[MORE 2019.01] NINO interview - Beginnings (1/2)
Nino talks about his views on the ocean, acting and directing.
“I hate the ocean…” (laughs)
This kicked off what should have been a commemorative issue on a clear and windy autumn day in Yokohama. These were the first words that came out [of Ninomiya’s mouth] as he gazed at the glittering water surface.
“Well, I’m not comfortable with objects bigger than myself or wide spaces! (laughs) I feel calmer in narrow spaces like closets and stuff, rather than in the ocean. I wonder why?”
He basks in the sea breeze and quietly focuses on the cameraman.
“As I’m being photographed, right now, I feel that there’s only the two of us.”
Whenever something is about to begin, he always blends into the atmosphere with a nonchalant and casual air.
"I don’t want to get worked up just because it's the "beginning". When I started filming on the set of “Ryusei no Kizuna”, I was also impassive. Well it's not that I wasn't fired up (about the drama); there were other major events like the Asia Tour that was happening simultaneously and the drama [Ryusei] also something important to me.
“Even if I hadn’t thought of taking the lead, everyone could exhibit their own strengths and capabilities. However, I probably was the one who enthusiastically initiated communications with the staff and co-actors. Even though I was playing a rivalling role [to someone on the set], if we could converse naturally it would definitely have a good influence on the script.”
I didn’t think that becoming part of Arashi would change my life
From the opening of a new game to the crank-in of a movie. Everyday, there are various “beginnings”. However, the greatest Beginning that started the ball rolling in Nino’s life has got to be the moment when Arashi’s debut was determined.
“Even so, I didn’t think that the formation of Arashi was such a big deal to me. Even though I was 16 at the time, I had the privilege of acting in various roles and was more interested in directing than in acting. Just when I had plans to go to America to study to become a director, I was suddenly told in September that very year I would be debuting. (laughs) Although I thought that the group would probably be disbanded rather soon after its debut, in the blink of an eye, it’s almost been 10 years…
“At that time I was seriously considering being a director. Although it was my dream to direct my own stage play by the time I was 22 or 23 years old, I’m already 25. Right now I’m just enjoying my acting job. I don’t comment on the script nor directing. Although I do enjoy creating something, I don’t like to comment on jobs [like scriptwriting] which I was not involved in from the very beginning.”
That being said, as he’s immersed in various jobs, he does have his likes and dislikes. As he devotes himself to [various jobs], there are also times when that was not the case.
“It’s alright. There are jobs and people which I prefer, but the dislikes decline as the years go by. Well, I’m a Johnny after all! (laughs) I’ve done all kinds of jobs under the sun so that’s trained me quite a bit. I can just take about everything that’s thrown at me. Rather, I’m thinking that to be fussy [over the jobs I take] is boring. Right now, it's more fun for me if I could live up to expectation A, whilst doing B and C, rather than taking the easy way out and just doing the things that I like. Although I’d like to try my hand at directing, I’m alright with putting it off for now. I’m happy where I am."