I think that says a lot about his insecurities. Everyone knows he values his friends the most and that he can't bear to be alone. A large part of his cheerful and friendly personality is probably due to not wanting to be disliked. He also knows that one of the reasons why he's so popular is because he has a pretty face. So what if he was to lose that? Would he lose everything else?

On September 17, 2002, during a Johnny's Jr. fan event, a man attacked Yamapi by pouring unidentified liquid all over his face. Luckily the liquid was not corrosive and did not leave any physical marks on him. But what if it was and did?

Yamapi has mentioned in magazine interviews that he wants to try shaving his head. What he didn't say is that the jimusho won't allow him to do it, (most of) the fans won't forgive him for doing it, and he himself would hesitate before doing it simply because such a big change in his outward appearance is too risky. In the 2004.12.12 O.A. Shounen Club, Yamapi acted out his ideal X'mas date. He would wear really lame clothes and take his girlfriend to eat fast food. What he was trying to show then wasn't that his fashion is awful or that he has no sense of propriety. Rather, he wanted something ordinary. And of course his girlfriend should be someone who can like him as a person instead of focusing on his appearance or fame.

There's also the matter of his personality. Prior to "Nobuta. wo Produce" Yamapi only played cool or aloof characters in TV dramas. Hell, he showed more personality in that one engimono and short skits than most of his TV dramas combined (with the exception of "Kabachitare!!", which will always have a special place in my heart). This need to present Yamapi as a cool idol severely limited his ability as an actor, and I hated the jimusho for that. Fortunately "Nobuta. wo Produce" came to save the day, even if Yamapi was demoted from the co-main-actor to the supporting character. "Nobuta. wo Produce" allowed Yamapi to expand his acting skills because the original Akira was a flat, boring character. Yamapi put everything he had into making Akira interesting. Yes, the Akira you see on screen is mostly a Yamapi creation. All of his gestures and witty (or crazy, depending on your POV) antics are the results of his years of acting experiences. However, Yamapi was again bombarded by his insecurities and worries during the first few weeks (or maybe even month) of filming. How would his fans react to such a drastic change in his personality on screen? Not to mention most of it was really himself...*coughs* Would they forsake him now?

I think it's sad. Why do we as fans impose such burdens on him just because we like him? So he's a celebrity. So he has an image to uphold. But if we really like him, shouldn't we support him as a person, not because we like how he looks or because he's supposedly cool?

If he had asked me that question when I first became his fan, I would have anwered no. Simply because it *was* his face that interested me. Or rather, because he was such an adorable boy. But after getting to know him throughout his career by watching him on various shows and drama, then seeing him perform as NEWS and interact with his fellow members, reading his jweb diary entries and magazine interviews, and finally his own column 0409, I realize I've come to love him as a person. It's not about the face anymore. True, I still like his face and if possible would prefer him to remain pretty forever. But that's no longer a requirement to liking him. He shines so brilliantly in other ways that even if he was to shave his head, grew a beard/goatee, become fat, or whatever else that make him lose the physical attractions he has now, he would still be the same Yamapi to me. And that is enough.