[trans] October issue of Vogue Japan (Special 15th Anniversary Issue) – Tohoshinki’s Full Interview
[cr: ursula7777777777: http://weibo.com/nanashan7%5D
The Gift of Celebration
The Promises with Tohoshinki of a bright future to be congratulated for
As foreign artistes, Tohoshinki were the first to hold their own exclusive concerts in Tokyo Dome and Kyocera Dome for 3 consecutive years, and the fastest in history to achieve the feat of mobilizing 2 million audience members. Coinciding with the sale of their DVD which records the live happenings of that legendary performance, they also participated in the congratulations for Vogue Japan’s 15th anniversary. We also heard their stories about their wishes for their future.
The Promises with Tohoshinki of a bright future to be congratulated for
As foreign artistes, Tohoshinki were the first to hold their own exclusive concerts in Tokyo Dome and Kyocera Dome for 3 consecutive years, and the fastest in history to achieve the feat of mobilizing 2 million audience members. Coinciding with the sale of their DVD which records the live happenings of that legendary performance, they also participated in the congratulations for Vogue Japan’s 15th anniversary. We also heard their stories about their wishes for their future.
The live performances of Tohoshinki, who frequently let us hear the words “putting my life on the line” (Yunho), are passionately hot to the extent that to a person who has never seen their live performances will not be able to imagine it. On the stage which creates and causes the staff, who have been touched by Tohoshinki’s sincerity and hard work, to become one, there is no futile moment even if just for a second. For a packed 3.5 hours, Tohoshinki brings the touched feelings and fanaticism of the audience to a world of a different league. Making the “Dome tour which we had dreamed of since debut” (Changmin) a success, and while mobilizing 144,000 people in 2 days for the tour finale at Nissan Stadium, they have achieved an amazing feat for being the first as foreign artistes. When it was revealed that this year’s “Tohoshinki Live Tour 2014 Tree” would be held, perhaps it was because we started anticipating that Nissan Stadium would once again be included in the schedule, but what Tohoshinki was thinking about was an approach which was virtually completely different from the previous year.
Just like what Yunho said, “Because it was the Arenas, I was happy that we were able to enjoy the closer distance with the audience“, the differential gap between their strong intense performances and their interesting MC segments is also one point of the enjoyment. Every single live concert, there were thrills of not knowing how their MC segments, which had many ad-libs, would turn out to be like. If the cheers of “cute~~” emerge from the audience at Yunho’s youth-like actions, the aspect of Yunho denying it, “I am not cute, I’m telling you guys I’m cool!” became a fixed corner segment as the live concert tour continued. There were also times during Yunho’s Korean seminar, which is a corner segment of the MC, when Yunho would get the audience to repeat after him in Korean “Yunho is cool”.Q: Changmin ssi, is Yunho ssi really cool?
Even so, Yunho will somehow sing praises of Changmin, going “cute~” on the stage. We are now curious about the ranking of “cute” and “cool” between the 2 of them.
Tohoshinki’s live performances are filled with the diverse charms of the 2 of them… and in adition to the power, sincerity and cuteness, it is also charming that various chemical reactions will emerge from the personalities of the both of them which are poles apart. Recently, their masculinity has increased.
While saying “If one does not descend the mountain for one, one will not be able to ascend a high mountain the next time around. Tohoshinki wants to continue making challenges all the time” (Yunho), and “We wanted to become closer to all the fans” (Changmin), for this year’s tour, they chose a stage where they can become one with the audience. They picked Arena concert venues as their main stages, and added 8 concerts at the Domes. The number of concerts also drastically increased from last year’s 18 concerts to 29 concerts. The result of that was that they also made the Sendai performances, which they had yearned for, a reality, for the first time after the huge earthquake.
“We also agonized, and there was also pressure. However, I thought that what was important was the strength of all the fans” (Yunho). The overwhelming touching feelings of such a tremendous scale of a different league at the live concerts of last year, and the heartwarming and packed happiness of this year’s decreased distance with the audience! Artistes who possess the courage to again descend the mountain will be able to target an even higher place.
Q: What is the “high mountain” which Tohoshinki is aiming for?
Yunho: For us, what is called the “high mountain” would of course be “continuing our activities for a long time”.
Yunho: For us, what is called the “high mountain” would of course be “continuing our activities for a long time”.
Q: In concrete terms, what kind of activities would that be?
Yunho: Although I still don’t know now, I have thought about it before. In concrete terms, what I mean is, should I say, concert tours just for families, concert tours for males only, for students only? I have had those types of thoughts for a long time, at some point in time, I want to have a concert tour which can show everybody different performances varying according to the concept and the venue. I want to become the type of artistes who go “Tohoshinki can do all of that”.
Yunho: Although I still don’t know now, I have thought about it before. In concrete terms, what I mean is, should I say, concert tours just for families, concert tours for males only, for students only? I have had those types of thoughts for a long time, at some point in time, I want to have a concert tour which can show everybody different performances varying according to the concept and the venue. I want to become the type of artistes who go “Tohoshinki can do all of that”.
Tohoshinki’s concert tours are famous for having many repeat goers who repeatedly attend their concerts, but this year’s Tree tour is not limited to just the female fans, but one could feel that the range of concert goers has drastically widened, with parents accompanying their children, elderly couples and men who go amongst themselves etc.
Q: In the MC segment after seeing the audience members who were accompanying their families, you guys had said, “Through this, Tohoshinki’s future is bright”, what kind of meaning / significance is that?
Yunho: I think that there are many people who come to watch us after coming to like Tohoshinki, but I want to become an artiste whose live concerts become a media buzz so people will go “let’s go watch him”, for instance, I want to become an artiste which makes people think on their wedding anniversary day, “shall we go to watch them?”. Becoming the date course for couples, or being able to make even just men enjoy themselves, or making people go, “let’s go watch them to obtain courage from Tohoshinki”. Family members will go and watch movies together, don’t they? Just like those, I think I will be happy if family members go “shall we go watch Tohoshinki’s live concert all together”, and we become great memories of the family.
In reality, the aspects of them which are not seen from the audience are the most suave.
Just like what Yunho said, “Because it was the Arenas, I was happy that we were able to enjoy the closer distance with the audience“, the differential gap between their strong intense performances and their interesting MC segments is also one point of the enjoyment. Every single live concert, there were thrills of not knowing how their MC segments, which had many ad-libs, would turn out to be like. If the cheers of “cute~~” emerge from the audience at Yunho’s youth-like actions, the aspect of Yunho denying it, “I am not cute, I’m telling you guys I’m cool!” became a fixed corner segment as the live concert tour continued. There were also times during Yunho’s Korean seminar, which is a corner segment of the MC, when Yunho would get the audience to repeat after him in Korean “Yunho is cool”.Q: Changmin ssi, is Yunho ssi really cool?
Changmin: Yes.. so…
Yunho: So it’s difficult to talk about it (laughs)
Changmin: That his live performance is cool, I think that everybody who came to watch us will know that even better than me. Although it is a pity, Yunho is also cool in areas which the fans are not able to see. The serious look of him being completely immersed while preparing for the performances is really handsome. Hearing the voices calling him “cute” during our live concerts, he is like that because he will intentionally cutely dance humourous dances in order to raise the atmosphere of the concert.
Q: Are you intentionally making it cute?
Yunho: Umm. Shall I say it’s intentional, because I will think, “If I do it this way, won’t everybody like it?”
Changmin: The type of actions where he is striving to make everybody enjoy themselves at our live concerts.
Yunho: Umm. Shall I say it’s intentional, because I will think, “If I do it this way, won’t everybody like it?”
Changmin: The type of actions where he is striving to make everybody enjoy themselves at our live concerts.
Even so, Yunho will somehow sing praises of Changmin, going “cute~” on the stage. We are now curious about the ranking of “cute” and “cool” between the 2 of them.
Q: Is Changmin ssi also cool?
Yunho: Changminnie’s facial expression when he is thinking hard is cool. And as a man, the look of him when he is focused on his work!!!
Yunho: Changminnie’s facial expression when he is thinking hard is cool. And as a man, the look of him when he is focused on his work!!!
Q: As for that, when does that occur?
Yunho: Undoubtedly on the stage. The live concert goes on for around 3.5 hours, the look of him working hard as much as me. It is tiring to the extent of dying if we run and dance for around 3.5 hours. But even so, he is working hard so that everybody will be able to enjoy themselves. I feel reassured.
Yunho: Undoubtedly on the stage. The live concert goes on for around 3.5 hours, the look of him working hard as much as me. It is tiring to the extent of dying if we run and dance for around 3.5 hours. But even so, he is working hard so that everybody will be able to enjoy themselves. I feel reassured.
Tohoshinki’s live performances are filled with the diverse charms of the 2 of them… and in adition to the power, sincerity and cuteness, it is also charming that various chemical reactions will emerge from the personalities of the both of them which are poles apart. Recently, their masculinity has increased.
Q: When do you guys feel that each other is sexy?
Changmin: It is a little difficult for a man to think of men as sexy… Umm.. Although the fans also say this, undoubtedly, Yunho is sexy when he is dancing. He is extremely beautiful down till his fingers. (*me: what what?!)
Yunho: For me… would it be okay if I just say this? (laughs) Some time back I saw Changminnie coming out after he showered, because the look of him still being wet was manly, I thought, “He eh~~ he’s sexy~” (*me: -mindblown- what in the what am I translating now?! HAHAHA)
We think that 5 years later, they will be able to become even more manly.
Q: You guys have come to the finale of the tour too right?
Changmin: Having packed 29 concerts in a span of 2 months, it came to an end shortly. It became such that we were standing on stage once every 2 days, but thanks to that, I was able to focus only on the tour.
Yunho: Because tours are carried out as a team, if it ends, I want to have drinks together, and go on a vacation too. It was exciting because it seemed like there would be time to be able to rest. But “Ah, so it can’t turn out that way~~~” In reality, it seems like there would be no time for that because I have to prepare for the work thereafter. (*Currently, he is shooting a period drama.) But even so, I think that if I am alone (ie doing solo activities) and grow as a human being, when I am active as Tohoshinki again, wouldn’t I be able to elevate myself even more?
Changmin: I think that we will become more manly. Because I will be doing more of writing lyrics and composing, and practising more of the playing of musical instruments in the future too, it will not be limited to the 15th anniversary but in the musical aspect too, I want to grow even more.
Q: This year is the 10th year for Tohoshinki since your debut. Before resuming your activities, Yunho ssi had appeared in the July issue of Vogue Japan in 2010, while Changmin ssi appeared in the October issue of Vogue Japan in 2010.
Yunho: Because it was the first time I was doing the photoshoot alone, of course I remember it. There were poses with Michael Jackson as the image, and my hair was also long. Although at this time I created facial expressions (ie to look more adult-like) because there were still traces of the feelings of youthfulness, having done the photoshoot today, now even if I don’t do that, doesn’t it seem like the masculinity comes out too? (While looking at the May 2013 issue) Ah~~ During this period, I remember that we shot it interestingly in this way and that way. Is the tortoise well?
Yunho: Because it was the first time I was doing the photoshoot alone, of course I remember it. There were poses with Michael Jackson as the image, and my hair was also long. Although at this time I created facial expressions (ie to look more adult-like) because there were still traces of the feelings of youthfulness, having done the photoshoot today, now even if I don’t do that, doesn’t it seem like the masculinity comes out too? (While looking at the May 2013 issue) Ah~~ During this period, I remember that we shot it interestingly in this way and that way. Is the tortoise well?
Changmin: I also remember the first photoshoot for Vogue Japan well. Although I am also a foreigner (laughs), during that time, I did a photoshoot with a blonde foreigner lady for the first time. Although I was nervous, it was extremely enjoyable. And today I got to do a champagne shower for the first time too. Yunho had done it in MVs, but because only I had not tried it before in reality, it seems like only I was having a lot of fun.
Q: Thank you for cheering us on and doing this interview and photoshoot for Vogue Japan’s 15th anniversary commemorative issue.
Changmin: This is not a lie, it is us who are thankful.
Yunho: Saying it’s 15th anniversary, it’s awesome. Congratulations. Great! Tohoshinki will also go towards its 15th anniversary!
Changmin: This is not a lie, it is us who are thankful.
Yunho: Saying it’s 15th anniversary, it’s awesome. Congratulations. Great! Tohoshinki will also go towards its 15th anniversary!
Q: What does it seem like the Tohoshinki at their 15th anniversary will look like?
Yunho: It would be 5 years later right? I think that there will be no change, it seems like we will be having live concerts and enjoying together with everybody, and I think that the fields of the individual activities will become wider than now.
Yunho: It would be 5 years later right? I think that there will be no change, it seems like we will be having live concerts and enjoying together with everybody, and I think that the fields of the individual activities will become wider than now.
Changmin: I think that we will become more manly. Because I will be doing more of writing lyrics and composing, and practising more of the playing of musical instruments in the future too, it will not be limited to the 15th anniversary but in the musical aspect too, I want to grow even more.
Changmin, who sang while playing the guitar at a fan-limited event. If ballads wash over the performances of Tohoshinki, the concert venue becomes quiet like the water calming down and there are also scenes where one hears the sobbing sounds from here and there as the tears unfold. Tohoshinki, who polish themselves more in depth and in a wider scope, and grow as they move along. We want to look over them for a long time for their 15th anniversary, 20th anniversary.
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Credits:
VOGUE JAPAN,
JP-KR translation by TVXQDrip 토마토님
KR-EN translation by @mug_ping
Shared by TVXQ! Express
JP-KR translation by TVXQDrip 토마토님
KR-EN translation by @mug_ping
Shared by TVXQ! Express
Another Translation (Partial):
VOGUE JAPAN OCTOBER ISSUE = TOHOSHINKI
*they were talking about how in every MC corner Yunho keeps on saying “i’m not cute, i’m handsome/cool!”
Q: So Changmin-san, do you think Yunho is really handsome/cool (kakkoii/かっこいい)?
CM: Hmmm…
YH: Is it hard to say it? (laughs)
CM: If it’s a cool live performance, i think everyone that came to watch our live had already known (that Yunho’s cool). But unfortunately, even the side (of him) that people can’t see, yunho is really cool. (for example) while preparing the stage, he would became really engrossed and his earnest state was really cool. During live performance, being called cute was just so the stage could become more exciting, so he would do weird dances in purpose to make him look cute.
Q: So you act cute in purpose?
YH: Yes. In purpose as in i was thinking that i could make everyone happy by doing that.
CM: So the audiences would feel happy.
but on the stage Yunho for some reason would also say that Changmin is cute. So we’ll guess which one suits Changmin more (cute or cool).
Q: Changmin-san is also cool/handsome isn’t it?
YH: His expression when worried is cool, also from men’s point of view is when he’s engrossed in work!
Q: and when was that?
YH: Definitely when we’re on stage. Live duration were about 3,5 hours, so it’s when he’s working hard in order to win over his own-self (fatigue). In those 3,5 hours we ran and dance to the point where we feel like we could die. But in order to make everyone happy he’s giving his best. I’m thinking this person has a strong will/heart (心が強い).
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Credits:
VOGUE JAPAN October Issue page 206
JP-EN Translation by: boomjagalaka: here
Shared by TVXQ! Express
TVXQ! Express 