GYAO MOOK: Is it worth it?

Is it worth it?

Featured on two pages in 562 yen (which in US dollars came to about $12 when I bought it) magazine GYAO, Kanata Hongo fans are wondering if it's worth spending time and money on it.

Considering other magazines Kanata have appeared in, the page and picture amount is fairly disappointing. Not only does the magazine contain only 4 pictures, each picture is really just a screenshot from the movie GANTZ—which was already a common sight—because the magazine was release before the premiere of GANTZ. If you are more interested in the visual than the interview, then this magazine may not meet your expectations, especially if compared to the 4 page feature on fashion magazine Seda (released Jan 2011) with a never before seen photo-shoot. 

On the other hand, however, the interview completely makes up for the visual disappointment. The interview is split up into 2 sections. The first brushes upon GANTZ promoting questions that briefs on Kanata's experience as Nishi and his thoughts on the GANTZ production. He talks about his character as well as the atmosphere on the set. 

Since the magazine was released in December—a month after Kanata's 20th birthday—the second part of the interview focuses on the more exciting subject about his personal life, which abruptly draws in the fans' attention. The first question addresses change in his life since turning 20, if he had any. Much to the excitement of the fans (including me) Kanata reveals that his friend took him to the bar for his birthday celebration. Apparently he can hold his liquor quite well. But it doesn't stop there. Kanata recently got his license and talks about driving up to Hakata—a 10 hour drive from Tokyo—with four of his friends after buying his car. It was during this road trip that he and his friends also decided that they wanted to host a sports festival. "We borrowed the gym and had a total of about 60 people. Although I was the leader of the Red Team, we were admirably in the lowest rank," Kanata recalls. 

A "single focus person", Kanata calls himself, who can't see anything else once he found his focus (like yo-yos in this case). Yet, "with the futon and computer and a cardboard full of sweets, who knows how many hours I spend in my room". Really, who knows?

Should a fan spend those 562 yen and countless hours on this magazine in their room? 

Definitely yes.