Nakajima Yuto - Barfout! March 2020 English Translation
(I've decided to move all my translations from my Wordpress over to this Livejournal community so they're all in one place. Please bear with me as I make this gradual change.)
Nakajima: Immediately after reading the original manga, I could sympathise with Kaoru. Everyone has various big and small worries, and there are times where I sometimes wonder, “Who am I?”.
While thinking in that way, I make various decisions in my life, but there are small decisions and there are times where I must make big decisions to do with my life. Each time in the drama, the ultimate choice is forced to be made. Kaoru is a young man who has nothing, and is caught up in an incident when he reunites with his best friend, Fujiwara, and he reexamines himself… but it’s a setting where his best friend is a yakuza elite and it’s like a manga (laughs). I think because the personality of the character is easy to understand, the role becomes clear and each psychological description feels more realistic. I thought it would be difficult to apply this to reality and play it, but it’s actually something that could possibly happen. It’s not just the beautiful details, but about the problems of my mother’s dementia and modern society, so I’m happy to accept that message.
Barfout: Kaoru’s ability can be used for good, but there is also a fear of knowing hidden emotions.
Nakajima: If I had this ability, I think I would use it because I would be able to, but there are also times when ignorance is bliss. For example, what is the intention of the scriptwriter’s process in doing this? Or similar questions. If you know the answer to these questions, you can express it as it is. But if you just do that I think it would become boring, so what strategies will you use overcome the wall that was shot by the given tasks?I think this is important. I would be gaining knowledge while exploring by myself, and as an experience, I believe it will be high. Also, was my performance just now really “ok”? Because it’s a daily occurrence for actors to be attacked by anxiety like that, so I want to use it on directors and explore their minds. (lol). In acting, I set a goal and push forward where there is no correct answer… I think too much about everything. I would want this ability when I don’t really understand and when I am worried. I don’t like it if I’m being disrespected in my mind (laugh).
Barfout: Director Taki Yusuke said, “The small special ability he had in his childhood still remains in Kaoru,” So did you have any strong point in your childhood?
Nakajima: Talking to the director, Kaoru has a childhood ability that usually disappears when he becomes an adult. That means that there was a part that had not grown up, and I wanted to portray that childishness and obedience. I think it makes sense and I comprehended it, so try to think about yourself in that position. The other day, I remembered when I was in elementary school, I would sometimes change seats. At that time, my friend asked me to “be next to this child” and I would chant, “Let’s be next to each other,” about three times. There were many cases where we really became next to each other! This was a mysterious ability I couldn’t explain. I don’t think you’ll believe me (laughs).
Barfout: (Laughs) Then, didn’t you ask your class friend?
Nakajima: I think they were a popular person (laughs). Maybe it’s a coincidence, but because I was a child it felt like I was really having my wish granted. At the time, I was working with intuition, but now I’ve learned to control my feelings. I’m the type where I don’t think I can empathise properly if I don’t put my experience into my role, so I take care with the work I’m uncovering.
Barfout: Your high sensitivity is alive in your current job. It’s your fourth time starring with Mamiya-san (Shotaro), and we heard there were some things that surprised you after meeting him again after a long time.
Nakajima: No, not really. He just got bigger (laughs). I’ve always played around and said “His face is deep” and ” His eyes are strong”, but the sense of intimidation has definitely been increasing (laughs). However, I am not only intimidated by the body, but also the persuasiveness of the many things people have battled through in the past, so I felt the calm attitude of Mamiya. When we co-starred before, it was an excited relationship based off the same age, but this time we are surrounded by adults and we are also in the main roles. I felt the size even in the feeling part.
Barfout: On the other hand, what is a part of yourself that is different from before that you want to show Mamiya-san?
Nakajima: Well, there is. I didn’t tell him because it’s embarrassing (laughs). When we were together on the drama “Water Polo Yankees” before, I had a leading part and I was inexperienced, and it was a difficult role so I consulted with Mamiya about various things. And he had been working as an actor and had established himself. Because I have great pride in being an idol, I have a strong respect for people who only live through acting. I’ve also wanted to be able to work as an actor, and I wanted to believe I had become reliable this time, so I did my best at the shooting (laughs). I haven’t met Mamiya recently at all, but from the first script reading with him, I kept thinking, “Didn’t we practice this together?”. I didn’t feel blank, and it’s like the relationship between Kaoru and Tomomi. It’s a different relationship with the members of Hey! Say! JUMP. I see them every day, and I’ll see them tomorrow (laughs).
Barfout: Last year, Johnny passed away, and we think you had the opportunity to think about yourself again, like the title of this work.
Nakajima: But there are quite a few moments when I think, “Who am I?”. Isn’t this an era where you step into various fields in order to survive? Actors are starting to do idol-like things for the first time, and idols are laughing. Then, I started thinking about the purpose of my own existence. What I really want to do is acting and singing and I have thoughts in my head, but there were times when I didn’t meet my needs and I couldn’t agree with my feelings. But now I have come to understand the purpose of doing a wide variety of things. For example, I think it’s a good way for actors to gather more audiences, and I think that is something that can be done in this era. Also, if you connected with Johnny-san, I don’t think a great person has died especially, because I don’t feel he’s gone. That’s because Johnny-san has done a great job, has nurtured great entertainers and I’m surrounded by people who bring me happiness. I have thought again about the death of people, so that’s why I came to have the hope that I want to live strongly in the present.
Barfout: Kaoru finally finds his own writing by drawing his own story. What do you think is your own?
Nakajima: This is difficult, but, “What is the only thing I have?” because I was thinking of applying it to myself. But if you think too much, you will start to deny this and that around you, and you will start thinking, “Eh? None of these things are mine” (lol). In the end, Kaoru came to this conclusion but your own personality is inside yourself. That’s why I have a certificate saying I am Nakajima Yuto from Hey! Say! JUMP! I think it should be delivered to people wondering “Who am I?”
Nakajima: Immediately after reading the original manga, I could sympathise with Kaoru. Everyone has various big and small worries, and there are times where I sometimes wonder, “Who am I?”.
While thinking in that way, I make various decisions in my life, but there are small decisions and there are times where I must make big decisions to do with my life. Each time in the drama, the ultimate choice is forced to be made. Kaoru is a young man who has nothing, and is caught up in an incident when he reunites with his best friend, Fujiwara, and he reexamines himself… but it’s a setting where his best friend is a yakuza elite and it’s like a manga (laughs). I think because the personality of the character is easy to understand, the role becomes clear and each psychological description feels more realistic. I thought it would be difficult to apply this to reality and play it, but it’s actually something that could possibly happen. It’s not just the beautiful details, but about the problems of my mother’s dementia and modern society, so I’m happy to accept that message.
Barfout: Kaoru’s ability can be used for good, but there is also a fear of knowing hidden emotions.
Nakajima: If I had this ability, I think I would use it because I would be able to, but there are also times when ignorance is bliss. For example, what is the intention of the scriptwriter’s process in doing this? Or similar questions. If you know the answer to these questions, you can express it as it is. But if you just do that I think it would become boring, so what strategies will you use overcome the wall that was shot by the given tasks?I think this is important. I would be gaining knowledge while exploring by myself, and as an experience, I believe it will be high. Also, was my performance just now really “ok”? Because it’s a daily occurrence for actors to be attacked by anxiety like that, so I want to use it on directors and explore their minds. (lol). In acting, I set a goal and push forward where there is no correct answer… I think too much about everything. I would want this ability when I don’t really understand and when I am worried. I don’t like it if I’m being disrespected in my mind (laugh).
Barfout: Director Taki Yusuke said, “The small special ability he had in his childhood still remains in Kaoru,” So did you have any strong point in your childhood?
Nakajima: Talking to the director, Kaoru has a childhood ability that usually disappears when he becomes an adult. That means that there was a part that had not grown up, and I wanted to portray that childishness and obedience. I think it makes sense and I comprehended it, so try to think about yourself in that position. The other day, I remembered when I was in elementary school, I would sometimes change seats. At that time, my friend asked me to “be next to this child” and I would chant, “Let’s be next to each other,” about three times. There were many cases where we really became next to each other! This was a mysterious ability I couldn’t explain. I don’t think you’ll believe me (laughs).
Barfout: (Laughs) Then, didn’t you ask your class friend?
Nakajima: I think they were a popular person (laughs). Maybe it’s a coincidence, but because I was a child it felt like I was really having my wish granted. At the time, I was working with intuition, but now I’ve learned to control my feelings. I’m the type where I don’t think I can empathise properly if I don’t put my experience into my role, so I take care with the work I’m uncovering.
Barfout: Your high sensitivity is alive in your current job. It’s your fourth time starring with Mamiya-san (Shotaro), and we heard there were some things that surprised you after meeting him again after a long time.
Nakajima: No, not really. He just got bigger (laughs). I’ve always played around and said “His face is deep” and ” His eyes are strong”, but the sense of intimidation has definitely been increasing (laughs). However, I am not only intimidated by the body, but also the persuasiveness of the many things people have battled through in the past, so I felt the calm attitude of Mamiya. When we co-starred before, it was an excited relationship based off the same age, but this time we are surrounded by adults and we are also in the main roles. I felt the size even in the feeling part.
Barfout: On the other hand, what is a part of yourself that is different from before that you want to show Mamiya-san?
Nakajima: Well, there is. I didn’t tell him because it’s embarrassing (laughs). When we were together on the drama “Water Polo Yankees” before, I had a leading part and I was inexperienced, and it was a difficult role so I consulted with Mamiya about various things. And he had been working as an actor and had established himself. Because I have great pride in being an idol, I have a strong respect for people who only live through acting. I’ve also wanted to be able to work as an actor, and I wanted to believe I had become reliable this time, so I did my best at the shooting (laughs). I haven’t met Mamiya recently at all, but from the first script reading with him, I kept thinking, “Didn’t we practice this together?”. I didn’t feel blank, and it’s like the relationship between Kaoru and Tomomi. It’s a different relationship with the members of Hey! Say! JUMP. I see them every day, and I’ll see them tomorrow (laughs).
Barfout: Last year, Johnny passed away, and we think you had the opportunity to think about yourself again, like the title of this work.
Nakajima: But there are quite a few moments when I think, “Who am I?”. Isn’t this an era where you step into various fields in order to survive? Actors are starting to do idol-like things for the first time, and idols are laughing. Then, I started thinking about the purpose of my own existence. What I really want to do is acting and singing and I have thoughts in my head, but there were times when I didn’t meet my needs and I couldn’t agree with my feelings. But now I have come to understand the purpose of doing a wide variety of things. For example, I think it’s a good way for actors to gather more audiences, and I think that is something that can be done in this era. Also, if you connected with Johnny-san, I don’t think a great person has died especially, because I don’t feel he’s gone. That’s because Johnny-san has done a great job, has nurtured great entertainers and I’m surrounded by people who bring me happiness. I have thought again about the death of people, so that’s why I came to have the hope that I want to live strongly in the present.
Barfout: Kaoru finally finds his own writing by drawing his own story. What do you think is your own?
Nakajima: This is difficult, but, “What is the only thing I have?” because I was thinking of applying it to myself. But if you think too much, you will start to deny this and that around you, and you will start thinking, “Eh? None of these things are mine” (lol). In the end, Kaoru came to this conclusion but your own personality is inside yourself. That’s why I have a certificate saying I am Nakajima Yuto from Hey! Say! JUMP! I think it should be delivered to people wondering “Who am I?”