[OWV] Nylon 200928

DO YOU FEEL YOUR MUSIC? OWV who still hide their shine are spreading their wings to the world
In the middle of the world welcoming a huge change, the rookie boy group OWV appeared like a comet. In the gazes of the members, who have made both bitter and sweet experiences in the audition program “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN”, a strong light is dwelling.
This interview will unravel their state of mind after the audition, the hidden stories of their formation and episodes they haven’t talked about until now. Unfolding the real faces of the four members who have a huge hidden potential.

How did you honestly feel when OWV’s formation was decided?
Kosuke: I felt grateful that once more I became able to run towards my dream. It has been so frustrating to be unable to grasp my dream after coming close to it in PDJ (as PRODUCE 101 JAPAN is shortened to) but I’m glad that I continued without ever giving up.
Shuta: In my case, I was surprised that the attention for this program was bigger than I expected. I had the wish to be active in a dance-vocal unit since I was a child, so PDJ was the chance for it, but even though I missed that chance I was looking for a new one, thinking “I’m gonna continue to do my best”. While I was wondering how I should open up a new path, the talks for this group’s formation reached me and I was honestly happy about it.
Fumiya: As I was a university student during PDJ, I felt like a loser as I was the only looking sloopy while all my friends were job hunting in suits. When I was eliminated in PDJ, I was highly anxious, thinking “What should I do with my career?”. I was really happy when this group was decided and I felt relieved that everything I have done so far was no mistake in the end.
Katsunari: I had already begun job hunting. Hence, when I got another chance to debut, I was so happy that I could have cried. But I didn’t cry (laughs). And, I had made the promise to my parents that if I fail PDJ I will start job hunting. It had been my intent to work in a normal company (laughs).
Shuta: What? So you are saying it was either being a standard company employee or OWV for you?
Katsunari: That’s what I just said? (laughs)

We both have the experience of being back dancers and we have similar worries

How were the members decided?
Kosuke: After the show ended, when the former trainees exchanged messages “What should we do from now on?”, the 4 of us naturally came together as our aim and thoughts were similar, just like our passion. For example, if you look at me and Fumiya, we both worked as back dancers and we had similar worries.
Fumiya: I feel it was at the time the agency also mentioned that “Don’t you want to do it together?”. The person in charge of us eliminated trainees had been concerned back then.

In this case, it was something spontaneous, right?
Shuta: That’s right. I feel it just happened while we were talking with each other.

In which regard did you share the feelings with the other members?
Kosuke: The biggest one was the will to be more artists than idols.
Katsunari: In my opinion, idols have more of a “young and fresh” image and as we have experienced being at the bottom and also older, I felt I want to do it as an artist with a mature feeling… How about you guys?
Shuta: Ah, yes. That‘s right (laughs).
Fumiya: I feel the border between idol and artist is disappearing more and more. Especially in K-POP.
Kosuke: We might not live up to the title artist for now, but one day I hope we become someone who is called “an artist who represents Japan”. To be recognised as someone with real abilities.
Fumiya: Both me and Honda used to be dancers, so we would like to choreograph and create our own songs.

Which member came up with the name OWV for the group?
Fumiya: Well, each one of us had his own ideas and we wrote them down on a white board.
Kosuke: The people from the agency also entrusted us with this, saying “It will be more meaningful if the members decided it together after discussing it”. However…
Fumiya: You don’t want to remember it, right? The thing we struggled the most was deciding on our group name (laughs).
Shuta: We were discussing it over and over with the members and staff and OWV was the one name we all could agree on. As this overlapped with the lockdown because of the covid pandemic, we exchanged our ideas on LINE, too.
Katsunari: Normally, we texted, but out of nowhere Honda-kun sent a picture. It was a picture with the group name written in a cool font on a black background.
Shuta: It was a chat, wasn’t it? Everything looks cool there.

Are there any people or artists you see as your role model?
Katsunari: It is hard to say ‘It’s them for sure’!
Fumiya: For example, we have the goal to be like BIGBANG-san who can make each one’s individual charm shine more by the low number of members. I personally respect G-DRAGON-san.
Kosuke: There is also WINNER-san.
Shuta: As the 4 of us get along very well… While it might be a bit ridiculous, I would like us to be like Arashi-san and be always close with each other.
Katsunari: We are really close, so I want this to be seen, too. But I think if someone set up a camera, you would understand it (laughs).
Kosuke: Like us living in a dorm again (laughs)? But this might be impossible for Shuta.

Is that so? Why?
Fumiya: Shuta’s mother is very worried about him.
Shuta: When we stayed in the dorm in Korea for the program, I was unable to reply to the LINE messages of my mother and when I opened the app afterwards, 214 messages from her had come. She even told me yesterday and this morning “Don’t live in a dorm again” (laughs). She would surely follow me if I ever moved into a dorm again. For real!
Katsunari: Among the 101 trainees, your mother was there, too, right? (laughs)
Shuta: No (laughs).
Kosuke: But you don’t seem to dislike your mother being worried about you?
Shuta: I really dislike it (laughs).
Kosuke: Only Shuta lives a little far from the city center with his family, so it would be better if he moved closer for work.
Katsunari: Your commuting expenses must be high (laughs).
Shuta: They are! But, I stay there for my family as I’m a kind guy.
Katsunari: You said so (laughs).
Kosuke: Another goal of ours might be to have our own show where we could have private talks like this. We are always laughing with each other over the most trivial things and everyone always thinks about topics to talk about.
Fumiya: Sometimes, our discussions about talks are far more intense than the one about singing and dancing. We only have evaluation meetings that go “At this point, we make more people laugh if we do it like this”. (laughs)
Kosuke: We think about a flow like if we come to this point we reply like that. It would be nice to showcase this chatty side along with our artist activities.
Fumiya: Yes.
Kosuke: Also, personally, I would like to produce one day. But as we are still before our debut, it is not the time to say that, right? (laughs) For this, I would like to become first someone who can produce his own group. I would like to advance with the goal of becoming the number 1 in Japan and becoming someone the world pays attention to.

By the way, has been OWV’s leader decided?
Fumiya: Right now a leader hasn’t been formally appointed. However, sure enough Honda-kun is the one who leads us in various aspects. I’m sure the fans also agree with this.
Shuta: Because he is “Nation’s aniki”.
Katsunari: We rely on him.
Shuta: After all that’s because he is “Nation’s aniki”.
Katsunari: I heard you (laughs).
Kosuke: When we come to the point of deciding a leader, we will once more refer to everyone’s opinions and decide him based on this. The result might be that Shuta becomes the leader (laughs).
Everyone: (laughs)
Shuta: Why are you laughing?
Fumiya: But I think this is impossible.
Shuta: Hey!
Kosuke: (laughs) We also need to decide on the member colors.

I am deeply moved that we have become friends who rush through life together.

Please tell us about the reason each one of you started to aim for the entertainment world. You surely yearned for it since your childhood?
Shuta: In my case yes. I have watched K-POP since I was young and the quality of the dancing, singing and performances was amazing and I started to feel that I want to do this, too. I think the first ones were SHINee-san.
Katsunari: I only entered the entertainment world when I was 20 years old and started dancing after that. I think I’m a late bloomer. To the point that I expected my future career will involve a normal job hunting. .
Fumiya: I am also a late bloomer. I only started dancing in my second year of university. It had been a hurdle that I learnt everything myself instead of being part of a circle or going to dance lessons. I didn’t like studying. I learnt it by watching dance competitions and analyzing myself. I learnt dancing while competing at events at live houses late at night. Also, my work as a back dancer comes from people approaching me at such events. Hence, my mindset is more like the street style. Maybe that’s why I am really bad at teaching others. That’s why I entrusted this to Honda-kun.
Kosuke: I am the full opposite of Fumiya. I began visiting the dance school which I always wanted to do after leaving my school club because of an injury in high school. Afterwards, I moved to Tokyo to visit a dance vocational school and this led to me starting to work as a back dancer.Judging from your characters, I assumed Honda-kun comes from the street style and Fumiya was the one who was taught at a school.
Kosuke: Right! The impression is the opposite, isn’t it?

By the way, in what kind of club were you?
Kosuke: In high school I was in the track and field club.
Fumiya: We are the same. Baseball club in middle school and track and field in high school.

You didn’t consider continuing baseball in high school?
Kosuke: I hated being bald (laughs).
Fumiya: I disliked team sports.
Everyone: (laughs)
Fumiya: Back then! I hated losing because of the faults of others. At the same time, I hated if the team lost because of my mistakes. As track and field is an individual sport, I chose that in high school.

Do you remember your first impression of the other members?
Kosuke: I knew Fumiya already before the show, but back then I had no idea that he was that much of a street like dancer. I didn't expect him to be such a cool and ambitious person who worked his way up. ”You are such a person!” As I am the type of person who didn’t have such a hurdle and examined everything closely through the lessons, I had the feeling of wanting to have some hurdle deep inside of me. When I see someone who has such a background, I can tell that directly. It makes me wish to live like this too.
Fumiya: But I just jumped into the dance battle world without having a clue what I was actually doing, so I was really bad. No matter which event I joined, there was no positive result. But if you keep on trying, you will eventually hit.
Kosuke: It is amazing that you endured such a period without being discouraged.
Fumiya: Because I am competitive. The first time me and Honda-kun met, it was that Honda-kun was one of the performing artists and I was back dancer for another group.
Kosuke: Back then I was in an indie dance and vocal group and on that day we had a live show with another dance and vocal group for which Fumiya was the back dancer. Back then, I wouldn’t have believed that now we would be in the same group.
Fumiya: Me too.
Shuta: Me and Fumiya were friends already before we appeared on the show.
Fumiya: That’s the truth.
Shuta: Since we were good friends for a while, I am deeply moved that we have become friends who rush through life together.
Kosuke: My image of Shuta never changed.
Fumiya: It’s just the part (which never changed) that I assumed “That guy seems kind” and he proved to be kind after becoming friends (laughs).
Katsunari: Shuta felt like a funny moodmaker from the start. This image barely changed (laughs). He is a common kind guy.
Shuta: Why is everyone teasing me? (laughs) I also felt from the start that Katsu-kun is a funny guy.
Kosuke: He has no hidden side (laughs). I felt that Katsu was a scary guy in the beginning. His way of replying was really short. A way only a truly handsome guy can reply (laughs). I thought “I can’t do that!”. But once I started talking to him, he was the typical funny older brother from Kansai.
Fumiya: He was tall and back then his hair was blonde. My first impression was “There are people who are cool just by their height”. When we were together for the second screening, I ended up thinking “This guy will advance to a good place”.
Kosuke: The outlook of a producer (laughs).
Katsunari: Speaking of this, I also thought Honda-kun was scary? Because I often witnessed his passion exploding during PDJ.
Shuta: I thought so, too. Kosuke-kun is just “THE GUY”, so I was nervous initially. But when we were in the same group he was really kind and I started to like him. He also got a cute side with him always rolling his little face roller in his face.
Katsunari: We are always borrowing sunscreen from Honda-kun, because he always has it with him.
Shuta: He got the one which is the best for the skin (laughs). I guess I only realized that gap about him after the group was formed. Speaking of gaps, you would think on the first glance that Fumiya is no joker at all as he seems cool, but surprisingly he talks a lot and tries to get some laughs.
Katsunari: My first impression of Fumiya was the same. After we became friends I was surprised that he is such a mischievous person.

Well, then I would like to ask you about the sides you respect about each other.
Fumiya: I try to absorb the movements of a body by watching them, but Shuta has an excellent ear. You might know that he can play the piano, but he can also do voice percussion. He is good in absorbuíng music with his ears. I envy this. I think there are many things I can learn from him in this regard.
Katsunari: That’s right. I think that Shuta is not just good at singing, but he also has a human side. I am a bit ashamed to say it again but I feel I have to imitate his side of brighting the atmosphere as the moodmaker (laughs).
Shuta: (laughs) I believe Katsu-kun is amazing. I think it is because he brings a different balance than a moodmaker. His gentleness of pacifying the atmosphere and his ability to read the mood. Moodmakers tend to hype up the atmosphere and that’s it, but in Katsu-kun’s case, he adjusts the mood so that the whole place feels good.
Katsunari: Right.
Shuta: Don’t say “right” (laughs). But I truly think you are amazing.
Katsunari: Thank you very much (embarrassed). Fumiya’s desire to pursue and his hunger for dance, of course, but also for the things he is interested in is amazing. This is the part I lack the most or rather I just do everything averagely, so I respect this side of him.
Kosuke: Sure enough I admire Fumiya for competing on the streets. Because this is something you can only do if you have the right self esteem and resolution and you have to fully go to the bottom of expressing yourself.
Shuta: Compared to the time I first met Fumiya, I feel he has become quite good and he has become able to devote himself to dancing. Also, that he is competitive. He is not only competitive, but also works hard until the very end and this side brings him into a good direction, or rather, it is giving him a certain confidence. Next, let’s talk about Aniki (Honda-kun).
Katsunari: Naturally, I highly respect Aniki’s dancing. Regarding his personality I already said that, but I think it is cool that he is reliable, that he really values personal relationships and that he is a proper adult in that way. I think this is important no matter the industry.
Fumiya: After all, he always leads us and he is also good at teaching us. He really feels like an older brother (= aniki).
Shuta: There is a lot (that I respect) like him valuing the relationships between people, his passionate heart and his leadership, but I think what I respect the most is that he “can pay attention”. For example, when someone asks me “What do you think of this move?”, I am the type of person who barely can give honest feedback. I would just say “It’s good” and that’s it. But Kosuke-kun would tell me flatly everything up to what was not so good. But he doesn’t make me feel bad about being admonished or being warned. I can tell he really thinks about the other person when he says those things. He understands them and tells them so, in order for everyone to improve together. I think that is something hard to do.

What is your goal as OWV?
Kosuke: Both us and the staff decided that in the 1 or 2 years after our debut we want to stand on stage of the Budokan, so this is what we want to make come true.
Fumiya: In addition, there is also the goal that we want to become fashion icons as OWV. For us, BIGBANG-san are like this and we want to become a group that is influential in a lot of areas.
Kosuke: We want to become a group that can be also liked by guys, right?
Shuta: Yes. We want to become someone who is imitated. I would be happy if someone made dance covers of our songs. Or that someone thinks “Because they are wearing this, I want to wear this, too”.
Katsunari: To say it boldly, we hope to become a trend.
Shuta: It would be awesome, if we really became such a group. Someone that makes people say “That clothes are typical OWV”.
Katsunari: That’s great! I want to do my best in this regard!
Fumiya: I also want to us to become a strong group that can tell our own story on documentary programs like “Jonetsu Tairiku” or “Pro no ugokikata”. I want us to become a strong group who is told “Please appear on our program” instead of us saying “We want to appear there”.
Kosuke: But you seem already ready to appear there, Fumiya (laughs). With all your ups and downs of competing on the street after you started dancing and your debut happening even though you were eliminated during the audition.
TN: It seems like since 2021 the second program is named “Why not? Watashitachi no ugokikata”.

Next I would like to ask about music. First of all, which kind of music or which artists do each of you like?
Katsunari: I’m often listening to western music. I like R&B and I’m often listening to Shawn Mendes. When it comes to enjoying music, including the videos, I often listen to K-POP. It is not one group I like, but rather there are songs that I enjoy.
Kosuke: I mainly listen to Japanese bands. I only listen to western music when I look for songs to dance to. But I think this is typical for people who have been back dancers (laughs). The bands I often listen to include SHE’S-san and I Don’t Like Mondays-san. Also, back number-san. And I’m listening to the hits of Higedan-san (Official Higedan dism).
Fumiya: I mainly listen to Western hip hop, R&B and pop music. When it comes to Japanese songs, I love Obukuro Nariaki-san. I think this person is a genius who does it amazingly without being tied to a genre. I originally got into Western music through hip hop and it was also the reason why I got interested in dancing.
Shuta: Since I was a child classical music was played at home, so I’m extremely familiar with it. Also during breakfast these days, classical music is played.
Katsunari: There are really such families…
Kosuke: What kind of classical music?
Shuta: Eh… the usual stuff. Like Mozart-san or Chopin-san…
Everyone: (laugh)
Kosuke: You use “san” for them (laughs)
Fumiya: Another one. I want to know another one.
Shuta: Eh… Who else. I think Tschaikowski.
Kosuke: Now, there was no “san” (laughs).
Katsunari: You really live like a royal.
Shuta: But my meals are not royal at all. Normally, it’s bacon and eggs or bread.
Kosuke: Bread-san?
Shuta: Yes, I eat bread-san. And as music-san I add Mozert-san to it. And, during my school years I started to like SHINee and since then I also listen to K-POP.
Kosuke: No no no. You have to add a “san” to SHINee-san.
Everyone: (laugh)
Shuta: I have no idea anymore where I should add the “san”.

The lyrics about the feeling of living in a far away town stick with me

(laughs) Now, please tell us the first CD or song you bought from your pocket money or part time salary.
Katsunari: It was from Bangtan-san (BTS). I think it was the album “DARK&WILD” which included the song “War of Hormones”. I also bought a CD of BIGBANG-san released at the same time.
TN: As Dark & Wild was released in August 2014, he likely refers to “The Best of Big Bang 2006-2014” or the live album “2014 BIGBANG +a IN SEOUL”.
Kosuke: It was Mr. Children-san’s “Hanabi”.
Shuta: This is such a nice song~
Kosuke: I remember the case not being plastic but paper.
Fumiya: In my case it was something like a best of CD that featured hit songs from various hip hop artists. I often listened to the CD when my family went somewhere by car and gradually my parents also knew those well (laughs). Eventually, my father nodded along while driving.
Katsunari: What a cool family (laughs).

After the hip hop family I would like to hear about the classic family next.
Shuta: The very first CD I bought was in fact a classical one.
Kosuke: For real?
Shuta: Yes, really. Because in order to improve my piano skills it was good to listen to this kind of music.
Fumiya: That’s true however (laughs). It’s kinda different and funny, Shuta.
Shuta: I think it was a CD that features a lot of famous works from various composers. It was played during breakfast for example.
Kosuke: Powerful. Everything you have said so far.
Katsunari: Really! Someone we feel so small compared with your excellence (laughs)
Shuta: You don't have to!

Please tell us whether there is a memorable song for you.
Kosuke: For me it is the song “Tegami” by back number-san. The song text is really like a letter to one’s parents, telling them “I’m working hard to reach my dreams”. When I was on the verge of being discouraged and wanted to go home again, this was the song that made me think “I will work hard again”. It’s like going back to the start. Because when I moved to Tokyo to chase my dreams, I thought about my parents a lot before making my decision.
Shuta: For me it is Mr. Children-san’s “Owarinaki tabi”. I like the lyrics that hit you right into the heart. I like the part “I feel great when I climb progressively higher walls.”, but when I first heard it it shocked me, thinking “what are those lyrics…”.
Fumiya: For me it is Shimizu Shota-san’s “Tokyo”. The lyrics about the feeling of living in a far away town stick with me, because I long felt stuck at the bottom after moving from the countryside to Tokyo, too. I often listened to it when I felt I was buried under everything.
Shuta: When you were buried under (laughs).
TN: 下積み has a double meaning by once being literally buried by something or be at the bottom layer of something and feeling it metaphorical to the point of being a loser, a failure. While Fumiya meant it in a metaphorical way, Shuta tries to lighten the mood by putting up the image of Fumiya being literally buried under something while listening to the song.
Katsunari: This song is great. As someone who also moved from the countryside to Tokyo I can understand. For me it is ONE OK ROCK-san’s “Yokubou ni michita seinendan”. I often listened to it when I was part of a small agency and felt insecure, thinking “If I can’t make it with the next chance, I’ll give up.” Back then I felt I could link the lyrics to my own situation.

I hope to remember the times when there was no reward.

Next, please tell us your favorite lyrics.
Katsunari: From the song “Tabako” from Koresawa-san. There are the lyrics “I set the clock five minutes early for my lower who tends to oversleep, but this has no meaning anymore.”. Their point is that the two have already broken up. I think this kind of technical writing style makes the melancholy of the song stronger and better.
Shuta: For me it is the lyrics of the song “My Pace” from the K-POP group Stray Kids. I feel it fits our situation. It feels that we go on in our pace without being compared to others, but especially the parts “Don’t give up Don’t give up Even if you compare there is no meaning in it” gives me energy.
Fumiya: For me it is the song “Kadode” by Obukuro Nariaki. There is the phrase “Somehow I miss being alive”. I guess there are a lot of interpretations regarding this but.. It’s hard to speak of such a highly intellectual level.
Katsunari: I am curious. Would it be quicker to listen to it myself?
Fumiya: Yes. It’s hard to explain. Try to listen to it.
Kosuke: For me it is the song “Alarm” by tensaibonzin. During my indie times I appeared along with tensaibonzin and I listened to this song from then on often. It is a song for people who are trying to reach their dreams, but I like the lyrics “What is the right answer I only decide that I trust my choices”. It clearly fit my situation back then and it renewed my motivation to give my all.

There are a lot of songs that are hungry to reach one’s dreams in your choices.
Fumiya: Because there has been a long time of us being losers.

What kind of worries did you have in your times at back dancers, Honda-san and Sano-san?
Kosuke: I originally started dancing because I wanted to work in the spotlight and I felt I wasn’t cut to be a back dancer. I quit when I felt a bit frustrated about not being in the spotlight. Of course, it is a matter of being suited for it, so I am not saying that dancing at the front is superior to dancing in the back. It was simply not something for me. After realizing this, I started my former indie group.
Fumiya: It was the same for me. There was a time when I felt extremely uncomfortable about receiving a lot of cheers while being on stage as none of those cheers were for me. I believed in myself being a back dancer, but at one point I felt “I can’t keep on doing this…”. That’s why I am really grateful for what I am doing now.
Kosuke: Both in my times as a back dancer and during my indie days it was hard to continue with the activities. Even when I appeared at some dance event, I had to prepare my costume myself, pay for the participation, pay for the dance studio to practice until the performance, there was also a ticket quota… I really appreciate the current environment. We are the ones who were eliminated from the audition once, and I hope to remember the times when there was no reward.

Now I would like to ask you for one song “that you want to listen to with someone special by sharing your earphones”.
Katsunari: Hm.. which one… There is the song “Eat” by Zion.T, which might be good. It is a song for people who are always working hard and it says “Don’t exert yourself too much, relax a bit while eating chocolate and listen to this song”. I want to listen to it together when my special one is exhausted from being busy.
Fumiya: Special someone… I have no interest in that. I only listen to songs based on whether I want to dance to them or not.
Everyone: Wow~ So cool.
Fumiya: (laughs) However, I think “Closer feat. Haley” by Chainsmokers which has a slightly sad atmosphere but a melody that lifts your mood, might be good.
Kosuke: It is a song I often listened to in the past, but it would be “milk tea” by Fukuyama Masaharu. The lyrics scream of love from the bottom of one’s heart. It has a very moving composition with the milk tea from the title finally coming up towards the end “On a rainy slope Under one umbrella The milk tea you gave me”.
Shuta: …. is a classical song okay?
Members: (laugh)
Shuta: I pick “Liebestraum” (Love Dream) by Liszt. The impact from the melody of the intro is great and it makes me feel at peace… Classical music has no lyrics, so you can only guess the message of the song based on the title “Liebestraum”, but the impression is greatly different for each person. I imagine it to be fun to see how the other one would interpret the song and try to compare it with mine. I think it is perfect for listening with your partner. Classical music is really great (for this).
Kosuke: Wow, he is so cool.
Fumiya: It’s so different from the rest of us (laughs). You can feel him being an intellectual.
Since the lockdown to fight the Corona virus has started, how do you spend your days?
Katsunari: We announced OWV’s formation on Honda-kun’s birthday (11th April), but we first came together shortly before the implementation of the emergency state. Just when we decided “We are gonna start our activities as OWV!” The emergency state began, so we discussed it and every day we called each other for a long time.
Kosuke: We barely even talked, we were just connected to each other (laughs).
Shuta: Really we were connected to each other the whooole time.
Kosuke: We had no idea when to end the calls.
Shuta: Right, we are all not the people to end calls.
Katsunari: As we were all like this, it ended up being like a marathon (laughs).
Fumiya: It was pretty much as if we lived together.
Shuta: It was often until 2 or 3 am.

To be continued...

[JO1] Nikkei Entertainment 200304

JO1 member profile
The 11 members who passed the audition and gasped their debut, when these 11 individuals, who all have different strengths and experiences, become one, an unique JO1 energy is born.
Q&A
① What do you always buy in a conbini?
② How do people call you? How do you want to be called?
③ Is there someone you want to appear together in some program?
④ Which JO1 member would you like to date?

01 Mamehara Issei
The youngest member and center of the debut song
A high schooler who won the center spot of the debut song. He grabbed the hearts of the viewers with his simple appearance of riding a bike to school through the fields and his serious attitude to tackle his tasks. His true face is quite active. He is like a younger brother who comfortably and freely behaves among his elder brothers.
Profile | born 2002.5.30 (17 years old)
from Okayama / 173 cm / O type
① Recently, I like eclairs and often buy those. I often eat them in the morning.
② It’s ‘Mame’. I want to be called ‘Mame-chan’ by everyone.
③ Hm…
④ Junki-kun (direct answer). He is funny but actually thinks of a lot of things and while he respects my opinion he tells me when I am wrong.

02 Kawashiri Ren
The dancer leader who is like a father
His highly skilled and eye-catching dancing is a huge weapon of JO1. On the one hand as someone serious and dependable he is called ‘JO1’s father’, but he loves to have fun. Also there is the side of him loving ‘HARIBO’.
Profile | born 1997.3.2 (23 years old)
from Fukuoka / 173 cm / O type
① I buy the mango salad drink from Kagome’s ‘Yasai Seikatsu’ everyday. I started to drink it for my health, but I also love the taste.
② ‘Ren-kun’. Back in high school I was also called ‘Ren-chan’ and it is nostalgic and makes me happy.
③ The people with whom I worked during my time as dancer, I would like to appear along them as JO1 once more.
④ Takumi! (direct answer) Because all his actions are cute!

03 Kawanishi Takumi
A Cinderella boy with unparalleled visuals
Regardless of him being inexperienced in both singing and dancing, he always had a spot in the upper ranking thanks to his natural sense and ‘unparalleled visuals’. He seems cool but is actually mischievous. According to the members he got the ‘Chopper position’ if you compared them to ‘ONE PIECE’. He loves junk food.
Profile | born 1999.6.23 (20 years old)
from Hyogo / 170 cm / B type
① I buy sweet bread with chocolate in it every day.
② It is ‘Takumi’ or ‘Takumi-kun’. There is not anything in particular I want to be called.
③ Some comedians because I like comedy. I am a huge fan of Kamaitachi-san and I went to watch one of their shows.
④ Kono Junki-kun. It is fun when we are together and I think I would laugh the whole time. That’s great (laughs).

04 Ohira Shosei
The No.1 member who cannot be left alone
His tears, earnest hard work and soft smile that have been aired in the audition let him soar towards the 4th place in the final ranking. The members also see him as ‘cute’, ‘like a younger brother’, ‘a worrier’ and someone who ‘tells me it’s okay’ and they cannot leave him alone. His speciality is dancing.
Profile | born 2000.4.14 (19 years old)
from Kyoto / 176 cm / A type
① As I am in the middle of a diet, I just buy salad late at night. I lost 3 kilos in one month.
② ‘Shosei’ or ‘Shose’. Also, ‘Sean’.
③ I want to meet Pompom Purin. Even though I am on a diet I ended up buying Pompom Purin bread.
④ It would be Takumi-kun. He is kind but funny. Because he is just too cool, I want to look at his side profile while being next to him.

05 Tsurubo Shion
A purehearted ‘alien’ displaying diverse charms
He was criticised for his bad attitude at the very start of the audition making him the main character all of sudden. In reality he gets along well with everyone and is someone with a pure heart who is unexpectedly serious and even a little shy. However, his true self is wrapped up in a mystery even among the members as they call him ‘mysterious’ and ‘an alien’.
Profile | born 2000.12.11 (19 years old)
from Shiga / 178 cm / A type
① ‘Lifeguard’ from CHEERIO. I like it so much that I drank 3 cans a day in high school.
② Shion.
③ It is often said that I am resembling a certain celebrity, so I would like to meet this person once.
④ Kono Junki-kun. I like that he has no hidden side and that he tells you what he thinks. I am sure everyone will answer Junki-kun!

06 Shiroiwa Ruki
The ‘comedy prince’ with orthodox visuals
While everyone recognises his looks as ‘cool’, his reputation among the members is out-and-out ‘he is really funny’. This gap and the chivalry that glimpses through every word he says are his charm. Since he got experience as an idol, he received high appreciation for his fanservice.
Profile | 1997.11.19 (22 years old)
from Tokyo / 175 cm / O type
① 500ml of Coca Cola.
② ‘Ruki-kun’ or ‘Ruki’.
③ Right now, I want to appear along Kamaitachi-san the most.
④ Keigo and Mame-chan. Because Keigo would drag me, who prefers to stay indoors, out and he is influential (laughs). Mame is simply funny and seems not to know much about love yet, so I hope to be able to experience an pure feeling (laughs).

07 Sato Keigo
The fashion leader who is ahead of the trends
He has an outstanding style and often wears luxury brands. He even says ‘One day I want to handle JO1’s costumes’. However, in the group he is a teasing character. He is an airhead and some might even say ‘his words are the ones of a problem child’. If he gets the chance, he will try to touch the butts of the members.
Profile | 1998.7.29 (21 years old)
from Aichi | 181 cm / A type
① Fruits jelly or cut fruits. I like pineapples and tangerines.
② ‘Keigo’. I am told I look like a giraffe, so I want to be called ‘Gira’ because of the English word for it.
③ With Downtown-san! I want to be teased by them.
④ It’s that guy (Tsurubo Shion). His teasing is fun and his teasing side is girlish.

08 Kimata Syoya
Once you notice his ‘appeal’ there is no way out of his swamp anymore
Attended a famous dance school and went to a fashion vocational school because of his love for clothes. His true face is loving to be mischievous, but the members know him as someone ‘who stood talking once the camera is on him’. He humbly calls himself ‘the type of person who does not stand out’ but once you notice his charms, he got the deepest swamp to fall into.
Profile | 2000.4.5 (19 years old)
from Aichi | 171 cm | A type
① ‘Kireeto Lemon’ and salad chicken. I also buy a lot of snacks such as seasoned octopus with wasabi, soused fish or raw ham.
② ‘Syoya’
④ It is Junki-kun. He is older than me, but he is easy to talk to from the same standpoint. When I say something cheeky he makes sure to pick it and make it funny. In short, he spoils me and is patient.

09 Kono Junki
An absolutely positive mood maker
He is a mood maker who is recognised as the pivot of JO1’s vocals by both others and himself. During the shooting, he clapped his hands and bursted in a sports kind of mood saying ‘Let’s get hyped up!’. He got 1st place in ‘Which member do you want to have as your boyfriend?’ chosen by the members and he was also not displeased by this.
Profile | 1998.1.20 (22 years old)
from Nara | 174 cm | O type
① ‘Meiji probiotic yogurt R-1’ and ‘C1000 vitamin lemon’.
② As I want to feel close others, I hope to be called just by my first name.
③ I would like to appear on programs like ‘Shabekuri 007’ and be teased. I want to learn more about comedy.
④ Shion. His face is really my type. He is cute as well as kind without being flirtatious with his surroundings.

10 Kinjo Sukai
The highest growth rate in singing and dancing
On the first glance he looks fierce and cool. Yet the members see him as ‘a moody person and cute’. He was inexperienced in singing and dancing but he showcased a huge growth during the audition and the trainers also often mentioned that he ‘is very obedient and passionate’. His further growth is infinite.
Profile | 2000.5.6 (19 years old)
from Osaka | 178 cm | A type
① I end up buying Coca Cola. Also, dried mangoes. I like the time when I am chewing those (laughs).
② ‘Sukai’
③ Someone like (Akashiya) Sanma-san who I watched on TV since I was a child.
④ Junki-kun. But there are times when he is kind and indecisive… I prefer to be talked to more sternly. I guess my answer is ‘myself’ (laughs).

11 Yonashiro Sho
‘The mother’ who wraps up the members
The oldest member and leader and another pivot of the vocals. He is a mother-like existence who brings the many free spirits in the group together with his natural patience and caring side. He was inexperienced in dancing during the audition, but his pride is his muscles. He tends to wear costumes that show his biceps.
Profile | 1995.10.25 (24 years old)
from Okinawa | 180 cm | O type
① I always buy coffee. I prefer black coffee.
② Since I am the oldest one, it is ‘Sho-kun’. I would like to be called by my first name because in Okinawa you rarely call people by their last names.
④ Ah, it’s Ruki! (Direct answer) He is cool and honest and his professional consciousness and seriousness in regard to performances are strong. I think if I was a woman, I would be drawn to him.

TN: Both Syoya and Sho did not answer the third question.

Kawashiri Ren
Even if I am normally a small existence I want to be ‘a king’ on stage.

Kawashiri Ren’s career as a back dancer is brilliant. Thanks to his high level pro awareness of “I am aware that I am constantly seen by other people” he had since then and his outstanding dancing skills that are both powerful and elegant, as well as his charisma, he became the center of 101 people for the theme song of ‘PRODUCE 101 JAPAN’, ‘Tsukame ~ It’s Coming~’.

That day (11th December, the day the final ranking had been announced) had been the turning point in making me a pro or rather I prepared myself to enter a world where ‘I can’t do it’ is not accepted. Since I was in 5th or 6th year of elementary school I dreamed of becoming a dancer in the future and I moved from Fukuoka to Tokyo before turning 20 years old. But when I finally worked as a dancer, I saw that the artists in front of me seemed to have more fun and the feeling of wanting to stand in their place gradually grew bigger.

During the audition it was hard when the eliminated trainees left. Especially when Sano Fumiya-kun, with whom I was in a friendly rivalry, left… It was the hardest. In other words, there were people whose path to debut was erased this time. But, believing that outside of the 11 of us a lot of more lives changed by participating, might be what kept me going.

There was some cruelty in the amounts of votes being announced, but it also made me actually feel that I am supported. When you think that JO1 was born from the support of so many people, there is a sense of responsibility, but I see it as a further expectation of us. I believe it is more fun to think like this. I hope all 11 members will not forget this as we keep on being active.

Nonetheless, that I was in second place in the final voting had been really frustrating. After all, being first is something cool. I feel that all chosen members were aiming for the first place. But from now on the battleground changes and 11 members become one team and aim for the world. In order to achieve this, we work hard on becoming the top of Japan first.

I put my state of mind into my signature. Outside of the stage I am a really small existence, I still need a lot of training and I have to be always humble. Yet, once I step on stage I am a king, have absolute confidence and want to give happiness to the people watching me. I hope to value the transition between the stage and other places. The dot on the bottom right symbolises the small me offstage and the crown on the upper left is the king I am on stage.

[JO1] Preview for the audio book 201002

[JO1] Instalive 201229 snippets

[OWV] Debut message 200929

Dear QWV, who always supported us

All QWV, hello

It’s Honda.
On behalf of TeamOWV,
I will write a bit in this blog.

Finally tomorrow on September 30,
We as OWV will make our major debut.

Everyone who waited for us until now
Thank you so much.
One year has passed since the day the program was aired.
Time passes so fast,,

From that time when the show started, when you found us and supported us
From that time when the show was over and you came to know us
From that time when you knew and supported us before the show
From that time when we did the radio during the corona pandemic
From that time when we became OWV and started the activities

I think they are a lot of timings,
But there is one thing I want to tell
everyone who has waited for us

Of course the debut isn’t our goal at all
but thank you for letting us gasp it at this time now

There might be also a lot of fans
who sadly left us until now.
Thank you for supporting us for this extent

There might be sadly also a lot of bitter thoughts
But exactly because we were able to share those thoughts together
No matter what hardships will happen after the the major debut
I think we can overcome those.

We told that often in interviews
but that we also can be OWV just like that
that we also came together as a group of Yoshimoto Kougyou
That we also became a part of Universal’s label
That we were also picked up by a lot of media
That we were also able to do various jobs
Is because of the people who supported us.

It’s not lip service,
I really think like that, it’s the truth.

The voices of everyone’s support and your submissions
are inspiring a lot of people.
Naturally, those became our drive force.

Among our fans there are various people and
there might be a lot of ways to support us.
I don’t think that
Because this person is like that they have to do that.
If you support us in your own pace, I will be happy

But of course you have to pay attention
to manners and such things haha

I think if we can become everyone’s drive force and
If we can become an existence like that
I will be happy that OWV will receive support
in your own way
and in your own pace from now on.
Honestly, I don’t want anyone to be missing.
That’s why, we will do our best to be able to charm everyone even more.

Also, we would love to become a part of everyone’s beautiful life.

That everyone who supports us can be proud of
we will become such a group.

And even the people who leave us
If you think that the time you supported us
was good, we will be happy.

Also, i think there will be a lot of people
who will become new QWV
so please be nice to them if you find them <- who haha

In the future, we will give our best
To fascinate a lot of people,
doing lives in various venues
like the Budokan or Tokyo Dome
and to aim to become a big artist.

From now on, everyone who supports us will be important and

without a doubt,
Everyone who supported us
Before the debut or after the debut
Are a special existence inside of us.

Thank you so much

We will debut tomorrow without problems

Thankls to being helped and supported by various people
This came to happen

The thing that was our dream
changes to the start line tomorrow and
It’s the moment when you start running towards your new goal that
is our new dream from now on.

Please continue to run along our own road together.

Let‘s see together the stage of our dream.

Once again

Thank you so much.

Please continue to always support us

OWV
Honda Kosuke, Nakagawa Katsunari, Urano Shuta, Sano Fumiya

[OWV] Asphalt Fumiya Interview

SANO FUMIYA
Sano Fumiya attracted attention for being “cute” during PRODUCE 101 JAPAN, but in OWV he is seen as “melancholic”. His personality is both manly and honest to a fault. We will look back to half a lifetime in which he climbed to the top in 2 years besides starting to dance seriously starting in his university days.

In his childhood he was a sports allrounder, director of the student's council and honour student.

Please tell us about your hometown.
I’m from the prefecture Yamanashi. My hometown is a town where not many people live, so I pretty much know everyone living there –laughs- When I walked home from school, the grandpas from the neighbourhood told me “welcome back~”. It felt like the socialising is like the whole town is like a family, everyone was close to each other and relations were very warm.
What kind of kid were you?
I was strong willed and an attention seeker. Also, I was easily influenceable. I admired the characters of the drama “Waterboys” which is about male high school students who do synchronized swimming, but when I wanted to start with competitions, I was a complete beginner at swimming. Furthermore, during my elementary school days, I wanted to become a police officer because of the “Bayside Shakedown” series in which Oda Yuji played a passionate detective or “Security Police” (SP Metropolitan Police Department Security Police Division, 4th District) in which Okada Junichi starred as a Special Police officer. I watched those shows right after another.
Is there a sport or something else you continued to practise during your school days?
I was the president of the elementary school student council, during middle school I was part of the executive of the student council and vice-captain of the baseball club and in high school I was the captain of the track and field club.
You seemed like a sports allrounder and a friend you can rely on.
You think so? I took care of my way of speaking, but actually I was the type who spoke up. I also diligently acted. For example, for the morning practise of my clubs I was the first one to come and I prepared the utensils on the field. When I continued to do those things, my seniors entrusted me with those important positions when they graduated. Day after day those things accumulated and before I noticed it I was entrusted with various positions.
There is some elite feeling floating around you.
On the other hand, I was quite bad with acting in a group or team competitions. To be honest, in group sports like baseball don’t you lose because of people’s mistakes? Of course, because it also happened that my team lost because of my mistake, it wasn’t anyone’s fault, but it didn’t feel right for me. Thus, I changed to the track and field group in which everything happened was my responsibility.
Even as a middle schooler you had a quite adult like thinking.
I might have had that way of thinking for a long time. Since I was younger, I did Karate and I did both Kumite where you fight using protection and Kata. The result was that I was able to go to a nationwide competition, but I wanted to have fun rather than doing karate –laughs- My parents told me “You can stop when you have the black belt", so I studied a lot about karate. And then, I didn’t give up in the middle and directly I was able to gain the black belt and participate in a big tournament.
You are so stoic that one can’t no longer judge whether it was serious or not. Back then, your talent must be something terrifying...
Since I was younger, I was told that when I get muscles, it will be hard for me to grow, but my lower part of the body is sturdy and steady and it lives by doing exercises and sport. The way I’m using my body core and my body axis which I developed with karate is alive in dancing now, so you can’t say that it’s wasted. I like my body including my height and body build –laughs- For dancing I can control it easily and it’s easy to handle... I think.
Your dancing has some aura. You said you are someone attention seeking, but was there a place or situation where your individuality was displayed?
At the sports or school festival. When I could display my physical abilities fully. In baseball which I did during middle school I was number one and my position was center. I did base stealing and I was often the pinch runner. After that, a scout of the high school track and field club who saw my speed, called my family.
As expected you are a sports elite! This episode is too cool. Also, an episode that showcased that you were popular. During your school years, wasn’t that emitted?
No, but there might have been something... In high school there was a 20km running competition, but because I was the long-distance runner of the track and field club, my couch would have become angry if I didn’t enter the top 3. At my school, during competitions the girls gave good luck charms to the guys they were interested in and the guys ran while wearing them. I got that too. Also, at the sports festival messages for my headband were written. Of course, I brought the right results –laughs-
An episode of manliness! Surely, no matter the competition you can do it. When did you start to be interested in dancing and singing back then?
The very first time was thanks to OKAZILE who I saw at “Mecha Mecha Iketeru!” when I was in the 3rd or 4th year of elementary school. Okamura-san did the windmill dance during which you roll his torso continuously in a circular path on the floor, across the shoulders while twirling his legs through the air and I thought It’s cool when you can do that~. Also, Sato Takeru who starred in the lead role of “Kamen Rider Den-O'' which I watched at that time, too, did breakdancing during the story and I thought “everyone does that!” -laughs- From then on, I was interested in dancing.
When all the cool guys danced, the pure boy you were was influenced.
That’s right. Then I watched the program “Shonen Champloo” and I admired the cool dancers there. I thought of dancing as something interesting, but until High school I did sport the whole time, so I didn’t have the desire to learn it. But from time to time, I performed on stage during school festivals and my feelings regarding dancing became stronger.

Because he wanted to work as a dancer
he jumped in the world of pros right away

When was the turning point that you wanted to advance on the path of a dancer?
I wanted to go to Tokyo to become a dancer, so I went to an university in Tokyo. I wanted to start properly quickly, so I joined the dance circle on the spot. But after some time, I left.
Besides that, you came to Tokyo with passion? Did you become interested in something else?
No on the contrary. I understood the perks of the circle of course, but I decided to live as a dancer and I wanted my future occupation to be dancing, so I started to enter the world of the pros. I never learned at a dance studio, but I searched for Numbers (showcases in which the main dancer choreographs the dance) of people who were active as a dance teacher or dancer and I worked hard so that I could appear on those. Gradually I got along with the pros and I continued to participate in numbers. Then I was able to become the number leader for a group of about 50 people. Afterwards, I joined the group which was led by a famous dancer. An acquaintance told me about back dancer jobs for Miura Daichi and I was able to do that.
Exactly because you had that strong dream, you were able to take the shortest way towards it. I think it’s a path that’s unique to you who has determination and drive.
I think so, too. It’s kind of the way an unruly outlaw does it. I don’t know whether my dancing has some foundation, but it’s a way of doing it by getting used to completing countless real stages. Because I started dancing properly in university, I felt that even if I went to the dance circle or a dance school properly, I wouldn’t be able to fill the gap between me and the ones who have some experience. That’s why I switched over to put emphasis on efficiency. It felt like although it is connected to the stage I want to appear on, in my own way I make sure of it and move forward.
After that and before PRODUCE 101 JAPAN (shortened to PDJP later), with whom did you stand on stage?
I have experience as a back dancer for Naoto Into Raymi, RADIO FISH, BTS, SEVENTEEN, PENTAGON, Wanna one and so on. Excluding this, I was also a dance teacher. That’s why even without doing an actual part time job, it happened that I was barely able to go to classes....
How did you know about PDJP?
I was also a back dancer for K-POP artists and so I was told the information that it seemed like that Produce would start in Japan, too. I was in the right age so that I could apply for it and I had a career as a dancer, so I thought I should try to challenge it. By the time I was in the 3rd year of university after accomplishing various jobs I’ve put a halt in that, participated in PDJP during my 4th year and after my graduation I made my debut with OWV.

Having real abilities was obvious
however how you show yourself is important

When you participated in PDJP with which thoughts did you tackle the hard battle?
I was wondering how to stand out from the crowd. Even if you were good at singing or dancing, because you will be evaluated, I wondered whether I was seen eventually. If you don’t have the charm to attract the audience, it ends up being nothing but a mere gratification of the ego.
Because it was a place where so many people with talents gathered, it’s just as you said. What did you do concretely?
Well, in terms of how to show my performances and my character, I thought how I could draw attention to me, so I’ve decided to dye my hair blue and get piercings. Until then during the class evaluation and the position battles and so on, I stood on stage 3 times with black hair and no piercings. During the position battle back then, I was entrusted with the choreography, I thought the time that I appear on screen also increases and I hoped that I could appeal myself more while aiming for my team to win.
The dance lesson scene in which you portrayed your thoughts was also impressive in the episodes.
I was able to clear the evaluation safely, but there was some irritating feeling of nervousness that I can’t describe. I didn’t know whether I could advance further, but finally I headed towards the ranking ceremony with blue hair. When it was announced that I could pass on... There was no other trainee who had blue hair, so I felt that I was able to leave quite the impression on the national producers.
I really admire your self produce abilities so that you can reach a lot of people. What do you think is the factor that completes you now?
It might be that I’m mentally strong. Because I grew up in the countryside where I couldn’t fulfil the things I wanted to do or to get them easily, I might have the mental strength to gain the things myself since a while. A strong will which is slightly unrefined and for continued to live. When I decided to start dancing to make it my profession, I properly told that to my family. Until that point, I never told them anything about what I was interested in, so they seemed to think “That’s rare.”. They gladly accepted it. However, it seemed like they didn’t expect me to continue dancing that long, so they are quite surprised –laughs- Because I also didn’t imagine I would come until this point, it’s a strange feeling.
Your family is surely happy. Please continue to surprise everyone in the future.
Ahaha, that’s right. My family saw OWV’s activities and they are happy about those. When I just became a dancer, they seemed to worry how I would do in the future, but I’m glad that I was able to reassure them now. But when I met my younger brother recently, he told me “It’s a mystery to me that you who only had vague plans for your future, is steadily moving forward on his way to make his dreams come true now...”
-laughs- How do you want to do activities in the future?
I’m still a rookie, so I want to work with all my might on the things right in front of me. Then, I want to digest those things I’ve experienced and produce some results. When I was active as a dancer, I saw various prominent senior artists, but everyone was someone of great composure. I also want to be like them soon. I want to be active in a wide world both in the aspects of genres and areas. I want to try jobs outside of the artist world. What I’m considering now is that I want to open a dance school in a place like my hometown which is underpopulated and has nothing but my former high school is left. There I want to provide an opportunity to pursue dreams like I used to seek for.

100 Q&A
001: A message to the fans who bought the first photobook!
It’s an honour that we can release such a photobook right after our debut. I think you can see sides that we normally don’t show, so please enjoy it. The shooting at the gas station, reminded me of how I felt when I was young and did work experience at a nearby shopping mall. Please pay attention to this!
002: Your childhood dream?
Police officer
003: A moment when you think you are happy?
When I'm dancing
004: If you compare yourself to an animal?
I’m often told that I’m like a wolf
005: Your charm point?
The mole under my right eye
006: What would you eat as your last supper?
Red bean rice
007: Comment on your fashion today?
It has a sense of freshness. I tucked in my top.
008: Tell us about your favourite pair of shoes?
Dance lesson shoes
009: What's the most favourite fashion item right now?
A hat I got from a friend
010: If you appeared in a drama, what role would you play?
A corrupted character
011: You are the director. What kind of movie would you make?
A work with a suspense atmosphere
012: The muscles you are the most confident about?
My stable lower body half
013: A part of your body that you like?
Stature
014: A part of your body that you dislike?
Dry eyes
015: A song you sing for sure during Karaoke?
At Karaoke I was made to dance
016: Which is the most memorable YouTube video? What else do you want to try?
When we made fried rice. I would like to visit everyone’s hometowns
017: What makes you feel secure if you have it?
Long socks
018: How does your family call you?
Fumiya and without a suffix
019: How do your friends call you?
Fumiya, Sano
020: What’s your lock screen?
OWV’s logo
021: How long do you sleep?
5 to 6 hours
022: Speaking of café menus?
Iced café latte
023: Speaking of home cooking?
Chinese style pepper steak (at my home we use potatoes instead of bamboo shoots)
024: A hairstyle you want to try? Or a hair colour?
Letting them grow until I can braid them, purple, blonde or black
025: Do you easily gain weight or is it hard for you?
It’s hard
026: If you compared yourself to a thing?
鉄砲玉 (gunshot, bull’s eye or lost messenger)
027: A colour that fits you? Also, a colour that doesn’t fit you?
What fits to me is blue, what doesn’t fit is gold
028: Are you better with hot or cold weather?
I’m good with hot weather
029: Your taste in interior design of your home?
None. I don’t have much
030: Your favourite spot at home?
Bed
031: Do you have a lot of luggage? Or only a bit?
Not much
032: Your favourite manga?
“Beck” I wanted to learn guitar because of it, but it was fruitless
033: Your favourite book?
What I recently read was “Innocent days” (by Hayami Kazumasa)
034: Your favourite movie?
"Shutter Island”, “Hairspray”, “Stand by me”
035: Your favourite drama?
“Water boys” (but I’m a hopeless swimmer)
036: If you suddenly had tomorrow off, what would you do?
Either I invite a lot of friends or I just sleep
037: Your speaking habit?
Nemui (I’m tired)
038: Your ideal image of an adult man?
Someone who has room in his heart
039: An actor you admire?
Nishijima Hidetoshi and Suda Masaki
040: Your type?
Someone who has self confidence
041: What’s your image of meeting your lover?
After holding a paper back in your arms, potatoes are rolling down the hill and we meet when we pick them up
042: What kind of scent would you like your lover to use?
Because I’m not using those... a refreshing fragrant olive smell or a citrus smell
043: Do you want to spoil your lover? Or to be spoiled by them?
Be spoiled by them
044: How do you appeal to the person you like?
Slowly increasing the times, we talk to each other
045: Do you believe in love at the first sight?
It wasn’t that I liked them at the first sight but more like that I got interested in them
046: When were you the most popular (with the other gender)?
There wasn’t such a time yet. I’m waiting for the time when I’m popular.
047: Are you someone jealous? Or not?
I’m not really jealous
048: What do you do when you are heartbroken?
I forget by going to eat with my friends and dancing
049: What is the ideal fashion of your lover?
Them wearing something casual. Because I tend to be myself (so I want them to be themself too)
050: What is the ideal hairstyle of your lover?
If I have to choose, short hair
051: What is your ideal way of proposing and in which situation?
Apples are rolling down the hill and instead of giving the apples back, I’m giving them the ring
052: Your ideal image of a family?
I want to keep a pet. I like dogs
053: What would you like for your lover to cook for you?
A dish they are confident about
054: What was your strong subject back in school?
P.E. is the only option
055: What was your weak subject back in school?
Math
056: Your motto?
Giving your all automatically
057: Something you value?
Living without being discriminated regardless of your gender
058: What do you want to do the most right now?
I want to have a live with audience
059: What do you think you will do in 10 years?
A dance studio for kids seems fun
060: Do you act superstitiously? If yes, what do you do?
I don’t. I’m barely nervous.
061: Your favourite Sushi ingredient?
When I was younger, it was Kappa maki
062: Which kind of ramen do you like?
Miso
063: Please tell us your blood type with adjectives?
Free and uncontrolled B type
064: Something other than singing or dancing you want to improve?
I want to improve my talking abilities
065: A drink you always buy?
Sprite
066: How much do you spend each month on beauty items?
I’m not doing anything, but about 2000 yen
067: Is there a must have beauty item? Which is it?
There is none
068: A beauty item you always carry with you?
There is none
069: Please tell us how you train your body?
Because I easily gain muscles, I’m not training
070: If you compared each member to a family?
Honda-kun is my little brother, Shuta is the pet. Katsu-kun is my older brother.
071: What is your position inside the group?
Something like the shortstop (a quite demanding defence position between the 2nd and 3rd base because a lot of hit balls tend to go in this direction). Honda-kun is the leader, Katsu-kun is the subleader, Shuta is the mood maker and I make the adequate movement
072: Is there something you don’t lose to the other members?
The strongness of my feelings towards everything
073: What do you want to challenge with all OWV members?
Each one learning different languages
074: Do you celebrate your birthday with the members? Did you get gifts?
We celebrated everyone’s birthdays this year. I got an aroma diffuser from them.
075: What do you like about Kosuke? What do you want him to change?
That he has various interests and a lot of hobbies. Because of his various hobbies he uses too much money
076: What do you like about Shuta? What do you want him to change?
That our comedy knowledge matches. He’s loud and hyper
077: What do you like about Katsunari? What do you want him to change?
That he is careless. That he sleeps super long. But he isn’t late.
078: Please tell us something common among the members?
Honda-kun and me often don’t get enough sleep. Until late at night we talk and play games
079: To what would you compare the members’ love?
Like a vertical and horizontal thread (it seems to be an allegory to the song Ito by Nakajima Miyu in which she uses that metaphor to express that once they met they form something a cloth that can warm someone)
080: An episode that made the members inexpectly laugh?
All the ups and downs in our show when we climbed the mountain
081: Please tell us about one time when a member sent you a message?
With Shuta I talked about the MC arrangements to make people laugh
082: Please tell us who is NO.1 of ___ among the members?
Honda-kun -> NO.1 of having a lot of hobbies, Katsu-kun -> NO.1 of feigned ignorance, Shuta -> NO.1 liveliness
083: Have you fought with the members?
no
084: Who is the most passionate one of the members?
Honda-kun. For the debut commemoration stage or TGC his posture during the training became straight
085: What would you do now if there was no OWV?
Dancer
086: A habit that you often end up doing?
I keep blinking because of my dry eyes
087: What is the first impression that other people often tell you?
Untalkative, cool
088: What is your lucky number?
238. It’s Fu Mi Ya. (fu mi ya are alternate readings for 2 3 and 8)
089: Your favourite season?
Summer because there are various festivals
090: A country you would like to visit?
NY in the USA to learn about dance culture, its origin and history
091: A prefecture you would like to visit?
Kyushu. Because I haven’t been there yet
092: A celebrity you would like to meet
Suda Masaki
093: If you could use magic, what would you do?
I want to be able to talk to dogs
094: If you compared yourself to a colour?
Sparkling blue
095: Something you want to insist on?
I know it’s impossible but! I would like to have a live in front of everyone who supports us!
096: The thing you dislike the most in this world?
A place with no feeling of cleanness
097: Your future dream?
To cross over the Fuji
098: What is something OWV doesn’t lose to other groups?
Each member has his own “colour/personality”
099: If you could go out alone with QWV, what would you do?
Going a summer festival
100: Something you want to promise to QWV?
We will take you to the promised stages and targeted places.

[OWV] Asphalt Shuta Interview

URANO SHUTA
Urano Shuta has put himself into the world of artists since a young age and has experienced countless stages. His weapons are skilful performances and a lovable personality. His long held dream of being a part of a dance and vocal group blooms on the stages with OWV.

With the excitement he feels in his chest when he is on stage
He continues to compete in the world of singing and dancing.

Please tell us about the region you are from and your hometown.
I’m from the prefecture Kanagawa. I was raised at a place with a lot of nature and it was a peaceful and calm place. In the neighbourhood there were a lot of parks, so I remember often playing in the sandbox.... It was a normal town –laughs-
What kind of child were you?
When I was young, I couldn’t sit still at all and I wasn’t a calm child at all. When I went swimming, besides being forbidden I jumped into it, or even when I was playing soccer with my friends and I was entrusted with the role of the keeper, I built mountains of sand when I didn’t have anything to do –laughs- Well, I was quite lively.
You seemed childlike and cute!
But my parents wanted me to calm down and they said that they were increasing my lessons. Since I was two years old, I’ve learned English conversation and Aikido and since I was 5 years old, I went to piano, swimming and soccer lessons. I tried various things, but there was nothing that made me sit still fully unless I sat in front of the piano. From then on, I’ve kept learning how to play the piano, and I didn’t go out to play with my classmates after school or played outside in the summer holidays. That I experienced real summer holidays for the first time was in middle school. Because it was a habit, I naturally put my heart into my lessons.
That is an education for gifted children. You experienced various things, so what was your childhood dream?
At first, I wanted to become a pilot, I think. Afterwards, until I was in the 6th year of elementary school I earnestly took lessons, but when I became a middle schooler, I entered an artist agency because of a recommendation from my mom. I remember the big happiness I felt when I was able to dance on stage as a child. Somehow my heart beat faster, and the world became much more fun. Thus, it happened that my dream became that I also wanted to dance on stage as the main artist.
You were able to do school and artist schedules well at the same time?
I think so. I gave my best. I had promised to balance school work and artist activities, so I diligently studied and got good grades. When I got my report card, I was usually one 4 and the first a 5. (A 5 equals an A and a 4 equals a B) I took my homework to the workplace and finished them completely. However, if I didn’t pay attention to my surroundings and acted, I would fall behind, so I diligently listened to the words of the staff and paid attention on how I should move. My dad encouraged me to study and my mom supported my artist activities.
You are powerful’! You were already part of the working part of society.
Yes. The times I stood on stage gradually increased and at the same time I often had to leave school early, so I wasn’t on the same wavelengths as my classmates and there were times when I was a little lonely, but... But I continued to carry the strong emotions that I felt during my first stage, so I both gave my best during artist activities and studying.
What was the start for you to decide that you want to do genuinely singing and dancing which were part of your artist activities?
When I became a middle school student, I got into K-POP and I started to think that I want to polish my singing and dancing skills much more than before. In the beginning it was the simple interest and feeling “Standing on stage is amazing”, but then it became clear that I aimed for the direction of singing and dancing. I left my agency during my 2nd year of middle school and felt that I should intensively train my unskilled self, so I started going to a school on my own. Who influenced me with his performances back then was Shinee’s Taemin-san. Furthermore, I watched various K-POP groups and their skills and charms left a strong impression. Whenever I watched them, I was able to rethink whether I would be able to reach the bottom of my own performance skills.
Did you have any other interests back then?
I continued to play the piano the whole time, so back then it was my skills and hobby. For singing and dancing your expressiveness is important, so I was reminded that I can’t neglect those.
If you were such an outstanding person, you must have been popular with the girls. Please tell me of an episode related to love.
I was popular with them during elementary school –laughs- I remember getting a lot for Valentine’s day. Other than that, because I devoted myself to the artist activities, I think there aren’t any romantic episodes... only because as a middle schooler I danced at the school festival and played the piano at choral competitions, my juniors asked to take pictures with me. Basically, I was flirting, so please guess the rest –laughs-

What made him hold on his dream that he was about to give up
was the warm support of his family.

Afterwards you polished your singing and dancing skills at the school that visited on your own?
Because I wanted to continue doing work related to singing and dancing, I signed to an artist agency during my 2nd year of high school once again. After all I didn’t give up on doing those activities and I wanted to be active as an artist. Because I promised my parents that in exchange for letting me do the things I wanted to do, I would enter university and properly graduate, I worked hard on my school work, too. Then I joined an actors' group. Because the activities were nothing but new to me, it was fun and I was able to experience various things. I was signed until my 3rd year of university, but I was barely able to do the singing and dancing activities that I’ve imagined. In the latter half of those years, when I was about 20 years old, there was the time I worried the most whether I could continue my dream of becoming a part of a group that sings and dances.
It was the time when the people around started job hunting and were aware of the future, right?
That surely played a part, too, but more than that, I got older and it was frustrating that I wasn’t able to complete the things I wanted to do. It seemed like that by continuing artist activities for a long time, the people who I put a burden on also increased and it was disappointing. I was also told “When will you be popular” or “it’s better when you give up”. At the same time as this irritating period, it was also a time when my feelings were renewed. When I was young I pursued my dreams innocently, but because as I became an adult, I became aware of the reality I was in, too.
What was your driving force to continue pursuing your dream?
The presence of my family was big. My family were the only ones who believed in my activities and dreams. That was a huge support for me. It may sound tough, but I was able to imagine myself dancing on stage. The wish to succeed for sure on the path of an artist was strong, so I felt that I was able to continue the path. Originally, I entered the artist world without knowing anything, but since I’ve decided to continue by my own choice, I didn’t want to trouble anyone and make my dream reality.
When you heard about “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN” (later shortened to PDJP), did you decide to join on the spot?
I applied for it with the thought that it would be my last chance. I left my agency that I was signed to as part of the actor’s group and when I thought what should I do for a moment, my mom told me about the program. “They seem to do that audition in Japan” and that information made me happy. I decided on the spot, but first I wanted to consult my parents who supported me from the very beginning and we hold a family council.
Nonetheless, your family supported you from behind?
Yes, they gave me a supportive push forward. I felt that I had to wager myself there and cleared the requirement of not being part of an agency at that moment, and because I liked K-POP, I thought it was the audition for me!

He can convey his charms and
what he wanted to show through OWV

When you participated in PDJP with which thoughts did you tackle it?
At first, I thought “I have to work even harder” and “I can do it better!” and I was disappointed about my stagnant self. Without knowing the details of the audition, I was told “Please do a 1 minute PR” and I had to do that recording... I thought “I can do it better” and constantly regretted it. While there were also people who gathered attention with their promotional pictures, I blamed myself when I saw the finished pictures, thinking “Self-appeal is what determines the first impression, I should have done better.” -laughs-
That’s true. When you felt frustrated, how did you motivate yourself?
I was trying to put up the façade of a bright character, but I could hardly show it on air. After a while, Honda-kun told me “You become stiff in front of the camera” -laughs- In order to stand out in front of the camera, I joked around, but it was boring, wasn’t it –laughs- I gave my best to bring out my abilities in singing and dancing that I had cultivated before and I had experience of standing on stage, thus I know the atmosphere of performance which was my advantage compared to everyone else, so I set my mind on tackling each performance with self-confidence.
What you have experienced since you were a child is something no one else has, right?
I think so. On the other hand, when I think about it now, because I know about the atmosphere during performances and the recordings, I feel like I also thought of myself as safe. Actually, during the auditions I frequently felt that I wasn’t able to show my charms. At the evaluations from the outside, there were comments written like “He’s someone who sings steadily” or “His dancing is not good”. The whole time I thought how I can make myself more known. The trainees that lived together with me knew about what wasn’t displayed on camera like about my actual character and my accumulated experiences, so when I was chosen as the first team member for the group battle, I was very glad.
Bonds that were born in the middle of an earnest fight are wonderful. But of course, the participating trainees also had some difficult times...
Thanks to my comrades, I got the benefit of the group battle and my ranking also rose, so that I was able to advance to the group battle at the last moment. At PDJP where people gathered who were pursuing their dreams, there were also old friends and acquaintances, so it was really fun and it encouraged me. To that extent, because I also understood the gap between me and my friends when the definite numbers of votes were announced, it was quite hard. I started to be worried that next time I might be the one who is eliminated. As my friends started to be eliminated, I took the matter in my own hands and cheered for the people around me. During the 3rd ranking ceremony after my name was called first, I hoped for my good friend Fumiya to go to the final.
True, during PDJP it happened that you two were eliminated before the final, but now you are united as comrades in the same group. A fated reunion!
I was very happy that I finally made my last chance come true and that I was also able to meet these members! In OWV I can do the things I want and my life is this right now. I’m nothing but thankful for the members and the staff members supporting us. I think after becoming a part of OWV, the people who supported me during the audition, the ones who didn’t notice me and also the ones who didn’t know about my existence, got to know the human Urano Shuta better. That I’m someone bright who likes to joke around or that I’m friends with Fumiya and so on.
When you talk with the other OWV members you always seem to have fun, to be glad and happy. It’s of course the same for the other members. You said that you weren’t able to show your charms during PDJP, but when the fans see you in OWV they will be happy.
It makes me happy that you think like that. My character is inherited from my parents. It’s a family that likes to joke around or to make people laugh by doing silly things. Also, it's a family that often interacts with each other. I think I’m similar to them in those things. By the way, that I’m always worrying, resembles my mother. I’m sensitive –laughs- My mother often told me “Your dream is my dream. Step by step you make it true. Thank you.” After becoming a part of OWV, she was happier than ever. When I go to work, I’m always thankful to my parents who see me off. When they don’t expect it, I give them presents, but in the future, I want to be active the whole time and be a good son. Also, I like comedy a lot. Even before becoming part of Yoshimoto I loved their comedians. That I can make my dream of being part of a dance and vocal group come true at Yoshimoto is a miracle and the biggest luck for me.

100 Q&A
001: A message to the fans who bought the first photobook!
It’s like a dream that we were able to release a photobook. That’s really thanks to QWV. Thinking about everyone I stuffed it with pictures that show various versions of myself, so find your favourite one!
002: Your childhood dream?
Pilot
003: A moment when you think you are happy?
When I'm laughing together with the members (right now that I’m able to do this work)
004: If you compare yourself to an animal?
Squirrel, monkey
005: Your charm point?
Fingers
006: What would you eat as your last supper?
Something made by my mom
007: Comment on your fashion today?
I’m wearing a wide top. Also, a knit hat.
008: Tell us about your favourite pair of shoes?
Acne Studios
009: What's the most favourite fashion item right now?
Big knit
010: If you appeared in a drama, what role would you play?
I want to try all assigned roles. Is that greedy? -laughs-
011: You are the director. What kind of movie would you make?
Something grand like a Hollywood movie
012: The muscles you are the most confident about?
None –laughs-
013: A part of your body that you like?
Hands
014: A part of your body that you dislike?
I wanted to have eyes bags~
015: A song you sing for sure during Karaoke?
Something from back number
016: Which is the most memorable YouTube video? What else do you want to try?
The cooking videos
017: What makes you feel secure if you have it?
My Donald towel
018: How does your family call you?
Shuu-chan
019: How do your friends call you?
Shuuta
020: What’s your lock screen?
OWV’s logo
021: How long do you sleep?
7 hours
022: Speaking of café menus?
Cake
023: Speaking of home cooking?
Curry
024: A hairstyle you want to try? Or a hair colour?
Perm
025: Do you easily gain weight or is it hard for you?
It’s hard
026: If you compared yourself to a thing?
Matchstick
027: A colour that fits you? Also, a colour that doesn’t fit you?
I want to be someone who matches every colour
028: Are you better with hot or cold weather?
Cold
029: Your taste in interior design of your home?
Simple
030: Your favourite spot at home?
The corner of my sofa
031: Do you have a lot of luggage? Or only a bit?
Not much
032: Your favourite manga?
"Demon Slayer”
033: Your favourite book?
All novels
034: Your favourite movie?
I have a lot, but if I had to choose one it’s “The fast and the furious”
035: Your favourite drama?
"The Hero Yoshihiko and the demon kings castle” and “Ikemen Paradise” (also known as Hana Kimi)
036: If you suddenly had tomorrow off, what would you do?
I would go abroad for a day
037: Your speaking habit?
Iina~ (That’s good)
038: Your ideal image of an adult man?
My father
039: An actor you admire?
Nakamura Tomoya and Yamada Takayuki
040: Your type?
Someone neat and clean
041: What’s your image of meeting your lover?
We are in the library and at the same time we want to take a book and we say “ah!” when our hands touch –laughs-
042: What kind of scent would you like your lover to use?
Something not that intense is good
043: Do you want to spoil your lover? Or to be spoiled by them?
It depends, but I think I want to be spoiled
044: How do you appeal to the person you like?
Peering and then our eyes meet –laughs-
045: Do you believe in love at the first sight?
A bit
046: When were you the most popular (with the other gender)?
During the 6th grade of elementary school
047: Are you someone jealous? Or not?
I think I’m someone jealous
048: What do you do when you are heartbroken?
I sulk! -laughs-
049: What is the ideal fashion of your lover?
A dress
050: What is the ideal hairstyle of your lover?
Soft and fluffy
051: What is your ideal way of proposing and in which situation?
With a night scenery in the background
052: Your ideal image of a family?
Like my home!
053: What would you like for your lover to cook for you?
Boiled eggs
054: What was your strong subject back in school?
Math, music, Japanese history
055: What was your weak subject back in school?
P.E.
056: Your motto?
You only live once
057: Something you value?
Fun and delightful things
058: What do you want to do the most right now?
A LIVE!
059: What do you think you will do in 10 years?
OWV of course!
060: Do you act superstitiously? If yes, what do you do?
Watching the moon
061: Your favourite Sushi ingredient?
Wa-! It’s salmon!
062: Which kind of ramen do you like?
Tonkotsu (soup made from pork bones)
063: Please tell us your blood type with adjectives?
Serious & precise A type
064: Something other than singing or dancing you want to improve?
I want to improve everything, but song writing the most
065: A drink you always buy?
Café latte
066: How much do you spend each month on beauty items?
Several thousand yen
067: Is there a must have beauty item? Which is it?
Face roller
068: A beauty item you always carry with you?
There isn’t anything I think
069: Please tell us how you train your body?
Please tell me how to? -laughs-
070: If you compared each member to a family?
Honda -> mom, Nakagawa -> dad , Sano -> younger brother
071: What is your position inside the group?
Mood creator
072: Is there something you don’t lose to the other members?
Sense of pitch
073: What do you want to challenge with all OWV members?
A variety show in the terrestrial program
074: Do you celebrate your birthday with the members? Did you get gifts?
We celebrate! I also got something! I still use it!
075: What do you like about Kosuke? What do you want him to change?
His humanity. That he becomes loud suddenly
076: What do you like about Fumiya? What do you want him to change?
That he sees his surroundings. That he eats too fast
077: What do you like about Katsunari? What do you want him to change?
His smile. That he tends to prank me
078: Please tell us something common among the members?
That we want to calm down
079: To what would you compare the members’ love?
Like a family
080: An episode that made the members inexpertly laugh?
Nakagawa’s clumsy incident
081: Please tell us about one time when a member sent you a message?
"where are you?” “here-” “I’m also there” “ah, there”
082: Please tell us who is NO.1 of ___ among the members?
Honda -> NO.1 of having a childlike innocence, Sano -> NO.1 of gluttony Nakagawa -> NO.1 of being an airhead
083: Have you fought with the members?
Not yet
084: Who is the most passionate one of the members?
PUBG (-> you can interpret the question also as "what’s the hottest thing among the members")
085: What would you do now if there was no OWV?
Still something related to entertainment
086: A habit that you often end up doing?
Tousling my bangs
087: What is the first impression that other people often tell you?
That I seem gentle
088: What is your lucky number?
17
089: Your favourite season?
Summer nights, end of fall
090: A country you would like to visit?
Macao, Bali
091: A prefecture you would like to visit?
Hokkaido
092: A celebrity you would like to meet
Downtown
093: If you could use magic, what would you do?
Becoming a bird and flying around in the sky
094: If you compared yourself to a colour?
Yellow! But gold is good, too –laughs-
095: Something you want to insist on?
When eating I’m starting with the salad
096: The thing you dislike the most in this world?
All bugs
097: Your future dream?
Advancing to the world
098: What is something OWV doesn’t lose to other groups?
How well the member’s truly get along
099: If you could go out alone with QWV, what would you do?
Going on a drive
100: Something you want to promise to QWV?
I will take you to a big stage! For sure

[OWV] Asphalt Kosuke Interview

HONDA KOSUKE
Just like his iconic red hair passion overflows in the big brother type Honda Kosuke. He was a genuine sports boy who grew up freely in the middle of nature. Without letting his fire go out he made his big secret childhood dream of becoming an artist come true. We will follow his path in this interview.

While he put his heart into sports for a long time, he yearned for the arts at the same time.

Please introduce the region you are from along with this region’s pride.
I’m from the prefecture Fukushima. I was raised there, so I know it, but generally speaking the people are kind there.
I saw you at “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN” (later shortened to PDJP), so I can agree.
Thank you very much –laughs- Also, my hometown is rich with nature. Surrounded by mountains, the area around my home overflows with green. It doesn’t mean that I say it was too much nature, more like it’s easy to live. Furthermore, the air was clean and, in the past, I could often see shooting stars, so I often made small wishes –laughs- There is also a nice observatory where you can watch the starry sky.
What kind of boyhood did you spend in the middle of nature?
In the environment that overflowed with nature I had fun as much as I could. In my daily life there were a lot of animals, I’ve raised stray cats and stray dogs, I’ve enjoyed myself by catching and throwing snakes and I was absolutely a country kid. My personality was quite attention seeking and I liked to be loud.
What?... Throwing snakes?... Of course. You were a quite mischievous boy.
Yes, I was mischievous –laughs-. Also, from elementary school to middle school I did swimming and baseball, and as a middle schooler and high schooler I also did track and field. All my siblings did swimming. I did baseball together with my older twin brothers and when I became middle schooler, I was team captain. I put quite my heart into baseball. That’s why, when it became night, I practised swinging the bat until I could see the shooting stars and even when there was something that was bothering me, I distracted myself with practising the bat swing. And even when I was dumped by the person, I liked, I practising bat swinging... -distant look-
From a mischievous boy to a pure athlete! Ahaha –laughs- I am a boy who really loves sports. In middle school I formed a track and field club by gathering volunteers among my friends and did Quadrathlons (110 m hurdles, shot put, high jump and 400m sprint). Pretty much every day repeated itself by training the track and field disciplines and going to baseball practise. I also ranked first in a track and field competition and in baseball I was chosen for the city selection.

I think you practised more than anyone else, but you are also a model student when it comes to sports..
When I start to like something and become devoted to it, I want to do my very best and master it. I got into my high school by a track and field event recommendation. I was active as a 400 meter and relay runner, but during my 2nd year of high school I tended to get torn muscles, so gradually I wasn’t able to run seriously anymore. Because I got into the school because of track and fields and everyone around me in that school was smart, I kinda felt out of place. Because I wasn’t able to do my beloved track and field anymore, I thought I could start dancing which I had an interest in for long and I focused myself on this.
Is there an episode related to love from that time? At the sports festival in high school, when the basketball match was over a junior came to me, lend me a towel, fanned me with a fan. That made me happy... -distant look- Also, occasionally I was confessed to from people from different schools.
That’s bittersweet! Thank you very much. You spend your boyhood as an athlete with all your heart, but what was your childhood dream?
I said all the time that I wanted to become Kamen Rider. At the same time, I had the feeling that I wanted to join a dance and vocal group, but it kinda felt embarrassing, so like a child I kept saying that I will become a hero. I knew that my aim was the same world, the one of artists, so it was okay –laughs-
A dance vocal group is a quite realistic dream, isn’t it!? What was the start for this?
The start of feeling a yearning for the artist world was surely when I watched the TV program “Akko ni makase!”. After that I searched for an artist agency, but there was none in Fukushima, so for a short time I belonged to an actor training school that I discovered in the newspaper.
Is that so? You must have been a gallant child actor! Someone from that agency told me “Do you want to try playing theatre?”, and when I danced during lessons, I started to think “I might like dancing better”. About when I became a middle school student, I came across AAA’s cool performances, saw the drama “Highschool musical” and got into dancing, thus I stopped moving forward on the path of playing theatre. That I went to theatre acting lessons was circa from my 6th year of elementary school to 2nd year of middle school. Artist activities and dancing went side by side with the sports I did and I worked hard and seriously on those.
Before starting track and fields, there was a time when you were devoted to baseball, right?
That’s right. For some time, I continued with practising dance while having baseball as my main. Secluding myself in the mountains I practised hard and I danced at school festivals and took part in live events.
Oh my, your practise method is also just like a country kid!

He accumulated “his very own” accomplishments to fill the career column on his resume.

Since starting dancing, what kind of student life did you have?
I started going a dance school in my hometown. As I said before, I want to master thingsI like, so I did practise on my own and took a lot of lessons, and at the dance contest in Fukushima where I appeared with 5 friends, we won a prize.
That's because you have physical abilities that you cultivated by continuing sports for a long time. Nonetheless, it’s surprising.
Because of that I thought “Dancing is easy”. With that spirit I’ve decided to go to a vocational school for dancing and move to Tokyo. Although I entered the school in high and proud spirits, the level of the other students around me was too different, and I was ashamed of myself who just enjoyed himself in the countryside. Dancing wasn’t easy at all. I truly felt “that’s the capital.” -laughs- Everyone was really good at dancing.
But you seem quite encouraged by that.
Exactly. There were subsequently auditions in which a guide came to school. Because I thought I had to improve my abilities regardless whether there were good results (I took part in those). To be able to fill my resume I had nothing but the prize from the dance contest, so I wanted to fill the blank spaces and I took part in one after another.
“The stoic Honda” that I also used to see at PDJP.
The more blank spaces were filled with achievements, the more I took part in large scaled auditions. I underwent a lot of experiences, accumulated more of them, and got jobs. Dancing as a back dancer in music videos and so on. After graduating from the school, my seniors gave me jobs. While doing various jobs as a dancer, I felt that I also wanted to become someone who baths in the spotlight. I appeared in CMs of actors and played the role of walking by their side, and after all I thought that I wanted to go to “that side”. The things I wanted to do were blurry back then, but I started to think about whether I should make sure that it was work that only I could do.
You mean that in order to improve yourself you went to the bottom of the roles that only you can do?
By doing this, like the former auditions, the large scaled works certainly increased. On the other hand, even when I was able to dance my favourite dances on big stages like arenas or domes, people might not have seen my performance, and on a larger stage you can’t say it was my work. Exactly because I was close to the artist and creators, I thought that might be the thing I actually wanted to do and I decided to quit working as a dancer all together.
You focused ahead, but also that’s why it was a bold decision.
That’s right. After that, I made choreographies as a choreographer and I started to be active in an unsigned indie dance and vocal group.
Your former dream surely took form there.
I was active there for about 2 or 3 years. We had about 15-20 lives a month. It happened in a pace of about one live every two days. I believe that the experiences from back then are linked to now.
That you can do it to that extent is amazing.
There was some fumbling regarding the group management and merchandise production and so, but we did everything ourselves. It was really hard to make cash flow and to do the management properly –laughs- That it became that the staff around us is doing that work now, makes me feel nothing but thankfulness.

There was unchanging encouragement from the family and the initial dream was finally reached.

You experienced group activities already and with determination you participated in PDJP, but during that time what did you think and what did you wrestle with?
I was always serious. Very serious! Speaking from my feelings, I was among the 11 people who could debut from the beginning. However, I started from the 47th place and during the first class evaluation I was placed in the B class. Because I thought that it was bad that I wasn’t in the A class, there were also times when I panicked. At the position battle where my assigned song was “OVER THE TOP” I’ve noticed that when only I stand out among the people who I danced together with for the first time, it wouldn’t be good. From that on, I’ve decided that we can only win when the 6 of us form a strong team.
Did you feel pressure about going after a higher rank?
I was too desperate to win while of course raising the power of the group but also my own one, so I didn’t think about raising my rank. Even more, I felt in the moment the group lost it would be over, so I could think about nothing but winning. I thought that in order to utilise the experiences I’ve made until that point, I should support everyone while looking over them.
It was wonderful that you aimed to win with everyone. Your team placed first and you also placed first in the dance section.
I was so happy. I felt that by doing something myself honestly, I can place first and that it was connected to my own evaluation. There was a little extra in what I did to win.
Was there something you were careful about or something you were aware of during PDJP?
There was also a part of me that thought too much of how I should proceed from my first evaluation. The position battle was also like that, but it might have been just right that I became desperate to digest the situation of that time and act carefully without aiming at the high ranks. From there on my ranks raised on their own. Also, during the participation, because we lived together and everyone was able to see my state, it was difficult to keep the balance of the valuing the big brother character that I got during the first evaluation and showing my individuality. When you start to think like this, it will be hard, so I believed that I should be calm constantly.
I think both are the true you, but once you feel like that it might be difficult to decide on how to show yourself... What is something you think of as “a thing that made me now” after gathering various experiences?
The glittering part that I want to show as an artist is based on my yearning to become like the stars and idols who I’ve been closely involved with. I think as a person the feelings of respect and thankfulness towards my dance teachers and the PDJP staff are formed by my experiences. I always respected my dance teachers whose way of thinking and attitude towards dancing were really cool. There were a lot of chances to talk with the PDJP both during and after my participation, but they often said “I have to be thankful for the people around me”. It’s absolutely like that and I try to remember to be thankful to the many people who constantly supported us.
You absorbed everything you got on your way and now you finally arrived. That’s how I feel when listening to your story.
When I went to Tokyo and to the vocational school, I thought I would become a back dancer. However, I finally reached my original dream that I pictured as a child. Still, it wasn’t something I achieved on my own. My parents knew about what I wanted to do and they supported me. In the family LINE group, they share with me when OWV appears on TV –laughs- I can hardly go home, but I diligently message them. If there is merchandise, I will send it to my family.
What a close family. Your family's support will become your power for the future activities! That’s heartening.
Yes. I was 25 years old when OWV was formed and the activities started. It might be a bit late to start with a group, but my family supports me and tells me "You don’t have to come back home, so give your best in doing all the artist activities.” My parents are people who told me from the beginning that I should do what I want to do. They supported me from behind and they were happier than anyone else that I am able to stand at OWV’s start line. I work hard so that they can be glad about supporting me from behind. And, I want to let my parents who have supported me strongly until now, have good feelings. I would like to continue to work on various jobs with the feeling of gratitude.

100 Q&A
001: A message to the fans who bought the first photobook!
Thank you very much for buying our first photobook. It’s a book that will let you see appearances and pictures we have never shown before. I hope it will become your treasure. Thank you for your support always.
002: Your childhood dream?
Kamen Rider
003: A moment when you think you are happy?
When I stand on stage
004: If you compare yourself to an animal?
Lion
005: Your charm point?
Eyes
006: What would you eat as your last supper?
Teriyaki burger
007: Comment on your fashion today?
The one from the photobook, including my hair I look like a member of an 80’s rock band
008: Tell us about your favourite pair of shoes?
Boots with heels
009: What's the most favourite fashion item right now?
Wide pants
010: If you appeared in a drama, what role would you play?
The role of someone who is the bad guy at first, but in the later half he comes someone really good
011: You are the director. What kind of movie would you make?
High School baseball drama (with a love plotline)
012: The muscles you are the most confident about?
Chest muscles
013: A part of your body that you like?
Arms
014: A part of your body that you dislike?
Head
015: A song you sing for sure during Karaoke?
Fukuyama Masaharu’s milk tea
016: Which is the most memorable YouTube video? What else do you want to try?
Memorable was the Manzai one. I want to do make a video in which everyone plays games (for example video games)
017: What makes you feel secure if you have it?
My towel
018: How does your family call you?
Kosuke
019: How do your friends call you?
Yasupon
020: What’s your lock screen?
The default one of the iPhone
021: How long do you sleep?
About 6 hours?
022: Speaking of café menus?
Coffee (with sugar)
023: Speaking of home cooking?
Karaage
024: A hairstyle you want to try? Or a hair colour?
Long hair, blonde
025: Do you easily gain weight or is it hard for you?
I gain weight easily
026: If you compared yourself to a thing?
Battery
027: A colour that fits you? Also, a colour that doesn’t fit you?
A colour that fits to me is red, and a colour that I think that doesn’t fit is light blue
028: Are you better with hot or cold weather?
Cold
029: Your taste in interior design of your home?
Monotone
030: Your favourite spot at home?
On my gaming chair
031: Do you have a lot of luggage? Or only a bit?
A lot
032: Your favourite manga?
“Dragonball”
033: Your favourite book?
“When I switch on” Switch wo osu toki by Yamada Yusuke
034: Your favourite movie?
Aladdin
035: Your favourite drama?
Operation Love
036: If you suddenly had tomorrow off, what would you do?
Watching the video recordings I’ve saved
037: Your speaking habit?
Shirankedo (used to soften your statement and thus taking some responsibility from it. It's added to the end of the sentence and actually part of the dialect from Kansai/Osaka)
038: Your ideal image of an adult man?
People who are very big-hearted
039: An actor you admire?
Sato Takeru (he was lead actor in Kamen Rider Den-O)
040: Your type?
Someone reliable
041: What’s your image of meeting your lover?
A situation when I’m alone in a bar and I’m told “This drink is from that guest”
042: What kind of scent would you like your lover to use?
Soap
043: Do you want to spoil your lover? Or to be spoiled by them?
Both
044: How do you appeal to the person you like?
Casually inviting them
045: Do you believe in love at the first sight?
It happened once during high school
046: When were you the most popular (with the other gender)?
Either during middle or high school
047: Are you someone jealous? Or not?
Not jealous I think
048: What do you do when you are heartbroken?
I will dance a lot (I don't remember –laughs-)
049: What is the ideal fashion of your lover?
I don’t have that
050: What is the ideal hairstyle of your lover?
Everything is fine if it fits to them
051: What is your ideal way of proposing and in which situation?
At a super expensive restaurant
052: Your ideal image of a family?
I haven’t thought about that once, but I would like a family in which we could do things like games all together
053: What would you like for your lover to cook for you?
Omuraisu
054: What was your strong subject back in school?
P.E.
055: What was your weak subject back in school?
Classic Japanese
056: Your motto?
Be unparalleled in history
057: Something you value?
Thankfulness
058: What do you want to do the most right now?
A live with actual audience
059: What do you think you will do in 10 years?
Singing and dancing
060: Do you act superstitiously? If yes, what do you do?
Cleaning the drain (it’s believed that cleaning everything related to water which contains your own dirt will make your home will become happy and peaceful and that your love luck will increase)
061: Your favourite Sushi ingredient?
Soused mackerel
062: Which kind of ramen do you like?
Iekei-styled Ramen (the broth is made from pork marrow and soy sauce and it has thick and straight noodles)
063: Please tell us your blood type with adjectives?
My pace A type
064: Something other than singing or dancing you want to improve?
everything from song writing, performance to talking
065: A drink you always buy?
I LOHAS (a brand of mineral water)
066: How much do you spend each month on beauty items?
About 5000 yen
067: Is there a must have beauty item? Which is it?
Face roller
068: A beauty item you always carry with you?
What I always carry with me is hair oil and during shootings I have my face roller with me
069: Please tell us how you train your body?
Push ups
070: If you compared each member to a family?
Everyone is my little brother
071: What is your position inside the group?
Leader
072: Is there something you don’t lose to the other members?
The redness of my hair
073: What do you want to challenge with all OWV members?
Bungee jumping
074: Do you celebrate your birthday with the members? Did you get gifts?
We celebrate. During my previous birthday I got a dragon ball shirt and glasses
075: What do you like about Shuta? What do you want him to change?
That he is quick-thinking. that he lengthens the briefing sessions with complains from time to time
076: What do you like about Fumiya? What do you want him to change?
That he is cool. That he acts rashly from time to time
077: What do you like about Katsunari? What do you want him to change?
That he is calm. That he suddenly starts to talk without thinking
078: Please tell us something common among the members?
Suddenly something becomes popular and passes suddenly
079: To what would you compare the members’ love?
Family
080: An episode that made the members inexpectly laugh?
When I won the match in Momotaro Dentetsu
081: Please tell us about one time when a member sent you a message?
On a free day photos were sent to the member group chat the whole time
082: Please tell us who is NO.1 of ___ among the members?
Shuta -> NO.1 of nimbleness, Fumiya -> NO.1 of PUBG, Katsu -> NO.1 prankster
083: Have you fought with the members?
no
084: Who is the most passionate one of the members?
Fumiya
085: What would you do now if there was no OWV?
Dancer
086: A habit that you often end up doing?
Touching my bangs
087: What is the first impression that other people often tell you?
Scary
088: What is your lucky number?
1
089: Your favourite season?
Spring
090: A country you would like to visit?
Singapore
091: A prefecture you would like to visit?
The member’s homeprefectures
092: A celebrity you would like to meet
Nagasawa Masami (main actress of his favourite drama)
093: If you could use magic, what would you do?
I want to fly in the sky -laughs-
094: If you compared yourself to a colour?
Red
095: Something you want to insist on?
Becoming BIG!
096: The thing you dislike the most in this world?
Tomatoes
097: Your future dream?
OWV performing at the Tokyo Dome
098: What is something OWV doesn’t lose to other groups?
We get along well
099: If you could go out alone with QWV, what would you do?
Going to the cinema
100: Something you want to promise to QWV?
That we will take you to the Budokan for sure