I wasn't good at expressing myself in front of people, but Johnny-san gave me the confidence to do so. He taught me everything. When I was troubled over my adolescent, rebellious phase he told me, "That's your individuality! It's cool!" Even now that I'm grown up, just like Johnny-san, my favorite type of work is concerts. Keeping everything he told me in my heart, I'll do my best to continue to create the type of entertainment that Johnny-san loves so much as well as to deliver dreams to our fans. We, each of Johnny-san's sons, will continue to realize his dream. I love you. Johnny-san. Thank you so, so much.
I'm truly full of gratitude towards Johnny-san. My life changed drastically when I met him. My precious family also expanded dramatically. When the other members and I started talking, one memory after another started to come back to us. Remember when Johnny-san did that one thing? Remember when he took us to that one place? All of the memories were good ones. There were so many smiles. He really liked things that made others happy. We learned many different things from Johnny-san, so we'll make sure to pass those things on to our fans in our own way. Johnny-san! Rest well!
I met Johnny-san for the first time when I was in the 5th grade, when I went to the Johnny's fall audition. I still remember thinking, "I wonder who that is." only for him to introduce himself, "I'm the world's Johnny." When I was in Johnny's Jr. he would give each of us a coupon for ramen. At the time, that was normal to us, but thinking back on it now I realize how kind he was. He really looked after each of us closely. Even now, I somehow feel like he'll show up to our rehearsal with hamburgers and say something unreasonable like, "Eat those while you rehearse!" There are so many things I've been able to see in this world because Johnny-san chose me. From now on, we'll do our best to convey the things that Johnny-san taught us as well as the world he showed us. Thank you, Johnny-san.
When Johnny-san was taken to the hospital we all went to see him as soon as we could. He reacted when he was told, "Johnny-san. Hey! Say! JUMP's here to see you." He seemed happy. As each of us spoke to him he responded by moving his feet. As I watched, strangely enough, it felt as though the room became brighter. I thought, Johnny-san truly is so kind and is always an entertainer. We heard the news about Johnny-san last night after we all finished a job together. It was the first time Hey! Say! JUMP's dressing room has ever been that quiet. Speaking for myself, to be frank, it hasn't really sunk in yet. I feel like he'll show up and say, "Just kidding! Were you surprised?" and make us smile again. I hugged Johnny-san's body and whispered in his ear, "Thank you so much for finding me, a boy with no skills, all the way in Miyagi Prefecture." I thought Johnny-san wouldn't want me to cry so I smiled and whispered in his ear over and over again, "Thank you." In sleep, Johnny-san's face was calm and overflowing with kindness until the very end. To me, it doesn't feel right to say he "died". To say he "is at peace" makes it easier for me to come to terms with. I have many memories with Johnny-san such as going out to eat together. When I was still getting used to Tokyo, he took me to an amusement park. Thinking back on it now, he always went above and beyond what a normal company president would do. Johnny-san taught me so much about the love of an entertainer. So from now on, along with the Johnny-san who lives on in our hearts, Johnny's idols will work hand in hand to liven up Japan's entertainment industry and deliver any happy news to the Johnny-san in heaven. Johnny-san. Become the number one in entertainment in heaven too. Thank you so much. I love you.
The two phrases he used translate literally to 亡くなった (died) and 亡くなって居る (is dead). He emphasized 居る (is), perhaps to mean that he's not gone, but is still in their hearts.
Many memories of Johnny-san are coming back to me right now. From the first time I met him, Johnny-san would always interact with me on the same level. He's normally gentle, but becomes strict and stubborn when it comes to concerts. When I went to see the concert of one of my seniors, Johnny-san was always the first to start lining up chairs. When we went to the amusement park he would have fun on the roller coasters with me. Many people were surprised that a company president would act that way. I've heard men and women of all ages speak of Johnny-san and they all smiled happily as they did so. I loved Johnny-san for that and I was very proud of him. I promised to liven up Japan's entertainment industry so that he wouldn't scold me and say, "I'm bored." Thank you, Johnny-san. Thank you so much for all of your hard work until now. Rest well.
Johnny-san is the one who made Johnny's as big as it is now. We, the artists, thought of him not only as the company president, but even more so as a father. Sometimes we would fight and sometimes we would laugh together... He was both strict and kind... He was a great person. When I was a Jr. I appeared in Takizawa-kun's stage "ONE". There was a scene where I had a solo dance. After that scene Johnny-san came running over to me, hugged me and said, "You! That was incredible!" That was the first and last time he ever complimented me. He doesn't give out many compliments. *laugh* But that's his way of love. The artists of Johnny's will study daily and devote ourselves to continuously improve upon what Johnny-san has built and deliver that to our fans. Johnny-san's will lives on within us. We will continue to produce the best performances we can alongside Johnny-san. Johnny-san. Thank you so much for all of your hard work over such a long period of time. First, rest well. After you've rested for a while, let's make the best performances we can again, within our hearts. Johnny-san. Thank you.
Thank you for creating Johnny's. Thank you for finding me. Thank you for creating Hey! Say! JUMP. There was so much to learn from working together to make Johnny-san's dream a reality. Working to give people dreams and hope is so rewarding. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I would never have had such experiences if I weren't in Johnny's. We're Johnny-san's children. We will continue to work together as an agency and devote ourselves to Johnny-san's spirit in regards entertainment. First, you probably don't want to, but please rest well. Then, if you become a star, please produce the universe as well. Thank you so much for everything.
Johnny-san's entertainment was always with me for all 25 years of my life. I'm so happy to have been able to create entertainment with him for about 16 of those years. He would always come to our rehearsals and when we were hungry he'd go out and buy us food himself. He really was like a father to us. I will continue to take all of the love he gave us and put it into our entertainment so that we can make many people smile. Thank you so much.
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