56. translation: matsumoto jun in "cut," 12.2008

[sociologique.livejournal.com]

It's finally done! I've spent the last 8 hours doing this because... it's my mind twin, sociology/cultural studies, and fellow srsface Jun stan, agentduckiechan's birthday! I promise I didn't forget your bday, even if you're going by Manila time. As my gift to you, since I can't be there to have drunken adventures with you, I give you the big chunk of Jun's "CUT" interview ♥ HAVE A HELLA BITCHIN BIRTHDAY, GURLFRAN! I promise I'll come back to the Bay this year and we'll get stupid dumb and stan our way through SF again ♥

I want to freak out about how adorable and flawless and frustratingly circutuous in his thinking (but in a way that still turns me on) Jun is, but I will save that for comments.!






SEXY 08

So, it's finally come again this year! Once a year, CUT has up until now done stories with foreign actresses, so for our volume of sexy celebrity photos, we amassed our troops and proudly present our popular "sexy special feature." This time, our cover model is... Matsumoto Jun! That means that, along with being our first male cover model, Matsumoto Jun is also our first Japanese actor as the face of our "Sexy 08" issue. We broke down the walls to appeal to male and female fans, Western and Japanese movie fans, and here at CUT we want to aim these sexy thoughts straight out into the world. So to include those thoughts and with that spirit, we booked Matsumoto Jun. It'll be obvious when you flip through the pages that he completely accepted our offer. You know it when you see pictures of Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson, etc. but there's really no contradiction in intelligence and wild passion existing in the same sexy person. So we're prefacing our photoshoot by letting you know it's overflowing with sexiness. But, I've already blathered on enough. Just for this volume, we wanted him to strip off his clothes, immerse his heart and enjoy the experience!

Matsumoto Jun
I'm made of papier mache. I'm aware that I can't do the things I can't do, but people should still tell me straight-up.

For our first cover story of this year, "2008's will be men!" so we had Matsumoto Jun come to the photoshoot location, saying, "In 2008, we want to keep being at the mercy of Matsumoto Jun." Looking back, he showcased a new side of his acting in "Kakushi Toride no San Aku-nin," and the movie "Hana Yori Dango Final" was a huge hit. As part of Arashi, they had a 5 dome tour, performed for an unprecendented 3 nights at Kokuritsu, and rushed headfirst into their second Asian tour. Their CDs monopolized the 1st and 2nd positions on the yearly chart, literally entrancing everyone this year.

Thus, Matsumoto Jun is normally a shaky sort of person. As an actor, in his works he exudes a solid aura of self-confidence, and because he has his own particular sort of way of overcoming hurdles, those last fragments keep on evolving. With a nobly beautiful appearance, his real nature concealed with a balanced self-aware intellectual curiosity, which is probably where his sex appeal comes from. For this special report, to which he also lived up with his perfect professionalism, but he showed us that he's also an arist who takes a stoic approach to his work as an idol. He told us how, when he thinks of Arashi, they're one basic unit, what Arashi is to him, and subsequently, how Arashi has changed him.

Thanks for coming and doing such a bothersome shoot for us.

Nah, actually it's been awhile since I've done one like this (laughs)

What did you think when you heard we wanted to this kind of sexy shoot?

I was like "wait, what? Really?" I don't really see myself as sexy, but I realized that like, other people might see me like that."

So what are your thoughts about doing this kind of shoot?

That I'm a 27-year old salaryman (laughs). That's how I see myself. Even when I'm being photographed, I'm always a little embarassed, but it's like, I've gotta do it.

As far as being bound and blindfolded, what'd you think?

I couldn't think of a damn thing! (laughs) I hate my freedom being taken away. It was really tough, like when I had my hands tied behind my back in "Hanadan."

Well then, that means you don't really like bondage, yeah? (laughs)

Yeah, I don't like it (laughs).

(laughs) Well, you certainly made a lot of waves this year, and you've reached the end of your solo work for the year, so have you been able to look back on things?

Each and every time, when I reach the end, I sort of plan to, but everything is like, so dense, I can't help but just have these rough impressions of it all.

So does that mean that you don't want to look back?

Y...eah. With my memories, right? there's a lot of really good things, and a lot of bad things, and everything that's leftover is nothing but impressions. Specifically, even if I don't look back, I remember it, so because they're so precious to me, it's like tattoos on my memories.

Well then, moving on: do you think you'll be leaving something behind this year?

Not really, no; not even if I think back during the past five years. But if you mean like, something I've gotten to doing, it's thinking about stuff while I'm washing my hair.

Like what?

My resources, material possessions (laughs). The time I get to spend alone is getting shorter and shorter. So even now, I keep wondering "should I try to see things differently?" or "I should try to see this from a different perspective?" So I'm trying to find a way to see things in a more positive light. Right now, it's all sort of circutuous, but I can say that trying to see things that way has been a pretty fun ride so far. I don't quite understand when people say that "everything is everything," but I wonder if we're all aware of it, at least on some level?

If we're talking about wishes, it's definitely turned out beautifully, hasn't it?

I don't know that we were actively wishing for it, or that we even have an interest in it... it's just, I'm thinking about how much I worked last year, and comparing it to the amount of work I'm doing this year; that's all I mean, I think. I don't know where this whole situation is going to lead, and I don't know if going forward is the right thing to do, but... Simply put, I'm very happy and thankful.

So, you really aren't confused about your situation?

You mean because it isn't changing?

Arashi hasn't changed, but the situation around you all definitely has.

...Has it really changed all that much? I don't think it really has.

I think people are aware of how wonderful Arashi is and you've "gotten bigger," so to speak.

Hm, yeah. To be nitpicky, I guess, "gotten bigger" is really the right way to put it. There's a lot going on around us and even though there are still people who have no idea who we are, little by little I guess we are sort of getting bigger, aren't we? So that's why when you talk about the way we think and the way we see things, the way we see ourselves really hasn't changed at all. But getting to do a 5-dome tour and performing at Kokuritsu; that part has changed. But we've gotten here in a very slow, measured manner.

So, speaking of Arashi's advancement, I think it all started with your declaration that your '06 album, "ARASHIC" was the start of your second chapter. Since your guys' debut, you'd been invading everyone's consciousness in the same sort of slow, deliberate matter, and so I think it was then that your vision just sort of came together and clicked.

It is true that things really changed in 2006. We'd been waiting for that realization, too. For opportunity to knock and wake us up and when it did, we just went for it. We were like, "let's go, yo! How about doing this? Let's do this, too!" kinda thing (laughs).

Why do you think that is?

I think it was just totally random. And for us, we first realy got together to debut as a group with "A-RA-SHI," and so we didn't know each other or our place in the group. That's not to say up until then we didn't see each other the same way, but that we couldn't. Basically, it took awhile -- well, it REALLY took awhile (laughs) -- but everyone got it down and I think 06 really was our time. Everyone who saw us shared in our vision. That was definitely the turning point.

And at the same time, the world began to wake up and realize how great you all are, and that probably wasn't a coincidence, either.

That was the result, naturally (laughs). No, I'm just kidding, but as a whole package, we're pretty easy to take in, probably, right?

Along with that, Matsumoto-san has also changed, but in interviews, I have this image of you making statements like, "I'm not acting because in the end, it really is all for Arashi," or "it's for Arashi." Am I on the mark here?

You are. Cos didn't I pretty much say that same kind of thing at the beginning?

Well, you've grown up fast, but even on variety shows and things like that, you're able to do things you absolutely couldn't before.

Sure. Well, have I really grown up? I am sort of the mediator (laughs).

(laughs) Why's that?

For sure, I've been working my ass off so far, and so I'm sort of flexible. But getting together again as a group on our Asia tour, I was like "god, this is so nice~!" After that was when I think "Hanadan" got really big, so it was basically three consecutive years of "Hanadan": they decided to do part 2 right after part 1, and then when we were finished with part 2, we found out we'd be doing the movie, so I look at that whole span as a really great time for me and I'm all "man, it's great to be able to do things like this." People like me, we start to worry when we don't have a job to do (laughs). It's been this thing where we're stepping up little by little, and I'm experiencing a fair bit of resistance within myself, but it wasn't quite impatience. That's why, even when I disagree with the other members, I give in, I trust them, and I remember to pull it back. I butt in a lot, but Leader will see past the details to the whole picture; things like that. I want to be more like that, I think.

Do you feel like you have principles to which you're living up, that you're adding to your skillset, or a set of values you keep?

I have no real skillset, but I feel like I've relaxed. Like, I've become less obstinate.

So did you like, have a complex about yourself up until now?

I totally did! I would fight with myself, and I felt like the world was against me. But like... when I was like that, I'd just keep on being angry at and about everything. But if I'm not, even if I'm popular, I feel like I'm the Emperor without his clothes.

It's not easy to make it in this business, huh?

Right, right. But you know, I'm papier mache. I'm aware that I can't do the things I can't do, but people should still tell me straight-up.

Have you always felt like you were made of papier mache?

Yeah, but that's not me now. I've known since back in the day what I'm incapable of doing, and there are still so many things I can't do now. But this is Arashi's tenth year, and lately I've been thinking back on all the things we've done, but in these ten years, I've done the things I said I wanted to do, but there's still so much I can't do. And what I mean basically is that I've met a lot of different people, I've felt a lot of different things and had a number of different experiences, so I'm thankful to be where I am right now. ... Of course, when I've undertaken something, there's just no doing it without a sense of responsibility; without that, I have to say "NO." And so that's why I want to do my best for all the people wishing the best for me.

When you're presented with something, there are you and those around you who think you're doing perfectly all right, but from that sort of POV you always know what you've been given, yeah?

That's right, I'd like to be like that. It's just, like, I feel like I've cared too much up until now. When I look at everything from that angle, it seems fine to look at everything from just that one angle. But, it's just that lately, I've been thinking that way won't give rise to anything more solid.

In what way has your situation given rise to something more solid, do you think?

I have to do things in a simpler way. The rest is paying attention to how I used to speak, for the people who care for me, I have to work to put my trust in them. It's about being aware of a number of things. Back in the day, right? I used to do everything by myself. But of course, I don't have that kind of power, so it was a struggle.

Then, as Arashi, and as Matsumoto Jun, what kind of future would you like to see?

I... don't really know! I've been watching where we've gone these past 10 years, but I don't think I'll do the same for the next. I might just peace on out (laughs)

(laughs) Peace out?! Arashi wouldn't be Arashi anymore!

(laughs) Arashi won't end but... people that don't associate with each other will at some point have to, and they'll move to a new house, too. In order for me to keep going, other people have to keep going, and I wonder if we'll ever reach that point. That's why I want to do every little thing I can while I still can.

Because everything is finite, right?

If I do nothing, when the time comes, I can only hope for the best. Paying attention to the future is important, but even if I make all these elaborate plans, I might suddenly drop dead (laughs). So when we talk about principles and things like that, I'd like to speak and act more freely, and I want the same for those around me. I really do. Like, for my friends studying abroad. At first I was all, "Hey, you! The hell do you think you're going?!" but in the end, I was like, "now go kick some ass!" (laughs) Everyone should have something like that, I think, and so to get caught up in possibilities is nonsense.

But people will definitely feel loved hearing something like that.

I hope so (laughs). Well... Arashi might not really realize it right now, but we've created a wonderful family, seriously.