Gaki N Me If you love to talk about the world, love Asian idols, this is the place.

Thank you to millionxstars at my forum for giving me permission to repost all her translations at this blog. It is a rare chance we get English translations of this program consistently and amidst her busy schedule, millionxstars, with her devotion to Kimura, has translated many for my forum. Thank you again!

KIMURA TAKUYA'S WUS AUGUST 4, 2006

Can I run away today too? (because on July 21st WUS, Howl's Moving Castle was playing on tv and it was a "let's run away" special) Today, Howl isn't playing but I feel like running away. Because you know? These types of messages are arriving today.. I know, I can read the atmosphere. So let's just give up and get the messages over with.

Fax: (19 yr old from Niigata)
Hello, Takuya captain!! SMAP's live- Pop Up SMAP has started! I'm glad Sapporo finished safely. Before the first day of the tour last week, you said you were so nervous your stomach was twisting. How is your tension? Did you memorize your lyrics? Do you feel good about tomorrow's live in Niigata? I will be going tomorrow for my first time and I'm excited to see you, Takuya kun!

It's amazing. WUS's listeners can not hold back. Maybe I should teach them about holding back. Like thinking about other people's feelings.. Like what I might want to talk about on radio and what I won't. They write to me so honestly, I'm surprised as I look through all the messages. (hahah) Sapporo was great. We should talk about how great the 3D was, right? No? No, the listeners want to talk about how well I memorized the lyrics.. About that, I don't feel like talking about it so excuse me..

I, Kimura Takuya, did forget my lyrics on the first day at Sapporo, Hokkaido. I am SMAP's representative, Kimura Takuya!! I'm sorry! (he announces himself like they announce baseball players)

Well today.. I really want to ignore talking about the live, but I feel like I have to. Last sunday, monday was the live at Sapporo. We will address faxes about that.

Fax:
Takuya captain, it was amazing!!! It was the first concert I've ever gone to in my life. Concerts are really amazing. I could hear smap's rehearsal voices from the dome before the show. You guys really rehearse right up to the last minute! I was surprised.

This is embarrasing to hear. So they could hear us from outside. (of course!!) Yes, we really do rehearse till the last minute.

Last Sunday, we SMAP held our first concert in Sapporo. SMAP is the name of the group I, Kimura Takuya, have been a part of for close to 20 years. Yes, this type of man is talking on the radio. Radio shows are wonderful. There are no dance steps, no lyrics, no script, no rehearsals involved. It's just.. ok let's go. Now we'll put in a commercial break. Like that.

The time the doors opened to let the audience file in to the dome was late.. by 40 minutes. That is in part, us, SMAP's fault. We rehearsed up till 4 PM. And we delayed everyone. Usually it takes 30 minutes for the audience to take their seats. So we started block rehearsal from 12 noon and we went through the whole show. We had to, otherwise it would be terrible. This is a new way of saying it.. but those who saw the concert on the first day saw the 2nd time we went through it!!! That same day, we rehearsed it through one time.. and our 2nd time was the real thing! We barely had time to eat in between. Can I say this? Tsutsumi Shinichi (fellow actor, partner to Kuryu in Hero SP) sent me a bushel of bananas that day. He sent me a text message saying 'it must be tough, but please bring it through safely and successfully'. I got a sense of power from those bananas. We weren't really feeling nervous.. We were trying to cool ourselves down; the dancers were also trying to cool us down. We realized that there are others out there who have it worse. Like professional soccer players who have to go out there and play in the World Cup. That must be more nerve-racking. And about the lyrics, honestly.. I was worried about it right till the beginning of the show. When we were standing behind the doors (that open to reveal smap), I was still glancing over the lyric cards that the staff were holding. "Sorry, can I see Piece of World? Chotto gomen." And they would show me with their flashlights shining on the cards. It felt like trying to memorize everything right before a test. There were a few messages that said "I enjoyed watching you mess up the lyrics for the first time. It was cute." I don't thing this type of thing should be cute or enjoyable to watch at all! I'm sorry. I messed up the lyrics, and also where I was supposed to stand. And a little bit of the choreography. On the first day, I made a couple mistakes. There's a dancer staff who checks where we made mistakes on a notepad. And there were about 2 points where they wrote "kimura". It was on the lesser side, compared to other members.. But still, once my name was down, it was down.

You're all sitting in front of the radio, waiting for me to read a fax about how I messed up the lyrics right? I can feel that desire all the way here, in the studio.

Fax:
Takuya captain, konbanban. I went on the first day. SMAP was flying out very attractively. It was very Tobimasu, Tobidasu, Tobisuma-like. But also, the lyrics were flying out of your head as well. (!!) Tobimasu, Tobidasu-like! While singing Piece of World, it flew out a bit. And also, Hoshizora no Shitade was a bit hard too. I could see you smiling up on the monitor screen. But this is also part of the service at the concert- i enjoyed it all!

Ahh such a sad message. We will probably mention this phrase at Niigata.. "Tobimasu, Tobidasu, Tobisuma tour" as in.. the lyrics are popping out of our heads... Of course, the title is "tobimasu". How do you like it?

So you want to hear about me messing up right. Ok? So yes, the lyrics flew away during Piece of World. How should I say it? It's the first day.. so there's no need to hide it. This year, when I messed up the dance parts, I felt I didn't need to make it up and continue smoothly to trick the audience into thinking I knew what I was doing. I felt very much like a samurai. (he means honorable!) Because I made a mistake, and it was ok not to hide it. Especially the choreography. The lyrics are easy to tell from the audience's point of view if I mess up. But Hoshizora no Shitade.. It felt like an exam. I tested myself before, to see how much I knew. And Shingo was beaming so happily when I messed up. He knew it was coming.

And here's a fax from someone who came to watch on the second day at Sapporo.

Fax:
I have a question. In Bang Bang Vacance, Takuya captain, you stopped singing your part midway and yelled out "My bad!!!!" (as in "sorry") instead. Was it because you forgot the lyrics or because you couldn't catch your breath? To me, it sounded like you just stopped. And also, in Moai, you made a mistake right? Usually I can never see you make a miss, so it was nice to be there to see it! The concert was amazing!

Umm.. yes in Bang Bang Vacance, it wasn't like the lyrics flew away. Just at that timing, my throat suddenly felt like coughing. (Takuya says his part of the lyrics in a sing-song voice.*) I don't know why, but right there, I felt..oh I can't sing this. My throat felt itchy. So I yelled "Sorry". It wasn't the lyrics.

And Moai. Yes I did make a mistake in the lyrics. Even the guitar chord. There was an accident before Moai, and it was tough to play the guitar. Hmm. But Bang Bang Vacance, I'm used to.. It's not in the new album, so I know the lyrics naturally. (he means injuring his finger).

So for all my mistakes, "My Bad!" Oh no I mean "I am very sorry!!"

Song: Hoshizora no Shitade (SMAP) I'm worried about this song for tomorrow.

Fax:
I went to the first day concert at Sapporo. I noticed something. During Triangle, you were sitting down, but you kept glancing down at your left finger. Were you injured? While you weren't singing your parts, you kept looking at your finger, so I was worried.

This thing.. I was looking down because my nails were growing and I was thinking that I had to cut them.. Not!! Some faxes asked about this.. But I was actually looking at the second digit of my left middle finger. During a dance segment, when I put my finger on the stage.. The stage is very bumpy, and I put my finger down on a bumpy spot, and it twisted to the left. It was like "which way are you facing, finger?!" So while I was walking to another part of the stage, I twisted it back and thought "oh it went back to place!" But during Triangle, that finger started swelling like it was having it's own heart attack, and my pulse was pounding in that finger.

Song: Moai

Right now, I have taping around the finger. So tomorrow at Niigata, I might mess up on the guitar. (laughs) No, I'll take care. 

KIMURA TAKUYA'S WUS AUGUST 11, 2006

Today, let's start with an "Ahnnn, Ahnnn" (he moans this part like a woman haha) message.

Message from 17 yr old: (background music playing +woman breathing "Ahhnn, Ahnn"--Takuya seems impressed that it's a 17 yr old)
Kimura brother, hello. SMAP was on the cover of AnAn ("ahnnn, Ahnn" goes the music) (*Takuya says: oh THAT AnAn. Oh I was imagining something else-- he thought the fax was about something sexual hahaha!) On page 75 of that magazine, you mentioned in the interview that there might be a new dorama waiting for you after the tour. Please tell us more, even though you always say we listeners don't know how to hold our questions back.

I'm sorry if I made those middle school or high school boys listening to this program expect something interesting. (as in sexual). Because it's summer now, even I thought it would be something like that and I was all ready to go, but it turned out to be about the AnAn magazine. So the interview- it's the AnAn with smap on the cover. My hair color is brighter at that time- it was during the filming of Hero I think. The staff just handed me the magazine. Page 75.. ahh here's smap. Ok Kimura: "I want to get into a high mood during the summer tour. There might be a dorama waiting for me afterwards" Ahh it is in the interview. Right now the mosquito bite I got yesterday is really starting to itch. This.. I think my tongue slipped a bit too much. (he's not denying a new dorama, he's saying he revealed too much!!! yesss!!!!) My kendo teacher when I was young scolded me for making a mistake twice, so I won't let my tongue slip any more. I'll be careful. (hahah)

How do you guys think we do the magazine interviews? Well it's one-on-one with the interviewee, and it's like a normal conversation. And they play a tape to record the conversation. Sometimes we talk in a fancy cafe. Or restaurant. Or they bring us a really expensive bento lunch. It's really impressive. And later, they bring some juicy fruit. And I always get caught up in the talk while eating, and my tongue just slips. Now that I think of it, there's no baka (idiot) who should fall for it and let slip. (hahaha!)

There are many different people I speak with (during interviews), depending on the magazine. For example, when I say "Right now it's green. My favorite color is green." to one interviewer, they interpret why it might be green on their own. Like they reply "Oh green, I know why! It's because of green peas..." And I think, "No that's not why at all". So sometimes, I have to keep talking to make them get the story right. But other times, the conversation flows smoothly and we touch on many different topics. I don't have the right to judge the interviewers, but there are some interviewers who don't look at my eyes at all when we talk. It makes me frustrated and I sometimes want to stare at them until they look up at my eyes. That is one thing I have a problem with. Honestly saying, during those interviews, I am annoyed inside. (takuya laughs)

Fax:
Before, you talked about Howl's Moving Castle and your co-stars during the "let's run away" theme day. Miwa san (a co-star) said the color black doesn't suit you, and you would lose your power if you wear it- but you said on the radio program that today you happened to also be wearing black. You don't believe in those things? If Miwa san told me it would be unwise for me to wear black, I would never wear it again. Also, on smapxsmap last time, the spiritual man, Ehara Kiroyuki san (?) was the guest in the bistro. Please tell us some backstage stories.

(he started talking about a CM they were filming with Howl's Moving Castle co-stars, but just for a 30 sec CM, they talked about how to do it for 4 hours. And during that time, Miwa san told him not to wear black-it will suppress his power. He was wearing black at that time)

It's not whether or not I believe it or not. It's just I didn't really mind/care. We also filmed a bistro with Miwa san too. (it will be aired soon) And it feels like bistro smap is turning into a more aura/spiritual direction. Something that had a big impression on me then- this may be between couples or between friends.. In english, it's "Like or Love" (he says it in english). And in Japanese, it's "koi or ai". We talked about the difference. Miwa san said "like" is more personal. You like the other person, but you put yourself first. And when in love, you start thinking of the other person over yourself. Like when the other party is late to a date, when you just like them you feel "what were you doing? you're late!", but when it's love, it's "are you ok? what happened?"

About a month ago, a listener wrote in requesting me to play an old smap song, and then, I played Hajimete no natsu. It was received well so maybe I'll continue it.

Fax:
I heard the old smap song you played, Hajimete no Natsu, for the first time. It was really nice. Smap were really idols back then. (Takuya says: I like this past tense. Back then. Yes, we were idols "back then") It would be nice if you made this a regular corner every week on this show. Also, please play your old solo songs. I only am familiar with your three most recent solos. What was your first solo? How many have you sung? Please teach me.

Smap has released .. wow that's huge.. 39 singles so far. 15 years since we've debuted. 17 original albums, and solos included. In Pop Up SMAP's album, my solo is Kimi ga Iru. My first ever solo song.. what was it? I have to check the song list. Our second album- the title is SMAP 002. What a boring album title. And the solo was Koi no Melody. Then the next one was Konna ni Boku wo Setsunaku Saseteru- a very long solo title. I asked the music producer back then why the title was so long. And he replied "the hit group, B'z is releasing songs with long titles. It's cool right?" But I remember thinking, "but why do I have to do it too?" (he talks about his other solos: Denwa shiyou kana, Yowai Boku Dakara, Ha) I wrote the lyrics of Ha myself in a cafe. (he goes to mention Zutto Zutto, Easy Go lucky, Special, Kimi ga Iru) I've done a lot of solos now that I look at it. 11 solos. And during the recording of Lionheart, I was the first one in the recording studio and they asked me to sing the whole song through. So there is one version of Lionheart where I sang the whole thing by myself. If you include that, it would be 12 solos. And then there's my own solo version of Orange. I also was told to record that whole song through. (he plays the chorus part of Orange where it's only himself-- it's really cool!!) Oh no I can't play this, I'll get in trouble by the staff again. (so he stops the song mid-way). You guys want to hear my first solo right? This is really old. (he plays Koi no Melody from SMAP 002). It's embarrasing, my first solo. Maybe we shouldn't play it. I'll just talk loudly right throughout the whole song. How old was I? 1992. 19 years old? Hey, my voice volume is getting quieter!! Oi!!! Hey!! (the staff muted takuya's voice hahahaha)

Song: Koi No Melody- Kimura Takuya

Every time, I think.. When it's time for solo recording, the atmosphere in the studio becomes very special. When it's just an album song, it has to be put together in the end after all the members sing their parts. So we have to coordinate it and check it afterwards to listen to how it sounds after all the voices are put together. But in a solo recording, it feels kind of like a club activity you chose for yourself. (like you have more freedom of choice)

You just came right now? (laughter of a staff member in the background saying "sorry") We already finished the old smap song corner. That is a weird corner title. The staff member goes "we're pulling it there". We need a better title, what about "Mukasuma corner?!" (MUKAshi= old) The staff says "it's good".

I don't remember mukashino smap that well in detail.. So I might have gotten some of the details wrong just now.

(he jokes around with the staff member some more)

KIMURA TAKUYA'S WUS AUGUST 18, 2006

We smap are in the middle of concert season right now. Today's concert at Fukuoka dome was the 7th one, and now we are 1/3rd done with all the concerts.

Fax:
I went to Nissan dome in Yokohama on the first day. That day, there was supposed to be a typhoon. I thought I picked the worst day because of the rainstorm. But even though it was delayed, the sun came out and this concert actually became the best one so far for me. Because there's no where else where you can watch smap slip and fall! But Takuya kun, you did not fall once. You were slipping a couple of times, but I guess your surfur talent enabled you to regain your balance!

Iya, I don't think it has to do with surfers.. But that first day at Yokohama was really something. It was an outdoor stadium, and the concert was right after all the rain and lightning. There was even talk about canceling the show. But I'm glad you wrote in about the fact that we were slipping on stage.. I was worried some fans might have written about how our MC talk was slipping (as in boring). But I get the feeling that day our talk was really slipping. But today's WUS will not slip! Because today is the "I will reveal all the stories about Yokohama dome concerts" special!!! Mind you, it's not the "We slipped (as in failed) in everything!" special! It's alright to laugh, really. You don't have to hold it back.

Recently, there have been many requests for the song.. I wonder why. (my note: because smap sang it at the concert!! haha)

Song: LOCOMOTION

What you are listening to right now is Locomotion. It's not smap song. We're singing it in the concerts.. Oops my tongue slipped again. (we all know smap's singing it already haha!!)

The rain started around 2 PM that first day. The thunder was deafening- I thought there was something wrong with our sound, it was that loud. The people on the stage jumped in surprise when they heard it. We were in stand by for the dance block rehearsal, and DONN comes the thunder. It was amazing. Our stage manager yelled out "don't touch anything, it's dangerous!" after the lightning hit. There was a discussion about whether or not we should actually do the show. We got all the weather data, and we learned that in 2 hours, the rainstorm will move towards the sea away from us. So we said "let's do it". All the walkways were so slippy (he says "slippy" in english.. so cute!) and we were all wearing bathtowels on our shoulders.

Fax:
I was very touched at the concert. The staff members wiped every single seat in the stadium for us with towels. Every single seat. I thought we are very lucky to have such kind staffs.

We are lucky to have them. Because they were wiping the seats, the concert was delayed a bit, but it was worth it. Usually before the concert, we smap, dancers, and staff all gather round and raise a call to pump ourselves up by yelling "let's go!!". Backstage is really a busy place, with everyone running around at top speed.

There have been many requests for this song too, even though we didn't sing this at the concert. (haha!!!) It's a hit number from 1975.

Song: Ai ga subete (Stylistics)--Takuya's GATSBY CM song!

(Takuya's singing along :"Gatsbyyyy, Gatsbyyy.." *the music stops +Takuya groans "Gatsssbyyy")

I don't need to practise this song right. There are other songs that I should be practising. *sings* "Come on baby, do the Locomo-" ah sorry. I slipped again. Um, "Shake, shake, boogee..." *cuts off*. Ahh sorry, I just wanted to sing just a bit of this song for those who couldn't hear it at the Yokohama concert. (because it was delayed, they didn't have a 2nd encore)

Because of the rain and thunder, we couldn't do a proper rehearsal. So we went right into the actual thing. The stage was soaking wet too. The stage manager told us right before the beginning of the show "Sorry, the stage is very slippery!" At this point, there was no turning back and those were the last words we heard before the show started. Really, it was so hard to even widen our steps. Like in the Jackie Chan movie- where he runs on the oily floor. And when we have to move to a different spot on stage, we just run and let our feet slide across the floor, but the thing is- we never stop! It felt like we were about to fall. So we had to grab on to something to make ourselves stop. We can't call it a "performance". We don't see ourselves as a team that can just depend on songs to go on. Since we couldn't dance, it was pretty much all song. So without the rehearsal and with the slippery stage, it was all pretty improv. There were puddles on the stage. But in the dance segment, there was a part where I had to put my left hand on the ground, but I was holding my mic in that hand. Because I twisted my finger a few concerts ago, I was a little scared about hurting the same finger again, so I'd hold the mic in my left hand. But there was a puddle and I thought "oh no I just dipped the mic in the puddle!" I thought I broke it.

Shingo and Tsuyoshi were rolling all over the place. I was worried they'd get injured. Afterwards, Shingo was icing his knees. But on the other hand, this concert was the best one with not slipping up the lyrics. Since we couldn't dance, we were focusing on the lyrics.

The staff apologized a lot to all the fans for coming all the way here in the rain. That many people- 75,000- can fit in Yokohama stadium. And the fact that they'd come all the way, rain or shine, as if the rain was nothing was really touching. So I would like to say *sings* "Arigatouuu...." (this is the new song) Oops I slipped again.

There have been tons of requests for this song recently, even though it has nothing to do with the live. So the song is Shiosai, by SMAP. Or actually, by me. Shiosai by Kimura Takuya.

Song: Shiosai

I want to introduce a fax. There were about 50,000 messages about this matter, and I picked this one out of the pile.

Mail:
Takuya captain, hello. Last week's WUS, you introduced all of your solo songs to us. But you forgot one. Shiosai. This is your solo song right? In SMAP 014. Maybe this is a duet with someone? But I only hear the chorus.

Yes, it is my solo. I slipped again. But this mail is written in a very kind way. The other 49,999 mails were not as nice. They were messages that should not be read outloud on the radio--because they're so scary. Like some said "You have to be joking me, airhead." (note: I used the word airhead but it was a little harsher than that) So in apology, I have a present for you all. It's hidden on the WUS website, so please go look for it. I won't reveal it on WUS here.

You need to fill out a form and it's a lottery. There aren't going to be enough for 50,000 people. But about 5. Ok I'll change it to 10. I could feel the disappointment among listeners when I said 5 so I raised the number. Let's go with 15. (note: if you go on the website under "special" on the right and click on the 3rd link, you'll see that the present is a pop up smap tissue box)

KIMURA TAKUYA'S WUS AUGUST 25, 2006

(this translation will be a bit abbreviated)

*In last week's smapxsmap, Mr Manriku (magician) was the guest and it was amazing. But the thing is, the best part was cut out of the show! The staff wanted to show it on the Love Award show I think. I tried the magic trick with a spoon in the bistro and was able to do it! (On radio, he demonstrated to us and you can hear a metal spoon thing clang to the table.) Isn't it amazing!! Oh oops you can't see because this is radio. So the fabulousness of this trick isn't really reaching you.

I just bent the spoon. It really bent, I promise! (Takuya will put a photo of the bent spoon on WUS website for proof) (Apparently, Takuya learned some magic tricks because the staff told him to)

I really like magic shows recently. They are amazing. But sometimes, there are quite a few tricks that I can understand how to do. (!)

*The theme is "The world of concerts that you don't know" (Takuya says this theme in a deep, scary voice to imitate an old summer tv show called "the world you don't know")

Fax:
Hello, Takuya kun. I have a question about the live. It is about the costumes. Is there only one set of costumes? Sometimes you have two or three concerts in a row. After the live, do you have to rush and wash and dry them or do you have another set? (takuya reads the whole mail in a deep, scary voice..)

I really didn't need to read it in that type of voice. But since I opened the theme in a scary voice, I wanted to continue. I think there's no time to wash- just dry. Sometimes I have to check the clothes, because we all sweat so much. I asked the staff to tell me if I smell, because I might have gotten numb to the smell. But they never tell me honestly.

Fax:
Here's a question. During the live, do you smap change underpants? I went to watch a live this year, and I brought a change of t-shirt, but my underware was so sweaty and it felt gross. Please tell me. (he says it all in a scary voice)

During the live, we go through the whole show with one set. Because there are female dancers and staff, there's no way we can go all-nude. (so the changing room is co-ed!!) But after the rehearsal, we change underware after our shower. So we need 2 sets of underware for each concert day. After the concert, we have a shower and change underware again before going home. Maybe the fans should bring an extra set too, just to change because it can get hot. Just thinking about that can... *silence* Ok what I just said right now was a bit gross. Gross, right.

(Takuya tries to bend a spoon again with "hand power" haha) Sorry. It bent again.

Fax:
When the other members are singing there solo, what are you doing backstage? Do you sit backstage in a luxurious resting room, receiving a massage? And do you drink a cool drink?

Ahh this fax is scary. There is no such thing as a luxurious resting room or massage. Well I am backstage the whole time, but there's no cool drink. Cold drinks make my throat tighten, so I always have a disgusting warm drink. And we sit on pipe chairs, not sofas.

Fax:
Can I ask something? Sometimes you throw your towel or t-shirt out to the audience. Do you throw it out by aiming at one person, or do you just throw it randomly? Before, my friend saw you say "ikuyo" (it's coming/i'm coming) before you threw it out, but someone else took the t-shirt. She got frustrated. That time, did you try to throw it at my friend?

I don't remember. But saying "ikuyo" at a lot of people? If it's one-on-one, it's alright but at a lot of people? (he means this sexually haha) So I don't think I would have said "ikuyo".. Most of the time, I'm just throwing randomly. But sometimes, I try to aim at a general area. When I see a father with a cute baby or something like that. Towels don't fly that well. But t-shirts, with the sweat, can be easy to throw. Lots of fans fight for the towel like it's the biggest battle of their life. From the stage, it looks kind of vicious. All the fans were smiling before, but then their faces suddenly change into ferocious-mode. I really don't like seeing that. I wonder how it would feel like to get it though?

Fax:
Please tell me. I went to the Niigata live with a friends. My friend was wearing a bikini. I was wearing just a t-shirt. But then captain, you were looking only at my friend.

This is the truth. Well if there is a girl with a bikini next to a girl in a t-shirt.. Well, repeat after me. (says in a teacher sing-song voice) Bikini-clad girls make my eyes pause there. (hahaha!!) Yes, it must be true then if the bikini friend thinks our eyes met. She might think I was looking at her eyes a lot, but that may be a mistake. Those who think our eyes met.. There is a bigger chance that we are looking just a little below the eyes. This talk is scary. Looking at boobs. (hahahaha) Just being honest.

This song is the reason my middle finger injury has not healed yet. The low D chord is just a pain.

Song: Moai (Shingo +Takuya)

Other than bikinis, there are girls who are wearing just bath towels. Looks like they just came out of a shower.. And during one moment when I am looking that way, I think "can the towel just fall off?" Just for a second. Fall off!! But they never fall off. And also in the stands, during the encore when it's high tension-- it's like "konnichiwa!!" There are girls who raise their tanktops up. Like "LOOK AT ME!" (he says that in english). Frankly, I am drawn to that.