10. Life-size Presentation

Talking to you, I can tell that when people separate you from themselves by talking about you like you’re a genius, is wrong. Rather, you see things as a normal person, stare at them, and while you’re staring at them, problems appear that you want to solve. You make that activity your work.

Oh, I guess so. (laughs)

Something further I’d like to discuss is what you think about the opposite of that normal viewpoint - about a more artistic spark, like creativity on a Hollywood scale. In other words, something that is totally distant from your own work.

Well, I don’t have what it takes to move people and things on the scale of a Hollywood movie. That is very clear. Sometimes I think it would be great to have a concert for tens of thousands of people, but I don’t have that capacity.

Do you like to watch events like that?

Yeah, I do watch them, but in a relatively detached way. The more the audience goes wild, the faker it seems.

But the Mario games have excited millions of people all over the world!

Yeah, I guess. But that’s a little different than moving lots of people all at once.

You just aren’t cut out for moving lots of people?

I am somewhat jealous that I can’t do it, but if you asked whether I want to or not, I don’t really want to.

I hesitate to mix myself into the conversation, but you and I have always had a lot in common. But in this matter, I just noticed a big difference. I love it when everyone gets excited.

Oh.

And I have that jealousy too, but it’s more like admiration.

I see.

How can I put it? I think it’s interesting when the audience comes to life regardless of what’s happening on stage, maybe when nothing special is happening at all.

I, on the other hand, want to see a special skill or something to warrant that excitement. I’m interested in how well the performer can present that.

That’s the viewpoint of a performer.

Oh, I suppose so.

I love that feeling of being just another member of the audience when the crowd comes to life. I don’t really evaluate the performance, but a lot of the time I think, “That was fun!”

Yeah, I’m different that way.

Yeah. Well, maybe I’m just an enthusiastic fan! This may be something unique about me and different from Iwata-san.

Maybe I don’t have very many of my own amusements or pastimes.

What about guitar?

Yeah, I can really enjoy guitar.

But you wouldn’t want to play a guitar concert with an audience cheering for you?

No, absolutely not. This may connect to what we were saying earlier about dramas and the reality they create. I prefer a more realistic presentation. You can tell when it isn’t.

Oh, I see. That makes sense.

So when I was young I could never accept anything considered heta-uma (technically unimpressive, but impressive in other ways).

Oh, uh-huh.

But as I got older, I’ve noticed that what’s actually popular isn’t the person themselves, but rather that person’s technique. Since then, I’ve come to have interest in art that isn’t technically impressive.

I see.

So the reason I remain unmoved at events where large crowds are going wild probably lies in my nature.

Well, while we’re on the topic, suppose your child said, “Dad! Look at me!” and did a little dance, and it was obviously awful dancing. What would you do?

…

Would you think how technically it’s no good?

Uh... yeah.

I wondered.

I… don’t like that about myself but I’d probably try to fix it.

Whoa!

Of course, in reality, as I get older, I know that I’ll get amused just by watching small kids dancing, and I wouldn’t try to correct them, but fundamentally, as a personal preference, I probably…

You prefer proper dancing.

Yeah. I feel a little guilty about that. Because while I say things like, “Go play outside!”, and “Learn from your bruises!”, there’s also a desire to prevent them from getting hurt..

Well, both attitudes are necessary. It isn’t exactly an eternal truth, but part of you seeks something well-done, something spot-on, and at the same time, another part of you watches a child dancing and says, “Hey, that’s great!” I’m always telling my wife’s mother, without any hesitation at all, “You look as lovely as ever!” (laughs)

(laughs)

Well, I’m a little older than you are, so perhaps I’ve swum ahead to where I can be comfortable with that.

Yeah. I’ll try to catch up. (laughs)