10000 Character Interview [Kiriyama Akito, Myojo, Oct. 2014 Issue] {Translated}
T/N: The original article split the interview into little sections, so I took the liberty of titling the sections and putting them in different 'cuts' (???) for organisational purposes. IMO the parts that really moved me was (1), (5), (6), (7), (8), and (9).
I would say prepare a box of tissues, cos some of this stuff is pretty… ;_____________;[I ( Read more... )
I would say prepare a box of tissues, cos some of this stuff is pretty… ;_____________;[I ( Read more... )
For Akito, I first saw him last year acting in "Mayonaka no Panya-san" and I totally loved him there! Actually, I didn't know him back then and I also didn't know that he was a Kansai Junior! I just looked up his name after the dorama finished and was like oh, he's a Johnny as well? XD I was really surprised and happy then when I learned about the debut of Johnny's WEST when I saw that he was one of the members! He also was the one who stood out for me the most and somehow I decided on him being my favorite from the start, even after they turned from 4 to 7 members which I really appreciated because I knew and liked Ryuusei (from the dorama Miss Pilot), Kami-chan and Hama-chan (from the dorama Shark) as well back then and hoped that they would be able to debut. And since then, even if I like a lot of members, Akito stood my favorite! ^^
This interview showed me that, even if I didn't know that much about him before, he really seems to be a honest person, which I really admire. The intervie really touched me. It's seldom that someone admits that he was "selfish" and "jealous" and everything and that he really wanted to be successful. Reading Akito's answers to the respective questions shows me that during the time he entered Kansai Juniors and the time of his debut, he really learned and matured a lot, not only regarding his abilities but also regarding being a human being. (Like he learned to be happy for others and to support others. In the end, if he's a person that can't be alone, he has to be there for others as well and not only the other way round, right?) I really like that because honestly, at some early points of the interview I was a bit shocked, thinking like "Eh, Akito is actually such a selfish person?" and usually, I don't like selfish people that much. But I was sure that there was more behind him and continuing to read the interview proved exactly that. I think, Akito is a strong person that worked his ass off and I'm more than happy, that he then was finally able to debut and that he even was able to make the group of 4 people into a group of 7, even if the topic was really difficult! I really admire people who are working so hard because I myself, even if I'm struggling, tend to give up my big goals to end up with a second or third choice... I wished I had more courage and willingness to succeed just like Akito. He's really inspiring! I guess, he's my favorite because I can feel that when looking at him. He really shines and stands out, in this respect I think, he definitely reached his goal already! ^^ Keep on running, Akito!
I alwasy wondered how everything about the 4 -> 7 story worked and Akito explains it very well. I'm totally aware of the human difficulties that can occur in such a situation and I think, the four of them in the end made the right decision to insist on them debuting as 7. I'm really happy, that Johnny Kitagawa let them decide and I'm sure, it was the better choice to do things! Aw~ after my high regarding their latest single (which I just love so much!) now reading this interview... now I'm even more excited about their future! I hope that they will be successful and that we will get more from the 7 of them! ^^
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I'll start off by saying that you clearly know Akito+JWest a lot better than I do, haha
I feel kind of out of my element trying to discuss this with you but I shall try my best (I've only really gotten into JWest and Akito this past month >.<)
I see what you mean about being shocked by this interview in the beginning
In my original draft, I put in my T/N that for readers not to judge Akito in the beginning like I did, and to read to the end (I did end up taking it out), because when I read the first section for the first time, I was so
Shocked? I dunno, I had this image of a really really tight group and Akito as a very central part of it, and this idea in my mind that the four fought really hard against the decision, so to start the interview off knowing that Akito was prepared to be as a four made me kind of uncomfortable to go on
But of course I'm glad I did, like you said he really did work his ass off and really grew as a person with his time as a junior. Although I was kind of ? at how to respond to the interview in the beginning, when I was translating it I realised I love how honest he is about his feelings with the situation and how he thought through the logistics behind of a four member group vs. a seven. On radio when they did the section where they go through the Myojo magazine monthly, Akito mentioned that in his interview he revealed some more dark sides of him, and I think that really shows how he knew that the information presented in the interview could paint him negatively, but he went out with it anyway and with complete honesty and I love that about him.
I'm really excited about their future too! They really have a lot of potential, and I can't wait to see how it all turns out!
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Ah, so you started to get into them recently? Well, I think it's never too late to join a fandom ^^ (like for example, I joines Arashi-fandom at the beginning of 2012 and they debuted in 1999 XD THAT's late haha).
Yes, I was really shocked. But tbh, I was more shocked about his attitude when he was young, this urge to stay in the center, to get successful etc., because even if it's common that people want to have success, it's seldom that people admit that, especially for Japanese since I think that they usually are... how to describe it... they often don't voice their real opinion and they tend to step back? I'm not sure how to say it but maybe you know what I mean. Akito gave of the vibe of a lone fighter and that somehow surprised me because I somehow had the image that Kansai Juniors are pretty close. I also didn't know that he had such problems with Junta, so I was surprised about this tue but the fact that they kept on working together and finally grew into friends, makes the whole thing even more impressive to me! ^^ I'm really happy about that! Also that he from first wanting to be a lone fighter and successful on his own in first place, he developed to a person with a strong sense of responsibility (I refer to the part when he said that he felt sorry for the other Kansai juniors that he didn't manage to make them more popular. Aw~ Akito >.< It's not only your responsibility... *hugs him*)
Because of the 4 nin vs 7 nin stuff. I have to admit, I can totally understand his thinking in this. I think (or at least I interpret it this way), that when he said that he decided to do it as the 4 of them, this wasn't actually a bad thing. I think, I would have reacted in a similar way, considering all the possibilities and worrying about the members as well as the 3 that were not included first - like what will happen to them? What would be better for them, to join or not to join? Also as a idol that didn't debut yet, of course you have to obey to the higher ups in some way or you might get into serious trouble and then, everything was for nothing and nobody will be happy... But after all, Akito is a straight forward person and even if he gave up on becoming 7 at one point, in the end he stood up for them (and I think in Japan it's a big deal to stand up against a decision from a higher up, especially if it's the big boss!) and succeeded to make them a group of 7! ^^ Akito, you did your best, growing from a selfish and self-centered lone fighter to a responsible group leader! Ah... I just realize that I don't even know if Johnny's WEST actually HAS a leader... but somehow, I always had the feeling of Akito being the leader (even if he isn't the oldest, that would be Junta, right?).
It's true, the interview might show Akito's dark and negative sides as well, but I personally think that it's important for the fans to also know these sides of an idol. As I mentioned in the last comment, I think, the 10 000 character interviews are perfect for that, I learned a lot of Johnny's from such interviews and I was always impressed about their characters (well, most of the time XD)! They reveil so much, I really love them! I'm already curious about the other members' interviews. ^^
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