[Arashi] Sho - H - 03/2014 (1/3)
I should be working on my commissions and in fact translated a big chunk of Kame's +act mini interivew, but my stupid laptop decided to reboot itself because of an "important" Windows update and... you guessed it, I lost the entire thing. :(
I'm trying to kick myself back into a translating mood so I decided to tackle Sho's new interview in H that just came out today. It starts off with a letter he wrote that was addressed to himself at the young age of 17. He elaborates on it in the interview, but I figured I'd translate this part first since it's not long.
Won't be posting this to arashi_on until I'm all done, so you guys get to read first. Enjoy!
Sho - H - 03/2014
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Sho - H - 03/2014 (1/3)
A letter to my 17 year old self
Where were you and what were you doing at that time? Are there any words you'd like to say to yourself at that time? In this issue of H, we have come up with a special feature-- messages from actors and musicians who are now highly regarded to their own selves when they were at the age of 17, still "beginners in the game of life". Beginning with Sakurai Sho-san, who became a member of Arashi at the age of 17 and embarked upon his current career, they each wrote out letters to themselves. When you read those as well as the specially commissioned manga from Asano Inio-san, you will understand just how special that "17 years of age" period of time were to them or how it became their starting points. "17 years of age", a time when your inner compass is spinning wildly, when you're full of hopes and uncertainty yet at the same time know that you must prepare yourself. It's a special season that differs from "14 years of age" or "20 years of age", which is precisely why so many films and music use "17 years of age" as a theme both in the past and present. Here are five stories we would like you to read, whether you are currently 17 years old, used to be 17 years old, or will become 17 years old.
Sakurai Sho
"All along, my response to questions about how I felt during the debut days has been 'I found myself caught up in something that was way over my head', but now I wonder if maybe I had to act like I was 'tricked into it' or I wouldn't have been able to take the next step forward otherwise"
To the 17 year old Sakurai Sho,
My 17 year old self. Nice to meet you.
This is your 32 year old self.
[T/N: He uses "ore" to refer to himself at 17 and "watashi" at 32. Both are personal pronouns to refer to oneself, but "watashi" is more polite/formal and "ore" is a casual form that's used by guys, usually young. He also uses "boku" later, which is somewhere in between and also used more by men than women.]
Through the passage of 15 years, you've transitioned from using "ore" and "boku" to using "watashi".
You're finding yourself in a surprising set of circumstances due to the increase of numerous different opportunities.
Though your plan was to never do any white collar work, you are now blessed with the opportunity to do so. It's very strange, isn't it?
1999.
Just before Arashi was formed.
You were told to undo the dreadlocks that you were so into.
You tried your very hardest, but you were no longer able to maintain your perfect attendance record all of a sudden.
"Man... what the hell... I'm caught up in something way over my head. And here I was wanting to quit."
I'm sure that's what you will be thinking.
I'm sure you'll be annoyed and on edge.
However.
That "public stance towards [your company]" and "excuse for yourself" are both just things you're donning on your armor.
You're picking your own path and starting out of your own accord.
Nobody pushed you into doing this.
In the end, I guess this is what you would call a "dream".
I'm sure you had your qualms.
However.
That uncertainty is what will motivate you into making an effort.
Please do your best.
"Don't force yourself, okay?"
You might hear this from others.
Please force yourself to the brink of death.
You're not really going to die anyway.
Even on this side of things, I'm still not sure if this is really for the best.
But, well... I've gotten to the point where I'm thinking, "This isn't so bad, I suppose".
You'll get there.
Life is like a one-way street.
So please.
Just keep moving forward.
Don't exert yourself.
2014/01
Sakurai Sho
I'm trying to kick myself back into a translating mood so I decided to tackle Sho's new interview in H that just came out today. It starts off with a letter he wrote that was addressed to himself at the young age of 17. He elaborates on it in the interview, but I figured I'd translate this part first since it's not long.
Won't be posting this to arashi_on until I'm all done, so you guys get to read first. Enjoy!
Sho - H - 03/2014
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Sho - H - 03/2014 (1/3)
A letter to my 17 year old self
Where were you and what were you doing at that time? Are there any words you'd like to say to yourself at that time? In this issue of H, we have come up with a special feature-- messages from actors and musicians who are now highly regarded to their own selves when they were at the age of 17, still "beginners in the game of life". Beginning with Sakurai Sho-san, who became a member of Arashi at the age of 17 and embarked upon his current career, they each wrote out letters to themselves. When you read those as well as the specially commissioned manga from Asano Inio-san, you will understand just how special that "17 years of age" period of time were to them or how it became their starting points. "17 years of age", a time when your inner compass is spinning wildly, when you're full of hopes and uncertainty yet at the same time know that you must prepare yourself. It's a special season that differs from "14 years of age" or "20 years of age", which is precisely why so many films and music use "17 years of age" as a theme both in the past and present. Here are five stories we would like you to read, whether you are currently 17 years old, used to be 17 years old, or will become 17 years old.
Sakurai Sho
"All along, my response to questions about how I felt during the debut days has been 'I found myself caught up in something that was way over my head', but now I wonder if maybe I had to act like I was 'tricked into it' or I wouldn't have been able to take the next step forward otherwise"
To the 17 year old Sakurai Sho,
My 17 year old self. Nice to meet you.
This is your 32 year old self.
[T/N: He uses "ore" to refer to himself at 17 and "watashi" at 32. Both are personal pronouns to refer to oneself, but "watashi" is more polite/formal and "ore" is a casual form that's used by guys, usually young. He also uses "boku" later, which is somewhere in between and also used more by men than women.]
Through the passage of 15 years, you've transitioned from using "ore" and "boku" to using "watashi".
You're finding yourself in a surprising set of circumstances due to the increase of numerous different opportunities.
Though your plan was to never do any white collar work, you are now blessed with the opportunity to do so. It's very strange, isn't it?
1999.
Just before Arashi was formed.
You were told to undo the dreadlocks that you were so into.
You tried your very hardest, but you were no longer able to maintain your perfect attendance record all of a sudden.
"Man... what the hell... I'm caught up in something way over my head. And here I was wanting to quit."
I'm sure that's what you will be thinking.
I'm sure you'll be annoyed and on edge.
However.
That "public stance towards [your company]" and "excuse for yourself" are both just things you're donning on your armor.
You're picking your own path and starting out of your own accord.
Nobody pushed you into doing this.
In the end, I guess this is what you would call a "dream".
I'm sure you had your qualms.
However.
That uncertainty is what will motivate you into making an effort.
Please do your best.
"Don't force yourself, okay?"
You might hear this from others.
Please force yourself to the brink of death.
You're not really going to die anyway.
Even on this side of things, I'm still not sure if this is really for the best.
But, well... I've gotten to the point where I'm thinking, "This isn't so bad, I suppose".
You'll get there.
Life is like a one-way street.
So please.
Just keep moving forward.
Don't exert yourself.
2014/01
Sakurai Sho