[JO1] AR 230310

JO1 meets…

Kawashiri Ren x YUTO

The way towards the dream

This time we made happen the passionate same generation talk between JO1‘s Kawashiri Ren and PENTAGON‘s YUTO! The two, who are active after setting their eyes on the world, talk from their passion towards their favorite things, their earnest hard work and their never ending evolution until their surprising common points. We will dig deeply into their roads!

YUTO -> REN
Ren-kun is someone familiar to me, but when I saw his performance as an artist for the first time, his power and delicacy overwhelmed me. I am motivated by their process that made talented people come together and let them pass a hard audition and their earnest hard working and their attitude. I became more certain that I have to work hard, too.

REN -> YUTO
By dancing for a long time I am aware where I shine, but YUTO-kun is cool just by standing there! He has an overwhelming presence. Also, he is a very kind gentleman, too. His behavior is also neat and from the inside a mature charm comes out… I ended up smiling him without noticing it during the shooting of the solo pictures today!

Comrades who are in a friendly rivalry despite being seperated!

Ren: YUTO-kun, it‘s been a while! I really looked forward to today. Please take care of me today.
YUTO: I could say the same. Thank you very much for inviting me. I got your contact information back when we had the collab stage in 2022, but today is the first time that we are talking like this.
Ren: Hence, I anxiously awaited today! We talked after the collab-stage, but I was really happy that you remembered me from the time when I danced as a backhanded for PENTAGON-san. I was also moved when you asked to exchange our contact information. Since we were both busy and unable to meet in private… To make up for this I want to talk a lot today ♪
YUTO: You impressed me from the start, Ren-kun. You had power, were cheerful and your dancing was amazing! You were trustworthy as you made your surroundings shine brightly!
Ren: Wow, I’m happy! (Embarrassed) When I first met you, I was surprised by your overwhelming presence, YUTO-kun. You are tall, have a deep voice and just by standing there you were cool! When you were dancing you were powerful in the right moment. I felt the thrill “That’s how a star looks like…”.
YUTO: You make me feel shy by saying this. I spent the year end in Japan last year and I saw JO1’s activities on TV. Ren-kun, can you take a break?
Ren: I can’t take long ones, but it’s perfect right now how busy I am. While I look at the packed schedule with the members, I feel “That’s a great schedule” and I enjoy this youth-like time of talking to them while fooling around.
YUTO: That you also see the business as something positive is one of your charms and strengths.
Ren: How do you overcome times when you are busy and it is getting hard?
YUTO: I often felt down when I just came to Korea and there were some many things I learnt that I had no time to worry. Also, I’m shy so rather than asking someone for advice I often coped with it and solved it myself. Back then I took a walk along the river shore as the first thing in the morning to relax.
Ren: But because of this time you shine more than ever now. By the way, rather than business I fear more the recklessness of variety shows.
YUTO: Japanese variety shows are funny because they incorporate surprises and a huge variety of gimmicks. When I return to Japan and watch those, I feel “That’s fully Japan”. (Laughs). I’m sure if you are there I would enjoy it! I’m looking forward to you being active in variety shows!

What motivates me is the feeling of “liking” it from all my heart

Ren: When you went to Korea at the age of 15 years, did you have some plan on how to promote yourself?
YUTO: I went there without thinking about the consequences, so I had no special strategy (Bitterly laughs). Now is the result of being honest to my heart and facing what I wanted to do directly. What I had was not the ability to promote myself but the power to take action.
Ren: It’s cool that you put it in action without being afraid of the different language and culture.
YUTO: I was in my teens and rather than advancing by planning I pushed on just by the feeling of simply liking it. When I saw my K-POP seniors on TV, my biggest motivation was the feeling in my heart that “I want to be like this”. How did you get into dancing?
Ren: I’m quite the nimble type and when I started dancing during my 5th year of elementary school, I was often praised from the others right afterwards. When I thought “I’m the very best”, I met someone who was so good that they made me think “They must be a genius…”. Much less than making me feel down, they ignited my fighting spirit.
YUTO: The competitive devil was ignited!
Ren: Right! I didn’t want to lose in dancing, too, but for some reason I thought of it as “Dancing + sprint” and since I’m faster I win! (Laughs). I started to think that by brushing up on various skills I will win in the overall points. And from then on I started to try everything that interested me. My sources of energy are “competitiveness” and “knowing I’m no prodigy”.
YUTO: I know what you mean. Because when I noticed back then there was no Japanese rappers in Korea, I wanted to challenge this.
Ren: Did you always have this handsome deep voice?
YUTO: I used to lower it. I’m still in the middle of making use of it. Since last year I've been intensifying my voice training and I’m diligently doing the training such as opening and closing my vocal cords. I want to become better at rapping and also at singing.
Ren: We feel the same! I’m also competitive when it comes to singing. The powerful singing of the main vocalists is cool too, but… I have a voice that catches someone's ears so I'm often singing when the melody changes or when some change is added. This is the flavor I have and I feel I can still improve, so I want to analyze and study more the songs I can sing and the way of singing I’m looking for.
YUTO: It is very important to improve yourself while looking at yourself from an outsider perspective because once you are satisfied with the now, you will stop there.

There is no right answer on the road of music! Advancing on the best you believe in

Ren: I also like the uplighting feeling of concerts, but I really like it to be on the same wave as the cameraman during the filming of a MV. When I’m convinced that it was a good shot I’m itching to see the video while dancing (laughs). You are rapping, dancing and have a hand in songwriting, YUTO-kun, but what is the most fun moment in your music activities?
YUTO: The most fun times are when during the production of the album I come across some exciting lyrics or an interesting beat and the switch is turned to “Let’s go!”, and of course the song writing itself.
Ren: Is it hard to write lyrics in Korean?
YUTO: I pretty much got used to it, but there are also some trivial Korean words that are difficult for me. Writing lyrics is a craft that takes time, but I’m happy when music I had a hand in composing is released and makes the fans delighted and I float in a sense of liberation (laughs).
Ren: Even though I started to learn composing, too, my skills are not enough yet and there is also the frustration that I can’t shape the music I want to create yet.
YUTO: The path of music and arts has no right answer, so it’s difficult, isn’t it? Hence, I value confronting it until I am satisfied with it. Until there… it’s the path of anxiety, right? (Laughs)
Ren: I will do my best! (Motivated) Is there something you do for composing?
YUTO: 2 years ago I started to learn how to play the piano and guitar. Being able to play instruments became a huge plus. I came to understand “Here, a guitar is used” as well as the structure and music theory.
Ren: I also play the piano, so I guess I should practice more. Do you play every day?
YUTO: I try to play for 1 hour each day. Thankfully my agency provides a room for composing, so I lock myself in there and compose.
Ren: Time alone is essential for creating things, isn’t it!

YUTO
I want to become someone who gets close to the fans and gives them power. I’m sometimes called by my last name “Adachi”, but it makes me feel happy as it makes me feel close as if we were classmates. Fans are the ones who raised me, so I want them to feel of me as someone close without any distance. Outside of performances, I’m happy when I make them smile through my events or team announcements through SNS or live streams.
REN
We debuted through an audition, so that we can do these activities because of the fans. If it wasn’t for them, my current me wouldn’t exist. But I just don’t want them to know more about me, I also want to know more about them! At the online talk sessions I linger there until the very last second (laughs). I want to talk more ♥️

With daily care exhausting won’t last
Ren: I’m really sensitive to dryness, so I use the triple of air purifier, a humidifier and an air purifier with a humidity function at home, to care for my throat (laughs). Is there something you are careful of, YUTO-kun?
YUTO: I think I’m not doing anything regarding my throat. I have to do my raps powerfully, so I guess it’s different from what we are careful of.
Ren: Makes sense. I think I’m so careful of my throat that ones I feel the slightest unease, I directly use a throat spray (sweating). Also, in order not to carry the exhaustion to the next day, I stretch before going to sleep and when the exhausting builds up I go for acupuncture… And with this and that I care for myself.
YUTO: I take a hip bath at home. I like to sweat for 30 minutes and adjust myself. Recently I also go to the sauna.
Ren: I also like saunas. Do you also go to saunas in Korea?
YUTO: I often go with my friend NCT 127’s YUTA. Saunas are really popular in Korea, too.
Ren: I want to go with you when I’m in Korea!
YUTO: Sure ♪ Let’s adjust ourselves together.

Explosion of the same generation talk that took its time!
YUTO: Since we are from the same generation we should have lots of common points. Did you play card games as a child? I was into Duel Masters!
Ren: I played it, too, but I love Pokemon ♥️. Because I’m a Pokemon trainer (smug)!
YUTO: School time, so nostalgic. Back then I was good at sports and I didn’t like music. I think only recently I started listening to ballads.
Ren: I liked science classes. I was in the science department, so I experimented while wearing a white coat. I love experiments ♪
YUTO: You wore a white coat!? It would suit you.. By the way, what are go hobbies?
Ren: My hobbies are games, magic and…
YUTO: M-Magic!?
Ren: I’m not performing it anywhere, but I am increasing my stories for the future! How about you?
YUTO: Visiting secondhand clothes I guess. I often go to my favorite one in Korea. When I return to Japan, I will also check the ones in Shimokita.
Ren: I like these, too. I also remake secondhand clothes myself. When the difficulty level is high, I’m making it while being taught by the stylist.
YUTO: Amazing! I want to learn it from you. But first, let’s go to eat something together.
Ren: Sure! What do you like?
YUTO: Gyutan. And you?
Ren: Chocolate and fruits ♪
YUTO: Indeed, you are the sweets type! And for meals?
Ren: Minestrone. You can make it easily, so I often make it myself. Do you have something you dislike?
YUTO: Coriander. But I usually eat everything. I also dislike spicy food, but nowadays I think I can eat more spicy food than Koreans (laughs). Do you like Korean food?
Ren: My favorite is “Jinmichae”! It is a dish of dried and shredded squirts with a balance of sweet and saltiness, so it’s not a main dish but something that always sticks around, but it’s really delicious♥️
YUTO: Your favorite things are all kind of pinpointed like this (laughs). Also… What I noticed while we were talking, but we have a mole at the same spot. The mole over the eyebrow.
Ren: I have one! (Finds it after staring at YUTO) really, it’s the same spot! So cool!
YUTO: It’s rare for moles to be at the same spot, isn’t it? (Laughs) It must be fate, too.
Ren: It’s really fun to talk with you, YUTO-kun, as we are not running out of topics! I have a lot I respect about you and I was really happy to have this talk with you who is active worldwide in the same generation. Thank you very much for today.
YUTO: I have to thank you. Let’s meet again. I will let you know directly! I hope we can meet in Korea next time ♪

[JO1] Nippon Housou News Online 230304

https://news.1242.com/article/422076

JO1‘s Kawashiri Ren surprises the member with a place he spends a lot of time at “I fully enjoy the drink and ice cream bar and…”

On the night of the 1st March (Wednesday), the radio program ‘JO1 All Night Nippon X’ (every Wednesday from 24:00~24:58 on Nippon Housou) aired of which Shiroiwa Ruki from the 11 member global boy group, JO1, acts as the main personality. As the weekly changing personalities Kawashiri Ren and Tsurubo Shion appeared in this episode. Kawashiri, who is a huge manga fan confessed about an episode when he went to a manga cafe.

Ren: When I went to a manga cafe, I read it in one go. The manga “Attack on Titan”.

Ruki: When was it? Recently?

Ren: After I became a JO1 member.

Ruki: For real!? JO1’s Kawashiri Ren did that!?

Shion: That’s hilarious! (Laughs)

Ren: I like to read things in one go. If I’m having a day off, I will feel like “I wanna go!”. and I made full use of the drink and ice cream bar and read “Attack on Titan” in one go. It was really funny.

Ruki: It seems fun~ (laughs)

Shion: At a manga cafe, if you, for example, are interested in “Attack on Titan” and take all with you, others won’t be able to read it at all, right?

Ren: Right, this would be a nuisance. Hence I always take like 2 or 3 books. Plus, the ice cream keeps on melting, each time.

Shion: So nice~

Ren: Because there is also a 12 hour stay possible.

Ruki: Eh? Have you done that?

Ren: Yes.

Shion: Wow…

Ren: But I did so only 2 times since becoming a member of JO1.

Ruki: That’s a full day in total!

Shiroiwa and Tsurubo had been amazed by Kawashiri confessing he spent 12 hours in a manga cafe even after becoming a member of JO1.

Furthermore, Kawashiri introduced “Attack on Titan” as a recommendation and passionately stated about the foreshadowing in the manga: “the dots just don’t become lines, they become surfaces there!”. Both Shiroiwa and Tsurubo had read it halfway, so their interest in the rest of the story was sparked, saying “I haven’t checked it out in a while, so what you said made me curious”.

[JO1] Nippon Housou News Online 230222

https://news.1242.com/article/419458

Regarding something JO1’s Kawashiri Ren wants to do together with the juniors, DXTEEN: “One of them seems to be in the top 5% either worldwide or in Japan!”

On the night of the 15th February (Wednesday), the radio program “JO1’s All Night Nippon X” (every Wednesday from 24:00~24:58 on Nippon Housou) aired of which Shiroiwa Ruki from the 11 member global boy group, JO1, acts as the main personality. As the weekly changing personalities Yonashiro Sho and Kawashiri Ren appeared in this episode. A listener of the program asked “The new six-member group, DXTEEN, has been announced, but do you have any advice or expectations for your juniors who will start their activities from now on?”, and they proceeded to talk about what they like to do with their label juniors.

Ren: I was entrusted with the choreography for DXTEEN, so we quite talked a lot. Thus, (I found out) they are “good at games”.

Ruki: Eh?

Ren: There are a lot of members in JO1 who like games, so I would like to arrange a game tournament with them!

Sho: In a way, we are their seniors so we have to stay true to our word… What a pressure we put on them! (Laughs)

Ren: According to something I heard, one of the DXTEEN members is in the top 5% (of a game ranking) either worldwide or in Japan!

Sho: Ah right, in the ranking of a certain game.

Ren: Hence, I’m trembling (with anticipation to play against them) (laughs).

Ruki: Is this a game the (JO1) members often play?

Sho: Right! Because he is in the top 5%, right? I don’t get it!

Ruki: … Well, the pressure from earlier has no meaning anymore! (Laughs)

Sho: No, exactly that’s why there is pressure on them (laughs).

Ren: I’m really looking forward to it!

Ruki: You haven’t played against them yet?

Ren: Not yet.

Ruki: That’s exciting.

Ren: Everyone from DXTEEN, let’s play games together!

Kawashiri is in charge of the choreography for DXTEEN’s song “Sail Away”, and at the recent “New group announcement press conference” in Tokyo, Yonashiro was there as a senior.

As an advice to the young DXTEEN members, Yonashiro commented: “They are all young, the youngest one is 17, so 10 years younger than me. The leader is also young, 20 years old, so if they have any worries, they can come to me for advice.” Shiroiwa also shared the message: “Right, I want them to feel free to rely on us!”.

[JO1] smart WEB 230222

https://smartmag.jp/archives/24258/

[LUMINE EST Shinjuku] JO1 and Go to the FASHIONISTA! 2 HOT SHOPs which handsome men want to visit (Part 1)

The 11 member global boy group JO1 is riding high as they had their first appearance on NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen in 2022 and now they collaborate with LUMINE EAST Shinjuku in Tokyo, a department with a wide range of fashionable shops. In line with JO1’S greeting “Go to the TOP”, the concept of this collaboration is “Go to the FASHIONISTA” to enjoy this year’s spring fashion to the fullest.5 noteworthy shops from LUMINE EAST Shinjuku will be featured here.

For the first part, we have HARE, which expresses their cool world view with a monotone base and STUDIOUS, which offers a collection of carefully selected Japanese items. You can find all the current trends at LUMINE EST Shinjuku!

Updating your daily clothes with individuality under the theme of “light”
Kawanishi Takumi, Mamehara Issei, Kawashiri Ren wearing HARE

[…]

Takumi’s comment: I was impressed by the design of this knit, Roth every single of its details. The sides are cut, so it looks better layered than if you wore it alone. Today I wore a shirt under it, but you can enjoy different looks depending on what you choose!

Issei’s comment: I think it is the first time I’m wearing a vest-like jacket. I have the impression of jackets being something formal, and I don’t have one because I only wear casual clothes, but today I matched it with clothes that have a relaxed vibe and it was an eye-opener to see that there are other ways to incorporate jackets in your outfits.

Ren’s comment: I usually wear a lot of monoton clothes, so these purple pants felt new. The color is not bright, rather it is a little dull, which gives it a mature impression. There is also a calm feeling and I think the pants go well with monotone styles, so they are easy to incorporate into my personal wardrobe.

Who is JO1’s fashionista according to Kawanishi Takumi, Mamehara Issei and Kawashiri Ren?

Takumi: Ren-kun’s style is something I am aiming for. He is especially good at choosing accessories and today (the shooting day), he was wearing a fluffy head with his own personal coordinate. I always think he is stylish for how easily he incorporates seemingly difficult accessories into his own style. What I am interested in this spring is denim. It seems like that LUMINE EST Shinjuku got everything I am interested in, so I want to go there as soon as I can!

Issei: You might know it already, but sure enough Keigo-kun is stylish. Also among the JO1 members, he is always a step ahead of us and he is fast to take up the latest trends. My standard style is a casual long T-Shirt that I like so much that I end up buying new ones. In contrast, Keigo-kun freely wears all kind of items. But in regard to long T-Shirts, I have lots of different ones (laughs)

Ren: For me the fashionista in JO1 is Takumi. On the contrary to me who always wears monotone colors, Takumi has the image of looking good in various colors. He is also knowledgeable about sneakers and I feel he likes fashion. Spring is coming soon and I feel that my mood would be boosted if I enjoyed using colors in my clothes, like the coloured pants I wore today! I think coloured pants are also cute when worn by girls.

[…]

Made in Japan Quality giving birth to a unique worldview
Ohira Shosei, Sato Keigo, Kimata Syoya wearing STUDIOUS

[…]

Shosei’s comment: The smoky gray that I rarely wear feels fresh. I was supposed to wear a coat, too, but we chose this style because I felt that showing the shirt and the pants looked cuter. The pants in particular have a beautiful silhouette and will work in a wide range of combinations.

Keigo’s comment: I rarely wear leather pants, but putting them on gives me a cool style. They give off a loose silhouette, so I think they look cute when for example girls wear those with a tight top, such as cropped knitwear or a tight-fitting turtleneck.

Syoya’s comment: I usually wear casual and cute clothes, so this coordination is quite elegant and beautiful, and it gives a different kind of “smart” vibe from the usual. The jacket has parts with gold and a delicate feeling, so I think it can be enjoyed by all.

Who is JO1’s fashionista according to Ohira Shosei, Sato Keigo and Kimata Syoya?

Shosei: Because Keigo is tall and is style is good, everything he wears looks good on him, I have the image of him of always wearing the latest trend items, but sometime ago he wore a vintage jacket and it was a new discovery for me that he also enjoys fashion this way. I personally became interest in denim styles lately!

Keigo: There are several members who pay attention to fashion, but I probably like fashion the most. But some time ago, Ren-kun was wearing the clothes I wanted to buy, and I was like “For real?”. (Laughs) What I am looking for right now are Heisei*-style retro items. I’m weak for star motifs.
TN: Heisei era: 8th January 1989 - 30th April 2019

Syoya: I feel there is no other answer than Keigo-kun being “the fashionista”! I don’t care much about trends and I’m just a genius who happens to wear something trendy from time to time, but Keigo-kun checks everything properly and knows the brands well, so there is never a miss in what he wears. Keigo-kun even wore a green quilted coat before it became popular.

[JO1] Shinobi’s, room. 230125

Source: https://youtu.be/kC7JRlP6iz0

[JO1] Comment for Miracle 9 230118

[JO1] Oricon News 230111

https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2263714/full/

[ANN 55th Anniversary series Vol.9] An exclusive closeup on “JO1’s ANNX”: A lively time with lots of chit-chat

1 AM on the night of the 2nd October 1967. “When you dance and I sing, a new era of the night is born. Music replaces the sun, dreams replace the blue sky. All Night Nippon, leading you to a fresh night!” - Those first words by Itoi Gorou opened “All Night Nippon” (ANN), Nippon Broadcasting System’s “synonym for a late night radio show”. Until the present day, “ANN” has discovered a number of talented personalities, stayed close to its listeners, always looked out for the latest trends, and presented popular topics and culture, and now it celebrates its 55th anniversary starting April this year.

ORICON NEWS has started a series to introduce the current “ANN” programs by focusing on one personality every month. The first installment of the 9th part of the series will proved a close up on “JO1’s All Night Nippon X” (every Wednesday at 0:00), which started in April this year.

The broadcast we portrayed was the one of the night of the 14th December last year, in which the main personality, Shiroiwa Ruki, along with the two weekly changing personalities Kawashiri Ren and Tsurubo Shion, live broadcasted. There was a friendly atmosphere as the members were chatting and laughing already before the broadcast.

In the beginning, Shiroiwa’s “love for strawberry milk” was noticeable in his talk and he bursted out the confession that “But I call eating it “iku”. Meanwhile Kawashiri and Tsurubo swayed and danced to the songs that were played after the talks, while Shiroiwa also enjoyed himself the same way, while also checking the script and writing notes for the next step.
TN: I assume that “iku” is coming from the first and last letter of いちごミルク (ichigo miruku, strawberry milk) and is not 行く (iku, to go).

Also afterwards the chit-chat of the three did not stop and they livelyly discussed themes such as Kawashiri debating with members and staff during breaks about “topics that have no conclusion” or their own room rules.

Under the topic of “Is it okay to sit on the sofa or bed in your outdoor clothes when you visit someone else’s home?” Shiroiwa mentioned that “Sato Keigo (who had been the weekly personality the week before) said ‘If you come into my room, I would like you to wear your pajama if you can.’”, to which Kawashiri snickered while laughing “That guy must be joking!”.

Kawashiri continued, explaining that when they went to Osaka for a schedule, he and Yonashiro Sho shared a room “There Keigo came over out of nowhere. Me and Sho-kun had taken a bath already and were sitting on the bed, playing games, but Keigo clearly had not bathed yet.” Then, he shared an hilarious event, saying: “Keigo did ask ‘This is Sho-kun’s bed? And that one is Ren-kun's?’ And then, while saying ‘doooooon’ he dropped (on my bed)!”

Afterwards they continued to talk about a variety of topics, and the live broadcast that made you feel the team work of the three lasted about an hour, and they continued to keep up with their enthusiasm for the after-talk for “smash.”. After the recording they politely told everyone “Thank you for your hard work” and then left the studio in a fresh manner.

In the next part, we will share an interview with Shiroiwa.

[JO1] VoCE 221221

Kawashiri Ren
My beauty rule is…
For a beautiful body, I strengthen my inner muscles

My ideal is a “flexible body” that is covered in natural muscles. I am aiming to have a body that is slim but makes dances look beautiful. I usually do light exercises like stretching and yoga, and even when I’m alone in my room I try to have a beautiful posture, which in turn trains my inner muscles. My future goal is to keep on taking care of my bleached hair. I want to exchange information with my light hair color buddy Ruki and find the best way for me.

Kawanishi Takumi
My beauty rule is…
I always make sure not to dry out both on the outside and on the inside.

I gain muscles just by a little bit of working out and my body isn’t really affected by what I eat, so to be honest, I don’t really pay much attention to “beauty”. However, in this season, I put effort into not letting my skin become dry. With skin care I take care of the outside, of course, and I drink lots of room temperature water to prevent dehydration. When I sweat during practice, I use YSL’s mist lotion during the breaks and it helps me to feel better.

Kono Junki
My beauty rule is…
I am in my perfect form mentally and physically by watching my diet and working out.

I’m really careful about what I eat lately. I carefully calculate the nutrients of my food, the amount I eat, and the time to eat, and I try to avoid sweets and high-fat foods that could cause skin problems. Thanks to my moderate diet and exercise, my body and mind are in perfect shape, but this year, a lot of fans seemed concerned and told me "You've lost weight… “. I kinda feel frustrated about this, so in 2023 I would like to increase my muscle training and protein intake to have a thicker body (laugh).

Mamehara Issei
My beauty rule is…
I am to have the best skin ever by keeping my gut healthy and regularly go to the sauna.

I, who debuted as a high schooler, turned 20 years old now, too, so it’s about time for me that I have to keep inner care in my consciousness, too. Specifically, I have started to pay more attention to what I eat. Recently, I have been actively consuming fermented foods such as kimchi and natto, and soy milk. Those are meant to keep my gut healthy. I also always liked to go to a sauna to refresh myself. I believe both of these habits have great beauty benefits, and I hope to show off my smoothest skin ever in 2023.

[JO1] Nippon Housou News Online 221217

https://news.1242.com/article/405702

JO1‘s Kawashiri Ren “Seriously, I‘m gonna take revenge on him… (laughs)” - A warning of a revenge against Sato Keigo for breaking one his home “rules”

On the night of the 14th December (Wednesday), the radio program ‘JO1 All Night Nippon X’ (every Wednesday from 24:00~24:58 on Nippon Housou) aired of which Shiroiwa Ruki from the 11 member global boy group, JO1, acts as the main personality. As the weekly changing personalities Kawashiri Ren and Tsurubo Shion appeared in this episode. They talked about their own home rules and revealed someone who broke these rules.

Ruki: Last time Sato Keigo and Ohira Shosei joined the radio and we talked quite lively about the topic “Is it acceptable to visit someone else’s place and sit on the sofa or bed in outdoor clothes?” Everyone had their own rules like changing into pajamas when coming to their home.

Ren: Yes.

Ruki: In your own room, do you go to your bed in your outdoor clothes?

Ren: Not the bed!

Ruki: But the sofa?

Ren: Sitting on the sofa is okay I guess.

Ruki: How about you, Shion? Do you go to bed without changing out of your outdoor clothes at home?

Shion: No way if I sweat before.

Ruki: After practice you don’t, right?

Shion: Yes. But if the clothes are not that dirty I feel it’s fine.

Ruki: I can’t spend time at home in my outdoor clothes. But sitting on the sofa is fine.

Shion: Yes.

Ruki: By the way, Sato Keigo said “If you come to my room, I would prefer you wearing a pajama.”

Ren: … That guy, he must have been joking! (Laughs)

Ruki & Shion: !? (Laugh)

Ren: Some time ago we went to Osaka for a schedule, right? Back then, two people shared one hotel room, didn’t we?

Ruki: Yes.

Ren: I shared one with the leader, Yonashiro Sho-kun. And then suddenly with a bam! Keigo came over. Both Sho-kun and me had bathed already and were playing games on the bed, but Keigo had obviously not taken a bath yet.

Ruki: Okay?

Ren: Keigo did ask “Is this Sho-kun’s bed? And that’s Ren-kun’s one?” And when I confirmed it, he said “dooooon” and dropped on my bed!

Ruki: No way! (Laughs)

Ren: Keigo, you said something like this despite doing the opposite? (Laughs)

Ruki: You know, Keigo looks happy when he does things to others that he would dislike if they did that to him! (Laughs)

Shion: Exactly!

Ren: He makes a wide smile (laughs).

In the previous episode of “JO1’s All Night Nippon X”, on the 7th December, Sato Keigo had said “I don’t like to spend time in my room in outdoor clothes”. Kawashiri, thus, complained that Sato, who had said he “didn't want to be made to spend time like this”, came to bed in his outdoor clothes, “I’m saying this because we are members, but seriously he should stop (laughs)". Furthermore, he gave out the warning for a revenge: “Seriously, I‘m gonna take revenge on him… (laughs)”

[JO1] Nippon Housou News Online 221111

https://news.1242.com/article/397760

JO1: "So that we can get closer to the fans” - Their wish for a “trolley performances” at live shows

On the night of the 19th November (Wednesday), the radio program ‘JO1 All Night Nippon X’ (every Wednesday from 24:00~24:58 on Nippon Housou) aired of which Shiroiwa Ruki from the 11 member global boy group, JO1, acts as the main personality. As the weekly changing personalities Kawashiri Ren and Kawanishi Takumi appeared in this episode. In response to a question from a listener, asking “At live shows there are often ‘special effects’ such as fireworks, but how hot/passionate are the JO1 members on stage?”, the three members talked about the special effects that had been used and what they would like to use in the future.

Ruki: We are really hot there, too.

Ren: Yes we are!

Ruki: Also, the explosions from the special effects and such are really loud. They shocked me.

Takumi: On the other hand, isn’t the CO2 (smoke) cold? It really feels nice, doesn’t it?

Ren: Right, I always think “thanks!!” (laughs)

Ruki: I once missed the timing to come out and ended up being right above the CO2 and then pew! Mame who was next to me laughed hard about this (laughs).

Ren: (laughs)

Ruki: Also, at the recent showcase we made balloons explode. This was also funny.

Takumi: A performance we want to try… like flying?

Ruki: Also, we often talk about that “We want to use trolleys”. So that we can get as close as possible to the fans. Because so far we could only get close to them via the runway, but with a trolley we could get even closer.

Takumi: Because we would be also able to meet the fans in the back, right? Also, I have been saying this the whole time, but on buggies… Because I used to make those.

Ruki: Right, you used to be an engineer.

Takumi: I want to appear on stage with a buggy.

Ruki: What is a buggy even?

Takumi: There are buggies that have steering wheels like motorbikes and there are ones that have steering wheels like cars but…
*Buggy: a vehicle suitable for driving on sandy or other tough roads

Ruki: Going on stage on a buggy…

Takumi: Only I will appear on stage on a buggy! The rest appears normally!

Ruki: Like a main character~ (laughs)

Ren: Strong (laughs)

Takumi revealed that he has been eagerly hoping for a long time to appear on stage alone on a buggy.

Also when Ren said “Sitting in the audience without anyone noticing. Like suddenly the spotlight goes on and the members sit in the audience. I want to try this when the pandemic improves.”, Takumi and Ruki agreed “This is great”, “This would hype everyone a lot!” Ruki continued, saying “Kawashiri Ren-kun might sit next to me then” and the three imagining various things together let to laugher.

[JO1] ELLE 221106

https://www.elle.com/jp/gourmet/gourmet-restaurants/g41208341/kimata-sushi-with-ren-22-1106/

Part 1

[Part 2] JO1‘s Kimata Syoya tastes New Wave Edo Style sushi together with Kawashiri Ren! | The True Tone on Kimata Sushi Vol. 6

Releasing the “true tone” of the two who have a lot in common.

The popular series “The True Tone on Kimata Sushi” by JO1's Kimata Syoya features honest talks with the other members at seasonal sushi restaurants while eating delicious sushi. Continuing from last time, we bring you the second half of the sushi and the honest talk with the performance leader Kawashiri Ren!

Also this month we ate with Ren-kun at the New Wave Edo Style sushi restaurant!
Following the last volume, we bring you this report from “Sushi Yoshikawa” in Azubu. After sashimi, grilled dishes and nigiri, the second half of the course is also full of must-try dishes.

Signature dish 1 - Futomaki with toro and egg yolk

Syoya: We just ate nigiri and now we move to the later part of the meal, which is so exciting! First we have some French toast like egg rolls and sweet pickled tomatoes to cleanse the palate.
Ren: Next up is the signature dish of this store, the futomaki.

Syoya: Is this… egg yolk?
Ren: Those are Dragonballs! And the sea urchin is back!
Syoya: We were waiting for its comeback! It’s beautiful how neatly it’s lined up… Ah, but Ren-kun, you dislike eggs, right?

Ren: No, It’s okay! I can eat egg yolks like in yukhoe.
Syoya: Oh, there is the theory that you can eat raw eggs, Ren-kun.
Ren: There is a theory? (Laughs) It’s just that if I see this, I can’t help but eat it. This looks like a masterpiece.
Syoya: I want to make Ehomaki with this… Next year’s…
TN: yukhoe is a Korean meat dish, usually made of marinated raw beef and raw egg yolk.

Chef: I want you to eat a bit of the futomaki and feel the “marriage”, with the thick red dashi sauce.
Syoya: Wow, a thick miso-soup?
Ren: Amazing. The flavor develops even further.
Syoya: This is so amazing. Time to focus!
Ren: Completely focused!
TN: In this case “marriage” is a culinary term, meaning that two components go so well with each other that they enrich the dish, usually used in the context of wine.

Syoya: A gasp of pickled ginger!… and a nice aroma of seaweed.
Ren: And another futomaki.
Syoya: Fatty tuna and sea urchin are crazy. Ah, Ren-kun is eating eggs!
Ren: The marriage is also really good. That guy, he is not just gentle, he can hit with quite some strength (laughs).

Signature dish 2 - Eel-dog

Syoya: The next one… it’s kinda warm!
Chef: This is the eel-dog.
Ren: I love eel!
Syoya: Rice sandwiched between eel! You could make a food stall with that?
Chef: This is served with homemade onion-based sweet sauce. Be careful or else it will drip from the side…

Syoya: Thank you! Wow! Crispy, fluffy, crunchy and chewy.
Ren: The crispiness of the seaweed is good, again.
Syoya: I had the image of eel being chewy, but this Kansai-like crispy grilling? The skin became crispy. I think I prefer it this way!

This month’s special

The “special of the month” is a steak with fresh onions, limited to members. It is topped with butter-sautéed fatty (salmon) belly and sea urchin, as well as seasonal vegetables.
Syoya: This is harassment!
Ren: What?
TN: fatty (salmon) belly = harasu which is also the short form for the Japanese pronunciation of ‘harassment’.

The finish is a small bowl of torotaku

The final of the course is a small bowl of toro, salmon roe, sea urchin and yellow pickled radish mixed with rice.
Ren: This looks like a parfait. And the bowl is so pretty and beautiful!
Syoya: This was really a fulfilling course. With a full stomach I’m going to do my best at the hard practice now! (Laughs)

The regular True Tone talk starts now

Syoya: Since this is “True Tone on Kimata Sushi”, ELLE-san asked us to talk about what we respect about each other (laughs).
Ren: Syoya is… I feel he is very similar to me. The way he perceives things, the way he looks at things. When I think of something, Syoya often voices it. It is often said that Syoya is strange, but I feel more comfortable having one person like this in the group (laughs).

Syoya: I have also felt so. My way of thinking is similar to Ren-kun's. But this also makes me feel frustrated sometimes… Ren-kun is older than me, and even though he says the same thing, he acts on it and says what he feels.
Ren: But it is easier to say it because I am older.
Syoya: That's why I have to work hard, too… It was often like that during the audition. Ren-kun was in a prominent position from the very beginning, but I kinda knew what he wanted to do and what he was thinking. I hated my position to be one of following his footsteps, so I tried not to rely on him as much as possible. I was pretty stubborn back then.

Ren: You are a very smart kid, Syoya. Your intuition is good.
Syoya: You relatively have a good one, too.
Ren: Relatively? (Laughs) Syoya might not be the most attentive person, but he is kind.
Syoya: Ren-kun got a lot of sensitivity.
Ren: Hmmm. You often say that.

Syoya: It is the same for both with your work and with your surroundings, your sensitivity is high. First, you never say something that is not sensitive.
Ren: Syoya and I often talk. Like when he is worried or lost.
Syoya: When I speak to him, it turns into “Oh, makes sense. I thought so.” and talking to Ren-kun convinces me that I am not alone.

Ren: Our positions in the group are similar. If the opinions differ, we play the role of bringing everything together.
Syoya: We join and say “This is good, that’s also good.”
Ren: In this case, as I am older, I calmly tell them or support them, but Syoya has a lot of members close to his age and I think he is good at telling them this in a funny and frank way.

Ren: I have to consult Syoya about a problem, right? I don’t really have any but… Maybe that we have so many things to do and no time to sleep… (laughs) We can’t sleep, right?
Syoya: No, we can’t (laughs).
Ren: Hahaha! I have the worry that when I get into something, I forget the time and then no time to sleep is left anymore.
Syoya: This was the case yesterday and the day before, it was quite bad.
Ren: Yes, it was (laughs).

Syoya: What we do is just to play games, use our tablets, draw and show it to each other. Until very late at night.
Ren: We don’t care about the time. But I really don’t care. Cause I can sleep a lot after I died (laughs).
Syoya: I also don’t care at all (laughs).

Ren: But well, this is because I am thankful for this time. Because the time we spent at this place is limited and I want to use the time I have as much as possible. Surely, if you don’t get enough sleep, it is hard for your body, but even when I have a schedule on the next day that requires me to sleep properly, I’m already so used to staying up late that I can’t sleep when the time comes.
Syoya: Well, life is about having fun, isn’t it?

Syoya: But when it is time to sleep, I sometimes have trouble sleeping because I remember the schedules from the day. In the case of TV programs, I think of various routes, like “Oh, I shouldn’t have said this there.”
Ren: I am the opposite, I think of the future instead of the past, like “There is this in a few days, so I have to do that…”. Like “If I don’t finish this until then, it’s going to be a problem”. Regarding dance practice or variety programs for example.
Syoya: I often have regrets after variety shows. How about you, Ren-kun?
Ren: It is tough, really tough, but lately I realized something.
Syoya: Eh? What is it?

Ren: These programs are group project in the end. Most of the time, the viewers only care whether the program as a whole is interesting and not which person made or said something wrong, so even if I did something wrong, it is also the fault of everyone else (laughs).
Syoya: This way of thinking is good (laughs).
Ren: There is another thing that makes the programs enjoyable. In order to make the show more exciting, professional comedians and other celebrities always try to be friendly with us once the camera is on. Don’t you think that this is a privilege?
Syoya: This is nice, yes! (Laughs)

Ren: Well, because it really is. I’m happy that they are friendly! This thought surely raises your mood. Once I realized this, I really started to enjoy appearing on TV.
Syoya: You are so objective. I can’t be like that. (laughs)
Ren: You don’t have to say anything so far-fetched! Well, you are a really pure kid, Syoya.
Syoya: Thank you very much.
Ren: I think that’s why they want you to say what you really think!

Ren: Speaking of schedules other than performing, we appeared in a drama from Amazon Prime Video, but I think Syoya and I approached the acting in a similar way. I think it’s probably the way of really creating it to become that person…
Syoya: That’s right. I really felt like a different person for a while after the drama. When performing at concerts or appearing in TV programs, I am still a part of my role. But there I thought “Ah, that’s not the current me.”
Ren: Yes, I can understand this.

Syoya: I guess it was partly due to them giving me a character I could easily become.
Ren: I really liked yours.
Syoya: I am too embarrassed to watch anyone else. Especially my own one, it is impossible!
Ren: Hahaha!

[JO1] Sports Hochi 221026

https://hochi.news/articles/20221026-OHT1T51152.html

“JOCHUM”, created in the JO1 x Sanrio new character development project has been unveiled

The 11 member boy group JO1 released the new characters, created in the “JO1 x Sanrio new character development project” on the 26th.

Under the theme of “creating JO1 alter ego characters” JO1 teamed up with Sanrio, who have created more than 450 characters including “Hello Kitty”, for this project and the group name of the character has been decided as “JOCHUM”. Kawashiri Ren explained “JOCHUM has the meaning of roommate or friend. They are Soulmates who are each fulfilling their dreams.”

In the past Sanrio has collaborated with YOSHIKI for “yoshikitty”, EXILE’s Sekiguchi Mandy for “Hello Mandy” and the singer Niihama Leon for “Leosuke”.

The leader Yonashiro Sho said with a smile “It was a really precious experience. I’m glad that these characters were realized, down to the smallest detail.” The member Ohira Shosei said: “First of all, I am filled with gratitude to the staff who supported us in this regard. They made truly amazing characters happen for which I am thankful.”

Regarding the outcome of the design, Kono Junki said “My character is the cutest after being finished. I can’t thank them enough for making my character look so different from my poorly drawn draft. It is so cute. I love it.” Mamehara Issei expressed his satisfaction (with the designs), saying: “I am hopeless when it comes to drawing, but Sanrio altered it and made something very cute come out. Having a scarf, cape and belt included makes me really happy.” Also Tsurubo Shion expressed his gratitude, saying “I am proud of it. Thanks to Sanrio, they made the character look quite cute.”

Kinjo Sukai, who is good at drawing, expressed “In my character there are both my own ideals and the feelings of it as a Sanrio character. Rather than it being a character, I see it as another version of myself. I enjoyed thinking over it every night.” Kimata Syoya described the hard work that went into the creation of the draft: “I thought about the character by looking back at my own life. I faced myself for this.”

The group’s motto “Go To The TOP” has the meaning of standing at the top of the world. And, they hope to make a leap forward to this as their characters. Kawanishi Takumi said: “People overseas also know the Sanrio characters. I want our characters to go global, too.” Sato Keigo said “I hope these characters will be as active in the future as (the popular character) Cinnamoroll.” To this, Shiroiwa Ruki added his wish: “I hope a lot of people will love them. Hopefully they will be not just adored by us, but also by the fans.”

◆ Characters that the members have designed
Kinjo Sukai (22) - PiHAi - A fox with a pokerface. Its habit is sticking its tongue out.
Kawashiri Ren (25) - RAIN - A magician fox. Brings everyone surprises and excitement.
Ohira Shosei (22) - moco - A quietly beautiful angel. Can read people’s minds.
Mamehara Issei (20) - MAMEchi - A heroic Shiba Inu. His personality is too straightforward.
Kono Junki (24) - micoon - A microphone whose charm point is the round face. It likes to sleep.
Kimata Syoya (22) - CHIMATA - A lively bunny. It loves sushi.
Yonashiro Sho (27) - YA-NU-KA-MI - A Shisa, the guardian deity of the house. It rarely leaves the house.
Shiroiwa Ruki (24) - RURU - An actual princely? poodle. Doesn’t let go of its pacifier while sleeping.
Tsurubo Shion (21) - CHULALA - A chihuahua that can communicate with the cosmos. Its body is bear-like.
Sato Keigo (24) - Bira - A forgetful and bizarre flower. Its hobby is fortune-telling.
Kawanishi Takumi (23) - POP-POH - A penguin with a chubby body. It loves ice cream.

[JO1] ELLE 221024

https://www.elle.com/jp/culture/music-art-book/g41638146/jo1-kcon-2022-japan-interview-22-1024/

A special interview with JO1 at “KCON JAPAN 2022”! Only in ELLE they tell about secret stories behind the new songs and the highlight of the performance of a new song.

We caught JO1 at the huge event taking place at Ariake Arena 14th ~16th October.

What is KCON?
The Korean culture event KCON started in 2012 and celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It has been held in the USA and all over the world to promote K-Pop and other forms of Korean culture.

Due to the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic the offline events were canceled and KCON took place online for 2 years, but this year it finally returned to shows with a live audience. As the third installment this year, after LA and Saudi Arabia, it took place over three days, from 14th to 16th October, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, being a great success. The three-day event attracted an audience of around 41,000 visitors and 8.7 million digital viewers, proving in figures that the content is popular worldwide.

JO1, who appeared on the 15th October, have participated every year since their debut in 2020. The ban on large-scale offline performances was lifted this year, and they were finally able to stand on stage alongside spectacular other artists in front of a packed audience.

ELLE held an exclusive interview with JO1 right before their performance, covering everything from the stories behind KCON to their 6th single “MIDNIGHT SUN”.

Performing SuperCali Korean Ver. and a new song

There will be many highlights at this year's KCON 2022 JAPAN, but what are the most important points of interest for you personally?
Keigo: Sure enough, it is the first performance of the B-side “Rose” of our new single here. It will surely be a performance that will drive the audience crazy so much to the point that they will turn into roses!

Who is the member that drives you especially crazy?
Keigo: No one but Kawanishi Takumi-kun! His facial expressions are amazing.
Takumi: Eh? Me? I just do a cool expression that was advised, that’s all (laughs). Like this.
The rest: (laughs)
Junki: You just recreated what the teacher did! (Laughs)

Furthermore, since you will perform the Korean version of “SuperCali”, isn’t it hard to sing such a speedy song in Korean?
Takumi: The words in the rap before the last chorus are even more than in the Japanese version and there is a lot in the verse and very face paced. Also, the pronunciation is difficult, so I struggled a lot. I practiced hard.
Keigo: There are two parts where I can shine, but when we recorded it in Korea, it was pointed out that my original pitch was off more than my Korean pronunciation. Because after all, the number of words is different, so it was difficult to get the pitch right… It struck me that they said this seemed worse than my Korean pronunciation.

A secret story of the MV filming of their big hit “SuperCali”

It became a hot topic that both the PV and MV of “SuperCali” got your biggest view count in history, but please tell us an episode from the filming of the MV.
Issei: Except for the dance scenes where everyone was present, I was only at the same location as Takumi-kun, so I didn’t see what the other members were filming, making me able to see their sets for the first time in the MV itself, something that felt really new to me. I thought “So they filmed it like that!”. It was fun to watch the MV as it has a storyline and made me think about various things.
Takumi: I felt that was amazing. There is a shot where the members rotate in a circle and get further away from each other in a photo-like still image. I wondered how that was filmed.
Keigo: I just stood there. The cameraman was going round and around on something like a crane.

“MIDNIGHT SUN” that you have just released the other day has 4 songs all together, but please tell us the key point of the part you are in charge of in your recommended song.
Ren: For “Phobia”, I studied the emotional atmosphere of the song in order to bring out the song’s very own world. I tried to create an atmosphere in my own way, making it sound like it was going to disappear, like with the amount of breath I was using, so I hope lots of people will be impressed when they hear that part.
Junki: The start of the song “16(Sixteen). From the very first note, I sang the song with the intention of conveying the song's atmosphere 100%.

Of the four songs in this album, which one made you think intuitively "I might like it!" when you first heard it?
Junki: I think it was "Phobia". It is fully balanced, still there are a lot of surprises in the song, and the sound represents an atmosphere that hasn't really existed in JO1 songs up until now. I like it a lot, it's fragile and powerful at the same time.
Ren: For me it is also “Phobia” and the leadtrack “SuperCali”. I tend to like songs that have an easy to understand concept, so especially in “SuperCali”’s case the concept is easy to understand and it well expresses the strange world.

Yonashiro-san, what is your favorite song and to which one of your parts do you have a special attachment to?
Junki: He kinda looks as if he is going to say something interesting! (laughs)
Ruki: Didn’t he get an unusual part this time?
Keigo: A SHO with a threatening aura, right?
Ruki: You know, that bridge part.
Sho: Ah… It’s actually “16(Sixteen)”.
Ruki: What? You are not gonna talk about “Phobia”?
Sho: Ah, right. I guess it’s “Phobia” (laughs).
Ren: I guess, you say! (laughs)
Sho: The bridge “I am here, I only see you~”. When I heard the demo before the recording, I thought “I want to sing this part”, so I remember being really happy (when my parts were decided). So I decided to give my all for this! But I went a bit over the top and got scolded (laughs).
Ren: Yes, you were (laughs).
Sho: I tried to make it sound a lot like the way the Korean person sang the demo, but I was too enthusiastic and overdid it, and I heard how Ren was laughing a lot about it in the back (laughs).
Ruki: I received a lot of memorable parts this time and a lot of people praised my rap in the second verse of “SuperCali”, but I chose the first verse of “Phobia”.
Junki: The part “Vanished feelings~”? It’s so good.
Ruki: Because I haven’t sung like that before, and it was the first time I used this new singing style. “Phobia” is something I have never done before and it felt new to me, too.

“Phobia” seems widely popular with the members.
Ruki: It's a good song, and indeed quite popular with the members. Also,I especially like my part in it. I like the way it's well structured from the very beginning, and I like its fragile atmosphere.

Speaking of KCON, their recent favorite Korean culture thing is?

Since KCON is an event that spreads Korean culture, we would like to know about your recommendations for places in Seoul or Korean food that you have recently discovered.
Syoya: I have a dish. Because I love Korean food! Lately I love the dish Sundae. I've always liked appetizers, and as you probably know (from the Elle Gourmet series)… It's quite a unique dish, and I hear that even many Koreans don't like it, but I'm addicted to it!
TN: Sundae is a Korean sausage.
Junki: You ordered it so often from the delivery.
Syoya: There was barely anyone who ate those with me, so if we ate at a restaurant, we would go to a place where there were various menus, and I would order the sundae and the other members would order something else. I asked Shion, "Do you want some sundae?" But he refused, saying, "I don't want it" (laughs). I think it’s very tasty good for your health!
Shosei: I chose Lotte World. I went with Sukai and Syoya and it was so much fun. There is also a shopping mall close by and the food we ate there was delicious. We had a great time.
Syoya: Back then we didn’t eat Korean cuisine but Italian one.
Did you ride the thrilling attractions there?
Shosei: No, we rather enjoyed the park itself.
Sukai: There was an insane one. That free fall one.
Syoya: Yes, that was the scariest!

You spent a long time in South Korea this summer for production, what are some of your favorite new Korean words you learnt there? Or any words that became popular within the group?
Sukai: Photos are called “사진 (sajinh)”, and I really liked the term “life photo” that came up as part of the “HELL?O TOUR” programme on YouTube in Korea, where we were instructed to “take photos like this”. In Korean, it's called ”인생 사진 (Insensa-jin)”, and every time we took a photo, I kept on saying “Insensa-jin! Insensa-jin!”.
Syoya: Ah yes, you did that ~
Sukai: But it seemed to have become absorbed by the members, and it's probably not an exaggeration to say that I popularized it after that.
Syoya: It is one. It's not popular (among us)!
Shion: During the "HELL?O TOUR", Ren-kun, me and Keigo-kun helped with the preparation of moon shells, and I really liked the word "골뱅이 (golpenyi)" which we used a lot at that time. I kept wanting to say it.
Shosei: There is a word I learnt from the dance instructor! I first heard there of the word “chinma” which is the short form of “진짜 마지막' (chinchmajima = really last one). I realized that, "Korean language also has abbreviations", which I would never have understood unless I had a local person teach me.
TN: As I don’t understand Korean, I went with the katakana transcription from the original article, unless I found by chance a better one.

What do they want to do in 2022?

Only 2 months are left for 2022, but please tell us something you want to do this year!
Takumi: I would like to eat lots of food/rice.
Ren: Ah, this is important! Because fall has come.
Junki: I also want to eat (lots of) food/rice.
Keigo: I will be “Japan’s number 1 Sato” !
Everyone: (laughs)

[JO1] Asadesu 221012

[JO1] ELLE 221006

https://www.elle.com/jp/gourmet/gourmet-restaurants/g41186406/kimata-sushi-with-ren-22-1006/

[Part 1] JO1‘s Kimata Syoya tastes New Wave Edo Style sushi together with Kawashiri Ren! | The true tone on Kimata Sushi Vol. 5

A popular series that brings you the latest sushi trends!

The series “The true tone on Kimata Sushi” is by the JO1’s Kimata Syoya who just loves sushi too much. In this popular series one other member is chosen each time and the two will talk honestly over delicious sushi at a restaurant with seasonal sushi.

This time, dressed up a bit he went with the group’s stoic performance leader, Kawashiri Ren, to the New Wave Edo Style sushi restaurant in Azubu Juban (Tokyo). We caught up with the pair who spent quality time at the counter (of the restaurant).

To a mature restaurant with Kawashiri Ren, whose appearance was long awaited.

This time his partner is Kawashiri Ren, the first older member in this series. He is the second oldest one of the members and furthermore he is in charge of bringing the team together as the performance leader… so we assumed there could be some tension in their honest talk, but then they quickly made their standard move right in the front of the shop. The start of an enjoyable time.

Visiting “Sushi Yoshikawa” in Azubu!

The two visited “Sushi Yoshikawa” which opened in Azabu in March 2021. The founder and owner of the “Yoshikawa” brand, Yoshikawa Takamasa, first apprenticed with his father, when he was just 13 years old, and then learnt French cuisine before returning to the world of sushi. This experimental sushi restaurant has become a hot topic as it offers sushi based on the orthodox Edo style combined with western elements and a touch of craftsmanship together with seasonal ingredients, that will please both the eye and the tongue.

Syoya: Today is the time for the long awaited appearance of Ren-kun who loves sushi nearly as much as I do (adds emphasis).
Ren: Yes yes, nearly as much as you. I looked forward to this for so long! You know, earlier I talked with Syoya. “Is it okay to do this as a job?” (laughs)
Syoya: Right? (laughs) When was the last time you ate sushi, Ren-kun?
Ren: I think about a month ago. It happens quite often that during the lunch break of our dance practices I eat sushi with Syoya.
Syoya: That’s right. Oh, I ate it the day before yesterday.
Ren: ahaha! You really love it.

Syoya: I looked up this “Sushi Yoshikawa” on the internet before and I felt “The atmosphere of this restaurant suits to Ren-kun ~”
Ren: No really, I feel honoured to be invited by the famous “The true tone on Kimata Sushi” (laughs). I usually go to casual sushi restaurants, so I always wanted to visit such a mature sushi restaurant. Thank you, Syoya.

Syoya: What would you like to try, Ren-kun?
Ren: This looks amazing from here… I like sea urchins, so earlier I thought I would like to try them. Anyway, I have been looking forward to this since this morning!
Syoya: We received counter seats today, so there are only tempting things right in front of us already. There are shrimps and this one looks like french toast? I wonder what it is. Today we are at a New Wave Edo Style restaurant, so I’m really looking forward to the various ways of how they prepare it.

Syoya: Since Ren-kun is the second oldest member in the group, I felt such a mature restaurant would suit him.
Ren: Mature… Sure enough, when I see the members go crazy, I think they are cute and like children, so I guess I think of myself as an adult (laughs). Everyone is still so lively~
Syoya: That’s how you become an adult…
Ren: But sometimes I joke around with you.
Syoya: When I’m going crazy, I see Ren-kun watching me and think he is mature! This makes me feel as if I am an adult, too. Ren: hahaha!

First, toasting with Moringa tea!

Syoya: We have an intense full member dance practice later today, so let’s have a healthy tea now (laughs). And Ren-kun cannot drink alcohol.
Ren: I’m curious about this “Moringa tea”.
Chef: This tea is made from the leaves of Moringa, which is considered to be a superfood, and it is a strong and greenish juice like tea. It is very good for the body.
Both: One Moringa tea please!
Syoya: Shall we make a toast?
Ren: Cheers! It’s delicious and kinda calming (laughs).

Syoya: Today we will eat the “owner’s recommended course”, a very comprehensive one, as it includes sashimi, grilled things, nigiri, as well as rolls and the daily speciality. As Yoshikawa Takemasa also studied french cuisine and these French skills are used everywhere here.
Ren: This is so interesting! You can see the ingredients being prepared from the counter, so I am excited to see how everything will turn out.
Syoya: It is also exciting to see how the chefs work with their knives. I always buy fish at the fish market and at home I try to imitate sushi chefs by quickly moving my knife forward to make sashimi, but I cannot cut it as coolly as them. I want to go and buy a good knife. But it takes some skill to cut it coolly.
Ren: Ahaha! You also do such things?

3 exquisite sashimi dishes

Syoya: The first three dishes are the sashimi!
Chef: This is fatty tuna sashimi with raw wasabi, fried bonito and marinated scallops in sweet sauce.
Ren: Wow!
Syoya: The fatty tuna, so delicious! The wasabi on top isn’t strong at all and the flavour comes out. It is something that even Shosei who doesn’t like wasabi can eat. I want Shosei to discover the good sides of wasabi here.
Ren: You are not talking about the sashimi at all, just about the wasabi… (laughs). Why are there cuts in the tuna?
Syoya: So that the soy sauce can be absorbed. It is a common technique in sushi restaurants.
Ren: It is common in the sushi world (laughs)!
Chef: Our tuna is the Pacific bluefin tuna, but we only use a part of the belly that is close to the head, which has the most fat.
Ren: True, as soon as I put it into my mouth I can feel it melting. That’s why even if you used more wasabi, it would still lose to the fat.

Chef: The bonito was slightly fried on the surface. It is fried on the outside and marinated on the inside.
Syoya: Eh! It is fried?
Chef: And it is topped with tomato sauce.
Ren: A touch of French influence! It is a piquant tomato sauce.

Syoya: That it is fried feels so new… And bonito and tomato sauce fit very well, Isn’t the colour amazing, too? Both at the fried and non fried areas.
Ren: Ah, I like the smell… It feels a little nostalgic, but also a little warm when you put it into your mouth.
Syoya: It’s so amazing!

Ren: Next one is the scallops one.
Chef: The scallops are lightly marinated.
Syoya: Marinated ♡♡
Owner: A little sweet sauce on top of the marinated scallops and enjoy the aroma of yuzu.
Ren: Thank you!
Syoya: It is very meaty. You need to chew more than usual. The texture is great!
Ren: The scallops are chewy. I can feel they enjoy being in one’s mouth. Like they are dancing? The sweet sauce adds an accent.
Syoya: They are dancing! They are!

Syoya: Nigiri are also good, but I love this kind of sashimi and appetisers… (impressed)
Chef: Do you like all kinds of fish?
Syoya: There is no fish I dislike. I like all of them. Oh, there is more, right? There was no nigiri sushi yet, which is the main part of “The true tone on Kimata Sushi”. This is only the beginning! We have just started. I heard this is a new wave restaurant and it is some kind of a new genre.
Chef: We are selling things that incorporate something new.
Syoya: Did you come up with this yourself?

Chef: Yoshikawa Takemasa also made experiences in France and I am following his footsteps and learn from him, so I am trying to come up with original dishes like this. It is Edo style sushi, but I am aiming for something a little unconventional, something new and less orthodox.
Syoya: That’s what the sashimi at the beginning was! I wonder what is going to come next (laughs).
Ren: ahahaha!
Chef: Thank you very much. These were the three appetisers and next will be the grilled ones.

Deep fried tilefish with miso soup

Syoya: The grilled dishes are here! Deep fried tilefish. With Japanese mixed rice under it! What is this dashi-like soup on the side?
Chef: This is our special thick ara sauce, which you should eat by mixing the tilefish with the rice first. Then, please mix it with the thick ara sauce in your mouth and enjoy it.
Syoya: Wow~ It’s crispy. ASMR!!!
Ren: hahahaha!
Syoya: There are also a lot of vegetables. I kinda want to say a lot. The white fish is deeply fried but not falling apart, so it is tender. It matches the dashi soup.
Ren: Crispy and tender… It is hard to describe. It is satisfying, but the gentle taste makes you feel at ease. The ease of your home.

Ren: This ara sauce? Soup? is super delicious. You could eat it all alone.
Syoya: I want to drink it in the morning instead of hot water! How do you make this?
Chef: This is… (omission) Then you slowly and steadily boil it for two hours. Afterwards you filter the boiled product and add a little bit of soy sauce to the finished product…
Syoya: … I think I will make it. To drink it in the morning.
Ren: Nah, you just want to drink it (laughs). You can’t make it easily! It takes about 2 hours, doesn’t it? You start making it the night before?
Syoya: I’ll totally do that!
Ren: It was said before, but we are not even at the main part (the nigiri) yet. And yet, I already feel satisfied.
Syoya: I’m warmed up!

Finally the start of the nigiri!

Syoya: Here they are finally, from now on we eat nigiri.
Chef: Now then, let’s start with the sushi.
Both: Please!
Syoya: Red sushi rice! That’s indeed Edo style.
Chef: Flounder is the first course, followed by botan shrimp. You like shrimps, right?

Syoya: I reeeeeally love shrimps. Wow! Wow! I thought about ordering those from the Hometown tax donation program. I clicked the like button for all of them and saved them. All I need to do is to put them into the cart and order them.
TN: The hometown tax donation program is a program to support underdeveloped rural areas in Japan. People donate a part of their residential tax to a specified municipality and in turn they get a tax reduction and receive certain local products and specialities worth 30% or less of their donation from that municipality. Unlike the name suggests that area doesn't need to be your hometown.
Ren: But when your order comes, you have to do all the preparations, right?
Syoya: I will do all of it! Where do these come from?
Chef: These come from Alaska. They are bigger in this season and taste better than the ones from Hokkaido.
Syoya: Wow, they seem so delicious. I heard they fry everything except the body and serve it as tempura. Thank you in advance.

Chef: Botan shrimps with caviar on top, please enjoy.
Ren: Syoya, the shrimps are here!
Syoya: The moment I was nervous about has come. It’s always great to see. Beautiful. It is shaped like this to be put on top of the sushi rice?

Ren: Hahahaha! I guess this botan shrimp is going to be your favourite.
Syoya: No, it is really delicious! It has a nice crunchy texture. It’s so good, so good. Sauna like. It’s a harmonious shrimp.
Ren: Syoya values the texture a lot, doesn't he?

The French fusion technique comes out one after another

Chef: This is super fatty tuna with shallots on top.
Syoya: These shallots are the french influence again, right?
Chef: This is made from young, small, fresh pickled scallions, which are sliced and boiled into scallion oil.
Ren: So you are taking a french vegetable and arranging it in a Japanese way?
Syoya: Let’s take a moment to reset and focus. It would be easy to go for a quick bite, but this is where the pickled ginger comes into the game.
Ren: This is important!

Syoya: The moment adults say, you shouldn’t devour it, taste it properly… you are already a child.
Ren: Hahaha!
Syoya: The shallots are delicious! They are a whole revolution~ They are going to be a trend this year, the shallots. They will be a trendy food.

Next time on “The true tone on __ __ Sushi ”…?

Ren: What comes next? White meat fish?
Chef: How about you guess while eating it?
Syoya: I like this kind of thing! But as the sushi prince, I’m pressured to guess correctly…
Ren: If I am the only one to guess right, the series might become “The true tone on Kawashiri sushi” next time (laughs)!
Syoya: Hopefully not!

Syoya: It looks like white shrimp or the rare cut of a flounder… Which could it be?
Chef: You might know directly after eating it. Because some of the texture remains in your mouth.
Ren: (He will know it) Because Syoya is the texture master! Now, let me try it. It’s surely something I have eaten before. I know what it is.
Syoya: I got it! Yes, I know this. 1…2… ah, if I am wrong, it will become Kawashiri sushi, right?
Everyone: hahahaha!

Ren: It was very melty.
Syoya: Chopping it into small pieces and adjusting the taste… hm… I’m scared to say the wrong thing, so tell me Ren-kun’s answer… (whispers) Eh, I see! This will end up in Kawashiri sushi! The correct answer is… 1…2…
Both: Squid!
Chef: Correct!
Syoya: Wow~ So this is how squid becomes (here). I’m impressed. The texture is different from the squid served in regular sushi restaurants.

What the sea urchin loving Ren-kun has been waiting for

Syoya: Next up is crab! Everyone loves them. I mean, crabs are a delicacy, aren't they?
Chef: Today’s special is not part of the course, but we are offering this for you. It is crab flakes with sea urchin on top.
Ren: Ah! There is the sea urchin! It is a sea urchin pillow. Wow, I want to sleep on it (laughs).

Syoya: Eh maybe… It’s crab with sea urchin on top! I haven’t eaten crumb together with sea urchin before.
Ren: Hahaha! The crab meat is flavoured with crab paste so it’s two rich flavours together. Both are the stars of the dish. I think it’s been a while since I last ate crab.

Syoya: It melted away in my mouth. Moreover, the sea urchin is just sweet. There is zero bitterness! I want to have another one.
Ren: I love sea urchin but… it happened so fast, I can’t help but be impressed (laughs).

Ren: When you go in private, you can’t talk to the sushi chef like this. You don’t receive such explanations.
Syoya: Indeed.
Ren: Normally, the conversation is nothing more than “This is delicious!”. But eating it while hearing about all the different hidden flavours, like today, made it even more delicious.
Syoya: Because that’s where your nerves go, right?
Ren: I actually said something very nice now (laughs)!
Syoya: The number of seats at the counter is just the right number to fit all JO1 members and Choi CEO. Already during the first three appetisers I made up my mind, “Ah, I have to come here again with everyone” (laughs).

Syoya: Oh no, the next one is being prepared so we have to reset (our taste buds) with pickled ginger! Time to focus!
Ren: There is still (the taste of) sea urchin in the mouth. Time to reset!
Chef: This is red flesh (of tuna) marinated in red wine, topped with yuzu koshou cream cheese.
TN: yuzu koshou is a fermented paste made of yuzu, salt and chili peppers.
Ren: Finally cream cheese!
Syoya: The cream cheese women love.

Chef: We marinated the tuna in a sauce made half of red wine and half of soy sauce. This is combined with cream cheese and finely chopped pickled ginger.
Syoya: Awesome! To combine these things! Furthermore, until the yuzu koshou. This makes it a little spicier. This is like an appetiser.
Ren: It caught my eyes already before, but the photographer makes really beautiful pictures of sushi. The deliciousness is conveyed!
Photographer: Thank you very much (laughs).

Chef: You two really love sushi.
Syoya: (while eating) I love it.
Ren: Syoya eats it 5 times a week.
Syoya: It's nice to see the chef being in the spirit of surprise or rather being caught up in his intention.
Ren: It is not so much his intention but the fact that we were caught up (laughs).
Syoya: But actually you don’t like that, right Ren-kun?
Ren: That’s right. I’m in the type who doesn’t want to be tricked.
Syoya: But today you lost.
Ren: I did. It was a complete defeat.
Syoya: It’s delicious! For real, I am yielding to this.

[Bonus] Their feelings regarding their first arena tour?

JO1’s first arena tour that started in September included Aichi, Osaka, Kanagawa and Fukuoka and now only the extra shows in Tokyo on 22nd and 23rd October are left. What are the feelings for the tour right after the announcement?

Syoya: When this article is released, we finished all shows up to the ones in Fukuoka. Ren-kun cried when the tour was announced.
Ren: That made me cry. I recalled a past shock.
Syoya: A shock?

Ren: I am the second oldest one of 4 brothers and when I was young I had a really heavy fight with my oldest brother. I can’t forget the shock from back then despite I was quite young back then. For a long time there was nothing that shocked me more than that, but I grew up and when I went to see a BIGBANG concert, it started with an amazing amount of cheers and this moment felt like ot physically hit me and this shock surpassed the one of the fight with my older brother (laughs). It is a whole different type of shock, but it made shocks into something enjoyable. From then on I started to think “I want to make music. I want to dance.”.
Syoya: The cheers at a show of BIGBANG seem amazing.

Ren: Since we became JO1 we were unable to hear such cheers and I forgot about this shock. But when the arena tour was announced at the event in May, JAM ended up cheering loudly for a moment, right? When I heard those, I remembered the cheers I heard in the past and I was completely shocked.
Syoya: Right. Since you experienced these cheers also in your time as a dancer, you know that feeling. Compared to me you have a lot of experience on the big stages and I think it that sense you have these strong feelings regarding cheers. I also remember those from the predebut fan meetings and the audition. Once you experience them, you can’t stop (craving them), right?
Ren: You can’t.

Syoya: Sure enough real concerts are great. Even when the audience is wearing a mask, you can see their facial expressions by their eyebrows and eyes, whether they are happy or crying. I really like the feeling of seeing their reactions directly.
Ren: It’s like playing catching balls with the audience, right? I always knew that performing live is the reason why I wanted to take up this work.
Syoya: I’m reallyyyyyy happy that we are finally able to have such a tour. I want to do this more and more in the future!

[JO1] Nippon Housou News Online 220928

https://news.1242.com/article/388312

JO1’s Shiroiwa revealed that during his elementary and middle school years he did “his homework while sitting in the train” to which Mamehara replied “The typical city kid…”

On the night of the 21st September (Wednesday), the radio program ‘JO1 All Night Nippon X’ (every Wednesday from 24:00~24:58 on Nippon Housou) aired of which Shiroiwa Ruki of the 11 member global boy group JO1 acts as the main personality. As the weekly changing personalitiesKawashiri Ren and Mamehara Issei appeared in this episode. In response to a mail from a listener, asking “Before smartphones became common, how did you spend your time?”, Shiroiwa and Mamehara talked about events from their school years.

Ruki: As I am from the flip phone era, I listened to music or did my homework.

Issei: You did your homework?

Ruki: During my elementary and middle school days, I played soccer at a place that was one and a half hours from my home. Back then, I of course had no smartphone and also no music player. Hence, at this time, I did my homework while sitting in the train. My thighs were my desk.

Ren: Eeeeh!

Ruki: When school was over, I directly boarded the train to go to soccer and when I came home it was already late at night. So I had no other time for homework. I guess the adults around me thought “What is this kid doing in the train?”, but if I didn’t do it someone would have gotten angry.

Issei: You are so admirable-. The typical city kid-...

Ren: I know a super fun game which you can do in the train.

Ruki: Oh! Please tell us about it!

Ren: The game is about making the 4-digit number of the license plate of an car in the opposite direction be 1, by adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing. It’s fun, so everyone please try it.

Ruki: It sounds like you really have to use your brain for this… If it is an expressway, a lot of cars are coming up, right?

Ren: It is sometimes hard to keep up! (laughs)

Ruki: I guess… I won’t play this game! (laughs)

Ren: Do it! (laughs) When your phone battery runs out for example, please try it.

Issei: I never rode the train before smartphones became common. Ren: Ah!

Issei: But when I started high school. I didn’t ride a(n electrically powered) train but a steam train.

Ruki: Ehh?

Issei: Well, I am from the countryside.

Ren: That’s amazing.

Ruki: I never rode a steam train.

Issei: There were also unmanned stations.

Ruki: That’s so cool! Just like in Harry Potter! Something I only have seen there!

Ren: Right!

Issei: Because it was unmanned. (Station staff) was only there in the morning.

Ruki: Hm?

Issei: They were there at 7 am for example, to sell tickets. But then the stations were unmanned after the shutters closed.

Ruki: Wow!!

Mamehara didn’t go to high school by electric trains but by a steam one. Mamhehara added that “Even though I say it is a steam train, it was not a choo choo train. These are running on the same motor power as a steam one.”, which caused the mood to liven up as both Shiroiwa and Kawashiri said “But that’s because these are also a steam train!” “I was able to listen to an amazing talk!” and they seemed really curious about it.

[JO1] Last MC at KIZUNA tour Fukuoka show 220923

based on this transcription: https://natalie.mu/music/news/494733

Before the last song the members made their greetings one after another.
Kawashiri put his feelings into words while wiping away his tears:
I think in one’s life there are a lot of happy and lucky moments, but there are surely also bitter times. In such times you often hear, “If you add one more stroke to ‘bitter’ it turns into ‘happiness’.”, but I always wondered “Where should I take that one stroke from?” Just like I said in the beginning, JAM have the power to turn nothing into something. When we have a hard time… JAM make us happy. We also want to become such an existence for everyone and I believe we should become like that, so please always stay at our side. I’m proud and happy that I was able to come to Fukuoka with such powerful members. But this is not the end, so until we meet again. I love you!”
TN: 辛い - bitter, painful, tough (& more meanings) 幸せ - happiness, luck, blessing (& more)

Shiroiwa Ruki reminisced about his past activities that once took him to Fukuoka but the audience was only 3,4 people:
Back then I wondered why I was even standing on stage, if I could even be of help in life and eventually I gave up my dream, but after all these years I see a completely different stage in Fukuoka. Thank you very much for opening a way of living for me, for meeting me, for liking me and for bringing me back to life. There is only one thing I felt today. I felt that even if I was born again I want to stand on stage for everyone again.
He strongly declared his gratitude for JAM.

[…]

Before the last song, Kinjo sincerely conveyed:
I want you to keep on voicing your dreams. Because a dream you keep for yourself is nothing but a mere dream. Before I became part of JO1 I thought so. But a dream you share with someone else becomes reality. I think that’s what today is about. I believe that if it’s JO1 and JAM, we can make everything come true. Hence, please keep on voicing your dreams. We will live up to those expectations, too. The bonds we felt here today, let’s continue to draw them into the sky together.
which earned him a wide applause from the audience.

[JO1] JA Kyosai campaign interview 220921

Note: The same interview was published by various news pages

Please tell us your thoughts on being appointed as the ambassadors of the “JA Kyosai Fall Traffic Safety campaign”.
Sho: JA Kyosai-san values the bonds between people, or in other words their “Kizuna” (bonds) and the concept of the tour that we as JO1 are currently holding is also “KIZUNA”, so we feel a strong bond with them.
Takumi: Traffic safety is not just important for us but for everyone going on with their daily lives, so I hope that through this campaign as many people as possible will think about road safety.

Please tell us an old memory or an incident related to road safety.
Ruki: I love driving a car so I often go for a drive but I drive extra carefully and with lots of caution on narrow roads or at night when it is hard to see others such as pedestrians.
Issei: I was once nearly run over by a car coming in my direction, and it made me think I should have been more careful.
Shosei: Me and Mame-chan go for night walks, but sure enough we are hard to see from the perspective of drivers and I thought we need to be creative by wearing reflective and bright (noticeable) materials, so that we can be seen.

As “JO1” what is a traffic safety message you want everyone to keep in mind?
Junki: I think everyone understands the necessity of traffic safety rules, but I also think that it is quite difficult to constantly stay conscious of traffic safety. Hence, I hope you will take this opportunity to strongly increase your traffic safety awareness.
Sukai: I think it is important to be mindful for everyone, people driving a car, people riding a bike and people walking.
Keigo: Traffic safety is something that is created by everyone together, so I hope that this campaign will be a good opportunity for all of us to pay more attention to the traffic rules.

Please give a message to everyone who watched the videos.
Sho: Everyone, 1-2…
Everyone: Go to the TOP, we are JO1!
Ren: We, as JO1, were appointed as ambassadors for the “JA Kyosai Fall Traffic Safety campaign”. JA Kyosai encourages road safety everywhere through traffic safety classes and traffic safety poster contests for elementary and junior high school students.
Shion: Through this campaign which starts on 21st September, we want everyone to think once again about traffic rules and safety.
Syoya: Starting today, we, as JO1, will learn more about traffic safety in a fun way in web limited videos, so please make sure to check them out!
Sho: This is all from the ambassadors for the “JA Kyosai Fall Traffic Safety campaign”…
Everyone: JO1!

The reason why the JA Kyosai federation appointed JO1 as campaign ambassadors:
The JA Kyosai federation values the bonds between people. All JO1 members have a strong bond with each other because they struggled through a hard audition together. Furthermore, we felt an affinity with them as they value their bond with their fans and hence we asked them to become the ambassadors. JO1 has a wide following, especially among teenagers and it is said that they have the No.1 spreading power on SNS. We think that if we convey our message by using the power of JO1’s words people of all ages, and not just young people, will think of traffic safety in a familiar and friendly way.

[JO1] Nippon Housou News Online 220727

https://news.1242.com/article/375977

JO1’s Shiroiwa Ruki fully enjoys his hotel life in South Korea “I really wanted to show it to someone…”

On the night of the 20th July (Wednesday), the radio program ‘JO1 All Night Nippon X’ (every Wednesday at 24~24:58 on Nippon Housou) aired in which Shiroiwa Ruki of the 11 member global boy group JO1 acts as the main personality. As the weekly changing personalities Kawashiri Ren and Mamehara Issei joined him. Following the broadcast from the week before, they revealed they were still in South Korea and talked about their hotel life during this stay.

Issei: We are currently in South Korea. During the last broadcast Sho-kun had said “I go out quite often”, didn’t he?

Ruki: He did.

Issei: I spend a lot of time in the hotel, so I would like to know about everyone’s hotel life.We have quite some time at night after practise and the rest finished, so I wonder what you guys are doing?

Ruki:: Compared to other members I barely go out, too.

Issei: Ah, that’s true.

Ruki: As I spend a lot of time in the hotel, I changed the arrangement a bit to make it more like my own room so that I feel more comfortable. Normally, I spend such times without taking out everything from my suitcase. However, this time I took everything out, stored it properly and made it like my own room. It became really neat!

Issei: Eh~!

Ruki: I felt like Maybe there is no one who got the same level of neatness, so I ended up wanting to show it someone, so yesterday I told Sho “Please come to see my room”.

Ren: I see.

Ruki: He said “Oh my god! This is not a hotel, but your room!” And then, Sho-kun copied me and made his room neatly. It is really that when you make the room like your own one back home, the coziness becomes perfect! By the way, Ren-kun, how is your one?

Ren: It is a jungle!

Issei: A jungle?

Ren: Ah, have you come to my room already?

Ruki: No.

Ren: I am sensitive to dryness. My throat tends to get dry during sleep. So also at home I have a humidifier, an air purifier, and a built-in air humidifier to keep my throat moist.

Issei: (laughs)

Ren: So even at the hotel we are staying at, I have a humidifier at my bedside and one on my desk,to have it humified like in a jungle.

Issei: This is really a jungle (laughs).

Shiroiwa talked about how he keeps his hotel room as neat as room at home, so much that he invited the member Yonashiro Sho over to take a look. Meanwhile, Kawashiri talked about keeping his room moist with two humidifiers. After hearing about these particular hotel lifes, Mamehara confessed “My room… is a mess”, which made the other two laugh.

[JO1] Josei Seven 220804

Part 2 because the shooting in Okinawa was just too good!

A "summer treasure" for you

When these two are together, they are constantly smiling. This mutually effectionate chemi YonaRen, made from JO1's Yonashiro Sho and Kawashiri Ren, showed us their exclusive cool and sweet expressions. Since we were unable to include all pictures in the 14 July issue, there is part 2 of the "JO1 x Okinawa" project! Enjoy the "shining present" of the two!

So stay in the shinning present

Yonashiro Sho and Kawashiri Ren are the two oldest members of the group. They are known to be dependable within the group, but they had been somewhat excited that only the two of them would have a shooting in Okinawa. When they arrived at the airport of Naha, Kawashiri-san said “This already feels like Okinawa!” and smiled innocently while holding a souvenir he had bought on the spot. There was also the surprise of Yonashiro-san’s parents coming to see them at the airport.

Sho: For me, Okinawa is not just the place where I was born, but also the place that formed me. There are a lot of people like me who leave Okinawa to see the world, but by leaving Okinawa you can once more understand the virtues of it.
When I come back to Okinawa, everyone will welcome me like a family. It is both a place to come back to and “my source of energy”.

On the other hand there is Kawashiri-san who visits Okinawa for the second time since his high school days.

Ren: When I was in high school I traveled with my family. This time, I was able to enjoy the time in Okinawa fully because I was able to come with a member of my group with whom I spend even more time than with my family now.
Also, back in high school I believed ‘tanned guys are so cool’, so I wanted to get tanned in Okinawa. But this time I fully protected myself with a parasol and sunscreen. So the way I feel regarding the sun has changed (laughs)

With a smile the two looked back to the shooting locations in Okinawa. About two months after the shooting, on September 3rd, their first arena tour “2022 JO1 1ST ARENA TOUR -KIZUNA-“ will start.

We received a message for JAM from them.

Sho: It will be our first arena tour. So far we were only able to hold concerts with an audience in Tokyo, but this time we are going to visit the JAM in other areas. It will be the place to convey our gratitude to a bigger number of JAM. Through this tour we hope to give back to everyone even more.

Ren: What I felt during this shooting in Okinawa is that each place has its own unique atmosphere. For example, if you interact with people from Okinawa, you somehow feel they are “typical Okinawan”. We can visit a lot of places during the next tour, so I hope to feel what is the “typical feeling of that place”.
All JAM are very kind people. I hope that we can make this a time when we can feel the bond between us and JAM, to embody the title of the arena tour, “Kizuna” (bond).

We are sure that as long as it is them, they will bring a wonderful treasure to their fans.

Is there something you want to try this summer?
Sho: I would like to try diving.
This time our shooting was “on the land” as we went to eat something and rode horses, so next time I want to do something “in the water”!
Ren: (after listening to Yonashiro-san’s answer) Diving would be nice, too~ Also, it is still hard to do in this day and age, but I would like to go to a summer festival.

The feature was also published over here: https://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20220807_1780880.html?DETAIL