[JO1] Vogue Girl 210902

https://voguegirl.jp/boys/boyfriend/boyfriend-boy-friend-starring-jo1-vol2/#!/p/1/

Thank you very much for today.
All: Please take care of us!

Actually it’s the 2nd time that I am meeting you. The first time was at the YSL Beauty shooting. This project was a huge success.
Junki: Ah, I remember it! It’s been fun.
Ren: It was when all the members wore suits, right?

Yes. It took a long time for the video and stills. I think it must have been really hard, but it gave a good glimpse of each member’s character and reaffirmed what a great team you are.
Ren: Everyone has something different to offer and that’s what makes JO1. I think that’s our charm.
Issei: JO1 is a group born from an audition program. Normally, I think a lot of groups make their debut after preparing together and debut in a pretty much finished state, but JO1 is made from 11 people who all came together from a different path.
Junki: I had even gotten a job offer at university. But since back then, I declared to my friends “I will debut for sure.”
Issei: I think we are a group who shows a lot of growth since the debut. We are still in the middle of growing and I would be happy if the fans enjoy it while we share this with them.

It’s great to be in a constant state of growth. How long has it been since your debut?
Ren: About 1 and a half years.

How was that one and a half years?
Junki: Because there was also a pandemic, we couldn’t do all activities, but that’s why it was a time in which we grew. In my case it was singing.
Ren: I had opportunities to appear on TV variety programs not just as JO1. That was what I was nervous about in the beginning, but after making some experiences, I think it was a period of learning something at a new place and watching other guests, (thinking) “In this moment that reaction is good”.

It is a connection with the fans who cheer for you.
Ren: That’s right. I feel that all activities were for JO1 in the end.
Issei: During the last year, there were nothing but things I didn’t understand and it was over in a blink of an eye, but this year, in this half a year, I feel like I was able to do a lot of thinking. It’s the second year, so I think I’m not rushing so much and have become calmer.

Mamehara-kun is still 19 years old. You have a very intense life.
Issei: Because at the time of the debut I was still 17 years old (laughs). I feel like my appearance has become a bit more mature and I think gradually I established my own way of showing myself in regards to performing.

You certainly seem more fearless than during the shooting half a year ago.
Issei: This could be true (laughs)

When you are working as JO1, when was the most fun moment?
Junki: After all, it's the most fun when we stand on stage together.
Issei: The stages are not frequent, but there is a special feeling when we stand on stage and perform.
Ren: For me it’s also during performances. Also, during the takes for various kinds of work.

Are you not nervous during TV recordings?
Ren: No. I’m enjoying them!

Is there something you are aware of or keep in mind because of the large number of members?
Issei: Because our number is big, it is a sense of unity. If everyone becomes scattered, it won’t be coherent, so we put a lot of emphasis on the team feeling that everyone becomes one. We are careful in a good way to make this happen…
Junki: We were chosen from an audition, so our big charm is that all our personalities are different. That’s why I think it’s important to be coherent.

Please tell us some memorable advice that you got for working as JO1.
Ren: It’s the words I got from the choreograph of our songs “The artist decides the atmosphere of the venue.”

This is true. The power of an artist moves his surroundings.
Junki: For me it’s the words of my father “Become someone who looks out for the good points of people.”. There are a lot of members and the time we spend together is long, too, so keeping in mind “to look for the good points”is important. Also in regard to people other than the members.

Of course, when you are an artist who looks for the good sides of people, the atmosphere at the venue will be the best! Everyone’s powers would be maximised. What about you, Mamehara-kun?
Issei: I can’t say something for certain, but.. I value to keep the stance of always continuing to challenge.

That’s good. Do you have a part that (that makes you think) I’m not losing to the other members in this!
Issei: That’s difficult, but there is powerfulness, freshness… After all, there is also that I’m the youngest one of the members and in terms of performance I might be able to bring out the most dynamicness. I think that’s what I’m not losing to others.

The 4th single “STRANGER” is on sale. In each song, you can feel the powerful and approachable tenderness of JO1.
Issei: The single is mysterious or rather there are nothing but songs featured that have JO1’s cool and stylish image.
Junki: I hope you will also feel our growth.
Ren: It’s the same each time, but also this time again it is a single in which we can show a new JO1 and another cool side of us.

I think there are people who admire the activities of JO1 and dream of “I also want to become an artist!” What kind of advice would you give to them?
Ren: Let’s advance not towards the easy direction but to the fun one!
Junki: Please be someone who is true to his heart and someone who can show this.
Issei: If you work earnestly hard on the things you want to do, your dreams will surely come true. Please be honest to yourself and give your best!

INI who were born from “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SEASON2” became your juniors, but is there a member who you are interested in?
Issei: Rather than one of them it’s all of them. I have a lot of respect for them because we come from a similar background. But there are a lot of things that are similar like the same agency and they are also 11 members, so in order that our group colours are different, I think we have to create our own JO1-self even more. In this way I personally think they are rivals and I hope we can have a friendly competition together.
Ren: Everyone! All members are cute (laughs).
Junki: Yes, we want to get along with everyone, right? As comrades who have the same will.

From now on we will ask you as many questions as we can think of. First, what is your favourite part of your face, let’s start with Mamehara-kun!
Issei: My eyes. I can’t believe I say this but… I like that they are a little big.
Ren: For me it's my eyes, too. But they used to be my complex..

But I think Kawashiri-kun’s gaze has something cool and lovely.
Ren: Thank you very much (laughs) In the past it used to be that people thought I was kinda bad with eye contact and that I’m kinda scary, but fans praise them the same way, so I started to like them.

Wow, your fans are amazing! Kono-kun, how about you?
Junki: It’s also my eyes (laughs).

Everyone's the same. All three of you are wonderful in your own ways. You have the strength to speak with your eyes.
Junki: I like that I have neither a clear single eyelid nor a double one.

Next is your favourite part of your body. Which one is it, Kono-kun?
Junki: I think it’s my chest.

Your shoulder line is also beautiful, so naturally the eyes go to your chest.
Junki: I have broad shoulders and a well-defined neck. How about you, Mame-chan?
Issei: Maybe my neck… The narrowed down result (laughs)

Because everyone is dancing, your neckline is flexible. Kawashri-kun, do you have a favourite part?
Ren: My nails (laughs). The form is just right so I like them. Aren’t your hands and nails something you often see yourself, too?

You are the first person to mention his nails in this series (laughs). I think you have a unique sensibility, but if you analyse your personality? Ren: It might be kind stubbornness (laughs). Perfect! You are soft when you are talking, but it’s conveyed that you have a strong will. How about the other two?
Issei: I’m serious.
Junki: Straight to the point.

Each one has their seriousness and directness, right? Do you think this personality fits the job of an artist?
All: It does!

Next, if you compared yourself to a colour, which one would it be?
Issei: Red. It’s also why it became my member colour, but for example in Sentai the red one is also strong. I admire this.
Ren: It’s blue for me. It’s an image like a cool and hot flame.
Junki: Light blue. More than comparing it to myself, I just love the colour. And it goes well with orange.

I think every day is busy for you. What are you doing when you suddenly feel lonely?
Issei: I’m talking with my friends on the phone. But sometimes it makes me want to meet them even more (laughs).
Junki: I’m the same. Also, maybe playing games with the members.
Ren: I’m always with the members together, so I don’t become lonely.

It’s your charm that you are sociable. If you are together all the time, you won’t get a little bored?
Ren: Not at all! Everyone has his own individuality, and it’s fun.

If you had another job now, what would you do? First, Mamehara-kun.
Issei: I would like to be a dance instructor while going to university.

Going to university. Your friends of the same age are like this, right? Issei: I wonder how life at a university is, who my friends would be. But I would continue my beloved dancing without a change.
Junki: I would be… being an Italian chef would be nice.

You cook?
Junki: Yes, I do. Some time ago I made pasta and served it to Syoya.

Kimata-kun who came the last time, said that he loves to eat (laughs)
Junki: (laughs) He said it was delicious and ate it.

How about Kawashiri-kun?
Ren: I would like to be a staff at an attraction.

You would be having fun guiding people! So, if you went out for dinner, which member would you invite and what would you eat?
Issei: I would invite everyone and eat yakiniku. We are 11 members and each one has their own time, so we don’t really go out to eat with everyone, but maybe me, the youngest, would invite them, I think they would all come (laughs). I would like to go just with the members.
Junki: I would also go with everyone for yakiniku! I want to eat delicious tongue.

With eleven people, it would be quite the amount of food (laughs). During the last shooting, we prepared a lot of bentos, because it took a long time, but the staff, who prepared it, was delighted to see that everything was gone. So, Kawashiri-kun, who would go with, if it was just a small number of people?
Ren: Going to eat sushi with Junki and Syoya. When it’s sushi, it seems better to go with a few people instead of everyone.

Finally, how would you like your life to be in 10 years?
Issei: I would be 29 years old, but I still want to dance. Also, I want to be a grown up man which I am not right now.
Ren: My life is very fulfilled right now, but I hope to live my life in such a way that in 10 years, I will still feel the most fulfilled during that course and at that time.
Junki: I want to improve my musical skills even more and enjoy music more.

Thank you very much for today. And it was so amusing to see you eating pizza so close together!
All: Thank you very much!