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No. 112 - "The Whereabouts of Love"
Image source: Twitter
Hectic days continue over the busy end of year and New Year’s. How do the earnest feelings of his, which he keeps hidden, transform and colour those days? Where is the path that only he follows headed towards?
This interview was conducted at the end of last year, as the concert tour was approaching its final stage. There are always new endeavours which Arashi pursue in their live performances, but this time’s one has been especially new. Within it includes Ninomiya Kazunari and Aiba Masaki’s unit song, UB, which is an example of a novel dance performance and superb combination play. Overflowing with both warmth and humour, it felt like you could see the pair’s intentions, individualities, and even their relationship. When asked, “Was the song’s choreography a production you suggested?” he answered with a look, slightly more joyful than usual.
It wasn’t exactly my suggestion. The staff gathered various ideas for us and amongst them all, I only nominated UB’s dance to be the one we chose. It’s a dance by a German pair of dancers, which was of a style I had never come across before, so I thought that it would be something that the audience would also enjoy. I asked those dancers to help us with the choreography, but I also thought about the production before and after the dance.
A performance with the ideas to surprise, please and move the hearts of their audience. There’s no doubt that its realisation is a result of his natural foresight and because he is, as he often states, “Arashi’s number one fan.”
I wonder about foresight? I mean, I originally aimed to make people laugh more with that dance. I thought that they’d laugh when they watched the two of us dance to that unusual dance. However, in the midst of us pondering about the production, the choreographer in charge of the entire concert suddenly told us, “When the two of you dance it, it’s somewhat moving rather than something laughable.” They’re a choreographer who has known Aiba-san and I for a long time, so that may be why. As a result, we decided to stop our plans of trying to make the audience laugh (laughs).
It’s true that the emotionally moving aspect of the dance won over its humorous appeal.
Everyone says that. Even though we had no plans to make it emotionally moving, it seems that our intentions didn't shine through (laughs).
What is the difference between a musician and an idol? He considers the meaning behind their activities.
Despite his laughter, he appeared to be perplexed. Was it dissatisfaction at moving those who were in the audience emotionally? With the mention of that question, he continues, “I guess I’m glad that they were happy with it in the end, but you know……”
It’s a disposition that happens in variety shows as well. The song is something we found really amusing, so we tried to do something funny with it, but the humour fell flat (laughs). In regards to the live performance of UB, we thought about how we could create a touching performance to do with the relationship that exists between the two of us. Once you’ve continued for a long time, you intend to understand what would generally make the fans happy. For example, I think there are many who want to see us to stay as the unchanging, close group of five people who messes around together. But we ourselves continue to transform and evolve, without being stuck in time. There are always feelings of wanting to offer something new, or something more interesting beyond our current selves and to have our fans watch us as we do so.
His earnest desire to maintain Arashi’s existence as “fresh, high quality entertainment” is probably strong.
I’ve wondered whether our activities over the past nearly 20 years would hold much meaning if we couldn’t win our fans’ interest in the entertainment we currently offer, over the closeness of our group, or our personal lives. With musicians, their audience may be drawn by the musician’s music or lifestyle and gather for that reason, but it’s difficult when it comes to idols. I’m grateful when people think, “he’s cute and he’s a good person, so I like him!” However, it’s hard to see the true nature behind that, isn’t it? There are probably occasions where we aren’t being assessed properly based on our entertainment alone.
Love is equal to his everlasting affection towards his supporters. He is also conscious of the enviable problem he faces – he wants to be loved for his productions more than for his existence. Perhaps that worry is something that arises from the overwhelmingly positive public image Arashi has had for a long time.
Hmm. But, I wonder what a positive public image really means in the first place? Of course, Arashi are all wonderful people through and through (laughs). I rarely see the public and those around them display dislike towards them (laughs). But with a positive public image, the people around us would help display that when we appear on variety shows. In other words, it doesn’t exceed the product of a constructed image. That’s why, I’ve honestly never paid attention to positive public images, nor do I think of it as anything that has much meaning. After all, I want people to enjoy themselves watch the interesting things we produce with everyone around us and the things we honestly think fits the occasion at those times. It’s really as simple as that.
Image source: Twitter
This interview was conducted at the end of last year, as the concert tour was approaching its final stage. There are always new endeavours which Arashi pursue in their live performances, but this time’s one has been especially new. Within it includes Ninomiya Kazunari and Aiba Masaki’s unit song, UB, which is an example of a novel dance performance and superb combination play. Overflowing with both warmth and humour, it felt like you could see the pair’s intentions, individualities, and even their relationship. When asked, “Was the song’s choreography a production you suggested?” he answered with a look, slightly more joyful than usual.
It wasn’t exactly my suggestion. The staff gathered various ideas for us and amongst them all, I only nominated UB’s dance to be the one we chose. It’s a dance by a German pair of dancers, which was of a style I had never come across before, so I thought that it would be something that the audience would also enjoy. I asked those dancers to help us with the choreography, but I also thought about the production before and after the dance.
A performance with the ideas to surprise, please and move the hearts of their audience. There’s no doubt that its realisation is a result of his natural foresight and because he is, as he often states, “Arashi’s number one fan.”
I wonder about foresight? I mean, I originally aimed to make people laugh more with that dance. I thought that they’d laugh when they watched the two of us dance to that unusual dance. However, in the midst of us pondering about the production, the choreographer in charge of the entire concert suddenly told us, “When the two of you dance it, it’s somewhat moving rather than something laughable.” They’re a choreographer who has known Aiba-san and I for a long time, so that may be why. As a result, we decided to stop our plans of trying to make the audience laugh (laughs).
It’s true that the emotionally moving aspect of the dance won over its humorous appeal.
Everyone says that. Even though we had no plans to make it emotionally moving, it seems that our intentions didn't shine through (laughs).
What is the difference between a musician and an idol? He considers the meaning behind their activities.
Despite his laughter, he appeared to be perplexed. Was it dissatisfaction at moving those who were in the audience emotionally? With the mention of that question, he continues, “I guess I’m glad that they were happy with it in the end, but you know……”
It’s a disposition that happens in variety shows as well. The song is something we found really amusing, so we tried to do something funny with it, but the humour fell flat (laughs). In regards to the live performance of UB, we thought about how we could create a touching performance to do with the relationship that exists between the two of us. Once you’ve continued for a long time, you intend to understand what would generally make the fans happy. For example, I think there are many who want to see us to stay as the unchanging, close group of five people who messes around together. But we ourselves continue to transform and evolve, without being stuck in time. There are always feelings of wanting to offer something new, or something more interesting beyond our current selves and to have our fans watch us as we do so.
His earnest desire to maintain Arashi’s existence as “fresh, high quality entertainment” is probably strong.
I’ve wondered whether our activities over the past nearly 20 years would hold much meaning if we couldn’t win our fans’ interest in the entertainment we currently offer, over the closeness of our group, or our personal lives. With musicians, their audience may be drawn by the musician’s music or lifestyle and gather for that reason, but it’s difficult when it comes to idols. I’m grateful when people think, “he’s cute and he’s a good person, so I like him!” However, it’s hard to see the true nature behind that, isn’t it? There are probably occasions where we aren’t being assessed properly based on our entertainment alone.
Love is equal to his everlasting affection towards his supporters. He is also conscious of the enviable problem he faces – he wants to be loved for his productions more than for his existence. Perhaps that worry is something that arises from the overwhelmingly positive public image Arashi has had for a long time.
Hmm. But, I wonder what a positive public image really means in the first place? Of course, Arashi are all wonderful people through and through (laughs). I rarely see the public and those around them display dislike towards them (laughs). But with a positive public image, the people around us would help display that when we appear on variety shows. In other words, it doesn’t exceed the product of a constructed image. That’s why, I’ve honestly never paid attention to positive public images, nor do I think of it as anything that has much meaning. After all, I want people to enjoy themselves watch the interesting things we produce with everyone around us and the things we honestly think fits the occasion at those times. It’s really as simple as that.
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