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mottoyomitai~
Chain of Dance: Johnnys’ one-on-one
We’re here with Oriyama Nao and Masakado Yoshinori, who became good friends after appearing in a drama together. This pair generates a warm and fluffy atmosphere between themselves owing to their reciprocated(?!) feelings for each other, and we have them speak about their relationship, as well as their views on the other’s personality and charm as an entertainer.
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Oriyama (O): The first time we met was when we gathered in one of the basement meeting-rooms at the TV station’s building for a table read for the drama “(Koi no Yamai to) Yarougumi” (2019). Masakado-kun was being teased a lot. (laughs) Man, I was so worried for you!
Masakado (M): It’s because I flopped during my self-introduction, you see. (laughs) So I just went and told everyone, “please tease me!” (laughs).
O: You “went and said” it, indeed. (laughs) It was the first time in my life that I’d seen that many people gathered around to tease one person, you know!
M: I’d thought to myself, Tokyo is terrifying! (laughs) When we first started filming (for the drama), I didn’t really talk to Ori (Oriyama) much, right.
O: I was watching you from a distance then. I mean, the moment you so much as slipped up a bit in your acting, Masakado-kun, everyone would come and point it out all at once, right? Especially (Nakamura) Reia-kun! Aren’t you older than him, Masakado-kun?
M: Yep. But Reia-kun has seniority over me (in the agency), you see.
O: Ah, that’s something you’d often see in Johnny’s, huh! That kind of awkward relationship.
M: That’s right. Well, but since Reia-kun helped to bridge the gap, I was able to get close to everyone, I think.
O: Within (the cast of “Yarougumi”, Reia-kun was the one exuding the most student-like vibe, wasn’t he.
M: Thanks to that, he really felt like a classmate (on set). I’m really thankful to Reia-kun.
O: During the filming, I came to think that Masakado-kun is truly very kind.
M: Oh, that’s bound to be a really key anecdote! Otherwise, depending on how today’s cross-talk goes, I might end up being thought of as just “that weird old man who really loves Oriyama”. (laughs)
O: (laughs) Do you remember that one time when a giant bug came into my dressing room?
M: You mean during Season 2 (of “Koi no Yamai to Yarougumi”, 2022)?
O: That’s right! Some bug the size of a rhinoceros beetle flew in, which terrified me, so I ran out to where everyone else was, yelling “Oh no, it’s bad!”. And then everyone was like, “Huh? There’s no way it’d be that huge” (laughs). Only Masakado-kun came with me, saying “Alright! I’ll go with you to exterminate it!”. Well, in the end the bug had disappeared from my room, though…
M: Did it really exist? (laughs) I mean, it was winter then, right?*
[ T/N: Insects generally would be more common in summer and less common in winter. ]
O: I told you, it was totally there!
M: Well then, I guess it flew off somewhere before we returned to the dressing room… Wait, Season 2 happened super recently; so you didn’t think I was kind until then? (laughs)
O: (long, thinking pause) …Hm, I’m not sure (laughs).
M: What’s with that?! (laughs)
O: Um, when my mood dips or I get tired on the bus back (from filming), you don’t talk to me outright, and instead send me a text message asking if I’m okay, don’t you. That level of care makes me happy, and I really respect how you’re able to be considerate of those around you.
M: (beams) I’m glad ♪
O: Masakado-kun, did your impression of me change?
M: At first, I thought you were a really quiet kid, but I gradually began to see your more chaotic side. In reality, you know, some say that the worst of us is actually Oriyama (laughs).
O: (laughs)
M: When we were filming the scenes in the classroom, we had “dozing-off Oriyama” (laughs).
O: That was in 2019, right? (laughs) I knew it would be bad to (fall asleep), but I still lost out to the drowsiness. At that time, the director stormed into the classroom at a great speed, and I thought he’d totally be super angry with me, but in the end what came out of his mouth was, instead. “Masakado!!”.
M: At that time, I was so worried, thinking to myself “Ah, Oriyama’s falling asleep!”, but then I got an NG from the director out of the blue, so I was taken by surprise.
O: It was the most thankful I’ve ever been to Masakado-kun in my entire life.
M: Hey, that totally shouldn’t be in first place! (laughs)
They respect each others’ performances
M: We’ve not really had the chance to talk about performing or acting before, have we.
O: That’s true. I’ve really not seen Masakado-kun’s performances except on video… I wasn’t able to go watch “Solocon” (“Masakado Yoshinori Solo Live SHOW with Kansai Johnnys’ Jr.”, 2022) either, due to a conflict in my schedule. But even just watching the videos of Ae!Group’s performances, I can feel the idol-like power exuding from your dancing and singing. Masakado-kun might have some level of maturity, but once he goes on stage there’s a youthfulness to him; seeing that chink (in his armour) is pretty charming.
M: Man, that makes me happy.
O: The other day, I went to watch the play you were starring in (the stageplay “Vincent in Brixton”), and that was amazing too. Masakado-kun has this great power where he’s able to put out what he’s learned. (His acting) was really stoic and aggressive, and I thought to myself, “So there do exist performances where you can sense the actor’s passion towards acting this much”.
M: Thank you. You could say I’m the type to think things through before acting; I tend to think about “how the audience would perceive things” during concerts and stageplays. But while Ori has that kind of sense, I also feel that he treasures what actually happens atop the stage. When I watched his musical “Inu to no Yakusoku”, I realised that that’s something I don’t have. I was envious, but at the same time, I thought it was wonderful. And what’s more, Ori’s a flawless idol! I mean, someone like me who’s close to him is just simply obsessed with him!
O: Masakaado-kun, does that mean your feelings for me are close to those of a fan?
M: I think so! Today, I came to meet Ori (for this shoot) in the capacity of a fan of yours, too. That’s why, when you meet my eyes, my hands start to tremble unconsciously. (laughs) You wave back at me, too!
O: Well, sorta. (laughs)
M: Well, well, I must apologise to all Oriyama stans (laughs). I mean, I get the chance to be this close to Ori, you know? (laughs)
O: Man, you’re trying to one-up my fans all of a sudden. (laughs)
M: Thank you for putting me at ease every day. I mean, you have such cute looks, but when you dance you have such a unique form of expression that can captivate the audience, you know? You’re truly the most amazing idol; I really like that about you.
O: Somehow, I feel like Masakado-kun’s my dad, and I’m his daughter who’s in her rebellious phase.
M: Oh!
O: It means I feel about you the way a daughter would feel about their annoying father, you know? (laughs)
M: You wouldn’t be a son?
O: The key point is that I’m a daughter. If I was a son, then I’d probably enjoy spending time with my father…
M: Wait, you mean you don’t enjoy spending time with me?!
O: That’s not what I mean! Girls around this age are like, “Ew! Don’t get close to me!”, but actually they do love their fathers. Masakado-kun’s words and actions towards me, they shower me with an overflowing amount of love, like an embrace. I’ve not really met anyone in the past who’s held this much love for me, or who’s had my back this much. You truly give me support, every day.
M: Father and daughter, huh. It’s kinda weird to say that out loud.
O: When we haven’t met in a while I’ll wonder what you’re up to, and I’ll want to see you. But when I do end up meeting you, I’ll be all “ughhh”, as though I dislike your company. In the end, I guess I’m pretty wilful. (laughs) I want to meet you, but then I act in that way.
M: The important part of that is the “I want to meet you”!
O: Just one thing though - when we do meet, your lack of awareness of personal space is off the charts, so please have a little more awareness! (laughs)
