![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamweavernyx posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
mottoyomitaiAs the article was a bit scattered across various pages in the magazine, I've taken the liberty of re-organising the translation according to member; so please note that this won't read in the exact same order as the original magazine.
==
Their dream is to reach the top of the world! JO1, sprinting towards the future
Global boys’ group JO1, who in November held their first audience live since debut. What is the next phase for these boys, who have a multitude of talents, 2 years after their debut?
Kawanishi Takumi
Turns his mood around through crying! He’s not good at confessing his feelings
Q: What words from the members made you happy?
A: I feel like I don’t usually get praised that much, but I was happy when Sato Keigo told me “You look better when you put your fringe up”. Although today [for this shoot] my fringe is down. (laughs)
Q: When you’re feeling unmotivated, how do you motivate yourself?
A: Sometimes when I cry, I can turn my mood around.
Q: When was the last time you cried?
A: I cry a lot when I’m watching movies, dramas or anime. Recently, I cried when I watched “Tokyo Revengers”. My favourite character is Mitsuya Takashi. I was also really moved when I watched “42”, a movie about the first black Major Leaguer.
Q: What would you do if there’s a person you like?
I would like to confess my feelings, but I’m bad at that. But I’ll work hard so that I’ll be able to confess my feelings. (laughs)
The group’s most charming character
Q: What is JO1’s strength?
A: The fact that every member has their own unique charm.
Q: What do you like about the new double lead single?*
[T/N: Referring to the new single “WANDERING”]
A: I like that bittersweet feeling in winter when you miss the warmth of human touch, so I like “Bokura no Kisetsu”, which is a bittersweet winter song. I particularly like the phrase that goes “The fallen leaves resemble my memories with you”.*
[T/N: Syoya’s rap line in the first verse]
Q: Where would you like to be in 2 years’ time?
A: There was a period where we weren’t really able to meet our fans as JO1, so I’d like to show off how much we’ve grown in order to express our thanks to our fans. Personally, I’d like to become more mature, and more observant of my surroundings. I often get spoiled by the other members, so I’ll work hard while keeping an eye on the situation. (laughs)
==
Shiroiwa Ruki
He’s the type to hide his tears in front of others. Fans’ words are an encouragement for him to work hard
Q: What words from the members made you happy?
A: This time around I got to be the centre for the single for the first time, and during the CD jacket shooting most of the members told me “As expected, you suit the centre [role]”, and “It turned out gorgeous”. My fans tell me “You’ll always be [our] centre”, and I use that as encouragement to keep standing out more in the future.
Q: When you’re feeling unmotivated, how do you motivate yourself?
A: I eat delicious foods, go shopping for clothes or beauty products, or look for a friend who’ll earnestly listen to my woes. If it’s food, I’ll go for barbeque or monjayaki.* For skincare products and shampoo, I’m pretty particular about their fragrance.
[T/N: Monjayaki = batter fried with ingredients on a hotplate, popular in Tokyo / the Kanto region. Similar to okonomiyaki.]
Q: When was the last time you cried?
A: I don’t cry. It’s not that I think it’s wrong to show your tears, but I’ve grown up with my father teaching me from young that “Men don’t show their tears in front of others”.
The centre for JO1’s first winter single
Q: What is JO1’s strength?
A: The fact that we’re pioneers, trailblazers for things that have yet to be seen in Japan’s music scene, such as a K-pop-style sound, and being the official partner of Yves Saint Laurent Beauty.
Q: What do you like about the new double lead single?
A: The fact that it’s JO1’s first love song, and it has winter as its theme. Thanks to the song “Happy Merry Christmas” which I sang during the concept battle of the audition, people often tell me that I’m “the guy who suits the winter season”. And my member colour is white, too.
Q: Where would you like to be in 2 years’ time?
A: As a group, I’d like us to become a large presence that can represent Japan. Personally, I’d like to look for ways I can give back to the group.
==
Mamehara Issei
The type to straightforwardly express his feelings both to the members, and the person he likes
Q: What words from the members made you happy?
A: During practice, when I was unexpectedly told “Mame, that’s good!”. It’s not easy to receive praise on my performance from the members since they’ve always been watching me.
Q: When you’re feeling unmotivated, how do you motivate yourself?
A: I’ll listen to songs that evoke fun memories to get myself excited, or listen to really good songs that make me feel like, “I’ve got to work hard”. When I listen to the lyric “Don’t give up, you’ll achieve your dreams” from my favourite song, I tear up. It makes me feel like music really has amazing power.
Q: When was the last time you cried?
A: When I watched the drama “Love You as the World Ends”, I was moved by the way people’s hearts are moved in extreme situations.
Q: What would you do if there’s a person you like?
A: I’ll say “I like you, please go out with me”. I’ve done this before in my first year of high school.
The youngest member, who’s also trying out acting
Q: What is JO1’s strength?
A: There are a lot of eccentric members. (laughs) I think that adds a good spice to our performances. I also like vibing with Keigo-kun’s and Shion-kun’s enthusiasm.
Q: What do you like about the new double lead single?
A: “Bokura no Kisetsu” has a dance and melody that are both very winter-like, and it’s one of JO1’s more mellow songs. I’d like for people to listen to it during the winter this year.
Q: Where would you like to be in 2 years’ time?
A: Since there’s a part of me that thinks it’s not good just to stay the same, I’d like to practice hard and broaden my perspectives. Although our aim is to be active globally, first I’d like everyone in Japan to know JO1, and become a presence that can change the times.
==
Tsurubo Shion
He’ll work hard for the small goals right in front of him! He’ll cry when he watches anime
Q: What words from the members made you happy?
A: When the members earnestly tell me “Man, you’re cool”, I’ll go like, woah~! (laughs) Mame-chan, Ren-kun and Junki-kun say this to me.
Q: When you’re feeling unmotivated, how do you motivate yourself?
A: I’ll tell myself, “After this practice I’ll go eat that!” By fixing a goal that’s right within reach, I’m able to push myself to work hard.
Q: When was the last time you cried?
A: I watched the movie “Belle”* 5 times, and I cried every time. I usually cry when I watch anime, but usually not on any other occasion.
[T/N: The 2021 animated movie “Belle”, or “Ryuu to Sobakasu no Hime”; no relation to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast]
Q: What would you do if there’s a person you like?
A: I don’t like confessing and then being told “No way”, so if I think that the other person might like me back then I’ll straightforwardly confess.
He charms with his powerful, low voice
Q: What is JO1’s strength?
A: We get along so well, it’s almost like we formed a group out of people who were already great friends.
Q: What do you like about the new double lead single?
A: “Bokura no Kisetsu” and “Prologue” are both great songs, and personally I really like the lyrical content of “Never Ending Story”. The line at the start that Junki-kun and I sing, “These memories which will never fade”, will sound even more emotional when we perform it live. And for “OASIS”, I like its sound; when you listen to it you really feel that it’s a great song.
Q: Where would you like to be in 2 years’ time?
A: I’d like to mature so I can be independent and can do anything by myself. I also like songwriting, so I’d like to keep doing that.
==
Kawashiri Ren
He was saved by words from another member! He was bawling during acting lessons
Q: What words from the members made you happy?
A: Syoya-kun told me “I truly understood dance after I met Ren-kun”. I’ve come all this way with nothing but dance, so when I learned that my dance was able to change Syoya’s way of thinking I felt like all my hard work was worth it.
Q: When you’re feeling unmotivated, how do you motivate yourself?
A: When I’m too lazy to get into the bath, I’ll set the timer on my Apple Watch, and tell myself “Once this rings I’ll definitely get in!” (laughs)
Q: When was the last time you cried?
A: It was when Sho-kun and I were taking acting lessons together, and learning how to express emotions. When learning how to express “sadness”, we clung to each other and bawled while saying “I love you”.
Q: What would you do if there’s a person you like?
A: I’m more cautious when it comes to confessing, but I’ll use straightforward words.
The dance leader with rich creativity
Q: What is JO1’s strength?
A: Because we’re a group with many people, the impact when we dance in sync is one of our strengths.
Q: What do you like about the new double lead single?
A: I was able to sing the line in “Prologue” that goes “There are no endless nights, let our fates shine”, which struck a chord in me ever since I first heard it. During recording, I sang that line with a lot of emotion. I’m really happy that it was chosen as the ending song for an anime that I’ve loved since young.
Q: Where would you like to be in 2 years’ time?
A: I’d like to keep pleasantly surprising the JAMs who have continuously supported us even though we couldn’t meet face to face. For that purpose, we’ll all give our all in our performance, so that we can become a group that gives back to their fans.
