Two hours' ride away from Seoul, we arrived at the beach.
As Jaejoong had been composing songs from the day before interview till midnight, he was only able to wake up in the afternoon while on the way to the venue. At a venue where Korean was heard everywhere, Jaejoong greeted "konnichiwa". That blurted out without him knowing, and that is a language he had not used for a long time.
As requested, Jaejoong brought along the books he read recently such as Richard Carlson's What About The Big Stuff. He started the topic by saying, "This is a book given by a fan. As for the context... it is quite hard to describe accurately. It is about life, but it is not an emotions-heavy read." We started the photoshoot afterwards. As per Jaejoong's request, we spoke using Japanese language throughout the whole process.
ELLE: It has been a long time since you last accepted a Japanese magazine's photoshoot right?
Yes. It has been a long time since I last had a Japanese interview too. I haven't been using Japanese as it is for quite some time too.
ELLE: Since you have many friends, do you speak Japanese when you call them on the phone?
I don't really like to call. However, when I communicate with them through LINE or KakaoTalk, I use Japanese.
ELLE: You have activities in Japan this November. You also kick-started activities with JYJ in Japan this April and a solo concert in June.
We were pretty nervous for the Tokyo Dome's concert in April. Especially on the first day! We didn't have much time to prepare and the schedule to arrange things was tight. We were worried if people would attend. Since the concert was held on weekdays, people have to take leave to come from where they came from... (Softly) I am sorry. It had been a long time since we met. I constantly worried if people might forget me. It felt amazing to see so many people coming.
ELLE: What is brewing inside the new album and concert tours?
Though I had experience releasing a mini album, it is the first time I will be releasing a regular album of rock genre. My solo concert will follow shortly after too... What will it be like? Instead of directing the stage and presenting a typical concert to everyone, I want it to feel carefree. It is a pity that I will be singing the songs in Korean. I want to sing in Japanese too. I really want to sing Japanese songs in Japan. Despite singing 5 / 6 songs in Japanese at Yokohama Arena, my Japanese definitely deteriorated since I don't use it often. What can I do? I truly anticipate this trip to Japan. To shop, to meet up with friends and many more other activities.
ELLE: What do you usually talk about with your Japanese friends?
Meaningless things. (Laughs) Since it has been a long time, we will have a meal together and go for a drink. Do silly things too! There are many people whom I want to meet with other than those few close friends. We don't usually talk about things related to work.
ELLE: Things that you are passionate about now?
Composing songs and writing lyrics. I wrote the lyrics for almost all the songs in this album. Memories flash back as I compose. The theme is love, and love is about meeting another party, then falling in love, going deeper in love, then breaking up. I pen down these experiences, be it happiness or pain, into my lyrics. Although I did not experience all these myself. (Laughs) I honestly feel that writing lyrics is the best way to express feelings. By switching on the focus mode in my mind and say "let's write a song today. Let's write two songs today!", it feels as if I am giving myself assignments. I usually have a song first before filling in the lyrics. I use piano to compose the songs.
ELLE: Are you heading into the two areas of music composer and actor now?
Yes. I feel more like myself when I compose music. But when I act, I need to try harder to express those emotions. This is acting. It is interesting.
ELLE: If you were not a singer, what kind of person do you think you will become?
This is difficult... I don't know. I like cooking, fashion, drawing and interior designing. I might start developing into these areas.
ELLE: What food can you cook?
I like cooking delicious food using very few ingredients. With only so little ingredients, the food produced can be so tasty. It really makes people think huh. It is not skills if you simply follow the instructions in recipe. But it definitely is skills if you can whip up something tasty without unnecessary ingredients. (Laughs) I cook when I am alone at home. Of course, I will do up something simple when I have friends visiting. I hate to wait for food to be served when I am hungry. (Laughs) Therefore, I try to always cook something quick and tasty for my friends. It's easy: Boil the water, add spicy sauce, sugar, vinegar, then clams at the end. Ah, these clams are not produced in Japan. It's a pity. I like putting the clams atop of my noodles without the soup.
ELLE: Do Yoochun or Junsu visit you?
They don't. We focus more on personal lives now. In the past, we do go to each other's house frequently.
ELLE: How would you describe your members when you introduce them to others?
I can't describe well as I am different in front of my members and others. But if anyone were to speak badly about my member, I will definitely retort by saying "what do you know? Shut your mouth if you don't know anything!" I am very different when it comes to my members. I am more talkative in front of them. Really, to the extent I am super noisy. People always say, "You have known each other for 10 years now. Why do you still have so many things to talk about?"
ELLE: When the three of you work together, will there be conflicting opinions?
No. We are very clear of our likes and dislikes. We know it all too well.
ELLE: Jaejoong's strengths and weaknesses?
Biased comments like "Jaejoong is so cold" are always debunked when we meet in real life. "I am surprised. Jaejoong talks a lot!" I am proud of this. Although the image of Jaejoong is that he is a celebrity, I am not like this. You think I eat luxurious food right? Actually, I would rather eat ramen and katsudon in Japan. My meal will not exceed 1000 yen (~$10)! (Laughs) I make friends with everyone around me quickly. And hence my weakness is, I cannot reject. Even when I have to wake up earlier the next day, if my friends call me out, I won't be able to reject. When we drink, and I need to go very soon, because my friends are really happy, I won't be able to say that I need to get home soon. (Laughs)
ELLE: What kind of drunk are you?
My Japanese becomes fluent! Human's ability is amazing. I would like, how did I even know this word?! (Laughs)
ELLE: Your body remains masculine despite drinking. Do you exercise?
My body doesn't grow fat. I go on diet before shooting. I run three times a week. Instead of calling it self-maintenance, I just really like to be able to sweat as much as I want. As for the sports activities I do, it's basically golf, hiking, cycling, basketball etc. I do sports when I am free or when I have nothing to do.
ELLE: Do you have free time?
Times when I am so busy I can't even contact my friends at all? I don't think I have ever been that busy.
ELLE: What are your ways to destress?
Shopping! Buying interior furnishing. I like to arrange furniture at home. It sounds extreme, but I cannot take it if things aren't placed properly. Even just a little messiness in my house cannot be tolerated! (When your wardrobe is messy) you would want to buy new clothes, and you would want go out. Similarly, if my house is clean, I will want to be at home everyday. The house feels fresh. Doesn't it irritate you if you have to clean up when you are feeling so tired?
ELLE: Where do you want to go for a solo trip?
Japan. Honestly. Although there are many countries I wish to visit, I really want to go to Japan right now. Many of my good friends are there. Also, I made lots of memories there when I was still a rookie. I want to stroll alone in the place full of good memories.
ELLE: Anyone who had made great impact on your life and career?
Be it my personal life or my career, I have various encounters with someone whom I have met only once yet I felt so motivated.
ELLE: Favourite word or expression?
I have two. And that's "thank you" and "sorry". I feel that the culture of using sorry is more common in Japan. Sorry is used when a person feels regretful, impolite and thankful. There isn't such Korean word (to describe this feeling).
ELLE: How do you recover from a bad mood?
I let myself be. I recover after a period of time, so I just wait patiently for that moment to arrive.
ELLE: What changes will there be in 10 years' time?
I will still be unmarried in 10 years' time!
ELLE: You are very sure!
Yes I am sure that I still want to continue going forward like now, due to varied reasons.
ELLE: No thoughts on marriage? Or having a child?
I was thinking of this lately. I want to marry! I want to have kids! But as expected, as expected, maybe this is my life destiny? A life destined to marry late. I am loved by so many people, wouldn't it be considered betrayal if I get married? But everyone can go ahead and marry and have kids. It is important to have your own hero and superstar, isn't it? As a respected idol, it is necessary to be responsible. Though I think it's alright for others to get married, I feel that I cannot. This is good right? This is a hard topic, but it is not right for me to die earlier than everyone right? There might be people around who can't live without Jaejoong. I must be responsible for this.
ELLE: So it is fine if you marry 10 years later?
I have this resolution from 10 years later. My responsibility is to take care of my looks, as there are people who like Jaejoong's image. If I get older faster than my fans, when my wrinkles start appearing... During the concert in Japan this year, I asked if I had changed. Everyone replied I did not. It is fine for people to grow older, but I will grow older slowly.
ELLE: Favourite ideal type?
It doesn't matter if the person isn't smart. So long the person isn't violent. It is violent in Japanese right? Am I S or am I M? It changes depending on the other party. (Laughs)
ELLE: Do you feel touched recently?
Yes. My staff have been working extremely hard for me. Pictures of me behind cameras were taken and it really troubled my staff. Because of this, I can't even go to the convenience stores. I try not to do anything and bring my existence down to the minimum. After I apologized to my staff, they said "this is not your fault". Although we were at the set, I teared up.
ELLE: Lastly, can you leave a message to the fans in Japan?
Jaejoong's manager: How about writing sorry? (Everyone laughed.)
It's so funny. (Laughs) Sorry isn't enough after letting all of you wait for me. What I feel is above this. I shall write something fans all around the world will like!
And he penned down the most familiar word. The word everyone has been waiting for.
"I love you"
Source: boingboingjae
Trans: yunjaery
As Jaejoong had been composing songs from the day before interview till midnight, he was only able to wake up in the afternoon while on the way to the venue. At a venue where Korean was heard everywhere, Jaejoong greeted "konnichiwa". That blurted out without him knowing, and that is a language he had not used for a long time.
As requested, Jaejoong brought along the books he read recently such as Richard Carlson's What About The Big Stuff. He started the topic by saying, "This is a book given by a fan. As for the context... it is quite hard to describe accurately. It is about life, but it is not an emotions-heavy read." We started the photoshoot afterwards. As per Jaejoong's request, we spoke using Japanese language throughout the whole process.
ELLE: It has been a long time since you last accepted a Japanese magazine's photoshoot right?
Yes. It has been a long time since I last had a Japanese interview too. I haven't been using Japanese as it is for quite some time too.
ELLE: Since you have many friends, do you speak Japanese when you call them on the phone?
I don't really like to call. However, when I communicate with them through LINE or KakaoTalk, I use Japanese.
ELLE: You have activities in Japan this November. You also kick-started activities with JYJ in Japan this April and a solo concert in June.
We were pretty nervous for the Tokyo Dome's concert in April. Especially on the first day! We didn't have much time to prepare and the schedule to arrange things was tight. We were worried if people would attend. Since the concert was held on weekdays, people have to take leave to come from where they came from... (Softly) I am sorry. It had been a long time since we met. I constantly worried if people might forget me. It felt amazing to see so many people coming.
ELLE: What is brewing inside the new album and concert tours?
Though I had experience releasing a mini album, it is the first time I will be releasing a regular album of rock genre. My solo concert will follow shortly after too... What will it be like? Instead of directing the stage and presenting a typical concert to everyone, I want it to feel carefree. It is a pity that I will be singing the songs in Korean. I want to sing in Japanese too. I really want to sing Japanese songs in Japan. Despite singing 5 / 6 songs in Japanese at Yokohama Arena, my Japanese definitely deteriorated since I don't use it often. What can I do? I truly anticipate this trip to Japan. To shop, to meet up with friends and many more other activities.
ELLE: What do you usually talk about with your Japanese friends?
Meaningless things. (Laughs) Since it has been a long time, we will have a meal together and go for a drink. Do silly things too! There are many people whom I want to meet with other than those few close friends. We don't usually talk about things related to work.
ELLE: Things that you are passionate about now?
Composing songs and writing lyrics. I wrote the lyrics for almost all the songs in this album. Memories flash back as I compose. The theme is love, and love is about meeting another party, then falling in love, going deeper in love, then breaking up. I pen down these experiences, be it happiness or pain, into my lyrics. Although I did not experience all these myself. (Laughs) I honestly feel that writing lyrics is the best way to express feelings. By switching on the focus mode in my mind and say "let's write a song today. Let's write two songs today!", it feels as if I am giving myself assignments. I usually have a song first before filling in the lyrics. I use piano to compose the songs.
ELLE: Are you heading into the two areas of music composer and actor now?
Yes. I feel more like myself when I compose music. But when I act, I need to try harder to express those emotions. This is acting. It is interesting.
ELLE: If you were not a singer, what kind of person do you think you will become?
This is difficult... I don't know. I like cooking, fashion, drawing and interior designing. I might start developing into these areas.
ELLE: What food can you cook?
I like cooking delicious food using very few ingredients. With only so little ingredients, the food produced can be so tasty. It really makes people think huh. It is not skills if you simply follow the instructions in recipe. But it definitely is skills if you can whip up something tasty without unnecessary ingredients. (Laughs) I cook when I am alone at home. Of course, I will do up something simple when I have friends visiting. I hate to wait for food to be served when I am hungry. (Laughs) Therefore, I try to always cook something quick and tasty for my friends. It's easy: Boil the water, add spicy sauce, sugar, vinegar, then clams at the end. Ah, these clams are not produced in Japan. It's a pity. I like putting the clams atop of my noodles without the soup.
ELLE: Do Yoochun or Junsu visit you?
They don't. We focus more on personal lives now. In the past, we do go to each other's house frequently.
ELLE: How would you describe your members when you introduce them to others?
I can't describe well as I am different in front of my members and others. But if anyone were to speak badly about my member, I will definitely retort by saying "what do you know? Shut your mouth if you don't know anything!" I am very different when it comes to my members. I am more talkative in front of them. Really, to the extent I am super noisy. People always say, "You have known each other for 10 years now. Why do you still have so many things to talk about?"
ELLE: When the three of you work together, will there be conflicting opinions?
No. We are very clear of our likes and dislikes. We know it all too well.
ELLE: Jaejoong's strengths and weaknesses?
Biased comments like "Jaejoong is so cold" are always debunked when we meet in real life. "I am surprised. Jaejoong talks a lot!" I am proud of this. Although the image of Jaejoong is that he is a celebrity, I am not like this. You think I eat luxurious food right? Actually, I would rather eat ramen and katsudon in Japan. My meal will not exceed 1000 yen (~$10)! (Laughs) I make friends with everyone around me quickly. And hence my weakness is, I cannot reject. Even when I have to wake up earlier the next day, if my friends call me out, I won't be able to reject. When we drink, and I need to go very soon, because my friends are really happy, I won't be able to say that I need to get home soon. (Laughs)
ELLE: What kind of drunk are you?
My Japanese becomes fluent! Human's ability is amazing. I would like, how did I even know this word?! (Laughs)
ELLE: Your body remains masculine despite drinking. Do you exercise?
My body doesn't grow fat. I go on diet before shooting. I run three times a week. Instead of calling it self-maintenance, I just really like to be able to sweat as much as I want. As for the sports activities I do, it's basically golf, hiking, cycling, basketball etc. I do sports when I am free or when I have nothing to do.
ELLE: Do you have free time?
Times when I am so busy I can't even contact my friends at all? I don't think I have ever been that busy.
ELLE: What are your ways to destress?
Shopping! Buying interior furnishing. I like to arrange furniture at home. It sounds extreme, but I cannot take it if things aren't placed properly. Even just a little messiness in my house cannot be tolerated! (When your wardrobe is messy) you would want to buy new clothes, and you would want go out. Similarly, if my house is clean, I will want to be at home everyday. The house feels fresh. Doesn't it irritate you if you have to clean up when you are feeling so tired?
ELLE: Where do you want to go for a solo trip?
Japan. Honestly. Although there are many countries I wish to visit, I really want to go to Japan right now. Many of my good friends are there. Also, I made lots of memories there when I was still a rookie. I want to stroll alone in the place full of good memories.
ELLE: Anyone who had made great impact on your life and career?
Be it my personal life or my career, I have various encounters with someone whom I have met only once yet I felt so motivated.
ELLE: Favourite word or expression?
I have two. And that's "thank you" and "sorry". I feel that the culture of using sorry is more common in Japan. Sorry is used when a person feels regretful, impolite and thankful. There isn't such Korean word (to describe this feeling).
ELLE: How do you recover from a bad mood?
I let myself be. I recover after a period of time, so I just wait patiently for that moment to arrive.
ELLE: What changes will there be in 10 years' time?
I will still be unmarried in 10 years' time!
ELLE: You are very sure!
Yes I am sure that I still want to continue going forward like now, due to varied reasons.
ELLE: No thoughts on marriage? Or having a child?
I was thinking of this lately. I want to marry! I want to have kids! But as expected, as expected, maybe this is my life destiny? A life destined to marry late. I am loved by so many people, wouldn't it be considered betrayal if I get married? But everyone can go ahead and marry and have kids. It is important to have your own hero and superstar, isn't it? As a respected idol, it is necessary to be responsible. Though I think it's alright for others to get married, I feel that I cannot. This is good right? This is a hard topic, but it is not right for me to die earlier than everyone right? There might be people around who can't live without Jaejoong. I must be responsible for this.
ELLE: So it is fine if you marry 10 years later?
I have this resolution from 10 years later. My responsibility is to take care of my looks, as there are people who like Jaejoong's image. If I get older faster than my fans, when my wrinkles start appearing... During the concert in Japan this year, I asked if I had changed. Everyone replied I did not. It is fine for people to grow older, but I will grow older slowly.
ELLE: Favourite ideal type?
It doesn't matter if the person isn't smart. So long the person isn't violent. It is violent in Japanese right? Am I S or am I M? It changes depending on the other party. (Laughs)
ELLE: Do you feel touched recently?
Yes. My staff have been working extremely hard for me. Pictures of me behind cameras were taken and it really troubled my staff. Because of this, I can't even go to the convenience stores. I try not to do anything and bring my existence down to the minimum. After I apologized to my staff, they said "this is not your fault". Although we were at the set, I teared up.
ELLE: Lastly, can you leave a message to the fans in Japan?
Jaejoong's manager: How about writing sorry? (Everyone laughed.)
It's so funny. (Laughs) Sorry isn't enough after letting all of you wait for me. What I feel is above this. I shall write something fans all around the world will like!
And he penned down the most familiar word. The word everyone has been waiting for.
"I love you"
Source: boingboingjae
Trans: yunjaery