Yamashita Tomohisa: 0409 Vol. 85
0409
Vol. 85 "Routine"
We ask Yamapi about his favorite daily items and day-to-day work. He tells us how he's learned the value of trying everything once. By choosing not to let himself get caught up in a routine, his world contines to expand!
I'm filming a drama right now, so I wake up at a different time every day. On days that I have to wake up at 4 am, really early days, I wake up, put on clothes, get into the car, and sleep again until we get to the set. At 4 am, it's still pitch black, more like the middle of the night than the morning. Going in between home and work, I wear my own clothes for the car ride only, but I still try to choose clothes that match. There was a period when I would wear a tracksuit to work. Not anymore. I decided that I should try to wear real clothes instead. Once I get to the set, I wash my face, brush my teeth, put on my costume and have my makeup done. The only time to eat breakfast is after the rehearsal ends. On this particular drama, the breakfast choices are onigiri and soft-boiled egg, or a fried chicken bento. I prefer the onigiri and egg, and my favorite onigiri filling is mentaiko (T/N: tiny orange fish eggs). I don't have any preferences for miso soup. My favorite ramen is Hakata-style and tanmen. I like tsukimi-style soba noodles and nabe-yaki udon noodles (T/N: udon noodles and vegetables cooked in a nabe pot). I often bring energy drinks into work just when everyone is getting tired. And the cast and crew love it when I bring in yakiniku bento boxes. (Laughs.) It gives you that extra energy to get your work done.
When I get home after a day of filming, I don't have much time to myself, so I just take a shower, dry my hair and go to bed. Or I'll read a book before I go to sleep. On cold days, or when I'm tired, I'll fill up the bath. But I don't like to wash the bathtub afterwards, so I usually don't use it. Today we filmed outside, so I'd like to take a bath to warm up. When you're cold to the core of your body, it's hard to fully warm up.
Lately I've realized that meals are less about the food and more about the people with you. Food tastes best when you have a good meal and a loved one by your side. Its different when sharing a meal with someone you don't know very well. They try to accomodate you, and you try to slow down or speed up to eat at the same pace--you have to concentrate the whole time. That's why I'm not a huge fan of those big rotating tables at Chinese restaurants. (Laughs.) The plate you want goes by, or someone's taking food and you can't rotate the table. Gyudon or ramen is all I need for dinner out alone or with the guys. Guys like to eat steak or rice when they eat out. Meals with several courses are best for a special someone or family birthdays, special events like that. You can enjoy conversation and wait for the next course to come out. If you were alone, you would get impatient waiting for the next part of your meal.
I was able to meet a lot of different people during my trip down Route 66 in the US. It seemed like most of the people there aren't over zealous. Everyone was like, I've got food, I've got my family, I'm good! Those people are probably not greedy about their jobs either. Life is probably easier that way. I'm very zealous about my work. I want each thing I make to be the best, that's all I think about. As long as my motivation continues, I want to keep moving forward. When I get old I can be happy with what I have, but for now, I want to keep reaching for the stars.
I have a clear idea of what I like and don't like, so up until this point I've said no to a lot of things, simply because I don't like something. Lately, though, I decided to stop saying no. To try on new looks, and sing different kinds of songs. My new song, I, Texas, is a different kind of song--I might not have chosen to sing it a year ago. But when I stop and think about my career goals, I remember that it's to entertain people through my work. I believe that that's my role in life. Instead of turning down an outfit I don't like, I remember that there might be someone out there who would enjoy seeing me dressed up that way. Anyway, it's a waste for me to limit my own potential. Rather than emphasizing my likes and dislikes, it's important to keep trying new things. I'd even like to take fan's requests, if I can. It took a little bit of courage to decide to do this, but through doing it, I might discover a new side of myself. If you ask me what's changed since I made this decision... I don't know yet. Who knows--I might be a whole new person in next month's issue. Acting all cool and stuff. Okay, I'm kidding. (Laughs.) I sometimes discover new things about myself or a new way to do my job by meeting new staff. I don't know what the right answer is, but I know that it's important to keep trying new things, to not get stuck on one way of thinking. Always doing only what you like can be kind of egotistical. Instead of continuing to do what I like for 5 years and then suddenly changing drastically one day, wouldn't it be better to just be flexible in my thinking? Personally, I want to be a chameleon, able to change into many different colors. Maybe one day people will say, "Which Yamapi do you like best?" And even as I begin to accept many new ideas, my core goal will never change. This is just another way to get to what I'm really after--something that lies further ahead.
[Seventeen, April 2012 / translation by amapi - Please credit if using/quoting]
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Scans provided by the lovely watchful21. I apologize for disappearing for the last month or so. I let myself get busy with life and chose to neglect my translation duties. Luckily, I made it just in time for Yamapi's birthday! Thank you in advance for reading (and commenting)!!!
Happy belated birthday to curiosity_san, akuy_pi, and noo0osa!
-Amanda