Why he thinks that there’s a difference between being popular and being well-liked.

You know, in order to be able to experience an emotion about something, you need to put in energy right? And since I don’t wish to expend energy on negative feelings such as hatred, I simply don’t dislike people. On the other hand, when I like something/someone, since it generates positive energy I tend to cherish it all the more. However, it may be because I don’t outwardly express it, so it’s hard for people to understand me. That’s probably why I don’t have many friends my age. I always go drinking with people in their forties! (laughs). You know, people like (Takahashi) Katsumi-san, Katsumura (Masanobu)-san. (laughs)

In contrast, I’ve never thought about whether I was a well-liked person. If I had to choose between whether I was popular or unpopular, I probably would choose the latter. It’s true! If I weren’t favoured by people who had an interest in me, I wouldn’t think of myself as being popular. In my mind, being well-liked and being popular are two completely different concepts.

Someone who came to our concert could go, “Wow, Arashi is really well-liked!” But I wouldn’t translate that as being popular. I’m really happy when I receive such support [from the fans], but you know, it’s probably because you watch me from a distance that you’re able to continue liking me. For example, I like Takeuchi Yuko. (Translator’s note: Me too, Nino!) However, I like her from watching her movies and reading about her in magazines. My feelings towards her are somewhat a mixture of respect and illusions. I don’t want to ruin [this distance], so if an offer came for me to act with her in a project, I probably would be very vexed. That’s the same manner in which people like me. I think there would be very little people who would like the way I rush home after a live performance to play computer games. If there was someone who actually liked how I really was, I would think that’s quite pitiful! I would think, “Well, there are better men [to like] out there aren’t there!”