[TRANS] WiNK UP (May 2021): SixTONES Solo Series Vol. 03 - Kyomoto Taiga
SixTONES Solo Series Vol. 03
Kyomoto Taiga
The third person for the solo cover series is Kyomoto Taiga! 15 years has passed since he joined Johnnys and started working. He spoke honestly about his thoughts on the group after experiencing various things.
Kyomoto Taiga & his Favourite Time
Playing the sounds
Just stay home and do nothing
- About appearing on WiNK UP (July 2006) for the first time
Everything and anything was happy and fun at the time. Just seeing all the food at the locations made me excited and I had fun after school, meeting up with different kids to my friends at school. I really had no concept of it being work back then, so at first, it honestly felt like an extension of afterschool-time where I jumped into a new world. Everything felt new; people who were my batchmates were older than me and the senpais would take care of me as well. There wasn’t any SNS back then, so in a good way, the only evaluation of me would be through the few fan letters that I received. Of course, only positive stuff was written, so it was all fun. And then a few months in I think? Juniors from my batch started holding mics and there was some friction between a few people, but it was mostly all fun and games.
- Someone you couldn’t win against ever since Junior days
Rather than not winning over, well I wasn’t even on the same playing field, but Yamada (Ryousuke)-kun is a god. When I was called to watch the gene [dress rehearsal] for “Takizawa Enbujyou” in 2006, out of the mass of Juniors, Yamada-kun was shining brightly when he was dancing on the side. So much so that even an elementary sixth-grader like me who knew nothing thought “wow!” - his smile and dance was that dazzling. And when Johnny-san brought me backstage afterwards, I remember finding Yamada-kun and getting surprised by the difference. He had a necklace on, wearing some destroyed jeans with a dark jacket; he was really adult-like. That gap stunned me, or more like, I was puzzled about which was the real him. After I joined the company, I noticed not only Yamada-kun’s smile but his dance too, as well as his professionalism. He would always comb through his fringe and reapply his lipstick after [coming off stage from] his part, each and every time. He even had his foundation ready too. But Yamada-kun was a middle school first year. You don’t usually get middle school first graders like that. That’s why I thought he was a professional and he taught me many things as well.
- Happy things and frustrating things from Johnnys Junior days.
Let’s see… Something happy was Johnny-san praising me. When I was back-dancing for Kisumai, Johnny-san who was watching the Junior corner said, “Kyomoto can sing solo. Is there any song you want to sing?”, so I suddenly was prepped to sing “Ai nante” by myself. Johnny-san said “you were really really good” after I sang, and that both made me happy and in a way, I think that was when I was the most highly praised by him. I came to have more solo corners on Shokura after that, and sang “Ai nante” quite a few times. Something frustrating by far would have to be substituting for Sexy Zone. Sexy Zone’s debut announcement was on the final day of a special performance at the Imperial Theatre, but (Kikuchi) Fuma wasn’t able to attend the first 2 days since he was in “Shounentachi~”, and so I joined as his substitute. Fuma came in on day 3 and stood in the spots I stood in. Watching them from the side and seeing them announce “we’re debuting” was vexing. The combo of (Nakajima) Kento and Fuma were a classic, so it didn’t feel out of place that Fuma was there only on the final day, but it did feel complicated.
- Changes as a group
I think our group’s dynamic is renewed every year. We don’t interfere with each other, but we’d send a message to the group chat if we see one of us on a TV show, and chat about “you were on that show yesterday” when we meet up. But with even just that, I believe our group will travel in a great direction. Becoming members of the same group, our consciousness changed from that of rivals into comrades, and we all praise each other, or rather, there’s more of that communication. Talking about recently, stuff like [saying] “Hokuto has been active in dramas and movies, that gave us the chance to release ‘Boku ga boku jyanai mitai da’”. That’s why I think we’re very stable as a group.
- How you feel now after a year from debut
I debuted in a complicated environment that’s different to before, but there’s the miracle of being able to use Instagram and YouTube as well, and I think we’re progressing pretty nicely as a group - we’re able to let a new category of people listen to our music and our CDs are being well appraised thanks to everyone. There were truly lots of comments like “I’m a diehard anime fan, but the first Johnnys CD I bought was SixTONES”. So thinking about the meaning of that one single CD makes it such a valuable one and I can clearly see that SixTONES is gaining recognition. I was able to further affirm that through our album release. I think the release of “Boku ga boku jyanai mitai da” further broadened that, and I once again thought that our group truly has no bounds and limitations.
- What relationship do you want to maintain with the members?
I’ve been with my members for a long time, but I feel that we’re connected at a deeper level. For example, I get a sense of our solidarity when we go on music shows that many other groups appear in. The more groups there are, the more cohesive we become. Since SixTONES has that hungry spirit to not lose out to other groups, although we don’t say it out loud, it naturally turns into that atmosphere. I think we all want people to think that we’re the coolest group, and that I definitely want to keep that zeal in the future too. We’re newbies at the moment, but in 5, 10 years, we’ll have more kouhais and settle down a bit too. Even so, I want to treat those kouhais as rivals as well, and if those kouhais look up to SixTONES and end up performing together with us 10 years later, I want to make them think “just like we thought, we can’t win over SixTONES”. I think all of us has that strong pride. I think that’s what SixTONES is and we know that without saying it out loud. I get a sense of our bond deep down from time to time, so I think our relationship won’t change unless something drastic happens.
I think we all want people to think that we’re the coolest group, and that I definitely want to keep that zeal in the future too.
Looking back at SixTONES tennen Kyomoto Taiga right from his very first appearance
We have Kyomoto Taiga for the SixTONES solo cover and opening page series! On top of the messages to his members and fans, and the playback corner looking at everything from his first appearance, we have other cuts included in the offshots which unfortunately didn’t make the cover page.
To MEMBER & FAN
Message board from Kyomoto to the members & fans
To Jesse
Jesse’s surprisingly sensitive, and in situations where things are clearly on equal footing, he gets more nervous than necessary. But even in those times, he’ll worry about me and ask “Taiga, are you okay?” when I’m the one who’s actually worrying about him. I think he gets called as the face of the group often, but I hope he doesn’t feel too pressured from that.
To Hokuto
I’m seeing him on different programs lately and I’ve learnt unexpected things about him that I never knew before, and he’s still a mystery even though we’ve been established for 6 years. Seeing him talk so happily on TV with that childlike expression, or more, just knowing he makes those sort of faces gives me comfort. I think it’s fine for him to be the self he’s comfortable being.
To Kouchi
He’s the meek and teased character when he’s with SixTONES, but I think the Kouchi that interacts with his hometown friends is someone that we don’t know. I often share a hotel room with Kouchi and he’s the one I chat with the most amongst SixTONES, but that was the one thing I didn’t breach purposely. That’s why I want to observe how Kouchi is with his hometown friends and find out the side he doesn’t show us (laughs).
To Shintarou
When I was talking with him alone about SixTONES recently, he had a solid and forward vision; knowing that the youngest Shintarou is so reliable is a relief. He’s becoming more and more of an adult as the years go by, but I hope he can remain optimistic in a good way.
To Juri
We went to the same high school and we talk on and on when we meet at work, but thinking about it, we have different likes and things so it’s a strange relationship. I have a sense that we have the most different values within the group, and I think I’d get a little nervous if he asked me to go for a meal with just the two of us (laughs). Our distance is perfect at the moment, and being able to maintain that this whole time is amazing too.
To Fans
For anything related to SixTONES, they can trust us completely without any doubt. We’re a group that changes a crisis to a chance, so we’re a group that can pull it off when the situation calls for it, and we’re confident in our music too. We certainly still need to brush up on ourselves more, but I hope to continue experimenting and moving headfirst with our music activities just as we’ve been doing. It’s more than enough if you’ll come along with us.
From Taiga
KYOMOTO TAIGA’S HISTORY 2006 ⇒ 2019
Looking back at Kyomoto Taiga’s history through interviews
2006
[First appearance]
Thanks to the audition that I did during KAT-TUN’s concert, I was able to perform in it. Until the audition, I only copied the “Seishun Amigo” dance [off TV] so I can’t say that I’m good at dancing, but I find dancing fun now! (July 2006)
2007
I think, I got closer to everyone through the “Takizawa Enbujyou 2007” play. All of my co-stars are kind and they help me out when I’m stuck… Though I get super nervous and my face goes red when I’m with Takizawa-kun. But he talks to me a lot and that makes me happy. (September 2007)
2008
[Things I want to work hard at now that it’s 2008]
That would be acrobatics. I haven’t thought about doing it before, but I think I want to give it a go this year. The reason is because everyone is able to dance well now, and I’m starting to panic a bit (laughs). Shintarou can do backflips too and the other Juniors are working hard as well so it’s getting a little worrying. So I’m going to work hard on it! (February 2008)
2009
[To Kawai Fumito-kun]
The person who led me to begin doing monomane [impersonations]. He said “we’ll start with a 3-day training camp” when I asked him “please be my shishou [teacher/master]”, but I wonder what we’ll be doing (laughs). That’s right, there was something that I wanted to tell Kawai-kun. When Kawai-kun does monomane of NEWS’ Masuda (Takahisa)-kun, he holds his mic in his left hand, but the real Masuda-kun holds it in his right! (August 2009)
2010
[An ideal happening, “if only something sweet like this would happen”.]
It’d be nice if there was a spell or method to speak normally with girls~ I can’t hold a conversation with girls. When I’m asked something, I answer in a way that ends the conversation even though I didn’t want to. Like with “I dunno” or “I wonder”. So it’d be nice if there was a spell or something~ (November 2010)
2011
[I’m weak against this sort of gesture by girls!]
It’s orthodox, but it makes my heart skip a beat when a girl ties her hair in front of me. It’s absolutely fine if they’re usually boyish, but I think seeing “girlish gestures” like holding her skirt down when getting into a chair will make a boy’s heart skip a beat! (March 2011)
2012
[Your impression of Hokuto from when you met]
We started getting close before we realised, and he mentions me in magazine interviews too. He clings to me an awful lot. But I never thought there’d be a day where we would have a shoot together like this. Nor that he’s someone to make such pointless chatter (laughs). But this affectionate nature is what’s good about Hokuto. (August 2012)
2013
[Introduce Yuugo within 100 characters!]
Kouchi’s the one in the position to say things like “I’m bad at dancing~”, but he actually thinks a lot about work and has a firm character. On top of that, he’s pretty mature in his thinking and someone I can learn a lot from. (May 2013)
2014
[Winning & Losing]
Lately, I feel like I’m changing into someone who hates to lose. I had a childish hates-to-lose feeling before, like “it’s annoying that I lost the game!”; but recently, I get angry when I break my own rules that I set. I’m maturing! …That being said, I got into a verbal argument with Takahashi Kaito the other day (laughs). (September 2014)
2015
[Arbitrary prediction. Jesse’s trending word.]
“Hawaii”! It seems like he went on a holiday with his family there, and he sent pictures of him having fun to the group chat. And I was looking at them atop a hospital bed. I actually challenged myself to remove all 4 of my wisdom teeth at the same time, and was hospitalised for a night. With my face swollen, man, the sadness from looking at those pictures (laughs). I sent photos of myself in that situation back to them (laughs). I hope we can go to Hawaii as SixTONES for a shoot one day. (December 2015)
2016
[The switch to fawning on my members]
I think the members who spoil me are Juri and Kouchi. They don’t complain even when I sit on their lap (laughs). I like to sit on other’s laps, and although Juri and Kouchi are skinny, they’re like small animals and it calms me. I think we were probably dogs in our past lives. It just feels right when we’re having fun together (laughs). (February 2016)
2017
When we were established, we were facing in all different directions, whether in a good or bad way, but recently, I feel like SixTONES is showing unity all of a sudden. During “Tou SixTONES
2018
[Cute things about yourself that you hear often]
There’s a lot. I think it’s not a stretch to say that I’m someone “made of cute” (laughs). Aka: Cute Prince. The setting is that I live by giving people happiness through the power of song, dance and acting. A prince who loves peace more than anything. I need to work harder so that people will recognise me as such a person! (June 2018)
2019
[Recent “SixTONES aruaru[commonplace occurrence]”]
During the concert MC, when Shintarou and Jesse boke [acting dumb] nonstop and the mood turns into “well, what will we do now?”, telling Kouchi to deal with it is a recent SixTONES’ aruaru (laughs). What’s amazing about Kouchi is that he can bring miracles even in those situations. He’s like that usually. Everyone usually messes with Kouchi when they’re bored (laughs). (July 2019)