TV Guide - Sutonzu no Rensai (SixTONES Style Vol.56)
As the series enters the second year, SixTONES' regular series have their first solo article for each member. Vol 56. is Kouchi's turn. The theme for all their solo articles is "Self Portrait".
Kouchi Yugo
I've taken self-portraits like this many times before but it’s still as difficult as expected. I try my best to match the theme by following the cameraman’s instructions because I don’t know which angle works the best for me. Sometimes, I get flustered when the cameraman says, “It’s a bit wrong…” and there are also times when I feel like I could do better when I see the published pages. During SixTONES’ tour, there are times when the members and I see our group on magazines’ covers when we go to the convenience stores together.
Come to think of it, I watched a few Paris Fashion Week’s runway clips during the stay-home period. Because if you somehow watch one, you will be recommended more later right? (LOL) I was thinking that I could probably do more when I watched them strut down the runway coolly while wearing a form of fashion that I utterly cannot understand. I’ve realised that during the part where there is no choreography in NAVIGATOR’s MV, my variations of poses were limited and I did the same thing 2 to 3 times. I am still inexperienced in that aspect so I should do more research and gain more knowledge as well as poses. As we enter the second year for our series, I would be glad if you could notice the changes in that aspect (LOL). Normally, I don’t take selfies unless it is very interesting. But I think I took 1 during the voluntary stay-home period. My moustache under my nose grew so I shaved only one side and took a photo (LOL). When I showed it to Taiga, he said, “I admire (those who have) moustache, this is funny!” but I won’t be able to upload it on my blog (LOL).
During the stay-home period, I properly wake up in the morning, write my blog and pursue my hobby in leather crafting. I had a fulfilling time while forcing myself to “feel like I am working”. Because I thought that “It is easy to lose motivation and fall into the pattern of lazing around and doing nothing, isn’t it?” Honestly, it was super frightening as this was the first time I had such a long break since I started working. Even though we finally stood at the starting line and made the first step by debuting, I could only feel uneasiness when faced with a worldwide problem that we can’t solve by ourselves. But from a different point of view, it depends on how well I can use this time and not waste it. Thinking like this makes me feel more positive. I think it might be useful to challenge small things, like the things that I like or things that I want to do, just like the time when I took the Onsen Sommelier examination. While I harboured various deep thoughts inside of me, I once again realised the importance of entertainment, and that was something huge to me.
We are on the side where we ‘dispatch’ and thankfully there are people to ‘receive’ them. Although I was digging my own grave when I declared that I would update my blog everyday (LOL), when I do it properly it becomes a good routine, providing a rhythm in my lifestyle. The best part of my work that makes me happy is that what I do can make someone smile. I write my blog with the feeling of, “It would be great even if I only make one person among the readers laugh.”
My hometown friend’s mother works in the medical field and she told me, “We received protective clothes from Johnnys & Associates. Thank you.” When I heard those words, I felt, “Right now in Japan, such grateful feelings are born…”, even though this was not something that I directly gave to them. I can feel how the entertainment world is amazing and that Johnnys & Associates is doing something wonderful.
It reminded me once again that since I am part of this I need to be more aware of my actions.
In this one year, an unbelievable amount of things happened. But I am still not used to SixTONES’ name appearing together with the other debuted groups (LOL). The thing that still remains the same after debut is how it becomes lively when the members talk. But the stance I take when I look at their solo works might have changed. I feel much more assured when I see them.
Because there were fans who were sad when the concerts were cancelled, I don’t know whether it would be correct for me to say it like this, but I feel that we are blessed because we had the chance to hold concerts before and after our debut day. Although I obviously feel sad and think, “When can we see that scenery again…”, I am trying to think that we gained more things to look forward to instead.
From here on, no one knows which direction we will head towards in the entertainment world. But I believe that we will definitely stand on the stage again. So what we should do is to always prepare ourselves so that we can dance and sing the moment we are able to hold concerts. We shouldn’t be like, “We can’t do this well because we had a break…”. We will always prepare ourselves so that we can immediately provide entertainment, so what I want to convey right now is probably, “Please look forward to that day.”
--TV Guide 17/7/2020 --