｢LOOK at STAR!plus 09summer｣ 二宮和也

Scans of the article posted by ArashiNino in her vox and my translations cross posted in her vox comment section.

Crazy character is easy to play. But cannot be satisfied playing easy character.

At the rehearsal the other day, a few people were saying ‘this play is sort of like Macbeth’. I was listening to their conversation thinking ‘how did Macbeth go?’I have seen ‘Macbeth’, but cannot remember what kind of story it was and I do not even know what this ‘strangers on a train’ is about yet…so I really had no idea what they were talking about *laugh*.

This play was made famous by Hitchcock when he made it into a movie more than 50 years ago and the setting of the play is of course in that era of America. So, this play is like Samurai movie of America in a way. So, train system and names of the station and so on had no meaning to me. Also, the character I play is meant to be a crazed killer…but there his motivation not clearly described at all…This Bruno character, he is trying to trap this person…but there is no mention of why…maybe he is what we call psycho-killer…

You may not think so, but character like that is actually not that hard to act. Well, ordinary people usually do not have opportunities to meet psycho-killers, right? So, most people do not have good ideas about what psycho-killers are like. You just need to be holding a murder weapon to play a psycho-killer. Most people would assume your character is a psycho-killer within 3 seconds.

But I do not like that. When you think about what kind person would be most scary in real life, wouldn’t it be someone who you cannot understand what h/she is thinking at all? But those people who are hard to read, can be noisy and talkative or quiet. I have not decided on how I am going to act this person in details yet, but I do not plan on going for the sense of achievement.

When it is concerned with acting, there is no such thing as sense of achievement. If I started to look for specific criteria for satisfactory achievement, then achieving that would become just a self-pleasing exercise. I believe there are situations where you can set yourself such criteria, and I have nothing against other people doing it…but it just does not work for me. If I get used to feeling of satisfaction, then it becomes the end destination. Whenever I am acting, be it movie or drama or theatre, as long as I am acting, I want to feel unsatisfied. That is my ideal.

So, I think I will act Bruno, not fully understanding. Not being able to understand the character I am playing is not a bad thing for me. I do not even understand who Ninomiya Kazunari is, yet.

Theatre Play is something you create adjusting the temperature between the stage and the audience

The reason why I feel I should not be satisfied with my acting from the start, is probably influenced by the fact ‘strangers on a train’ is a theatre play. Although I cannot say this about every tv drama, but usually, tv drama is one way production. So, it is sometimes important to be totally satisfied with it when filming.

Compared to that, theatre play…well, not just theatre but any live performances, including variety shows are different. There is a difference in temperature between the heat that comes off the director and the actors…then there is a difference in the temperature of the heat between the ones that perform and the ones to watch…In live environment, it becomes very important to adjust the temperature well. In other words, theatre is a place where you can adjust the heat. For example, how passionate the director is towards the play means nothing if the actors cannot absorb the heat properly. I also makes no sense for the actors to have vast knowledge about the play , if the audience cannot follow it. If that happens, the audience would be like  ‘what? Texas? Where is that? What hotel?’. For this play, I think we need to digest the play carefully. I do not want it to be a pointlessly difficult play for the audience to understand. If the theatre holds 700 people, then the play is created by that 700 people plus the actors and the staff. The audience take part by turning off the mobile and concentrating. The tension you feel at the theatre is not of just the actors, but of the audience as well.

Can I talk a little bit about the past?

I do not think there will be any laughter induced as a service to the audience at all. Highly strung tension all the way through – this is that kind of play.  I do not mind acting in a tragedy. If I disliked it, I could not play a role in a movie where all my friends were killed and my character become a prisoner of war *laugh*. But I cannot feel happy when I am playing a dark story. Well, that is ok. I do not mind it if I am labelled a ‘serious’ actor. I have a creative outlet called variety shows where I can have fun. I do not think I am greedy. I do not think I could have fun while playing a serious story.

But if I could look back a little…I was also doing various fun characters a well, right? It was fun doing ‘Yamada Taro Monogatari’ and the like. But hang on…in pikanchi movie, I appeared for 20 minutes in a movie that goes just over 2 hours…underneath fully enclosed helmet…and wearing costume that was almost like full body stocking…I could not understand the logic…it was winter yet I was so lightly clothed and freezing…That was hard…so when I look back…old times and now…it has not always been fun times…*laugh*

What I must have in Summer

Long sleeved clothes. I go ride in a car…its air conditioned , I go to my dressing room – its air conditioned, I go to a studio…its air conditioned…I have once said ‘I am not good in Summer and Winter’, so maybe the staff is air conditioning the room out of concern for me…how can I say (its too cold with air conditioning) that to them now? *laugh*They would say to me ‘you said it was too hot!’ . So, I am enduring it with long-sleeved clothes *laugh*

 

 

Talk between Robert Allan Ackerman(RA) and Ninomiya Kazunari

RA: I have experiences of working with famous actors such as Sean Penn, Richard Gere, and Meryl Streep shortly after they debuted and started acting on stage. Ninomiya –kun has something similar to them. He is highly intuitive and has an ability to act very natural.

Ninomiya: Thank you

RA: What I have seen of your acting so far are video(movie or tv drama) and I have not seen you act on stage yet, so I am looking forward to watching lots of your acting on stage.

Ninomiya: I have watched your work, ‘Toyer’(2003) with Inohara-kun in it…

RA: Is that all?

Ninomiya: …yes

RA: you should have just made up something to make it sound better! *laugh*

Ninomiya: I know you direct in English…of course…but when I heard about it (in 2003 in regards to Toyer) , I thought it would have been so difficult. But when I watched the play, the story progressed well, with emotions flowing naturally…that amazed me.

RA: Hahaha! That needs to be achieved!

Ninomiya: So…I was wondering how you would direct…as it turns out, he does not direct at all. He asks questions instead *laugh*. He would ask things like ‘what do you think this person was thinking when he did this…?’

RA: I spend time on reading of script. I want to encourage actors to think about what kind of character you are playing and how that character interact with the others in the very early stage by asking lots of questions. I want the actors themselves to put thoughts in and come up with the character first. I will then direct on that character created by the actor. What do you think about how I direct?

Ninomiya: It is very …interesting. Well, its true. When co-actors get together and go out to eat, that is the kind of discussion we end up doing…being able to do it at rehearsals is great…it saves us money for dining out *laugh*.

Bruno is an irresistible man…who is also riddled with madness.

Ninomiya: By the way…yesterday was the day to discuss which day of the week it was meant to be …? When I went to the bathroom and came back, everyone was talking about it was Tuesday or Friday or Thursday…I wondered what they were talking about so I just listened for a while…the person who plays the sheriff said ‘The storyline afterward will not make sense if this happened on Thursday’. I was thinking ‘ I do not have a scene with him, so, this discussion does not concern me…’ feeling relieved…but it was then, the person who plays the character of Guy (the character who is Bruno’s target)   started saying ‘but when I got a call from Bruno, I was…’ then I realised that I was involved as well…

RA: This story include aspects of suspense as well, so which day of the week it is, is very important point.

Ninomiya: So, I had to think hard and joined the conversation, saying ‘that’s right’ to them…but inside I was not sure *laugh*. But I have not really done such discussion at rehearsals before. It is often the case of getting to the rehearsal venue, doing light stretching exercise, then go straight onto doing rehearsing of the dialogues.

RA: the moral of the story is…do not go to the bathroom so frequently during rehearsals *laugh*.

Ninomiya: I shall be very careful from now on! Well, I think the audience should be careful, too…please go to the bathroom before the play starts *laugh*

RA: From our conversation, I guess I direct very differently to what Ninomiya-kun is used to. Well, you may feel a bit taken aback at first, but I believe the most important thing for an actor is his/her imagination. So, at this stage, I would like you to use your imagination to the full, and think deeply about this play. And by discussing thoughts among actors, I would like us to find a common ground. This kind of story with mystery and suspense often lead to the audience thinking about it after watching it. Things like what you were talking about before – things like which day was it? To discuss those things among the actors is very meaningful.

Ninomiya: I realise that I really have to be careful about going to the bathroom…*laugh*

RA: For anyone, playing Bruno would be a big challenge. He is multi-faceted, and full of subtle expressions. He is irresistible to many, well liked, and yet riddled with madness. I would like you to tackle this challenge head on and develop further as an actor.

Ninomiya: He is indeed a very complex man. He probably became crazy because he is too intelligent…in the same manner, he hates people because he loves people too much…  Ordinary people would be able to separate such emotions, but with Bruno, its all mashed up. I am fully aware that playing Bruno would be a big challenge.

*underneath the main article*

I am scared of Bruno’s all-accepting, unaffected and compliant aspect of his character

Ninomiya Kazunari, Akiyoshi Kumiko who plays the mother, Uchida who plays Guy, and the director Ackerman appeared at the press conference.

Ninomiya plays a psycho-killer after 4 year absence in theatre.

“I have madness within me, too. When I come across something that interest me such as playing games or cards, the level of obsession with such things  is probably a lot higher than many people. When I think about Bruno, I am concentrating on his madness. He has this madness as a foundation, but the rest is extremely all accepting unaffected and compliant. When I am reading the script, it is the all-accepting, unaffected and compliant aspect of him that scares me. “

Comment about Ackerman’s directing style

“We can discuss things deeply. He provides an environment where we can all share our opinions and have discussion…I like that. To have a good relationship with a director from another country is to always have a smile on my face…*laugh*!?

My model is Aiba (of Arashi) . Aiba says ‘if you are unsure, smile!’ *laugh*

The end

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｢BEST STAGE｣8月号  二宮和也

Scans of the article posted by ArashiNino in her vox and my translations cross posted in her vox comment section.

-         I have heard that you memorise the whole script prior to starting your rehearsals. Did you do that again this time?

“No. I went along not memorising anything. The very first time I actually read the script was during the HONYOMI. This time, I had no intention of reading and memorising the script prior to rehearsals. If you asked me why, I could not really tell you because I just felt like not doing it. It was not that I had no time to do it, either. My preparation consisted of going over the script quickly, thinking ‘ok, the story goes like that…’. On the first day of rehearsal, we read through the script together and also did a workshop where we discussed about characters – I am not good at that *laugh*.

 

-         You work with Mr Ackerman, who is a renowned director all over the world, for the first time.

 

He pays attention to smallest of details. And I realised…a great director like Mr Ackerman is very kind! He is kind to everyone, and is keen to pass on his knowledge. One way to look at acting is to think it is a challenge to your imagination, but Mr Ackerman is not the kind of person who would say ‘you figure it out!’. He would offer suggestions saying ‘how about this?’, providing options for those who are stuck. The process of figuring out the answer is more important than getting the answer itself. So this time, if I cannot figure something out on my own, I would be honest and say “I cannot figure it out!” *laugh*. I am not the type to analyse the character objectively. There are many things I only understand once I started acting the character”

-         Bruno, the character you play is a crazed person who commit homicide. Do you feel it is difficult to understand the character?

“No. He is not crazy…rather he is a very logical person. When I read the script together with the co-actors yesterday, that is when I realised that he is an intelligent ordinary man. The character overlaps with Shuichi, the character I played in the movie, ‘Ao no Honoo’.

-         Shuichi planned a perfect crim in order to protect his family from the violent father, right?

“I started off playing him in the direction of crazy person but I was told ‘be normal’. When you think about the character Shuichi, he does not have to be crazy. You don’t have to make him crazy.”

 

-         Do you find Bruno interesting as a character?

“Well…I would probably have YOYUU to have fun, if it was not for such long lines…Bruno is constantly talking. He annoys me because he talks too much *laugh*. If you were after a character who was extremely unusual, I would say Naoya from ‘Shibuya kara tooku hanarete’…

That was a play that left impression on everyone who saw it MEISAKU created by Yukio and Iwamatsu Ryou, wasn’t it?

“It was a great play. But I cannot play that character anymore. I have lost such a pure heart of a young boy *laugh*.

This is going off the track a bit, but with the play ‘Shibuya~’ , it was not just the character that was unusual…the whole play was unusual. I would arrive at the theatre like 15 minutes before the play was meant to start, then go on the stage in my private/casual clothes…Schedule was also different depending on the day of the week…on the day before the last day, all the co-actors did not want the play to finish, so it went on a lot longer…they would pace themselves slow in between the lines! It ended up being 15 minutes or so longer and the director got so angry at us”.

-         You seem to be given opportunity to work with renowned masters from different field…Yukio, Iwamatsu Ryo, and you even worked with Clint Eastwood in the field of movie. And this time, you are working with r Ackerman.

Maybe a because I am great …I attract similar people…great people…RUI HA TOMO WO YOBU *laugh* . But, it is meaningless to create something great, working with someone great…if it does not turn out to be interesting to the young audience. I do not agree with the attitude of only the ones who understand art of theatre should come and see our play. I believe that we have responsibility towards anyone who pay the money and come to see the play. Also, this play is not something new. To just play what has already been done does not create anything new. That is why I think that I especially need to act well in this play.”

-         You are saying that this play is not something that has the benefits of being new and exciting. Because this is an already existing play, you must provide solid performance…is that right?

“I think so. That is how I understand it”.

-         A grown up Ninomiya, who no longer has young and impressionable boy’s heart, will actually play a grown up character this time, right?

“That is right! So I will do my best!*laugh* I know this may sound strange…but in ‘Strangers on a train’, I think I will actually be ‘ACTING’. You may find it hard to believe, but I actually do no feel like I am acting often…People also often tell me that I am ‘natural’ when acting a character. There often have been demend for that ‘naturalness’ as well in the past. Doing rehearsals for this play, I actually realised that I never went through experiences of ‘ACTING’ before. So, in that sense, a little new/different Ninomiya Kazunari in this play.

The end

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Hanako July09 01

Scans of the article posted by ArashiNino in her vox and my translations cross posted in her vox comment section.

 

New segments will let you enjoy Arashi members talk

 

Ninomiya was bought by Minami Akina and won the first position in  the second episode of the well received new segment “mannequin Five”.

 

“It was sooo good. It is nice to be number one, isn’t it? I never thought I would be chosen first. Sho-chan and I both wore clothes that could have been suited for going outdoor or into the town. However, we ended up at the opposite end”.

 

We thought he was a very capable man, but he also has good fashion taste, too.

 

“I intentionally kept it a secret…but I cannot help it that I have good taste in clothes*laugh*”.

 

Well, you were chosen third in the fist episode of “Mannequin Five”…

 

“I must say I felt happier when I was picked third. When you are feeling down, thinking I am no good, and someone comes along and choose you…that is very nice”.

 

Do you have any advice for Sakurai who is having a losing streak?

 

“It is difficult…what Sho-chan picked out to wear together did not look bad from men’s point of view…but obviously not good from girls point of view…Sho-chan seems to be  unpopular with girls…I guess he was unlucky as well…Everyone has different taste in clothes…”.

 

How about you? What kind of clothes would you like to see on your date if you were going outdoor.

 

“I really don’t care…It is the thought of trying to look good for me that counts. It is not like I fall in love with the clothes my date is wearing. What is important is the person underneath”.

 

Very cool and manly opinion! We expect no less from Ninomiya.

 

 

Is the secret to win hidden in the order of appearance of the guest who likes what you picked to wear?

 

Himitsu no Arashi-chan underwent transformation in recent months. The episode aired on 11^th June included “Mannequin Five” segment where the members had to choose and wear clothes that would suit the theme of ‘clothes you want your boyfriend to wear on an outdoor date’. Matsumoto’s choice was too outdoorish, Ohno was too much of a fisherman, Sakurai looked like he was going to town instead of outdoor, and Ninomiya looked good in layered clothes. The guests in order of their appearances were Minami Akina, Nishiyama Maki, Sato yui, and Ogura Yuko.

 

Matsumoto looked worried after Ninomiya and Aiba were chosen. However, he ended up being chosen third. As Ninomiya was saying, ‘triple the happiness when you get picked when starting to get very worried’, and Matsumoto found himself in that situation. Matsumoto was extremely happy to be chosen third. Next, Yuko picked Ohno based on his comment promising to buy the whole fishing outfit for his date. Sakurai came last again, following a loss in the first episode theme of ‘clothes I want my boyfriend to wear on our first date’.

 

“Akina was saying that if it was her choice between Ohno –san and Sakurai-san, then it would have been Sakurai-san…never mind, Sho-chan” (comment by Ninomiya)

 

What kind of challenges will Arashi be put through in the future? I cannot wait.

 

 

Writings next to the photo of Arasshi members in dark suits:

 

Arashi and Guest battle it out to win a woman’s heart in new segment “Host Royal”. The guest of the first episode is Tutorial’ Tokui (comedian) and the challenger from Arashi is Sakurai. “You were no good” (comment by Ninomiya)

 

 

Writings underneath the pics of outdoor date clothe Sakurai, Ohno and Ninomiya:

 

Ohno posed with a fishing rod. Sakurai was told he did not look like he was going outdoor, so he used a BBQ to look the part. ..but ended up just looking like a weirdo. Cannot see Sakurai clearly as tears of laughter is rolling down from my eyes! *laugh*

 

 In a pink box:

 

Secret Helpline

 

The costume team of the movie “Yatterman” made me an original overall which is so comfortable to wear is my favourite clothes at the moment. My favourite last year was a  pair of denim sweatpants (I think he means that sweatpants that looked like denim jeans…but cannot be 100% sure) . So, started off with denim, then moved onto sweatpants…what would be my next favourite comfortable clothes? Please choose based on how easy it is to move around in it.

 

(question by Sakurai)

 

 

So comfortable, So comfortable…he kept saying and recommending…

 

 

 

Long Johns. Doesn’t he remember? Once upon a time, he was the biggest fan of that thing. During the filming of Kiiroi Namida, he kept telling everyone how comfortable long johns were. Please remember how comfortable long-johns were!

 

(reply from Ninomiya)

 

Next question from Ninomiya to Arashi member

 

It will get hotter and hotter from now on. I would like an original advice from the members on how to deal with the heat.

 

The end  

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ArashiNino has uploaded the above scan in her vox (N-locked).
(Isn't she just amazing with her sharing?I cannot thank her enough for all the work she does to spread Arashi love! )

Translation completed by request and cross posted in her post's comments section.

Enjoy!

xxxOz

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Translation

 

 

“Freedom of Choice” Interview with Ninomiya Kazunari (from August “MORE” magazine)

 

Nino stands in the middle of a building site. Only the posts stand among scattered building materials – it is not possible to imagine what kind of structure would arise there.

 

“How old am I?”

 

He mumbled all of  a sudden when we were moving on from the photo shoot to do the interview.

 

I answered “you will be 26 y.o. this year, I thought”, to which, he replied “ah, that’s right…26”, with a little smile.

 

For someone who usually remembers names of the staff and dance choreography for new song before anyone else could, not remembering own age is a little odd.

 

“I forget easily when it is something that does not matter much to me *laugh*. Recently, my memory is failing. I had a very good memory once upon a time. When I was still a Johnny’s Jr, I could remember all the Senpai (senior members)’s songs, dance choreography and even the set list their concert, as well as being good at remembering lines from scripts…but I cannot do that now. Ah, but it may not be that my memory deteriorated, but rather, influenced by my motivation. As for the script for tv drama…maybe it is not that I cannot remember, but rather, I am not trying to remember…”

 

He says that his thought shifted when he started filming “Ryusei no Kizuna” last year.

 

“I predicted that tv drama to become my turning point, and just as I predicted, it became a turning point for me. Until then, I would prepare myself well so when the filming starts, then I could nail it. But I stopped preparing myself too much prior to filming. At the time, I had not acted for more than a year and was spending all my time just doing magic…so I was a little worried about how I would go…but when I received the script and read it, my head was filled with imagery (of the drama) straight away.  I realised that I could understand the drama’s worldview more easily and deeply than before. When you are acting all the time, you probably have better hunch/gut feeling on set, but I believe no one came close to how deeply I interpreted the script *laugh*. It is all thanks to magic. It is very difficult to understand what a magic instruction book says. In drama scripts, there are lines of all the characters, and descriptions of the scenes as well, but in magic instruction book its different – reading magic instruction books…it is a little like reading a script with lines only for the character I am acting and nothing else. I have no idea what the other characters may say or do, so I need to just imagine, understand the situation, and express it”.

 

He says that he has always been good at turning what is on a piece of paper into reality.

 

He reads a magic instruction book as if it was a book with very complex storyline…he tries to deeply understand the book, and enjoys expressing what he interpreted.

 

 

 

“I have always been good at turning what is on a piece of paper into 3D reality since childhood. Because I was given opportunities to act in theatre plays, movies and tv drams since I was about 13 y.o…I think…just following the directions of what is in the script would not enable you to turn that into reality. It is the same as taking a magazine clipping of an actor to a hairdresser. Just simply cutting and styling hair that is the same as the actor does not make you look like the actor. That is because each one of us has different face and atmosphere that surround us…*laugh*. Memorizing directions on a piece of paper does not help you. It is important to interpret and to develop own images.

I thin that this ability I always had was further developed by doing magic. My perspective was widened which enabled me to read the script and to understand it at a deeper level. So when I read the script, I felt that directions in the script gave a lot of information. It was like reading a puzzle book with answers already written in. There was too much information there that I could not contain my imagination to manageable level. That is when I thought, it is probably better to just let my body feel the character, and try not to let my head direct everything.  Even if the script had detailed directions about a scene, when you actually act it, the way you act would change depending on the atmosphere of the filming and the flow of it. Also, if you just simply follow the script saying “you cry here because…”, then the acting loses reality. Depending on who is acting the character, there should be many choices on how to act the character, and, it would be more interesting for the actor to choose what he/she thinks is the best, making choice at every situation.”.

 

Ninomiya says “I would like to choose the best expression for each and every moment, with as much flexibility as possible, and do it freely”.

 

“Because, what you choose…that is what decides your character and your life…don’t you think? It not just for actors. Am I going to eat break fast today or not? Am I going to have a shower or a bath? What to say, and what not to say…? Everyday, we are faced with so many options. Accumulation of your choices you make for small and big things everyday…that makes you who you are. That is why, just following directions in the script to act is not interesting for the actor nor the audience. I think it is OK to use the prescribed formula for “Successful in ratings” or “The director will like me”, if that is your thing. But it is not like that for me. I have known and worked with the staff from “Door to Door” for a long time now…team of staff like the one from “Door to Door” know what I am like, so they just let me do what I want freely *laugh*.

 

After long absence of 4 years, Ninomiya returns to Theatre. What choices will he make there? It is fascinating because even Ninomiya himself cannot even imagine what choices he will be making yet.

 

------------The end of article ----------

 

Lovely ArashiNino has posted loads of mag scans in her vox - arigatou!!! -
I have translated one of the scans (N-locked in her vox).

Enjoyxxx

Translation

 

Questions we want to ask Ninomiya

 

 

Q:If you could become one of the members for a day, who would you choose to become?

 

Which member? I do not really care…Ok, let’s just pick Riida? *laugh* Maybe I will become Riida and go fishing all day. Well, all Ohno-san ever does is fishing *laugh*.

 

Q: At the Galaxy Award presentation, you said “Arashi is my Ichiban”. What is “Arashi” to you?

 

I have never thought about it before. If I must answer the question… well.. arashi is “Arashi” .  It is a bit like what teachers or family are to us, you know? A teacher will always be a teacher even after you graduate. Your father and mother will always be your father and mother no matter how much time goes by, right? To me, Arashi is “Arashi”. Arashi is just Arashi. Something that never changes.

 

Q: When compare acting in tv drama and acting in a stage play, which do you like better?

 

I dunno. It more depends on who the director is rather than if it is a play or a drama. Some directors would say “ do what you like” and some would ask” do it this way”. And it really depends on what kind of story it is.

 

Q: Has rehearsal for the new play already started?

 

Yeah. It has already started. With this play, it is not like I am doing anything new, but rather, the director tells me what to do, so I just follow his direction as faithfully as possible.

 

Q: Is there anything you want to do when you turn 26 y.o?

 

No*laugh*. It is not like turning 20(legal age in Japan). I do not have any special sentiment about being  26 y.o. As long as I stay alive, does not matter *laugh*

 

Q: If you were to form a comedy duo with a member of Arashi, who would you pick to be your partner? And what would you call yourself?

 

Name for a comedy duo? I dunno *laugh* everyone in a group is versatile to they can perform “Tsukkomi”(a straight/serious role) and also “boke” (silly/stooge role) , so I cannot pick…anyone will do! And whoever is my partner, I will adjust to him.

 

Q: What kind of games are you playing at the moment?

 

I am playing a game which is about me becoming a coach of a professional baseball team and raising players. It is very interesting*laugh*

 

Q: If you did not have to worry about time, how long would you play game?

 

Forever. *laugh*I never really took notice of time when I play game…but I am sure I can play game all day long *laugh*

 

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Interviewing Nino after filming of HnA on 10^th June 2009.

 

 

Q: The first segment you filmed was [truths I’d rather not have known’. What did you think of Aiba’s MC?

 

Well, I thing it was good *laugh* How the segment went was very different to the one aired in march, so the feeling was different, too.

 

Q: Which “truth” leave the most impression on you?

 

Secret of “007” poster. I could never even imagine the fact the hand was of Mizuno Haruo *laugh*

 

Q: There was also filming of segment “star’s favourite restaurant tour”…

 

I could not make up my mind on the answer to the last question *laugh* Once you get the idea about who it might be, you are fixated on that idea, so get so confused thinking about who it could be.

 

Q: Is it really difficult to guess the person just by listening to his/her voice?

 

I think so. You need to guess by listening for something distinguished about the voice or the way he/she talks. When you get it, you get it quick and easy, but when you get no inkling, you really have no idea*laugh*

Monkey Diary

Vid credit to: arashiclassic (find her at Youtube)!
Also, big thanks to erussy who contacted arashiclassic to get permission to repost her vid herexxx

Tranlsation
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**Writings in blue are translations of writings that appear on screen**

(Most of the time, captions on screen are the same as what is being said. I only typed them up if it was not read/narrated.)

 

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Let’s raise a baby monkey together!

 

Parenting Diary

 

Digest of last week’s program

 

Narrator: It was decided that we were going to raise an orphaned baby monkey called “Yamada-kun” together.

 

Narrator: Last week, Yamada-kun befriended a puppy brought by three boys from Kansai Jr and had a great time.

 

Narrator: Waking up to a new day, Yamada-kun is full of energy. “Who will come and play with me today?”

 

Sakurai: Let’s go and see Yamada-kun

 

Ohno: Yeah, lets…

 

Today’s Carers

 

Ohno Satoshi

Sakurai Sho

 

Second time looking after Yamada-kun, so both of them are already friends with him.

 

Ohno: What the heck is that?

 

Narrator: They noticed something…

 

Sakurai: (reading a sign at the door ) “Asahi TV station is relocating. Please remove this structure as soon as possible”…oh no…this is not a good news for Yamada-kun…

 

Having look around Asahi TV station building

 

Narrator: The building is empty…

 

Sakurai: Oh no…this place is finished!!!!!!

 

Narrator: They finally realised the seriousness of the situation.

 

Narrator: They went to break the news to Yamada-kun …They decided to be honest and straight about it.

 

Sakurai: We are going to move…so all the best to us…

 

Narrator: Yamada-kun looks sad moving from his home where he was used to.

 

Narrator: Special Project…Moving Yamada-kun Project!

 

Details of the project

 

1. look for a suitable location to move Yamda-kun to
2. Move both Yamda-kun and Yamada-kun’s house

 

Narrator: To find a suitable location for Yamada-kun, two of them go and look around the new location of Asahi tv station and its surrounding areas, asking questions to local people and gathering information. They managed to find a good location for Yamada-kun to move to.

 

The day of moving

 

Narrator: two of them got straight onto preparing to move Yamada-kun’s house…HOWEVER…

 

Sakurai: What are you doing???*laugh*

 

Ohno: *big smile*

 

Narrator: Yamada-kun has attached himself to Ohno-kun’s leg, holding on very tight!

“No! I don’t want to let go~!!!”

 

Yamada-kun won’t let go of Ohno-kun

 

Narrator: Yamada-kun has been very clingy since yesterday, not leting go of Ohno-kun…maybe he is worried about moving???

 

Narrator: Yamada-kun’s house was safely removed and taken away by a truck to a new location. Two of them were about to get in a car to follow the truck…that is when it happened…

 

Ohno: You are always like that…! Always riding in a car…This is meant to be a challenge…

 

Sakurai: Challenge?

 

Ohno: That’s right. A challenge. ..Let’s walk instead!

 

Sakurai; what?

 

Ohno Satoshi’s suggestion

 

Narrator: Suggestion is very unlike Ohno…!

 

-  We should accept what happened (the need to move) as a challenge/trial (but also an opportunity for growth) that presented itself to Ohno, Sakurai and Yamada-kun

 

- We should go our of our ways to rough it out…so we should walk instead of taking a car

 

Narrator: so, they decided to walk instead…but Yamada-kun looks increasingly anxious.

“Will I really be ok following those two?”

 

Sakurai: I can feel the determination to walk…what is it?(to Ohno)

 

Narrator: Ohno is looking suspicious…and then…Ohno-ku suddenly started to run …!

 

Sakurai: Ohno-kun!!!!!What the heck is he doing?

 

Narrator: Sakurai and Yamada-kun chased after him.

 

Sakurai: What is he doing?

 

Spotted a wagon!

 

Ohno: Let’s use this!

 

Sakurai: What? You just told me that we should walk…didn’t you?

 

Ohno: I got bored with walking…

 

Ohno’s Suggestion

 

Narartor: Ohno-kun, changed his mind and now suggests to use a wagon! It seems to made Yamada-kun happy. Let’s go! Yamada-kun looks happy whizzing around in a wagon.

 

BUT…the real challenge was waiting around the corner…

 

Sakurai: …am I gonna cycle up this hill?

 

Narrator: in front of them was a very steep hill.

 

Sakurai: climb up this hill?

 

Ohno: this way is the shortest way!

 

Narrator: according to Ohno, this route is a short cut…Sakurai started going up the hill…but…

Sakurai: ohno-kun…! Fight!

 

Ohno: Ippatsu (there is  a  famous and long-running TV advertisement for an energy drink that use the phrase ‘Fight!’ ‘Ippatsu!’ so ohno is taking it off)

 

Sakurai: Oi!

 

Narrator: Somehow they got to the halfway …Yamada-kun is cheering the two as well.  And they finally did it! Climbed up the hill!

 

Ohno: wait a minute , sho-kun

 

Sakurai: What is it?

 

Narrator: Again, something caught Ohno-kun’s eye

 

Ohno: there is a kindergarten…let’s go visit that kindergarten!

 

Narator: Yamada-kun clan were very tired, so they decided to take a break at a kindergarten

 

Sakurai: Hello

 

Kinder kids: Hello!

 

Narrator: Yamada- kun proved to be very popular here as well, getting friendly with kids as time went by…Yamada-kun was very quiet all day…but now seemed to be happier and back to his old self …Yamada-kun had a wonderful time.

 

Resuming Moving/Transferring

 

Sakurai: That was sort of heart warming, wasn’t it?... are you listening?(to ohno-kun)

 

Narrator: They are nearly at the destination…and were just about to give it a big final effort …something amazing happened!

 

Sakurai: rocky road is difficult to ride on...easy to be out of balance…

 

Ohno: Wow!Sho-san!

 

Sakurai: What is it?

 

Ohno: Look back!

 

Sakurai: Oh my!

 

Narrator: the kinder kids they said good bye to earlier, were so concerned about them that they decided to follow and to offer support

 

Ohno: They are pushing us!

 

Sakurai: Thank you!

 

Narrator: Yamada-kun looks very excited about kinder kids

 

Ohno: Good bye!

 

Sakurai: thank you!

 

Narrator: this has proven to be a day to remember

 

And, at last!

 

Sakurai: we are here at last!

 

Ohno: good job

 

A challenging journey is finished

 

Narartor: Yamada-kun’s house was already relocated ready for him at new place…once inside, Yamada-kun started playing happily …he is happy with his new home

 

A lot of things happened while moving…there were difficult moments, happy moments…and the journey was full of surprises …all those experiences must have helped Yamada-kun grow up a little.

 

Sakurai: Ohno-kun’s suggestion turned out to be a good suggestion I think…

 

Ohno: it was all thanks to me

 

Sakurai: well…thank you and sorry for depending on you …

 

Male person: all thanks to Ohno…? It looked like training program for Sakurai…sounds like you guys had tough time…

 

Sakurai:…well…ohno-kun did not really cycle at all…

 

Another make person: you did…nothing…

 

Ohno:…I cannot ride a bicycle…

 

Make person: what? Can’t you ride a bicycle?

 

Ohno; I can…but if I ride a bicycle too much…my thighs would get big…well…Sho-kun is skinny…so…

the end of vid

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

sunsetglow posted a few vids (neighborhood locked) on her vox. I have posted my translations there in comments section.

Enjoy.

Junshin has provided DL links to the vid. I posted the links in my previous post - neighborhood locked.

Hope you enjoy...

*Red letters – translation of titles appearing on screen

Tokyo Tower – Making of

4^th June 2004

Praying for safe filming  - voice of Shinto Priest praying in the background

Shinto Priest: Congratulations

Everyone: Thank you

Tokyo Tower Filming start

Meeting Shifumi

Toru’s Mother: Toru!

Toru’s Mother: Shifumi-san, that is my son

Toru’s mother: Toru, this is my friend. Say hello.

Toru(narration): That  is the moment that changed me…

Toru: Nice to meet you…

Hayama

Tokyo Tower was filmed between June and September, 2004

Meeting Kimiko

koji: Married women are cute. They are starved of fun.

2^nd day of filming

Director Minamoto Takashi

Filming is already behind schedule

After the filming…

Matsujun: Hello. Its Matsumoto. This is the second day of filming. Haha(laughs). We are filming a scene we did not get to film yesterday. Second day…So…I think, I will interview …

Filming by Matsumoto Jun

Terashima: Nooooo!

Matsujun: Excuse me…This is Matsumoto in charge of “making of”…could I ask a few questions?

Terashima: Sorry, but I am trying to concentrate…

Matsujun: Do you have a few minutes? Please?

Matsujun: It is the second day!

Terashima:That’s right.

Matsujun: How is it going?

Terashima: Well…younger boy is good.

Matsujun: Haha(laughs)

Terashima:Hahaha (laughs)

Matsujun: Well, what is so good about a younger boy?

Terashima: What do you think of an older woman?

Matsujun: Older woman…is …very nice…

Terashima:Your face says otherwise!

Matsujun: That is not true!

Terashima : Is that so?

Matsujun: Not true at all…

Filming by Terashima Shinobu

Terashima:Well…please explain properly…

Matsujun: What? What am I meant to explain?

Terashima:How we are gonna do it…or something…(laughs)

Matsujun: Well…xxx-kun is someone…who likes older women…what makes him different from Toru is that…well…Toru likes xxx, but..xxx…just likes any older women…that is probably the biggest difference, I think…It is the contrast between someone who happened to fall in love with a woman who was older than him, and someone who likes older women in general…looking around among older women…found you…

Matsujun:Found her!

Matsujun: It has been fun…well…yesterday, we could not film much…but when I got home, I thought ‘it was fun’…

Terashima:What was fun?

Matsujun: What was fun? Well…it has been a while since I did acting and being on the filming  set …so it was fun…well…that is what I thought…

Filming by Matsumoto Jun

Terashima: Hahaha (laughs)

Matsujun: How was it?

Terashima: Well, it was fun… wasn’t it?

Matsujun: Well, it was fun for ME…

Terashima: I think…maybe…it was…fun for me,too…I think

Matsujun: Why maybe?

Terashima:Well…it is going to get fun…I think…that is all I have to say!

On the other hand…

Two of them are filming the scene of a concert

Classic music – ties the two of them…

Filming goes well

Filming finishes earlier than scheduled

Greeting the fans who gathered

Okada: Well…it is a bit grown-up kind of movie… probably includes many scenes that make your heart beat faster…from a viewpoint of a man…my character is interesting …he is very…direct…he has no problems saying such things like ‘I want to be with you all day today’ without feeling embarrassed…

Toru only has eyes for xxx

Shifumi: Catch a taxi with this…

Toru: I do not want to go home yet…

Shifumi:You must …

Toru: I am sick of being abandoned halfway…

Shifumi: Do you want to start an argument?

Male Voice: Is it Toru? What’s the matter?

Toru: I want to borrow your office…

Male Voice: It is a bit of short notice, isn’t it? Are you with someone?

Toru: Yes

Okada: Soaked…

Today’s Filming…

Okada: Well, Koji goes to a party even though he hates the idea…and well…how can I say it…? He had an affair with an older woman, and he sees the daughter of his former lover …daughter was his classmate …

School Reunion Party

Koji: Long time no seen! Well…this is where I work…so everyone…get drunk and have some fun!

Checking his own acting

Matsujun: What am I saying…?What kind of Japanese is that? (laughs) Well…school reunion is great, isn’t it?

Koji: Oh, Yoshida! It’s been a long time…

Yoshida: It is such a short notice…! I only found out about this reunion yesterday…well…you are looking well…

Reunited with Yoshida (old lover’s daughter who was school classmate)

Yoshida and Koji

Koji: Oh, Yoshida! It’s been a long time…did not know you were here…

Yoshida: It is such a short notice…! I only found out about this reunion yesterday…

Koji: Is that right…?

Yoshida: Well…you are looking well…

Koji: Well, yeah…so so…

Yoshida: Did you know…? I still live in that house…

Koji: …ah…right…

Worried about dancing

Hirayama: Everyone’s gonna dance…they say…

Okada: well, you are going to be the dancing queen, right?

Matsujun: Just try it…

Hirayama:…well…imagining nightclub…oh but I have never been to a nightclub…

Hirayama: How should I dance?

Staff: Well, we will decide after watching how Yoshida(Hirayama) dances…

Worried about dancing

Hirayama: What? Really? Noooo I am worried…How does it go???

Non rehearsal – real filming on dance scene

And…

Hirayama: What will they say I wonder…

Hirayama: I will throw this at Matsumoto Jun-kun…old school classmate…hehe

Revenge by Yoshida

Yoshida: Koji-kun

Yoshida: Sorry

Practice

Hirayama: Well, baseball players hold the ball like this…right?

Non rehearsal – real filming

Computer Graphics is used for the ball

This is how our worst summer finished…

Battle

Okada: you guys ‘ relationship is already broken to pieces, isn’t it? How can you NOT care after finding out she has been with me!

Shifumi: Why don’t you answer me!

Yoko and Shifumi

Yoko(Toru’s Mother?): I had no idea…What you did to 18 y.o. Toru…isn’t it a crime?

Shifumi: I am sorry …

Possibly because of the acting character,

There is no conversation between those two on the filming set

Yoko: I cannot believe what you did…

Filming finished successfully and smile returns

Asano(husband of Kimiko) and Toru

Asano: A little expensive toy, isn’t it?

Chiba International Swimming Pool

Temperature raises inside

Toru: you guys ‘ relationship is already broken to pieces, isn’t it? How can you NOT care after finding out she has been with me!

Asano: I want to kill you, you know that?

Asano: You have no reason to be angry at me…

Stunt person dives in

And…

Acting is done underwater by Okada

Rehearsal

Director: After you fall, I want to see sadness and anguish

Okada: so…probably better if I do not face the camera straight on…more from sideways?

Non-rehearsal – Real Filming

Success on the first try

Everyone: Otsukaresamadeshita

Okada: Thank you

Kimiko and Koji

Makuhari

Koji: You did it on purpose, didn’t you?

Kimiko: What a cool car…did you buy it? Well…I am sorry but you are paying your own repair bills

Atmosphere of the filming set of these two are always friendly /fun

Terashima: That is because it was cloudy…

Matsujun: Laughing

Terashima: Nooo I did not do such a thing…(laugh)

*could not make out what everyone was saying and got no idea what they are talking about above…

Kimiko tries to give up on her feelings

Kimiko: It will not take long at all…so I will say it to you face to face, instead of over the phone…

Koji: What? Well..can we go outside to talk…?

Kimiko: Koji-kun made me like this!

Kimiko: If I did not meet you…I would not have turned like this…

Kimiko: So…I never want to see you again!

Non – rehearsal – Real filming

Skulling

Filming continues without a hitch

Filming finished successfully

Voice of Kimiko from the monitor:What are you saying? Are you stupid?

Everyone: laughs

Staff(director?) : How cute!

Terashima: Such sinful man Koji is…!

Matsujun: *peace sign*

Water Bus (a ferry?)

Non rehearsal - Real filming

Break time

Terashima: Oh, moody, isn’t it? Moody?

Filming by Matsumoto Jun

Matsumoto: What kind of pose was that?

Terashima: I dunnooooo!

Terashima: wow, very crowded inside of that one!

Terashima: Location/environment change excites …

Matsujun: Excites…who?

Terashima: *points at Matsumoto

Matsujun: Me? What? I am not excited. Don’t say such a surprising comment.

Terashima: you are embarrassing me!

Filming by Terashima

Matsujun: Oh, can you please film this? Its called tube lighting…

Terashima: it is being filmed…good, good…oh,very good…! How is it going? We have filmed this and that by now…

Matsujun: Yeah, we did film a bit…we already filmed the ending/last scene…

Terashima: That’s right…finished filming that scene, didn’t we?

Matsujun: All important last scene…filmed already…

Terashima: That is right…what are we gonna do now? It feels already like it is all finished…

Matsujun: No No No

Matsujun: It feels more like ‘we are filming’ at the beginning ,yeah?

Matsujun: And …what’s left is flamenco dancing…

Terashima: I can probably dance that…look…

Flamenco dancing filming

Terashima: so…probably better dancing a few times…?

Director?: Will your feet be OK? Oh, no, muscle spasm!

Terashima: That will not happen! I will be alright!

Non Rehearsal – Real Flming

Filming success

Flamenco Dancing Instructor – Sato Hiroki

Terashima: Everything was for this day!

Director: I want to capture the moment that says ‘Love is not something you do but it is something you just  fall in’.

(Koi ha surumonojyanakute, ochirumono)-it was difficult to translate…

Toru: Something even sweeter…something you cannot resist…

Toru: Love is not something you do but it is something you just  fall in

Tokyo Tower and them

Toru: Shifumi-san was so faraway…I wanted to come home quickly…

Tokyo Tower was put into the scene using computer graphics

Acting as if they can actually see the Tokyo Tower

Checking own performance

Shifumi: I d not like men who do not hold hands …

Shifumi and Tokyo Tower

Shirokane

The scene will have Tokyo Tower in the background once editing is finished

Toru and Tokyo Tower

Toru: Can you see the Tokyo Tower from where you are? I can see it…so I must leave …

Shiodome

Filmed with real Tokyo Tower in the background

The Rosary is actually Kuroki Hitomi’s personal belongings

28^th August The Last day of filming in Japan

Staff: Last day!

Staff: It looks like they wondered into all boys school or something…laughs

Staff: I am just lured to the smell of food cooking …laughs

The filming set on the last day is in cheerful mood

Checking camera position on posing staff members

Then filming starts…

Filming gets done smoothly

And…

Last take/scene (in Japan)

Filming in Japan completed!

Paris

Filming is over…

Okada: For me…well…it was my first time doing a love story…everything was new/first time experience…and it was fun…

Kuroki: I feel …mixed emotions…I feel really satisfied…but also already miss filming…oh, I wanto to fall in love, too!*laughs* the end!

Deleted Scenes

Toru(narration): Koji had an affair with a mother of an classmate when he was in year 12.

Koji: Oh I envy you, Toru…I wanna do it with an older woman, too…

Toru:…what’s stopping you?

Koji:…what do you think of Yoshida’s mother…?

Toru: Yoshida’s mother?

Koji: Isn’t she unexpectedly quite beautiful?

Toru: Well, why don’t you? I will not stop you.

Classmate: Hey, Koji…!

Koji: Right…I have decided…

Koji: Yes! I reckon I can do it!

Toru(narration): Koji really did it…

Filming Set

Practice

Non rehearsal – real filming

And…

Success on first try!

****************************************************

Oz rambling here...please ignore if you just want the translation.

A little trivia about Hirayama Aya (Yoshida in Tokyo Tower)

You Arashians may already know…but  Hirayama and Matsujun used to be classmates in real life when they were at high school. Hirayama and other classmates used to call Matsujun “Mattsun”.

Hirayama was a guest in D no Arashi(I think) when they did "Interesting Camera Angle" theme presented by Aiba and Ninomiya. Ohchan called Hirayama “Cute” in the show and all other members went up to Ohchan to slap him (of course as a joke) for saying such a thing to a guest. It was funny.

Also…watching this vid's Hirayama segment somehow reminded me of what Ohno said in one of MagoMagoTalk when the talk topic was "what kind of gestures/movements you find cute when a girl does it" or something like that. Ohchan said the way a girl throws a ball is cute, and he even did a demonstration of how a girl does it… Now, obviously there has never been any rumour about Ohno and Hirayama - not that I know of...and this is my total imagination speaking …but I wonder if Ohchan was thinking of Hirayama throwing a ball in magoMagoTalk? Wouldn’t that be cute!

Well...bye for now.

xxxOZ

I have no idea what magazine this interview was published in...but because he is talking about his upcoming stage play “Strangers on a Train”, I think this is a very recent article.

Ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｃａｎｓ．．．ｐｌｅａｓｅ　ｖｉｓｉｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｂｌｏｇ．．．

Apologies for any mistake that may be included...spelling as well as translation. I do not have time to go over the translation and perfect it. I know it is a rough translation but hope it is sufficient for you to understand what Nino is talking about and get the gist of it all,ne!

If you find mistakes or feel there are better words for translating particular sentences etc., feel free to just comment! You could be my editor/proof reader, lol!

Long Interview with Ninomiya Kazunari

 

The theme is “LIVE (real time/face to face)”. When I researched Ninomiya Kazunari’s activities within his field, there became a list of many pre-filmed programs, films, music, articles written in newspapers and magazines, etc. What I mean by this is that he spends most of his time creating things that gets filtered through some kind of media and put to his audience after editing, rather than having a chance to deal with who is interested in him live. So, I asked him directly, “Is it important for you to express yourself live?”.

 

“Well, the difference between live and other things depends on how the audience see it. It would be different for the audience depending on if it is through the tv screen, or a magazine. However, to me, its always live. This (being interviewed) is still live, isn’t it? Right? So, to me, there is no difference.

 

I feel that it is much bigger difference for me wether I have a character I am acting or not, rather than if it is in front of the live audience or not, if you are talking about my tension or feeling of live. A variety program without set dialogue is more live than anything. If I could say so, it is even more live to me if I was talking to a stranger at a pub. This is because I have no idea what the other person will say to me next. If I cannot hear what is said to me, then I will have to ask back. So I am more concentrated on listening. On the theatre stage, you would not ask what the other person said just because you could not hear it, right?”

 

I could not say anything to his reply of his everyday life being ‘live’ at all times. If I asked him the direction to a local town hall, this person would probably open up a world map then ask ‘so which town hall do you want to go?’”

 

I must be careful what kind of questions I ask him about acting, I thought. This is because, when he talks about acting, he sometimes say ‘I’ from the viewpoint of ‘I’ , the character he is acting. His extremely free thinking style and his own unique way of talking that sometimes lack words to explain himself fully, require the listener to really concentrate, leading to sense of tense feeling. One must listen, being free from so called common sense / fixed idea about the world, or he will take to you places you have never been before…And it reminds you…interviewing Ninomiya is LIVE, it is a confrontation without a script.

 

 

You must battle without having a character to draw from, concert is more difficult

 

 

“Although both stage play and concert are live, they are different. When doing a stage play, I am wearing a character. In contrast, in concert, I need to take off character, so there need to be substance to myself. They are both difficult, but to me, I find it more difficult to battle it out being myself. For example, in this stage play, I have lines full of dirty words, well, to say such words as a character in a play, it would not offend audience…but if I said such words in concert…audience would be offended. We are always fighting under conditions where we have no advantage/strength of a character to draw from. So, having set dialogues and directed movements in stage play, makes it easier for me.”

 

A member of Johnny’s – the one to be in owe of.

 

Also, much experience being in concert without a weapon (being himself without a character) means that he is equipped with strong nerve, as well as an advantage of being able to look at himself from a director’s point of view.

 

“I remember talking about losing memory every now and then when on stage…but that never happens during a concert. I make sure that I am high on top of the tension all the way through. Our concert is not just about talking…we have to make sure it flows well, so there is a lot to think about…because you never know what might happen. For example, if some kind of trouble happens to one of the members, then we will have to think quickly, from an audience point of view, looking at the whole stage, then decide on the next move that will make the stage appear well-balanced. So you cannot relax as such. In contrast, when doing a stage play, it is the director’s job to be looking at the whole picture, so I do not have to worry about it too much and just concentrate on what I have to do.”

 

Story goes that he did not even realise that he was bleeding while acting on stage…such concentration. However, Ninomiya himself dismissed it lightly saying “well, that is different from concentrating”.

 

“Well, it can be described as a sort of responsibility. I guess it is the same during concert, it really does not matter wether you are bleeding or whatever…if you think you can dance, you can dance…well…if I did not…that is not rude! Well, I would imagine you would still feel the pain…but if you  acknowledge the pain, you lose…so you just …do not register it…then its ok. If your girlfriend made you really disgusting meal, you can still eat it if you do not think it is disgusting, right? Its same as that.”

 

Is it the same? For ordinary people like myself, his comment begs questioning, however, Ninomiya, who “always have been like that since 13y.o.” says this like it is normal. Not everyone who has survived through competitive world of entertainment develop this kind of professional attitude. Is it his emotions, experience or the environment? I do not know what made Ninomiya the way he is, bit it is clear that he is painfully aware of the responsibility of being in the spotlight/presenting in front of people.

 

“Well! Of course it is important! They are paying money! Very important! I am selling, say, two and half hours of my time, for 9000yen or something like that. And moreover, the value of that time – two and half hours – is a lot more than the face value…lots more. Even then, people still bought ticket for me…so I must satisfy them at least for that period of time…I really think that. ..yeah…because…there are some stage plays that make you think ‘give me back my time’. I believe you have full right to say that if you felt it. I am all for people criticising a play and I think they should be allowed to write whatever they want on internet. If you are watching a play, you are paying for that right (to criticise if want to) as well. Fully inclusive.

 

So, if I go and watch my friends’ stage play, and did not think it was good, I actually tell the person straight. Only stage play I go and see on invitation are play with Arashi members in it. All other plays, I pay from my own pocket. If I did not pay for it, then I probably would feel unable to comment honestly. Well, because I pay from my own pocket…I do not often go and see a play, though *laugh*”

 

Well, his sense of responsibility stemmed from very fair value system of respecting money and time!

 

No time to breath yet. His words are realistic, full of energy and negative …those powerful words continue out from his mouth. Forget making comments about what he has got to say…let’s just listen to him for a while…

 

“Well, there are people out there who would shuffle their work around so they can come and see my play…and if the play was no good…I would not be happy. Well, I am very narrow-minded, so I would not be happy *laugh*! In contrast, if the play was really good, then it would make me want to work hard again …who knows? Maybe it becomes a reason to enjoy work …dirty (not great)  intentions usually works best, you know?

 

I used to be really bad at any event that require me to work/be/participate in a group/as a member of a group(or just large number of people) …School Sports day, School Excursion, School Trips…I really really did not like them at all. Even now, if I can be honest, I  actually do not really like being in a movie theatre or a play theatre. As for concert…I can put a concert on as a performer…but could not attend one as an audience. From the viewpoint of someone like me, I think it must be so difficult to be an audience as everything is so strictly regulated – opening time, starting time, break time, finishing time…all of them…So, when I am the one performing and not the audience, I want to make sure that audience feel that it was worth all that hassles ( of strict time regulation etc.) . I want to create a play that make people feel that way when finished.

 

 

The opening day is all about peak performance

Goal is to maintain that peak

 

 

“As long as there are people who can only make it to the opening day of the stage play, I believe it is our responsibility to show a play that is solid and completed from the first day. If that is not possible, then there should be ‘opening day 20% off” special or something. People from the same entertainment industry send flowers on opening day – the flowers mean ‘congratulation on creating finished product(the stage play)’, right? I am really against using excuses like ‘sorry things were not as it was meant to be as it was only the opening/first day…’ So, my goal is to reach my peak performance on the first day, and to maintain it until the final show. Of course it is difficult to maintain…but isn’t maintaining the most difficult part of most things? It is easy to lose or gain weight with a goal in mind, but to maintain today’s weight into tomorrow is difficult, isn’t it? And it is kind of boring. I feel that it is important for me to maintain the same standard all the way through … especially because this play is not a comedy. So…well…I guess its not a really good thing…but I am reluctant to listening to suggestions to improvement once a play is opened. I think it is great to try to continuously improve…but everyday, I give all I have…so after doing that, then given suggestions for improvement…I do not have energy (could be read as power or wisdom or maturity)  to listen and say ‘yes, I will change that tomorrow’ yet. If you could do better, then why could you not get to that level during practice? You can think that way, too. I never had a performance where I had regrets after giving it my 100%.”

 

After speaking for a while, Ninomiya finished his sentence, then seeming pensive, looked in the air. It gave me chance to catch deep breath. His determined attitude towards creating high quality work is not limited to just stage play but for all his work, fuelled by his view on wanting to return on audience’s investment.

 

“I think the important thing is to keep the emotion in control and calm. I do not do stretching exercise or voice training or shout out to put spirit into things. I do not deny those things. If someone asked me to do it with him/her, I would reply ‘sounds good’ and will do it. But this character for this play is sort of confusing/hard to understand. I feel that if I put too much spirit into it, then there may be uncomfortable difference in mood between myself and the audience…so I feel I should not be over the top with it.

 

“He comes up with the most complete version of the character before anyone else” was the words given by Tsutsumi Yukihiko (director) when I was gathering information for this story. Now I understood why.  It is never too early for Ninomiya. To have developed the character – the finished product -  at  very early stage of practicing/rehearsals, it will give time for him to struggle with it for perfection, then also time to get used to it before the opening day.  ‘To finish forming the character by the opening day” is not enough for him.

 

 

I would like to let as many people as the law allow into the theatre

 

 

“I have not yet done a comedy play at theatre. If it is a comedy, the audience would laugh out loud, so it would let me know that ‘I was right’. But no one cry out loud at a theatre, right *laugh*? There is no sign from the audience so could not gauge reaction. So, I guess it depends on what kind of play it is…but the audience of a stage play always felt close in bodies, but very far away. “

 

So close yet so far, is the same for the audience wanting to get inside the Globe theatre in Tokyo. Ninomiya Kazunari – someone the world is watching right now, starring in a stage play after long absence…it would be battle for all to get a hand on a ticket. When asked what he thinks of the ticket situation, he clowned around.

 

“Well, of course! Its starring Ninomiya-kun from ARASHI! Of course it will be a serious battle for tickets. ..well*laughs* I am so thankful…To have fully booked seats is an extreme extravagance, really…if I could, I would like to fill the theatre to the brim and let everyone in…but there is a limit as maximum capacity is set…so I cannot. I sincerely wish for even just one more person to watch this stage play…but I do not think this is a kind of play to be performed at bigger theatre like Aoyama theatre …I hope you understand…Anyway…I will do my best to put on a performance that will not lead to anyone shouting ‘refund the money!’.”

 

Well, it went right around and back to money again. It is almost like Ninomiya has burdened himself with a huge loan from the audience …loan of their time and money, sacrificed by the audience…as well as paying price of being put through pain and hassles of forced to do what he/she is told according to a group rule…so he feels he is indebted to repay them.

 

 I do not want people to misunderstand…but I feel that if I describe Ninomiya’s attitude that way, it help to explain why he has such extreme sense of responsibility. If there are no audience who is actually thinking they are sacrificing money and time, or feeling pained about being an audience at theatre…maybe we should keep that a secret from Ninomiya. That would ensure that we will be rewarded with top class performance from him again in the future.

 

Dear Arashians all over the world,

Just a quick post here.

Firstly...big thanks to:
mitchiko
Thank you for leaving me a comment! Glad to be back!

Tenjo Style
Thank you for another comment! Well, concerning your fanvids...pleasure is all mine! Thank YOU!

thebreeze
Life is hard dakara happy is such a nice saying,ne!
If you get the fish phone strap, do post the photo in your vox!

And...

As you may know, I am pretty busy at the moment, and may sort of disappear from time to time...but I still do and always will support Arashi, and love reading vox posts. I also appreciate Arashi information, vids and scans people post here in Vox and it is beacuse of people like YOU guys here at Vox, I can keep up with Arashigoto, and deepen my love for the Stormy Boys as I get to know them more each and every day...

So...to show my appreciation...and also because I am so busy that I may not be able to contribute anything interesting for a while...I have decided to offer to translate/interpret Arashi (especially Ohno) related mag articles, websites and/or vids to those who request.

Please understand that:

• I cannot commit lots of time at the moment so I can NOT guarantee to translate everthing just because it is requested...please do not be offended or get upset if I do not translate what you requested

• I can NOT specify how quickly or slowly the translation would get done...I will do it...as quickly as I can...! and all I can promise is that I will do my best...

• To translate something, I obvisouly need good size scan that is legible and/or quality vids that has good audio, screencap of a website, etc.

• I would only translate something that whoever request it is willing to share with the Arashi community here in Vox (I prefer to just post my translation as "comment" in someone's vox post...like I did recently for ArashiNino's Post )

• I can NOT guarantee accuracy/quality of my translation

• I will not be translating on "first in, best dressed" basis...I may choose to translate things that interest me before other things that interest me less...Although I LOVE all Arashi members, Ohno is my Ichiban, and anything related to Ohno may take precedence over others...sorry...but I cannot help it...

• Feel FREE to repost, or use for subbing, or whatever...NO need to credit me for translation/interpreting (you can if you want to...) . Let's spread Arashi love. But PLEASE let me know about it...!
  

• Also, at the moment I am not able to reply any PM...sorry

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING ARASHI RELATED YOU WANT TRANSLATED,
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT TO THIS POST WITH LINK TO YOUR POST THAT CONTAINS SCANS/VIDS TO BE TRANSLATED/INTERPRETED.

To avoide CONFUSION, please post just one vid/scan per post if possible if you want translation done...

Well, I hope to be able to contiribute somehow in this way...

With love, from OZ

Thank you to all who left comments...!!!

Tenjo Style

So glad to hear that you find my blog interesting! Thank you for the comments!

mikyuko

覚えていてくださったぁ！感謝感激です！
まあ、人生いろいろあるわけで、今ちょっと大変なんですが、
嵐から、そして素敵なＡｒａｓｈｉａｎのお仲間から元気もらって頑張ります！
着眼点が素晴らしいって．．．！
気になっちゃっただけっすよ。ふふ。

risu_chan
I missed you, too!!!!!!
So happy to hear that you remembered me! Hey? Me ? Get bored with Arashi? NEVER!
I think Tshirts are sold out possibly because they have been on the market for a while, and I think one of the Tshirts was limited edition special collaboration between two makers or something...but that does not mean hchan power is not behind the SOLD OUT factor! I have seen the Nories Tshirt on Yahoo Auction, getting snapped up at three times the original value - and that seller was specifically targeting Ohchan fan - as the ad said [pair look with Ohno Satoshi of Arashi]! 

kretortd
Goo to be back! Hope to blog more regularly now my life is finally started to settle down...

盧家宜
So glad to see you! And thank you for saying that you find my blog interesting! Will try and blog more regularly...

La Tormenta
Thank you for remembering me! So happy to be back!

Oreiji
I missed you , too! Great to be back!!!!

Chin
Tadaima~! Great to be back! Life is not as I would like it to be at the moment...but such is life! I will keep going and I will get through whatever life throws at me! I get GENKI power from Arashi and Arashian,ne!

thebreeze
Tadaima!! I am glad that you find topics I post about such as Ohchan clothes interesting,ne!

marszz

Great to be back! Thank you for thinking of me! One thing I can promise you is that even if I cannot make appearance here regularly, I am sure to be still lurking in the background and still Arashi fan and still loving Ohno...! Chubby and black and all!

nimby
No,No,No! Thank YOU! Thank you for remembering me and for such a lovely comment! Arashi forever,ne!

Crew 
Yeah, it seems he likes black or white Tshirt with simple logo/stylised patterns,ne.And of course...always with a cap!

Totwi~

Thank you for sucha a lovely comment! So happy to know that you find what I find interesting also interesting,ne!
SCP was so funny with Ohno with FM Yokohama Tshirt! I have added you back also to my neighbourhood!

グレイ GrAy
I think it is all part of Ohchan:s charm, dont you think? The fact he does not seem to care about clothes brand and would wear even FM Yokohama Tshirt if he likes it... I do not think it is the case of he is not Oshare (fashonable), it is just that he has his own style, and sticks to it and not into the brands like many - especially the celebrities,ne. I really like that about him! I feel like sending hims all sorts of promo Tshirt I collected over the years volunteering at events etc...now I come to think about it, those would probably considered cool in Japan, with English logo and all...hehehe!

AND...for those people who left comments while I was ...well...sort of away...THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, I did not have time to chase up all my past posts to find all new comments posted in the past few months...so apologies...but I was checking VOX every now and then, and reading comments posted with much joy and gratefulness...so thank you , thank you, thank you...and am so sorry I have not been able to reply to your comments.

Well, off to work...again lol

Life is Hard dakara Happy,ne.

Love from Oz

Twins Acoustic Tatoo Tshirt (as seen in Kokuritsu DVD)

I found the shop that sells the Tshirt - but its all SOLD OUT!

 

The above is the black version of Acoustic Tatoo Tshirt. I like it...!!!

Canyons Adventure Tshirt
(believed to be given by the Canyoning tour company when Ohno, Sho and Jun visisted them for G no Arashi Episode - Minor Sport Part 5 -  which aired on 9th Aug 2006)

He must really like the Tshirt as he took it toTaipei in 2006 ...and still wearing it at Kokuritsu !!

The Canyoning Tour Company's website is here.
I checked through the website, but there is no mention of Tshirt...assuming you cannot just buy it...but if you really want one, maybe you could email/phone them!

I just think it si adorable that he wears promotional gifts most people usually do not wear out (if lucky, maybe become PJ...) Well, he does also wear FM Yokohama Radio Tshirt given to him by the radio station where he does Arashi Discovery...! (and yes, he appeared on TV with the Tshirt and had to sit funny to hide the logo because of sponsoring issues..was it SCP? My memory fails me...)

Nories Tshirt(as seen in Kokuritsu DVD)

 

This may also be a gift..maybe from his fishing friend or even the fishing equipment shop he goes to so often to get his beloved lures...

Nories Tshirt same as Ohno's was selling here.However, it is now all SOLD OUT. 

and Fish charm for a mobile...

Also...he has commented on some mags and/or radio? Sorry not sure...but am positive he spoke of having a mobile phone strap/charm that is a fish that opens up (as in filleted...). It may be like this one or similar,ne!

Bye for now.

Will try my best to post SOMETHING more regularly ...hopefully ...

Arashi forever!

With love, from Oz