell swoop so I can start my next project sometime very soon (it involves audio/video as opposed to text, so I'm a little worried....).
So here you go, the last part!! It's been fun, and thanks to everyone who has commented and will comment. I read all the comments even if I don't comment back, just so you know!!
One last hurrah to ladysakurai for the scans!!
※Graduation from University
2004 was when I graduated from university. From the fall of 2002, I started to explain my various plans, and my friends said, "You can't go with us?" Mails came with the message, "Are you really going to get a job?" "Nah, I've decided to stay in Johnny's," I would tell them (laughs). Doing that in this kind of world was confusing.
But because I didn't have friends in my neighborhood, I just had my school friends to meet with. Even though I was busy with work, I could see my friends if I went to school. However, my friends were wearing suits and going job hunting. "This time period is going to be over soon," they said, so I was really lonely.
Until my graduation in 2004, it was like the last spurt. Work was over and I would send a message to my friends, and lots of times there would be 6~7 people gathered together and we would talk until morning. We would talk about things like elementary school and work. Although with those friends I could only discuss those things, from April on we became a full-fledged member of society. After that, work came, and my experiences might have become usless to talk about. But every night we still talked.
In the middle of that, my 22nd birthday came, and my friends gave me a video letter. Even thought it was a Dreams Come True song, they put in a lot of snap-shots. After that, each of my friends included a message. I was surprised that there was one from my elementary school teacher. "As I thought, I love News' debut song "News Nippon" the best," that rascal said. "This isn't News' debut song!" I said (laughs). I really didn't know they were going to make that video. But everyday it fit their faces. I was really happy because of that.
Though I digress, that video was placed in my room, and my mom labeled it "Birthday video from school friends." I was surprised she did that. "When did you do this?!" I said (laughs).
Those friends went on a graduation trip with me. Although we wanted to go to Korea, some of their passports had expired (laughs). We ended up going on a ski trip, where it was just four guys. Because I had the video camera, I kept going around. I was like the dad. It was the first time we had done that, go on a trip like that. But it was really fun.
●About Stageplays
Nothing can be done about how hard stageplays are. In "West Side Story" (23) I had to think about different things. Only after practice was over did everyone in the company go out to eat. "Is the way we're doing the show alright?" was the kind of things we would talk about. How everyone was working together to make up the staff was nice, and I liked that kind of atmosphere. I want to do it again, I thought.
But when I think of big, "Kisarazu Cat's Eye" comes to mind. When I was playing Chu in "PikaNchi", I thought "If I hadn't done 'Kisarazu' I wouldn't be able to do the role this way."
The first time I understood the enjoyment of drama work was while doing "Kisarazu." Not just saying the lines was fun, but it was actually making the character. That character was different from picking up the moves. The first time I did that as Bambi (24), I thought, "This is enjoyable." I also like the work itself. Even now in that town, they say, "It's Bambi!" Sometimes it comes from guys. I'm happy working on that kind of film. "There's a good chance they'll remember my name," I still think (laughs).
After I understood how much fun being in a drama was, when I was offered the role in "Yoiko no Mikata" I didn't even have to think about it, I just did it. At that time, there were both tests at school and concert rehersals, and even though I knew there wasn't time, I still did it. I really didn't have time to sleep. While I was showering, I would fall asleep and whenever I would sit down I would fall asleep.
Even with those conditions, I still did it with the faith in myself that I could do it. With that, a different work had to be made use of. From now on I want to keep adding to the provisions I have.
But dramas weren't all I had to do. I had to do songs and variety shows were definitely arranged for us. I don't have anything I like the best, because everything has its own amount of enjoyment. Comparing everything together, I did each thing to the limit of my power.
Two years ago, I had my wisdom teeth out (25), and my face was swelling like I had been slapped. In four days it didn't heal. "What am I going to always being like this?" I thought. "I still have work, but I don't think I can do anything."
While considering that, I couldn't do anything; dramas, singing, or dancing. I didn't even have one thought of ," I believe in myself." I started to feel like I was nothing. From that, looking at it plainly, I could find that I was using fear as a cover.
Looking toward the future, I wanted one thing for certain. That's what I thought. In this world, what one thing for certain? It became that kind of thinking. People can't say if anything's for certain. If there's merit there isn't one right answer. But, after understanding that kind of thing, Iike I said, there isn't a phrase of merit to prepare you for that kind of situation.
★Arashi After 10 Years (this part's cool because it IS their 10th year)
Our album "One" (26) is the first time the members have their own solo songs on it. Our 5th year anniversary is coming to an end, and the next step is one of transfering, I think.
This space of time, the five of us not knowing we would be gathered together, and on account of that sticking together, naming ourselves "Arashi," little by little are making the "Arashi" of now. And I think we're still trying to figure out what "Arashi" is.
At our 10 year anniversary I'll be 27. If we wish it, the things we can do individually will increase, and I think the times the five of us have to meet will be few, but that's fine. If that's how it will be, it'll be fun for us to meet up after a long time. We'll come up with different things we want to talk about, and we'll be like companions in a long distance love relationship (laughs). It will be like,"Finally we can meet, huh!!" and the tension will go up.
We haven't even fought once. I understand if we couldn't go on after one fight. On the other hand, I think a new side might be appearing for us.
(23) "West Side Story": Sho played Tony, Oh-chan was Riff, Matsujun was Bernard. It ran from Dec. 4 2004~Jan. 9 2005 in the Aoyama theater in Tokyo and in Osaka.
(24) When the script writer met Sho, he said, "He looks like a Bambi!" and the nickname was born.
(25) Sho had his wisdom teeth removed in March 2003. He took a break from work to let it heal. On page 17 you can sort of tell a little bit (please consult ladysakurai 's scans to see for yourself). It still hurt at the time.
(26) "One" was released on August 3, 2005.