Just to be organized.

The whole magazine is now translated, finally!

Oh and the articles are not in order, I divided them up by categories, and ordered them by when I translated them.



"Cross Talk"
1) Kimura Takuya and Son Masayoshi (President of Softbank) 
2) Nakai Masahiro and Yanai Tadashi (President of Uniqlo) 
3) Kusanagi Tsuyoshi and Kagawa Teruyuki (actor) 
4) Katori Shingo and Thom Browne (fashion designer) 
5) Inagaki Goro and Urasawa Naoki (Manga artist) 

"Who's Bag?"
1) Shingo's wallet
Shingo (This time it's not just the wallet, but the whole bag ^^) 
2) Nakai
3) Kimura 
4) Goro 
5) Tsuyoshi 

"Special Essay"
1) Abe Kazushige 
2) Hayashi Mariko 

"Memories of SMAP"
1) Interview with stylist Tomoki Sukezane
2) Interview with stylist Tsuyoshi Noguchi

"To me, SMAP is..."
1) Terry Itou--director, entertainer
2) Rrosemary (photographer) and Katsuo Fukuzawa (director)
3) Shigesato Itoi--copy writer
5) Osamu suzuki (scriptwriter for TV and radio shows, including SXS) 
6) Shingo Wakagi (photographer) "Off Shots"
1) Nakai and Kimura  

*This is for shadow_fox_13  
**Thanks to mokyulpwns you can get the hardsubbed clip RIGHT HERE!!!

Tsurube-san and Matsushima from Othello talked about Nakai and SMAP :D

(08:23-10:00)

 

Matsushima: This one time I had a question related to music, it was a question about SMAP’s music.

Tsurube: SMAP’s music

M: Everyone sat in a meeting agonizing about the question. And then we started wondering if any of us in the meeting knew someone related to SMAP, like a staff, that we can ask. And everyone went, “No I don’t know SMAP personally….”

T: I see

M: All of a sudden I remembered: “Wait! I know Nakai-kun’s phone number”. So I thought I would just call and ask him personally.

T: Yes

M: Everyone’s reaction was, “Nakai-kun…..” o.0 “Nakai-kun??? He probably doesn’t know the answer…”

T: You asked Nakai a MUSIC question?!?

M: And then….

T: He’s the person you should never go to for a music question!

M: But he’s the only one I know, I don’t know any other SMAP members

T: But let me just say this, this is a true story

M: Yes

T: SMAP has a producer who produces their concert, but Nakai is the one making all the big decisions.

[On the screen: Nakai, SMAP’s Leader!]

Audience: Eh????

T: Nakai takes charge of the concert, all the arrangements and set up and everything

M: That’s right! That’s why…

T: Well he can’t sing but…

[On the screen: Nakai, the project director?]

M: So I called him, and people in the meeting could hear me talk on the phone like, “Yes, yes, I see, thank you!”

M: After I hung up, I explained to everyone what the answer is, “It’s like this, and this, and this…”

M: Everyone then said to me, “That can’t be Nakai-kun you just talked on the phone with.” They totally did not trust Nakai’s music knowledge! I mean those people are just everyday folks!

T: But seriously, Nakai is the one who makes all the decisions on SMAP concerts.

M: That’s why people who reach the top, or should I say, people like Nakai who stays on the top of their field, they are just good at what they do.

T: I agree, he is good at what his does

M: I think, even if he is not SMAP, even if he is a sales person, he will still be a top level sales person.

T: I agree

Audience: Ahhh~ *convinced*

 

This radio show is hosted by Murakami Shingo (Hina) and Yokoyama Yu (Yoko) from Kanjani8. In the opening, and also in the middle, they talked about SMAP since they will be appearing together on Music Station the next day. Yoko kept trying to convince Hina to break the ice with SMAP by tsukkomi-ing Kimura XD

Audio is from here: Credit—ayanami05


 

(00:46)　Opening Talk

Yoko: Tomorrow is Music Station

Hina: That’s right. It’s a Special.

Y: We will be appearing on the show

H: Yes

Y: We are appearing with SMAP!

H: Yep

Y: Isn’t this the first time we appear on TV with all the members of SMAP?

H: No, when we went on the show to promote “Zukkoke”

Y: Did we appear together?

H: Remember when we sung that song to open the show, in the lobby of TV Asahi

Y: Right! That’s why we didn’t really interact with them

H: Right

Y: But we did sit in the same studio

H: We did. And also during Music Station Super Live’s opening we stood on the same stage…of course there’s quite a distance between the 2 groups

Y: We stood far away from each other, that’s why there’s no interaction….this makes me nervous

H: Of course it will make us nervous

Y: They have such amazing presence

H: And they are way senior than us. During Marching J event, for a brief moment…in the backstage…

Y: Man! In the backstage when all 5 members of SMAP-san walked toward us, I don’t know why but for some reason we all stepped aside to let them pass

H: It happened. We parted like the red sea

Y: Also for some reason unknown to me I stood real straight and formal. I get so nervous indeed.

H: Because they are way senior than us

Y: Their presence is just overpowering

H: That’s right.

Y: Our friends always ask us, right? “What is SMAP like?”

H: Right

Y: I always think “What are you talking about?”, for real

Y: Like, I have never had a proper conversation with SMAP

H: It’s the kind of anxiety that people don’t understand until they stand close to SMAP. I mean, we are their direct kouhai, in terms of us being in the same agency.

Y: If we talk about belonging to the same agency. I wonder why we are so nervous around them? When will this feeling change?

H: Well….I don’t think it will ever happen?

Y: Yea, probably not

H: Pretty much impossible

Y: But you, you have so much experience in being rude to so many celebrities…

H: I wasn’t being rude!

Y: You need to do it to SMAP too.

Y: You need to break the ice. Amongst Kanjani8 members, you are the one who get along with people most easily. So you need to do it to SMAP too.

H: But this situation is not a mere “being shy” around them

Y: Sometimes doesn’t Kimura Takuya-san play along with the atmosphere and do “boke” (act dumb/silly/ignorant for others to call him out)?

H: AHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!

Y: That’s your chance

H: You are already planning this out?

Y: That’s your chance! Murakami Chance!

H: No no no!!! I can’t do that!

Y: You should call him out, “What silly thing are you saying?!?” (in Kansai-ben) There’s your chance to tsukkomi

H: NO NO NO NO!!

Y: And tell him, “In the past, people told me we look alike”

Staff: AHAHAHAHAHA~~~~

H: I can’t say that!! No!

Y: And then ask him, “What do you think?”

H: There’s no way I will tell him that, not from my own mouth

Y: But you do it to so many guests on our shows and celebrities. Like with TOKIO’s Yamaguchi-kun, you smacked his head so readily as a tsukkomi.

H: Right, when we were doing a location shoot, that’s because we were filming together for a long time

Y: Then why are you treating Yamaguchi-kun and Kimura Takuya-san not equally? Deciding on your own to differentiate them.

H: But that’s a different issue

Y: It will become an issue. Because you are you, just do it!

H: I mean tsukkomi-ing has to do with how much time I spend with that person too.

Y: No, just go smack him. I’m sorry for making you do this, but you are the one who can break the ice for us with SMAP.

H: You are placing a huge burden on me

Y: And then what will you do? When after smacking him, Kimura-san asks you to eat out with him

H: That will never happen!! What kind of flow of event is that?

Y: Well you never know! Maybe suddenly he invites you out

H: *doing the Sanma-san high pitch laugh sound*

H: Well, if he does invite me out I will certainly go with him, if he invites me

Y: Kimura-san will say, “That was a nice tsukkomi just now”

H: Kimura-kun won’t say that!

Y: Well you never know!

H: No I think you should be the one to do something real funny and make the senpais laugh

Y: No that’s not right

H: Show them “I am the Yokoyama from Kanjani8”

Y: But just getting a laugh from them….SMAP has already met and worked with numerous comedians who make them laugh, right?

H: Yes

Y: Me acting funny won’t have much of an impact because they have seen it all. But you! Even though you are a Johnny’s, you will suddenly tsukkomi Kimura-san’s boke—just try it!

H: But in that situation it should be Nakai-san, or other members of SMAP to play along with the tsukkomi and boke

Y: You will come in quicker than the SMAP members, imagine your tsukkomi that’s even faster than Nakai-kun’s

H: HAHAHAHAHA~ *Sanma-san’s high pitch laugh again*XD

Y: Go for it

H: That’s a huge job

Y: I am saying all this very nervously because what if someone who has heard this goes to SMAP and tell on us?

H: That’s true

Y: I am really scared now

H: Being scared and being nervous are different

Y: But this just shows how much we admire SMAP-san. When we were in middle school they were so huge and dominant in the entertainment world. We thought “Wow!” when we watched SMAP-san. Actually I entered Johnny’s because of SMAP too.

H: Really

Y: My classmate appeared on Nakai-kun’s TV show in Osaka. It was called “Kiss shita SMAP”

H: Oh

Y: After watching that show I entered Johnny’s too. That’s why it's so…

H: There’s a connection

Y: Really I get so nervous when I see them.

H: We all get nervous around them.

Y: It’s like there’s this wall between us and SMAP that we can’t break

H: No we can’t

Y: They are the Dai-senpai (big senpai) that we have admired and respected for a long time

H: When you think about it, we have been in Johnny’s a long time too, 15, 16 years already. But we have never truly worked with SMAP.

Y: Tomorrow is Murakami Chance, go get them!

H: But it really depends on the flow of events, I can’t really…

Y: Scold him! Say “What are you doing?!?”

H: AHAHAHAHA~~~

Y: Tell it to his face, “What silly thing are you saying?!?”

H: If I do that…

Y: Say, “Besides, people say we look alike.”

H: No way! No way! Can’t say that!

Y: Let’s go with that. Tomorrow’s Music Station is a 2 hour special live broadcast. You have 2 whole hours to put it into practice. It’s double the usual 1 hour show. So you will also have double amount of chances to tsukkomi.

H: Well it’s different from the usual show

Y: Go for it, seriously

H: I don’t know about that…really.

Y: Say, “People say we look alike, what do you think?”

H: He will definitely give me a wry smile

Y: Ask him, “Don’t people say that to you?”

H: No! People don’t say that kind of things to him! People should have never told him that!

Y: That’s your one time chance to say so

H: I don’t think the many people who meet Kimura-san will say something like that

Y: Maybe he will say to you, “Many people say we look alike, Murakami, do people tell you that?”

H: You know, people will tell on you, what you said about SMAP

Y: My heart is beating so fast right now while saying all this

H: So you do understand that

Y: I do, I know what a serious issue it is talking about SMAP like this

H: You do?

Y: I do

H: You have said some pretty wild things

Y: But it is to this extent how happy we are about appearing on Music Station with SMAP

H: It’s something we should be grateful for

Y: To be able to appear on the same show with them

H: Yep

Y: But this is so nerve wrecking…I am getting so nervous!

H: Me too. Just hearing you talk about them just now I am getting nervous

Y: For real

H: Seriously

Y: Yes, but I really look forward to tomorrow

H: Yes me too

Y: Right. Well we hope everyone will watch the broadcast tomorrow

H: Right! Please watch tomorrow

Y: Please watch tomorrow

H: Let’s do the title call

Y: From Kanjani8, Yokoyama Yu

H: and Murakami Shingo

Y/H: This is RECOMEN!

(08:09) And this concludes the 8 minute long opening talk 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(At 25:46)—this is the corner where they make announcements about Johnny’s idols’ activities

 

H: Let’s move on to the “Very Big News” announcement

Y: We've talked about this in the beginning of the show already, tomorrow Kanjani8 will appear on Music Station—this is our announcement. At the same time,

H: Yes?

Y: Murakami will tsukkomi SMAP-san

H: AHAHAHAHA!!!!

Y: We count on you! That is all.

H: You are really pushing for this

Y: This is my pledge

H: But there’s not going to be much interaction between us? Don’t really have a chance to interact with them directly

Y: Well but it’s a live broadcast.

H: Yes

Y: You need to grab onto your chances

H: HAHA~~

Y: Don’t you agree?

H: Well, well

Y: You can’t wait for a chance to come, they don’t just show up

H: That’s true

Y: You need to make your own chances, right?

H: Right

Y: So you need to go for it

H: How should I go about it? When is a good time to do it?

Y: You might turn the whole thing into a strange mood

H: HAHA!

Y: You never know! SMAP are really nice people, so maybe they will be happy about your tsukkomi

H: I see, I see

Y: If that happens, you have created a chance for us Kanjani8 to be liked by SMAP. And the duty of breaking the ice falls onto the shoulder of Murakami Shingo. If that happens, your name will forever be remembered in the history of Johnny’s

H: No my name won’t be remembered for something like this! (totally cracking up)

Y: It will! You will turn a new page in the history of Johnny’s!

H: Really?

Y: It will be Murakami Era

H: No seriously, it’s hard to tell what’s gonna happen

Y: Many people will be watching the Music Station broadcast

H: That’s true

Y: Of course TV Asahi will keep an eye on it, and also NTV, Fuji TV, TBS, TV Tokyo

All these different TV stations keep their eyes on SMAP-san, so…

H: That’s right

Y: That’s why you have to grab onto the opportunity and tsukkomi SMAP. Then the people from the different TV stations will think, “That guy  really have guts!”

H: HAHAHA! I wonder if it will be “That guy really have guts!” or “That guy is an idiot!”?

Y: I am looking forward to tomorrow

H: It’s 2 hour show

Y: Right, I’m looking forward to it. Everyone it will be great if you will watch tomorrow.

H: Please watch tomorrow

(27:49)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


t/n: It's actually kind of sweet how much they admire SMAP :-)

Janiben

 It was kind of cute they way they talked about Kimura, so I decided to translate that part.

Guest: Comedian and actor Yanagisawa Shingo

 

(First row: Hina, Yanagisawa, Yoko)

 

“Teacher in my heart—Kimura Takuya”

 

Everyone: EHHHH?

 

Hina: The teacher in your heart is Kimura Takuya-san

 

Yanagisawa: Yes

 

Hina: What do you mean?

 

Y: It’s been…

 

H: How did you know him?

 

Y: When Takuya was around 18,19 years old, we were in a drama called “Izu no Odorikko”. That was the first time we met.

 

Yoko: I have the impression of you being friends with Nakai-kun instead

 

Y: Oh Nakai, right. But the first time I met Takuya he was still a teenager. Around 18 or 19.

 

[Takuya!?]

 

H: You call him “Takuya”?

 

Y: Yea.

 

Yoko: Wow

 

Y: The amazing thing is, even at that time he already stood out from others.

 

H: Was it his presence?

 

Y: Well, his eyes really stood out. Somehow it was so cute. When he looks at you he makes you really flustered right?

 

H: With girls of course they are affected, but maybe not so much guys?

 

Y: He has that effect on men too.

 

H: Really?

 

Y: It was really cute. His eyes really made him stand out from others. He does these little things like, when he says “Wait!” (Matte-yo!)

 

Yoko: He says that.

 

Y: He looks away to the side for a moment, before turning back, facing the camera.

 

H: Just now, were you kind of imitating him?

 

Y: A little. And he looks down too. Like, facing the camera, “Oi!” (looks away downwards, looks back) “Matte-yo!” He does that right?

 

I thought that was cool. I decided to do it too when I act.

 

I acted like that on Saturday dramas.

 

“Wait! You!” The character I was speaking to looked back at me. (looks away to the side like Kimura does)

 

The director says “Cut! Cut! Where are you looking at? There’s no one on that side.”

 

The director said that! “No one is over there, so look straight ahead of you.”

 

I was just doing the “look away” thing that Takuya did!

 

Also when Kimura wants to act out a troubled face he always does this: “Oi”

 

 

H: Right, right

 

Y: I thought that was cool too, so I put it on my checklist

 

H: You would act that way too

 

Y: Yes. And when my filming started, the camera was facing me. I was like, “Hey that’s not right,”

 

 

The director says, “There’s no candy in your mouth!” None of the Kimura technique worked!

 

Subaru: You are making that up!

 

Y: I’m telling the truth!

 

Yoko: You are just telling this as a joke.

 

Y: It’s true story!

 

H: Those expressions did not work for you

 

Y: No they didn’t. I didn’t get why Takuya’s acting would not work on me, I just get told “There’s no candy in your mouth, don’t do that motion”

 Director: “Just keep staring at the camera” Me: “Okay…”

 

H: The director scolded you

 

Y: He did

 

Yoko: But it’s true Kimura has strong presence

 

H: He has amazing presence

 

Y: You agree too?

 

Yoko: During Marching J event,

 

H: When we passed each other

 

Yoko: When SMAP-san passed by us in the backstage, when Kimura Takuya-san walked toward us, for some reason first thing we did we all parted like the red sea

 

 

Right? The first thing we did we parted like the red sea to let them pass.

 

Y: Really?

 

Yoko: Before that Kanjani8 members were rehearsing dance steps, when they walked by everyone just suddenly stepped aside to let them pass

 

Y: Right SMAP is way senior for you guys

 

H: They are way senior

 

Y: That’s true. By the way, it’s fine to talk about Takuya, but aren’t we supposed to be talking about me?

 

[Everybody cracks up]




Note: Hina and Yoko also talked about SMAP and Marching J a bit in their radio show Recomen back in May, right before Kanjani8 and SMAP appeared on Music Station together. It was kind of epic how Yoko tried to convince Hina to break the ice with SMAP by smacking Kimura on the head to tsukkomi him, so maybe I will translate that as well?

Crosstalk

 

Inagaki Goro and Urasawa Naoki

What is the happiness of a job that continuously illustrates people’s dreams?

 

Inagaki Goro visited the Manga master Urasawa Naoki in his house/office. Standing at the site that gave birth to famous Mangas and getting in touch with the unknown world of Manga, gave Goro a moment to feel moved and excited. Even though they work in different genres, you can still find some common points for the two of them who continue to succeed at the top of their respective fields.

 

Inagaki Goro (I): This is my first time visiting a Manga artist’s work place.

 

Urasawa Naoki (U): You don’t really get that kind of opportunities normally, right? And you are so busy too.

 

I: No I think Urasawa-san is the one who does not get any time off.

 

U: Right now since I am only working on the bi-weekly “Billy Bat,” I can do it at my own pace.

 

I: I first encountered your work through “Yawarai.” If I remember correctly, during that time you were also publishing “Master Keaton.”

 

U: That was the latter half of the 80’s. At that time I was publishing in weekly magazines. In the world of Manga during that time Manga artists were looked upon more admirably if you published many serial works in magazines. It was the trend.

 

I: I see.

 

U: One episode published in a serial magazine generally took me three and a half days to complete. If you add it all up then I drew around 130 pages a month. Continuing that kind of life style for 18 years has caused me great pain in my shoulders.

 

I: An injury from drawing Manga!?

 

U: The injury is not in my right hand where I hold my pen, but in my left shoulder because I supported and stabled my body on the desk by leaning on it. By staying in the same posture for so many years my bones turned stiff and I ended up dislocating my shoulder.

 

I: Drawing Manga is as fierce as wrestling!

 

U: Right, my chiropractor said my bones were as bad as those of a wrestler (laugh). In order to rest my shoulders, I am limiting my serial Manga publishing.

 

I: I see. Today please teach me various things about the world of Manga.

 

Mangas are more interesting when you read it serially in a weekly magazine?

 

U: Inagaki-san you read a lot of books right?

 

I: Actually I have always read more books than Mangas. But even so I love Urasawa-san’s works and I have continued reading them. But publishing serially must be hard work.

 

U: Well, if I don’t publish weekly, I am not able to draw at all. It’s like children doing homework, if I don’t have the pressure to make the deadline I have no motivation to draw. (laugh) Even if I promise something like, “let’s draw something by next spring to publish,” I don’t think I will ever pick up my pen to work on it.

 

I: So you like if better when you are chasing a deadline.

 

U: If I don’t turn in my work weekly, I will end up going back to fix it and it will not do. I would hold it and not do anything, then go through great lengths to fix everything. I will continue with that cycle forever and never truly complete the work as I will never be satisfied with it.

 

I: I see. So is it like sending an email? You write an email and save the draft without sending it. Then the next day you review it and change it around a bit. And when you do that over and over again the message becomes something different from what you intended. That’s why it is better to send the email right after you have written it and not wait on it.

 

U: Kind of (laugh).

 

I: I think a story at this big of a scale that is built perfectly from start to finish, it is the result of the accumulation of the episodes published serially. It is certainly a world that has been thought out and calculated even before you started drawing.

 

U: The moment I decided, “This time the story will be about this,” in my head I already have a sense of the scale of the project, like “If this is printed, it will come out to around 18 books.” Then when I published the story serially, I probably spent most of my energy deciding where to cut off each episode, like “I have to make it so that this week’s episode ends in this place.”

 

I: You want to leave people wanting to find out more.

 

U: Because readers have to wait a whole week for the next episode to come out, I have to make sure the wait will be fun for them as well.

 

I: Manga really is something one can enjoy the most by following the weekly serial publishing. Sorry, for “Monster” I did not read it weekly in a magazine, but bought the whole set of Manga before I started reading.

 

U: Not at all, it’s just a different way of enjoying Manga.

 

Inagaki Goro appearing in Urasawa-san’s works!?

 

I: I heard that when you are working on your Manga, you interview each and every one of your characters. Is that true?

 

U: That is because I want to know about each and every one of my characters, whether they are the lead characters or just the tiniest role. I want to know things like, “What was your childhood like?” I dig deep for their background even if it may not be related to the core story.

 

I: That sounds like a long process!

 

U: When I do that, a character with no lines, for example, might end up having a surprising backbone in the story. I sometimes struggled with it, “It’s all very interesting, but if I expand on this the story will get really long…” (laugh).

 

I: That’s why Urasawa’s works always have such deep illustrations for the characters. I should interview my characters too when I act. This way it may broaden the range of how I act out my role.

 

U: Even if it has nothing to do with the main story line, for example when I draw about “the man with a wound in his knee,” it makes me excited just to speculate about the origin of the injury.

 

I: I see, I have learned from this. Because your characters’ expressions were drawn so richly, I use them as a reference to my acting, “So people show that kind of expressions when they are in this type of situation!”

 

U: My work can be categorized as “Facial Manga.”

 

I: “Facial Manga?”

 

U: Showing the character’s faces consecutively in each frame was not the trend when I first started drawing Manga. I was told “Don’t do facial Mangas.”

 

I: Meaning, it was better to have some sceneries included in between?

 

U: Of course when I come up with the main character’s face, it can become kind of dull if I only place the faces side by side. However I look at it this way, “the character is acting in this one frame, what’s wrong with focusing on their expressions?” Because of that I took on the challenge of drawing “Facial Manga.”

 

I: That makes sense. When I read your work I could really feel the impact of each character’s facial expression.

 

U: In the history of Manga, it was only from the 80s onwards that drawing the front view of a character’s face was accepted by the public. That is, so to speak, the character facing the camera.

 

I: Ah! This way the lines and the expressions leave a stronger impression on readers. We unconsciously feel the impact of the character directly facing the camera.

 

U: There is actually a very simple reason for why the front view of the face was not drawn in Mangas. This is because a Manga character’s nose is what stands out the most in the Manga. But when you draw their faces from the front directly, you can’t show the shape of the nose. What do you do then? Of course one can just draw two holes to show the nostrils, but the picture will become so real that it became a sort of taboo in the Manga world.

 

I: There are lots of things in Manga that an ordinary reader does not know.

 

U: Once the realism of drawing the front view of the face is established, it becomes possible for the Manga characters to be speaking directly to the readers, just like the movies by Ozu Yasujiro.

 

I: Urasawa-san, why don’t you make a movie? I am really interested in seeing what kind of world you will create.

 

U: I am more interested in Inagaki-san. Many of my characters are very “Inagaki-like”

 

I: Really?

 

U: You are the kind to blush in embarrassment, I wonder if it’s the right way of putting it. I am the type of person who has a hard time saying things like “That’s the right answer.” I think Inagaki-san is the type of person who considers things thoroughly in your head, “Even though that is the right answer, but that’s not the only answer…” Kevin from “Billy Bat” and Dr. Tenma from “Monster” are prime examples of this “Inagaki personality.”

 

I: I think you are probably right about my being the type to think about things in many ways. My way of living is to mess around with different things in my daily life (laughs). But I am so moved to hear that I share common grounds with some of Urasawa’s characters!

 

U: When you were in your youth, you were already in SMAP right? I am really curious about what kind of life you have had.

 

I: Wait, are you “interviewing” me (like with your other Manga characters)? (laughs)

 

U: As a top star, you probably walk down your life path that is completely unimaginable to us.

 

I: Because I have been part of SMAP since I was 14 years old, you can say that I have lived most of my life as a SMAP member.

 

U: You don’t sometimes turn into the individual Inagaki Goro who is separated from SMAP?

 

I: I do. I do. When I am not working I’m just a normal person. When I am this way I look at “SMAP’s Inagaki Goro” as a bystander.

 

U: Oh I am kind of the same way. I view “Urasawa Naoki who is good at drawing” as a tool for Manga drawing. I think, “If I have this guy draw that Manga it will become interesting.”

 

I: I am the same. I always feel that SMAP does not belong solely to me. I don’t think of myself as 1 of the 5 pieces. It’s like SMAP belongs to a lot more people than just the 5 of us…

 

U: It’s like handing over the existence of SMAP to the general public. Manga is like that too. We hand the Manga over to the readers to read it freely, that’s the purpose of making Manga. But as soon as you walk outside, you are being viewed as “SMAP’s Inagaki Goro.” Is it hard?

 

I: Whenever we are, we are like an electronic appliance that is constantly plugged in to the electricity, always on stand-by. But I think I am more of the kind who gets left alone freely by others (laughs).

 

Manga and SMAP are both entities that grant dreams.

 

U: On SMAPXSMAP’s preview, they showed the guest on next week’s Bistro to get the audience spending a week looking forward to the next episode. It is a happy feeling to be doing a job that brings dreams to so many people. But I think you guys must shoulder a lot of pressure in that regard.

 

I: Urasawa-san is the one who has fought against pressure for so many years. In my case, I don’t really have much pressure on me…(laughs) Because the members are there for me. But I am happy to hear you mention SMAPXSMAP. Do you watch the show?

 

U: I watch it. The TV is always on when I work.

 

I: It is indeed amazing how you draw such masterpieces under such circumstances. There are so much more I want to ask you, but there is not enough time.

 

U: Please visit again.

 

I: Can I really? Now I want to brag about it to the members. Kimura-kun is also a fan of Urasawa-san, he will be so jealous.

 

 

 

Captions on the pictures:

 

p. 130

top left corner: There are in the audio room in the Urasawa home. Meeting Urasawa-san for the first time, Inagaki Goro, who is a big fan, seems to be nervous. But when they started talking about a common passion—movie—they have hit it off immediately. It turned quickly in to an amiable mood.

 

below: The is a space Urasawa-san likes, where he stocked up on antique guitars and records. Inagaki-san was very excited, “This is truly ‘the scecret hide-out of the 20^th Century Boys.’” Urasawa said, “I watch your ‘Tsuki Ichi’ corner on Sma-Station.” Inagaki said, “What movies do you like?” They randomly talked.

 

Points to picture on the left: The memorable three-shot picture of the two with “The Nameless Monster” from the Manga “Monster.”

 

p. 131

“Because we have an audience, our job takes shape.”

 

p. 132

When Urasawa-san started cutting, the screen tone immediately turned into a character’s hair. Inagaki-san was so shocked at this magic touch.

 

U: This is round pen.

 

I: What’s a “round pen”?

 

p. 133

I: I am lousy at drawing

 

U: I can tell from how you are holding the pen (laugh)

 

Following Urasawa’s sample drawing, Inagaki-san challenged Manga drawing! “I am left handed so I can’t use this round pen effectively~” An excuse so soon?

 

On the drawing (enlarged): On the right—drawn by Master Urasawa in 7 seconds. On the left—drawn by Goro-san who gave up in the middle of drawing

 

Even after he said “I am lousy at drawing” Inagaki-san still managed to draw pretty smoothly. But after he drew the eyes he stopped, “the nose is difficult…” and gave up. Urasawa-san is indeed a pro, he completed the drawing in only a few seconds. Seeing that in person Inagaki-san was very moved. But Inagaki-san’s drawing looks pretty nice even though it was not completed.

 

Naoki Urasawa: “I look at myself from faraway. I view myself as a ‘presentation tool’”

 

Upper right: Inagaki-san freaked out when he saw the original drawings of “Monster” found in the back storage space in the studio. “I remember seeing that scene in the actual Manga. This is such a treasure! Can I touch it?” As a Urasawa Manga fan, this has become a good memory for him.

Note: This is the last article to be translated for the magazine. I have had half of it translated since December of last year, and I decided to hide and procrastinate...now that I have finished it the whole magazine is done!! Hooray!!

Cross Talk: Katori Shingo and Thom Browne

 

Talking about the styles men should have.

 

This person is someone Katori Shingo wants to meet—fashion designer Thom Browne. Ever since he bought Thom Browne’s design in New York’s Bergdorf Goodman department store for the first time, he has fallen in love with Browne’s unique sense of aesthetics. Katori Shingo, who owns many of Thom Browne’s collection, unleashes his passionate admiration for Browne.

 

He is meeting Browne soon, how is he feeling?

 

<Thom Browne> is a New York based menswear brand that started in 2001. It is distinctive in the classic suit style that resembles those from 1950s to 1960s in America. This brand is highlighted by a tight fit style and pants that expose the ankle.

 

Here we have a man whose heart has been stolen by this unique style. Katori Shingo has been a fan of this brand not long after it first started. Every time he goes to New York he shops for this brand and, little by little, adds to his Thom Browne collection. Now, 2/3 of his closet consists of <Thom Browne> clothes. The opportunity to talk in person with the actual designer, who is currently visiting Japan, has put Katori in dreamland.

 

“To be able to meet Thom Browne and even have him dress me is like dream comes true! His clothes led me into this new world of fashion different from the clothes I have liked before. When I wear his clothes I become more aware of my outfits. It is the first time clothes have that kind of effect on me,” said Katori Shingo, who will be meeting the person he admires shortly.

 

Katori Shingo (K): Nice to meet you! I am so happy to meet you! This is because I love Thom Browne’s designs.

 

Thom Browne (T): Thank you. You are wearing my brand today too.

 

K: Yes. Underneath the jacket, I wore the checkered shirt with tie and tie pin; I also wore the Wingtip shoes. I bought all of those Thom Browne items. Of course I would wear these items as pieces of a suit, but today I tried to match it with jeans to give it a more casual look.

 

T: I am happy you decided to wear them this way. Today please also take a look at the 2010/2011 autumn and winter collection.

 

K: I am so moved I get to see the latest collection today. You will also dress me in this collection right? I am leaving it to you!

 

He has a feeling his collection will grow again?

 

Firstly Thom selected the latest fashion for Shingo.

 

T: Because Katori-san is tall you will definitely look good in a navy coat. I want you to wear three sizes bigger than what you usually wear.

 

K: Three sizes up…So I am wearing an oversize coat. This way it outlines my silhouette perfectly. Indeed amazing.

 

T: At the base I will have to wear a basic gray suit with a while Oxford shirt. When you match that with skinny tie and tie pin, it’s perfect.

 

K: Wow!! That looks cool, as expected. This year I think I will end up buying a lot of this autumn/winter collection again. No, I won’t be able to stand it if I don’t buy any (laugh). How did you even think of dressing me with something three sizes up?

 

Katori-san is very excited wearing these new items. By the way what was the first Thom Browne clothing he has ever bought?

 

K: I kept trying to remember while looking in my closet yesterday. “When did my wardrobe become all Thom Browne?” But since I have so many of his collections I really can’t remember which one I bought first. The Wingtip shoes I wore today, I actually have six pairs at home.

 

T: They fit you well. I hear that you have been buying my designs even before my specialty shop opened.

 

K: Yes. There was no Thom Browne shop yet. At first I bought your designs at New York’s Bergdorf Goodman department store. After that every time I went to New York I shopped for your clothes. The other day I visited your shop in Bleecker Street for the first time. I had a rucksack on my back, so I might not be dressed properly for the store (laugh).

 

What was Katori Shingo’s style that was learned from Thom?

 

The style that best represents Thom Browne is the suit. Seeing Katori-san wear his suit in person, what is the designer’s impression of him?

 

T: For someone like Katori-san who is cool and trendy, I still think a classical gray suit fits him the best. I have always wanted young people to wear tailored clothes.

 

K: Although I think Thom has always went for a classical style in his designs, because I have never worn many suits, I never really thought of your designs as classical. I viewed these clothes as the “now” trend of 2010.

 

T: When I was little, I used to hang out everyday at Lexington Avenue where all the law firms were, and watched an old man in his 70s walking around there. Everyday he wore a suit neatly and perfectly. I think he probably wore a suit the same careful way for many years. He was way cooler than others. It was probably that old man’s way of carrying himself. When I designed classical fashion I think I was largely influenced by people’s spirit from the 50’s and the 60’s.

 

K: I see. What I found is that wearing Thom’s “now” fashion, I am strangely attracted to the tailored clothes you used to be able to order from Ginza years ago. I thought about ordering some for myself. I think in this way I was influenced by Thom.

 

T: Because I started out in my career making tailored clothes for customers, I am really interested in this topic. Next time you come to New York please let me fit you for some tailored clothes.

 

K: You promised! (laugh) I will really wear them. I have lived the last three years in Thom Browne fashion. By the way I really love fashion, I like to mix clothes of different tastes and wear them. But lately I thought it is actually best to wear Thom Browne head to toe. What do you think of mixing your designs with other brands?

 

T: Of course I am happy when people wear my designs head to toe. But I think the most important thing is for people to wear clothes according to their own senses and tastes. That’s why I really cherish the fact that people wear my things the way they like.

 

K: I see. Maybe next time I will try out different combinations…

 

T: From chatting with you, it seems like you are the kind of person who is interested in the shapes and forms of various clothing. You want to understand the forms of clothes.

 

K: Because Thom’s designs have a lot of interesting aspects. For example this pair of shoes, on the tip some metal fittings are attached. It always makes noise when I walk in it and people always ask me about it. “What is that?” There are many other things I want to find out about your designs.

 

T: I can explain them to you, what else are you wondering about?

 

K: First of all I am curious about this tie pin. I can’t figure out where exactly I should put it on my tie. Should I clip it on to both the tie and the shirt? Is it so that the tie will not fly out?

 

T: That is right. It is more convenient when you are cooking.

 

K: So I was right. I really like clothes that get me curious and make me think. “Is there a specific reason for having four buttons on the sleeve? Three should be enough, why four?” Things like that. But when I wear it I realize that “Ah! You DO need four buttons in this situation.”

 

T: The clothes that make you think a little when you wear them. I really incorporated that idea in my designs, so the fact that you followed my line of thinking really makes me happy. This is why even though I have a reason for each small thing in my designs, I don’t really want to explain them all. When I first started making clothes, I was always told by others, “This shape is wrong,” or “The length of the pants is too short.” Because I have resisted these criticisms throughout my whole career, I don’t like to simply tell people to “wear it this way.”

 

K: Do people still criticize your pants designs for being too short?

 

T: Yes they still do. Especially in airports people always point it out. (laughs)

 

K: I don’t get it! The pants are so cute like that! On the other hand do you have a wish for how you want people to dress?

 

T: Wear your clothes with confidence and show your personality.

 

K: It is probably true that people who fit their fashion are people who wear their clothes with confidence. When I wear suits, I tell myself to act proper. When I wear suits and put on the tie and whatnot, there is a moment where I feel really good. I feel like I am a real man. That is how I got into wearing suits. I was not like that when I was in my teens and in my early 20s.

 

T: This is a nice story. Is there anyone in SMAP who wears suits regularly?

 

K: Probably only me. But even I don’t wear ties regularly. Since I don’t work in an office, it’s fine to just show up at work in my track suits. But if I wear a proper shirt and tie in that small time frame before I need to change into my work costumes, my mood for the day changes.

 

T: You are very cool that way.

 

K: I also carry the briefcase from your brand. The black one.

 

T: Amazing! You really possess a lot of my designs! What do you put in the briefcase?

 

K: Nothing (laugh).

 

T: Me neither (laugh).

 

The things you learned from wearing suits, the things you want to know about wearing suits.

 

K: <Thom Browne> has become my standards. But actually I wanted to have encountered your brand sooner. Because I want young people nowadays to know about this cool style earlier. I want them to know the feeling of wearing a tie or a suit jacket. Because as soon as you wear it, you instantly have the feeling that it belongs to you. Also, when you wear this kind of suit, you also will naturally take on a gentle attitude towards women. It is true.

 

T: You become a gentleman. I am happy to hear that you feel like you’ve become a gentleman when you wear suits. I mean, lately many young men and women have been really into the casual style of fashion.

 

K: It is quite true. I think we have a lot in common, and I am admiringThom’s fashion more and more. Thank you very much.

 

 

Picture captions from:

 

p.111: Wearing a jacket one size over on top of a standard gray suit. On top of that he puts on a one size over Chesterfield coat—the style that represents Thom Browne’s 2010-2011 A/W collection. When Thom Browne saw the tall Katori-san, he immediately thought of this navy coat. Katori-san cheered when he put his arms through the sleeve and checked his appearance in the mirror, “I certainly will end up buying this…”

 

p.112: In the end, he finished the coordination by sticking a white handkerchief beautifully in this pocket. Katori-san was very happy at mastering Thom Browne’s fashion coordination, taught by the designer himself.

 

Before the crosstalk, Katori-san said “I have some questions for you,” and asked Thom a bunch of questions. The quiet Thom Browne-san answered in detail, and the crosstalk proceeded in a calm way.

Who's Bag?  Tsuyoshi

He likes to use ladies style bag. Who is this person who keeps up with the trends?

 

I like things that grow in flavor over time.

Tsu: Before I leave my home I kind of gather all my things, then in the car I organize them in my bag neatly. I like having things match as much as possible. Especially now (this interview was done in early July) during concert rehearsal I have to carry things like the concert pamphlet, the file that holds my lyric sheets, and DVDs. Because of this, I often use a tote bag that I can carry on my shoulder. Today's bag is a Balenciaga (Spanish brand). I think everyone may be shocked by this, this is a ladies bag. I bought this bag thinking that the navy and beige combination works for men too. I like to possess things, like leather and denim, that grows in their flavors over time. However, because I like to give my friends things from my collection, surprisingly the things I have used and loved for a long time tend to become my friends' possessions.

 

1) I confirm all of my schedule with this. I like my planner big.

I chose an A4 sized planner so that it is big enough for me to open it up and see my whole schedule for the week, and also has enough space to write things down easily. The design of the front cover is as simple as I could get it to be. This way we can recognize it as a "planner" very easily (laugh). Also since it is not that thick, I like that my bag does not get that bulky.

 

2) Men can carry it too! The knit tote that was a love at first sight when I saw it in a fashion magazine.

I immediately bought this thinking that men would look cool carrying this. Since I have a lot of things, I have to use a big bag. I want to have all my DVDs, jeans, and iPad with me. I have four other bags this size. I decide on which bag to carry depending on my fashion for that day, today I ended up with this bag.

 

3) It is a fun thing to "raise" a leather.

Out of everything from this bag, I have used this "Ä" (from ELLE) wallet the longest. I have probably used it for 8 years. Using it for a long time the leather becomes soft and it turns into this red-browndish color. During the past 8 years of course I have replaced it with different brand wallets, but I always ended up changing back to this wallet soon after since it is such a good wallet.

 

4) Stationary is a must.

Besides writing in my planner, I also write on my scripts and lyric sheets more than you think. This is why I carry a pencil case with me. Even though this simple design is so compact, it holds a lot inside. In my opinion this is the best pencil case ever. But oops I forgot the important brand name~

 

5) I have both iPhone and iPad.

Cell phones have really made many aspects of out lives easier. Among the many different cell phones I think the iPhone is amazing. I am still exploring how I should share the work load between the iPhone and my newly acquired iPad. By the way now I am listening to our new album "We Are SMAP" to prepare for our concert.

 

6) Surprsingly when it comes to digital electronics I prefer the high tech ones. The case is leather.

Even though I like my clothers and accessories vintage, I pick the newest and the latest for electronics. I really enjoy the different apps. I am also thinking about purchasing ebooks. As for the case I naturally chose leather. Isn't the subdued green color that makes the case look vintage  nice?

 

7) For some reason I always have a harmonica in my bag.

I don't always conciously tell myself to carry it, but I always have my harmonica with me. I don't practice seriously, nor do I have any songs I am good at playing (laugh). In between filimings, I probably play around with it to settle my mood.

 

8) This "Tom Ford" sunglasses is in heavy rotation.

I got really into collecting sunglasses this summer. From my collection I use this "Tom Ford" sunglasses the most. Somehow I was really attracted to this nostagic tortoiseshell frame. I like the traditionaly shapes like the Wellington or the teardrop.

 

9) The best two pairs I have I wear often as staged clothes.

They are both Levi's vintage jeans. The one on the right with the darker color was produced in the late 50's and early 60's. I like the fact that it is paper patch and skinny. The one of the left was from 1936 to 1941. The fading color is just perfect. The loose style matches all kinds of outsits.

Who's Bag? Shingo
He likes the newest business gadgets and cartoon character goods.

Even the bag is huge! Although I have a lot of things, I am good at organizing them.
You want to see the inside of my bag? Here, go ahead! I think I carry the biggest bag in SMAP. Because I am a big guy, it doesn't match me if I carry something small. I like how the shoulder strap is long enough for me to wear the bag across my body and have it bump against my butt. The design of the bag is just like my fashion, where you get attracted to the things that you can't see at a glance. By the way today's bag is from <D&G>. I like how it is big enough to fit a notebook computer.

This bag hold more things than I can count. I like new things and at the same time I keep my old things for a long time. I can't get myself to get rid of things! But I am pretty good at organizing my belongings. I think the inside of my bag is probably the neatest among the members.

1) I like coloful and healing goods.
This is Spongebob mini pouch. I love Spongebob so I have many Spongebob things. This one is cute. It is very healing for me. I won't let you see the inside of the pouch, it's a secret! To give you a little hint, I put supplements and stuff in it.

2) Putting work documents in this makes me calm.
This is also a Spongebob item. It is a file case. I have documents and information about SMAP concert in it. Since I am working with the staff to create this concert tour, there are just a lot of documents involved. But when I stuff them into this file case I calm down.

3) This is the wallet Kimura-kun gave me. It’s 22 years old!
Are you surprised it is so worn out? This wallet was given to me by Kimura-kun when I was 10 years old. Because I had always kept my change in my pants pockets messily, Kimura-kun gave me the wallet and said, “Use this!” So this is my very first wallet ever. When the fastener broke I just switched it out with a new fastener and kept using it for the last 22 years.

4) I always have my toy with me.
Sorry for being abrupt, but this is a "super ball." If you look carefully, this one is also.....Spongebob! It's a cute one. I play with it to get into a better mood, and I also give it out to other people. Since I work with children a lot in filming sites, I pretty much always have toys like that in my bag.

5) The important part is the white frame.
Today's sunglasses are in a white frame. I kind of pick my sunglasses to match with my clothes that day. Sunglasses are also something I have quite the collection of. I love fashion, so I also love anything that is related to fashion. The design is important to me when I go buy sunglasses.

6) My campanion at work is the MacBook, I carry it with me to work everywhere.
This the MacBook I love. I pretty much carry it with me to all the work places. I browse the Internet, watch DVD, and listen to music with it. You think I have a strange mix of hardcore business gadget and cartoon character things? Indeed my stuff are not very uniformed (laugh). But both are necessary for me.

7) Overlapping work with hobby, everyday my life is full of music.
I always have my headphone in my bag. I use it to listen to music on the MacBook in my dressing room and such. Music is something that cannot be absent in my life. I have fun both listening to music for work--"I want that sound to be in a SMAP song,"--and listening to music purely for fun.

8) I collect Apple devices completely.
Somehow I am very weak when it comes to Apple products. Whenever a new Apple product comes out, I cave in and buy it to add to my collection. After buying iPhone 4 I immediately bought the iPad. This is how my belongings get more and more. (laugh) The iPad is indeed wonderful. Of course I play with it when I am out and about, at night I also lie in my bed and read books on the iPad.

9) I just happened to have placed it in my bag. I am not trying to promote anything!
This is "We Are SMAP!" album that was released on July 21st! Everyone has already listened to it right? (laugh) My recommendation would probably be "We Are SMAP." The music by Hisaishi Jou and the lyrics by Ota Hikari are amazing. We, the ones who sang this song, have to make sure we get the message of the song across!

Cross Talk: Kusanagi Tsuyoshi and Kagawa Teruyuki

 

An Actor’s Way of Life

 

“An actor’s job is not to act.” “Acting is self satisfaction.”

These zen-like answers were shared between Kusanagi Tsuyoshi and Kagawa Teruyuki. It has been six years since they have acted together in the movie “Hotel Venice.” This is the first time since then that they have sat down to talk. Even if the paths they have taken were different, the path they walked as actors were the same.

 

Their reunion after six years consists solely of conversations about acting.

 

We have Kagawa Teruyuki who debuted in a Taiga drama (NHK’s historical drama) and Kusanagi Tsuyoshi who started his career as an idol. They met while filming the movie “Hotel Venice” where all the dialogues were in Korean. At that time, Kusanagi-san was also filming two other dramas—“Boku no Ikiru Michi” and “Taikoki—The Man They Call Monkey.” Kagawa-san was also working on two other projects—the movie “Quill,” and an NHK morning drama.

 

The two met again in the waiting room for the first time in years. Using both hands they engaged in a firm handshake, after that they started talking. They were so engrossed in the conversation it was as if the six years have not passed at all. And acting was the only thing they kept talking about. “How was that drama?” “What kind of person is that director?” Their conversation was all about the staffs, the casts, the filming environment, and ways of getting into a role. It wasn’t just reporting about what they have been up to. By talking about their mutual hobby—acting—conversation just kept flowing. That was the atmosphere in the room. The two of them, who have gotten close, never acted like they were talking for the sake of the cross talk. We think that even in private they will probably still talk about the same things. This is how we get to hear them talk so naturally about acting.

 

Kagawa Teruyuki (K): “Hotel Venice” was the first project we did together. I think Kusanagi-san is the first member from SMAP that I have worked with. What left an impression on me at the filming site was how you have this quiet energy in you that you didn’t let out.

 

Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (T): I was so happy that I got to work with Kagawa-san. Even before I have met you I have seen your works and thought, “This person loves acting.” Since I also love acting, I just went ahead and identified that as what we have in common.

 

K: I got the same vibe from Kusanagi-san. At the end of the movie there was a scene where the police poured in. There Kusanagi-san threw himself in front of the police to try to stop them, “Stop!” You did not have to go all that length to act out that scene, causing your body all sorts of pain, but you did. It was OK even if you did not fall down that way, but you did. But I think that’s your approach to acting. Seeing you giving your all, the staffs and the casts were all motivated to do better.

 

T: Yes that kind of thing happens. I think it’s important to overcome that pain, even though the pain might not be necessary in the first place, and be able to inspire others through that.

 

K: For example, if someone offered me a role, I will definitely perform in a way that can’t be repeated by other actors. Sometimes the script says, “fall off from a chair.” Really in that case you can fall off from the chair any way you want. During the rehearsal I would just do a normal fall, falling down on my side. But I would want to see the cameraman’s facial expression when all of a sudden I fall over on my back for the actual filming. Even though I know it would hurt if I fall over on my back, but if I do that, from the next take on all the staffs will all be motivated and will all get on my ship.

 

T: Yes that is really true. In the beginning even when everyone has not yet been impressed by my acting, doing an action like that can change the whole atmosphere immediately. I always put it upon myself to be responsible for that. I want the staffs and casts to get on the flow with me. Kagawa-san has quite a strong attracting power that draws people to him. You are one of those actors where we know we will get a lot of stimulations from working with you.

 

K: Not at all, thank you so much.

 

Learned from experienced actors—how to get into the emotions of the roles

 

T: Even now I still check out Kagawa-san’s works such as “Golden Slumber” and “Kisaragi.”

 

K: Then you saw me wearing that headband (laugh).

 

T: Yes, the headband. Normally you would think that’s a little bit over the top, but with Kagawa-san I did not think that way. You are truly awesome.

 

K: Lately I have been trying to make some time for the “non-acting” part of my acting. For example, if there is a line that really links to what I really want to express as someone living in the year 2010, when I recite that line I definitely will not act. Instead I utilize things like headband or eye patch to show the realness of the situation. This is something that took me years to finally understand.

 

T: The gap between your appearance and your emotion.

 

K: Right. With the lines being the intention and motive of the plot outside of acting, your appearance becomes the shape of what you want to express. If you see something and you don’t think it is a bit over the top, that’s probably because we really were cutting our skins and bleeding.

 

T: Amazing. Truly an actor…

 

K: What I am doing now was learned from acting with Yamazaki Tsutomu and Matsuda Yuusaku. One time I acted with Watanabe Ken in the movie “Kita no Reinen.” Before filming a crying scene Watanabe-san kept smiling and laughing. He didn’t try to get everyone into the mood of the scene, but when filming started he just cried instantly. It was a new way of acting for me, when I cautiously tried that approach, surprisingly it worked nicely.

 

T: The reverse switch.

 

K: Yep. I think laughing and crying are probably connected like a Mobius strip. Watching Watanabe Ken at a filming site I learned some hints about expressing emotions.

 

T: Indeed there are ways to express and produce emotions. I have learned something as well from this talk.

 

Their conclusion is: instead of calculating hold on to a day’s happiness?

 

 K: I want to say something completely opposite: lately I like to tell myself “It’s fine to not be able to do it!” It’s the feeling of, although I can’t do it, it’s my life and I’m running with it!

 

T: (laughs). Because acting is a form of self-satisfaction too. It is not something evaluated by ourselves, in the end our acting is evaluated by people who watch our works. Sometimes we felt like we did not act satisfactorily, yet others praised us by saying “Such natural acting!”

 

K: You’re right! Even when actors analyze and understand their parts to the tiniest details, surprisingly audiences don’t really look into all that details. I want to do my work with a grateful heart that thinks, “Once again, today has ended nicely!”

 

T: Before, Kagawa-san said on a TV show, “To not act is to act.” This has left a big impression on me. Even though I understand what you meant, it is hard to put it in practice.

 

K: It is quite difficult.

 

T: Should we call that “non-being.” But this state of being occasionally happens. When thinking about nothing and having no desire, I become my role. Somehow without me knowing, I AM the role.

 

K: I feel the same. It is such a rare moment. When you have the desire of wanting to act well, you’re already no good. It is difficult to achieve that state of being.

 

T: And it is not like once we enter our role we will stay in it. Filming drama is hard because we don’t film in the same sequence of the story line. Doing a stage play is also challenging because you have to maintain the same mental strength to perform everyday. You have good days and bad days. Well that is also why acting is so much fun. Really, both ways are the right way.

 

K: It doesn’t matter if it is a good day or bad day, just the fact that this day exists should warrant us to end the day with a grateful heart. It is actually very important. Speaking of which, you are doing a stage play soon right? Do you like doing stage plays?

 

T: Yes. I have always had a lot of fun doing stage plays, I like them. Of course right before I go on stage I am terrified. I always dream that I blank out on all of my lines.

 

K: I feel you. I had the same kind of dream, but with musicals. I have never done any musicals in my life, but in my dream it was the second showing (laugh)! The first performance was starting in 2 hours, and everyone was checking their dance steps. In my case I had not danced one bit, and I could not memorize any lines.

 

T: In my dream, nothing was prepared and they pushed me onto the stage saying, “just do it ad-lib.”

 

K: Kusanagi-san does concerts too, so you have more guts than most of us. But when you think about it, isn’t the stage scary? When you get handed a 100 page script, you don’t know how much you will be able to memorize. That’s why I hate the time before the play starts. I just cannot calm down.

 

T: I actually like those moments. It is quite unbelievable, when I put on the make-up I get excited. It feels good.

 

K: For stage plays, even before you step onto the stage your fate is decided. On days where I feel strangely calm, after I go on stage I just could not perform well.

 

T: But those kind of strangely calm days happen and we can’t really do anything about them.

 

They want the young ones to continue on: an actor's way of life

 

 T: The setting of my next play is on the K2 mountain range, in your movie “Tsurugidake” you also had to hike up a mountain right?

 

K: Yes. When we filmed at the location there, we had to hike for 6 hours everyday with all of our things and equipments. In the end, I only hiked with 2 pairs of underpants to change into. Because paper is the heaviest, I did not even bring my script with me. I only hiked with the things I needed for survival. (laugh)

 

T: But if you didn’t hike up there, you couldn’t really film.

 

K: It is because our director was very strict. But I have been thinking lately, at my age I really should start teaching and being a role model for the next generation. Even when it was cold I still said things like “I don’t need any heat packs!” Doing that in front of the young ones, I want them to feel a positive influence.

 

T: I see.

 

K: Lately with the new advanced technologies, there has been more and more filming done with a green background (for computer graphics). I think it is hard to act in this environment since one does not actually physically experience the setting and actions. In order to arrive at the “non-being” state, we have to experience the actual physical pain of getting slapped, for example.

 

T: I agree. I should probably start setting an example for the next generation of actors too. You got me thinking here.

 

K: I want to act with you again.

 

T: Me too. Whether it be a movie or a stage play, let’s act together again.

 

 

 

The blurb next to the pictures:

 

K: When I filmed the movie “Tsurugidake,” the hiking guide told us, “When you hike everyday, one day your body will become the mountain.” I actually experienced that. After two straight weeks of hiking I became the mountain.

 

T: Wow! I should carry the same heart for my stage play! Become the mountain!”

 

Kusanagi-san asked Kagawa-san of this hiking experience to prepare for his stage play “K2.” He was shocked by Kagawa’s episode of hiking the mountain carrying only two pair of underpants and not even his scripts towards the end of the filming.

Who’s Bag?  Goro

 

“I end up using the same bag all the time. I have likes and dislikes, but I am not too particular about them.”

 

Goro: What? You really want to see what’s inside my bag? How should I do this? What do I mean? I am a privacy idealist (laugh). I like bags a lot and I think I have around 20 bags. But in the end I always use the same one. It’s such a hassle to transfer things from one bag to another. This bag is from a brand that my friend handles, I have probably had it for 1 to 2 years? I don’t really remember. I am not too particular about things like that. Even though I have clear likes and dislikes of things, but I am not too particular about any single one. I don’t like the idea of “something that lasts a lifetime,” since it doesn’t happen in real life. But when I get picky about things, I will reflect on it: “I shouldn’t be so picky~” Oh man it’s so embarrassing to spread out all of my things for people to see. Please take your photographs quickly!

 

The contents of Goro’s bag:

 

1)  The pouch that holds everything so well. Inside of course it contains the necessity: --???--.  

I bought this pouch along with the bag. It is really spacious inside so it holds many things. My favorite kinds of aroma oil are always in this pouch. Lavender flavor is a must, and I also like to blend the oil from 6 to 7 different choices—eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint and so on. It helps me get in a good mood in between work.

 

2) It looks pop-up. But it is made from one piece of leather.

I like long wallets. Since many of my things are monotone, I think this vivid blue color adds a nice accent to my belongings. This is made from one piece of crocodile leather and it is seamless. Sometimes when I wear jeans, I will use a wallet chain to match my wallet to the pants. This makes me look a little more boyish.

 

3) The special point about this is the strange gradation. The custom made sunglasses that focuses on comfort.

Only high quality sunglasses are light and comfortable to wear. The part where it hangs on the ear and the part where it sits on the nose are both made from silicone. This custom made sunglasses have a 0.9 prescription. I had the lens made so that the color gradation matches the height of my eyes. It took a lot of hard work from the eyeglasses shop.

4) I got this because of Kusanagi-kun? The case for scripts made with a heart theme.

When I saw the one Kusanagi-kun has, I thought, “How nice~ I want one too.” Since I was doing a stage play in March, I used that opportunity to ask my designer friend to make one for me. I requested the heart shape to be made from crocodile leather. The heart shape pops up that way.

 

5) Am I in the minority? Electronic dictionaries are very convenient you know?

I bought this recently. I use it when I need to look up how to write a certain kanji (Chinese characters), or if I need to research about people’s names and medical terminology that I don’t know. It’s very convenient. It’s really amazing that in addition to literal definition it also gives the feeling and flavor of the kanji. What? You guys don’t have one? You should buy one! (Trying to persuade the staffs to buy one)

 

6) The iPod that I use at work and in private. I can be secretive by using the earphone.

I store album information in there. I also use it for concert rehearsals. While everyone else was practicing, I could secretly check on a song using my earphone. (laugh) In private I use it when I go jogging. I tend to play songs with fast beats to pump myself up for the jogging.

 

7) A smart young gentleman appears. Holding it and acting cool, who is this person…?

This year’s summer is hot right? That’s why I somehow end up carrying it with me (laugh). Someone gave it to me, since it’s so stylish I took a liking to it. Of course I use it. I mean it’s so hot everyday (the way he hold and wave the fan, he reminds us of “Mr.X”* who’s been really into kites).

 

8) The souvenir that reminds me of a role I played on stage. I use and cherish it.

I keep this fountain pen named “Parker” in my pouch. When I acted in the play “Mahou no Mannenhitsu” (The Magical Fountain Pen), I played an unsuccessful author named “Parker.” I bought this to commemorate the play. Again, I selected a monotone style for the pen. I write with this pen.

 

*Mr.X is Softbank’s President Son-san—SMAP called him that in their Softbank commercials.