[Myojo 2022.02] Sexy Zone's 10th Anniversary One-On-One - Part 1
Myojo magazine celebrated Sexy Zone's 10th Anniversary and each Sexy Zone member could invite a special guest with which they'll hold a one-on-one dialogue. For his guest, Fuma chose Nino. Enjoy their witty banter below!
Fuma: I think Ninomiya-kun properly knew of me when I debuted. Because up till that point, we’ve never interacted.
Nino: You’re right. You’ve never been a backup dancer for Arashi, and I think I came to know about you when you debuted and performed on Music Station. After that, we met on music shows for a period of time as well, I think. You guys couldn’t perform on Johnny’s Countdown because you were still young, right?
Fuma: Yes, we couldn’t. Until we appeared on the charity event, Waku Waku Gakkou, the two of us didn’t have a conversation.
Nino: We didn’t speak until Waku Waku Gakkou [1], right?
Fuma: I just said the exact same thing. (laughs) To me, Arashi nii-san [2] was a god-like existence. Amidst all that, Ninomiya-kun could sing and dance, he could also act and do variety shows, he’s really skilful and can do anything. However, he has zero interest in his kouhai. (laughs) Back then, I didn’t have an impression of Ninomiya-kun interacting with his kouhai, it’s almost as if he didn’t know they existed. That’s why when I get to work with Ninomiya-kun like this in Nino-san or Jyanino Channel, it feels strange. He might possibly know more about Bishonen [3] than I do!
Nino: I mean, those kids were our backup dancers for our concerts!
Fuma: Nakajima also danced for Arashi’s concerts back then, you know?
Nino: Kenty? No he didn’t.
Fuma: Yes, I’m telling you that he did!
Nino: Ah, really? (laughs)
Fuma: During Waku Waku Gakkou, Ninomiya-kun kept flirting with Ohno-kun. I’m not saying this just to make the Myojo readers happy, it’s the truth. When Ohno-kun was staring into space and looking up and down, Ninomiya-kun would come and mess with him, and then Ohno-kun would slowly turn towards Ninomiya-kun and the two of them would giggle together while their shoulders were shaking. They kept doing that while trying to keep it a secret from Jun-kun. (laughs)
And they also played mobile games under the table, just like high school students. I would look at them and wonder, “Why are they trying to play in secret? Are they afraid of something? Would someone get mad at them if they found out?”
Nino: Ahaha! That’s awesome! That is what makes it fun!
Fuma: Why are you enjoying your games together with the thrill (of being caught)!?
Nino: Heheh. Who did Fuma team up with for Waku Waku Gakkou?
Fuma: In the first year, I was with Aiba-kun.
Nino: And for the second?
Fuma: Hmm… huh?
Nino: Huh? (laughs) This is bordering on rude, you know!? You keep saying how you respect Arashi, but you’ve already forgotten! For me, I was with Kenty for the first year, and with Sou-chan for the second year investigating underground tunnels; I can recall all of this!
Fuma: It was a huge deal to me, to be able to do this with Arashi nii-san. Ah! In my second year, it was Sho-kun! I did some physical activity thing with Sho-kun!
Nino: Aah, you guys did dodgeball! But outside of our pairs, we actually didn’t have much of an opportunity to talk to the other members, so I hardly spoke to Fuma.
Fuma: Erm, I’m curious why you chose me for Jyanino Channel.
Nino: Because I heard that you were popular.
Fuma: If that was the case, it wouldn’t be me. There are members who are more popular than me.
Nino: When I invited him (onto the channel), there wasn’t much explosive power…
Fuma: Sheesh, what are you saying? (laughs)
Nino: I’m saying that I recommended Fuma. But when I presented to the agency that I wanted these members for Jyanino Channel, I could never forget how they asked me, “Why Kikuchi?” (laughs)
Fuma: OMG are you serious!??? (bursts out laughing)
Nino: It’s true. They asked me, “Why are you so passionate about Kikuchi?” Seriously speaking, we’re not professionals when it comes to comedy; there are a lot of exchanges involving silly jokes and rebuttals, which comedians could normally do and we couldn’t. My pet theory is, in a situation where someone who isn’t a comedian makes a rebuttal [4], it should be done by the most junior person. If the rebuttal is done by a senior, the person who sets up the joke might not be able to go all the way, and they’d end up apologizing or something. The joke is doomed if the rebuttal is seen as a rebuke or education. That’s why I set out to find someone who could properly act in that capacity.
Fuma: Oh~ I see…
Nino: Then I heard that on some show, Fuma treated Sho-chan so horribly that he was told off by Ueda-kun. If felt that if he’s that kind of person, then he’d be okay (for the channel). That was one of the factors.
Fuma: (chuckles)
Nino: And I’m not very good at handling people who get mad. So I basically selected members who wouldn’t get angry no matter what they did.
Fuma: I’m happy to hear that! There’s a definite reason why I’m able to rebut Ninomiya-kun. I think Ninomiya-kun is someone who gets along with everyone, regardless of whether they’re senpai or kouhai. This meant that he would probably not be angry even if he gets rebutted by a kouhai, which is reassuring. People who can’t precisely rebut their senpai would probably get mad if their kouhai rebutted them in turn. But Ninomiya-kun probably says stuff like, “Well, my senpai is gonna die earlier than me anyway,” right?
Nino: I’ve actually said that. (laughs)
Fuma: Uhaha! Really.
Nino: But I want my kouhai to have a favourable impression of me, you know? I mean, my kouhai will pass down my stories through the generations after I die.
Fuma: You seemed like someone who would say that, and you’re a rational person so I think you wouldn’t be mad (to receive rebuttals).
Nino: That’s why even when Fuma treats me like an old man, I just think of myself as an old dude. (laughs) From the beginning, I was glad that I picked you. If the agency didn’t allow it after my presentation, it would have been tough to go through the selection process again.
Fuma: If they had rejected me, who would you have picked?
Nino: No one. There isn’t anyone else.
Fuma: WHOA!! That makes me really happy!! I’m glad you said there wasn’t anyone else.♪
Nino: There isn’t anyone who has appeared on TV this much, released so much music and held so many concerts, and acted in this many dramas and variety shows. Our Jyanino members have appeared in various projects. Fuma’s acting is also excellent.
Fuma: You haven’t seen a single one of my shows!
Nino: I was moved by your performance in Dream Boys! You’ve surpassed Tackey [5]. (laughs)
Fuma: You didn’t even watch our play, what are you talking about!?
Nino: (chuckles) I’ve never been cast in a Johnny’s stage play.
Fuma: The Imperial Theater is amazing. If I weren’t a Johnny, I definitely wouldn’t be able to stand on that stage.
Nino: It’s like you’re suddenly playing baseball at Koshien [6], right?
[1] Arashi often collaborated with kouhai groups for Waku Waku Gakkou. Sexy Zone appeared in WWG 2017 and 2018.
[2] Fuma uses “nii-san”, a respectful term for “Big brother”, to refer to Arashi.
[3] Bishonen is a Johnny’s Junior group who danced for Arashi’s concerts in 2020, notably This is Arashi Live and Arafes 2020.
[4] Nino uses the word “tsukkomi” here, which is the role in comedy where the second comedian plays in "butting in" and correcting the boke's errors. The boke is the one who sets up the joke and is usually portrayed as airheaded or stupid.
[5] Tackey was the first Johnny to be cast in the original DREAM BOY production in 2004. Fuma was the lead in the latest version of DREAM BOYS staged in 2021.
[6] Koshien refers to the Japanese High School Baseball Championship and the largest scale amateur sport event in Japan
Fuma: I think Ninomiya-kun properly knew of me when I debuted. Because up till that point, we’ve never interacted.
Nino: You’re right. You’ve never been a backup dancer for Arashi, and I think I came to know about you when you debuted and performed on Music Station. After that, we met on music shows for a period of time as well, I think. You guys couldn’t perform on Johnny’s Countdown because you were still young, right?
Fuma: Yes, we couldn’t. Until we appeared on the charity event, Waku Waku Gakkou, the two of us didn’t have a conversation.
Nino: We didn’t speak until Waku Waku Gakkou [1], right?
Fuma: I just said the exact same thing. (laughs) To me, Arashi nii-san [2] was a god-like existence. Amidst all that, Ninomiya-kun could sing and dance, he could also act and do variety shows, he’s really skilful and can do anything. However, he has zero interest in his kouhai. (laughs) Back then, I didn’t have an impression of Ninomiya-kun interacting with his kouhai, it’s almost as if he didn’t know they existed. That’s why when I get to work with Ninomiya-kun like this in Nino-san or Jyanino Channel, it feels strange. He might possibly know more about Bishonen [3] than I do!
Nino: I mean, those kids were our backup dancers for our concerts!
Fuma: Nakajima also danced for Arashi’s concerts back then, you know?
Nino: Kenty? No he didn’t.
Fuma: Yes, I’m telling you that he did!
Nino: Ah, really? (laughs)
Fuma: During Waku Waku Gakkou, Ninomiya-kun kept flirting with Ohno-kun. I’m not saying this just to make the Myojo readers happy, it’s the truth. When Ohno-kun was staring into space and looking up and down, Ninomiya-kun would come and mess with him, and then Ohno-kun would slowly turn towards Ninomiya-kun and the two of them would giggle together while their shoulders were shaking. They kept doing that while trying to keep it a secret from Jun-kun. (laughs)
And they also played mobile games under the table, just like high school students. I would look at them and wonder, “Why are they trying to play in secret? Are they afraid of something? Would someone get mad at them if they found out?”
Nino: Ahaha! That’s awesome! That is what makes it fun!
Fuma: Why are you enjoying your games together with the thrill (of being caught)!?
Nino: Heheh. Who did Fuma team up with for Waku Waku Gakkou?
Fuma: In the first year, I was with Aiba-kun.
Nino: And for the second?
Fuma: Hmm… huh?
Nino: Huh? (laughs) This is bordering on rude, you know!? You keep saying how you respect Arashi, but you’ve already forgotten! For me, I was with Kenty for the first year, and with Sou-chan for the second year investigating underground tunnels; I can recall all of this!
Fuma: It was a huge deal to me, to be able to do this with Arashi nii-san. Ah! In my second year, it was Sho-kun! I did some physical activity thing with Sho-kun!
Nino: Aah, you guys did dodgeball! But outside of our pairs, we actually didn’t have much of an opportunity to talk to the other members, so I hardly spoke to Fuma.
Fuma: Erm, I’m curious why you chose me for Jyanino Channel.
Nino: Because I heard that you were popular.
Fuma: If that was the case, it wouldn’t be me. There are members who are more popular than me.
Nino: When I invited him (onto the channel), there wasn’t much explosive power…
Fuma: Sheesh, what are you saying? (laughs)
Nino: I’m saying that I recommended Fuma. But when I presented to the agency that I wanted these members for Jyanino Channel, I could never forget how they asked me, “Why Kikuchi?” (laughs)
Fuma: OMG are you serious!??? (bursts out laughing)
Nino: It’s true. They asked me, “Why are you so passionate about Kikuchi?” Seriously speaking, we’re not professionals when it comes to comedy; there are a lot of exchanges involving silly jokes and rebuttals, which comedians could normally do and we couldn’t. My pet theory is, in a situation where someone who isn’t a comedian makes a rebuttal [4], it should be done by the most junior person. If the rebuttal is done by a senior, the person who sets up the joke might not be able to go all the way, and they’d end up apologizing or something. The joke is doomed if the rebuttal is seen as a rebuke or education. That’s why I set out to find someone who could properly act in that capacity.
Fuma: Oh~ I see…
Nino: Then I heard that on some show, Fuma treated Sho-chan so horribly that he was told off by Ueda-kun. If felt that if he’s that kind of person, then he’d be okay (for the channel). That was one of the factors.
Fuma: (chuckles)
Nino: And I’m not very good at handling people who get mad. So I basically selected members who wouldn’t get angry no matter what they did.
Fuma: I’m happy to hear that! There’s a definite reason why I’m able to rebut Ninomiya-kun. I think Ninomiya-kun is someone who gets along with everyone, regardless of whether they’re senpai or kouhai. This meant that he would probably not be angry even if he gets rebutted by a kouhai, which is reassuring. People who can’t precisely rebut their senpai would probably get mad if their kouhai rebutted them in turn. But Ninomiya-kun probably says stuff like, “Well, my senpai is gonna die earlier than me anyway,” right?
Nino: I’ve actually said that. (laughs)
Fuma: Uhaha! Really.
Nino: But I want my kouhai to have a favourable impression of me, you know? I mean, my kouhai will pass down my stories through the generations after I die.
Fuma: You seemed like someone who would say that, and you’re a rational person so I think you wouldn’t be mad (to receive rebuttals).
Nino: That’s why even when Fuma treats me like an old man, I just think of myself as an old dude. (laughs) From the beginning, I was glad that I picked you. If the agency didn’t allow it after my presentation, it would have been tough to go through the selection process again.
Fuma: If they had rejected me, who would you have picked?
Nino: No one. There isn’t anyone else.
Fuma: WHOA!! That makes me really happy!! I’m glad you said there wasn’t anyone else.♪
Nino: There isn’t anyone who has appeared on TV this much, released so much music and held so many concerts, and acted in this many dramas and variety shows. Our Jyanino members have appeared in various projects. Fuma’s acting is also excellent.
Fuma: You haven’t seen a single one of my shows!
Nino: I was moved by your performance in Dream Boys! You’ve surpassed Tackey [5]. (laughs)
Fuma: You didn’t even watch our play, what are you talking about!?
Nino: (chuckles) I’ve never been cast in a Johnny’s stage play.
Fuma: The Imperial Theater is amazing. If I weren’t a Johnny, I definitely wouldn’t be able to stand on that stage.
Nino: It’s like you’re suddenly playing baseball at Koshien [6], right?
[1] Arashi often collaborated with kouhai groups for Waku Waku Gakkou. Sexy Zone appeared in WWG 2017 and 2018.
[2] Fuma uses “nii-san”, a respectful term for “Big brother”, to refer to Arashi.
[3] Bishonen is a Johnny’s Junior group who danced for Arashi’s concerts in 2020, notably This is Arashi Live and Arafes 2020.
[4] Nino uses the word “tsukkomi” here, which is the role in comedy where the second comedian plays in "butting in" and correcting the boke's errors. The boke is the one who sets up the joke and is usually portrayed as airheaded or stupid.
[5] Tackey was the first Johnny to be cast in the original DREAM BOY production in 2004. Fuma was the lead in the latest version of DREAM BOYS staged in 2021.
[6] Koshien refers to the Japanese High School Baseball Championship and the largest scale amateur sport event in Japan