10000 Character Interview [Kamiyama Tomohiro, Myojo, Jan. 2015 Issue] {Translated}
T/N:
*(w) = lol
-When did you know that you wouldn't appear in 2013's Johnny's Countdown (JCD)?
It's not like they said, "You won't appear in it." like that. Even when New Year came near, I didn't get a call so I thought that year Kansai Jr. would not make an appearance. That's why I celebrated the end of the year without thinking. When I was watching TV, just a bit before JCD started, suddenly a mail came. I thought, "What's it? Someone already send New Year message? So early!" but apparently it was a mail from the other 4. I was like, "Eh?"
-It was when you knew the 4 were going to be debuted.
Somehow, how to say it... My body, I felt cold sweat all over my body. I could read the message but it didn't come into my brain. "What did it mean? What did it mean?" like that. I felt the time stop. I couldn't hear any voices around me. All I felt was pain. "Why? Why does it turn out like this? Did I do something wrong?" I could only think of those.
-Although you thought you would be debuted with 7 members...
In ANOTHER stageplay that was held in September (2013), Johnny-san said "Kansai Jr. have possibility to debut." At that time Ryusei didn't participate in the stageplay due to drama shooting, but with the other 6 we discussed, “Isn’t it probably us 7?” We also made a promise, "We will definitely debut with these 7 members!" But looking at that (mail), I thought "So after all this time this is how it turns out..."
-You couldn't accomplish that.
But, because we're friends, and debut is something that worth to be celebrated... I replied with "Congratulations."... I knew that the 4 didn't do anything wrong. But I couldn't congratulate them with all my heart. It's hard not to be able to naturally be happy about it.
-At that time, was there anyone on your side?
I was sitting on sofa, and my mother was there too. My sister watched the TV from the kitchen. But I couldn't say, "After this the 4 will announce their debut.", so I just kept watching the live with them. Because it's a big moment for my friends, I should watch it, I thought. Although, I also felt like not watching it... To be honest, I was thinking, "Please tell me it's a lie!" When I kept thinking, "When will it be? When?" then finally it came (the debut announcement). Nonchan was sitting on audience seat (he couldn't appear in JCD due to his age). Then the other 3 were on stage. "So this is it," I thought. I heard, "4 of us will have CD debut!"
-What were your mother and sister reactions?
I couldn't meet their eyes. All I could do was only to watch the TV. In my family, when we celebrate new year, after watching JCD we would go to shrine for hatsumoude*, but this time once the JCD live finished they went to sleep, thinking about my feelings. For me, after the JCD ended, I was dying in front of the TV.
*) Hatsumoude: visiting shrine for the first time in the year
-Did Hamada-kun and Ryusei-kun contacted you?
Yes. Ryusei really didn't want to give up. "This guy is really strong," I thought. For Hama-chan, at first he was going to give up too, but after Ryusei's words his switch was turned on. But for me, it was really bad. I really should quit, I thought. It's better to stop here. Rather than chasing my dream, I have to look at the reality. To be precise, I already had given up. Up until that time, I never had compromised. I had done anything I had to. But because even after all of that it still wasn’t enough...
-The wound your heart received that day, it probably hasn’t scabbed yet. Even then I’ll still ask a lot about it, is that okay?
That’s totally okay. I don’t want it to be like, “That time, it was really difficult,” a story asking for tears, I want to look back at it laughing. If it isn’t something I can laugh about I wouldn’t talk about it (w).
-Well then, when did it become your dream to enter Johnny’s?
When I was small, I saw “Ultra Man Tiga,” and thought Nagano (Hiroshi)-kun was cool. Then, watching “Gakkou he ikkou!” I learnt of V6, and, thinking, “Woah, how cool,” became the trigger. I even bought some live videos of V6-san.
-You started learning dance when you were 6.
My sisters were doing it, so I said from myself “I want to try.”
-So it was a result of your sisters’ influence. You have a lot of siblings, right?
I have a brother, a sister, and two younger sisters. 6 years older, 3 years older, 3 years younger, and 9 years younger, respectively.
-Do you get on well?
We do. Although when we were younger we fought a lot. I often made my 3 years younger sister cry, and then would get yelled at by my older sister, and then in turn I would cry; this happened a lot (w).
-You were a mischievous child.
Often I wore Hawaiian t-shirts, would hang an insect cage on my shoulder, hold an insect net in my hand, and would be running around everywhere. I generally always had bumps/bruises on me.
-Hahahaha.
But, I looked girly, so by people like the register lady at the supermarket would call me “Miss.” I hated being thought of as a girl.
-I’ve heard that since you were in elementary you’ve been blonde.
Yes. My mother would dye it blonde, or red. But, everyone knew I was doing dance, so I was never yelled at by my teachers.
-Were you learning anything besides dance?
Just dance.
-Since you manage to do acrobatics and play the guitar, as well as fashion and cooking, and you have a lot of hobbies, so I was wondering if you had been learning anything else.
I’m just a sore loser (w).
-By the way, what is your best dish?
Right now it’s Nanman chicken. You make the dip/dressing from scratch as well. It’s a favourite of my family as well, but, what I like best is my mother’s fried chicken and fried eggs. When I have to leave home for a long while, the day I come home, my mother will always make me friend chicken. My mother knows I don’t like eating out. If we’re going to eat out, we might as well stay home and eat mother’s cooking.
-You auditioned in the 4th grade, right?
My mother asked me “Do you want to apply?” and I said “Yeah, I do,” so we applied. When I forgot, we got notifications for the auditions. Probably, it is the opposite case for others, but for my audition we dyed my hair to black. Because my mother insisted, “You should.” (w)
-How was your audition?
There were around 100 people. We were taught dance choreography, and then we danced. When it was over, Johnny-san spoke to me. “There’s a TOKIO live, can you come?” Multiple others were invited as well, so with Kansai juniors we danced in the concert.
-How was your first performance?
“How big! I didn’t know that this many people would come together!!”, it was a completely different world.
-Your mother was happy for you, right?
We’ve never had a proper discussion about that. But, she probably was. While I was busy, she would pick me up and drop me off a lot, and, having the unreasonable kind of personality I do, during practice we fought a lot, but no matter what she would always rush over. The one who always supported me was my mother.
-What were your activities like after that?
I would get called like “Next we have this so please come.” I also got called for Takizawa-kun’s “DREAM BOY,” but out of the kids I auditioned with, only I was there. Being suddenly placed in the middle of my senpais, I was bewildered. It was like I didn’t know my right from my left.
-That’s true, I probably would have been bewildered as well.
To be honest, I didn’t like it (w). I was only a child, so, it wasn’t even the level where I didn’t have anyone I was friendly with, there wasn’t even anyone I could talk to. But, I don’t remember this, when I first met (Nakama) Junta-kun, I apparently said “Junta, please tell me your contact information!” I feel ashamed thinking about it now (w).
-Hahahaha.
Right after I entered Hama-chan also joined the unit BOYS. But, I didn’t have the spare time to feel that I was having fun, there was always a feeling of I have to do this, now I have to do that.
-What did you think about debuting?
At the time I didn’t think anything of it. I’ve always lacked ambition. But, our main activities had been dancing behind Kanjani8-san. Jrs did not have any light on them, and since we were all wearing the same thing they weren’t even the right sizes. In front of us, Kanjani8-san were being bathed in the spotlight, with smart clothing and with mics in their hands. Dancing behind them, I thought, “Definitely I’ll become like them!”
-Did Kanjani8 play a big role in your life?
Yes. They are the senpai that I was at the back of the longest, so even now I follow their example for a lot of things. I think it was right after I got in, in a rehearsal of Kanjani8-san’s butai, I was standing in front of the vending machine thinking about buying juice when Yokoyama-kun and Ookura-kun came. Both of them were very big and I was intimidated. Then, Yokoyama-kun put in money, and said to me, “Get the one you like.” It was very “Eh?!” I thought they were super cool. At a concert, Nishikido-kun even suddenly offered me the mic, saying “Why don’t you sing?” Everyone is nice, and on stage and off stage they are cool.
-That they are.
Right after I entered, I thought Subaru-kun was a scary guy (w). Then during the concert, there was a dance scene where I would dance behind Subaru-kun carrying a bag. I had the role of taking out a picture of the sun out of the bag and hand it to him. I thought, “If I mess up he’ll kill me,” but even then I messed up, and backstage, Subaru-kun came immediately to me. “This is bad!” I thought, but then he apologized to me, “Sorry, sorry, that I couldn’t receive it well enough.” Even though it was completely my miss, and yet, everyone was so nice about it.
-There is a bond that exists only between Kansai-members, right?
Yeah, there is. Because there weren’t people from the agency, it was part of the role of our senpai to yell at the kouhai. Because they had that role, that’s why we have the deep bonds with our senpais now. That’s why I think that we also must definitely do the same thing for our kouhais.
-In 2006, You, Ryusei-kun, and Yuma-kun were together in TOP Kids. What did you think of Yuma?
He is two years my kouhai, and during my audition, I danced with some juniors as an example. Then, Johnny-san brought over Yuma, and introduced me to him, so I thought, “This kid has definitely got it,” so being placed in the same group as him, I thought “Wait, seriously?”
-How was it like with Ryusei-kun?
In the middle of concert rehearsals Ryusei suddenly joined us coolly. “Who are you?” I thought. From our choreographer I was told to teach him the dance moves, and when I did I discovered he had incredible memory, and when I asked him “Do you dance?” for some reason I got ignored (w).
-From even then he was a total airhead. (w)
Not airhead exactly but, my first impression of Ryusei was that of a dark kid. He was super quiet, and wouldn’t laugh.
-Since you were early to enter the agency, you probably had a lot of kouhais that were older than you, was that difficult?
There were times when it was. Not just TOP Kids, but in other groups after that, generally there was nothing to do but interact with my kouhai. “I’m senpai so I have to work hard,” I thought, but I may have come off as sharp or stilted. I was probably very much a lone wolf then.
-But, during the Kansai Jrs. tour, you did your memers laundry, and looked after your kouhai, and you were called “The mother of Kansai Jrs.”
That wasn’t because I was senpai, but more like it naturally happened. In our family, we don’t have a dad, so my mother would go out for work. My sister got married, so my brother, my younger sisters and I would be at home alone a lot of the time. My brother had a bit of a sickly body, so from around middle school, I was doing most of the household things. Probably, my mother-like instincts are an extension of that experience.
-Is that also why you started cooking?
Yes. If I did it, it might help my mother, I had thought, and when I actually did it, surprisingly I could do it quite well (w)
-In 2007, Hey!Say!7WEST was created.
There was a version of “Ultra Music Power” for Hey!Say!7WEST, and I had thought, “Maybe we will debut?!” but I had also thought, I’m okay if we don’t yet.
-Why so?
I decided the moment I entered this world (Johnny’s), but I didn’t have the idea that to live in this world meant my dream should be to debut. It wasn’t a firm goal of mine.
-Well then, at what timing did you want to debut?
I really started to want to when Yuma was pulled away from Hey!Say!7WESTand debuted. There was a part of me that was frustrated. That’s when I realised “Oh, I want to debut too.” That my dream is to debut.
-Hey!Say!7WEST became 7WEST, and within that was Ryusei-kun, Shigeoka-kun, Kotaki-kun that would become members of Johnny’s WEST afterwards.
Shige and Kotaki came into the group at the same time, and I had known Shige from the time he had entered as a junior. We had the same route to return home, so we would always go home together. That guy, even though we were in a train he would talk so much in a loud voice, and I had thought, “How loud.” By himself, in that high pitched voice, he would always be talking. Since I was super embarrassed, I would always just a little pretend like I was a stranger (w).
-Hahahaha. What was your impression of Kotaki-kun?
When he entered, he was around 6th grade. “He’s huge. What should I do?” (w). But, I thought, “This kid definitely has got it as well.”
-Why so?
This is easy to understand, but, when they made the outfits for Hey!Say!7WEST, the most luxurious one was his (w). He also suddenly had solos.
-Were you jealous?
Not at all, I thought let’s work hard together. When we were put in the same group, I told the both of them, “Please stop adding -kun to my name, and please stop with the honorific language.” Don’t you dislike groups that use honorific language? Probably if you are kouhai you can’t say that easily, so I thought it’s best I say it.
-Why did you start thinking, more than for yourself, but for your group and for Kansai Juniors?
Because I have no ambition (w). But anyway, probably because I had very strong feelings, not for me to work hard by myself, but to widen the popularity of the Kansai Juniors. When I got called to Tokyo for jobs, for the Kansai juniors, I made it my goal to definitely leave a mark. When the Kansai Jrs. were allowed for the first time to do a tour, I thought, “Ah, we’re going to be presented as Kansai Jrs. There’s no point in trying to outdo other groups or other people.” We rehearsed our dancing all together, and with Hamachan and (Hirano) Sho I went to acrobat practice.”
-Well then, what did you think when 7WEST went from 6 members to 4?
It was really terrible, and difficult, but… It was a crisis, but it was also a turning point. It really strengthened all the member’s wills to work hard. It was the first time we ever discussed what our individual roles were. Shige is good at talking, so we would want him to be the one who talks. Kotaki and Ryusei were stylish and ikemen so we wanted them to go the looks direction. I liked dancing and singing, so for me it was to move in that direction.
-In the end your bond became even stronger.
It did. A lot of people tell me I have a very passionate personality, but sometimes that is my misfortune. I mean to be pretty strict to myself as well, but I also seek that same level of strictness from other people, so I was probably suffocating for people. I was pretty sharp, and I was quite the lone wolf. To be honest, I hated being teased during MC, or for me to be laughed at. Don’t use me for laughs, I thought. When we became 4, the others made me realize that if I can’t continue on like this.
-I see.
I realize I have a tiresome personality, but I couldn’t do much to improve it. That was very irritating for me at times. Recently, I’ve been told by my members that “You’ve really gotten rounder,” but even now, my members are still swallowing some aspects of my tiresome personality. I can’t keep taking advantage of their niceness, there are still parts of me that I have to fix.
-Well then, we’ve been reflecting on your time as a Jr., but up till then, was there any point where you wanted to quit?
Never. Not even once. I wonder what it is. I always had the thought that I wanted to make my mother’s life easier. I have been saying this ever since I entered, but, things like, “Mother, someday I’ll buy you a car,” or “I’ll take you to Hawaii.” I’ve always had that feeling, so, if something happened, if I considered quitting, it wouldn’t be anything weak willed.
-In 2011, you appeared in your first Countdown concert.
Yes. There were 10 people picked from the Kansai Jrs. I felt, “Is it okay for us to be standing here?” (w). Plus, the song we sang was V6-san’s “Ai Nannda.” I thought, “It’s our time!” We appeared on the next Countdown as well. That year, (Kiriyama) Akito-kun introduced me to Fujigaya (Taisuke)-kun.
-And then, beyond the fact that you weren’t called to last year’s countdown, the 4’s debut was announced.
The next day, we had a rehearsal for a concert, but I was still absent-minded. When I left the house, my mother called to me “Have a nice day,” but I couldn’t even answer that. While on the train, I thought, “What am I doing.” My mother called on me because she knew I was in shock, and yet what was I doing. That’s wrong, I shouldn’t be doing that. The niceness of the person who had for 10 years chased my dream with me. “What am I, a kid?” I thought.
-It’s good of you to realize.
At that point I decided I wouldn’t quit. There was still something to get out of this, then I should continue. I like acting, and there was still that possible route, I thought.
-During rehearsals, did you have any discussions with the agency of what would happen from then onwards?
We three were called together, and given a proposal that when we were alone we would be acting-main, and when we were together we would also have idol activities. I was satisfied with that. That was realistic, I thought. But Ryusei and Hamachan wouldn’t give up, “I’ll definitely get in!” Even if it were a 4+3 structure. For me, that structure was unacceptable. Definitely no, I thought. Till then we had been with the seven in one equal line, and for that to become 2 lines, that was unacceptable.
-Did you talk with the 4?
The next day’s rehearsal, the 4 joined us, but the 3 with the 3, and the 4 with the 4, we split. No conversations. There really was an atmosphere I never want to remember again.
-It was tough.
Then, a few days into rehearsals, Akito-kun approached me. “What do you think about a 4+3 structure?” I replied, “Definitely no!” Akito-kun said “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” with a sad face. A staff-san that heard our conversation told me, “Of course that’s not what you want. But, think of Akito-kun’s feelings as well.” That moment, I realised that I was wrong.
-Why?
It wasn’t like Akito-kun wanted a 4+3 structure as well. He was just struggling to find a way in which the 7 of us could debut, For me to tell him I didn’t want that, how painful that must have been. I was wrong. Because it would be difficult for me, I had looked away. When debut was announced, who it was most difficult for, it wasn’t me, Ryusei or Hamachan; it was the 4. It may have looked like to some people that they were smiling, but for me, I could see it. “They aren’t smiling,” I thought. If you’ve been with them forever, you can tell. “They aren’t smiling at all.” The moment I realised that, the only option left for me was “The seven of us.”
-I see.
After that, the 3 of us talked. The four of them might have the entirety of their debut taken away from them, but they were prepared. We should be prepared too, we decided. We told the 4 this. We were notified of this after, but, the four had been pushing for with all their strength “With the seven of us.”
-You all stuck with the idea of the seven.
Yes. But, possibly if out of the three of us, either Ryusei or Hamachan had left, and it became 6 or 5, I think I definitely wouldn’t have gotten in. It wasn’t that we were attached to the idea of getting into a group, it was that we wanted the 7.
-The emotions of the seven of you are connected to “Naniwa Zamurai.”
We were called to rehearsals. Thinking, “Why were we called?,” when we got there, rehearsal for songs with the 7 of us began. At that point I was relieved, and I thought, “I got it.” But, I didn’t tell anyone that I will debut. No one, really. Not even my mother.
-Why not?
To my family, and to my fans, I didn’t want just my words, because they weren’t just any words , I wanted with the image of the 7 of us, with the 7 of us lined up together, to inform everyone.
-In first act of “Naniwa Zamurai” where Shigeoka-kun chases you, that scene was stirring.
We came up with our lines ourselves.
-The line, “Work hard on my part as well. I don’t have any confidence left. I did all that I could up till now. I did everything. But even then my efforts didn’t pay off.”
I thought I would cry as part of my act, but because my real feelings came on to me, I cried so much I thought “Who cares?” And Shige was crying as well, so. I wonder, what was it. They were very real feelings. It really did feel like I had done everything I could and this was the result.
-Then, the second act.
The four of them were called first, and then the three of us. There was an excited hum from the audience. The cheers after we announced, “We will debut with these seven,” it was the happiest moment of my life. I can’t phrase this very well, but, it was our dream to debut as a seven. So to have these fans that would support us so far, and to cry, and to be so happy. The second act started and we could see the audience. The cheers and the sight then, I don’t think I’ll ever forget. I never before had felt how much we had been supported till then.
-That’s true.
Not just by our fans, but by our members and our senpai and kouhai as well. After the Countdown concert, Fujigaya-kun mailed me. “Contact me if anything happens,” he said. I was really saved by that one message. Right after we announced debut with the seven of us, he said, “Congratulations!”
-Your mother was happy too, right?
My mother came from Oosaka to see the stageplay. She probably cried the most, I thought, so when I went her way, she was already crying. I couldn’t. Seeing my mother’s crying face, I couldn’t. I had never cried before in front of my mother, and yet I cried even more than she did then (w).
-What do you think about the events that have happened after you have deicded to debut as a seven?
The countdown was my life’s biggest setback, but now I’m glad that it happened.
-Did you not think that it was a setback that didn’t need to happen?
I want to accept it smiling. No one was wrong then. I don’t want to complain about “that time.” It was okay like that. It’s a weird way of saying it but.
-Well then, from now on with the seven, what kind of group do you want to become?
I want to be the group that makes people question, “These people are Johnny’s?” For example, a group that has a conte/comedy skit show. Since we have a name with “Johnny’s” in it, we would like to become Johnny’s representation. In order to become that, we have to put even more effort than we are now, and widen the path of what we can do. There is still a lot for us to do. There are probably a lot of hardships and adversity waiting for us. But, no matter what there is, because it is this group I think we will be able to overcome it. Because, we’ve already gotten over one incredibly high wall. No matter what is waiting for us, I can say with my head held high that “With these seven, without being frightened off, we will overcome it.”
-That’s true. Well then, do you have any personal goals?
Still when I think about “What is my place in the band?” I have no idea. Akito-kun has bigger love than anyone, and he’s good at singing. Junta-kun is smart, so he’s good at talking. Shige is centre, so I want him to settle into that, and I want Kotaki to head in the 2.5th way (２・５枚目). Ryusei is definitely the visual one, and Hamachan is the one to make everyone feel at home. Everyone has a position that is definitely necessary to the group. That’s why, I want to find a position that all the members will need from me to fill. I want to properly be of use.
-You’re already a necessary existence in the band.
About myself, it’s hard to see that so (w).
-This is unnecessary, but, having carried so many things, did you ever think, this is heavy?
Well, it would be a lie to say I’ve never felt that it was heavy… But, rather than, “This is impossible,” I feel more, even if it is impossible I want to cary it running. If I fall off this path, there will definitely be people that will be sad. My environment or misfortune, I don’t want that to become an excuse. “I’ll do everything!” I think. Wahtever is wished from me, whatever I am told, I’ll do it all. That way is more kakkoii, right? (w). That’s why, even if I feel it’s heavy, I’ve never thought once that it’s something I will put down.
-Lastly, can I ask about the Hawaii trip for the March edition for Myojo?
Is this when I almost drowned and thought “I don’t want to die yet. We haven’t released or CD yet” (w).
-Hamachan who had rescued you had said you were like a dog that couldn’t dog paddle, but no, not about that (w). You made a wish at the top of the Haleakalā volcano, but you didn’t tell us what it was, right? That time, what did you wish?
Hmmm, I think I already forgot (w).
-Come on, tell us.
It’s a bit embarrassing but I prayed. “I wish for the seven us to always be together” (w)
- Original article split interview into little sections so I took the liberty of titling the sections and putting them in different 'cuts' for organisational purposes.
- Here are Akito's and Hamachan's that I translated previously. And kebing translated Kotaki's!
- @waferchoco_ (twitter) / fuwa2ame has generously allowed me to use their translation for Section (1) {Countdown} so send them some love!!
*(w) = lol
-When did you know that you wouldn't appear in 2013's Johnny's Countdown (JCD)?
It's not like they said, "You won't appear in it." like that. Even when New Year came near, I didn't get a call so I thought that year Kansai Jr. would not make an appearance. That's why I celebrated the end of the year without thinking. When I was watching TV, just a bit before JCD started, suddenly a mail came. I thought, "What's it? Someone already send New Year message? So early!" but apparently it was a mail from the other 4. I was like, "Eh?"
-It was when you knew the 4 were going to be debuted.
Somehow, how to say it... My body, I felt cold sweat all over my body. I could read the message but it didn't come into my brain. "What did it mean? What did it mean?" like that. I felt the time stop. I couldn't hear any voices around me. All I felt was pain. "Why? Why does it turn out like this? Did I do something wrong?" I could only think of those.
-Although you thought you would be debuted with 7 members...
In ANOTHER stageplay that was held in September (2013), Johnny-san said "Kansai Jr. have possibility to debut." At that time Ryusei didn't participate in the stageplay due to drama shooting, but with the other 6 we discussed, “Isn’t it probably us 7?” We also made a promise, "We will definitely debut with these 7 members!" But looking at that (mail), I thought "So after all this time this is how it turns out..."
-You couldn't accomplish that.
But, because we're friends, and debut is something that worth to be celebrated... I replied with "Congratulations."... I knew that the 4 didn't do anything wrong. But I couldn't congratulate them with all my heart. It's hard not to be able to naturally be happy about it.
-At that time, was there anyone on your side?
I was sitting on sofa, and my mother was there too. My sister watched the TV from the kitchen. But I couldn't say, "After this the 4 will announce their debut.", so I just kept watching the live with them. Because it's a big moment for my friends, I should watch it, I thought. Although, I also felt like not watching it... To be honest, I was thinking, "Please tell me it's a lie!" When I kept thinking, "When will it be? When?" then finally it came (the debut announcement). Nonchan was sitting on audience seat (he couldn't appear in JCD due to his age). Then the other 3 were on stage. "So this is it," I thought. I heard, "4 of us will have CD debut!"
-What were your mother and sister reactions?
I couldn't meet their eyes. All I could do was only to watch the TV. In my family, when we celebrate new year, after watching JCD we would go to shrine for hatsumoude*, but this time once the JCD live finished they went to sleep, thinking about my feelings. For me, after the JCD ended, I was dying in front of the TV.
*) Hatsumoude: visiting shrine for the first time in the year
-Did Hamada-kun and Ryusei-kun contacted you?
Yes. Ryusei really didn't want to give up. "This guy is really strong," I thought. For Hama-chan, at first he was going to give up too, but after Ryusei's words his switch was turned on. But for me, it was really bad. I really should quit, I thought. It's better to stop here. Rather than chasing my dream, I have to look at the reality. To be precise, I already had given up. Up until that time, I never had compromised. I had done anything I had to. But because even after all of that it still wasn’t enough...
-The wound your heart received that day, it probably hasn’t scabbed yet. Even then I’ll still ask a lot about it, is that okay?
That’s totally okay. I don’t want it to be like, “That time, it was really difficult,” a story asking for tears, I want to look back at it laughing. If it isn’t something I can laugh about I wouldn’t talk about it (w).
-Well then, when did it become your dream to enter Johnny’s?
When I was small, I saw “Ultra Man Tiga,” and thought Nagano (Hiroshi)-kun was cool. Then, watching “Gakkou he ikkou!” I learnt of V6, and, thinking, “Woah, how cool,” became the trigger. I even bought some live videos of V6-san.
-You started learning dance when you were 6.
My sisters were doing it, so I said from myself “I want to try.”
-So it was a result of your sisters’ influence. You have a lot of siblings, right?
I have a brother, a sister, and two younger sisters. 6 years older, 3 years older, 3 years younger, and 9 years younger, respectively.
-Do you get on well?
We do. Although when we were younger we fought a lot. I often made my 3 years younger sister cry, and then would get yelled at by my older sister, and then in turn I would cry; this happened a lot (w).
-You were a mischievous child.
Often I wore Hawaiian t-shirts, would hang an insect cage on my shoulder, hold an insect net in my hand, and would be running around everywhere. I generally always had bumps/bruises on me.
-Hahahaha.
But, I looked girly, so by people like the register lady at the supermarket would call me “Miss.” I hated being thought of as a girl.
-I’ve heard that since you were in elementary you’ve been blonde.
Yes. My mother would dye it blonde, or red. But, everyone knew I was doing dance, so I was never yelled at by my teachers.
-Were you learning anything besides dance?
Just dance.
-Since you manage to do acrobatics and play the guitar, as well as fashion and cooking, and you have a lot of hobbies, so I was wondering if you had been learning anything else.
I’m just a sore loser (w).
-By the way, what is your best dish?
Right now it’s Nanman chicken. You make the dip/dressing from scratch as well. It’s a favourite of my family as well, but, what I like best is my mother’s fried chicken and fried eggs. When I have to leave home for a long while, the day I come home, my mother will always make me friend chicken. My mother knows I don’t like eating out. If we’re going to eat out, we might as well stay home and eat mother’s cooking.
-You auditioned in the 4th grade, right?
My mother asked me “Do you want to apply?” and I said “Yeah, I do,” so we applied. When I forgot, we got notifications for the auditions. Probably, it is the opposite case for others, but for my audition we dyed my hair to black. Because my mother insisted, “You should.” (w)
-How was your audition?
There were around 100 people. We were taught dance choreography, and then we danced. When it was over, Johnny-san spoke to me. “There’s a TOKIO live, can you come?” Multiple others were invited as well, so with Kansai juniors we danced in the concert.
-How was your first performance?
“How big! I didn’t know that this many people would come together!!”, it was a completely different world.
-Your mother was happy for you, right?
We’ve never had a proper discussion about that. But, she probably was. While I was busy, she would pick me up and drop me off a lot, and, having the unreasonable kind of personality I do, during practice we fought a lot, but no matter what she would always rush over. The one who always supported me was my mother.
-What were your activities like after that?
I would get called like “Next we have this so please come.” I also got called for Takizawa-kun’s “DREAM BOY,” but out of the kids I auditioned with, only I was there. Being suddenly placed in the middle of my senpais, I was bewildered. It was like I didn’t know my right from my left.
-That’s true, I probably would have been bewildered as well.
To be honest, I didn’t like it (w). I was only a child, so, it wasn’t even the level where I didn’t have anyone I was friendly with, there wasn’t even anyone I could talk to. But, I don’t remember this, when I first met (Nakama) Junta-kun, I apparently said “Junta, please tell me your contact information!” I feel ashamed thinking about it now (w).
-Hahahaha.
Right after I entered Hama-chan also joined the unit BOYS. But, I didn’t have the spare time to feel that I was having fun, there was always a feeling of I have to do this, now I have to do that.
-What did you think about debuting?
At the time I didn’t think anything of it. I’ve always lacked ambition. But, our main activities had been dancing behind Kanjani8-san. Jrs did not have any light on them, and since we were all wearing the same thing they weren’t even the right sizes. In front of us, Kanjani8-san were being bathed in the spotlight, with smart clothing and with mics in their hands. Dancing behind them, I thought, “Definitely I’ll become like them!”
-Did Kanjani8 play a big role in your life?
Yes. They are the senpai that I was at the back of the longest, so even now I follow their example for a lot of things. I think it was right after I got in, in a rehearsal of Kanjani8-san’s butai, I was standing in front of the vending machine thinking about buying juice when Yokoyama-kun and Ookura-kun came. Both of them were very big and I was intimidated. Then, Yokoyama-kun put in money, and said to me, “Get the one you like.” It was very “Eh?!” I thought they were super cool. At a concert, Nishikido-kun even suddenly offered me the mic, saying “Why don’t you sing?” Everyone is nice, and on stage and off stage they are cool.
-That they are.
Right after I entered, I thought Subaru-kun was a scary guy (w). Then during the concert, there was a dance scene where I would dance behind Subaru-kun carrying a bag. I had the role of taking out a picture of the sun out of the bag and hand it to him. I thought, “If I mess up he’ll kill me,” but even then I messed up, and backstage, Subaru-kun came immediately to me. “This is bad!” I thought, but then he apologized to me, “Sorry, sorry, that I couldn’t receive it well enough.” Even though it was completely my miss, and yet, everyone was so nice about it.
-There is a bond that exists only between Kansai-members, right?
Yeah, there is. Because there weren’t people from the agency, it was part of the role of our senpai to yell at the kouhai. Because they had that role, that’s why we have the deep bonds with our senpais now. That’s why I think that we also must definitely do the same thing for our kouhais.
-In 2006, You, Ryusei-kun, and Yuma-kun were together in TOP Kids. What did you think of Yuma?
He is two years my kouhai, and during my audition, I danced with some juniors as an example. Then, Johnny-san brought over Yuma, and introduced me to him, so I thought, “This kid has definitely got it,” so being placed in the same group as him, I thought “Wait, seriously?”
-How was it like with Ryusei-kun?
In the middle of concert rehearsals Ryusei suddenly joined us coolly. “Who are you?” I thought. From our choreographer I was told to teach him the dance moves, and when I did I discovered he had incredible memory, and when I asked him “Do you dance?” for some reason I got ignored (w).
-From even then he was a total airhead. (w)
Not airhead exactly but, my first impression of Ryusei was that of a dark kid. He was super quiet, and wouldn’t laugh.
-Since you were early to enter the agency, you probably had a lot of kouhais that were older than you, was that difficult?
There were times when it was. Not just TOP Kids, but in other groups after that, generally there was nothing to do but interact with my kouhai. “I’m senpai so I have to work hard,” I thought, but I may have come off as sharp or stilted. I was probably very much a lone wolf then.
-But, during the Kansai Jrs. tour, you did your memers laundry, and looked after your kouhai, and you were called “The mother of Kansai Jrs.”
That wasn’t because I was senpai, but more like it naturally happened. In our family, we don’t have a dad, so my mother would go out for work. My sister got married, so my brother, my younger sisters and I would be at home alone a lot of the time. My brother had a bit of a sickly body, so from around middle school, I was doing most of the household things. Probably, my mother-like instincts are an extension of that experience.
-Is that also why you started cooking?
Yes. If I did it, it might help my mother, I had thought, and when I actually did it, surprisingly I could do it quite well (w)
-In 2007, Hey!Say!7WEST was created.
There was a version of “Ultra Music Power” for Hey!Say!7WEST, and I had thought, “Maybe we will debut?!” but I had also thought, I’m okay if we don’t yet.
-Why so?
I decided the moment I entered this world (Johnny’s), but I didn’t have the idea that to live in this world meant my dream should be to debut. It wasn’t a firm goal of mine.
-Well then, at what timing did you want to debut?
I really started to want to when Yuma was pulled away from Hey!Say!7WESTand debuted. There was a part of me that was frustrated. That’s when I realised “Oh, I want to debut too.” That my dream is to debut.
-Hey!Say!7WEST became 7WEST, and within that was Ryusei-kun, Shigeoka-kun, Kotaki-kun that would become members of Johnny’s WEST afterwards.
Shige and Kotaki came into the group at the same time, and I had known Shige from the time he had entered as a junior. We had the same route to return home, so we would always go home together. That guy, even though we were in a train he would talk so much in a loud voice, and I had thought, “How loud.” By himself, in that high pitched voice, he would always be talking. Since I was super embarrassed, I would always just a little pretend like I was a stranger (w).
-Hahahaha. What was your impression of Kotaki-kun?
When he entered, he was around 6th grade. “He’s huge. What should I do?” (w). But, I thought, “This kid definitely has got it as well.”
-Why so?
This is easy to understand, but, when they made the outfits for Hey!Say!7WEST, the most luxurious one was his (w). He also suddenly had solos.
-Were you jealous?
Not at all, I thought let’s work hard together. When we were put in the same group, I told the both of them, “Please stop adding -kun to my name, and please stop with the honorific language.” Don’t you dislike groups that use honorific language? Probably if you are kouhai you can’t say that easily, so I thought it’s best I say it.
-Why did you start thinking, more than for yourself, but for your group and for Kansai Juniors?
Because I have no ambition (w). But anyway, probably because I had very strong feelings, not for me to work hard by myself, but to widen the popularity of the Kansai Juniors. When I got called to Tokyo for jobs, for the Kansai juniors, I made it my goal to definitely leave a mark. When the Kansai Jrs. were allowed for the first time to do a tour, I thought, “Ah, we’re going to be presented as Kansai Jrs. There’s no point in trying to outdo other groups or other people.” We rehearsed our dancing all together, and with Hamachan and (Hirano) Sho I went to acrobat practice.”
-Well then, what did you think when 7WEST went from 6 members to 4?
It was really terrible, and difficult, but… It was a crisis, but it was also a turning point. It really strengthened all the member’s wills to work hard. It was the first time we ever discussed what our individual roles were. Shige is good at talking, so we would want him to be the one who talks. Kotaki and Ryusei were stylish and ikemen so we wanted them to go the looks direction. I liked dancing and singing, so for me it was to move in that direction.
-In the end your bond became even stronger.
It did. A lot of people tell me I have a very passionate personality, but sometimes that is my misfortune. I mean to be pretty strict to myself as well, but I also seek that same level of strictness from other people, so I was probably suffocating for people. I was pretty sharp, and I was quite the lone wolf. To be honest, I hated being teased during MC, or for me to be laughed at. Don’t use me for laughs, I thought. When we became 4, the others made me realize that if I can’t continue on like this.
-I see.
I realize I have a tiresome personality, but I couldn’t do much to improve it. That was very irritating for me at times. Recently, I’ve been told by my members that “You’ve really gotten rounder,” but even now, my members are still swallowing some aspects of my tiresome personality. I can’t keep taking advantage of their niceness, there are still parts of me that I have to fix.
-Well then, we’ve been reflecting on your time as a Jr., but up till then, was there any point where you wanted to quit?
Never. Not even once. I wonder what it is. I always had the thought that I wanted to make my mother’s life easier. I have been saying this ever since I entered, but, things like, “Mother, someday I’ll buy you a car,” or “I’ll take you to Hawaii.” I’ve always had that feeling, so, if something happened, if I considered quitting, it wouldn’t be anything weak willed.
-In 2011, you appeared in your first Countdown concert.
Yes. There were 10 people picked from the Kansai Jrs. I felt, “Is it okay for us to be standing here?” (w). Plus, the song we sang was V6-san’s “Ai Nannda.” I thought, “It’s our time!” We appeared on the next Countdown as well. That year, (Kiriyama) Akito-kun introduced me to Fujigaya (Taisuke)-kun.
-And then, beyond the fact that you weren’t called to last year’s countdown, the 4’s debut was announced.
The next day, we had a rehearsal for a concert, but I was still absent-minded. When I left the house, my mother called to me “Have a nice day,” but I couldn’t even answer that. While on the train, I thought, “What am I doing.” My mother called on me because she knew I was in shock, and yet what was I doing. That’s wrong, I shouldn’t be doing that. The niceness of the person who had for 10 years chased my dream with me. “What am I, a kid?” I thought.
-It’s good of you to realize.
At that point I decided I wouldn’t quit. There was still something to get out of this, then I should continue. I like acting, and there was still that possible route, I thought.
-During rehearsals, did you have any discussions with the agency of what would happen from then onwards?
We three were called together, and given a proposal that when we were alone we would be acting-main, and when we were together we would also have idol activities. I was satisfied with that. That was realistic, I thought. But Ryusei and Hamachan wouldn’t give up, “I’ll definitely get in!” Even if it were a 4+3 structure. For me, that structure was unacceptable. Definitely no, I thought. Till then we had been with the seven in one equal line, and for that to become 2 lines, that was unacceptable.
-Did you talk with the 4?
The next day’s rehearsal, the 4 joined us, but the 3 with the 3, and the 4 with the 4, we split. No conversations. There really was an atmosphere I never want to remember again.
-It was tough.
Then, a few days into rehearsals, Akito-kun approached me. “What do you think about a 4+3 structure?” I replied, “Definitely no!” Akito-kun said “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” with a sad face. A staff-san that heard our conversation told me, “Of course that’s not what you want. But, think of Akito-kun’s feelings as well.” That moment, I realised that I was wrong.
-Why?
It wasn’t like Akito-kun wanted a 4+3 structure as well. He was just struggling to find a way in which the 7 of us could debut, For me to tell him I didn’t want that, how painful that must have been. I was wrong. Because it would be difficult for me, I had looked away. When debut was announced, who it was most difficult for, it wasn’t me, Ryusei or Hamachan; it was the 4. It may have looked like to some people that they were smiling, but for me, I could see it. “They aren’t smiling,” I thought. If you’ve been with them forever, you can tell. “They aren’t smiling at all.” The moment I realised that, the only option left for me was “The seven of us.”
-I see.
After that, the 3 of us talked. The four of them might have the entirety of their debut taken away from them, but they were prepared. We should be prepared too, we decided. We told the 4 this. We were notified of this after, but, the four had been pushing for with all their strength “With the seven of us.”
-You all stuck with the idea of the seven.
Yes. But, possibly if out of the three of us, either Ryusei or Hamachan had left, and it became 6 or 5, I think I definitely wouldn’t have gotten in. It wasn’t that we were attached to the idea of getting into a group, it was that we wanted the 7.
-The emotions of the seven of you are connected to “Naniwa Zamurai.”
We were called to rehearsals. Thinking, “Why were we called?,” when we got there, rehearsal for songs with the 7 of us began. At that point I was relieved, and I thought, “I got it.” But, I didn’t tell anyone that I will debut. No one, really. Not even my mother.
-Why not?
To my family, and to my fans, I didn’t want just my words, because they weren’t just any words , I wanted with the image of the 7 of us, with the 7 of us lined up together, to inform everyone.
-In first act of “Naniwa Zamurai” where Shigeoka-kun chases you, that scene was stirring.
We came up with our lines ourselves.
-The line, “Work hard on my part as well. I don’t have any confidence left. I did all that I could up till now. I did everything. But even then my efforts didn’t pay off.”
I thought I would cry as part of my act, but because my real feelings came on to me, I cried so much I thought “Who cares?” And Shige was crying as well, so. I wonder, what was it. They were very real feelings. It really did feel like I had done everything I could and this was the result.
-Then, the second act.
The four of them were called first, and then the three of us. There was an excited hum from the audience. The cheers after we announced, “We will debut with these seven,” it was the happiest moment of my life. I can’t phrase this very well, but, it was our dream to debut as a seven. So to have these fans that would support us so far, and to cry, and to be so happy. The second act started and we could see the audience. The cheers and the sight then, I don’t think I’ll ever forget. I never before had felt how much we had been supported till then.
-That’s true.
Not just by our fans, but by our members and our senpai and kouhai as well. After the Countdown concert, Fujigaya-kun mailed me. “Contact me if anything happens,” he said. I was really saved by that one message. Right after we announced debut with the seven of us, he said, “Congratulations!”
-Your mother was happy too, right?
My mother came from Oosaka to see the stageplay. She probably cried the most, I thought, so when I went her way, she was already crying. I couldn’t. Seeing my mother’s crying face, I couldn’t. I had never cried before in front of my mother, and yet I cried even more than she did then (w).
-What do you think about the events that have happened after you have deicded to debut as a seven?
The countdown was my life’s biggest setback, but now I’m glad that it happened.
-Did you not think that it was a setback that didn’t need to happen?
I want to accept it smiling. No one was wrong then. I don’t want to complain about “that time.” It was okay like that. It’s a weird way of saying it but.
-Well then, from now on with the seven, what kind of group do you want to become?
I want to be the group that makes people question, “These people are Johnny’s?” For example, a group that has a conte/comedy skit show. Since we have a name with “Johnny’s” in it, we would like to become Johnny’s representation. In order to become that, we have to put even more effort than we are now, and widen the path of what we can do. There is still a lot for us to do. There are probably a lot of hardships and adversity waiting for us. But, no matter what there is, because it is this group I think we will be able to overcome it. Because, we’ve already gotten over one incredibly high wall. No matter what is waiting for us, I can say with my head held high that “With these seven, without being frightened off, we will overcome it.”
-That’s true. Well then, do you have any personal goals?
Still when I think about “What is my place in the band?” I have no idea. Akito-kun has bigger love than anyone, and he’s good at singing. Junta-kun is smart, so he’s good at talking. Shige is centre, so I want him to settle into that, and I want Kotaki to head in the 2.5th way (２・５枚目). Ryusei is definitely the visual one, and Hamachan is the one to make everyone feel at home. Everyone has a position that is definitely necessary to the group. That’s why, I want to find a position that all the members will need from me to fill. I want to properly be of use.
-You’re already a necessary existence in the band.
About myself, it’s hard to see that so (w).
-This is unnecessary, but, having carried so many things, did you ever think, this is heavy?
Well, it would be a lie to say I’ve never felt that it was heavy… But, rather than, “This is impossible,” I feel more, even if it is impossible I want to cary it running. If I fall off this path, there will definitely be people that will be sad. My environment or misfortune, I don’t want that to become an excuse. “I’ll do everything!” I think. Wahtever is wished from me, whatever I am told, I’ll do it all. That way is more kakkoii, right? (w). That’s why, even if I feel it’s heavy, I’ve never thought once that it’s something I will put down.
-Lastly, can I ask about the Hawaii trip for the March edition for Myojo?
Is this when I almost drowned and thought “I don’t want to die yet. We haven’t released or CD yet” (w).
-Hamachan who had rescued you had said you were like a dog that couldn’t dog paddle, but no, not about that (w). You made a wish at the top of the Haleakalā volcano, but you didn’t tell us what it was, right? That time, what did you wish?
Hmmm, I think I already forgot (w).
-Come on, tell us.
It’s a bit embarrassing but I prayed. “I wish for the seven us to always be together” (w)