[SODA Special Edition Entertainer] Matsuda Genta

[pigs-canflyy.livejournal.com]

Matsuda Genta – Innocent sensory type

Travis Japan’s Matsuda Genta – He’s a “sexy tiger” in front of the camera, but has a unique choice of words in this interview.

The solo concerts in “Summer Paradise 2020” and the collaboration with MIYAVI. This summer, Travis Japan has shown us a stage only they can put up and we’ve reaffirmed their abilities.

For Summer Paradise, Takizawa-san told us, “Travis Japan can do it solo right?”, and all we could do was reply “Yes!” (laughs). For the seven of us, holding a solo live was both a dream and a goal, and we’re thankful as it was a really good experience for us to be able to do it so early. We’re a group that has back danced for many of our seniors, so I wanted to apply everything that we’ve learnt so far. When Takizawa-san told us “Do it properly”, we replied “We’ll give it our 100%!”

From the lighting to costumes, and even camera angles, they had to decide on them on their own. He laughed saying, “Having one brain wasn’t enough.”

I’m the youngest in Travis Japan, and I’m always relying on the other members like a brat in elementary school. But this time I’ve to do everything on my own, so I wanted to bring out a different taste from what I’m usually like in the group. Something an elementary school kid wouldn’t be able to do, a mature atmosphere like V6’s Tonisen holding a dinner show. Because I’m alone I can’t have muscle cramps while on stage and I can’t go to the toilet either so I was worried, but 99% of me was happy. I didn’t want to just show my dancing and singing, I worked really hard to express my thankfulness and feelings to the fans who have always been supporting me.

The collaboration with MIYAVI, the “samurai guitarist”, involved preparing a dance performance in six hours. He was the leader and in charge of the choreography for this collaboration.

It was filmed with one camera, so considering the camera angles, we had to back-calculate the dance moves such that it would look good when filmed with only one camera. Even for moves we could usually do, we had to be really precise and struggled with them. Uminchu drew lots and I became the leader (laughs). Normally, Shizu, Shime or Chaka choreographs our dances. I also really realized how difficult it was and felt thankful for Chaka and Noel who normally keeps us in order. Even if we have breaks and say that rehearsals resume in five minutes, some members will be late and I was really anxious thinking, “Oh no, oh no, there are only x-hours left!” (laughs). But because I got to be the leader, I could look at everything from a wider perspective, and while choreographing I was thinking about which member was good at what type of dances and got to look at things from a different angle. I really felt like I did lots of work that day! Of course, I always feel that way, but especially so that day (laughs).

Not just from the people who watched the show, he himself felt that the performance was “extremely damned cool”. MIYAVI was also satisfied with the performance, which was the highest level of praise they received.

MIYAVI-san told us, “To say that you want to succeed globally is something that anyone can say, that’s also why I think it’s a difficult phrase to say. But Travis Japan should aim for the world, and it would be better if you worked to aim for the world.” This gave us goose bumps, but I also thought that he was so cool!

In addition to MIYAVI, Travis Japan also collaborated with another global artist, Austin Mahone. This speaks of Travis Japan’s strength – their high-level performance.

I call Austin “Brother”… no that’s wrong, “Father”, as a joke (laughs). By getting these amazing jobs, we didn’t even have time to be surprised with how much we got to learn. The scale of what we got to learn was large and I’m really thankful. They have such a large presence, so we were desperately trying to catch up, it’s like we were always fighting. We looked normal on the surface, but underwater our legs were kicking furiously like ducks and we really worked hard, thinking “we have to win!”

They’re lively in their YouTube videos, or during the MCs in the concerts, but when it comes to their performances – the seven of them are heading towards their dreams with confidence, pride and passionate ambition.

I go for meals with all the members but firstly, Matsukura is my best friend. It could be said that we were born from the same womb, we’re really destined. MatsuMatsu’s mothers are also really close, and we’re talking about how we want to have lunch together as MatsuMatsuMatsuMatsu.

When I have meals with Shime, we unexpectedly end up talking about work most of the time. We talk about things like how the talk should flow during the MC at our next concert. Shime looks like an airhead, but he thinks through things properly. However, we’re both bad at Japanese so we sometimes can’t really communicate well with each other (laughs).

Noel really helps me out by teaching me about anything. Hey Noel, what does OO mean? He’s Kawa-Siri Noel. I’m also learning Japanese from him.

Chaka is the leader, and I have things that I can discuss with Chaka but not Matsukura, as well as things I can discuss with Matsukura but not Chaka. When I confide in Chaka he’s really kind and thinks for me, and lately he’s helped me resolve many things. When I ask him about things like acting, he teaches me properly. But he talks really fast and is really soft so I don’t really know what he says. He gets angry if I ask him too many times, so lately I don’t repeat my questions (laughs). During YouTube videos he works hard and projects his voice but in the mornings he’s so quiet it’s worrying (laughs).

For Uminchu, our atmosphere and the way we feel is similar. We would both feel, “We worked hard today, so let’s get a nice meal.” When it’s just the two of us, we split the bills at restaurants but he treats me at the convenience store. I find it interesting that he always reveals his natural self so quickly, but I can’t say that to him directly (laughs). Lately he shows me his script for “Haken no Hinkaku” and I sit next to him, thinking about acting as he practices his lines. He really inspires me.

Shizu is Daddy. Daddy Father. He’s responsible, so he gives me good answers when I discuss my problems with him. Shizu also confides in me when he’s troubled, so I want to give him good answers too. He’s able to look at the entire group objectively and supports us from the background.

He used unique words and seemed to have fun speaking about the members. When asked about himself, he gave an unexpected response, “Normally, we converse in Japanese, but I find that I’m starting to be unable to hold conversations with people I come in contact with.” I thought that our conversation was going well…

These interviews are fine. But when I’m talking to the members or people at the agency, my Japanese gets all mixed up and they ask me what I’m trying to say. I know the phrases, but I can’t form the sentences in my head. Somehow, the members know what I’m trying to say. Especially Matsukura. It’s amazing, when I raise my hand and go “Uii”, he knows that I want us to go to the toilet together. When I raise my opinions during serious meetings, Matsukura helps interpret what I’m trying to say.

During Summer Paradise, I wrote down phrases and drew pictures with coloured pencils to explain what I wanted to the staff. The staff would reply with, “What does this mean?” I’d end up having to explain another day through a letter. That’s why I think that I have to learn to speak Japanese properly. I usually go with my senses. My life is like “who’s logic?” It’s like I’ve to change many trains to be able to reach my destination and achieve a logical life. I’m always serious inside. Other than Shime and I, the other members are logical types. Matsukura even more so than Noel.

Are there other moments when you feel like you’re a sensory-type?

On stage, based on the view I see I feel that I’m currently at number 2, if I move slightly to the left I’m at number 3. That’s how I remember positions. Also, when I’m reaching for something at home, I don’t look at the item, but reach out based on where I sensed it was before… Hmm, it seems I can’t really explain well. Can I explain through a letter on a later date?