[Translation] Yomiuri Family 2012.10.31 Gussan Interview

[basil-ovelby.livejournal.com]

I thought this interview was really cute, so figured I would translate and share with everyone! Gussan talks about TOKIO and ~his feelings~ as well as some memories of his pre-debut days. I got all smushed inside.



"The five of us in TOKIO are really close."

What would you say is the reason the five of you have developed such great individuality over the years?

"Though the sorts of things we value differ between the five of us, we're all headed towards the same thing. We all have the same overarcing goals."

You're certainly famous for being a very close-knit group.

"Well, we've lived about half our lives as TOKIO now. We used to get into fights and arguments way back when we debuted, but now we don't really at all."

Could you tell us a bit about TOKIO Kakeru?

"It's always fun getting to talk and fool around with the guest of the day, but what I look forward to most, actually, is just getting to hang out with the guys. Our schedules are such that this is the only show all five of us get to appear together on."

But I'd thought you five did all sorts of work together!

"DASH shoots usually see us in groups of twos and threes, and of course, we all have our individual projects and schedules. All five of us actually getting together on a show [besides Kakeru] is pretty much limited to music shows nowadays."

What kinds of conversations do you get into in the dressing room?

"Mostly stupid stuff, you know [laugh]. Taichi and Nagase are always talking about something rather, and every once in a while I'll join in too. Mostly about cars and sports training. Leader's usually pretty calm and quiet, always checking himself in the mirror. Matsuoka's the type of guy who'll change right next to the studio, do the shoot, then leave. Quite efficient, really."

That's more indifferent than I might have imagined.

"Meh, we're guys, what do you expect? But we've got a really strong sense of unity."

------

"I want to keep our bonds and friendship strong."

So you originally joined Johnny's because you admired Shounentai?

"It was around my sophomore year in high school. There were already hundreds of juniors, and people like Leader and Taichi and all the SMAP members had already joined. Before we debuted, Leader and I would take lessons together. Since he was from Nara, he'd only be there on Sundays. After that, I was part of Heikeha, the back-dancing group for Hikaru Genji. It was me, Leader, Taichi, Nagano, Sakamoto and Inocchi. But the group was only around for a short time, so all of us were constantly worried about the future and what was going to happen to us."

Is that so?

"Well, your first goal is simply to join Johnny's right? But then after that, it's to join a group, release a CD, have an official "debut", as it were. It was like the unwritten rule of the time."

You've certainly kept your eyes on the prize the whole time, haven't you?

"Back then, the only real jobs we had as juniors was back-dancing for our senpai's concerts, so none of us were ever sure if we'd get to actually debut or not. Especially for me who was already 18 at the time, the last thing I wanted to do was be a burden to my parents, so I started working at a gas station to make some cash."

There was certainly quite the journey just to debut.

"I'll say. It was quite the feeling--getting told that you're going to debut with these four other guys. Almost like you'd been together in a past life as well."

How do you see the other TOKIO members in your mind?

"There's no one way to describe them. Any one of them could be any one thing at any certain time. Parents, siblings, colleagues, co-workers, pets, lovers--they're all included. Starting something new always requires a great deal of effort, but it takes just as much effort to keep on doing the things you're doing. These bonds and friendships between us are something I want to keep treasuring. I'm gonna be with these four guys until the end--we'll be TOKIO until the day we die."

Comments

[ax-casper.livejournal.com]

Aa.. soo sweet when Gussan said he look forward to hang out with the others actually, so much TOKIO love.. <333

We always sees they were always together, though..

psst : Basil, thank you for the translation.. ^^

[sky2142.livejournal.com]

"I got all smushed inside."

Basically my feels at every answer! Dawww~ Gussan how is it that you're so perfect? <333
Thank you for translating it. <3

[lakelady891979.livejournal.com]

So cute!! *_* Thank you for translating and sharing! <3

[yukihikari.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Loved reading the interview! <333

[murakaminaoko.livejournal.com]

My kokoro~ Their whole "we're close but don't get to see but we really love each other but we're guys and we used to fight but now we're great and once we didn't care about tokio but now it's our best time" always makes me almost melancholic(?) but happy in the end... THANK YOUUU~

[harimalover.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the translation!

So much TOKIO love <333

Interviews like this makes me love TOKIO even more.

[fayans.livejournal.com]

Ahh, so sweet! Thank you for translating this!

[tifakurosaki.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! ^^ The more I know Gussan the more I love him <3 He's so sweet!! I really like the last sentence "we'll be TOKIO until the day we die" HHHNNNNGGGG!!

[chisohjeung.livejournal.com]

This is just so sweet♥♥♥♥♥
Thank you for translating !!!

[mwoney.livejournal.com]

''Parents, siblings, colleagues, co-workers, pets, lovers''
thats how i see tokio guys in my head too <33