Jun's interview, TV Guide Person Vol 11, August 2013 (part 2)
Professional, stoic, hardworker, perfectionist...in other words, Mr. Perfect. Perhaps these are the accurate words to describe his image. But when we mentioned these words that are often attributed to him, his uncertain expression was as though he was saying "it's not like that..."
Next, we would like to ask about the changes and evolution surrounding Matsumoto Jun in the last 5 years that we especially felt in this reunion.
What do you think about your stoic image?
It's not that I hate being attributed as a perfectionist, that's definitely not the case. However, I don't have the "pathetic" feeling that tends to be attached to stoicism.
The point is, it's not a burden at all for me to try my best in order to create something of high quality. Well...before, maybe the desperation to pursue what I was aiming for was visible to people surround me.
Whether in concerts or in acting, I always feel your strong spirit in the tremendous preparation and effort that entails, the feeling of "if I'm going to do it, I have to do my best"
I create those together with the staff, so I always have in mind that I must prepare at least the minimum requirement so that I won't be disrespectful to them. Perhaps there are days when I can't show my best performance, but even so, I want to give my best of that day. And that's I think what the five of us have always been doing.
Do you feel any changes in yourself lately?
Hmm, when I was younger, I didn't have the experience nor the skill, so it wouldn't have been possible, but lately, I think I should graduate from only being the recipient. Of course, it is also alright to 100% incorporate and realize the given ideas, and add something more to it. But it would be great if there is a place in which I could present my opinions and ideas to be accepted. For that, I should always prepare myself enough to gain recognition from people around me.
Is working out also a part of that? When I saw the 24 hour television press conference, I was surprised to see your chest muscles.
(laugh) It's not that I'm filming an action movie or something, but as you know, it's going to be another turning point [turning 30] for me soon. Because we're not a kind of group who'd only sing calm songs on stage in concerts, are we? I want to maintain my body so I can always dance. I do muscle and torso training. If I stay at home, I tend to not working out so I'd rather to go to the gym and kind of forced to do it (laugh).
Maybe I'm also influenced by my fellow actors who would "do it when they have to", including by their awareness and ways of thinking towards work.
Starting from Oguri Shun-san with whom you co-starred in Hana Yori Dango, to your classmate from senior high school, Matsuda Ryuuhei-san, you are very close with them, so perhaps there are ideas that you guys will change the television and film industry?
I feel stimulated by the presence of actors from my generation such as Shun, Ryuuhei, and also Eita with whom I costarred after a long time, and I also feel their "passion". Now we are at the age when we can do something we had wanted to do, we've accumulated a reasonable amount of experience and career. When some of us meet to have meals together, we always talk about "I want to do that", or "we can do this!". In particular, don't you think there are many actors of my generation who were born between 1980~1985? Many actors of the same generation currently are still active at the front line of the industry, and I think it's rare. That considered, my being allowed to be one of Arashi whose all members are from that generation is a luxury, a blessing.
In "Bokura no Jidai" [Our Generations] aired in December 2012, when Jun-kun asked Eita, "Why did you think to appear in Lucky Seven?", Eita answered, "Because Matsujun is starring." I was deeply impressed by the "chemistry" between the two of you.
Right, we costarred for the first time after 10 years, since "Kimi wa petto" (TBS). I thought, "it's embarrassing being told such thing with that straight face!", but maybe the basis of that is the "trust" for each other, and not only with Eita, there are also similar relationships with colleagues from the same generations.
When Ryuuhei came as a guest in "Arashi ni Shiyagare" (NTV), we were strangely embarrassed because we never thought we'd appear together on TV. Moreover, we were nervous all through the show! (laugh)
It was an interesting, thrilling episode in which Ryuuhei-san keeps his unique "space" throughout the show (laugh)
But, I thought, being able to appear in a variety show with that tension means that he's not an ordinary man. I thought, he must be able to do his job with a great balance.
In the last 5 years, I think for you, time flies by so fast and so intense, incomparable with before. Do you manage to balance?
It's true for the pace at work, but on the contrary, to me, I think it's getting more relaxed. Perhaps because now hectic days have become daily routine, and because I've accepted that. Now I'm able to switch [from one work to another] too. For today's interview and photoshoot also, I came with a very relaxed mood. Of course I'm doing it properly though (laugh)
I can only say this now, but frankly, at the time you appeared in "Gokusen" (NTV), sometimes you were scary.
I was very very harsh (laugh)
When I went to the set, there were days when I thought, "He is Sawada!" (laugh)
Well well (laugh) At the time, I simply had no room to think of anything else. I was in my late teens, I had no skills yet, right? I did Kindaichi (Shonen Jikenbo (NTV)), and then Sawada in Gokusen. I also played as Bon in Pikanchi Life Is Hard Dakedo Happy (2002) film.
Was it hard to switch continuously from one very different role to another?
It was. On Gokusen set, I was constantly being irritating, so I really feel bad to the staff. But to act as the bad boy Sawada, at the time, all I could do was to transform myself into him. If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't have been able to be on the set, and wouldn't have been able to see the surroundings. It felt like blood is rushing around inside me and I didn't have any choice. There was a period when the switch [as Sawada] was constantly on. I think I was afraid that if I switched off (the role), I wouldn't be able to switch back.
(to be continued to part 3)
T/N:
Part 3 (around 2200 characters more out of 7200) is coming soon in 1-2 days. Something came up in real life, sorry.
Also, I thought perhaps it would be better if we take a break here, because it's quite long (but interesting), so maybe the readers would digest it better.
a note of what the interview said in the beginning, he said he wanted to explore the evolution(=進化) (or deepening=深化) of Matsumoto Jun and Arashi
進化 and 深化 are both spelled as "shinka"