[2014.04] Wink Up -Shou-

The 13^th week’s theme is “Fantasy.” Shou completed a photo shoot with the motif “Alice in Wonderland.”

-This time you did a shoot with the theme “A Mad Tea-Party,” a scene from Alice in Wonderland, right?

Shou: That’s right. With Laduree cakes carelessly placed on tables, it’s “a tea-party that doesn’t stop until time runs out.” I wanted to produce that kind of madness. The costume was also prepared with that theme in mind. Personally I really enjoy those kinds of situations, so much that I even got excited during the shoot! Because I love cakes and things like that. Last year during my birthday with the fan club, we served guests their favorite teas and desserts. We also invited Dasoku (a Nico Nico artist) to perform while I poured everyone tea, and afterwards I did a duet with him. I love café au lait, so I enjoy going to cafes even by myself. But I don’t like things that only have a sweet side. Isn’t it better if you add a little bit of bitterness? Sweet things are cute but rather tacky. Adding some darkness and madness in the mix would make things much more alluring. For this photo shoot, I wanted to show the charm of cakes messily scattered around instead of prettily lined up. This feeling is also part of Alice Nine’s foundation.

—I see. Is the “Alice” of Alice Nine from “Alice in Wonderland”?

Shou: The “Alice” is also part of “Alice in Wonderland,” but I originally took it from Mayumi Nagano’s “Shonen Arisu*.” Like creating a vivid fantasy, you can experience the extraordinary by adding a touch of madness to the basis of ordinary things.

—But in contrast you also create something great, don’t you?

Shou: Yes, yes. You can make curry more delicious by using a little sugar. Adding brown sugar to mapo-tofu also increases the umami taste!

— So you cook!

Shou: Mhm. Just well enough!

—In other words, you don’t like things that are only sweet- girls as well?

Shou: Ahhhh yes yes [laugh]. Compared to girls who are always sweet, I prefer those who are sometimes aloof. Guys are weak in that regards. We’re rather simple beings, aren’t we. [laugh]

T/N: From what I can gather, it’s a short literary work written in 1989 about a boy who goes to his school garden at night and enters some fantastical world. Something about creating moon and stars, friendship/brotherhood, youth, and an ultramarine-colored world.

Credits: hellotime-being