~In The Occasion of Shingo's Birthday, January 31st~
In the occasion to welcome Shingo's birthday, I'm translating 4 Shingo's interviews/talk shows. This is the 2nd talk show. You'll find out the hardship Shingo has to gone through as an ACTOR. And also some nice stories about his Johnny's juniors days ^_^
Kankuro's World of Theater
27 November 2004
Hosts: Nakamura Kankuro, Watanabe Eriko
Guest: Katori Shingo
translated by Yanie
Kankuro's World of Theater is an NHK talk show. The 'theater' term refer mostly to the "kabuki" play, and also modern or Shakespeare theatrical stage play.
Nakamura Kankuro is a very famous kabuki actor in Japan, he hosts the show. And he is also the FATHER of Nakamura Kantaro, the actor who played the role as Toudou Heisuke [8th regime captain] in NHK's "Shinsengumi!" (he is also Matsu Takako's uncle from her mother's family).
Usually, the talk show's guests are all kabuki actors, and they all know Kankuro well...be it Kankuro's friends or senpai(seniors).
But, today's guest is Shingo Katori. The very first time, a person from another whole entertainment world guests the show.
For ages in Japan, what is called TAIGA dorama, is usually starred by actors and actresses from the kabuki and stage play world. Until the millenium age came, then a transition happened. Famous actors and actresses who usually acted in trendy modern dramas like FujiTV or TBS, join the casts of NHK Taiga Dorama. Nakai Kiichi, Kimura Yoshino, Karasawa Toshiaki, Matsushima Nanako, Sorimachi Takashi, Yonekura Ryoko, Nakama Yukie, Matsuoka Masahiro of TOKIO, etc. The initial purpose, perhaps, to gain rating and popularity of the NHK Taiga Dramas.
Then in February 2003, it was announced that Shingo Katori of SMAP will act as Isami Kondou, The Commander of Shinsengumi troops. The first person from an idol, boyband group to play the LEADING role in a taiga drama. Protests and complains pours in to NHK...
Enough with the intro...lets move on to the talk show^^ First off, the hosts: Nakamura Kankuro and Watanabe Eriko (of Shall We Dansu fame, a veteran actress in her 50s), are talking in a bar.
Kankuro: Who do you think today's guest is?
Eriko: Hee...who is it...I don't know....
Kankuro: I'll give you a hint.....a young person...
Eriko: A young person coming here as a guest??
(Kankuro laughs)
Eriko: The youngest guest we had here was Ohtake Shinobu, and she's 45 years old!! That was the youngest!
Kankuro: Ano ne...jaa...ne.....another hint, The Commander of Shinsengumi...
Eriko: Katori Shingo-san?!?!
Kankuro: It's Kondou Isami darou....??
Eriko: *laughs* Ah! Right...Kondou Isami...!
Kankuro: But, really, really...he's coming...
Eriko: Really!? He's in his 20s desho?? Uwaa....first time, our guest is a 20s yrs old! This is really exciting!
Kankuro: I actually feels excited too, I think he's a wonderful person...although I don't know much about him....
Eriko: Me too... I don't know much about him...
Kankuro: We'll talk about many things with him later. Let's look forward to it!
Eriko: I'm so looking forward to it.
//
(In another studio)
Kankuro: Tonight's guest....Katori Shingo-san....
(Shingo comes in and bows, then both sits)
[image]
Kankuro: I'm so sorry ne, while you're in the midst of your busy time....arigatou gozaimasu!
Shingo: No, no....arigatou gozaimasu to you, for having me here!
Kankuro: I think this is our first time having a conversation like this, isn't it??
Shingo: Hai!
Kankuro: Our first met...was Kouhaku...ah, before that...was Bistro SMAP desu nee....after that, Kouhaku....then, for a year you've taken care of my son...
Shingo: No, no, not at all....I've also been taken care of by him!
Kankuro: Kyokuchou(commander)....today, welcome....for one whole year...really, although I have many things to do, but I always, always watched(*Shinsengumi)...it was really good!
Shingo: *bows* Thank you very much!
Kankuro: So, how does it feel? Being Kondou Isami for a year? You've never really done this before, right? Playing a role for one whole year?
Shingo: It's my first time, ne...
Kankuro: So how was it?
Shingo: It was really tiring! Ano...sou desu ne....very tiring, and painful, up to the extent it made me think for the very first time, that I feel like giving up and quitting.....but, if I only quit this(*Shinsengumi), it wouldn't make any sense...so I should quit all of my jobs(*SMAP and eveything)....
Kankuro: *very shocked, when Shingo mentioned 'subete no shigoto'* HEH?!?! USO!! Really?!?
[note: Kocchi mo shokku yo!!! I was so shocked, too, when I hear this! Shingo wanted to quit all his jobs??!?O_o But I understand him...for one whole year, his portrayal as Kondo Isami must have been criticized by the media, critics and Shinsengumi hardcore fans. It must've been so tough and painful for him, indeed.]
Shingo: Hai!
Kankuro: You said it so lightly...but this is actually a big thing, isn't it??
Shingo: Well, yes...honestly I've thought of it...and it's for the first time in my life, I thought of something so seriously like that.
Kankuro: But then...inside of you...finally...but, you finally did it, right?
Shingo: Yes.
Kankuro: When did you thought of that? To give up all your jobs?
Shingo: Around the 6th month of filming... At the beginning, the troublesome parts were actually small matters...like I have to wear a wig all the time, then I also have to wear kimono for the whole day...
[image]
Kankuro: The dialogues must be very hard for you too, isn't it?? For me, kabuki dialogues are very difficult for me! Honestly... *laughs* For you...oh, right...the filming was overlapping with Hattori-kun The Movie filming too, right??? How did you memorize the lines?
Shingo: For dialogues...I memorize all of it in the filming location. Right before the scene filming...
Kankuro: That's amazing! Isn't that difficult? To memorize the names and all...
Shingo: Well maybe for people who don't usually memorize their lines in the location might say, "How can you memorize all that in the location??"....but for me, well...it's because I don't like bringing work to the house...I don't feel like reading them in my house. So it was RIGHT before the filming starts... I mean, even if I memorize the day before, it's definitely not good, if I don't memorize it anymore when the filming starts, right? So, I usually start memorize the lines 30 minutes right before filming.... That's the best time for me...coz right before filming makes me felt like, "This is it! I HAVE to be able to memorize this! My life is at stake!".
Kankuro: I see, I see...and being the lead, you must have alot of lines to memorize, ne... So, you also have Ninja Hattori-kun...also a period movie right....how was it? It was filmed before?
Shingo: Before, yes....right after I finished Hattori-kun, I immediately started Shinsengumi...
Kankuro: *laughs* It was a totally different type of genre, isn't it!
Shingo: Yes. So, on Hattori-kun's filming location, I was reading Shinsengumi's first episode script!
Kankuro: *laughs* Sugoi desu ne!(That is something!) But Katori-san's real personality is something like this right?
Shingo: Hattori-kun?
Kankuro: Umm...
Shingo: Not...really...
Kankuro: No? Then, it's closer to Kondou?
Shingo: No. Well....although people's image about me, they will say that my image is more of Hattori-kun...but I'm not 100% Hattori-kun.....between Hattori and Kondou...I think its 50-50...
Kankuro: What kind of role do you want to do now?
Shingo: *long, long pause*..........
Kankuro: Dorama? Or you dont want that too??
Shingo: Frankly, yes....it really gave me a 'sick' feeling...
(Kankuro is laughing out loud)
Kankuro: So, it really has effected you that much!! ...but this is the first time, you feel that way, right?
Shingo: But recently, I start to think again...that yes, I like it, afterall. I mean, after the filming is over, I somehow still can't let it go. Sometimes I still dream of Kondou Isami...dreaming I'm in the filming location....
Kankuro: I so understand that!
Shingo: Then in the morning I thought, "Ah!! Gotta go to the filming location now!....wait, no I don't...its over...". Even when I'm doing other jobs, I somehow still think about it...seem like I still can't get over it yet.
Kankuro: I guess, to do it in the whole year...
Shingo: Yes, because it went for the whole year... Then, even if I don't think about it anymore, when I'm watching a movie or a drama...suddenly I see actors and actress that had worked together with me in Shinsengumi, so...
Kankuro: Ahhh....
Shingo: But then when I finished filming, I thought I'll need 2-3 months rest before I can go back to the usual life. But turns out, even in a month, I'm already feeling fine. And start thinking I do like this job, afterall...
Kankuro: Yappari, as an entertainer ne... Then you must've feel glad you finished your job in the end.
Shingo: Yes, I do. I feel glad.
(the audience applaud)
Shingo: I think, taiga dorama is really great!! It's something really good! I really thought of that in the end...and I'm surprised myself, that I finally think this way.
Kankuro: Let's have a toast, then!
(Shingo laughs and Kankuro shakes his hand)
Kankuro: After this, let's go to the bar and have a toast!
Shingo: Okay, then.
Kankuro: Do you drink today?
Shingo: Yes.
Kankuro: Then, let's go.
Shingo: Can I really drink?
Kankuro: Yes, you can!
//
(The set changed back to the drinking bar...Shingo comes in.)
Eriko: Ahh...welcome, welcome! We've been waiting. I'm this bar's mama(owner), Eriko.
Shingo: How do you do, Eriko Mama?
Eriko: Thank you.
Kankuro: *laughs* Shingo Mama, too. Please sit down. What do you want to drink?
Shingo: Is it alright to drink?
Kankuro: Yes, yes. It's okay.
Shingo: Then, jockey please.
Eriko: *to the bartender* Three glasses of jockey, please!
(they sit down)
Eriko: I don't usually drink. But when I heard the conversation between the both of you, I feel like drinking now.
Shingo: Ahh...thank you.
Eriko: Do you stand sake?
Shingo: Yes...quite strong to it...
Eriko: So it will not effect you at all?
Shingo: Oh, it will very much!
Eriko: How?
Shingo: My face will become red soon after! Just by one gulp.
Kankuro: But you'll continue drinking anyway, right?
Shingo: Yes, I'll continue drinking.
(the beers are served)
Kankuro: Otsukaresama deshita!! (Thank you for your hard work!!)
(they have a toast)
Eriko: So, do you often drink with your SMAP friends?
Shingo: Nope...
Kankuro & Eriko: Hee..?? No??
Shingo: Actually, in concert months, we usually drink together and spend time together alot...but since, we do not have concert this year, we rarely get together and drink...(*each members are also busy with their own individual works^^)
[image]
Kankuro: But usually you go right? You mean, from the beginning you rarely drink together with them??
Shingo: Yeah, well...rarely, yes. To call each other and go have a meal together...is quite rare.
Eriko: So, how did SMAP formed??
Shingo: Long time ago, SMAP was called Skateboys...
Eriko: Skateboys? So you put on skate shoes and skates?
Shingo: No, we perform and dance with skateboards, as Hikaru Genji's backdancer...
Kankuro: Wait, wait...gomen ne, gomen nasai, something I would like to say...when I was in Kouhaku Utagassen that time...and Hikaru Genji performed...although I saw many, many(*I'm not sure, he meant many singers at the show, or many kids backdancers when HikaruGenji performed^^) ....but the most prominent in my eyes, was SMAP! I was like....what are these kids??
Eriko: So...you perform with skateboard?
Shingo: With skateboard or rollerskates, then after that.....half of Skateboys members, 6 of 'em, became SMAP.
Eriko: So everything was decided, ne....not by your own will...
Shingo: Yup, everything was decided....actually, I didn't know our name is Skateboys either in the first place....we were only told that we have photo sessions, so we did it....then, the next day, we saw the magazine with our photo on it, and it's written "Into The Bright Future, We Are the Skateboys!!!"....I was like, eeeeeh??? So we are called 'Skateboys'???
(Kankuro and Eriko burst out laughing loudly)
Eriko: So you just realized that!?! How did you enter the Johnny's Jimusho in the first place??
Shingo: It was my mother.....
Eriko: So you didn't know anything? You just went to the audition like that?
Shingo: When I was a child, I usually play alone at home...while other kids are playing together at the park, I just play alone at home...
Kankuro: Ah...so that's your 50% of Kondou Isami?
Shingo: Ee...ma....then, my mom registered me to Boyscouts...then, later she found out about Johnny's Jimusho too, so she registered me there too.....a notification letter from Johnny's arrived earlier.....so... Just a bit more, then I'll become a Boyscouts member, ne!
(Kankuro and Eriko laughing out loud again)
(note: Actually, I've read an old article about this before...in that article Shingo also told this story...and he adds that we-the fans, should thank his mother and also be glad that the notification from Johnnys came earlier...coz if not, he'd be an oji-san(old guy/uncle) wearing short pants by now...LOL!)
Eriko: But...so you didn't have any interest at all in the entertainment world?
Shingo: I was only 10 that time, 5th grade in elemetary school, I knew nothing, so I just follow everything my mom said, she told me to accompany her to go shopping...but then, she also brought me to the audition place...so, I went and just did the audition.....by that time, I saw Hikaru Genji members....and I felt I saw this incredible aura surrounds them...
Kankuro: *interrupts him* Ah, ah....you know Matsumoto Jun? ARASHI no...?
Shingo: Yes.
Kankuro: He's my son's(*Shichinosuke, the 2nd son) bestfriend...and he said, he likes SMAP, and also saw this incredible aura surrounds SMAP, and so he wants to have the same aura as SMAP....
Shingo: Hee...
Eriko: So, then...how was it..? You didn't have any interest in the first place, right? Before you realized it, you just did it already?
Shingo: I really didn't think at all, just go along with the flow....went to audition, became Skateboys...then became SMAP....everything was decided....
Eriko: So you just went along like that? Did you have a dance experience before?
Shingo: Nope, at all!! For dancing lesson, they've once gathered us for it. For a singing lesson or acting lesson...none at all. But I just went to the audition... I've also went to NHK for it.
Eriko: For audition?
Shingo: I was told "Go to NHK on this day, this month!". Then I saw these many kids there... I really didn't understand at all. I've never done acting at all, so I really didn't understand what to do. I was told, "These are the roles you have to act! And you all have to shave your head bald! Its okay, right?".
Kankuro: Did you say, you don't want to?
Shingo: That time, all SMAP members were here too, for the audition... Then, the first member...the one standing on the front said, "Alright".
Kankuro: *laughs* Who said that??
Shingo: *thinks* I don't remember anymore... But he said "Hai!". And we all went, "Heee?". Then the others had to agree too, and said "Hai!" reluctantly. Then I thought, "Oh no! I have to shave my head bald too!??". Then after we all said "Hai", we all went home. In the end, none of us participate in that show. I think the audition failed.
Kankuro: *laughs* Can you still remember the name of the show?
Shingo: No, I don't. But if I see the place, I think I'd remember the place where we went for the audition!
Eriko: So what kind of persons, SMAP members are, in reality?
Shingo: In reality?
Eriko: You rarely talk to them?
Kankuro: You must know them well, right? You've been together with them since 10.
Shingo: Well...we don't hang out together that much...
Kankuro: I see, I see... Me too, with Tamesaburo-aniki(*his senpai) we don't really go out for meal or drink together that often... But once we're on the stage, we can say anything we want...
Shingo: *nods* Aaah....
Kankuro: That makes you comfortable right??
Shingo: Yes, yes.
Kankuro: I see, I see.
Shingo: On the stage...if there's one of us makes a mistake while we're dancing.... For example, the formation is 3 at the front and 2 at the back... If one of us makes a mistake, ...though we are singing, we somehow will realize that, and will naturally cover that one and change the formation....
Eriko: Kakkoii nee...
Shingo: Kakkoi desu ka ne...? (Is it?)
Kankuro: Do you sleep?
Shingo: Not really...
Kankuro: I guess so.
Shingo: Well....I do sleep during work. But...mm, usually I have my own sleeping schedule....for about 8 hours. But I sometimes don't do that routine... Coz I'm someone who likes to do alot of things in my private times, like watching movies, reading books, drawing sketches... So, somehow I only slept for 1-2 hours, in the end. But in another day, I can sleep for a quite amount of time to replace those sleepless hours.
Eriko: I see... So what kind of work do you want to do now? Like singing, or acting.... Do you have any dream, any goal in your life?
Shingo: Well, for now... I've never really been in a project where I can give alot of my own ideas. I want to be in a project where I can contribute my ideas to. I mean, usually, in a drama filming...as an actor, even if we have our own opinions...we can't say anything against the director. But then lately, some directors asks me, "Shingo-kun, what do you think?". So I want to be in a project, even if as an actor...I would like to be able to contribute my ideas and opinions for it.
Eriko: So you never really had the chance to do that till now?
Shingo: No, not really. But, not that I don't have the courage to do so....but if I give my opinions...then, if the result doesn't turn out good...people will not see it as my fault, but the director's fault... I'm just worried about that. But sometimes, I acted the way I want without asking the director's opinion first....but if the director says "OK!", then I feel glad..."I guess what I did is okay"....just that...but I never really talked about it to the director...that's what I always had all these times...it's like that.
Kankuro: I see....how about theatrical stage plays?
Shingo: *glancing at Kankuro, pauses and smiling sheepishly* ....Hai....
Kankuro: *laughs and to Eriko* He's not interested at all....nodding his head and "Hai" like that.
Eriko: So, it will only be movies and TV?
Shingo: No, no...actually I like to try many things. And Mitani-san had also told me to do stage plays once in awhile, he told me that so many times. Actually, Mitani-san is the type of director that accept opinions from the actors very much.
Kankuro: Ah...sou desho nee...
Shingo: He listens to us alot...
Kankuro: Yeah, I heard from my son, too...that Mitani-san always asked his opinions for the filming.
Shingo: Actually Kondo Isami's last line in the last episode... Mitani-san told me, "Shingo-kun, you've portrayed this role for the whole year, please decide the best last line for this role, yourself...".
Kankuro: Aaah...that's good...
Shingo: He wrote some directions in the script...
Kankuro: Like "doozo, write it yourself" ?
Shingo: He gave directions...like, this character's feelings is like this, and this.... Decide the best line for him with these feelings involved.....
Kankuro: Actually, we've invited Mitani-san to come today too....but unfortunately, he really can't come and had apologize.
Shingo: Heee....
Kankuro: Then, from now on....yoroshiku. Let's have a toast to Katori Shingo-kun's future!
Shingo: Ah, thank you very much.
(they have a toast once again)
//
(The last segment, is a Kabuki performance. Shingo changed his clothes to kimono.)
[image][image]
Eriko: So, Katori-san, you've never seen kabuki live before?
Shingo: Never.
Eriko: Do you feel it's a difficult show?
Shingo: Yes, I do.
(Kankuro and Eriko burst out laughing)
Shingo: But lately I do felt like I really want to watch it.
Kankuro: Okay, so you see...these two old men, will play the instruments and sings the story of the performance. Now, they will sing...you might not know what it's about...but please, listen carefully.
Shingo: Alright.
They start to perform a song. Not until the 2nd lyric, Shingo realized something odd...aree...? The lyrics are really familiar to him, but the song tunes are TOTALLY DIFFERENT...haha...the same lyrics, but whole different song (those kabuki-sounded song).
Kankuro: Do you know what song that is, Katori-san?
Shingo: *amazed and a bit shocked* Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana!
Next is, a Kabuki performance demonstration.
Shingo looked amazed...he said, he has dance alot with Smap....he thought he has performed all kinds of moves of dancing....but just now, he was amazed to see a totally different style of dancing he has never seen before....and he really think it was so great, and he wants to try to do it!
So, the singer created a kabuki song for Shingo, its about Shingo Katori learn how to act in front of the mirror....smiling, crying, angry, and laughing...then, finally, he puts his fist into his mouth....but throw it out again...haha, funny song....sung in a kabuki way.
After the song has been created perfectly, Shingo starts to try his very own kabuki performance (actually, more specifically, its called GIDAYU...part of Kabuki performance)....a very simple one....but good acting, I love it!^-^ Shingo looks so cute and charming!! I LOVE HIM! (what else is new?)
[image]
The show ends here.
[image]
Last Note:
Despite with all the sharp critiscizes poured in to NHK for the whole year about Shingo's portrayal as Kondo Isami. In the end,
Shingo received TWO Best Leading Actor awards for his role as Kondo Isami in Shinsengumi. First was from
The 8th Nikkan Sports Drama Award (he beat Yamada Takayuki, Eguchi Yousuke, Takenouchi Yutaka, and Kuranosuke Sasaki who were also on Top 5 nomination) and
The Television Dorama Academy Award Fall, October-December 2004 (beats Oda Yuji[Last Christmas]).
And in the
TV Navi Annual Dorama Award which compete ALL dramas for the whole 1 year, from January to December 2004, Shingo got the runner-up (#2) place for Best Leading Actor.
The winner for Best Leading Actor Award TV Navi Annual Award 2004, is none other than Shingo's very own group leader, Nakai Masahiro for his role as Waga Eiryo in Suna no Utsuwa. Damn! xD But, I knew from the start, for this annual award, Shingo's biggest rival would be Nakai. Apparently...it's true...and Nakai won the award. Honestly, I do think Waga Eiryo is alot hotter than Kondo Isami! LOL! (I'm soooooo sorry, Shingo-kuuuuun!!!!!!) :mrgreen:
During the farewell party of Shinsengumi, Shingo actually cried when he received the flowers bouquet. You can see the picture here: http://nhkshinsengumi.tripod.com/gallery_mags.html
![[image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/smapxorenji/nakai/Scan10010.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://www.geocities.com/kenkabinko/tvm073b.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/yanie/kankuro01.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/yanie/kankuro02.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/yanie/kankuro03.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/yanie/kankuro04.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/yanie/kankuro05.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/yanie/kankuro06.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/yanie/kankuro07.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/smapxorenji/goro/anan05-C.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://www.geocities.com/kenkabinko/tvnav073g.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://www.geocities.com/kenkabinko/wpa127c.jpg){kind=link}
![[image]](http://www.geocities.com/gimgabinko/tvs0625c.jpg){kind=link}