~In The Occasion of Shingo's Birthday, January 31st~
In the occasion of Shingo's birthday, I'm translating 4 Shingo's interviews/talk shows.
These are the previous ones:
Nakai-kun Onsen:
Page 849
Kankuro's Theatre World:
Page 859
Oshareism:
Page 882
This is the last one. This interview is VERY, VERY deep...lots of metaphores...quite difficult to translate, so I'm very sorry, that there are some parts I missed. Though the contents of the interview is quite serious...but I think that's the interesting part. We don't get to see much of Shingo's serious thoughts before. And after this interview, I'm confirmed that Katori Shingo is a great and responsible human being. I'm not worried anymore... He'll do well in his life^^
SAKAI For Men
27 December 2006
Hosts: Sakai Masaaki
Guest: Katori Shingo
translated by Yanie
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Sakai: Konbanwa (good evening)!! *shakes hands with Shingo* Doomo! You really come!
Shingo: *lower his head* Doomo!
Sakai: This is the very first episode of the show...
Shingo: Yes.
Sakai: I was asked, that with all guests coming to this show in the future, will be all men...who will be the best first guest...
Shingo: Yes.
Sakai: I immediately answered, definitely Katori-kun! If he can't make it, then let's just cancel the show.
Shingo: *laughs* Reeeaaally???!
Sakai: That's how much I'd like to talk with you today.
Shingo: I'm really happy to be invited to this show...so I've come, and when I entered this studio...I was really shocked with the serious atmosphere around!!
(laughs)
Sakai: Today in front of these male audience, we'd like to try to have a man-to-man talk...to see what kind of talks will come out.
Shingo: Yes *Shingo bows and smile widely to the male audience*
Sakai: You don't have to try to flatter them!
(laughs)
Shingo: No, no...I'm not... *smiles*
//
Sakai: Alright, let's start...yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
Shingo: *lower his head*
Sakai: First of all... How would you grade yourself? How many points you'd give to yourself?
Shingo: Aah... Anoo...actually I love talking to people... So I was excited about appearing in this show. And with just this first question, I feel excited already...
Sakai: Ah, this first question makes you excited?
Shingo: Sou desu ne.
Sakai: So...the points you'd give to yourself? The present you...
Shingo: Points to myself...
Sakai: Have you ever grade yourself before?
Shingo: Yeah, I think I have...
Sakai: So, how do you acknowledge yourself, how many points...?
Shingo: ...........
Sakai: Please think of it thoroughly, it's alright. This is a time-consuming show, anyway...
(laughs)
Shingo: Actually, everytime I do the works given to me, I always do it with 100, 120 points of power. Or, at least, I wanted to. But to think of it again... After you asked that question just now...somehow it just crossed my mind...that I'd give myself, 50 points...
Sakai: So, its 50 out of 100 points?
Shingo: Yes.
Sakai: That's lower than I thought...
Shingo: You think so?
Sakai: So what are these 50 points lacking from you?
Shingo: The minus 50 points... *thinks*
Sakai: Are these things you'd want to fix in the future?
Shingo: *nods*
Sakai: So, what is it?
Shingo: Yappari...things like, sometimes I didn't do well in acting...
Sakai: Unn... But wasn't it a success, anyway?
Shingo: No...
Sakai: You mean...for you, it wasn't?
Shingo: Yes, yes...for me, it wasn't.
Sakai: I see...
Shingo: But that's the difficult part... I kept wondering is it alright to think it was not a success?
Sakai: How about your grade as an actor? How many points you'd give yourself as an actor?
Shingo: ............... 40 points.
Sakai: Huh?
Shingo: It's even lower than 50, ne.
Sakai: So ...actually you didn't really wanted to do Saiyuuki too?
(laughs)
Shingo: No, no...no such thing!
Sakai: ....
Shingo: That's not it.
Sakai: So, you're not satisfied with your own acting?
Shingo: .......*thinks*..................... Is this a trick question??? *laughs*
Sakai: *laughs* No, no...
Shingo: Sugoooi....just now...I almost got tricked!
Sakai: No, no! Please just answer the question.
Shingo: Alright. Sou desu nee... satisfied or not... Actually, I thought I can do better than this. But somehow I didn't do it better. That's how I feel.
Sakai: You mustn't have a goal in your life, huh?
Shingo: Is that so? *laughs* No, I always strive and aim for that goal... but I don't want to find that goal! If I do find it... I'll pretend I don't see it and keep moving forward and find another goal at the further front.
Sakai: So you'll just jump over that goal post??
Shingo: Yes! *smiles*
Sakai: You'll just go forward to the next post? *laughs*
Shingo: Yes!
Sakai: Aaah.... I think I can finally see through you now...
Shingo: *nod and smile*
[image]
Sakai: Okay...so, as a man... Who is the man you've fallen in love with?
Shingo: The man I've fallen in love with? If you ask me, the man I've fallen in love with... is... Kimura-kun. Kimura Takuya.
Sakai: Ah, sou... Which part of him you've fallen for? Like, his face?
(laughs)
Shingo: *smile widely* But yeah, I guess...his face would be one of the many reasons! I mean...he's COOL!
Sakai: I see...
Shingo: I don't have that kind of coolness.
Sakai: I don't think so.
Shingo: No, really! Kimura-kun's coolness as a man...I don't have that. That's why I think, he's very KAKKOI.
Sakai: Which part of him is kakkoi?
Shingo: .........................
Sakai: Basically...is he nice(kind)? Despite his looks appeal....there's this other side of him...
Shingo: Yes, yes, yes! That's it...that's his kakkoi-ness!
Sakai: He don't have to say a single word...but just from what he does...he's kakkoi...?
Shingo: Yes, that's him...that's his kakkoi-ness.... I don't have that.
Sakai: *laughs* I see. Actually I've once appeared in SMAPxSMAP, we performed a song together...
Shingo: Yes.
Sakai: Then, Kimura-kun was beside me... During the step moves...though I didn't ask him at all, but he guided me, "Hai....right, left, right, left, stop...1, 2, 3, 4...hai...left, right, left...". He guided me during all the steps.
Shingo: *nodding* Yes.
Sakai: You're not giving any comments at all, ne....
Shingo: [Haha...Shingo have this "OOPS" looks on his face!]
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Sakai: Yes, well....it was like that...and he didn't ask me whether or not I heard him....
Shingo: Yes, I know that! Isn't that kakkoi??
Sakai: So you want to be like that? Or do you want to have that kind of kakkoi-ness?
Shingo: I want to have that kind of kakkoi-ness. I never really think of wanting to be somebody else.
Sakai: You just want to be yourself?
Shingo: Yes, I'll just do everything in my own way. But, as the man I fall in love with, Kimura Takuya is kakkoi, to me. Although, I've been close with him for about 20 years now, but whenever people talk about him, or I see him from afar, I still think that he's kakkoi.
Sakai: Hmmmm.... what an odd group, huh?
Shingo: .....
Sakai: Does the other members sees him like you do? Well, I can see that you're just saying what you really think of him...but...
Shingo: But, really...he's cool!! I really know what you just said. He did that to me too, sometimes, guiding me, "Right, left, right...". And when he did that to me, I've fallen for him! If he does that to any woman ....waa...seriously....
Sakai: They won't stand it?
Shingo: Yes, they won't!
Sakai: Why do you think he has that kind of coolness?
Shingo: It's.... Wait a minute, I really talk like a Kimura-kun's fan, aren't I?
Sakai: You must've bought Kimura's photobook, haven't you??
Shingo: No, no... *laughs*.... See, like...the natural moves he has... I feel this is definitely the moves of a man that women would love...and he always has it.
Sakai: Ah, so as an artiste...
Shingo: For example, when he pull out his cellphone from his pocket... That one single move alone is .... I can't do that! I can't do it like him.
Sakai: Lately, there are many women who thinks they can make it on their own, live alone. To these kind of women, would you feel like giving them help?
Shingo: Yes! I would!
Sakai: When you see a lady bringing many bags in her hands, then when you offer her help, she say, "It's okay, thanks,"....how do you...?
Shingo: Yes, actually I've experienced these kind of situations before, they said, "Its okay...you don't have to.."
Sakai: Sou?? How do you feel with these kinda ladies?
Shingo: I think they should let their guard down a bit...
Sakai: Aaah....
Shingo: I just think it's okay for them to ask a bit of power from the men.... But I guess, that kind of men are not really many nowadays....
Sakai: Yes, yes...it seems though women who works looks pretty, but those who are in love would look prettier...don't you think so?
Shingo: Hmm.... For me...although women who aim for a high goal in her life is wonderful... But if they think they should not lose from men... I don't think that's necessary. Well, I'm not really into man-woman relationship.... but I just want man and woman to be equal, to be treated equally and to have equal positions.
Sakai: I see...but I guess you're in a different generation with mine...so we might had different educations and different views. I think yours and my way of thinking are kinda different... I'm actually pretty shocked with the way women are, nowadays....
Shingo: Aaah...I see...
Sakai: So, is there any sentence ever been said to you by someone, that you can never forget?
Shingo: Ahh... Ee.... Inaho ni narinasai! [Please, become an ear of rice/rice plant!]
Sakai: Inaho ni narinasai...that's...?
Shingo: A taxi driver said that to me, when I was about 13-14 years old...
Sakai: Why?
Shingo: I've worked in this world since I was 10. Then when I was 13-14 years old, right from work, from a studio, I went home with a taxi... That taxi driver asked me, "You must be SMAP's Shingo-kun ne?". Then, the 13 years old me, said, "Yes, that's me...konnichiwaa...". Then he said, "I think you'd be very busy with your works from now on... Inaho ni narinasai!".
Sakai: Ooo...
Shingo: I didn't understand what he meant with "inaho"....I asked, "What do you mean?". He said, "When one inaho becomes bigger, it's head will get lower and lower.... Shingo-kun, you might have to work hard from now on...you'll go through happy times and painful times... But, when you get bigger, remember to always lower your head,". That's what the taxi driver told me, it really stayed in my mind until now.
Sakai: What a good driver, he was...
Shingo: Yes!
Sakai: So you gave him tips?
Shingo: I don't think....
Sakai: You didn't??
Shingo: Well...
(laughs)
Sakai: Is that so...
Shingo: To think of it now, that time I was really only 13 years old...a small, pure kid... I feel really grateful to him for saying that to me.
Sakai: So it was something said to you, more than 10 years ago...but you still remember it?
Shingo: Sou desu ne...
[I don't get their conversation after this for about 1 min 40 secs (17:50 - 19:30)...sumimasen!]
Sakai: Men don't really cry, do we?
Shingo: Yes.
Sakai: When my mother died, I cried. But when my father died, I didn't cry at all. Why? Because I felt like I have to live on by myself from now on and work hard just like my father. So I didn't have time to cry. Somehow, I felt like I've become a man, that time. My whole life, I've only cried once.
Shingo: Reeaaally???
Sakai: *smiles*
Shingo: How about when you watch movies, or something like that?
Sakai: It made us cry, but it didn't come from inside us...
Shingo: Ohh... But I, myself, cry quite alot.
Sakai: Is that so?
Shingo: I've cried many times.
Sakai: How much?
Shingo: Quite much...
Sakai: Like when you watch movies?
Shingo: No...from inside me, like when I feel stale...
Sakai: Eh? Stale? What do you mean?
Shingo: Stale is like, when I think too much...mmm... Then there's these alot of things going on in my head...it makes me stale...
Sakai: Aaa... Something like an explosion, inside you?
Shingo: I guess so.... When that happen, I cry...
Sakai: Hmmm... Aa! Sorry! I just remembered, I've cried once more! You see...I got divorced... Then, there's this photo of my child... One day, when I see that...suddenly, my tears came out...
Shingo: Hee...though, that's a photo you always see daily...but...
Sakai: Yes, yes. Though I always see that photo everyday, just that one day...suddenly I felt something from inside me... Like, I feel I've done something really bad to my child. So, I cried...
Shingo: *nods* Aaah...
Sakai: You must've gone through happy times, sad times, good times and bad times in your life...which is alot more? In reality...
Shingo: *thinks* ......DEFINITELY, the happy and fun times!
Sakai: Ah, sou?
Shingo: I'm VERY happy now!
Sakai: Including on your job?
Shingo: Yes!! I have lots of work...everyday, everyday, I always get jobs...
Sakai: Really... Do you have time to have a vacation, at all?
Shingo: Not really... But, even so, right now...I feel happy. When I feel that I've been through the happy and fun times more than the painful and sad times...it means that, I must've really love my job...
Sakai: I see... So even though you have doubts in your job, you can still include that as something fun in your life??
Shingo: Sou desu ne...hai!
Sakai: Okay then, so...let's talk about your job.
Shingo: Okay.
Sakai: Is it alright? You're not tired?
Shingo: Not at all, I like this kind of conversation...
Sakai: Ah, right...you've said it already from the beginning of the show, ne... Okay, so in doing your job...do you have some kind of rule for yourself? For example...I won't do this...or, I will not forgive myself if I do this...
Shingo: ....*thinks*....rule, ne...
Sakai: Just something small...maybe like, "I have to be present in the working location 10 minutes earlier!". It sounds like a small matter...but when you can't keep that promise to yourself...you'd feel bad...and not just because many people wait for you...but you would be upset with yourself.... Do you have something like this?
Shingo: Mmm....*thinks*.... aaahh, yes, yes, I have!! But before that, I would like to confess, that I sometimes come late to the working location....SUMIMASEN!!!!
Sakai: *laughs* So, you usually come late?? Okay, okay....
Shingo: *laughs* Sorry.... Okay, so my rule is... I do not read dorama or movie scripts at my house.
Sakai: Hee... What are you trying to aim, with that kind of rule?
Shingo: ................*thinks*..... You see, I'm the jolt-type of man.
Sakai: Hee...?
Shingo: A jolt-type of man, means...to me, to memorize the script lines RIGHT before the filming is alright... So I do not want to bring work to my house....
Sakai: But it doesn't mean you're just lazy or tired, right?
Shingo: ..................... No.
Sakai: Actually, for me...this..what is this, though this is not a script...this is just like guidance for questions to be asked in this show.... Just this type of work...I've read it already 3 days before!
Shingo: Aaaaah.... It DEFINITELY wouldn't mean anything at all!! (*reading scripts 3 days before, for him)
(they both laugh)
Shingo: *stands and bows deeply* Gomen nasai, I'm very sorry!! No, I didn't mean it like that!
Sakai: Ah, sou.
Shingo: Gomen nasai.... How should I put it...
Sakai: No, no, it's okay. I guess, people have their own ways to handle their jobs. The late Tanba Tetsuro(*popular actor) was also the type of person who will definitely never read script at home!
Shingo: Aaa...
Sakai: He read the script at the filming location too.... When, he was filming olden period production, and he come across a difficult kanji character, he'd ask the director, "How is this character read, nowadays??"
(they both laugh)
Shingo: *laughs* ....nowadays?
Sakai: There's no such thing as 'nowadays' to read it, ne! Then, I guess...that type of person does exist! ...I see....so you memorize the lines that way...
Shingo: I like to do it close to the deadline...when I finally reached the CLEAR point....somehow I feel so alive!
Sakai: I see...that's nice...that one-moment type of situation, huh...
Shingo: Yes.
Sakai: Right now, what do you fear the most regarding your job?
Shingo: Fear...? *thinks*
Sakai: Like, maybe you can't memorize the lines well....
Shingo: *thinks* Something I fear.... I think I fear, like, when something inside me pull back my steps...I fear that.
Sakai: I see... How do you avoid that to happen?
Shingo: Usually, I'll just talk to myself....
Sakai: Mm....there must be two sides of you, nee....
Shingo: Yes.
Sakai: I think everyone must have this kind of conversation between two sides of themselves!
Shingo: Yes... Do you have something you fear, yourself?
Sakai: Me?
[Sumimasen... I don't get what Sakai-san explains... His way of talking is so DEEP x) I do not translate minute 29:10 to 31:50]
Sakai: Anyway, so you have acting, singing or hosting jobs... But right now, you're sitting on this show...how do you feel?? You're not acting nor singing now....
Shingo: Yes....*thinks*....
Sakai: When you enter this room, you must've felt a weird atmosphere, deshou?
Shingo: Yes. Very much.
Sakai: You must be...
Shingo: But I feel really different than when I first came in... I feel really good now.
Sakai: Ah, so you feel good now? I'm glad.
Shingo: Sakai-san and together with these male audience, had somehow.... bring out many things from inside me.... And, I feel good.
Sakai: Is that so! That's good, that's good.
Sakai: So... Have you ever think of marriage? Not like you'd like to do it or not...but, something like, the ideal marriage for you....
Shingo: Not so long ago... I've thought about it.... But, recently...I've never thought about it anymore... well...
Sakai: I guess it must be difficult for you, to get married at this time around, ne?
Shingo: Sou desu ne....
Sakai: Well, I know there's a married person in SMAP... But, maybe for you, you better be alone for now?
Shingo: Anoo... These 1-2 years...it seems like I've come to love my job alot... Like even when I do things that somehow related to my job, like watching movies or listening to musics...then, to have many thoughts about it...I really love doing that...
Sakai: Then if you mix that with marriage... Maybe it'll result in an unhappiness?
Shingo: *thinks* ........ Just one thing for sure.... I've always think of many things and I talk to myself, and question myself about those things... When I talk to myself about marriage in my head....really, there's no way for that right now...
Sakai: I see...but maybe when the right woman comes, ne... So, what type of woman is a wonderful lady for you?
Shingo: Wonderful, huh.... Eeto...*laughs*....wonderful lady....
Sakai: *laughs* Okay, so maybe not the types you've dated before...but just..when you see this woman, you think, "How wonderful she is..."...like that....
Shingo: Right now... It's gotta be Saiyuuki's Master, Fukatsu Eri-san! I like her alot!
Sakai: So you come to like Sanzo Hoshi??
Shingo: I think, she's kakkoi!! Then I thought..."Ahh...turns out, I like this type of lady,".
Sakai: What do you like from her?
Shingo: She resembles the Sanzo Hoshi character alot... A very firm type of woman. I've never met any actress like her, before. Usually, actresses has this stereo-type....
Sakai: *nods firmly* Mmh! They have their own patterns, ne....
Shingo: She's really different! She's a woman I like...like when I like a certain man. Then I guess, maybe I like that type of woman.
Sakai: So, you mean you don't see Fukatsu-san as a woman?
Shingo: That's DEFINITELY not it!!! *laughs*
Sakai: *laughs* I see...you didn't mean it that way, ne!
Shingo: As a woman...she has men characteristics....
Sakai: I see, I see... So, she's that type of woman...?
Shingo: *thinks over* .........wait, wait...I think I've said it wrong....
Sakai: Desho?
Shingo: .......................
Sakai: But, in any case, she's the type of actress that you've never met before?
Shingo: Yes! Sou desu ne...
Sakai: So, as a person...
Shingo: She's kakkoi!! I never really admire any actress like how I admire her... And just like how Son Gokuu follows Sanzo Hoshi... I feel like I, Katori Shingo, have to follow her, Fukatsu Eri, the actress, too...take her as an example....
Sakai: Speaking of Sanzo Hoshi, when I did Saiyuuki... the actress who portrayed the role was Natsume Masako. Somehow, I've seen her, the way you see Fukatsu-san too, some times.
[note: Sakai Masaaki was Son Gokuu in Saiyuuki the 1978 series adaptation]
Shingo: Hee...
Sakai: She's really firm and bold. She didn't do things half-hearted...like on the desert scenes, she didn't complain at all, and just do it all in one-two takes.
Shingo: Aaah....
Sakai: So, I guess Sanzo Hoshi character...
Shingo: She really exist...
Sakai: That kind of character really exist, ne... So have you ever told her about it?
Shingo: No...
Sakai: You didn't say anything to her?
Shingo: I don't know... But I can't really start that kind of conversation, anyway.... I like Sanzo Hoshi... and I like Fukatsu Eri-san....I can say this much... But to say it directly to the person herself...I've never done that before.
Sakai: Then, why don't you just see her as Sanzo Hoshi, and say it to her!
Shingo: .....*smiles*....actually, this is the first time I tell someone about how I like her.... I feel kinda embarrassed already now....
Sakai: I see....but I think it's great that you can think of her as a wonderful person... As a person, it's important to have someone you admire. Alright, the last question... When and in what kind of situation do you think of retiring? This must be something happen far, far in the future... And maybe you've never think of it at all, though....
Shingo: *thinks* .......mmm.... The time when I think of retire? .....I guess, whenever I gain more weight....
Sakai: Is that when the other you come out?
Shingo: Yes. I like challenging myself...and I always do that. Then, when I gain a little more weight...I feel, maybe I'm losing already.... But even when that happen, I'll work harder.
Sakai: Sou ne! This is still, such an early period for you!
Shingo: Yes.
Sakai: I'm sure you'll shine even more, from now on. Okay then, I've asked you alot of questions! Are you tired?
Shingo: I'm alright.
Sakai: Arigatou, ne.
Shingo: I'm having fun, really.
Sakai: Alright, the very last question! How many points would you give yourself NOW?
Shingo: *thinks and smiles widely* 60 points!
(the audience applaud)
Sakai: Wow, it has increased!!! 10 points is big!!
Shingo: It IS big!!
Sakai: Why did it increase 10 points during this show??!
Shingo: The conversation I just had with Sakai-san...has really bring out things inside me, and some of them I didn't realize or really think of, before.... So the feel of moving forward...the feel to continue moving forward, somehow has increased...10 percents!
Sakai: That's great, yokatta, yokatta! I'm very happy this show can bring a good difference for you.
Shingo: I just wish Sakai-san, you don't throw away those things...
[note: he's talking about Sakai's fear that I didn't translate above^^;]
Sakai: *laughs* You think of that too much.
Shingo: Please, try your best to keep them more!
Sakai: Ah, souu... But when you've reach this age, I think you'll understand how I feel.
Shingo: So, I can't keep them anymore?
Sakai: Yes, well... I guess, if I can, I will try to keep more... Thank you for the nice advice.
Shingo: No, no, no...
Sakai: This had been a very good time!
Shingo: Yes!
Sakai: Thank you.
Shingo: Thank you very much!
(they shake hands)
I'm VERY glad to hear Shingo said, "I'm VERY happy now!!" ^v^ I wish I can hear each SMAP member say this^^
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