Fukuyama Masaharu の Heart

The following is an extract from Masha’s MC in his comeback concert in June 1998 (age 29). This was his first live after almost 3 years of rest. It was a private concert, specially arranged for the press, media and related personnel in the entertainment industry. Although not opened to public, the entire concert was broadcast later on WOWOW national pay TV, in conjuction with the release of his comeback album Sing a Song (1998.06.24).

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I didn’t explain it clearly enough last time in the Hey! Hey! Hey! Interview.* If I have to be more specific……

There was a pub called “Some Time” in Shibuya before, it was very popular back then, in 1990…..around 1989 (he was 20 then). I was a newcomer when I worked there, so I got to handle the garbage. Bottles, combustible & incombustible, sorting it out etc. Usually, it’s around 3 am when the pub closes, there are bins just by the door outside and I would bring the garbage out.

That’s when I saw a girl lying there. It was raining at that time, a girl just lying in that place, anyone would feel bad for her, she might catch a cold…… I was thinking what’s going on, so I asked “Are you alright?” Then I had a look at her, she had thrown up….I thought “Wah~~” But she was actually quite pretty too (laugh).

(Yoshikawa Chuei: Did you give her a kiss?)

No, no~~ (laugh) I didn’t expect her to be so cute. I thought, well, I’ve got to help her then (laugh). But it’s not because she’s pretty (laugh)! I kept asking “Are you OK? Can you hold on?” She had no response at all. I thought, I must help her!

So I piggy-backed her all the way down Shibuya Chuogai (渋谷中央街, equiv. Shibuya Central Street). There’s a Namiki bridge (並木橋) in Shibuya**, I lived close by. I brought her back to my place…. you can say I volunteered to help her (laugh)…..I lay her down and let her sleep on my bedding. She had some vomit on her face, I thought it wasn’t so nice, so I cleaned it up with a towel.

She was really very pretty, and unconscious (laugh) Well normally, wouldn’t you think “Now that she’s passed out…..” (laugh)

(Yoshikawa Chuei: Cough.. cough..)

(laugh) But that’s not right. I didn’t really do anything….only touched her breast lightly (gestures with one hand)

(Audience roars in laughter)

Yes just one touch. She made a “Hmm” sound and moved, I stopped. That’s it. Nothing else, I didn’t do anything……..well, yes I did (laugh) strictly speaking (repeats the gesture).

So the next morning, after I got up, I cooked breakfast for her, rice and miso soup, and sent her off to Shibuya. That was what happened.

(Yoshikawa Chuei: Did you start dating her after that?)

Well, at that time she seemed like…….she was trying to escape (Audience roars)

(Yoshikawa Chuei: She must have thought you’d done something!)

She’d really think that, would she….

(Misawa Mataroi: Since she did, you should have….)
(Audience laugh)

No! That’s not right! (laugh) I really didn’t do anything.

~The End~

* Earlier, when he had appeared on the TV music show “Hey! Hey! Hey!” to promote his comeback single “Heart” (released 30.04.1998), he had talked about this incident in brief. Of course, it created quite a bit of speculation, so Masha said mor eabout it in his concert in June. Experienced fans have said that later, Masha had publicly called for the girl in question to please come out and clear his name. Needless to say, she probably didn’t want to show her face after something like that.

** There’s a new and old Namiki Bridge in Shibuya. You can see more here

Izumi’s Comments
THIS is Fukuyama Masaharu – straightforward; revealing things he doesn’t need to (even some things he may not be so proud of); he does not put on a glittery image; he tells you what he’s like and what he thinks; and this usually happens in his radio show. That’s why people believe him and that’s why he’s so well-loved in Japan. His radio show almost always tops the charts every week because they get the real person there (and he’s fun). As some say, what you see is what you get.

He’s mentioned more than once, that if you do meet him in the street, he’d be much happier if you tell him you’re a fan of his radio, than his drama. Because that’s where he reveals himself as opposed to a role which is not really him.

If there is more time, I will try and translate more of his old broadcasts.

Translated from Fukuyama Honne (Article 25)
This English translation is posted simultaneously on MashaPlus [dot] Info Forums. (Registration required to enter.)