#ohanalooksback

Interviewer: To start off! How have you been Tora-san? Has the new year been treating you well?

Tora: -clasps hands together- So far, the new year started with me having mountains of work to do.

-Both Tora and interviewer laugh-

Interviewer: Is that so?! Poor Tora-san! Your managers pressuring you guys too much?

Tora: -waves his hand- No no, nothing like that. Just the band coming up with new songs and the upcoming tour this year is being planned. So, lots of work.

Interviewer: -nods head- Ah yes, lots of work. Ah but! Aside from work, this interview was supposed to be a New Year’s look back interview! So let’s get back to business.

Tora:  -laughs- Yes please.

Interviewer: Let’s step back to New Year’s then, to Christmas and so forth.

Tora: Step back?! -says a bit surprised- That’s gonna be tough since good things happened after Christmas!

Interviewer: It did?! Ah well, let’s reverse it a bit then! Let’s start from January of 2016.

Tora: Such a big time skip. I can’t remember everything you know?

Interviewer: Oh okay okay -bows head in apology- Then, please just tell us all of your best memories of 2016 Tora-sama.

Tora: I mostly remember work related memories.

Interviewer: Work related?!

-both laughs-

Tora: Yeah! Because so many good memories happen during work. We did a tour, lots of photoshoots, and our single release LIGHT AND DARKNESS.

Interviewer: Oh your new single! So fantastic! Everything from the music down to the pictures were lovely! So aesthetic!

Tora: -smiles sheepishly- Thank you. The band is always going through different transformations and evolving. We keep on moving forward thanks to our friends and family, but most especially to our fans.

Interviewer: Everyone did their best this year! Yatta! But any special memories you’d like to share with the readers?

-a sudden ‘oohhh’ noise came into the background-

Tora: Where did that come from?! -laughs-

Interviewer: It’s to add effect!

Tora: But, for special memories. I was happy to have met so many new people and have memories with them. I guess I can start with my friend’s kid? I got to take care of the most adorable little god-kid... Wait is that how you call them? -laughs- 

Interviewer: -laughs- I’m not sure either! But, you’re the kid’s godfather yes?

Tora: -nods his head- Yes yes. And I’ve been hanging out with my friend Kiz as well.  I’ve been introduced to Italian food and now, I love it!

Interviewer: He loves it! The model and fashion icon Kizasi-sama Tora-san is hanging out with!

Tora: I love it. -chuckles- And then, the adopted little sister that I never wanted -laughs-

Interviewer: Adopted?!

Tora: I treat her like a younger sister. The sister I never wanted -laughs- But, Dara is fun anyways. There’s someone to tease aside from Nao.

Interviewer: Dara... Could you be referring to 2ne1′s Sandara?

Tora: Yeah, she’s annoying. Me, Kiz, and Chae could be leisurely sipping on our coffee’s while eating donuts but, she’s the little sibling who won’t leave grown ups alone.

Interviewer: Aren’t Chae and Dara supposed to be the ones who are in a group of friends?

Tora: -makes a shush sound and action- The three of us are mature adults. And then, there’s Mii and X.

Interviewer: Oh! So mysterious! Who is X?

Tora: X is X!

Interviewer: So mean! Such questions! Such mystery!

Tora: Yeah, they’re a mysterious bunch. I’ve only gotten to know Misami-san a little while though. She’s a great friend. Joins me in my quest of teasing Dara and everyone else. -laughs-

Interviewer: Tora-san is a bully! -gasped shock-

Tora: Believe it or not, I can get bullied a lot more times.

Interviewer: We shall trust your words for now.  

Tora: Trust in me like how I believed cute Nao-chan will one day become even more sexier. -he smirks whilst flapping the hem of his shirt-

Interviewer: Oh and there it is! Another about the band! Oh but, Nao-san’’s transformation has stunned a lot of fans!

Tora: Even the members.

-both laughs-

Tora: Our bonds have gotten stronger. Most especially mine and Nao’s.

Interviewer: Bonds between men!

Tora: Gets deeper every year yes. -nods- Eventually, I’ll ask him out on a date -laughs-

Interviewer: And there it is! A famous strike of visual kei fanservices!

Tora: Fanservice?! I would never. -jokes-

Interviewer: Tora-san, it’s not good to lie!

Tora: Nao is the member whom I’ve been getting close with recently.

Interviewer: Oh! Hot hot hot! On towards a different topic!

Tora: Eh?! Different topic?!

Interviewer: A different topic! How did you spend December Tora-san?

Tora: With the band actually -laughs- doing work as per usual. I sadly had no date on kurisumasu ebu. -fakes a sad sigh-

Interviewer: There there Tora-san! That special person is right around the corner!

Tora: Right around the corner?! So scary...

Interviewer: I don’t understand how that was scary but, let’s leave it be!

-both laughs-

Interviewer: And lastly, how did Tora-san spend the few hours of 2016?

Tora:  With the band.

Interviewer: Eh?! No way!

Tora: Yeah -laughs- Ah, although I did ask Nao-san to go to a new year’s party with me. So, it was fun.

Interviewer: Ooh! Getting real cozy with Nao-san I see!

Tora: The bonds of men have gotten stronger.

Interviewer: Cheers to the bonds of men!

Tora and Interviewer: Cheers!

Interviewer: And that’s all the time we have for today’s interview! Thank you so much Tora-san for your time.

Tora: Thank you for having me today.

What the public knows wasn’t everything. Obviously.

She’s happy, for her own little success. Her solo tour that happening in November was a success. GZBs and Blackjacks both supported her and she felt their heartwarming presence. She loves them deeply.

Yes and No. Yesses and Nos. “What if they just tell me to give up and they’ll write the song?” “Or no no. What if they make the album themselves?” “Fucking...” She hates being told what to do, true. But in this industry, it’s impossible not to be told what to do. She tried her best to keep her attitude hidden underneath the fur coats and the smiles. It worked somehow, she suppose.

Delay, delay. And more delays!

Nothing is more frustrating for Chaerin than to see her fans lose their patience. She’s aware of the growing hate towards her and her fans, falling out because of the outstretched time span that she has given her album. She asked again and again for her fans and for herself to be patient. 

The year started with a goodbye. With the maknae’s departure, the future of the group has been cloudy. Questions. But the answer was given months later, when it was finalized that it was better for things to end. 

Good byes and Endings.

Apparently, deaths weren’t the only thing 2016 was good at. She loved him, but he didn’t know. She had to cover her feelings up with one night stands, so she could smile at him when he tells her that he loves her. She loves him but he loves her more. He loves her even before Chaerin came around. He loves her even when he’s fucking with her. Even when he kisses her. Even when he touches her hair and tells her that he ‘loves’ her. She’s always better than Chaerin. 

Distance does not mean a burned bridge. Work takes over life but that doesn’t mean you are hated. She did not only lost a group member, a legendary group or a lover. She also lost a couple of friends through out 2016. Lack of communication was taken as lack of care. You cannot do anything to someone who does not want to believe you.

Heartaches, pain. But there’s always a rainbow after the rain.

She gained new friends. She felt the love of her loyal fans, who waited and remained patient with her. She gained a stronger bond with her sister. She gained the trust of a special friend. 

2016 was a wild-ass year for me. It had some wonderful things and some absolutely terrible things, as any year does. For me, from a personal aspect, 2016 was great. I spent another year with my husband and family, and welcomed into the world our two beautiful baby girls, Naomi and Rosalie. I began my courses to become a Japanese teacher here in Italy. I met new friends and had new experiences with old ones. I joined a group of amazing new friends who make me smile everyday. (#pamilumeansnobodygetsleftbehind) I’m beginning to win the battle with my depression in small steps. 2016 has been a year of big achievements for me.

Now, of course there were some bad things. I had a few bad mental ruts, especially in the later part of the year. I had my first bout of homesickness, missing my friends and the familiarity of Japan. There were several times where I had to learn how to manage a situation not as a single man who lives alone but as a married father and that was difficult though it did help me mature. Learning to be a parent to three children was a gargantuan task, but I had a husband by my side to help.