What made Takeshi change?

[sreyda]

I'm curious as to when Takeshi's personality changed to become so introverted. I've only been a fan for a few months and I've heard that in his younger days he was a lot more outgoing and now.....well we all know. So something must've happen....?

[kewpie-chan]

Speaking from personal experience of having gone through something similar (from what I've read so far) to Takeshi-san's youth, probably changed after being teased if not bullied at school.
I've been told by relatives before I started going to school, was a very outgoing chatterbox. Then I started school or should I say schools. Went to regular public school and Japanese school (Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning.)
Lemme tell ya, I'd love to one day have a discussion with Takeshi-san where we can both share our experiences going through bi-cultural schools, ijime by classmates, stereotypes, insecurity both at home and school, etc. 'Cuz you know, stuff like that has a huge impact on how you turn out to be as a person and how you are in relationships.

[kewpie-chan]

Dou Takeshi-san? Itsuka kono koto wo hanashimashouka?

[lily]

Takeshi changed? I still see him as an outgoing guy. If he used to be a lot more talkative, then I didn't know that. I did read about him being teased in school and it's understandable if he transitioned from a chatty kid to a reserved individual. I think it's just a part of growing up. We change from experiences.

[kewpie-chan]

Oh yes, of course one changes as they grow up. I've come full circle...started out as chatty and outgoing, then turned quiet and a bit introverted and now back where I started from. ;D

[lisab]

I wouldn't be surprised is the "introversion" is really a defense mechanism against the constant interest in his life too. I'm sure he's hounded by the press everywhere.

Sreyda, I love your sig pic! Is it available in a larger format somewhere? ;D

[kewpie-chan]

Hmm, no doubt. But it's all speculation since that's him and his life. And no one can really understand another till (as the saying goes) you walk a mile in another man's shoes.

[lily]

Yes and with that said, I like him just the way he is. As Billy Joel says in his song, "Just The Way You Are",

I said I love you and that's forever,
And this I promise from the heart.
I could not love you any better,
I love you just the way you are.

That's how I feel about Takeshi, whether he decides to change some thing about himself or not.

[sukyin]

Takeshi-san has not changed at all. Basically, he is still the same complex person due to having been brought up in a complex asian home, culture and environment at that time. This was what had structured the character that he is today. However, I would think that it is to his advantage that he grew up in such an environment, for it gave him the inner strength and qualities to survive in his present world. He is aware that he looks good, but it is no big deal to him, 'cos he has to live with the way he looks. Hence, you will find that he is just not naccisistic about his looks . The only down point is that good looks is a two edged sword. It is good and it is bad. Good, in that it helped make him a star. The bad, is that it becomes his prison, for as he become more famous and as he matures he realises that he has to build defenses to protect his private life and the freedom which he yearns. Instead of facing life and the media and fans straight on until they have had enough and not go a frenzy over him anymore, he retreats more and more into his shell which he finds he can do naturally. The adds more mystery to himself and more pressure. And, being too much a recluse can eventually become a bad habit, which one can find hard to get rid of.

If he had not been famous like what he is now, I would think that basically, he would still be the quiet introvert that he is, happy in his own skin, sensible and down to earth and reclusive. He is what he had been moulded to be in his growing years a "lone wolf".

[sreyda]

Hi lisab, as far as I know that's the only size i've seen. Yeah, I wish it was bigger too. I think this is from his most recent biotherm ad, maybe last month. There is an official site, so maybe there could be a bigger format there, but i can't read chinese so i didn't really surf the entire site.

[lisab]

Bummer. I don't read Chinese either! Such a gorgeous pic . . . such a gorgeous man.

[kewpie-chan]

sukyin said:

...The only down point is that good looks is a two edged sword. It is good and it is bad. Good, in that it helped make him a star. The bad, is that it becomes his prison, for as he become more famous and as he matures he realises that he has to build defenses to protect his private life and the freedom which he yearns....

You make an interesting observation sukyin. It is true that having good looks is both a blessing and a curse. I can only imagine what it must be like for Takeshi-san...and it makes me wonder had my grandmother not put her foot down when I was a child, how it could have affected my life/personality. I was "discovered" (I guess that's the term they use these days) by an ad-man and he wanted me to pose in some print ads (forget for what product). At the time I was a child in Japan, kewpie dolls were very popular and my grandfather nicknamed me "kewpie-chan" since so many people said with my big eyes and natural curly hair I looked like one. Hence, my handle here LOL! Anyway, long story short, I guess this guy wanted to put me in ads to show a real live kewpie-chan doll and came this close to making a deal but two things stood in the way: one, I wasn't a native Japanese citizen and two, my grandmother said "no way" saying she didn't want such a young child expose to such things yet. If I had been at least 6 or 7 yrs old, she would've consented but being less than 4 years old was too young.
So anyway, my point is (sorry this is so long) that as an adult, it's hard enough to protect oneself from the glaring media 24/7 and try to lead a "normal" life as possible...for a child, can't imagine! I wonder though, as a child was he teased or picked on for his looks too?

[sukyin]

Kewpie-chan, in my opinion, I believe your Grandma made a wise opinion especially when you were then so young. Just think, what the pressure can do to your young life if you had gone the other way. It is terribly, terribly hard to withstand the pressure of heaps of unwanted attention, and the loss of privacy, etc. It affects one physcologically, spiritually, emotionaly, etc. I can say this 'cos I've been thro such a pressure myself and sad to say, I did not come out of it in one piece, literally. In my case, it was in a more simple backdrop, no limelight kind of stuff, but damaging. You see, I grew up with a mixed heritage background too (my mum won't say, but I guessed), and by pre-teen I was an ugly duckling turned swan entity. I would say, not pretty, not beautiful, not ugly and but somehow for some strange reason, the "magnet" to attract heaps of unwanted attention was there. I did not like it, did not understand it, and did not know how to deal with it. It went on into my adult life. All this while I became more introverted, and retreated from social contact, and became a recluse. .

To make matters worst, since pre-teen I had been stalked 3 times by 3 different stalkers and twice almost got attacked (by the 1st stalker. I was a teenager then). It is no joke being stalked. You can imagine what physcological impact this had on me. However, sad to say, because of the 3rd stalker I had an accident, almost died, and part of my brain was damaged as a result, became semi-paralysed and had to undergo physical rehabilitation. Very devastating and soul breaking. After a few years, I am recovered now (reached threshold 95% ) and if anyboy were to see me, they would not know that once I was an accident victim. Now you know, why and how I have just come out of the woodwork and "discovered" Takeshi. Ha! Ha! Looks like I am slowy healing, inside and outside. But I find that I still cannot shake off my bad habit of being an introvert and a recluse though.

If you are wondering, yes, we do get inquisitive people wondering about our origin even now with globalisation going on.

[sreyda]

Oh Sukyin I'm so sorry to hear all that stuff happened to you! I can't even imagine the terror of all that. I'm really glad to hear about your recovery though, it just proves how strong of a person you are. You go girl!!!!!!!!

Discovering Takeshi is always a good thing, but u know what the best part is tho? Meeting other TK fans and just "hanging out" together. We're all supercool and supportive to each other ;)Not to mention being totally obsesive but still normal here ;D

[lily]

Nicely said Sukyin. I think Takeshi stayed true to himself and has always stood grounded ever since he started acting. That's one of the things I love about him.