Credit to
Anna for translating this.
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JIN AKANISHI
In the central of the world
Moving his activity focal point to LA, making his American debut in 2011. A rush of (music) releases starting from the end of last year, to the Hollywood movie which would be screened in time, etc. There have been a lot of things going on increasingly around him. In the midst of the flurry of activities, what is JIN AKANISHI thinking now? His words and answers are being recorded to the greatest extent to create this long interview.
JIN AKANISHI is back!
There’s a reason behind the sudden use of English which I’m (Translator note: referring to the writer) not very used to. Akanishi Jin, who moved his activity focal point to America in the year 2010, will be appearing in the Hollywood movie “47 RONIN” (scheduled to screen in December), and his American debut with the single “TEST DRIVE featuring JASON DERULO” happened last November. This man has returned to Japan after a long time. Just like the word “back”, he has returned.
(After Akanishi Jin has went over to America, what kind of thoughts and feelings does he have day to day in his life?)
This interview was conducted at a precious timing during his return to Japan after a long time, the things we wanted to ask him about can be summed up in the line above. This man of few words have tried his best to talk as much as he can in this one hour for SODA.
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Took a picture of his own name on iTunes
After Akanishi-san crossed over to America, the first thing that surprised us here in Japan was the fact that you were going to act in the Hollywood movie “47 RONIN”.
Jin: I was shocked myself too. I always liked watching Hollywood movies, and so I have always had this vague thinking of wanting to appear in one someday. Then, at a rare chance, I heard about the audition for “47 RONIN”, and I went with the thinking of “let’s go for it!” or to be more precise, it was like “I have to go for it!!!” and then I passed.
“And then I passed…”, please don’t talk about it like it’s an ordinary thing (lol). What kind of audition was it?
J: The first round was a camera test whereby I had to read just around two lines from the script. At that time, the director was not present, but the director and producer, whom saw my video, said they wanted to meet me. Then the location was changed to LA and we talked for about 30 minutes. The conversation was not so much about the roles or anything, it was more like casual daily conversations, but in the end, I got an OK for my audition.
Like what we said earlier, it’s not an ordinary accomplishment. (lol) You scored a role in the audition for a huge Hollywood work led by Keanu Reeves right?
J: Keanu was really down to earth.
Though he has done “Matrix”?
J: Yeah (lol). Though “47 RONIN” is a movie based on Chushingura but Keanu’s role Kai is a fictional character. The only person who understands Kai is Oishi Chikara whom is always with him and is also the role I’m playing. We spent quite a lot of time at the shooting location together. But Keanu didn’t give off the “Matrix” feeling at all (lol). On the contrary, I think that is really cool. Keanu who remains down to earth despite being a Hollywood star.
Talking about this, Akanishi-san is quite a natural kinda person too. Despite having acted in a Hollywood movie, there is no such eagerness to show that off from you.
J: Eagerness… Eagerness, huh. For me, including acting in movies etc, other than work, I do not set expectations for myself in my private life. I am quite aware that “natural kinda person” has been used to describe me often, but in my own words, it’s just that “I do not think too deeply into things” (lol) Furthermore, in my case, I am basically bad at work. Okay, no, I’m not bad at work. It’s just that it’s a big no-no if it really becomes “WORK” to me. I always think that I’m doing a creative type of work if I can’t properly digest that feeling of being asked to do something, and it becomes truly just work to me, I won’t be able to proceed with it well. It’s important for me to feel good about what I’m doing. Maybe in this manner, it might appear that I don’t have that eagerness in me.
Then, let’s not talk about eagerness, how about the moment when you think “I’m alive” during work?
J: Nope, I have never had any thoughts like “I’m alive” before. I realllllly do not think too much into things. So….we won’t able to see eye to eye on that. (lol)
Maa maa, don’t say that (lol). Then, let’s not talk about eagerness or the moment you feel alive, how about moments when you thought “I did it!” or “!”?
J: Ahh, if it’s that, then I do have those sorts of moments. Such as the moment when my American debut single “TEST DRIVE” topped the dance chart in iTunes, my whole mind was filled with “!”. A fact that I realized in America is that there are tons and tons of artists out there. And because I’m in this environment where it’s completely ordinary that even when new artists enter the iTunes chart, they usually rank at the very bottom where their names can’t even be found, topping the chart is really… I took a picture of my computer with my own name on the iTunes dance chart. (lol)
Though it’s really busy day to day but somehow staying in LA makes everything relaxed.
Why did you choose America from the start?
J: Because I wanted to try out in America, the home of entertainment. Basically that’s about it. And, it’s probably because of the environment I was brought up in. Ever since I was a child, it was natural for me to mix around with families of different nationalities, that was completely normal for me. There was a Spanish lady staying near me, though she often scolded me but including that, an environment where there are no barriers between Japanese and foreigners is an usual scene for me.
As what you mentioned, were you able to speak in English ever since you were a child?
J: Nope, that’s a no. Because, the kids around me were all really fluent in Japanese. Maa, my english listening skills might have been pretty okay, but speaking and writing in English was not something I had to master. The time when I actually really learned English was the one time when I studied abroad before I went to America, I learned the basics during that time.
What was your daily schedule like when you were studying abroad?
J: I go to Starbucks after I wake up, if I have the mood to study English then I would do so, or go dance at dance schools. There was also a period of time where I cooked my meals. I made pasta or fried rice. What I felt at that time was, my American life “is somehow really calm”.
Did this “calmness” change after you officially crossed to America?
J: In the year 2011, be it movie filming or music activities, the speed was really fast and so that feeling of calmness and peace was not there. But, though I’m busy daily, somehow staying in LA is still really “relaxed”. It might be due to the different pace or something but I’m amazed myself too. Maa, this lifestyle about not being too particular about time might be actually something important to me.
What do you mean by that?
J: For example, LA is a car-centric society, it’s a daily thing where you can’t predict when you would be late. The me who gets scolded for being late in Japan, have also waited for people (lol) Situations like “Eh? It’s 30 minutes past the meeting time and there are still people whom are not here yet? Are they okay?”. Of course, I still think being punctual is really important.
In another perspective, what are the good points you realized about Japan after living in America?
J: Japan is a gentle place.
In what area is it gentle?
Akanishi: Ramen
Eh? The ramen is gentle?
J: Though I think it is said often, if it’s between food in America and Japan, it’s definitely Japan with the tastier food. There are also ramen shops in LA, but Japan’s ramen completely wins in this. Then, if you think about why the food is tastier in Japan, I would think it’s because the people making the food are gentle. The seriousness and details in the cooking process is what I feel can be achieved only because of the chef’s gentleness.
Last year when Japan was in the midst of mourning after the Tohoku earthquake happened, there were many overseas media who praised the Japanese for their gentleness and thoughtfulness. Looking at how the Japanese still queued for their turn in the supermarkets even when food supplies were limited, there were people who said “If it was our country, it wouldn’t be surprising even if people fight over snatching of food supplies.”
J: I would queue too. But I am aware that it’s not a matter of whether you are Japanese or not. My childhood friends… such as the child of the Spanish lady I mentioned just now, would also queue properly in that kind of situation. Rather than because (the people queuing) are Japanese, it’s because the environment in Japan is really wonderful. This feeling I have, is captured in the title of the album I am making right now, “JAPONICANA”. Be it in the music area, or the environment I grew up in, there was always a good mixture, or rather a feeling of being international.
Gonna ask a malicious question now. Let’s imagine if your American debut album didn’t get outstanding results, and the Japan media said “That guy is finished. As expected, he should have just continued his activities in Japan” about Akanishi-san, how would you feel?
J: (immediately answering) Ah, I wouldn’t take it to heart at all. Because I didn’t think of going to America for the sake of receiving praises. I began this path because I wanted to do it. From the start, this was going to be a project of paving my way in slowly. America is not such an easy country where a new artist can just suddenly achieve great results. In this context, about the iTunes chart subject just now, I was not happy just because I topped the chart, even if I was no.100 on the chart, I would still be that happy. It’s not about the number I got on the chart, above anything, I was overjoyed thinking “Yay!” “I have debuted in America!”, that I have properly left an indent (in America).
On March 11th, at first I thought of returning to Japan immediately.
In Akanishi-san’s life up to now, which one did you feel more? Being in a pinch or receiving a chance?
J: Pinch or chance? Pinch or chance?
Why did you have to repeat that twice? (lol)
J: Ah no, I was just thinking that I have never thought of this sort of thing. (lol) Linking to the hypothetical question just now, all of it is just using the conclusion theory right? And a conclusion theory, question can never be answered unless you go through the whole experience again, and I don’t have that kind of time to do that now… For example, regarding “47 RONIN”, both sides coexisted in that situation.
What happened?
J: The result after the audition with the director and the producer was that I was offered the Oishi Chikara role. But I didn’t think that I would actually pass, so my album production schedule and the movie filming schedule clashed.
Ah, so it was not only Akanishi-san who thought that, but the staff did not expect you to pass the audition too?
J: That’s right. Mean of them right. (lol) Ma, but it can’t be helped because I really didn’t expect it myself. It became a question of “Then, what are you going to do? To accept it? Or to reject it?”. At that moment in time, I was in a pinch thinking “Then what about the album?” but at the same time, I was thinking “Being able to star in a Hollywood movie would be really awesome!”, it was also a great chance for me.
So instead of deciding whether you are in a pinch or receiving a chance, it’s actually what you choose that really matters?
J: Yeah yeah. That’s it, it’s the action you take. The action you take after you decide. Last year on March 11th, I was in Hungary for movie filming. At that time, the news of 3.11 reached me. I immediately phoned to Japan, but I couldn’t get through to anyone. Be it my family members, my friends, or my buddies or anyone……I didn’t get to watch the Japan news at real time so I can’t compare, but the media coverage overseas, it was… really full of frightening images. So I was really worried for Japan, I wanted to just abandon the movie and just return immediately but I waited for a while more.
So at that time, you were facing a choice between returning and staying.
J: Yeah. I was really troubled then, but I thought to myself “So what can you do even if you return to Japan?”. What I’m sure I can do now, is to put in my best effort at the filming location. In the end, I chose “to not return to Japan” and took action upon my decision, and by doing that, there might be people who disapproved my decision, thinking “this guy is really cold blooded.”. But if I did the opposite and went back to Japan, there might be people who would think “he is taking this job lightly”. If you were to consider too much about other people’s comments, you wouldn’t be able to take any action. Is my answer on the right track for this question?
You are on the right track, perfectly on track.
J: How do I say this…? Ultimately, what I want to do in America is just like a painting. My goal is not to just achieve great rankings on charts, but rather it’s a feeling of moving forward and drawing in this big art piece. Furthermore, the final look of how the art piece should be like is not decided yet, it’s still a blur, but there are small pieces which is the size of 1/100 of the huge art piece which represents “what I want to do”, and I can see clearly what the small pieces are. Such as “I want to try out in the movie auditions!”. And, there is no fixed way around how I am going to draw this art piece, I move according to my intuition, like I would draw 1/100 from the bottom right, then 2/100 in the middle, 3/100 on the upper left, etc., thus slowly compiling the small pieces, and it’s like I might just finish a piece of art without noticing.
Well then, regarding music, what is the 1/100 piece that Akanishi-san can clearly see?
J: That would be… it would be good if my songs are being played in clubs, etc.
I see! I can already foresee that image.
J: If that piece comes true, I would be really happy, it would be kinda of a “!” situation for me (lol). Actions must be taken to fulfill the goal of small piece, and I think naturally it would come to a crossroad where decisions must be made again. So, like the hypothetical question “If you were to fail in America” just now, if I were to really fail, it would be good to just consider my options when that happens. Because if that situation happens and I had to choose the option of “What should I do?”, I think the solutions would surface.
Somehow, that sounds really cool.
J: Oh really. Isn’t everyone the same?
Lastly, what is Akanishi Jin’s “characteristics of a cool guy”?
J: I don’t know. I have never thought about that.
Lastly lastly, then what is Akanishi Jin’s “characteristics of a lousy guy”.
J: Ah, if that’s the question then I kinda have a image of that. Inconsiderate guys. I think inconsiderate guys are lousy and uncool. I really like the kanji “仁” (Jin) in my name, there was once, I have heard the character “仁” has the meaning of “to love, to be affectionate” and “the hearts of people” in it. Maa, though I don’t really understand these sort of dictionary-like meanings, but what I feel is that “仁”=”Being considerate”. And so, whether I’m in Japan or in America, I want to never forget to be considerate. Because I would hate to lose to the meaning of my name, and I wouldn’t really like being uncool (lol)
Bonus: This interview was the writer’s first meeting with Jin after interviewing Jin in another magazine some years back. The first thing Jin said to the writer was “You changed magazine?”, this powerful memory of his really shocked the writer. Though his environment has been through lots of changes, he’s still the same old him.
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