mottoyomitai | [MAGAZINE] JO1 - Elle Japan Jan 2022 Cover Interview (Part 2)

Ohira Shosei

To turn his mood around, he’ll reminisce the past by watching movies and listening to music

Q: What words from the members made you happy?

A: I get happy when my performance gets praised. As a rapper, you really have to enthrall in a split second. When Shion said “The energy in that split second was amazing”, I was happy.

Q: When you’re feeling unmotivated, how do you motivate yourself?

A: I’ll watch videos of songs that have supported me in the past, like Dream’s “Kibou no Hikari ~Kiseki wo Shinjite~”. It’s a song of support for people with dreams.

Q: When was the last time you cried?

A: I don’t cry that often, but when I cry I really cry. When I watch my favourite movies I’ll also get emotional and cry. Recently, I rewatched the movie “Let Me Eat Your Pancreas”, and it was both interesting and emotionally moving.

Q: What would you do if there’s a person you like?

A: I’ll straightforwardly and directly tell them “I like you”. I’ve done this before.

The member in charge of beauty, who works hard without reserve

Q: What is JO1’s strength?

A: The strength of our songs. It’s cutting-edge music that’s made possible because we collaborate with creators. They’re composed in Korea but the lyrics are written in Japan, so you can really feel the strengths of both countries coming through.

Q: What do you like about the new double lead single?

A: You can see everyone’s growth, and also the emotions of each member. “Bokura no Kisetsu” uses a chair in the dance, and that’s also something new [for us].

Q: Where would you like to be in 2 years’ time?

A: I’d like to do a dome tour.* Previously, I got to experience one when I was a backdancer, and was moved. The cheers during the opening shook the stage, and I think if we got to experience that we’d really grow and change.

[T/N: A “dome tour” is a tour of the five big arenas in Japan: Sapporo Dome, Tokyo Dome, Vantelin Dome / Nagoya Dome, Kyocera Dome (Osaka), and Fukuoka Dome. A dome tour is considered to be the most prestigious set of concert venues for most artists in Japan.]

Kono Junki

Playing instruments is fun! Sometimes he’ll spoil himself to refresh

Q: What words from the members made you happy?

A: When I said “The only thing we can do is perform, so let’s work hard in practice”, Mame told me “Those words really resonated, and brought us together”.

Q: When you’re feeling unmotivated, how do you motivate yourself?

A: I won’t be able to resist the feeling of “I want to sleep”, or “I want to snack”, and I’ll be completely submerged in those desires. When I notice that “Hold up, that’s not good”, then I’m able to work hard again. When I get home, it’s usually a daily routine to practice with my instruments, but recently I was unable to motivate myself to do it, and after half an hour I just fell asleep there on the floor.

Q: When was the last time you cried?

A: When the feeling hits, I’ll cry easily. Recently, I cried at the scene in “Squid Game” where the old man dies. I also cry when I listen to my favourite songs.

Q: What would you do if there’s a person you like?

A: I’m straightforward. As to whether I’ve confessed before, that’s a secret.

The vocalist with diverse vocal tones

Q: What is JO1’s strength?

A: It’s that we can keep growing and improving. We weren’t perfect when we debuted, but because of that we all decided that we’d keep working hard while aiming for the top.

Q: What do you like about the new double lead single?

A: “Bokura no Kisetsu” is a winter song, and I’d like people to listen to it while watching our bittersweet expressions, and our refreshing atmosphere while surrounded by white. “Prologue” is also very fitting for the current JO1, and it really resonates with me emotionally.

Q: Where would you like to be in 2 years’ time?

A: I’d like for the restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic to be lifted, and have lives in front of larger audiences. I want people to see the live performances of the 11 of us, and know the charm of our group and our music. A world tour is also a dream of mine.

Yonashiro Sho

He’s inspired by overseas stars’ videos. He’ll approach the person he likes

Q: What words from the members made you happy?

A: It’s not strictly something they said, but previously when there was an earthquake the members gathered in my room. Keigo, Shosei, Ren and Mame came to my room.

Q: When you’re feeling unmotivated, how do you motivate yourself?

A: I don’t really feel unmotivated that often, but when I want to increase my motivation I’ll watch interview videos of overseas stars and actors.

Q: When was the last time you cried?

A: I do cry sometimes, but recently I haven’t cried.

Q: What would you do if there’s a person you like?

A: I’m generally the type of person who would do the confessing. But I’ll check first if the other person likes me back before I confess. It’s like how you can throw a bunch of jabs, but you go for the cross when you’re certain you can land it.* (laughs)

[T/N: Boxing terms. “Jab” = straight punch with the left arm, “cross” = straight punch with the right arm. Of the two, the cross is generally considered the more powerful punch.]

The leader, who gently surrounds JO1

Q: What is JO1’s strength?

A: Our highly synchronised dance, and the fact that you can watch us as we grow and improve.

Q: What do you like about the new double lead single?

A: “Prologue” is our first anime ending song. It’s an honour to sing a song for an anime that I’ve watched for a long time, and the thought that we’ve gone from the party listening to the party providing [the theme song] really makes me feel a little like we’ve made it.

Q: Where would you like to be in two years?

A: I’d like to work hard on becoming better at speaking in English, and use that as a tool to actively take on more and more overseas interviews. When we appeared on the “Asian Boss” channel on Youtube, that was a good experience.

Sato Keigo

The support of the fans is his heart’s support. While watching a movie, he had a terrifying experience!

Q: What words from the members made you happy?

A: Junki-kun often looks at my face and says “I like Keigo’s face, man, it’s so handsome!” and that makes me happy. (laughs)

Q: When you’re feeling unmotivated, how do you motivate yourself?

A: I’ll search up myself on the internet. When I read the comments from fans, I’m encouraged by everyone’s support, and use that to motivate myself.

Q: When was the last time you cried?

A: I was watching a scary movie where the protagonists were dying off one by one while investigating paranormal occurrences in a haunted spot, when my room began shaking. I thought, “It’s me next, I’m going to be killed!” but it turned out to be an earthquake. At that time, I legitimately did think I was going to die, and was on the verge of tears.

Q: What would you do if there’s a person you like?

A: I’ll probably ask them to go out with me while keeping in mind the end-goal of marriage!

The fashionable leader with top-class style

Q: What is JO1’s strength?

A: The fact that all of us become one, with a shared goal to aim for the world. Each of us will think about the group and voice our own opinions, which is a testament to our teamwork.

Q: What do you like about the new double lead single?

A: “Prologue” is a song that was created by a Japanese person, and it really showcases those unique merits. I’m happy that it was chosen as the ending song for the anime Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, which is a show I really like!

Q: Where would you like to be in 2 years’ time?

A: I’d like to improve the quality of our singing and performance, and be active on the global stage. I’d like to become a top-class Japanese act that people can talk about with pride, like BTS.

Kimata Syoya

A good effect on his dancing! He enjoys making music on his computer

Q: What words from the members made you happy?

A: When Ren-kun praised me that “Your dance has gotten better”, I was happy. Ever since I’ve started making music on my own, I’ve noticed that I’ve become able to consciously regard dance as something else I can pour effort into.

Q: When you’re feeling unmotivated, how do you motivate yourself?

A: When I’m making music, I’ll listen to music that I like and brainstorm a little first. When I can’t summon up any motivation, I’ll go to a conveyor belt sushi place by myself and eat without paying attention to the price!

Q: When was the last time you cried?

A: I’m not usually the sort who cries very often, but when a job I really wanted to work hard on didn’t turn out the way I’d planned, I worried over “Am I really okay with this?”, and cried.

Q: What would you do if there’s a person you like?

A: I might be pretty passive. I’d end up holding back. But I’d still bashfully confess my feelings.

The rapper who shines with a true-to-life charm

Q: What is JO1’s strength?

A: Our songs place a lot of emphasis on the sound, and while it seems that the vocals might just be used as just another instrument in the overall soundtrack, the lyrics are actually really good. In the song this time, there’s a line in my part that goes “The fallen leaves resemble my memories with you”, which is a really stylish line.

Q: What do you like about the new double lead single?

A: It conveys a straightforward message. There’s a line in the lead song “Bokura no Kisetsu” that goes “I’ll go to meet you before the freezing winter”*, and we sang that line with our feelings of wanting to warm JAMs before the thick of winter arrives.

[T/N: A line from the chorus of “Bokura no Kisetsu”.]

Q: Where would you like to be in two years’ time?

A: If I’m able to continue doing activities with the rest of JO1, it’s such a small thing, but that would bring me joy.