hsjhoshi | Nakajima Yuto - Men's No-no June 2020 (English Translation)

It was in 2017 that I was chosen to model regularly for Men's Non-no. Since then, I've been serious about modeling for three years. That's why I was actually after the cover with a keen eye. Even the staff said to me, "I want you to do the cover one day" each time we were shooting. So I'm really happy I finally got my wish. I think being on the cover of Men's Non-no is a bit like a Kohaku Uta Gassen for guys who like fashion (laughs). I could feel everyone's expectations, and I felt special and that all my hard work had paid off. So I approached it with a bit of pressure and the enthusiasm to be absolutely cool. I usually have activities as an idol and actor, but I don't feel like a "guest model" at Men's Non-no, I feel like I'm with them putting it together every month. I don't want to say, "I'm here because of this project," but rather I want to fight on equal footing with the people who are passionate about what they do in the fashion magazine arena, without being disrespectful. But this is a motto that I always try to live by, and it's something I always try to keep in mind in every job I do.

The one thing that has changed since I became a model for Men's Non-no is that I've started trying different clothes. I've always loved fashion, but now it's become more of a challenge. At first I thought the items I saw on set were "avant-garde" because they were anticipating trends, had slightly uncommon designs, and looked complicated at first glance, but now I've come to think that it would be cool to wear it like this, and I think I could incorporate it into my wardrobe. It lifts me up a bit and inspires me. I want to be able to have a good influence on the readers and give them new ideas, like, "This person is really cool in this outfit, let me copy it," or "Let's me try to dress up like this". Being able to deliver that kind of "admiration" is another thing I have in common with my other work. It made me realise that everything I've done so far is going to live on.

But the way I express myself and the position I'm in is very different in every job. In Men's Non-no, I'm more concerned with how to remove the glitter as a person (laughs). It's not so much about how attractive I am, but more about how the clothes look in photos, and how the clothes can be seen. It's the posing that still makes me realise how difficult it is. I'm sure I've become used to being photographed in various jobs, but fashion shoots are completely different. It's like the correct answer changes every time. That's why it's so rewarding. I would think about the feel of the photo, styling tips, hair and make-up, and how to match the atmosphere of the creators who were cast at the time, or on the contray, would it be better for me to play the role of the "destroyer"... I think about all sorts of things, and the Men's Non-no scene is really creative. It's great when everyone's ideas come together to make it better. It was also fun to discover that the process and presentation of fashion and beauty shoots are completely different. That's something you only get to see when you're involved in a magazine as a regular model. I learned that while there are many different pages in the same magazine, there are different ways of making them. I want to continue modeling in the future. If each of my jobs has a positive influence on the other, I'm sure my range will expand rapidly. This time it was a summer tops project, and I was very excited to see all the brightly coloured items. The coral red summer knit on the front page was really nice, and the work vest was also interesting. I usually choose black or navy or darker tones in clothing, so I feel like bright colours and patterns are nice. A classic summer staple that I always wear is a t-shirt, but this year I'm going to look for something with a rough texture and an oversized, off-the-shoulders look than a basic silhouette look.

It's not easy to go outside at the moment, but I want to think of ways to keep the connection with people who are watching me. For example, creating a good song in my musical activities for people to listen to and being in dramas for people to enjoy. SUITS Season 2 (airing every Monday from 9:00 pm on Fuji TV) has improved considerably from the previous season with the introduction of new characters. I think the exchanges of dialogue, including the brisk jokes, which are as funny as ever, makes it worth watching. The role I play is Suzuki Daisuke, who is from the same generation as Men's Non-no readers, so I think they can relate to him. There are also times when I see myself relating to the inexperience of a young person who has not yet established themselves and is struggling to move forward. And, of course, it's nice to have people see me working hard in magazines like this. I'm happy that my original fans, regardless of gender, who had never read Men's Non-no before, picked it up because of me and said, "Men's fashion is interesting!" I heard from the editorial team that they were going to receive feedback on my pages, and that's one of the great things about my fans (laughs). What I do for the first time is, of course, also something my fans see for the first time. It's wonderful to have that kind of relationship where we can discover new things together. That's why I'm happy everyone can see the cover.

I want to always keep a sincere attitude towards the work in front of me, and continue to grow every day.