Nino More 06/2010
More: Nino: It 06/2010
Episode 18: The Unique Memory
It's the beginning of Spring, and filming continues. Ninomiya weaves his way through breaks while giving off a leisurely air. He can't even guess when his current filming might end, or when his next script might come. "It's not something that I decide, so I'm not concerned. No matter the project, you never know how it'll be when it starts, or what you might carry home with you when it finishes." During a casual conversation that covers different aspects of his recent goings-on, Nino unexpectedly murmurs, "Maybe I should've gone ahead and gotten married early." What's brought this up all of a sudden?
Well it's more that I want children than I want to be married. (smiling) I started feeling that way when Inohara-kun (of V6) had his child. The moment I heard I wanted to send a present, so I sent a text. "Is it a princess? Or a lord?" And he sent me back a text with a picture of him holding the baby, and it was so cute! The child was obviously cute, but so was Inohara-kun's smile. (smiling) Ah, he's really a father, I thought. A smile like that can only be brought about by really living that experience. There are things you can sense, like that someone's not yet used to holding a baby, and that they're really adoring of their baby. Putting aside the question of whether or not it's okay as an idol, it's really a precious experience for a human. So I wonder if maybe I should've gone ahead and get married for that. (smiling)
Though he says "I should've done it early," he's only 26, and turns 27 this year.
That's not early, anymore. (smiling) No matter what it is you want to do, the more you age, the more your possibilities become limited. Since people are creatures that start forming memories after they become aware of what's around them, it's best that you experience a lot of things when you're young, so that later down the road you can reflect back, and then there'll be more instances where you can put your knowledge to use. Like, when you've turned 30, just how many things will have happened in your life… When something big happens, it's the people whose memories and experiences come back to them who are able to tough it out. You only experience it once but you don't forget, and you can look back on that time. Both with people that you meet and things that you do, in my opinion facing them head on is what makes the experience deeper.
An early marriage wasn't in the cards, but as Ninomiya Kazunari, as Arashi, he has experienced a great many things. Nino is supported by those memories.
As for me, participating in a movie in America when I was in my early 20s was a big thing. Even when looked at objectively, it's true. They always write that in my profile spot in magazines, don't they? Like, "Appeared in director Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwojima." (smiling) Of course, even personally it was valuable. It's because I was able to experience that when I was young that now I don't have any desire to go to America. I won't say it's an absolute, but even if an offer comes I probably won't go. I mean, even on the off chance that I became popular in Hollywood, I think it would be the same sense I have in Japan of, "So then what would I do with that?" After I was given the opportunity to experience an amazing set over there, I came to think that being "Made in Japan" is enough. Aren't there Japanese directors that don't venture abroad, even if they're recognized worldwide? I wonder if that's because they realize that they can make the movies they want to right here in Japan. Rather than running recklessly overseas, there's value in remaining in Japan.
I think, knowing myself, that marriage will be difficult.
I'm not saying that I won't go overseas because I refuse to be in Hollywood movies. When I did Tekkon Kinkreet, it won the first prize at the MoMA (New York Museum of Modern Art) sponsored movie awards. The staff went over there to receive the award, and seemed really happy when they came home. Of course being able to screen a movie overseas, and receive an award, and bring that experience back to Japan is a great sort of happiness. When I was listening to them, it brought back memories of going to Berlin for Iwojima. There were people there that didn't know me, and after they watched the movie there was a standing ovation. I was there amidst applause that wouldn't end, and as I remembered that, there was this movie we made in Japan that was screened overseas, and I thought it would be wonderful if it could do the same. Of course it's a difficult thing, but because I have that memory I'm able to honestly consider that. Of course, having experience isn't the road to success. As you gain experience, you may also gain failures and regrets. But even including that, having all those experiences is what makes a person that's unique, who can't be measured against anyone else.
As our talk about the pricelessness of memories comes to a close, he murmurs once again.
For me, marriage will probably be difficult. I mean, even if there's someone I love, I won't be contacting them, and I can't give them my attention. The order of importance of things in my heart changes, but as for my work, it will always stand at the top. If I get married, my partner will be the greatest victim of that. The more I come to understand myself, the more I think that. (smiling)
Episode 18: The Unique Memory
It's the beginning of Spring, and filming continues. Ninomiya weaves his way through breaks while giving off a leisurely air. He can't even guess when his current filming might end, or when his next script might come. "It's not something that I decide, so I'm not concerned. No matter the project, you never know how it'll be when it starts, or what you might carry home with you when it finishes." During a casual conversation that covers different aspects of his recent goings-on, Nino unexpectedly murmurs, "Maybe I should've gone ahead and gotten married early." What's brought this up all of a sudden?
Well it's more that I want children than I want to be married. (smiling) I started feeling that way when Inohara-kun (of V6) had his child. The moment I heard I wanted to send a present, so I sent a text. "Is it a princess? Or a lord?" And he sent me back a text with a picture of him holding the baby, and it was so cute! The child was obviously cute, but so was Inohara-kun's smile. (smiling) Ah, he's really a father, I thought. A smile like that can only be brought about by really living that experience. There are things you can sense, like that someone's not yet used to holding a baby, and that they're really adoring of their baby. Putting aside the question of whether or not it's okay as an idol, it's really a precious experience for a human. So I wonder if maybe I should've gone ahead and get married for that. (smiling)
Though he says "I should've done it early," he's only 26, and turns 27 this year.
That's not early, anymore. (smiling) No matter what it is you want to do, the more you age, the more your possibilities become limited. Since people are creatures that start forming memories after they become aware of what's around them, it's best that you experience a lot of things when you're young, so that later down the road you can reflect back, and then there'll be more instances where you can put your knowledge to use. Like, when you've turned 30, just how many things will have happened in your life… When something big happens, it's the people whose memories and experiences come back to them who are able to tough it out. You only experience it once but you don't forget, and you can look back on that time. Both with people that you meet and things that you do, in my opinion facing them head on is what makes the experience deeper.
An early marriage wasn't in the cards, but as Ninomiya Kazunari, as Arashi, he has experienced a great many things. Nino is supported by those memories.
As for me, participating in a movie in America when I was in my early 20s was a big thing. Even when looked at objectively, it's true. They always write that in my profile spot in magazines, don't they? Like, "Appeared in director Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwojima." (smiling) Of course, even personally it was valuable. It's because I was able to experience that when I was young that now I don't have any desire to go to America. I won't say it's an absolute, but even if an offer comes I probably won't go. I mean, even on the off chance that I became popular in Hollywood, I think it would be the same sense I have in Japan of, "So then what would I do with that?" After I was given the opportunity to experience an amazing set over there, I came to think that being "Made in Japan" is enough. Aren't there Japanese directors that don't venture abroad, even if they're recognized worldwide? I wonder if that's because they realize that they can make the movies they want to right here in Japan. Rather than running recklessly overseas, there's value in remaining in Japan.
I think, knowing myself, that marriage will be difficult.
I'm not saying that I won't go overseas because I refuse to be in Hollywood movies. When I did Tekkon Kinkreet, it won the first prize at the MoMA (New York Museum of Modern Art) sponsored movie awards. The staff went over there to receive the award, and seemed really happy when they came home. Of course being able to screen a movie overseas, and receive an award, and bring that experience back to Japan is a great sort of happiness. When I was listening to them, it brought back memories of going to Berlin for Iwojima. There were people there that didn't know me, and after they watched the movie there was a standing ovation. I was there amidst applause that wouldn't end, and as I remembered that, there was this movie we made in Japan that was screened overseas, and I thought it would be wonderful if it could do the same. Of course it's a difficult thing, but because I have that memory I'm able to honestly consider that. Of course, having experience isn't the road to success. As you gain experience, you may also gain failures and regrets. But even including that, having all those experiences is what makes a person that's unique, who can't be measured against anyone else.
As our talk about the pricelessness of memories comes to a close, he murmurs once again.
For me, marriage will probably be difficult. I mean, even if there's someone I love, I won't be contacting them, and I can't give them my attention. The order of importance of things in my heart changes, but as for my work, it will always stand at the top. If I get married, my partner will be the greatest victim of that. The more I come to understand myself, the more I think that. (smiling)