THE STORY CONTINUES
Shofukutei Tsurube, one of the most popular entertainers in Japan, and 2PM, an artist representing South Korea. It might seem they’re a combination that you won’t expect but these two figures have developed a deep relationship over the years. 2PM even appeared on Tsurube’s radio show as guests.
For today’s interview, Tsurube-san prepared a carefully thought-out handwritten list of his thoughts about the songs from the album and his impressions going to 2PM’s concerts. Seeing that, the members were moved.
NK: Please let us call you “Father”!
Tsurube: I’ll listen to everything that can make you happy the most. With the experiences you gained until now, I think you can manage it even without asking me. But it’ll bring us closer if we listen.
JK: We are very grateful to you.
Tsurube: Because I believe it’s important that you think about the person you’re talking to and find out more about them. Even in interviews, dramas, movies and stages.
NK: We always do our best when preparing concerts in our own style but seeing Tsurube-san being so prepared for us like this, I’m now reflecting if I can really say that “we really did our best.”
WY: Tsurube-san, which part of the concert do you think is entertaining?
Tsurube: In 2PM concerts, you all talk in Japanese even without translators, right? I think that’s really amazing. You also use dialect depending which region you are. That’s impressive as well. Also, Taecyeon says a lot of unnecessary things, right?
2PM: (laughs out loud)
Tsurube: Then Jun. K and Junho would try to get back, right? But sometimes, Junho would give up.
2PM: (laughs out loud)
Tsurube: Taecyeon is very essential in 2PM concerts. And the thing called “incidents” in 2PM is because of the Japanese language, isn’t it?
2PM: (laughs out loud)
Tsurube: I should not be a nuisance to the fans. That’s why I just quietly go whenever I go to your concerts. But when our eyes meet, I get very happy! Then at the end of the concert, you would mention my name. I get surprised! I don’t have any mic and I don’t know what I should do. (laughs) I get startled but I’m happy. I appreciate it when you keep adding more adlibs to your talk and I also appreciate the kindness of all members to make everyone enjoy the concert. While watching 2PM’s stage, I admire so much how each member’s personality comes out really well. It’s fun to see that. When you start singing, you give it all. When there are “incidents,” it’s amusing. That is what we call “entertainment.”
JK: I am deeply moved to see how you feel a lot of different things while watching our concert.
Tsurube: 3 hours.. rather than watching without thinking anything, I watch and learn from different situations and even from your weird conversations. Being professional is the capability of coping with “incidents.” That’s why I came up with “Sujinashi,” a variety show in TBS where we make an impromptu drama with an actor. Acting with no rules but there’s a theme. Last time we did “Two persons in a store window.” From the viewers’ request, the actress would come out from the audience while I start from standing in front of the store window. That actress came up on the stage from the audience seat while on a state of being totally blind and hit me gently. She was still a young actress but I was surprised. I was interviewed by that person while performing “Sujinashi.” You must enjoy the stage! Enjoying the stage is absolutely important. Entertainment is having fun and being loved.
Tsurube: I’ll listen to everything that can make you happy the most. With the experiences you gained until now, I think you can manage it even without asking me. But it’ll bring us closer if we listen.
JK: We are very grateful to you.
Tsurube: Because I believe it’s important that you think about the person you’re talking to and find out more about them. Even in interviews, dramas, movies and stages.
NK: We always do our best when preparing concerts in our own style but seeing Tsurube-san being so prepared for us like this, I’m now reflecting if I can really say that “we really did our best.”
WY: Tsurube-san, which part of the concert do you think is entertaining?
Tsurube: In 2PM concerts, you all talk in Japanese even without translators, right? I think that’s really amazing. You also use dialect depending which region you are. That’s impressive as well. Also, Taecyeon says a lot of unnecessary things, right?
2PM: (laughs out loud)
Tsurube: Then Jun. K and Junho would try to get back, right? But sometimes, Junho would give up.
2PM: (laughs out loud)
Tsurube: Taecyeon is very essential in 2PM concerts. And the thing called “incidents” in 2PM is because of the Japanese language, isn’t it?
2PM: (laughs out loud)
Tsurube: I should not be a nuisance to the fans. That’s why I just quietly go whenever I go to your concerts. But when our eyes meet, I get very happy! Then at the end of the concert, you would mention my name. I get surprised! I don’t have any mic and I don’t know what I should do. (laughs) I get startled but I’m happy. I appreciate it when you keep adding more adlibs to your talk and I also appreciate the kindness of all members to make everyone enjoy the concert. While watching 2PM’s stage, I admire so much how each member’s personality comes out really well. It’s fun to see that. When you start singing, you give it all. When there are “incidents,” it’s amusing. That is what we call “entertainment.”
JK: I am deeply moved to see how you feel a lot of different things while watching our concert.
Tsurube: 3 hours.. rather than watching without thinking anything, I watch and learn from different situations and even from your weird conversations. Being professional is the capability of coping with “incidents.” That’s why I came up with “Sujinashi,” a variety show in TBS where we make an impromptu drama with an actor. Acting with no rules but there’s a theme. Last time we did “Two persons in a store window.” From the viewers’ request, the actress would come out from the audience while I start from standing in front of the store window. That actress came up on the stage from the audience seat while on a state of being totally blind and hit me gently. She was still a young actress but I was surprised. I was interviewed by that person while performing “Sujinashi.” You must enjoy the stage! Enjoying the stage is absolutely important. Entertainment is having fun and being loved.
CS: Given this opportunity, I have something to ask to Tsurube-san. Please tell us the key of doing activities in various genre such as being a host, actor and comic storyteller.
Tsurube: 2PM members are amazing, so someone like me has nothing to say. But for me, what I value is having a mindset of “If you have reached your goal, that’s just the beginning.” For example, if 2PM’s album ranked no. 1, that’s the starting point. You aim much higher. I started doing comic storytelling at the age of 50. Since comic storytelling is floundering, my seniors told me to do it. I did it in a huge venue and made it to the point where you can’t get tickets anymore. You may think that storytelling is just coming out from gilded folding screens and doing it, but you spend a great amount of money on stage. So it’s important to make the people who come and watch it realize that. I want to reform the storytelling. When I reach the peak I’m aiming for, I’ll head for the next step. I just keep doing that same cycle. That’s why it goes on forever.
JH: I want to learn from your genuine attitude and passion when it comes to work.
Tsurube: I don’t know if you have this saying in Korea, but here in Japan we have this idiom “fall into lap,” which means having an opportunity you didn’t expect. But if you don’t work hard until that opportunity comes, it won’t come. There are times when it only comes to people who work hard for it. That’s how I think of it.
CS: I try not to regret my choices, even if it brings a not-so-good result to myself. I fear and worry about some things, but after hearing Tsurube-san, I want to do my best not to have any regrets with my own choices. I feel like I gained some courage.
Tsurube: If I were to have two options, I choose the more difficult one. There’s an idiom in Japanese, “After a storm comes a calm.” There’s something definitely better after every hardship. Even if you encounter several troubles, you are heading to a much better direction in the end. It’s something I have realized while living for 64 years.
WY: Do you have any advice for us who are still in our 20’s?
Tsurube: My 20’s was a complete mess (laughs)
2PM: (laughs)
Tsurube: But for some reasons, people think of me as a very diligent man. I wonder why it has become like that. Maybe because I’ve never betrayed someone.
TY: I heard that your youth is like Junho’s. Is that true?
Tsurube: That would be rude to Junho. (laughs)
JH: No~ no~ (laughs)
Tsurube: My son is like Junho though. Me -> my son -> Junho
NK: I’ve once worked with your son in a drama.
Tsurube: Oh, that’s right! In a show “Kazoku ni Kanpai” (Salute to Families) in NHK, I met someone by chance who has a photo of me during my high school days. In that picture, I look like Junho.
TY: In conclusion, Tsurube-san looks like Junho! (laughs) After 40 years, Junho will become Tsurube-san!
NK: Can I also ask a question?
Tsurube: Oh, Nichkhun~ Do you have any?
NK: Tsurube-san who is full of curiosity, what is your secret to keep on smiling all the time?
Tsurube: Youth is having interest in various stuff. Also, it might be different since all of you are good-looking, but for me, it’s better to laugh. When I was having a photoshoot for a front cover of a magazine, the photographer tried to bring out a different expression of me than my usual one. He took a lot of shots of my grim expression. Seriously a lot! But in the end, I asked “Can I smile?” He took only one photo of me smiling. And that is the one we used.
2PM: (laughs out loud)
TY: Aahh~ There are times like that, isn’t it? I totally understand!
JH: I know that you are very busy. How do you take care of your health?
Tsurube: No matter how tiring it is, I practice properly for my storytelling. I’m doing a classical comic story entitled “Rakuda” for 1 hour and 20 minutes the day after tomorrow. When I was about to sleep last night, I felt uneasy, so I practiced one more time. That’s how I manage my own health.
JK: I am reflecting upon that right now
Tsurube: If I had to dance just like what you do, I can’t do that. You all sing, dance and speak in Japanese. Even if I were told to do storytelling in Korean, I wouldn’t be able to do it. Absolutely impossible. One of my pupils does storytelling in Korean. He lives in Japan so originally, he can’t really speak the Korean language well. But since that is the language of his native country, I told him to learn to speak it. And now, he can speak in Korean.
Tsurube: 2PM members are amazing, so someone like me has nothing to say. But for me, what I value is having a mindset of “If you have reached your goal, that’s just the beginning.” For example, if 2PM’s album ranked no. 1, that’s the starting point. You aim much higher. I started doing comic storytelling at the age of 50. Since comic storytelling is floundering, my seniors told me to do it. I did it in a huge venue and made it to the point where you can’t get tickets anymore. You may think that storytelling is just coming out from gilded folding screens and doing it, but you spend a great amount of money on stage. So it’s important to make the people who come and watch it realize that. I want to reform the storytelling. When I reach the peak I’m aiming for, I’ll head for the next step. I just keep doing that same cycle. That’s why it goes on forever.
JH: I want to learn from your genuine attitude and passion when it comes to work.
Tsurube: I don’t know if you have this saying in Korea, but here in Japan we have this idiom “fall into lap,” which means having an opportunity you didn’t expect. But if you don’t work hard until that opportunity comes, it won’t come. There are times when it only comes to people who work hard for it. That’s how I think of it.
CS: I try not to regret my choices, even if it brings a not-so-good result to myself. I fear and worry about some things, but after hearing Tsurube-san, I want to do my best not to have any regrets with my own choices. I feel like I gained some courage.
Tsurube: If I were to have two options, I choose the more difficult one. There’s an idiom in Japanese, “After a storm comes a calm.” There’s something definitely better after every hardship. Even if you encounter several troubles, you are heading to a much better direction in the end. It’s something I have realized while living for 64 years.
WY: Do you have any advice for us who are still in our 20’s?
Tsurube: My 20’s was a complete mess (laughs)
2PM: (laughs)
Tsurube: But for some reasons, people think of me as a very diligent man. I wonder why it has become like that. Maybe because I’ve never betrayed someone.
TY: I heard that your youth is like Junho’s. Is that true?
Tsurube: That would be rude to Junho. (laughs)
JH: No~ no~ (laughs)
Tsurube: My son is like Junho though. Me -> my son -> Junho
NK: I’ve once worked with your son in a drama.
Tsurube: Oh, that’s right! In a show “Kazoku ni Kanpai” (Salute to Families) in NHK, I met someone by chance who has a photo of me during my high school days. In that picture, I look like Junho.
TY: In conclusion, Tsurube-san looks like Junho! (laughs) After 40 years, Junho will become Tsurube-san!
NK: Can I also ask a question?
Tsurube: Oh, Nichkhun~ Do you have any?
NK: Tsurube-san who is full of curiosity, what is your secret to keep on smiling all the time?
Tsurube: Youth is having interest in various stuff. Also, it might be different since all of you are good-looking, but for me, it’s better to laugh. When I was having a photoshoot for a front cover of a magazine, the photographer tried to bring out a different expression of me than my usual one. He took a lot of shots of my grim expression. Seriously a lot! But in the end, I asked “Can I smile?” He took only one photo of me smiling. And that is the one we used.
2PM: (laughs out loud)
TY: Aahh~ There are times like that, isn’t it? I totally understand!
JH: I know that you are very busy. How do you take care of your health?
Tsurube: No matter how tiring it is, I practice properly for my storytelling. I’m doing a classical comic story entitled “Rakuda” for 1 hour and 20 minutes the day after tomorrow. When I was about to sleep last night, I felt uneasy, so I practiced one more time. That’s how I manage my own health.
JK: I am reflecting upon that right now
Tsurube: If I had to dance just like what you do, I can’t do that. You all sing, dance and speak in Japanese. Even if I were told to do storytelling in Korean, I wouldn’t be able to do it. Absolutely impossible. One of my pupils does storytelling in Korean. He lives in Japan so originally, he can’t really speak the Korean language well. But since that is the language of his native country, I told him to learn to speak it. And now, he can speak in Korean.
Tsurube: It was the year 1980 when I first went to Korea. They treated me very well. Though it’s a neighboring country, it feels different to actually go there. I’m still good friends with the person from Korea University who helped me with interpreting. The Koreans that I met with my own eyes are all wonderful people. When it comes to getting along with someone from another country, I think it will be hard to do if you don’t open yourself up especially because there are things like language barrier. That’s also why I send some gifts in 2PM’s dressing room. I find it fun when I think of what Japanese food does 2PM like to eat. I think of things like “When they come to Hokkaido, I’ll send them this.” Recently, I found out that Jun. K likes sushi, so from takoyaki, I changed it to sushi. (laughs) I do this because I like doing it. I do this with my whole heart because I want to get along with all of you, and I also want you to know that Japanese are like this.
JK: We are always very grateful to you.
Tsurube: Since there is a military service in Korea, I think Jun. K and Taecyeon are about to go. After coming back from the army, I would want to see 2PM again standing on stage. (Editor’s note: It was announced that “GALAXY OF 2PM” Arena Tour which started from April 23 would be temporarily the last tour with 6 members.) Even though you won’t be on stage for about 2 years, won’t there be a new strength once you come back? Being together as 6 means being extremely strong. Stronger than being alone. Each one of you is strong by himself as well. But when united, it’s very powerful because it releases a different strength. That’s how 2PM was formed. I think it would be a waste if you don’t continue it for a long time.
TY: It’s making me sad little by little………
JK: As a matter of fact, what you have just said is what I am thinking about the most right now.
Tsurube: Although the “height” of popularity is also important, the “length” is much more important in the world of show business. It’s about how you last long.
JH: Today, for me and also for everyone else, we are really glad that we could meet Tsurube-san during this essential time. My dream is to continue doing this job for as long as I can. After listening to Tsurube-san, I’ve made a new goal.
WY: We don’t often get opportunities like this. So today has become a precious gift to all of us. Thank you very much.
JK: We are always very grateful to you.
Tsurube: Since there is a military service in Korea, I think Jun. K and Taecyeon are about to go. After coming back from the army, I would want to see 2PM again standing on stage. (Editor’s note: It was announced that “GALAXY OF 2PM” Arena Tour which started from April 23 would be temporarily the last tour with 6 members.) Even though you won’t be on stage for about 2 years, won’t there be a new strength once you come back? Being together as 6 means being extremely strong. Stronger than being alone. Each one of you is strong by himself as well. But when united, it’s very powerful because it releases a different strength. That’s how 2PM was formed. I think it would be a waste if you don’t continue it for a long time.
TY: It’s making me sad little by little………
JK: As a matter of fact, what you have just said is what I am thinking about the most right now.
Tsurube: Although the “height” of popularity is also important, the “length” is much more important in the world of show business. It’s about how you last long.
JH: Today, for me and also for everyone else, we are really glad that we could meet Tsurube-san during this essential time. My dream is to continue doing this job for as long as I can. After listening to Tsurube-san, I’ve made a new goal.
WY: We don’t often get opportunities like this. So today has become a precious gift to all of us. Thank you very much.
JPN-ENG & Scans: Yumi
Source : http://2pmalways.tumblr.com/post/147459525870/trans-2pm-vogue-japan-june-2016-interview; Google Image
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please give your comments