Long interview is looong but I finally finished~!! The most handsome of men talk about SAMURAI 7 and each other. Quite a fun and cute conversation, there's a lot to squee about <3 No caption or intro paragraph translations this time, it's all stuff we already know and I was lazy. I have the 5 questions posted at the bottom as images. I just wanna hug Nissy when he says he gets lonely easily! Let's keep him company.

No copy&paste please =) translation by me

The original scans were posted last week for members only >> here << Thank you for posting again =)

Nishijima
Practice has begun at last.

Miura
The first day was very stressful. Everyone around me is a veteran of the stage. Despite it being the first day, there was so much we needed to do that I was about to interrupt mid-day to say "Wait a minute. Please let me adjust myself." The movie is completely different. Even one liners like "Eh?", turning around, looking at my partner... they were no good if I didn't emphasize those actions.

Aiba
I really understand those feelings. Although Nissy and I practiced our sword battle several times, it's fairly difficult! There are really a ton of sword battles in this work.

Nishijima
Every character has their own signature move; Kyuzo, the role I'm acting, is a double-wielding swordsman. It's difficult not having rules on where to step with my feet for battles. Bacchi (Aiba's nickname) is playing Shichiroji, the spear guy.

Aiba
I've shuffled around with a sword before, but this is the first time with a spear. It's difficult to handle and I don't know when to switch hands. This is only for the battle scene with Katsushiro too.

Miura
I have plenty of muscle aches today thanks to yesterdays practice (laughs). Parts of my thigh muscles hurts. And my arms and hands.

Nishijima
It's almost a contest with the body. You have many tough battles because Katsushiro has a lot of appearances.

Miura
I'm starting to get in the flow of going from drama to sword fight. I shuffle, then stop and say a few words, then shuffle again, then act... So many routines to get into

Nishijima
Music is the same. Rhythm, rhythm!

Miura
Ta ta ta ta, a few words here 'n there, ta ta ta ta, "insert words here"...

Nishijima
We're getting closer to makin a show!

The cast cheers "TOIYA!" one at a time before each performance

Miura
Even if I tell you Katsushiro is a samurai, he's never killed anyone before. He's incredibly nervous. He has no confidence in himself. However he will grow as a person by meeting Kambei and the others. He resembles me in that respect...Right at that scene. When I think about it, he's the type to push forward. Kyuzo, Kyuzo is taciturn.

Nishijima
My lines are few and far between (laughs). All of them could fit on about one A4-sized page

Aiba
Perhaps up until now, maybe fewer is better, you know?

Miura
So jealous. Nissy, are there any scenes where Kyuzo resembles you?

Nishijima
Kyuzo is a very lonely guy who wonders if he'll ever not be lonely. At the heart, I'm someone who easily succumbs to loneliness so I work in a group and I love the environment that swells from that feeling of fellowship. So I guess I resemble him in that way. Do you resemble Shichiroji at all, Bacchi?

Aiba
Shichiroji formerly shared joy and pain on the battlefield with Kambei. Even though he throws away his samurai status shortly after, he finally becomes a samurai once again and goes out to battle. The point is, I think he's a man who can't live if he's not fighting. He has things he can't throw away, meaning he's a man who has obsessions, and that's how I resemble him.

Miura
This time, this is the first time Aiba and I are costarring together

Aiba
Yeah. I wanna have a lot of fun! With Nissy, Miura, and me, we're all friends with each other

Nishijima
Sho-chan and I were in the drama Tumbling together, and I co-starred with Bacchi in Linda Linda Lover Soul

Miura
The three of us are an extremely young team. Which reminds me, I wonder if we should be reporting to our boss?

Nishijima
You are the star, Sho-chan, don't you think you should partially be everyone's voice? The lead star is the so-called 'chairman', so you know, if you aren't watching over everything...

Miura
It seems hard to watch over everything while doing my own thing

Aiba
Since Nissy inside knowledge of being a 'chairman', it's okay to rely on him.

Nishijima
I think about those things no matter what, because much of the work I do, I do in a group (laughs)

Aiba
I've played the lead before, but, hmm, it seems like I had a good time as 'the chaiman'

Nishijima
That's you going at your own pace again

Aiba But I did report to our boss. Each cast member would make up parts of the play on their own and then I would inform the director. So, rather than say the chairman should be doing whatever, I think it's best he has sincerity.

Miura
So I must be confident that I stand above the rest, if you say I'm suitable for the job (laughs). It's fine then if I do things my way. Well, you think we should bump our rings together before our performances?

Aiba
Okamura has a unique thing he does. He counts people off, and then one by one, they each yell "TOIYA!"

Nishijima
Hmmm. That's a new one for me

If it's scary just thinking about it, what will you do if your lines suddenly escape you?

Aiba
What kind of person do you see Miura-kun as, Nissy?

Nishijima
Sho-chan's a pampered guy. Now and then, there are times when he continues to depend on me, even when he's being responsible and level-headed. He often calls me, and even during our drama he'd ask "how do I do this?" When I was hurt, he always left me messages on my voice mail.

Miura
Hey, it's 'cuz your mentoring was really effective. So, what kind of person is Aiba-kun?

Nishijima
Bacchi is the ultimate at doing things his own pace. Even when I lure him out to dinner, he immediately goes back home afterward (smiles)

Aiba
That's not true! (laughs)

Nishijima
He often doesn't even come

Aiba
My house was still really far away back then

Miura
If it were me, I absolutely wouldn't return till morning!

Aiba
I'll do my best (laughs)

Miura
Well then, Aiba-kun, what about Nissy?

Aiba
From what I've seen being around him, he is an honest person

Miura
Yeah, that's him in a nutshell

Aiba
He's really respectful. There aren't a lot of people at this age who are like that

Nishijima
I still try to stir up trouble (laughs)

Miura
The kind of life he's walked at this age, it's amazing. He's funny when we go out to drink although his nature is to be responsible.

Aiba
His balance is perfect, isn't it? Nissy's playfulness is proportional to that golden balance of his, meanwhile I joke around about 80% of the time!

Nishijima
Wha? your words, you guys! I feel awkward that these will be written in the article

Miura
I know singing and dancing haven't been decided yet, but I wonder if they'll make it in?

Aiba
It would be funny if Kyuzo sang

Nishijima
Maybe he will sing

Miura
Seriously?

Aiba
And yet the character is a tacitern guy who doesn't talk

Nishijima
But I still don't understand. I have hardly any lines, you know? (laughs) There must be a mix-up, Sho-chan's seem to be never-ending

Miura
I'm absolutely preparing to put the script up my sleeve when the performances begin. If I forget, I'll just draw back off-stage, saying "ugh, my stomach!" then remember my lines, and then re-enter saying "I've kept you waiting!" (laughs)

Nishijima
Do you really intend to do that? (laughs)

Aiba
You know, there's 23 performances

Miura
But if it seems my lines suddenly escape me? Then absolutely

Nishijima
It's happened to me before. They've escaped me, but the moment the others on stage sense that feeling from me, how I followed their cues was my key. You'll be fine as long as there is a character on stage that can guide you like that.

Miura
I guess I'll see what happens since Katsushiro is always confronting someone

Nishijima
But if a quiet character like me is before you when your lines escape you, you won't be able to get that guidance.

Miura
I'll say "TALK!" at that time. "I wonder if you can really talk!!!" (laughs)

Nishijima
I understand. I'll give you a follow if that's the case (smiles)

Miura
That kind of stage is pure and still interesting.

Nishijima
No way, it's super scary

Aiba
Frightening!

Nishijima
When we are playing out the story on stage, just the two of us, and one of us completely forgets our lines, the play still has to flow smoothly during our conversation. I'm worried what will happen in that situation because the story may not connect and my character shouldn't be talking, and when I think about someone calling our names and us responding back, the stage may have a 'theatrical blackout' to help us.

Aiba
I would seriously wanna die in that situation.

Nishijima
Honestly, I would too

Miura
Well then, could I be frank and tell the audience? "I forgot my lines" (laughs) "Please, consider stopping the show and let me do it one more time"

Nishijima
That's grounds for a theatrical blackout (laughs)

And in the blink of an eye, 2010 has passed by. What kind of year was it?

Nishijima
What was 2010 like?

Miura
The year is already gone, just like that. Photoshoots and training for Tumbling, and then eventually promotion for The Last Message began on the coast. And now time has flown by practicing for this play without realizing it. What about you Aiba-kun?

Aiba I did the series Samurai Sentai Shinkenger and this play. Given that I couldn't do any last year, doing one this year after a really long time just reassures me that they are a lot of fun. I'm really enjoying myself with SAMURAI 7.

Nishijima
I met the Tumbling team this year, had many celebrations for AAA's 5 year anniversary, and did the longest tour AAA's had. Even if I'm at an unlucky age, I'd like to perfect this stage play and more from here on.

Miura
At any rate, from here out I'll give SAMURAI 7 everything I've got! Let's work together and do our best

Nishijima & Aiba
Of course!

Note about the images: This is where I got lazy (at least I'm honest?). Esp. with Nissy's, but he's saying he wants to be able to balance that kind of private life and work in the future. (as I said, was too lazy to go back and re-edit the image)