NAKAMARU'S ROOM
18th issue
A stage play by himself, commentator, YouTube...Nakamaru Yuichi has a lot of different activities.Nakamaru will invite other artistsand with his particular point of view, he will dig into the true character of his guests in this serialization.
Guest Kikuchi Fuma-san
[Last part]
Nakamaru: Let's look back. Although I already heard about your junior days. Like you are friends with (Tanaka) Juri.
Kikuchi: What's the oldest memory you have of me?
Nakamaru: The oldest one? We already talked about this. We appeared together in Joshima-kun's show named something Galileo Nouken...
Kikuchi: That's your oldest one? So you don't remember Shokura (The Shounen Club)?
Nakamaru: We barely spoke anything there, did we?
Kikuchi: We did. Because I was one of the main juniors, most of the times on front.
Nakamaru: Nah, we didn't talk. Weren't you quite plain an unnoticeable?
Kikuchi: I wasn't (laughs)!
Nakamaru: Like a good-behaved kid from a wealthy family (laughs).
Kikuchi: I wasn't a good and quiet kid, I was quite straightforward. I tried to get in the middle of everything.
Nakamaru: I don't have that impression of you at all.
Kikuchi: That's why... It's alarming. Because Koyama (Keichiro)-kun remembers it. He properly remembers my growing process.
Nakamaru: I'm kind of aware too.
Kikuchi: But your oldest memory isn't from Shokura, right? You don't remember, right?
Nakamaru: I don't (laughs). Well... That's because I was permitted to do that show freely.
Kikuchi: No, no (laughs). Actually, is there anything you don't do freely?
Nakamaru: I usually do as I please. If we really think about it (laughs). But no matter what's the job, I'm always nervous. Even with Shuuichi and Kaji Yarou!!.
Kikuchi: You are not, you definitely are not!
Nakamaru: I am. I'd be weird if I wasn't nervous at all.
Kikuchi: You definitely are not. You are definitely not nervous on Kaji Yarou!!.
Nakamaru: (He thinks a bit...) I am not.
Kikuchi: Buahahaha! You are the worst (laughs).
Nakamaru: I am not because it's really interesting (laughs). But that's something to be grateful for. There's another thing. I've been doing this job for a quarter of a century. At the beginning I was always nervous wondering what should I do.
Kikuchi: What about the first performance of a new song? Do you feel nervous?
Nakamaru: Isn't that feeling different from being nervous? At those times, I need to concentrate more wile dancing or I might get it wrong, so I do feel that kind of nervousness.
Kikuchi: But don't you feel nervous from excitement?
Nakamaru: Maybe at the first concert of a tour I feel nervous.
Kikuchi: Wow! That's unexpected.
Nakamaru: I worry over all the preparations turning out well and whether the public reaction will be as we imagined.
Kikuchi: I get that. Who is in charge of producing the concerts in KAT-TUN?
Nakamaru: We all do it.
Kikuchi: And who comes up with the set list?
Nakamaru: We do it together. It might be different some years, but usually it's the three of us together. We discuss it together with the staff members.
Kikuchi: Wow!
Nakamaru: Yes. It's because we are only 3 people.
Kikuchi: No... That's a hard topic for you.
Nakamaru: No, I didn't mean it like that.
(Both laugh out loud)
Nakamaru: How many years ago did you have your debut?
Kikuchi: We have just passed our 11th year.
Nakamaru: So you've been in the game for more than 10 years! You aren't a fresh idol anymore and soon you'll be treasuring the things you want to do as an artist.
Kikuchi: That's right.
Nakamaru: Making what you have envisioned for yourself come true. Are you thinking about what do you want to do in the future?
Kikuchi: I like everything.
Nakamaru: Variety shows, singing and acting?
Kikuchi: Yes. And particularly now I'm doing all of that.
Nakamaru: Idols are normally like that. Because to begin with, they are supposed to be able to do anything.
Kikuchi: And they also let us be in charge of producing the concerts. So it's really anything. So in the future I can continue doing anything or I can narrow down a bit the things I do...
Nakamaru: Well, time is limited. And if you want to be on a par with other professionals, you might need to choose a specialty.
Kikuchi: That's how it is. There isn't enough time physically speaking for me to do everything. So now is the moment for me to choose what I want. I'll narrow it down when I become 30 years old. But for now, I'll do everything and think about my options.
Nakamaru: Do you like acting, singing, TV and such equally?
Kikuchi: I like doing them all. I'm very inexperienced in all of them, so I enjoy everything.
Nakamaru: I see. Isn't that good? Everybody advances at their own pace. Even if some people tell you, "You aren't good at this" or, "You are actually not suited for variety shows," it's not like that at all.
Kikuchi: Yes, it's as you say. That's why we'll see in the future. I have to know better what I'm capable of.
Nakamaru: That's right. Then... What would you like to do in Jyanino Channel?
Kikuchi: I want to do the shaking telephone calls. I will always love those videos we did.
Nakamaru: You want to do them again, huh? They are funny.
Kikuchi: Yes. Also, we hadn't met the 4 of us together for a long time. An the other day, we finally did. I'd like the 4 of us to go together somewhere.
Nakamaru: Yes, that's something we want in Jyanino. Going on some kind of a trip.
Kikuchi: I want to spent proper time together even if it's almost impossible. And I want to make Toyofuku-san (the person in charge of hair and makeup in KAT-TUN) laugh!
Nakamaru: Buahaha! (Exhales) What kind of motivation is that (laughs)!? Why?
Kikuchi: Aren't all the people around KAT-TUN generally very scary?
Nakamaru: No, no, although I don't know how you perceive them... (Laughs)
Kikuchi: There are many thing we, the kouhais, perceive (laughs). Isn't Toyofuku-san, for example, very strict?
Nakamaru: It's a very good person.
Kikuchi: He might be a good person. But I want to make him smile and see it!
Nakamaru: But why!?
Kikuchi: Buahaha! So before, when he was doing my makeup, I tried making two jokes (laughs). And I checked through the mirror if Toyofuku-san was laughing. It made me remember it was like that all the time during 24-Hour TV.
Nakamaru: Buahahaha (laughs). So what else could we talk about? What are your current ambitions?
Kikuchi: I want to make Toyofuku-san laugh.
Nakamaru: Enough with that! I'm changing the topic (laughs).
Kikuchi: Mmm... My ambitions?
Nakamaru: I don't mean in 5 years, I mean now. I don't know if you want to be regular in a TV show or if you want to star in a drama or movie. Your ambitions at this very moment.
Kikuchi: I want to do many things, but I've never worked as a voice actor, so I'm like to try that.
Nakamaru: Oh. Why?
Kikuchi: I don't need to have any specific reason!
(The two laugh loudly)
Kikuchi: I want to try things I've never done. Like starring in a movie or be the host of a variety show, so I've got many ambitions. And voice acting is something I've never done at all.
Nakamaru: You're right. Not many people do it, except for the professionals that have it as their main job.
Kikuchi: Isn't it something very difficult? But even so, I'd like to try it.
Nakamaru: Like, animes, right? You can perform as yourself in the form of an anime character to promote something.
Kikuchi: Yes. There's also dubbing... I've done some narration works before, but I'd like to work as a voice actor.
Nakamaru: What about stage plays?
Kikuchi: I want to do them! But they aren't an easy thing to do. Aren't the actors who do stage plays like truly craftsmen? They've got a routine they must follow no matter what: at X o'clock they have to stretch and train and care their voices and then at X o'clock, they have to perform. Their schedule is carefully planned, isn't it? That's something I'm not good at. Do you understand? You are like me, right?
Nakamaru: You hate getting stuck in a rut, don't you? I understand you, like, it makes you want to change it.
Kikuchi: Yes. So that's an obstacle.
Nakamaru: A more flexible stage play would be nice.
Kikuchi: Yes. But I got to experience it all with the HAMLET stage play I took part in. It dried all my energy out (sad smile).
Nakamaru: I see, but classic stage plays are the hardest ones in that aspect (laughs).
Kikuchi: It's a play with a length of more than 4 hours; I was vomiting blood every day because of how much my throat was hurting.
Nakamaru: That must have been hard... How long did it last?
Kikuchi: Around one month and a half. Each performance lasted for 4 hours we used to have 2 in the same day. I spent 8 hours on the stage every day.
Nakamaru: It's unbelievable... What would you do if you were offered to do it again?
Kikuchi: I would have to think it over a lot (laughs). But I wouldn't have any other option than to do it. I wouldn't refuse it. I'd accept it and I'd do it outstandingly well (laughs). Basically, if my schedule permitted it and I was told to do it, I'd do it.
Nakamaru: So that's how it is.
Kikuchi: Yes. That's something Nakai (Masahiro)-san told me. If I turn offers down, offers will stop coming.
Nakamaru: I see. But stage plays are hard after all.
Kikuchi: You don't do stage plays?
Nakamaru: I only do my own show that I do by myself, other than that... (Laughs) I like it because I enjoy coming up with it and presenting it to everybody. But having to memorize something that was decided by someone else...
Kikuchi: That's because you are a creator.
Nakamaru: But to take part in a stage play, you need a lot of stamina and determination.
Kikuchi: But if you were paid 100 million...
Nakamaru: I'd do it!
(The two laugh loudly)
Nakamaru: Well, anyway. I want you to keep working hard.
Kikuchi: Oh! Summing it up (laughs). Of course I want to keep working hard.
Nakamaru: Yes. How old were you again?
Kikuchi: I'm 27 years old.
Nakamaru: 27, huh? Then it's not good for you to be saying you don't like this or that.
Kikuchi: You didn't say it at my age?
Nakamaru: Of course I didn't. The only thing I said is "thank you very much!" (Laughs) But my face might have revealed that I was thinking this or that was hard (laughs).
Kikuchi: We had our debut real quickly. I'm 27, but it's my 12th year since I debuted.
Nakamaru: Compared with the rest of Johnny's, were you young when you debuted?
Kikuchi: I think so. When we had our debut, Marius was 11.
Nakamaru: So you were the fastest to debut?
Kikuchi: We were the youngest. Our average age was quite low. So people have been telling us, "Sekuzo's moment is about to come" and we are now in our 12th year and it hasn't come yet (laughs).
Nakamaru: Wait a bit more. It's about to come (laughs).
Kikuchi: Hahaha! I want to be popular and sell a lot.
Nakamaru: But you are selling quite a lot. I don't know if what I'm going to say is good or bad, but... We, Johnnys, are very lucky. Mostly everyone sells a lot. Well, instead of saying we sell a lot, it's more like we are able to sell a lot thanks to the fans.
Kikuchi: Yes, you're absolutely right!
Nakamaru: So if you wait a bit more...
Kikuchi: Yes. But I want to stand out in at least something. Aren't we carrying it all on our shoulders? All the older groups are different in something. But there's nothing special in Sexy Zone. We weren't popular when we were juniors either.
Nakamaru: Many things have happened.
Kikuchi: Yes. When we debuted, the 3 youngest ones had just joined the agency. So it's really all thanks to the agency that we actually debuted. So I want us to outstand in something to return the favor! In that aspect, we are different from the rest, aren't we? The older groups became incredible famous when juniors. I was just a kid, and I didn't realize KAT-TUN hadn't debuted. Because you had a lot of songs when you were still juniors and even appeared in music shows. So I really didn't notice KAT-TUN hadn't had a CD debut yet.
Nakamaru: True, now you say it, I get it. One year before our debut, we were doing almost the same that any other debuted group. We even had a TV show.
Kikuchi: It feels like you debuted almost at the same time NEWS did. You were really famous. When I was a kid, everybody had an uchiwa of you!
Nakamaru: Liar!
Kikuchi: Hahaha (laughs). No, but KAT-TUN was very famous.
Nakamaru: When we had a concert, it always was sold out. We even had 2 or 3 tours in the same year. We had to keep adding more and more concerts.
Kikuchi: It's amazing. Didn't you even break a record with those 10 days (In 2009, the tour "KAT-TUN Break the Records" had concerts in Tokyo Dome during 8 consecutive days, 10 days in total)?
Nakamaru: Yes.
Kikuchi: I was there. I was dancing in the back.
Nakamaru: In that Juniors Mansion? Eh? This is the first time I'm hearing that.
Kikuchi: No... I've told you before!
Nakamaru: Hehehe (laughing because it was a joke). No, but Sekuzo also sells well.
Kikuchi: Yes, thankfully. There are many people supporting us. That's why I want to make it up to Johnny's & Associates.
Nakamaru: Also, to the senpais, right? They are the ones who paved the way for us. We are just walking that way.
Kikuchi: That's it! We are just walking the way the paved.
Nakamaru: They taught us how to dress, how to perform or how to appear on TV. Everything is thanks to the senpais and the agency who are the ones who taught us how to do all of that.
Kikuchi: Yes, and I want to pay them back in some way. So when I say that I want to sell more, it's because of that.
Nakamaru: I see. So let's end this with your final words to the readers.
Kikuchi: Wait... Aren't you making me do all the work? (Laughs)
Nakamaru: No, no (laughs). I meant it as "Is there anything else you would like to say?"
Kikuchi: Something I'd like to say? Something like "I'd like the 3 other members of Jyanino Channel to come see me in the Dome concert?"
Nakamaru: But what if we don't find the right moment to go together?
Kikuchi: No, but... It's okay for you to come separately.
Nakamaru: I'll talk to Ninomiya (Kazunari)-kun. It's a big moment for you after all.
Kikuchi: That's right! Because the juniors that were behind you wearing those red clothes and giving their all while dancing will be now having their first dome concert!
Nakamaru: Yes, as the main performers. It'd be great to make a video about that.
Kikuchi: Forget about the video, just come!
Nakamaru: Hahaha. Well, if I've got the time...
Kikuchi: Please do!
Nakamaru: I'll try...
Kikuchi: Don't try! Do it! It's already settled!
Nakamaru: I'd also like to ask all the people attending the concerts to subscribe to our channel.
Kikuchi: Yes. We are aiming to reach 4 million subscribers!
Nakamaru: I also want our videos to get more views. I think even people who don't know us can watch them all in one go and enjoy.
Kikuchi: Wouldn't it be good if they left them playing in the background? They'll make loneliness go away (laughs). That'd be great. So please! I'd like everybody to watch our videos!
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