TV Pia 2015.07.15: Kamiyama Tomohiro
Note that I am self-taught, and not a native Japanese speaker. There may be errors. Feel free to share, but please don’t claim this as your own translation. Corrections are welcome.
For Kami-chan's birthday (this issue came out on 7/1) TV Pia's usual WEST corner became a celebration for him! They asked him to reflect on his past year and his current goals.
After debuting, you've had a variety of experiences, do you feel like you have any new discoveries from then to now?
During February, I did the stageplay "Blood Brothers," which was the first non-Johnny's stageplay I did. I was able to star in a stage outside of Johnny's. That experience was huge to me. I thought I would work harder at various things. Especially because I didn't know a lot of things, if the person I starred with, Akito-kun, had not also been in this world I probably wouldn't know what to do. I think it's thanks to Akito-kun that I was able to survive. My co-stars were all basically veterans. I didn't have any outside stageplay experience and I was starring, which gave me pressure. I would really have been in a state of what is good to do. But I've realized that I've been weak at using my voice, that that's no good feeling is important to me. At the end I was friendly with everyone. To me being able to do the stageplay is where I have grown the most. I was able to study acting, it led to self-confidence. When I was eating with the all of the cast and crew, the director Glen (Walford)-san told me "no matter what happens you cannot stop acting work." When I heard that I thought it's good that I tried my best. Even with shallow experiences, there are a lot of things I don't know, that's why I want to do them, I thought I want to continue acting.
In previous interviews, you've talked about how you want to challenge songwriting.
Right now, the thing I want to do just as much as acting is songwriting. That's the number one thing I think I can do with my power to give back to the group. If I can compose a song it would become the group's power, plus it will become my strength. I've started making a song that everyone can sing. To get close to a solid completed form takes time. To say something like it's the best here, for example, is no good. Whenever I don't have something prepared, I'm personally not satisfied.
What is the song you are making like?
The genre isn't decided. A firm dance song for example, or a medium ballad guitar song. Because I'm biased towards one genre only, I want to do a song that's spread out across the group.
Over the past year have there been changes in the relationships between you and the members?
During Kansai Jr. times, we initially formed a group called 7WEST. I was the most senior member. I thought if I wasn't stable it'd be bad, it was a place where I became a lone wolf. I was also aware, I especially told off Non-chan (Kotaki Nozomu), and also Shige. But since debuting, I'm able to think it's okay to rely on members. My older brothers have increased by 3. A lot of personalities are accumulated, so when I become tired and I already know that, if I couldn't consult anyone, I'd wonder what the members are for, because I've become able talk to them often. Though the people I consult changes, Junta-kun is the person I go to a lot.
Finally, your impressions of becoming 22 years old.
My image of a 22 year old is different from what I thought from a long time ago. I thought I'll be more adult! I thought if I become taller than 175cm, I'll look more slender (laughs). My dream of debuting has been granted, but the shape of the group I imagined was a little different. But now I think being 22 is better. If I had lived by what I imagined I think I definitely wouldn't be having fun, right now is the most fun!
How I'd celebrate my ideal birthday
My number one memory is the day before my 20th birthday, it was celebrated at the Kansai Jr. live. That's the number one way I'd want to celebrate my birthday! It's my goal! Last year, in addition to receiving presents from members, I even got celebratory "congratulations" through my phone. The fastest one was Kotaki. He's diligent! It wasn't even midnight and a mail came, I was like his girlfriend (laughs) but I was happy!
Translated from pictures posted on twitter
If you're curious, according to Kami-chan on 07.05 もぎあて関ジュース (someone sent in a letter and asked) the presents he got from the members were:
Went shopping with Junta/Ryusei and they bought him things
Hama-chan got him pajamas+pillow
Kiriyama got him boots
Kotaki got him a humidifier
Shige bought something online that hadn't arrived yet, so he didn't know what it was
He also got something from Kanjani's Yasuda Shota but couldn't say what it was.
For Kami-chan's birthday (this issue came out on 7/1) TV Pia's usual WEST corner became a celebration for him! They asked him to reflect on his past year and his current goals.
After debuting, you've had a variety of experiences, do you feel like you have any new discoveries from then to now?
During February, I did the stageplay "Blood Brothers," which was the first non-Johnny's stageplay I did. I was able to star in a stage outside of Johnny's. That experience was huge to me. I thought I would work harder at various things. Especially because I didn't know a lot of things, if the person I starred with, Akito-kun, had not also been in this world I probably wouldn't know what to do. I think it's thanks to Akito-kun that I was able to survive. My co-stars were all basically veterans. I didn't have any outside stageplay experience and I was starring, which gave me pressure. I would really have been in a state of what is good to do. But I've realized that I've been weak at using my voice, that that's no good feeling is important to me. At the end I was friendly with everyone. To me being able to do the stageplay is where I have grown the most. I was able to study acting, it led to self-confidence. When I was eating with the all of the cast and crew, the director Glen (Walford)-san told me "no matter what happens you cannot stop acting work." When I heard that I thought it's good that I tried my best. Even with shallow experiences, there are a lot of things I don't know, that's why I want to do them, I thought I want to continue acting.
In previous interviews, you've talked about how you want to challenge songwriting.
Right now, the thing I want to do just as much as acting is songwriting. That's the number one thing I think I can do with my power to give back to the group. If I can compose a song it would become the group's power, plus it will become my strength. I've started making a song that everyone can sing. To get close to a solid completed form takes time. To say something like it's the best here, for example, is no good. Whenever I don't have something prepared, I'm personally not satisfied.
What is the song you are making like?
The genre isn't decided. A firm dance song for example, or a medium ballad guitar song. Because I'm biased towards one genre only, I want to do a song that's spread out across the group.
Over the past year have there been changes in the relationships between you and the members?
During Kansai Jr. times, we initially formed a group called 7WEST. I was the most senior member. I thought if I wasn't stable it'd be bad, it was a place where I became a lone wolf. I was also aware, I especially told off Non-chan (Kotaki Nozomu), and also Shige. But since debuting, I'm able to think it's okay to rely on members. My older brothers have increased by 3. A lot of personalities are accumulated, so when I become tired and I already know that, if I couldn't consult anyone, I'd wonder what the members are for, because I've become able talk to them often. Though the people I consult changes, Junta-kun is the person I go to a lot.
Finally, your impressions of becoming 22 years old.
My image of a 22 year old is different from what I thought from a long time ago. I thought I'll be more adult! I thought if I become taller than 175cm, I'll look more slender (laughs). My dream of debuting has been granted, but the shape of the group I imagined was a little different. But now I think being 22 is better. If I had lived by what I imagined I think I definitely wouldn't be having fun, right now is the most fun!
How I'd celebrate my ideal birthday
My number one memory is the day before my 20th birthday, it was celebrated at the Kansai Jr. live. That's the number one way I'd want to celebrate my birthday! It's my goal! Last year, in addition to receiving presents from members, I even got celebratory "congratulations" through my phone. The fastest one was Kotaki. He's diligent! It wasn't even midnight and a mail came, I was like his girlfriend (laughs) but I was happy!
Translated from pictures posted on twitter
If you're curious, according to Kami-chan on 07.05 もぎあて関ジュース (someone sent in a letter and asked) the presents he got from the members were:
Went shopping with Junta/Ryusei and they bought him things
Hama-chan got him pajamas+pillow
Kiriyama got him boots
Kotaki got him a humidifier
Shige bought something online that hadn't arrived yet, so he didn't know what it was
He also got something from Kanjani's Yasuda Shota but couldn't say what it was.