[anan no.2217] Close Up: Matsuda Genta x Matsukura Kaito

[pigs-canflyy.livejournal.com]

Telepathic Groove

“MatsuMatsu” are Matsuda Genta and Matsukura Kaito from Travis Japan. In addition to their performances being in sync, they are also close in private. Everyone recognises them as the destined pairing.

Matsuda Genta
I think I first took note of Kaito’s existence during 2011’s SUMMARY. He was being teased by other juniors in the dressing room and I apparently helped him by saying “stop it” to the other juniors. At that time my impression of him was that he was as weak as a straw. But now, he’s the one who helps me out. During the stay home period, I started to think that we would have to be in quarantine forever. I saw Noeru studying sign language, Kaito was writing songs and lyrics, my seniors were working hard when I saw them on TV, but I was the only one doing nothing. I thought that things were bad and I felt so down that I couldn’t even talk to my parents. At that time, the one who I could confide in and the one who encouraged me was Kei. Ah, we usually call each other “Kei”, but he told me, “I understand how you feel, but don’t say such things! There’s no MatsuMatsu without you, Kei!”
Kei understands me, and gives me the answers I’m seeking, that’s why I’m able to show him my weak side. Ah, I remember! When Kei was still a paper straw, he confided in me about how he didn’t like who he was. At that time, I told him “Please talk to me if there’s anything!” And now several years later, Kei told me the same thing. At that time I felt thankful that Kei was always by my side. It may be gross, but we put such feelings into words and try to properly talk to each other.

During the solo lives earlier, I was so touched by Kei’s expressiveness that I was speechless. My heart was moved and I really respect him. I’m proud to be near to someone like him, and once again I felt that I really liked him. To describe us in one phrase - destined partners. Without Kei, I wouldn’t be the person I am now. If we were male and female, we would be married with kids (lol). If only Kei was really a girl.

Matsukura Kaito
The first time we met was Genta’s audition, four months after I joined the agency. My impression of him was that he was a refreshing young boy who played soccer. I never imagined that he would become the person I am most comfortable with. We started dancing in symmetry from 2012’s SUMMARY, but I used to get so angry I wouldn’t speak to Genta for 2 months because his words didn’t match his actions. His randomness hasn’t changed even now though (lol). But Genta is really well loved by the people around him. He’s positive and upright, so people can be themselves around him. I really admire that about him. I was most helped by Genta’s presence during the Jr Units war period (ユニット戦国時代). I had been in the play “Endless SHOCK” from autumn 2015, but when I returned HiHi Jets and Bishounen had been formed and there were so many units within the juniors. But I wasn’t in any of them. I got really flustered. Genta was the one I could share those feelings of insecurity with.
I think that was when we became partners who helped each other improve instead of seeing each other as rivals.

Lately, Genta has been working really hard at Tsukkomi. I think he wants to change something about himself. I’m sensitive to such changes about Genta. If he works hard, something new might come out of it, but when he tries too hard, it becomes frustrating for me to look at him. I think that Genta is fine as he is!

What I want to tell him now would be thank you for always walking together with me. Even when we climb mountains you don’t just walk ahead, you pull me along when I’m tired and stop moving. Also, thank you for playing online games with me at night. It’s hard to find someone to spend both work and play time together. As expected, Genta is my destined partner.

Cross talk

🧡: The amazing part about MatsuMatsu is how close we are, right?
💙: That’s right. It’s the first time there is a shinme this close in Johnny’s. (シンメ - dancing in symmetry)
🧡: I’m not too sure about that (lol).
💙: We’re pretty much a married couple. We were off yesterday and Kei asked me what I was doing. I told him I was in the salon. He said he was also in the salon so let’s meet up to eat and shop after. We had karaage on the terrace seats and went shopping together.
🧡: I somehow know when Genta is free.
💙: We don’t fight at all, right?
🧡: We don’t! Even if I think “Hmm?”, we’re not kids anymore.
💙: I don’t even think “Hmm?” though (lol).
🧡: No way! That can’t be true? When you stayed over the other time and I wouldn’t wake up even though my alarm kept ringing, your mood worsened slightly!
💙: That was only because it was in the morning!
🧡: Our mothers are close too! Me, my mother, Genta and Genta’s mother are in a group chat called “MatsuMatsuMatsuMatsu” together.
💙: It’s a group chat where we just praise each other (lol).
🧡: Genta’s mother sent me a really long message about how she felt after watching my solo live for Summer Paradise 2020.
💙: You had to scroll about three times?
🧡: On the other hand, my mother sent Genta a message saying “It was good~”. We then replied with a “Thank you! As expected of MatsuMatsuMatsuMatsu!” (lol)
Our mothers go for lunch together as well.
💙: They come watch our lives together too. My mother said they were planning to go on a trip together next.
🧡: Ehh, is that so?! I didn’t know about that (lol).

The moment MatsuMatsu’s strong bond was formed

💙: I don’t think there really was a definite moment, right?
🧡: Yup, it happened gradually.
💙: Like how ice slowly hardens when you put water in the freezer.
🧡: That’s so easy to understand! MatsuMatsu isn’t something we made, but thankfully it was the fans who like how we’re close and pushed us up.
💙: That’s why we never made a plan like “let’s proceed as MatsuMatsu!” right?
🧡: Yup, we didn’t.
💙: Yeah, we never formally registered our marriage.
🧡: You’re so good at metaphors! It’s like we’re unofficially married. But during the solo interview earlier, I talked about how we would talk about work every time we met up during the Jr. Unit war period.
💙: Yes, I remember!
🧡: At one time, we both went blonde...
💙: Ahahahaha!
🧡: Let’s be twins! - we made a such a plan, right?
💙: Yes! Yes! (lol)
🧡: We were really so worried then, “what should we do? should we try to sell the twins image?” (lol)
💙: We were like, “Yes, let’s do it!”
🧡: That’s why we became blonde together. We’ve never talked about this before?
💙: We haven’t. In the end, we were really described as twins.
🧡: Yup.
💙: We really won back then.
🧡: Genta was really into it from the start, but till the end I felt that having the same hair colour would reduce our individuality.
💙: But how did you feel after doing it?
🧡: That we really looked like twins (lol).
💙: Before we joined Travis Japan, I always saw Kei as my rival.
🧡: That’s right.
💙: Even though I still see you as my rival, gradually I began to feel that you were more of someone who would fight alongside me.
🧡: Same feelings as above.
💙: Some day I want MatsuMatsu to star in a movie or drama together!
🧡: I want to as well!
💙: When we achieve that dream, we’ll be welcoming the group (Genta says 歓迎 kangei instead of 還元 kangen)
🧡: Giving back to the group, you mean.
💙: It would be nice to give back to the group. (laugh)
🧡: Honestly, even though we’re just having fun, we’re so happy that people are picking up on MatsuMatsu.
💙: Yes, we’re really so thankful.

Unforgettable words that have touched your hearts

💙: I was happy when the members said “We’re happy that it’s MatsuMatsu (who joined the group).”
🧡: I really feel that too.
💙: Even though back then I appeared to be strong, I was really worried if the members and fans would accept me. That’s why I’m so happy to be told that.
🧡: Even now they say it to us, at various times.
💙: Like when we wait to cross the street.
🧡: They really do say it to us in those moments! The one who says it the most is (Nakamura) Kaito. Miyachika won’t say it (lol).
💙: Shizuya too.
🧡: He will say “Oi, MatsuMatsu are funny ~” though (lol). Ah, Noeru will say it to us. Shime will also say it to us.
💙: But his voice is soft, so I don’t know what he’s saying (lol).
🧡: Yeah, his voice is unexpectedly low.
💙: When we are told “We’re happy it’s MatsuMatsu”, we just reply “Thank you!” normally but we’re really happy inside.
🧡: But the fact that we’re able to reply normally shows that we have really become a part of the group after joining three years ago!