[Translation] SCawaii April 2014 Interview

[Delirium-Zer0]

I really liked this interview, so I translated it - sorry if anyone else has translated it already, I didn't see it anywhere. Enjoy!

Translation: Delirium-Zer0

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______COVER GIRL CLOSE-UP!_______

Hamasaki Ayumi
New Step!
Ayumi Hamasaki
___________________________
ayu's first little notes from L.A. <3

After her 15th Anniversary, ayu makes another new start.
Everyone feels insecure when taking new steps forward.
ayu is no different. But if we don't alter ourselves, nothing changes.
"Summon up your courage, get ready... You'll never know if you don't try!"

Photos: Gori Kuramoto (PygmyCompany) / Styling: Kei Ito (abfab) / Hair & Makeup: Yuusuke Kawakita / Nails: Miho Ookawara (esNAIL) / Eyelashes: Ketsumi Katayama (esNAIL)
Interview & Text: Takako Tsuriya / Design: Yoshitatsu Yamaya (Ma-hGra) / Layout: Yuuji Kakiuchi
*All clothing items are self-owned.

"Springtime means being thrilled.
It's a season where new beginnings make sense.
I, too, am taking steps again."

"A brand new attitude--
with that in mind,
these days I enjoy white again."

"Music and my daily life
are both important things. I could
never give up on either one."

When you resolve to do something, don't postpone.
"Right now," no matter what

---- What challenges are new for ayu (note: the person, not the product) right now?

"If I had to pick something, maybe that I've moved to L.A. I'm trying to get used to having a new environment and routine. Because there are nuances to it."

---- Are you the type of person who thinks really thoroughly about it before they try something new?

"Oh not at all! (laughs) I don't hesitate - when I think 'I wanna try such-and-such,' I wanna try it right now. My various mistakes, as everyone knows, have all been lessons. It may be because of how repetitive those lessons have been, but the result is that whatever happens, I'm completely without fear. Rather than being indecisive before taking action, I give it a shot right away. THEN if I think I've made a mistake, I can always change course, you know?"

---- What's a new challenge you've taken on in L.A.?

"The biggest thing is keeping my work and my private life strictly separated. But I haven't gotten good at that yet."

---- And what are some of your advantages?

"Even I don't know about that, so I'll wonder 'What could go wrong?' While I'm hopeful, I might still have a little bit of anxiety trying something new. Up until now I didn't think about time, I would wake up only when I wanted to wake up, and the next day I'd feel like just waking up whenever work happens. Now, whether or not there's anything going on, I invariably wake up at 8 AM, do yoga, get breakfast ready...　I don't take any work phone calls after 9 PM. I don't bring work home, I've made the time spent at my house my private time. That's what I've been putting into practice. Naturally, when I make music, that's different though. With that, I'll say 'Let's see here...' and try something, but that might possibly result in me saying 'Sorry! Figures, I have no idea what I'm doing!' Still, I'll never know if I don't try once, right?"

---- There are a ton of things I don't know about because I haven't tried doing them. By the way, are you one of those people who plans pivotal moments on April 1st? (note: Alot of people sign leases, form companies, get married, etc on April 1st, and this is when the school year starts. It's the beginning of the fiscal year over there.)

"I don't care about that at all. (laughs) When I decide on something, it's for 'now.' For example, people will plan for 'next week' or say 'What month should I start dieting?' and stuff... on the contrary, I'm the type who's incapable of postponing anything. Because at that moment, I don't see anything to be concerned about. Whether I'm starting something or ending something, once I decide, I say 'I'm doing this now.'"

---- That's how it's been lately?

It has. Like right now, I've given up wine, but until now I was someone who had fun just looking at wine lists at wine clubs, so when I decided 'Alright, that'll do' it was a very tearful farewell. (laugh)

---- Hahaha! What would you say is a "new step" sort of thing for you as Hamasaki Ayumi (note: the product, not the person)?

"Probably that I've started working with L.A.-based producers. Now that I'm living in L.A., I thought 'I want to do work I could only do in L.A.' I was very proactive about it."

---- April is a time when meeting new people isn't unexpected, however for ayu that was when a new love began. How's that feel?

"I don't have any thoughts. It's often said 'He's my ultimate person! <3', and even I've said that, but "no big deal" is nice too, isn't it? There were guys who would both mistreat me at times AND make me say 'I went out with him again!' smiling. And let's just say that even when everyone around me hated the guy, I'd think 'Well I'M okay' and that'd be fine. But you know what? Guys that people around me are opposed to is quite the mistake pattern for me. (laugh)"

---- I know what you mean! They'll say "That's not the way to go" but you'll say "I'm going!"

"That is absolutely true! And my friends would say that but I would totally shut them out! (laughs) But it's my own life, so there's nothing for me to do except what I feel like doing."

---- Do you want to be in love more than you want to be loved?

"I think so. But I don't think I want to be the girlfriend of someone who's similar to me, personally. It seems like it'd be fun, but it also seems like it would be a disaster. (laughs) In reality, I think anyone who's talented at handling me is amazing. To anyone who's not that person I'd have to say 'Impossible!'"

---- Hahaha. Well, whether it's a new challenge or romance, mistakes are unavoidable, but what advice would you give?

"When you're doing anything, if you don't put as much effort as possible into it, that's no good. If you don't take it seriously, that's no good. You have to gather up all your willpower and make the attempt. Now, making a decision when you're full of anxiety isn't what I'd call the best idea, even if you've spent so long being worried that you've wasted time, you know? But whether you decide quickly by following your instincts, or you spend alot of time hesitating because you're apprehensive, whichever way you go about it is fine, but once you do make that decision, it is essential that you be resolute, and be ready to put everything into it."

---- How would you cheer on the young people who think to themselves "I want to become pretty!"?

"Haven't you already gotten started on it the moment you think 'I want to become pretty'? It's not that you're comparing yourself to someone else - I personally think it's a very good thing if we say 'I want to become pretty' compared to ourselves as we are right now, and just compete with ourselves. It's wonderful to have personal landmarks, and to take on challenges at those times. And I think if you start doing something and it really wears you out, that's when you have to really keep at it, because that's what brings good results. Keep progressing without letting anyone distract you! People are people. So we are who we are.♪"

"I don't compare myself to other people.
Because there's no reason to.
This is my life."