[INTERVIEW] Japanese boy band KAT-TUN - Part 1

On July 1, Japanese idol group KAT-TUN held a press conference for their first-ever concert in South Korea. Formed in 2001 of members Kazuya Kamenashi, Junnosuke Taguchi, Koki Tanaka, Tatsuya Ueda, Yuichi Nakamaru and Jin Akanishi, who would be absent from the tour, KAT-TUN is a group which has been highly popular throughout Japan after an official debuting in 2006 through single "Real Face." The band, whose latest fifth album "NO MORE PAIN" was released in June, visited the Korea ahead of holding their concert in the country on August 6 and 7 as part of their "KAT-TUN World Big Tour." Below are excerpts from the press conference as well as 10Asia's private interview with the group.


10: I'm curious to know how you decided to hold a concert in Korea. You probably wouldn't have felt the need to expand your career overseas because you're so popular in Japan.
Koki Tanaka: We wanted to meet with the fans in Korea who root for us, rather than wanting to expand our realm of activities.
Kazuya Kamenashi: And we work as a group but we received a lot of support when we were pursuing individual careers such as in dramas. We wanted to respond to that so we prepared a concert in Korea and we thought we would be able to show a different side to us through a live concert where everyone becomes one.
Yuichi Nakamaru: Many of our singles have been sold in Korea till now and we had been hearing we have many fans here so we had been thinking from years ago that we want to have fun with our Korean fans through a live concert. That has finally come true.

10: I heard your tickets sold out in 20 minutes of going on sale.
KAT-TUN: Oh really!
Tanaka: I have nothing else to say except that I'm very happy.
Kamenashi: I think we made the right choice in deciding to come to Korea. (laugh)
Nakamaru: But on the other hand, we have to meet their expectations so we're going to have to work hard.

10: How did you learn Korean? It seems you can do basic conversation.
Nakamaru: I studied with a book that Kusanagi [member of SMAP] wrote. I almost memorized the entire book.
Kamenashi: I asked the staff and have watched Korean movies and dramas. That's how I learned the words 'promise' and 'oppa [Korean term females use to refer to males a few years older than them].' It had left an impression on me because I heard it a lot in movies and dramas but it was only later on that I found out that it's used when females call men a few years older than them.

10: Is there a particular movie or drama that you remember?
Kamenashi: Dramas such as "IRIS" and "Couple and Trouble."
Tanaka: I had more opportunities to watch movies. "A Moment to Remember" left an impression on me. I've also watched "Stairway to Heaven" and "Shining Inheritance."
Tatsuya Ueda: I fell in love with Han Hyo-joo after watching "Shining Inheritance" so I really want to meet her. (laugh)

10: Korean actors sometimes appear in Japanese dramas. Is there a particular role you would like to try playing if you got to appear in a drama or movie made in Korea?
Ueda: I would be happy with just even getting a role but I guess it would be better doing a drama where I have a female actress to work with rather than one with just men.

10: Do you know any of the Korean singers who are pursuing singing careers in Japan?
Tanaka: There are a huge number of Korean singers in Japan but Big Bang, TVXQ and Rain are popular.
Nakamaru: I know 4minute well.
Kamenashi: We recorded on Mnet's "M! CountDown" today and I told myself, 'Oh I know them!' when I saw 4minute waiting to go on stage after us. (laugh)

10: What can your Korean fans expect to see at your concert? Most of them have probably only seen your performances on video.
Kamenashi: This is our first time performing on a stage in Korea so we don't know how much we'll be able to move yet. We have a lot of things planned but we're going to try to get as close to our fans as possible -- from the first row to the last row. And the atmosphere will also change depending on how enthusiastically our fans cheer for us so we ask for your help in that respect.
Junnosuke Taguchi: I think we'd be getting a lot of help from them because our Korean fans study Japanese very hard. I too will prepare so that I'll be able to say simple phrases or hello in Korean.
Kamenashi: More than anything, we believe we'll be able to become one with the fans through our music. I think we'll be able to communicate through expressions or motions so even if we can't speak your language, I think we'll do this [forms the shape of a heart with arms].

Reporter : Choi Ji-Eun five@
Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@