[JO1] Classy 220619 / 22

https://classy-online.jp/beauty/219238/
TN: The interview was first uploaded on 19th June, but for some reason it was deleted and a few days later reuploaded.

[JO1 x YSL] Kawashiri Ren, Kawanishi Takumi, Sato Keigo and Mamehara Issei talk about episodes from the ‘live streamed performance’!

On 15th June (Wednesday), the YSL Beauty Japan ambassadors JO1 performed live their new song ‘ALL HOURS’ for the whole world to celebrate the launch of YSL’s world-first foundation that recreates a beautiful skin, called ‘All Hours Liquid’. At the same time, a commercial was published that is inspired by the world view of ‘All Hours Liquid’. At CLASSY.ONLINE we conducted a special interview with JO1 after the end of the event. The second exclusive interview is with Kawashiri Ren, Kawanishi Takumi, Sato Keigo and Mamehara Issei, who showcased the sweat- and sports-proof formula by performing an energetic dance in the commercial video!

What are their thoughts after finishing the performance that was live streamed into the whole world?

Please give us first a message to the JAM worldwide who watched the live streamed performance. There is a rumor that Sato-san would like to comment on behalf of the dance team so… What do you think, Sato-san?
Keigo: Eh, what?
Ren: This rumor is a fact!
Keigo: Eh, a message for JAM? Okay. I.. ah… love you.
Takumi: Lame (laughs)!
Keigo: But really! And… I am happy.
Takumi: No no, that is so lame (laughs)!
Keigo: Yes, it is (laughs)
Ren: Don’t say it yourself (laughs)!

Everyone please support him!
Ren: As it was our first time performing the song and we streamed it for the whole world, I was a bit nervous… or rather my nerves were a little strained because I had to my best, but when I thought that many JAM around the world were supporting us behind the camera, gave me some courage. I believe that it was thanks to everyone that we were able to do our best on this stage.
Keigo: So far only the media attended such events, right? This time, I was able to see JAM at the venue.
Issei: I saw them!
Keigo: Sure enough they made me feel relaxed. It was a limited group of 30 people chosen by a lottery, yet despite that just seeing JAM relaxed my tense and stiff body. I was able to perform at ease.
Issei: This time it had been decided to stream it worldwide not just via JO1’s accounts but via 8 accounts including YSL-san’s ones. I was happy to perform a new song dressed up in a suit with a mature atmosphere, and I think I was able to show a new side of myself to JAM.
Takumi: As it was a livestream on 8 accounts, I truly felt it was an opportunity to be seen by more people than usual. I hoped that our performance would reach as many people as possible.

It was actually an improvisation? An ‘exclusive’ episode from the live streamed performance

The song starts off with a burst of energetic performances from JO1’s popular chemi TsuruKima and the national treasure ikemen, Kawanishi-san. How did you feel at this moment?
Takumi: Ah yes (laughs). I think I’m gonna nail it and rock this.

How did you feel, Sato-san, when you wowed everyone with your jacket dance?
Keigo: Well, I thought “Yes, I did it-!” (laughs)

(Everyone is laughing) This is not part of the choreography?
Ren: No no, that was his improvisation.
Keigo: My actual intention was to take off the jacket completely. But when I thought about the balance of the whole performance I thought only taking it half off would be better. I feel like I’m gonna rock this here.
Ren: This time, I was entrusted with the choreography of “ALL HOURS”, so while we were just 10 members today, I put a lot of effort into showing all of JO1 as a piece of art. I, of course, did my best as an individual, too, but I actually feel that we were able to charm the audience as JO1 as a whole.
(At this moment it happened that the reporter dropped the recorder. There were the gentleman-like responses from Mamehara-san who said “Got it!” and Kawanishi “Is it okay? Should I hold it for you?”)
Issei: What was it…? I guess, it was I’m gonna kill it here! Like “3..2..1 Boom”, right?
Ren: At the beginning of the second verse, right?
Issei: It is a moment when the song changes, so I felt that I was gonna do my best and rock it.

Please tell us next about your vocals and rapping. As it is rare for Kawashiri-san to rap, was it impressive?
Ren: I betrayed a little (everyone’s stereotype of me) (embarrassed). It is a song that got the meaning of “PUSH THE BOUNDARIES”, so I guess it became a song that is filled with a never heard before line distribution and challenges. I gave my very best when practicing the rapping, too!

What are you saying in each chorus, Sato-san?
Keigo: (very fluently) I say “Bring it on”.
Takumi: Something like “Go above and beyond!” This means “Bring it on”.
Keigo: Right, it is agitation. This time I’m in charge of agitation (laughs).
TN: As you can imagine, that part makes much more sense in Japanese as they try to translate the lyrics.

What do you think, Kawanishi-san?
Takumi: As the theme is “PUSH THE BOUNDARIES” this time, I wanted to push my own ones. Basically, I challenged myself to trust my senses! The same goes for the part when TsuruKima start with a bam and I go bang in the middle of it and JAM get all wow and excited (laughs)... but this time I tried to express all parts with my senses.
Ren: These three are the type of people who shine when you don’t tell them much about how to dance but let them do it freely.
Issei: We do shine (laughs).
Ren: Hence, I left the gestures and nuances in their own parts to them.
Keigo: That was only possible with this choreography!
Takumi: Originating from the choreo, he let us do it freely!

What do you think, Mamehara-san?
Issei: My English is quite bad… I went to the room of the leader, Sho-kun, and he taught me the intonation there and I also asked our vocal trainers about it and studied a lot. Actually, I did not have much preparation time for the recording.
Keigo: Because of Kamen Rider and such, right?
Issei: (When the topic of his appearance in the Kamen Rider movie came up, he beamed a little happily) Although the period was that short, I practiced a lot at home and we were able to record it while discussing a lot of things. I think I was able to sing with a clear sense of what I was singing at the performance today.

A special message from JO1 to JAM & the readers!

Speaking of “PUSH THE BOUNDARIES”, you appear along with RIEHATA-san in a documentary series, Kawashiri-san, but what do you think about it?
Keigo: This was so amazing, wasn’t it?
Ren: First of all, the only Japanese people participating are me and RIEHATA-san. Speaking of RIEHATA-san, she is an amazing dancer who is active worldwide and known by everyone, so being able to stand in the same place as her… As someone who had been dancing for a long time originally, it is an honor beyond my means… A behind the scenes story from that day? It was raining so much! We danced at various places like rooftops where you could see a bunch of the buildings of the city, but if you just made a small mistake there was the chance you could fall off. There was an amazing crew and we did it on a schedule that was timed to the minute, or even to the seconds… I was nervous, so much.
(Editor's note: It can be watched on the 4th floor of the YSL BEAUTY Virtual Tower, so make sure to check this out!)

Lastly, please give a message to the readers and JAM!
Ren: We are able to do our activities thanks to the support and power from everyone. We will work hard so that we can be everyone's driving force. Please continue to support us!