TRANSLATOR'S COMMENTARY VERSIONใInterview ReportใBTOB Japan Debut Press Con Interview ใSuper happy right now! Am blessed!!ใ
BTOB, a boys group with seven members debuted in Korea in March 2012. In addition to exceptional singing ability and powerful performances, they are surging in popularity with their refreshingly friendly and adorable character. Like that, withใWOW(JPN ver.)ใthey decided to debut in Japan on 12/11/2014. In 2012ใWOWใwas released in Korea which clearly showed BTOB's energetic charm and singing abilities the most, and Korean publications at the time made a great deal of international producer Teddy Riley's praise of the song through SNS.ย BTOB's stage of the song was also well received, being the first boy's group to pioneer into the New Jack Swings genre, and having fresh raps and vocal harmonies, to the group's impressive overflowing performance, it is a song that 100% demonstrates their charms and judgement *I don't know why it shows their judgement, judgement of what?, and quickly became the choice song for Japan debut.ย Their dominating of the Tower Records pre-order chart ranking #1 to #3 shows their high popularity in Japan, and they held their debut press conference on 11/11 in Tokyo Shibuya Tower Records the day before debut.
While carrying out massive promotions including installation of a large signboard of BTOB in Shibuya, and the running of BTOB London Bus which arrived in front of Tower Records Shibuya to put BTOB's new song without delay into the hands of gathered fans. Fans who happened to be present discovered that the members were riding on the bus, and they were really excited.ย *This was legit just one-sentence T.Tย There was a lot of camera coverage, when the members alighted from the bus, shutters were simultaneously pressed.
BTOB members were scheduled for an event at that store in the afternoon, but it was a big surprise to fans who never expected them to appear from the London bus. Like that, the members walked into TR Shibuya enveloped in their fans' cheers.ย *YAY GO MELODIES ^^
"1.2! Born To Beat hello! We are BTOB" the seven members powerfully greeted at the start of the conference.
Firstly, they introduced themselves one by one. "Hello I'm BTOB's good-looking maknae, Sungjae. Pleased to meet you" "Hello I'm BTOB's gentle mannered Hyunsik. Pleased to meet you" "Hello I'm BTOB's Changsub. Pleased to meet you" "Hello I'm BTOB's leader, Seo Eunkwang. Pleased to meet you" "Hello I'm BTOB's Minhyuk. Pleased to meet you" "I'm BTOB's Ilhoon. Pleased to meet you. Thank you for coming today. We will work hard for the press conference so please take care of us" "Hello I'm BTOB's Peniel. Pleased to meet you" - greeting in Japanese.ย *here they all said ใใใใใ้กใใใพใ which can mean 'pleased to meet you' or 'please take care of us' or 'thanks in advance' or 'I look forward to working with you' or 'please treat me well' or 'please remember me' depending on context; as you can probably guess - they could *all* be applied because there was little context, except for Ilhoon's part because he said a bit more >.> ALSO, don't ask me what gentle-mannered means. The dictionary said that ๅช็ท means a man of gentle manners. I suppose it could be 'kind man', but ALL BTOB members are kind, not just Hyunsik so I decided to use the literal translation.
With their Japan debut being the next day, they were asked about their current feelings and leader Eunkwang, put his hand up earlier than anyone else and said in Korean "For us, since our trainee days we had in our minds to debut in Japan and studied Japanese, a dream (debuting in Japan) that until now, is fulfilled; continuing in Japanese: "Because of that, we're super happy. Am blessed," he said with a big smile. *Here, there's ใใใใ= happy, and ๅนธใ= happy (or blessed). So Eunkwanggie is 'super happy happy (and blessed)ย Ilhoon, also in fluent Japanese revealed his feelings, "We're grateful for the fans who waited for us until now. We're really nervous right now, but also very happy (blessed)."ย
With his high level of Japanese, reporters asked whether he was studying Japanese (to work) toward a Japan debut, Ilhoon said "Cube Entertainment fully provides a great environment to study Japaneseย *this awkward wording... basically means Cubee invests in his studies, I guess, so I have been studyingย since trainee days" explaining his enthusiasm of studying Japanese since his trainee days.
In order to test their Japanese competency each spoke one line of Japanese. Sungjae "My favourite Japanese food isย Horumon[yaki*added because 'horumon' by itself = hormone. I don't think he ate Japanese hormone...] (grilled beef/pork offal)! I ate horumon yesterday!" he said with a smile, causing reporters to smile too with this adorable expression. Hyunsik continued while worried "Japanese is difficult...I really like you!" suddenly confessing. Then Changsub "I'm a gundam otaku (geek)" said with a straight face causing reporters to burst out laughing. Eunkwang "Everyone! We will always work very hard to touch everyone with BTOB's songs!" said excitedly and then Sungjae, without a moment's delay sternly retorted "That's a speech!"*if you forgot (like I did at first), they're meant to say one line eachย causing the whole press conference room again to be filled with laughter *maknae rebellion lol. Minhyuk "I am happy to have come to Japan. Please take care of us from now*that ใใใใใ้กใใใพใ word again but this time, more context yay! happy translator! ^^," firmly appealed. Ilhoon "I'm always blessed (ๅนธใ happy)ย and (ใใใใ)ย happy when I come to Japan. Also please look after our leader" somehow ended up appealing for Eunkwang (I don't know why either). Lastly when Peniel started to say "Hello... yeah.. finger, ear, hoใผ," members laughed while Sungjae came to the rescue "It's Japanese he learned just a while ago." Remembering that "hoใผ" is cheek (pronunciation), Peniel shouted toward the reporters "Say, HO?!" causing the press conference to roar with laughter.
Q. What kind of song is your Japan debut single?
Eunkwang: It's a song that is really easy to get into. The song's genre is New Jack Swings so the beat is catchy, also the lyrics are interesting, and I'm happy when people pay attention to the lyrics. It's a song that everyone can enjoy together.ย
Q.In Korea, there's great success not only in singing, but also variety (shows) and lots of other genres, but what are your goals for future activities in Japan?
Ilhoon: Of course we want to be cast for Japanese variety shows and dramas, we also want to try and collaborate with Japanese artists.
Q. Do you have any specific artists you want to collaborate with?
Hyunsik: For me, Tamaki Koji (็็ฝฎๆตฉไบ). *He's a veteran singer (56yo), amazing
Sungjae: I have one too. I want to act with Ishihara Satomi (็ณๅใใจใฟ).*maknae called her Satomi-chan (instead of Satomi-san) but she's 27. Such a rebel
Ilhoon: I have one too. I really like Crystal Kay.
Q. SHOWCASE throughout the whole country has begun from 11/18, but what type of appearance do you want to show fans at the SHOWCASE?
Eunkwang: To show on stage that we're singers, I think this appearance is the coolest, so we will certainly show everyone on stage everything we have.
Sungjae: For our Japan debut, we came having really prepared a lot everyday, so we also personally have expectations. Furthermore we, all seven members really like Japan, and I think it's good to be able to tell everyone how much affection we have for Japan.
Hyunsik: This time we'll start from the beginning *this was an awkward phrase to translate, and we will keep working hard from now, because we want to reach #1 on Oricon chart, and also perform at Tokyo Dome!!
Ilhoon: Dare I say that if you come to watch our performance, I think you will be captivated by our charms and won't be able to escape.
Changsub: Because we want people, including those who don't know of us yet to know our name, beginning with our Japanese fans we also want the general public to be able to be happy through our music.ย *this was also awkward to translate
Q. What are BTOB's individual appeal points๏ผ
Sungjae: Although I say this a lot in Korea, at first glance I have a cool-looking face, but when I try a strange face, or try to do a lot of gags, because there is this gap everyone says that I'm cute; I think that is my appeal point.ย *Sungjae in his own world. I didn't understand what he was saying. Props to you if you do.
Hyuksik: My self-confidence is in music. As for looks, I think my trait is my eye-smile.
Changsub: My charm is my singing voice. When I speak I sound a little bit like a child, but when I sing my voice is like a serious gentleman, so I think that is my charm.ย *I think this is so true!
Eunkwang: My charming point is my cheeks. For me, my cheeks part when I sing to look like jammed pockets so I think it's thanks to that, that I was entrusted with the main vocal position in the team. Also, many people say that my face looks friendly. Since I seem approachable like a "next-door oppa," I think that is my charm.
Minhyuk: I'm the type of person with very deep emotions, and even when I communicate with fans I am able to really express my feelings, I think that point is my charm. And also, I'm cute and sexy!
Ilhoon: People around me often say that there is not much difference between my usual appearance and my appearance as a singer on stage. Even though my appearance is average like that, I think that is my charm.
Peniel: My face has an innocent-like faceย *Pshhhhh as if innocent!. Furthermore, because my personality is easy to get along with and friendly, I think that is my charm.ย
Q. What are BTOB's charms as a group๏ผ
Minhyuk: Just then we already said what our biggest charm is, and it's our appearance on stage. We are a group that has confidence in our live performances and everyone in it has a strong ability to be appealing. Even though there are seven members, we are made up of members who have strong, unique personalities that will charm you one by one so that you will fall into our charms and be stuck like how ants fall into anย ant-lion'sย pit and can't escape.ย *that analogy was so deep, I had to enlist help to translate this. Basically he wanted to say that when you fall into BTOB's charms, you'll fall into the bottom and be stuck there.ย
Changsub: We are a group that gives happiness to people.
Hyunsik: And we are a group that can give laughter to everyone.
Sungjae: And I think we're polite. (At this remark all the members' postures sat as if being scolded*you'll have to watch the press con vid to see if this trans is correct; Japanese colloquialism used here, and laughed)ย
Eunkwang: I think our important advantage is that we have a clearly divided vocal line and rap line. Hereafter, even as we do unit activities, I thinkย we are able to confidently show off our abilities in our performances. Therefore I think there will be opportunities where we can appear as unit groups to everyone. We are proud to be a group whose spectrum of music has a wide appeal.
Ilhoon: Also we have something very important. BTOB's greatest strength is live (performance). So you should certainly come to our concert.
Sungjae: Ah! There's one more! Members are really close with each other. (At this remark the members grouped together side by side joining at the shoulders and swayed*you'll have to check press con vid to see if it's trans correctly; Japanese colloquialism used here)
Eunkwang: There's a lot but there's one last one I want to add, that is Hyunsik, Ilhoon and Minhyuk can compose. In every Korean album, since we have recorded self-composed songs, we are a group that really loves music and even with Japan activities we want to become a group that continues to sing our own self-composed songs in front of everyone.*Eunkwang really talks a lot. Go back and count how many times he's spoken already and how looooonnnggg they are. (lol please don't hate me, I love our leader. Seriously, I do. It's just his wording is awkward and his sentences are long and seem to be never-ending which makes my job harder ^_^")
While exchanging Japanese, enthusiastically revealing their thoughts individually, and strongly appealing their desires for fans to support their current and future Japanese activities, it became a friendly press conference that reflected the members' close bond. When it was almost time to end, leader Eunkwang's nervousness was finally fading "Already finishing? But my nervousness was just disappearing..." he said with regret and reluctant to part, all the while having not stopped smiling until the end of the press conference.ย *this paragraph was awkward to translate
Debut day is the 12th where the SHOWCASE will be held at Toyosu PIT, Tokyo. Along with the SHOWCASE, a CD Release Event will also be held in order.
Source & Pictures:ย Koreapo
Translated by: mszmello (@btobjjangdaebak)
DO NOT REPOST. PLEASE JUSTย LINKย TO THIS TRANSLATION.
*snippets (up to 2 paragraphs) may be taken out with proper credits!
*conclusion? Japanese sentences run forever, the English language needs a more expressive vocabulary, and BTOB is the love of my life so I translated this article. Peace out.ย
