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Nakajima Yuto - ViVi June 2020 (English Translation)
He's an idol, actor and even a model. He's super multi-talented, in the best sense of the word, he's a non-conformer of Johnny's. Mr. Perfect, Nakajima Yuto is making his first solo appearance! In this long interview, we wanted him to strip down his mind as he took off his suit (laughs). A mature sexiness that overflows even when suppressed, and a struggle for youthfulness that is sometimes shown. That gap between the two is irresistible ♡
Thank you for taking off your suit in the coolest way possible this time! (laughs)
Was it good? (laughs). "SUITS 2" is currently airing to rave reviews, which makes me nervous.
The way you wear a suit in the drama is part of your performance.
That's right. In Season 1, I wanted to show Daisuke's stages of growth, so I wanted show how unfamiliar he was with wearing it. But in Season 2, it's a setting where he had been training in Boston for a year and a half, and he turned over a new leaf with a new suit and new haircut. Daisuke is also starting to gain confidence in his suit. He's aware that he's feeling "natural little by little".
How is the drama itself progressing?
The law firm has become more of a family compared to Season 1. The friendship, affection and cooperation born in those relationships are intense. The way Uesigi Hitoshi (played by Yoshida Koutaro-san) stirs up trouble is something is a sight that's worth seeing, for me.
We're looking forward to that. By the way, what have been some opportunities for you to show off as an actor?
(Laughs). I can only think about opportunities to show off from dramas. No, there is. Daisuke is a genius who instantly remembers what he sees, but as a human he is awkward and incomplete. He's the type of person who makes mistakes mainly because of his emotions, so I wanted to bring out his unbalanced and inexperienced nature. I want everyone watching to love his awkwardness, which is impossible to lie about (laughs). By the way, Daisuke also has a sense of romance. The scene where he struggles with his secret feelings is a scene that is sure to get your heart racing. If I may say so myself, though.
No, I'm sure... (laughs). Compared to last series, you have grown up a lot. Has anything also changed on the inside?
The stage play I did last year gave me the sense that I improved my skills greatly. I learned the essence of creating a role, or rather, I realised that I hadn't been able to do it at all. At the same time, I became embarrassed of the acting I'd been doing (laughs).
Has your approach to acting changed?
I feel like I've become more aware again. I owe that to the guidance of the director. We worked together on the approach of getting into the role more fully. It was a lot of information that I couldn't take in at the time (laughs), and there are still parts I can't fully process, but I want to make it happen. I'm trying out that approach right now.
Is that new approach working in "Suits 2"?
That's exactly my challenge. How far can my newly acquired weapon really go? (laughs)
That's nice. It's like a RPG.
Everyday I'm raising my level (laughs). But isn't it about stepping up your own game? It's a genuine desire to be more useful in your performance. I don't like it when people think, "He's only in that position because he's in Johnny's." I get a lot of harsh opinions, but I want to disprove them. I want people to think, "Nakajima Yuto, you're great!" I always have a desire to strike back.
I think that kind of competitive spirit is one of your charms. A man with a hidden fighting spirit~
I'm often told I'm way too serious (laughs).
You also have the face of a model. Can we ask you about fashion?
I don't know if I can live up to your expectations. I don't know that much about it, but okay? (laughs)
So, are you aware of trends?
I'm not. When I buy clothes, it's a feeling. But lately, I've started to pay more attention to the material and comfort. Silk and cashmere are good.
Where do you find what you want?
I often buy them when I'm on set. I'm lucky to have many opportunities to touch nice things. I'm the type of shopper who doesn’t really wander around and decide what to buy.
What an economical man... I'd like to get some pointers (laughs). What have you bought recently?
Something that's like a long raincoat. It has wide armholes, but the cuffs are swooped in and it's cool. I love it.
It seems like it suits you!
It's a piece of clothing that makes me feel good about myself when I wear it. It's fun to buy a selection of things to examine and see whether they look good on you right now and to see if you'll wear them properly. I want to buy good things and wear them for a long time. I feel like I'm becoming an adult now (laughs).
What do you think looks good on women? You can't answer with "As long as it suits them, it's OK" (laughs).
That's what I thought. Well, the extreme argument is that. But my type of person is someone in a mannish mood. I'm attracted to women who wear cool, casual clothes that are a little bit loose and masculine. It's not a feeling like she's borrowing a man's clothes, but like she's just being good looking (laughs).
As expected, an answer from a fashionsta!
You might walk down the street and look at people in their clothing. I'm also interested in the relationship between people and their clothing. Clothes show off your taste, right? When I see a sharp person with a playful item, I think "Oh!". I'm weak to gaps.
Do you have a weakness for gaps? (♡♡♡)
All men are weak for gaps.
Now we've listened to the gratifying stories (laughs). Let's change the topic. How do you spend your days off?
I don't get out of the house much. I tidy up and watch YouTube. I highly recommend the Discovery Channel's "Marooned with Ed Stafford"! It's about a man who is thrown naked into an unexplored area, eating bugs and making clothes out of deerskin to survive. The expressions on people's faces when they are in a difficult situation, the moment when their rationality collapses, the look of joy when they find food for the first time in a long time... it's very interesting. This is probably the most refreshing content for me right now (laughs).
What about your most blissful time?
When I soak in the bathtub, I can't help but go "Ahhh~!" (laughs). Lately, it's still cold (when interviewed in mid-March). My body is surprisingly cold. I like the feeling of my blood rushing when I soak in the bath. Is that like an old man? Sometimes I can clear my head by warming myself up. I'm soaking in hot water, closing my eyes and letting my thoughts run through my mind.
Do you hang out with the members of Hey! Say! JUMP in private?
We don't get to meet each other very often. We're all busy. But I'm looking forward to working with the members later today, as I haven't worked with them in a long time. It's like a boys school. When we meet up, we first exchange information. In particular, Arioka (Daiki) is always on the lookout for good information, so it's inspiring to talk to him. We can comfort each other, but we can also learn from each other. I think we have a good relationship.
I've seen your photos from your Jr. days, and you were really cute. How and when did that boy exactly become a man? (laughs).
There was a moment when I was in middle and high school when the way I presented myself changed. I felt like I was getting closer to becoming an adult. At that point I thought I was tired of the idol-like songs, I just wanted to do cool songs! But even if you do cool songs, it only looks like like you're forcing it. Some people said it looked cheeky and cool, and I was grateful for that. It's a story from the era when I was inexperienced.
What do you feel now as the idol Nakajima Yuto?
Being an idol is fun right now. I'm not embarrassed to sing cute songs at all anymore, I'm rather enjoying it. When I see my fans being happy, I'm smiling in my mind and thinking, "OK!". It all depends on your perspective. I'd rather have fun instead of thinking, "I don't want to wear this kind of outfit". I've realised how important it is to switch it up. I'm a negative person. Sometimes I get tired of being like that.
Do you overthink things?
I do think too much. Sometimes I just need to change my perspective to make things more interesting, but sometimes I just can't. But my personality doesn't change, and sometimes my bad parts might come out, but I'm human. I'll acknowledge that I'm like that, but I need to have the gears to shift my thinking.
You are now 26 years old. You're heading into adulthood, so what do you want to acquire and what do you want to acquire in the future?
There's been pressure. I've been doing this job since I was young so I don't understand much about the world, or rather I don't have much common sense. I think there are some good aspects to being in this role, but I still want to be an adult who can ultimately stand on their own.
Yuto-kun, you're the eldest son?
I'm the eldest son (laughs). Maybe this is why I've always wanted to be reliable. Okada-kun (Junichi) often tells me, "You're a young person who has nothing at the beginning. But someday, you will be in a position to teach others. It would be nice if you have something you can be confident in at that time." On top of that, I want to be someone who can lower themselves. Recently, there was a weird vibe about who made a mistake during a shoot. If I had said, "Have I done something wrong?" there, I could've put that situation to rest. I want to be an open-minded guy.
By the way, what about women? How does one become Yuto-kun's ideal woman?
My ideal person is a positive person who will cover up my negativity and encourage me. They can make everything interesting, give me new ideas but also share their problems with me.
I'll do my best! So, finally, tell us what kind of future you envision for yourself.
I would like to be in more works as an actor. I'm not interested in award races, but I want to do something that results in a representative work. I want to clearly show what level I am with my performance, both good and bad and I want to use that as a basis for me to grow even more.
I don't know if it's an appetite or humility (laughs). Anyway, your great love for acting is amazing.
I love acting, really. I want to keep doing it, so I think about it a lot and worry about it. Every day is a learning curve for me. I'm always inspired by people who come from the stage. Everyone is amazing. They make me humble before I get too big for my boots (laughs). But I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful for the motivation I receive. I don't want to be satisfied and not achieve anything else, I want to continue improving myself. Oda (Yuji) has honed his skills like that, so he's been able to play leading roles for a long time, I think. He's amazingly cool. I want to be an actor with lasting work.
Thank you for taking off your suit in the coolest way possible this time! (laughs)
Was it good? (laughs). "SUITS 2" is currently airing to rave reviews, which makes me nervous.
The way you wear a suit in the drama is part of your performance.
That's right. In Season 1, I wanted to show Daisuke's stages of growth, so I wanted show how unfamiliar he was with wearing it. But in Season 2, it's a setting where he had been training in Boston for a year and a half, and he turned over a new leaf with a new suit and new haircut. Daisuke is also starting to gain confidence in his suit. He's aware that he's feeling "natural little by little".
How is the drama itself progressing?
The law firm has become more of a family compared to Season 1. The friendship, affection and cooperation born in those relationships are intense. The way Uesigi Hitoshi (played by Yoshida Koutaro-san) stirs up trouble is something is a sight that's worth seeing, for me.
We're looking forward to that. By the way, what have been some opportunities for you to show off as an actor?
(Laughs). I can only think about opportunities to show off from dramas. No, there is. Daisuke is a genius who instantly remembers what he sees, but as a human he is awkward and incomplete. He's the type of person who makes mistakes mainly because of his emotions, so I wanted to bring out his unbalanced and inexperienced nature. I want everyone watching to love his awkwardness, which is impossible to lie about (laughs). By the way, Daisuke also has a sense of romance. The scene where he struggles with his secret feelings is a scene that is sure to get your heart racing. If I may say so myself, though.
No, I'm sure... (laughs). Compared to last series, you have grown up a lot. Has anything also changed on the inside?
The stage play I did last year gave me the sense that I improved my skills greatly. I learned the essence of creating a role, or rather, I realised that I hadn't been able to do it at all. At the same time, I became embarrassed of the acting I'd been doing (laughs).
Has your approach to acting changed?
I feel like I've become more aware again. I owe that to the guidance of the director. We worked together on the approach of getting into the role more fully. It was a lot of information that I couldn't take in at the time (laughs), and there are still parts I can't fully process, but I want to make it happen. I'm trying out that approach right now.
Is that new approach working in "Suits 2"?
That's exactly my challenge. How far can my newly acquired weapon really go? (laughs)
That's nice. It's like a RPG.
Everyday I'm raising my level (laughs). But isn't it about stepping up your own game? It's a genuine desire to be more useful in your performance. I don't like it when people think, "He's only in that position because he's in Johnny's." I get a lot of harsh opinions, but I want to disprove them. I want people to think, "Nakajima Yuto, you're great!" I always have a desire to strike back.
I think that kind of competitive spirit is one of your charms. A man with a hidden fighting spirit~
I'm often told I'm way too serious (laughs).
You also have the face of a model. Can we ask you about fashion?
I don't know if I can live up to your expectations. I don't know that much about it, but okay? (laughs)
So, are you aware of trends?
I'm not. When I buy clothes, it's a feeling. But lately, I've started to pay more attention to the material and comfort. Silk and cashmere are good.
Where do you find what you want?
I often buy them when I'm on set. I'm lucky to have many opportunities to touch nice things. I'm the type of shopper who doesn’t really wander around and decide what to buy.
What an economical man... I'd like to get some pointers (laughs). What have you bought recently?
Something that's like a long raincoat. It has wide armholes, but the cuffs are swooped in and it's cool. I love it.
It seems like it suits you!
It's a piece of clothing that makes me feel good about myself when I wear it. It's fun to buy a selection of things to examine and see whether they look good on you right now and to see if you'll wear them properly. I want to buy good things and wear them for a long time. I feel like I'm becoming an adult now (laughs).
What do you think looks good on women? You can't answer with "As long as it suits them, it's OK" (laughs).
That's what I thought. Well, the extreme argument is that. But my type of person is someone in a mannish mood. I'm attracted to women who wear cool, casual clothes that are a little bit loose and masculine. It's not a feeling like she's borrowing a man's clothes, but like she's just being good looking (laughs).
As expected, an answer from a fashionsta!
You might walk down the street and look at people in their clothing. I'm also interested in the relationship between people and their clothing. Clothes show off your taste, right? When I see a sharp person with a playful item, I think "Oh!". I'm weak to gaps.
Do you have a weakness for gaps? (♡♡♡)
All men are weak for gaps.
Now we've listened to the gratifying stories (laughs). Let's change the topic. How do you spend your days off?
I don't get out of the house much. I tidy up and watch YouTube. I highly recommend the Discovery Channel's "Marooned with Ed Stafford"! It's about a man who is thrown naked into an unexplored area, eating bugs and making clothes out of deerskin to survive. The expressions on people's faces when they are in a difficult situation, the moment when their rationality collapses, the look of joy when they find food for the first time in a long time... it's very interesting. This is probably the most refreshing content for me right now (laughs).
What about your most blissful time?
When I soak in the bathtub, I can't help but go "Ahhh~!" (laughs). Lately, it's still cold (when interviewed in mid-March). My body is surprisingly cold. I like the feeling of my blood rushing when I soak in the bath. Is that like an old man? Sometimes I can clear my head by warming myself up. I'm soaking in hot water, closing my eyes and letting my thoughts run through my mind.
Do you hang out with the members of Hey! Say! JUMP in private?
We don't get to meet each other very often. We're all busy. But I'm looking forward to working with the members later today, as I haven't worked with them in a long time. It's like a boys school. When we meet up, we first exchange information. In particular, Arioka (Daiki) is always on the lookout for good information, so it's inspiring to talk to him. We can comfort each other, but we can also learn from each other. I think we have a good relationship.
I've seen your photos from your Jr. days, and you were really cute. How and when did that boy exactly become a man? (laughs).
There was a moment when I was in middle and high school when the way I presented myself changed. I felt like I was getting closer to becoming an adult. At that point I thought I was tired of the idol-like songs, I just wanted to do cool songs! But even if you do cool songs, it only looks like like you're forcing it. Some people said it looked cheeky and cool, and I was grateful for that. It's a story from the era when I was inexperienced.
What do you feel now as the idol Nakajima Yuto?
Being an idol is fun right now. I'm not embarrassed to sing cute songs at all anymore, I'm rather enjoying it. When I see my fans being happy, I'm smiling in my mind and thinking, "OK!". It all depends on your perspective. I'd rather have fun instead of thinking, "I don't want to wear this kind of outfit". I've realised how important it is to switch it up. I'm a negative person. Sometimes I get tired of being like that.
Do you overthink things?
I do think too much. Sometimes I just need to change my perspective to make things more interesting, but sometimes I just can't. But my personality doesn't change, and sometimes my bad parts might come out, but I'm human. I'll acknowledge that I'm like that, but I need to have the gears to shift my thinking.
You are now 26 years old. You're heading into adulthood, so what do you want to acquire and what do you want to acquire in the future?
There's been pressure. I've been doing this job since I was young so I don't understand much about the world, or rather I don't have much common sense. I think there are some good aspects to being in this role, but I still want to be an adult who can ultimately stand on their own.
Yuto-kun, you're the eldest son?
I'm the eldest son (laughs). Maybe this is why I've always wanted to be reliable. Okada-kun (Junichi) often tells me, "You're a young person who has nothing at the beginning. But someday, you will be in a position to teach others. It would be nice if you have something you can be confident in at that time." On top of that, I want to be someone who can lower themselves. Recently, there was a weird vibe about who made a mistake during a shoot. If I had said, "Have I done something wrong?" there, I could've put that situation to rest. I want to be an open-minded guy.
By the way, what about women? How does one become Yuto-kun's ideal woman?
My ideal person is a positive person who will cover up my negativity and encourage me. They can make everything interesting, give me new ideas but also share their problems with me.
I'll do my best! So, finally, tell us what kind of future you envision for yourself.
I would like to be in more works as an actor. I'm not interested in award races, but I want to do something that results in a representative work. I want to clearly show what level I am with my performance, both good and bad and I want to use that as a basis for me to grow even more.
I don't know if it's an appetite or humility (laughs). Anyway, your great love for acting is amazing.
I love acting, really. I want to keep doing it, so I think about it a lot and worry about it. Every day is a learning curve for me. I'm always inspired by people who come from the stage. Everyone is amazing. They make me humble before I get too big for my boots (laughs). But I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful for the motivation I receive. I don't want to be satisfied and not achieve anything else, I want to continue improving myself. Oda (Yuji) has honed his skills like that, so he's been able to play leading roles for a long time, I think. He's amazingly cool. I want to be an actor with lasting work.