What does Kimura Takuya think about his popularity during his 20s?

Kimura Takuya was no doubt one of Japan’s phenoms during the ’90s. Popular long hair and featured everyday on television, commercials, magazines, music releases and dominating not just the music charts with his former group SMAP but also dominating actors rankings and drama ratings.

He was what people called “KimuTaku”, women loved him, men wanted to look like him. Many were enchanted by his style and charisma.

And while the popularity was high throughout the ’90s and to the present, Kimura Takuya is now going to be entering his 50s in November.  He will be starring in the TV Asahi drama “Mirai e no 10 kaunto” (10 Counts to the Future) which began on April 15th and is featured in an interview with Daily More for their May issue.

One of the questions that Kimura was asked is what does he think about his super popularity in his 20s (during the ’90s), the social phenomena and moving the times.

Kimura said, “Some people say such words … I don’t really feel that ‘I moved the times’. First of all, everything is the reaction of the people who watched the work, and it is only if there are comrades who create the work together, such as co-stars and staff. I think everything is the result of each and every site. Besides, at that time I was all about myself. You didn’t really care about your surroundings. Well, this may still be the same. Even now and in the past, all I see is always “in front of me.” Basically, I don’t have a plan for years or decades. It feels like I’ve been running on the extension of the same road in the same posture. While I was running desperately looking only in front of me, I realized that I had arrived at this place now”.

When ask of how important it is to him to seen by others, Kimura said, “I don’t know the image of the world about myself, and I don’t really understand. I don’t even think about what the world wants from me. Because, isn’t it a little painful to live while calculating, “The world wants me to do this !! Then, let’s do it !!”? I have a troublesome feel to it, so I’m not good at calculating and posing. I play a role in the work, but it’s no joke that I have to play roles in other places (laughs).  When I was in my twenties, SNS didn’t exist either. Isn’t it so bumpy? Looking back now, I may have been lucky. Also, I am blessed with the surroundings. There were only people nearby, “nothing odd”. Those people have a good respect for the other person”.

When asked if he likes himself, Kimura said, “In the first place, I don’t think I like myself. It’s not like I have the outstanding ability to compete in the Olympics, and it doesn’t represent the country. Because I think it’s nothing. To put it the other way around, I wonder why everyone thinks they have to like themselves so much. I think it’s more important to believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself and not do your best, you’ll be rude to others and you won’t even be seen as responsible”.

When asked how does he believe in himself, Kimura said, “After all, I think it’s important to challenge with 100 power each time. If you do it at 100, you will be able to do things that you couldn’t do. However, there are definitely things you can’t do even if you challenge with 100. But that may lead to something big tomorrow … Anyway, 100 can be tiring, there are times it’s going to be like crap. I think I can laugh because I’ve done that much and I can believe in myself. The worst thing is the feeling that “this is all right”. You can never believe in yourself, if you end everything halfway”.

You can read more of the interview with Daily More here.

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