#danpri

It’s nice to meet with all of you again. Congratulations on your concert and talk show performances in Tokyo and Osaka! May we hear your impressions on your experience?

Koyoi: Hello there. We are WITH. First of all, we would like to think everyone out there who cheered for us. It was challenging for us to perform concerts featuring almost entirely brand-new songs. It was thanks to the fans that these concerts were such a success. Asahi: Heeeey hey, Ko-chan, can I get a word in!? I’ve got somethin’ I really wanna say! Koyoi: Of course. You may speak at any time. Asahi: Allriiiight! Our concerts in Tokyo and Osaka were wicked fun! I want to perform again soon! And by “soon”, I basically mean right frikkin’ NOW!! Shogo: Asahi’s basically been saying that since the concerts ended (lol). Koyoi: Hehe. But all three of us feel the same way. Shogo: Yeah! It was really like a dream come true! We got to get so much closer to our fans, and see each and everyone’s individual smiling faces♪ Asahi: Everyone was cheering and waving their towels in sync! It felt like a concert we’d all built together! Koyoi: Indeed it did. And now, through this interview, I’m happy that our feelings about our concerts will be able to reach our fans once more. This opportunity is also thanks to being able to perform live.

Please tell us any significant memories you have about your experiences at the concerts.

Shogo: So much happened I even don’t know where to start… Ah, whenever we finished a song the crowd kept yelling “IIZE”! That really built up the atmosphere! Asahi: We got wicked carried away too and started yellin’ “IIZE IIZE” ourselves! Koyoi: It’s a cheer unique to DanPri concerts. That word alone united all of us. Asahi: Also, it felt super awesome to perform in our new outfits. They’re all wicked flowy and nice to look at! Koyoi: Blue, red, purple. Of course all of our individual image colors were incorporated. But was also interesting to see the smaller color accents as well. Shogo: The designs sure all had their individual charm! I hope we get to wear them again.

We often hear stories about performers who are too nervous to sleep before the night of their concerts. How did you three fare?

Shogo: Well, we have one member who’s a stranger to insomnia (lol). Asahi: Are you talkin’ about me!? I was wicked nervous and going crazy with excitement the night before!! Shogo: Asahi was in bed at 8pm as always, right? Koyoi: Yup, out cold. Asahi: What the heck, you two! Koyoi: Hehe. We were all talking about the concert together right up until you fell asleep. Reviewing our dance moves, talking about how we would go about emceeing, and stuff like that. Shogo: We all stayed in the same room together before the Tokyo and Osaka performances. Asahi: It was super fun, just like a school trip!

This time you decided to shake things up and try a more “adult” glamour shot. How was your experience?

Koyoi: It was our first time doing this kind of photo shoot so it was all new to us. Shogo: When they said “Please lay down over here” I was surprised. Asahi: Yeah, yeah! It was funny rolling around there with each other! (lol) I was sure to work wicked hard to make sure I was making a cool pose so I wouldn’t get laughed at! Koyoi: They were playing our songs as background music the whole time. Shogo: Since we have a lot of adult-ish songs, it made the perfect atmosphere for modeling our facial expressions. Koyoi: The photo that was chosen was taken while we were listening to “Sukinishite IIZE”. Pay attention to the mature expressions we are making with our eyes and with our hands.  Asahi: Butbut you know what, when they’re playing songs like “ALWAYS WITH YOU!!” and “BLASTING CLAP!” it’s so hard not to sing along! Koyoi: You’re right. The staff members participated in a call and response with us and we all had a good time.

I see, so your photo shoot was just like a concert, too (lol). Now, we would like to ask you “adult men” a few more questions. Tell us about the kind of adult male figure you admire.

Shogo: Adult man, huh… How about someone who is always calm and collected at any time? Someone who is never shaken no matter what goes down… Asahi: I get that. Me too! And I’d like to add “dependable” as well! Someone who you look at and say “As long as he’s coming along, we’ll be fine!” Someone like that is super cool! …But wait, aren’t we just talking about Ko-chan!? Koyoi: Huh? Me? Shogo: Now that you mention it, Koyoi is the most “adult” out of the three of us. Koyoi: So that’s how the two of you see me. Hehe, I’m happy to hear that. Thank you. Asahi: So what’s your type then, Ko-chan? Koyoi: Let me think… Someone who has a strong will and sense of self. Also, “stylish and tough”. Asahi: Whaa… That last past is just Meganii!!

What do you think love is like for an adult?

Asahi: Shogo’s a little too young to answer a question like that, don’t you think? Shogo: Wha! You’re the last person I wanna hear that from. Koyoi: I wonder what kind of “adult love” Asahi is thinking about. Asahi: Alright then, Ko-chan! Big brother Asahi will explain everything for Shogo’s sake as well. Adult love is when you buy a meal at some kinda expensive restaurant, and take your date to kind of a dark, shady place!! Shogo: Is that what you really think…? Asahi: Huh? Ko-chan, isn’t that right…? What the heck is adult love!? Shogo: Koyoi-sensei, please teach us. Koyoi: Hmm. I think it’s about respecting each other’s feelings and supporting one another. To walk together towards your respective goals. Shogo/Asahi: W-WHAT AN ADULT… Asahi: But that’s important for everyone, not just adults or people in love! Koyoi: Yes indeed. …It may be necessary for us as members of WITH as well. Asahi: I’ll always wicked totally suuuuper respect and cheer for you guys!! Shogo: Asahi does make a good point sometimes…

And finally, what is a message you’d like to share with yourself as an adult?

Shogo: Future self, I’m sure you’ve had lots of shining experiences and perfected your “Shogo Smile” eeeeven more! And I know you’re taller than Asahi too! I’ll make sure of it! Asahi: Future self! I’m gonna work hard with singing lessons and weight training, so you work hard too! Let’s become a bigger man together! Koyoi: As the leader of WITH, I hope you have strengthened our team working skills and personal bonds all the more. Now and in the future, we will keep running at the head of DanPri!

Cast:

Yamashita Seiichirou as Yumekawa Shougo (夢川ショウゴ) Kobayashi Tatsuyuki as Mitaka Asahi (三鷹アサヒ) Tsuchida Reiou as Takase Koyoi (高瀬コヨイ) Kawai Kentarou as Shinya (シンヤ)  Uzawa Shoutarou as Ushimitsu (ウシミツ)  Oohashi Noriyuki as Meganii (めが兄ぃ)