SHOULD IT TURN DARK, PLEASE ILLUMINATE ME

001 Same year in school

“It will be great if there is a place where I can come to play freely as I please.” This is a serialized column, which started from Kimura Takuya’s unexpected words. The project actually got going due to his encounter with a certain person. That person is the photographer Ninagawa Mika, who photographed the cover page and “The Freedom of Clothes” (Page 42) of this month issue. Although the fields of work they are active in are different, they are the same year in school, and they were aware of each other’s presence. However, strangely they have never worked with each other before.  An entertaining session to the point that you would never think this is the first time they have had a proper talk [with each other] has started.

Ninagawa : Until now I have photographed a lot of people, but why no chance with Kimura-kun? Because this time it is the first photoshoot, I felt nervous. Though we’re the same age, somehow it feels like I’m photographing a historical figure (LOL).

Kimura : What the heck? (LOL)

Ninagawa : It’s not only me. I think everyone, who’s the same age [as we are], has this consciousness somewhere at the back of their mind “Kimura Takuya exists in our generation.” It’s probably some sort of goal [for us]. Upon seeing Kimura-kun, it’s like we’re measuring [ourselves] “What about myself?” That’s why finally being able to photograph Kimura-kun, I feel like I had crossed a very big mountain. What should I do? Our talk gradually becomes a casual talk, but is it okay? Kimura : It’s okay. But well, getting to work with Mika-chan like this is such a miraculous chance. That’s because though we never met until then, when I attended Ninagawa Yukio-san‘s wake in May*, I met Mika-chan for the first time, and the first thing that was said to me is “Finally I could meet you.”

Ninagawa : I just ignored my father’s wake and called out to you (LOL).

Kimura : When I heard those words, I myself also wanted to respond properly. Though I replied with “See you again”, because I had said it, I didn’t want to make just a verbal promise. Then there’s a talk about a serialized column on UOMO in the right timing, so I said “Let’s have Mika-chan do the photoshoot”.

Ninagawa : That’s the cool part of Kimura-kun. By saying “See you again”, one rarely does so/follows up right away, but this time, because you got back to me so brilliantly, people in my office excitedly said “That’s just too cool”.

Kimura : (LOL)

Ninagawa : You know. There is a pair of Kimura-kun’s jeans in my house. Long time ago you gave it as a present to my father, didn’t you?

Kimura : ah, that! So nostalgic. It’s a story from when I was 17 years old. During the time when I still couldn’t tune up at all, I got a chance to appear in Ninagawa-san’s stage play for the first time. Because I really experienced a lot of things there, I gave him a present as a way to express my gratitude in my own way.

Ninagawa : All along my father had taken good care of that jeans. I too conveniently wore it and boasted to my friend “This is a pair of jeans from Kimura Takuya.”

Kimura : What were you doing? (LOL) But to think of it now, for a 17 year old boy to give a pair of jeans to Ninagawa-san as a present, it’s such an outrageous thing to do. But I’m kind of happy that I can talk about it while laughing with Mika-chan like this.

Ninagawa : Because I really heard a lot from my father a story about “Takuya is really amazing”, I arbitrarily felt that Kimura-kun is someone close to me. But when I see you through the media, because you’re a superstar, I always have a strange feeling.

Kimura : Though I also have a connection with Ninagawa-san, I myself too can’t think that today I seriously talked with Mika-chan for the first time. After all, being the same age plays a big part, doesn’t it? I think it’s because it feels like we’re friends who have seen the same things during the same period. That’s why although I really look forward to being photographed today, I feel a bit unsatisfied.

Ninagawa : eh, why is it?

Kimura : Speaking of Mika-chan’s photo, because it has that image of brilliant coloring, when I thought that you’ll certainly take a photo with that world view, [turns out that] it wasn’t so. Because I was looking forward to it, I was like “Oi, I haven’t tried your specialty dish yet” (LOL).

Ninagawa : This time I wanted to try photographing in a neutral state. Although it’s nice to go with my specialty techniques, it’s just a piece of cake. Because you’re such good material, I wanted to try [photographing] in various ways.

Kimura : Well then, next time Mika-chan’s specialty dish please.

Ninagawa : Anytime (LOL).

(Translation Note :  * Ninagawa Yukio was the world famous theatre director, who directed the stage play “Modoken” in which Captain played a role in 1989. When he passed away in May this year, Captain commented that Ninagawa-san just told him a while ago that he wanted to do a stage play together with Captain again before he finally broke down. Upon hearing news about Ninagawa-san, he felt it's extremely regrettable. And he couldn't get what Ninagawa-san told him out of his head.)

BTW, Captain’s wish was granted so quickly. xD He finally got a chance to taste Mika-san’s specialty dish right away in Kimura Takuya Session 002 on UOMO Nov issue. He was photographed in a colorful style this time in Mika-san’s office.

On Thursday (11/26), Sanma-san and Captain made a surprise appearance at the end of a certain event held at Namba Grand Kagetsu theatre* in Osaka. They did a live skit in an anteater costume in front of those people who came to watch the show at NGK.

*Note: NGK is a headquarters of Yoshimoto, an influential Japanese entertainment conglomerate specializing in comedy.

*You can see pix from the audience here, https://twitter.com/hir0fum1/status/669868038980681728

Then on Saturday (11/28), Sanma-san shared behind the scenes story about this on his radio show “Young Town”. Here’re highlights from his talk.

As Captain made Sanma-san perform at Fukuoka Dome last year, Sanma-san wanted them to perform at NGK (which seems to be considered a sacred place for comedians) in return this year.

According to Sanma-san, Captain got angry and responded with “This is not an answer.” “This is an eye for an eye, right?” Lol

Captain was extremely nervous since morning and couldn’t sleep well on the night before.

At first Sanma-san wanted to perform during daytime. But to avoid troubles that may occur (from their surprise appearance), he had to give up the idea. Upon knowing that Koumoto-san from an owarai combi “Jichoukachou” will have an event at NGK, Sanma-san then asked Koumoto-san if he could lend some time after the end of the event for SanTaku recording.

Sanma-san said it’s a good thing they didn’t decide to perform during daytime as audience was really surprised. Just Sanma-san appearing alone made the audience surprised already. But upon introducing Captain on stage, the audience literally screamed.

Although Captain did a skit in a studio before, this is the first time he’ll challenge the orthodox skit. So until he can get a single laugh from audience, it’s quite nerve-wracking.

The performers of Koumoto-san’s event weren’t informed beforehand about SanTaku recording. Captain brought with him 5 pieces of Birstro plates to give to these members as a present. They competed for the plates through “rock-paper-scissors”. They even scrambled for the paper bag that Captain used to carry the plates. xD

They did a rehearsal for only one day at FujiTerebi and then only once on the day of the actual recording. At NGK dressing room, Sanma-san kept worrying about Captain and what he should do if something strange happens.

But after the performance, Sanma-san’s thought about Captain is “As expected, Kimura is skillful. He has plenty of motivation.” Although Sanma-san thought that Captain seemed delighted with the performance, what he did after the performance is only reflecting upon himself (like kept mentioning the parts where he couldn’t do well).

So, Sanma-san compared him with Fukuyama Masaharu. Both are the hardworking type. In the past, Sanma-san got to perform manzai with Fukuyama in a WOWOW CM. So, Sanma-san used Fukuyama’s case to egg Captain on to accept this skit challenge. *Sanma-san understands Captain’s makezugirai nature very well, doesn’t he? Lol But I have to say the level of difficulty isn’t quite comparable. As Sanma-san said earlier, performing a skit in a studio is entirely different from performing in front of live audience. :P*

After the performance ended, Captain was in an absent-minded state (kind of a huge relief for him). He felt relieved that the audience accepted his ad libs well.

Now Captain is filming a period movie in Kyoto. While he’s concentrating on that work, he has to do SanTaku skit at the same time. So, on the night before, it seems he couldn’t sleep well. When he took a bath, he also thought about an anteater. Even when he was about to sleep, an anteater also came up. When he noticed it, he ended up counting “1 anteater, 2 anteaters, …” LOL!

What made Captain astonished is that Osaka audience is very warm. That’s because Osaka audience usually doesn’t quite accept a performance in Tokyo dialect by entertainers from Tokyo. They feel uneasy with just Tokyo dialect alone. That kind of feeling still remains even nowadays. Although the situation is much better than in the past, there’re very few entertainers who are accepted by Osaka people.

Captain also heard about such story, so he was worried (if the audience will accept his performance or not). However, according to Sanma-san, “For Kimura Takuya, it doesn’t matter if it’s Kansai or Kanto.” After the performance ended, although it’s past 10 pm already, there’re still about 100 people waiting for him (at the exit).

Overall, Sanma-san thinks this performance doesn’t do Captain any harm (as he was worried earlier).  Captain seemed extremely delighted that he got a chance to do this challenge. It’s the first time for him to do a proper skit on stage in front of live audience. He really did his best. NGK is also considered a sacred place just like how senior high-school students dream of playing baseball at Koshien.