[MORE 2009.01] Beginnings

[barbosa2007]

For his first article in MORE's IT series, Nino talks about his views on acting and directing, relationships and time.

“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] was 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 was set to debut.

“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 and 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 has 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."

Unexpected encounters which have created the path he's on. Perhaps people surprisingly do not notice such important Beginnings.

I have no idea what matters are important beginnings, nor do I understand which things I have to finish off right away. This is the same attitude I adopt towards my encounters with others. For girls, they probably think that the beginning of a relationship is due to fate. However, I don’t agree with that. (laughs)

“Regarding love and relationships, I have no idea where and when it’s gonna happen. Neither will I know if I’m loved by someone. Nonetheless, the moment I become aware of a relationship that somehow developed unconsciously, I’ll just run with it! You know, I’m someone who will plunge into it so swiftly that I’ll leave my girlfriend behind! (laughs)

Although I’ll stick around my fellow workers even if I’m uncomfortable [with them], for the person I’m in love with, we’ll hang around together simply because I like her. Because it’s based on simple instinct, that deepens the enjoyment further. Even times of sadness can also serve as an opportunity to further the relationship/romance.

Therefore, if my heart is moved I would honestly just go with the flow, and I don't want to think of what would happen if a breakup [lit: ending] were to happen. This isn’t restricted to relationships but also in Arashi’s concerts as well. Without dwelling on how many songs or concerts we have left to perform, I just want to concentrate on creating the climax within that moment.

“Running ahead without thinking of when things will end…” Whilst wishing for that with all his heart, he knows that one day things will come to an end.

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. So it is with the filming of any drama or even this series of articles. So it’s kinda happy and bittersweet at the same time, isn’t it? That’s life – it’s ephemeral. While I may think that 85 years is a long time to be alive, if I ponder upon it, I only have 60 more times to experience the four seasons. And while it’s been 10 long years since Arashi’s debut, I can’t imagine that we’ll be Arashi until the time we die. I keep thinking that no matter how many concerts we stage, it’s not enough. That being said, there’s no such thing as forever. So in everything [that I do], I just want to live life to the utmost in that place and moment.