[Translation] Nino's "It", More March 2012 ed.
"The moment we adore and aim to be like someone, we’ve started an act of profanation of that person. The only chance we have is to look thoroughly into ourselves."
"It" 39th edition,
"Adoration is an act of Profanation"
Ninomiya Kazunari's earnest thoughts are deep and pure. That's why they can't be easily expressed. The only path he has been walking, now, little by little, we are tracing that moment.
For instance, his abrupt and emotionally explosive acting in “Ryuusei no Kizuna” drama, or the stage play “Mishiranu Jyoukyaku,” also, the subtle, frigid emotion of an ordinary young man he showed in "Freeter, Ie wo Kau." Not only in dramas and movies, but also in spontaneous dramas for variety shows, Nino's acting has the ability to leave the audience with an aftertaste, in other words, it has some kind of "sexiness."
But, I wonder what “sexiness” is? Does it mean "erotic"? (laugh). I believe it’s the same with "acting", in that it's only a matter of subjectivity and preference.
He thinks there's no such thing as good and bad in acting. However, it seems what he considers important when he acts is different from other actors.
Suppose in the climax there's a scene when I should yell angrily. Instead of the yell, what I consider important is the pause. I think whether or not we could silence the co-actors and the audience depends on the pause.
There are young actors who say, “I will do every scene with 100% of my ability.” I do not in any way deny that, but I’m completely the opposite. There are scenes in which I act with 2%, and there are also times when I use 20%. That’s because I want the work to be 100% when we see it as a whole. Even if we perform every scene with 100%, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the impression after seeing the work will be 100% as well. So that’s why I think [what’s important is] not doing the utmost, but the ability to construct.
Acting is surreal in the first place, so I want to prioritize on how to attract the majority. In other words, I have the principle of an audience. Through acting, what I should do to relieve the audience’s cravings? Or how to leave a hazy aftertaste? I’m thinking and handling a work from that point of view.
I don’t do the common ‘creating the role’
“Lose weight, gain weight, I change my appearance, more or less, and I also learn things that are needed for the role. But mentally, I don’t create the role. I never do like, analyzing what the character would do, or imagining the life of the character that is not in the script and try to write a curriculum vitae. Because, that’s not what the audience want. The audience wants to enjoy the work.
I understand the feeling of wanting to elaborate the mentality of the character perfectly, and I’m sure it won’t be a waste, but please don’t do it only for your self-satisfaction. At least, don’t reveal how you do it. That’s why I keep saying that I don’t create the role, and now that we talk about it, lately I’ve never been asked about ‘creating the role’ (laugh).
It is said that being an actor is one’s quality and also one’s way of life, but Nino says, “More than that, I think it’s one’s way of thinking.”
The reason why I think there’s no good or bad, superior or inferior in acting because we can’t compare ourselves with other actors. So when you think that a senior actor from an influential agency is great in acting, can a young actor in the same business praise him impertinently, “you are great”? You can’t, right? (laugh).
I have the feeling that adoration for a senior actor from a young actor is meaningless. No matter how amazing they are, we absolutely can’t be them, and the moment we think we want to be “someone,” we won’t be able to retain ourselves. Also, when we adore and aim to be like someone, I even think that we’ve started an act of profanation of that person (laugh). That actor is perfect because it is him, it’s pointless to become the inferior version of him, isn’t it? Why would we do it when we have the potential to surpass him if we keep being ourselves and look into ourselves thoroughly?
I like many actors and I respect many sides of various actors. But I have this underlying [principle] that “Adoration is an act of profanation.”
If your heart really flutters, you can’t say it in words.
You can be flawlessly beautiful and radiate “sexiness” that attracts people if you’re being your true self.
Sex appeal maybe is an imagination. If someone thinks that I’m sexy, maybe that’s because I rarely appear in love story dramas. Maybe that person’s imagination swelled because the sexy part of me is never seen. So, it doesn’t mean that I’m sexy, but the person who imagines that who’s erotic (laugh).
That imagination is also a kind of sexiness. There’s always a secret key in the invisible, indescribable things.
Don’t you think once you said it, “sexy” sounds funny? For example, I can only say “you’re sexy” to someone that I don’t desire more than that. That’s the word I would say jokingly to someone I know who wears revealing clothes (laugh).
If my heart really flutters, I wouldn’t say “you’re sexy.” I also couldn’t say “you’re cute.” I think I wouldn’t even praise her (laugh).
--fin--
T/N:
I'm speechless....Nino has silenced me again @_@
I did my best to translate his trains of thoughts, and quite confident I did justice to Nino's own words, feel free to discuss your opinions in the comments :))
I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for reading ♥
[EDIT] Translator's comment/note:
Nino's column "It" is written 一途 in Japanese, which can be read "Itto"= the only way/path/course, and also "Ichizu"= wholehearted, earnest. The first paragraph contains two 一途 with each meaning.
I hope people don't misunderstand the word "profanation" here. Nino really used 冒涜 (boutoku = blasphemy, profanation), but he doesn't mean to be impolite or insult anyone. In fact, he regards the amazing actors are so great so the younger ones shouldn't profane/degrade them by trying to be them, because they will never be able to do it. Instead, they should strive to be themselves, and try to surpass the seniors in their own ways.
Almost forgot, Nino said 憧れ (akogare), which means more than adoration, actually, it also means admiration, yearning, longing, wanting to be.
Thank you always for all the nice comments, I really really appreciate that you take the time to comment ♥