I find this interview interesting.
It somehow makes me like Yamapi more.
More like respect him.
His"I don't like to let people see me being defeated" attitude is very admirable.
I know that P hates to give up and so I admire him for that and he motivates me further.
This is a rough translation which I took from one of the LJs that I read.
It is about Kokubun(Tokio) interviewing Yamapi in Shounen Premium:
Kokubun: Well
Yamashita: Yes
Kokubun: Among all guests that had come to Premium, Yamapi is the youngest to date.
Yamashita: Really?
Kokubun: 21 years old.
Yamashita: Yes.
Kokubun: Right?
Yamashita: I'm 21.
Kokubun: You will turn 22, right?
Yamashita: I'll turn 22 in April this year.
Kokubun: I thought this is the first time I have serious talks with Yamapi.
Yamashita: Yes, this is the first time.
Kokubun: I suppose. Why did you join our company?
Yamashita: Well, it was because of Takizawa kun's appearance in a drama.
Kokubun: I see.
Yamashita: And he was very young at that time. I thought he was about my age and I realized that a young boy like him could be in a drama. Therefore I told my mom that I want to in a drama and so I sent in my application to Johnnys & Associates.
Kokubun: It seems like you had some serious conversation with your mom.
Yamashita: That's right.
Kokubun: Usually one would say something like "I want to have a snack" to their mom in a normal conversation.
Yamashita: Right.
Kokubun: However, you said "I want to be in a drama".
Yamashita: Hahaha...
Kokubun: How was Yamapi's audition being like?
Yamashita: In my case, they made me dance immediately after my arrival.
Kokubun: Right.
Yamashita: Afterwards, they sent me to another room.
Kokubun: Like having an interview?
Yamashita: I had an interview.
Kokubun: I see. So it hasn't be changed. I guess we work for the same CEO even now.
Yamashita: Of course!
Kokubun: Same CEO.
Yamashita: That's correct. The same CEO.
Kokubun: The person who is a bit short.
Yamashita: Right.
Kokubun: Looks cute.
Yamashita: Yes. Probably this happened to almost everyone in their audition at that time if you ask them. No one will notice him in the beginning.
Kokubun: He's unnoticeable.
Yamashita: He looked like a weird common security guard.
Kokubun: It's impolite to refer to him as weird.
Yamashita: Right. Oh well. An older man was there bringing out chairs.
Kokubun: I understand what you mean.
Yamashita: And so.
Kokubun: Like he would serve juice or something.
Yamashita: While one would be puzzled, then suddenly he'd say introduce himself as "I'm the world famous Johnny".
Kokubun: He described himself as the "World"! He said "I'm the world famous Johnny".
Yamashita: Correct.
Kokubun: Hahaha... Really?
Yamashita: That's right. So that's Johnny san.
Kokubun: Indeed. But you actually wanted to be in a drama, right?
Yamashita: That's right.
Kokubun: And suddenly they made you do choreography. So how was it?
Yamashita: I was a bit confused.
Kokubun: That was different from what you wanted to do too!
Yamashita: Right. I go "What?"
Kokubun: Well.
Yamashita: So then I realized that Johnnys is a place for people to sing and dance.
Kokubun: Do you remember your first job?
Yamashita: My fist job? I danced behind Kinki Kids.
Kokubun: On TV?
Yamashita: On TV.
Kokubun: Usually there were a lot of juniors who has passed at the beginning. I think it was the same in Yamapi's time too! When you first danced behind Kinki Kids, which roll were you at?
Yamashita: I was at the very last roll to the right of the stage.
Kokubun: On the edge.
Yamashita: That the very back.
Kokubun: So who was in the center at the front of all juniors?
Yamashita: People like Takizawa kun.
Kokubun: I see.
Yamashita: I thought: "Wow! That's Takizawa kun!!"
Kokubun: Indeed.
Yamashita: I really wanted to have his autograph.
Kokubun: Oh! Before you think of catching up and surpassing him, you want his autograph?
Yamashita: That's right. I want his autograph.
Kokubun: Did you ask for it?
Yamashita: No, I didn't.
Kokubun: I see. So we'll watch some valuable old video of Yamapi. I think we are going to show a lot of teeny-weeny Yamapi's videos.
Yamashita: Is that right?
Kokubun: That's right!
Yamashita: I look forward to it.
Kokubun: Yes.
Yamashita: Oh, that was my first drama appearance.
Kokubun: Is this Yamapi?
Yamashita: Correct!
Kokubun: Are you being arrested?
Yamashita: Hahaha...
Kokubun: Wow! What a voice!
Yamashita: My voice!
Kokubun: What that your first drama?
Yamashita: Yes.
Kokubun: You were good, weren't you?
Kokubun: So cute!
Kokubun: What's this?
Yamashita: Wow!
Kokubun: What's this?
Yamashita: This was...this was...what was it...
Kokubun: You were with Jirō san.
Yamashita: Some kind of Forty‐Seven Ronin play.
Yamashita: This is probably one of the things that I can't remember.
Kokubun: Why's that?
Yamashita: This was really...
Kokubun: Music Jump.
Kokubun: Everyone was becoming recognizable.
Yamashita: I'm making a mistake.
Kokubun: You're cute!
Yamashita: I'm so embarrassed.
Kokubun: You were the first, Yamapi!
Kokubun: What is this? Twentith Century? Coming Century?
Yamashita: Right.
Kokubun: I see.
Yamashita: It was tough.
Kokubun: You did a lot of back dancing, right?
Yamashita: That's correct.
Kokubun: How was your first drama?
Yamashita: Yes.
Kokubun: That was your first, right?
Yamashita: Yes, that was my first time.
Kokubun: Did you watch this drama when it was on air?
Yamashita: I did.
Kokubun: How was it?
Yamashita: The story was it bit difficult for me to comprehend.
Kokubun: Oh, the story itself.
Yamashita: Honestly.
Kokubun: You were arrested, right?
Yamashita: Yes, I was arrested. It wasn't my ability to read and comprehend the script. I was just feverish in memorizing my lines at first.
Kokubun: Right.
Yamashita: That was how I felt.
Kokubun: I see.
Yamashita: Right.
Kokubun: Did you have a lot of NGs in your debut.
Yamashita: I believe I had some NGs, but not a lot.
Kokubun: You're good! I had 17 NGs in the first drama I was in.
Yamashita: Is that true? Probably I did understand the importance. Those grown-ups had many interactions and I was in there. I didn't understand how important it was not to make mistakes. I didn't have that kind of pressure.
Kokubun: How old were you?
Yamashita: I was 12.
Kokubun: That was your work at 12 years old.
Yamashita: That's correct.
Kokubun: I see. No kidding. You joined when you were 11. It took you 7 long years to debut.
Yamashita: That's right.
Kokubun: That was long.
Yamashita: Yes, it took me a long time.
Kokubun: Indeed.
Yamashita: But it was long to me in the first 2 years.
Kokubun: In the first 2 years?
Yamashita: The first 2 to 3 years.
Kokubun: Why's that?
Yamashita: From the beginning to the day I was allowed sing in a microphone was very bitter and long. I feel very gloomy during the first 2 years.
Kokubun: I see.
Yamashita: I feel gloomy afterwards too, but somehow things get smoother.
Kokubun: Were there people in your same class got their chances to sing in the microphone and dance before you? At the time when Yamapi had not received a chance yet.
Yamashita: It wasn't those in my same class, but those that came after us had their chances to sing and dance before me.
Kokubun: Wow! That was hard!
Yamashita: I was a bit frustrated.
Kokubun: You didn't understand, right?
Yamashita: It was frustrating.
Kokubun: So when did you debut?
Yamashita: In 2003.
Kokubun: Were you overjoyed when you debut?
Yamashita: Not really. They didn't say it was our debut. They've only told us to work together for a month.
Kokubun: Just for a month only?
Yamashita: That's correct. We formed the group to support the volleyball team. They've told us the purpose to form the group was only to do this.
Kokubun: Right.
Yamashita: So it wasn't about getting excited or not.
Kokubun: But you've released a CD.
Yamashita: Yes, we had a CD released, but it wasn't being ranked.
Kokubun: Why's that?
Yamashita: It was only being sold at convenient store.
Kokubun: I see! It was like that! I knew that!
Yamashita: Indeed.
Kokubun: Right!
Yamashita: Therefore...
Kokubun: That was complicated!
Yamashita: That's right. So I wasn't really happy about it.
Kokubun: Indeed. It wasn't being ranked. You don't know the sales figures. On top of that, the group was formed only for a month.
Yamashita: Yes.
Kokubun: Somehow it's like you don't know what to do.
Yamashita: I was hoping to have a catch phrase like "Debut Single" or something.
Kokubun: Right.
Yamashita: But it simply goes something like "CD Release".
Kokubun: We saw this just now. You were working together a lot with Ikuta kun and Hasegawa Jun kun. Were there rumors such as debuting together with them instead?
Yamashita: That's was my own intention.
Kokubun: I see.
Yamashita: If I can debut, then I will certainly debut with Toma and others.
Kokubun: Right.
Yamashita: But at that moment, they were complete strangers to me.
Kokubun: NEWS members were complete strangers to you?
Yamashita: I didn't know them. I worked together with Nishikido Ryo kun a lot. Almost all of the others were complete strangers to me.
Kokubun: Really? Wow! That's complicated, right?
Yamashita: It was like I've only seen them before.
Kokubun: Did they all enter the company after you?
Yamashita: They came after me.
Kokubun: I see. Your group had a very awkward start.
Yamashita: You're right. Quite extremely.
Kokubun: Have you ever talked to them before?
Yamashita: No I haven't.
Kokubun: What? With NEWS?
Yamashita: That's right. I've listened to music alone all the time.
Kokubun: Wow! What was that? Is that right?
Yamashita: It's not that I didn't talk to them but I didn't want to talk to them.
Kokubun: But if you want to talk to them, you see them all the time. You can talk about something such as "how was your camp".
Yamashita: Indeed.
Kokubun: None of those conversations.
Yamashita: None at all. I wish that month to past quickly.
Kokubun: You wished for it to finish soon, then return to Ikuta's side and wait for the offer for debut.
Yamashita: It was only for a month. I thought it'll be fine if I can overcome this.
Kokubun: Wow! That's terrible!
Yamashita: I couldn't really open up to others.
Kokubun: Is that so?
Yamashita: That's why I've always been together only with those I could open up to.
Kokubun: Really?
Yamashita: There are only 2 to 3 people like this among Juniors.
Kokubun: I see.
Yamashita: I couldn't open myself up.
Kokubun: So there's no reason for you to get along with members who just joined.
Yamashita: That's what I thought so.
Kokubun: Eh? So when did you start to unify with others?
Yamashita: That's right. We've started off by having a concert at Odaiba.
Kokubun: You've done that!
Yamashita: Yes.
Kokubun: It's like in a hotel or something.
Yamashita: In a hotel. That's correct.
Kokubun: I see.
Yamashita: After finishing that, we had one in Yokohama Arena last year.
Kokubun: Yes.
Yamashita: I felt a very strong affection regarding members at that time.
Kokubun: In last year?
Yamashita: Last year. That's right.
Kokubun: In last year.
Yamashita: It was only in last year that I wanted to be truly close to them, to my precious members.
Kokubun: What?! Is that so?
Yamashita: Yes. I believe time is an amazing thing. If I spend my time with them, I'll begin to like them.
Kokubun: NEWS has gone through a lot of dreadful things. Some believed that NEWS will be disbanded as well.
Yamashita: That's right.
Kokubun: How did you feel at that time?
Yamashita: I was thinking what I should do.
Kokubun: Right.
Yamashita: Yes. Why did it happen?
Kokubun: Right. So did all members gathered together to talk about things at that time?
Yamashita: We talked once about letting ourselves die in vain, as long as we can create another chance to get back together.
Kokubun: I see. In return we'll do our best and become more mature and return back together. It's like you go on training and then come back.
Kokubun: So you couldn't even imagine this at the time when you debut, right?
Yamashita: Indeed.
Kokubun: You've been to many places, and have grown used to each other, that was why you could do such a thing now.
Yamashita: Right.
Kokubun: Mentally speaking, was it not that difficult to you in stopping all activities of NEWS?
Yamashita: That was quite difficult to me. However, if I show my disappointment, then everyone will be disappointed too.
Kokubun: True.
Yamashita: So I said everything will be fine to them. In fact, it was quite difficult to me. I wonder what will happen to us.
Kokubun: I see.
Yamashita: That's right.
Kokubun: Members are now seeing Yamapi as their proper leader, but you also have the time when you want to follow someone too, is that right?
Yamashita: Yes.
Kokubun: And so haven't you shown it to anyone?
Yamashita: No, I haven't shown it to anyone.
Kokubun: That's awesome!
Yamashita: It would look bad on me if I show it to others.
Kokubun: Look bad?
Yamashita: I don't like to let people see me being defeated.
Kokubun: I see.
Yamashita: So that's why I didn't show it to anyone. It's like I'm fine.
Kokubun: Right.
Yamashita: That's what has happened.
Kokubun: So you were told by those from the company that you'll restart your activities once again.
Yamashita: Yes.
Kokubun: How was it at that time?
Yamashita: It's like "All right!". We'll show you the result of all the things we've done until now.
Kokubun: I see. Gathering those who have been separated once and they should have surpassed their previous selves. You want to show them in here.
Yamashita: We want to show them.
Fav Boys:Aiba Masaki, Akanishi Jin, Yamashita Tomohisa(Guys),
Fav Food & Drink:Chocolate & Cha Soba(food), Green tea (drink)
Fav Doramas: Nobuta Wo Produce, Gokusen 1 & 2, Dragon Zakura
Fav Songs: Hesitate, It Can't Be, Murasaki by Jin Akanishi, ButterflyーKattun,Himawari,Snow Express, Weeek Daite Senorita, Love Song, Colourful- Yamapi, Right Back to You, Wish, Harukaze Sneakers, Subarashi Sekai-Arashi, Itsuka No Summer- Aiba Masaki