[Arashi] Nino - MORE - 04/2015
Translated the latest volume of Nino's serial column in MORE on a whim. This was pretty interesting to me since Nino is rarely so candid about his back pain, which the magazine also noted.
Scan credit goes to nada醬. Enjoy!
Nino - MORE - 04/2015
Ninomiya Kazunari no Itto
Why is Ninomiya Kazunari universally acknowledged to be a "unique oddball"? By taking yourself down this path, you will be able see those earnest thoughts which he has hidden within.
Volume 76 - Arts
This took place during the new year, just before filming for his individual work was set to begin: "Aka medaka", the large scale special drama from TBS of which he was taking on the starring role. He told us something unexpected when we asked about how he was feeling.
"I actually met (Tatekawa) Danshun-san several years ago. (Shofukutei) Tsurube-san and (Miura) Tomokazu-san called me up while they were together. The actual conversation was pretty silly, stuff like 'He's a rakugoka!' 'Of course I know that!', but it left a deep impression on me. This is pretty one-sided, but when I found out I was going to be playing Danshun-san, I was happy because it felt somehow destined. I even fantasized about whether or not he remembered that particular night (laugh)." [T/N: Rakugo = the art of traditional storytelling, rakugoka = storyteller]
Regardless of acting or variety, Nino has always excelled in the "skill of speaking". There is no doubt that he will take to this rakugoka role well.
"Who knows? I'm learning rakugo right now but it's very hard, you know. It's hard to even explain what's so hard about it exactly (laugh). First off, the difficulty that lies in the sheer volume of those stories, which you have to memorize in their entirety. It's a traditional art so it's pretty much a given that it's not going to be that easy. It made me realize all over again just how amazing all those people who focus solely on perfecting one specific skill really are."
Nino also possesses skill in many different arts, from acting to singing and dancing to TV programs and speaking in interviews.
"But the things that I do - if I'm to say this straight up without fear of my words being misinterpreted - I don't consider any of them to be a so-called 'art' because I don't feel like I'm earning money based solely on those. It's not as if I'm getting calls to be in productions because my acting is particularly outstanding. It's the opportunities given to me to do different things which then connect to the next opportunity, that's how I see it."
It's true that idols cannot rely on a particular art even if they possess skill in it. Personality and presence are both required in that line of work. But what about singing and dancing? Being able to hold concerts that drive tens of thousands of fans into a wild frenzy must surely count as an art unique to idols who sing and dance, right?
"Yeah. But I still don't think of my own singing and dancing as being particularly good. And I've been scared of doing backflips ever since I hurt my back too (laugh)."
I speak out one time out of ten if I'm not happy about something. That's my own strategy.
In a rare turn of events, the conversation eased into a topic about "his own body". In his junior high days before debuting, Nino had begun experiencing back pains, possibly due to overstrain from dance practices. This was also revealed in the documentary program about their Hawaii shows last year, but up until then he has always tried his best to continue working without bringing it to light.
"I never said anything because the people watching me work won't be able to enjoy themselves if they're worrying about me. Not to mention I'm the one to blame for everything. As long as I'm doing this line of work, be it back pain or any other physical illness I might have, it's all my own fault. To be honest, I'm more or less in constant pain; I've already forgotten what it's like to have days with no pain (laugh). But it's not to the point where I can't bear it anymore. I want to avoid backflips, but I can still dance and I can do wire flying. I'm not pessimistic about this at all, so I don't want people to worry about me in the future either. I personally feel like this is along the same lines as having poor vision-- it's a part of me. Vision can be fixed with glasses and such to a certain extent, and if my back pain gets too intense, I can alleviate it. Like I said earlier: it's not a big deal."
It seems there are other coping methods as well.
"I hear there's a way to reduce back pain by strengthening your abdominal and back muscles which then help reinforce your back. It seems like there's one instance where someone with chronic back pain since they were young was recommended to do some weight training and did a whole bunch of sit-ups, which then got them hooked on working out because they found it really fun."
If that's the case, Nino should start working out too! But he laughed it off when I interjected with that.
"No way (laugh). It has nothing to do with my back pain and such, I'm just someone who never had any interest in working out to begin with. I prefer muttering to myself while I'm play video games on my own (laugh). If I ever get a job that requires me to get naked for a shoot or something, I'll reconsider it then. I guess it just has to do with my own sense of value, maybe?"
The "lack of interest in working out" and the high threshold of endurance that he has built up over time are both part of Nino's personality and charm. In other words, this is surely the art which he possesses.
"I guess it's true that I'm good at enduring in a way. I rarely say 'no' regardless of what kind of work I'm doing. I accept pretty much anything, and having to go along with other people doesn't bother me either. Besides, if I only speak out one time out of ten when I'm not happy about something - regardless of what it is - don't you think there's a bigger possibility of getting my point across that one time? I think of that as my own savviness (laugh)."
Scan credit goes to nada醬. Enjoy!
Nino - MORE - 04/2015
Ninomiya Kazunari no Itto
Why is Ninomiya Kazunari universally acknowledged to be a "unique oddball"? By taking yourself down this path, you will be able see those earnest thoughts which he has hidden within.
Volume 76 - Arts
This took place during the new year, just before filming for his individual work was set to begin: "Aka medaka", the large scale special drama from TBS of which he was taking on the starring role. He told us something unexpected when we asked about how he was feeling.
"I actually met (Tatekawa) Danshun-san several years ago. (Shofukutei) Tsurube-san and (Miura) Tomokazu-san called me up while they were together. The actual conversation was pretty silly, stuff like 'He's a rakugoka!' 'Of course I know that!', but it left a deep impression on me. This is pretty one-sided, but when I found out I was going to be playing Danshun-san, I was happy because it felt somehow destined. I even fantasized about whether or not he remembered that particular night (laugh)." [T/N: Rakugo = the art of traditional storytelling, rakugoka = storyteller]
Regardless of acting or variety, Nino has always excelled in the "skill of speaking". There is no doubt that he will take to this rakugoka role well.
"Who knows? I'm learning rakugo right now but it's very hard, you know. It's hard to even explain what's so hard about it exactly (laugh). First off, the difficulty that lies in the sheer volume of those stories, which you have to memorize in their entirety. It's a traditional art so it's pretty much a given that it's not going to be that easy. It made me realize all over again just how amazing all those people who focus solely on perfecting one specific skill really are."
Nino also possesses skill in many different arts, from acting to singing and dancing to TV programs and speaking in interviews.
"But the things that I do - if I'm to say this straight up without fear of my words being misinterpreted - I don't consider any of them to be a so-called 'art' because I don't feel like I'm earning money based solely on those. It's not as if I'm getting calls to be in productions because my acting is particularly outstanding. It's the opportunities given to me to do different things which then connect to the next opportunity, that's how I see it."
It's true that idols cannot rely on a particular art even if they possess skill in it. Personality and presence are both required in that line of work. But what about singing and dancing? Being able to hold concerts that drive tens of thousands of fans into a wild frenzy must surely count as an art unique to idols who sing and dance, right?
"Yeah. But I still don't think of my own singing and dancing as being particularly good. And I've been scared of doing backflips ever since I hurt my back too (laugh)."
I speak out one time out of ten if I'm not happy about something. That's my own strategy.
In a rare turn of events, the conversation eased into a topic about "his own body". In his junior high days before debuting, Nino had begun experiencing back pains, possibly due to overstrain from dance practices. This was also revealed in the documentary program about their Hawaii shows last year, but up until then he has always tried his best to continue working without bringing it to light.
"I never said anything because the people watching me work won't be able to enjoy themselves if they're worrying about me. Not to mention I'm the one to blame for everything. As long as I'm doing this line of work, be it back pain or any other physical illness I might have, it's all my own fault. To be honest, I'm more or less in constant pain; I've already forgotten what it's like to have days with no pain (laugh). But it's not to the point where I can't bear it anymore. I want to avoid backflips, but I can still dance and I can do wire flying. I'm not pessimistic about this at all, so I don't want people to worry about me in the future either. I personally feel like this is along the same lines as having poor vision-- it's a part of me. Vision can be fixed with glasses and such to a certain extent, and if my back pain gets too intense, I can alleviate it. Like I said earlier: it's not a big deal."
It seems there are other coping methods as well.
"I hear there's a way to reduce back pain by strengthening your abdominal and back muscles which then help reinforce your back. It seems like there's one instance where someone with chronic back pain since they were young was recommended to do some weight training and did a whole bunch of sit-ups, which then got them hooked on working out because they found it really fun."
If that's the case, Nino should start working out too! But he laughed it off when I interjected with that.
"No way (laugh). It has nothing to do with my back pain and such, I'm just someone who never had any interest in working out to begin with. I prefer muttering to myself while I'm play video games on my own (laugh). If I ever get a job that requires me to get naked for a shoot or something, I'll reconsider it then. I guess it just has to do with my own sense of value, maybe?"
The "lack of interest in working out" and the high threshold of endurance that he has built up over time are both part of Nino's personality and charm. In other words, this is surely the art which he possesses.
"I guess it's true that I'm good at enduring in a way. I rarely say 'no' regardless of what kind of work I'm doing. I accept pretty much anything, and having to go along with other people doesn't bother me either. Besides, if I only speak out one time out of ten when I'm not happy about something - regardless of what it is - don't you think there's a bigger possibility of getting my point across that one time? I think of that as my own savviness (laugh)."