The role that Aiba Masaki plays in Kiiroi Namida is a person who is aspiring to be a singer, Inoue Shouichi. He had already failed once and returned to his native Hokkaido. We can catch a glimpse of his ingeniously interesting character in Tensai Shimura Doubutsuen and in the A no Arashi segment in G no Arashi. This calm composure coupled with his ability to be able to read what others around him want him to do, this facet of his personality can be linked with the character that he plays.  This is to say, this role can probably fit him well.  “Shoichi-kun sees many realities in life and does not push his dreams very much” We learn more about this role.

Interviewer: Firstly, when you heard that Arashi would be doing a movie together, what was your reaction?

Aiba-CHAN:  That is was great that the five of us could do a movie together again. Up till now, that is what we have been consistently doing and I am very happy that we do that.

Interviewer: When you actually went to do the shooting for the film, what did you think?

Aiba-CHAN:  Well… what did I think…. Well, the director was very detailed. He would say “ I want you to do this like this….”  This was really easy for us to act out our roles. I would go “Ah I see…of course…”

Interviewer:  You feel that you are making the movie together with the director?

Aiba-CHAN: Yup. When I initially read the book, and deciding on what kind of charater my role would have, I thought to myself “Isn’t it better if its like this?” This character was created by us, together, and so we should have some level of confidence in it.

Interviewer: To build this character, you practised Pachinko and guitar playing, right?

Aiba-CHAN:  Because it was set in the sixties, Pachinko was relatively difficult. Whilst holding on to the knob of the Pachinko machine with your palm, you have to use your forefinger to pour the balls into the machine and timing is important. If you do it too strongly, the balls will go around twice – the amount of strength you use to pull the lever is relatively difficult. But for Shouichi-kun, he earns his living thru Pachinko and so I had to practice it many times to perfect it. For the guitar playing too- I practiced it for over one month, and I probably now, I can almost play it (laughs).

Interviewer:  Last year, when you acted in the lead in “Tsubame no iru eki”, I thought you took on that challenge pretty well, after that, was there any change to the way you act or perform in movies?

Aiba-CHAN:  Of course. This is totally different from the time when I did Pikaanchi but now, I will hang out with those guys whom I did the butai with. During that time, the circle of people which I did the butai with were a very dependable bunch of people.  Even now,when we get together and have a meal, we would talk casually about the projects that we are doing and this helps me a great deal. Therefore, having been able to meet this group of people was a pretty big thing to me.

Interviewer: When we talk about Aiba-san in Tensai Shimura Doubutsuen, there is this very vivid image of you being bitten by a lion…… (laughs)

Aiba-CHAN:  Hmm… that is so….I am pretty tight with the regulars of Tensai and they also take care of me outside work too….my mental wellbeing. And therefore, that program is also a pretty important thing to me. I think that I am really blessed to have all these people around me….

Interviewer:  When watching the show, I can see that you have found your place in the show and your you have improved on your skills, but have you applied the experiences you have gained from doing variety shows into your acting/performances?

Aiba-CHAN:  Well… I wonder if I applied it? I don’t think about it too deeply…(laughs)  But, from Variety shows, of course, I draw a certain degree from that and I think about when I can be able to draw from that .

Interviewer: So you are saying there is a certain extent to which you can learn from your experiences.

Aiba-CHAN:  Yes, when I look at the script or plan for Doubutsuen, I will think to myself, “this animal, wouldn’t it move like that?” and simulate that in my mind, and at the same time I will think of what to say at that moment whilst stalking it. Well, its already 2 years since I started doing Doubutsuen. (Laughs). But in a performance, how I react to the other party’s reaction, what is important in that is that it has to be fresh and captivating not staid and anticipated. … so when I think about that… it is of course different.

Interviewer:  So, to Aiba-san, what does he think is the interesting part in a performance?

Aiba-CHAN:  Well.. what is it?  To me, when a certain degree of feelings is subtly added in, it is interesting.  If I were referring to this film, its like saying “ “this is how time passes..”, I think. (laughs).  But basically, because the four of us are together a lot, with the exception of MatsuJun, and there is a lot of waiting time between the shoots, so we use the time to discuss about the concert and I feel that we can get various things done. Somehow, that is a strange feeling to me.

Interviewer: Because you cannot do this kind of thing normally.

Aiba-CHAN:  We are together from morning till night, therefore we are very good friends. So we go out for meals together after the shoot has completed.

Interviewer:  (laughs) Well, you must like each other pretty much..

Aiba-CHAN: ne!! We like each other. We’re like how many hours before we meet up again? The feeling is like “Later we will meet again…”

Interviewer: By the way, can you sympathise with your character, Shouichi-kun, that he is just hurling himself headlong to meet his one dream?

Aiba-CHAN: Um.   I think its good, but there has to be various things you need to think about.  Shouichi-kun, he is really a good person.  He is different with the other 3 people, he had already given up his dream to be a singer once and returned to his home town. He has already failed once and thus he feels that he cannot be beaten again. During that time, he has a romance, but he thinks that it is not good for the girl to continue going out with him and he acts cool and draws away from her. He looses confidence and you feel real pity for him.

Interviewer:  What kind of approach do you use to act out this role?

Aiba-CHAN:  Well, I draw on some of my own personal experiences (laughs).  In building up the feelings for this role, if I don’t draw from my own experiences, I cannot imagine it. I say it from the viewpoint of my relationships.

Interviewer:  So, do you have any experiences that you remember?

Aiba-CHAN:  Yes, I have. It will become very vivid, so I don’t want to start thinking about it. (laughs).  So, I have to rethink if it is better to draw on your experiences when doing a performance.

Interviewer:  So, what do you think this movie, Kiiori Namida will be like?