Fukuyama Masaharu の Heart

Interview with Oristar (Only Star) 2009.07.27 (No. 28-1500)

■ Can you still remember your first ever interview?

F: Not at all.

■ It was the (Oricon) issue of April 9, 1990. The introduction at the very beginning said – “Because he doesn’t dance, he can’t walk properly when listening to the walkman, this unique 21-year-old”, it’s incredible, I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. (laugh)

F: With such a lead-in, who wouldn’t take me as a fool from the start? (laugh) That was one awful interview!

■ The person who interviewed you was very cryptic. In the 90’s, she’s asking questions like “Do you feel that it’s the end of the century?” (laugh)

F: What was that supposed to mean? But the things I said in my early interviews were really something as well. They were quite radical, I once made an extract of some and edited them into a record of Fukuyama sayings.

■ “I, was a pain ” like that? (laugh) You use your (weaknesses) as a topic for discussion and that takes guts.

F: No, isn’t it because there was no other way to approach it?

■ “I’d rather say it myself than to be embarrassed when other people bring it out first” it’s that feeling right?

F: Yeah. If others were to say it first, we’ll have to fight it out, wouldn’t we?

■ Hahahaha! But, from your movie debut upto your concerts, we can see that you’re the type of person who’d be the first to talk about your own bloopers.

F: I believe that talking about it yourself first, is the only way.

■ During your debut, have you said anything that would embarrass you now?

F: I’ll email you after the interview (laugh). How shall I put it…..it was really awful! Oh, I was so callow and hot-blooded then.

■ Now that you mention it, in the “Oricon” interview, when you were asked to say something to the readers, you told them to “Be a delinquent!” (laugh)

F: That was probably because I wanted to imitate what was said in “Soupu ni yuke” (ソープに行け Getting to Soap), the story series published in the HDP (book) “Kokoromi no Chiheisen” (試みの地平線, Horizon of Trials).

■ That certainly sounds like what (the author) Kitakata Kenzo-san 北方謙三 would say (laugh). Maybe that was when you still had the blood of a “delinquent” from Kyushu.

F: But, I couldn’t do anything about that.

■ The books you had a penchant for at that time were “Young Auto” (ヤングオート car magazine) and “Mu” (ムー magazine on strange phenomena like UFOs, aliens and ESP etc.) (laugh)

F: Hahahaha! I was a real peculiar one (laugh). Well, it’s not only because I had an affinity for it, “Young Auto” occasionally had photos of a very pretty girl who looked a bit wild as well.

■ You’ve also mentioned that you can’t remember much of the times when you were commended by others. But you’re always in the lead in the Only Star “Attractive Men” rankings.

F: I just think that’s all been made up. (laugh)

■ Hahahaha! Like it’s all been manipulated behind-the-scenes, pressure from the management company perhaps?

F: Well I want to say, it’s obvious my management company doesn’t have such a lot of power, then why is it that I am always at the top for just your specific magazine? (laugh) In any case, popularity rankings like these aren’t actually reliable, are they?

■ Even so, don’t you think it’s such a blessing to be included in the ranks?

F: Yes, I do feel blessed, but this is not the type of happiness I’m hoping for. When I see the other people in the charts, it’s….not something that would make me feel very blessed. I’m not looking for these things. But that ranking in the “SPA!” magazine this year, where I was chosen as No. 1 in the “Most Favourite Man” by other men, that made me very happy.

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Quote from Only Star #25 (box inset)

■ When the 1994 single “It’s Only Love” first took No.1 in the Oricon charts, do you remember how you felt at that time?

F: I was estactic! And shocked. But then, that intense anxiety that always follows me, probably started from that time.

■ You’re one of those who just can’t feel assured, aren’t you?

F: Just can’t feel assured. It’s the same even now. I cannot get peace of mind in my work. I cannot see myself as having “conquered the world”, not at all.

■ Don’t you remember when you became No.1 (on the charts)?

F: Yeah, I always forget the good things. It’s the times when I couldn’t get No.1 that will remain in my heart.

■ You’re predisposed towards the unexpected and the unfortunate in your mode of thought…..

F: Well, it seems like whenever I do well, I won’t get any negative feedback, so it just doesn’t stick in the mind. But, when we don’t get the results we want, that’s when there will be lots of criticism.

~The End~

Translated from Fukuyama Honne (Article 6830)
This English translation was first posted on MashaPlus [dot] Info Forums. (Registration required to enter.)