Nakajima Yuto x Inoo Kei - TV Life 4 September 2020 (English Translation)

[hoshizora20.livejournal.com]

Nakajima: How long have we known each other...?

Inoo: Wasn't it when you were being covered for an idol magazine?

Nakajima: Covered? Wasn't it afterwards when we were asked if anyone could roller skate or blade at the audition and we had to practice with the members of Kis-My-Ft 2 in overtime?

Inoo: That's was after.

Nakajima: My head is all mixed up (laughs).

Inoo: At least it was during the coverage that I recognised Yuto. I was told he was going to be in the same Jr. unit as me.

Nakajima: I guessing that's the way I came in.

Inoo: The timing is different for each of us. So for Yuto, it's that audition.

Nakajima: Nah, maybe it was recently?

Inoo: Seriously? (laughs). It took quite a while for you to recognise me!

Nakajima: In all seriousness, my first impression of Inoo-chan was that he was a complete girl. He had a cute face and was delicate and I thought, "What, a girl?!"

Inoo: Yuto was a child. I was a child myself, but Yuto was even more so a child.

Nakajima: That's because I was in the 5th grade of primary school. For primary school students, middle school students are big brothers.

Inoo: Yuto has always had a strong sense of justice, even as a child. The Jr. members would joke around with each other and he would warn them not to say things like that.

Nakajima: For better or for worse, I'm very serious. I was brought up with the idea of, "Don't do anything crooked," so I was a child who never got jokes.

Inoo: Yeah, you didn't get them (laughs). I remember telling him, "You know, if you see a rabbit and they eat a carrot, human eyes will also turn red," and he replied calmly, "That's not true".

Nakajima: I don't remember that, but I think I'd say something like, "You can't lie like that." Inoo-chan's image at the time was a kind older brother. He would give me presents on my birthday and take care of everything by saying "yes, yes", so I was spoiled.

Inoo: Yuto was well-liked by everyone. He was very friendly with the seniors.

Nakajima: Ah~ maybe.

Inoo: There was a huge age gap between us when we were children. We don't really have stories where we played together.

Nakajima: I was so happy to get a Darth Vader mask for my birthday, and I think the best part was that I went home wearing it.

Inoo: I went to the toy store to buy it. If it wasn't for Yuto who I'd given the mask to, I don't think I'd be that into Star Wars. That means...

Nakajima: Was it because of Inoo-chan that I was able to get a job with "Star Wars"...?

Inoo: Yes. Did you just notice?

Nakajima: Yeah. I can't ignore Inoo-chan's presence in my love for Star Wars and how it's become my job.

Inoo: That's what I'm saying. I'm sure you did a lot of interviews when you worked on "Star Wars," and you've got these great stories but you haven't told me one (laughs).

Nakajima: Sorry~ (laughs). When we became JUMP, it was great to see Inoo-chan's potential reflected in his work after he graduated from university. We were creating a job that only Inoo-chan could do.

Inoo: I'm happy you're saying that in front of me.

Nakajima: To be honest, he was a bit underrepresented in the group...

Inoo: It's sad of you to say that in front of me (laughs).

Nakajima: Now, we're all well-rounded as individuals, so you don't feel like you're too underrepresented, but at the time, you do feel underrepresented (laughs).

Inoo: Don't say that twice!

Nakajima: I'm genuinely happy that Inoo has been able to increase the number of opportunities for him to play an active role in the group, and I think the group has changed from a few members standing out to an environment where all the members can play an active role. I think Inoo-chan was a big part of that environment changing.

Inoo: I wasn't in a weird hurry. I thought about things, and because of that, I was able to study at university so well. Maybe I was a bit impatient, but I can't remember now.

Nakajima: I'm sure it was a time when you were "spending time doing the right thing for yourself".

Inoo: I'm so happy that Yuto's words are mature. Yuto is still a child in my mind, though.

Nakajima: I understand that. No matter how old they are, a child will always seem like a child to a parent. Sometimes Inoo-chan's words toward me are like words you'd say to a child.

Inoo: That's right. When I see you in a magazine or something, I'm surprised at how sexy you are and think, "That child?"

Nakajima: When Inoo sees something like that, he always compliments me directly.

Inoo: Our Yuto is even cool when he brushes his teeth. BEST are around the age where you care about your teeth.

Nakajima: It's still early for me! Early! (laughs).

Inoo: I guess my most recent memory of the two of us would be in a moving car together. It still feels like it was so long ago that we were talking about "what's will happen" before we started self-quarantine.

Nakajima: That's true. We missed exchanging information with each other because we were both filming dramas.

Inoo: I'm sure Yuto will continue to be exceptional in the future. Yamada (Ryosuke) and Chinen (Yuri), who were not in the same group in their Jr. days, have a slightly different feel from him.

Nakajima: There is a difference. They're like relatives children.

Inoo: Yeah, yeah. Chinen was like a circus member who came suddenly. His performances were amazing from the beginning.

Nakajima: It's true (laughs). But I'm glad that we were in the same group and that Inoo-chan has always been kind to me. Thank you for that.

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