i like osaka because there is my family, i like tokyo because there's yamapi
Ryo

Nishikido in the West, Akanishi in the East? That is unfair to Ryo-chan, because in my heart, Ryo-chan is a very special person.
Yamapi -Wink Up 2000.8

Yamapi is my heart's oasis
-Ryo -Myojo 1999.6

“Oh, Baby!” Ryo-chan should understand from this. He calls often nowadays and when I say “Oh, Baby!” he’ll reply with “Oh, baby! What are you doing now?”
Yamapi - Potato 2004

If Yamapi drowns, i'll save him
Ryo -Myojo 1999

Q. Who would you pick to be your girlfriend in the members?
A. Ryo-chan. I know him the best and so does he
Yamapi – Potato 2005.03

Q.If you want to fall in love with a Jr, who would that be?
A.P-chan, Yamapi
Ryo- From a TV show long ago

Yamapi is someone you can depend. When I was in junior high some people were telling ghost stories, I was scared and asked Yamapi “Come to the washroom with me!” and he did. He’s always been a manly person. He's also very like my mom.
Ryo

If i live with NEWS, I'd be in charge of cooking. I want to make delicious food for everyone. I'd make curry rice since everytime i make curry rice, it'll last for three days. I'll make peperoncino on odd days of the week and curry rice on even days of the week. One who is picky on food would be ryo-chan. He is the type who will say "oh this tastes horrible". However, if it's curry, there'd definitely be not problem because i know he loves curry *laughs*.
Yamapi- NEWS winter con 08 pamphlet

If i live with NEWS, i would live in the same room as yamapi since he won't harm me
Ryo- NEWS winter con 08 pamphlet

The member I'm in contact with the most is Ryo-chan. More than keeping in contact, it's like I meet with him often. So I keep in contact with him to make plans... There's also a pattern of me just going places and him happening to be there though.
Pi- Wink Up November 2007

Question: What is Yamapi's weakness?
Answer: On the stage, he easily forgets where he is supposed to stand and usually stands at the wrong position. Because he makes too many errors, I would realize when he walks to the wrong position. And at that point in time, I myself would forget where I'm supposed to stand *laughs*. Something which yamapi isn't good at.. honestly there is none. I have known him for a very long time and get along very well with him. To me, I feel that he is someone that would make me very happy when i'm together with. Among the members, the one who show that he's angry the least would be Yamapi.
- Ryo- Duet March 2008

Yamashita: Okay, should we start with Ryo-chan? I LOVE(in english) Ryo-chan.
-Yamapi, Kusano, Shige, Massu- Wink Up May 2005