Elle Japan 2013 Nov.
At the seaside 2-hour trip from Seoul.
JaeJoong has been composing for his album till late at night (before the interview). He’s been sleeping on the way here and just woke up after noon time. Appearing at the site filled with the Korean language, he said in Japanese ‘Konichiwa’ and I replied without thinking in Japanese, ‘Konichiwa’. It’s been long since JaeJoong last spoke Japanese.
I’ve asked JaeJoong to bring a book he’s recently been reading and what he brought here was Richard Carlson’s ‘What About the Big Stuff’. (It’s a gift from fans. It’s difficult to explain what the contents are. It’s about life, but not to describe life as heavy/burdensome. With the book as the starting point, we started out photo shoot. The interview was done all in Japanese, as requested by JaeJoong.
ELLE (E): It’s been long time since you last accepted to be included in a Japanese magazine?
JaeJoong (J): Yes, it’s also been a long time since I last had an interview in Japanese. I haven’t been speaking Japanese for long as well.
E: You have quite a few Japanese friends so you should be using Japanese for your phone calls?
J: I don’t like to talk on the phones but I do use Japanese when I text my friends through line and Kakaotalk.
E: You’re coming to Japan in November and you’ve started your activities in Japan this year, JYJ in April, and your solo concert in June.
J: We were very nervous for the April Tokyo Dome concert, especially during the first day. We did not have enough preparation time within the tight schedule. We were also worried how many fans would attend since it was held during weekdays and fans had to take leaves to come from anywhere in Japan…(small voice) sorry. It has been a really long time so I was afraid that the fans would forget me. It was great that so many fans came.
E: What do you have for your new album and the concerts?
J: Although I have had a mini album, a full album of rock music is a first time thing and it is also my first time holding a solo concert for an album. What could it be like? Compared to concerts being prepared from the director’s point of view, I have more freedom in preparing my concerts this time. It was a pity that all of the songs in this album are in Korean. I’d love to sing in Japanese, especially in Japan…although I did sing five or six songs in Japanese at the Yokohama Arena. However, I could not help but accept the fact that my Japanese is deteriorating since I haven’t been speaking Japanese. I have some expectations of this trip to Japan, shopping, and visiting friends.
E: What would you talk about with your Japanese friends?
J: Nothing meaningful (laughs). Eat and drink together and talk about trivial things. There are several people that I want to see other than my close friends but we won’t be talking about anything related my job.
E: What are you enthusiastic about?
J: Composing and lyric writing. I have written most of the lyrics for this album. When you write lyrics, isn’t it very likely that you’d recall many pieces of memory? The theme is love. When you meet someone, you fall for him or her and then you are deeply in love. Then you leave each other after some time. I have written all I have experienced about love into the lyrics, be it happiness or pain, even though not all of the lyrics are based on my experiences (laughs). I think that as long as I am honest in writing the lyrics, I can be able to express my feelings. I put my mind together, thinking that I’d write for a song or two, like assigning homework for myself. For those songs that I compose both melodies and lyrics, it would be melodies first then lyrics, and the melodies would be composed with piano.
E: Are you preparing for development in both singing and acting careers?
J: Yes, in fact, I am more myself when I make music. Being an actor is like trying hard to ‘make’ feelings/emotions. That is what acting is and it is interesting to me.
E: If you were not a singer, what would you be?
J: ….that’s a very difficult question. I don’t know…Since what I like is cooking, design, painting and interior design, I’d probably go into these fields, and beauty.
E: What types of cuisine are you good at cooking?
J: I enjoy making tasty food with very few ingredients. I want others to make exclamations like, ‘Such delicious food can be made with so few ingredients!’ I don’t use ingredients according to recipes and I can cook good food with almost nothing. Doesn’t that show my talents in cooking (laughs)? I’d cook when I am at home alone. I’d also make simple dishes when friends visit. I hate waiting for food to be ready when I’m hungry. (laughs). That is why I try my best to make good food for my friends in a very short time. For instance, I’d cook noodles first and then add chili paste, sugar, vinegar and then use clams as garnish. Ah, it’s such pity that there aren’t that kind of clam in Japan. The dish would look like noodles without soup and with clams as garnish is my own recipe.
E: Do Yuchun and Junsu go to your place?
J: Not recently. We have been concentrating on living our own lives at the moment but we did go to each other’s place before.
E: How would you introduce your members to others?
J: I can’t show others my members as I see them because we have different images when we are with our members and when we are in front of others. If someone speaks ill of our members, I can’t help but saying, ‘What do you know about him? If you know nothing, why don’t you shut up?’ I am very different as well when I am with my members. I become really talkative, to the extent that you can consider as ‘noisy’. People around us wonder why we have so many things to talk about since we’ve been together for ten years or so since we first met.
E: Do the three of you have disputes when you work?
J: No. We have clearly expressed what we like and dislike and all of us know.
E: So what is JaeJoong good and bad at?
J: (thinking…) For instance, I’ve heard people saying that ‘JaeJoong is definitely indifferent to others’ and after we met, they would then say, ‘I’m surprised to know how JaeJoong can chat’. I’m quite proud of this. (People think that) I spend a lot on my what I eat? Actually, I eat ramen, katsudon, food that is not over 1000 yen in Japan (laughs)! I am the kind of person who can be friends with people around in a very short time. My weakness is….I don’t know how to reject others. I won’t turn down friends’ invitations even if I have to get up early the next day morning. When we go drinking and I feel that I have to go, I can’t say that I want to go home if friends look like having a really good time. (laughs).
E: So what do you do when you are drunk?
J: My Japanese becomes really fluent! What we human beings can do are amazing. I’d realize..eh…I know this vocabulary?
E: Even though you drink, you have a fit body. Do you work out?
J: I’m the kind of person who doesn’t get fat easily. I go on a diet before photo shoots. I go running three times a week but I consider running as a way for me to sweat a lot instead of as self management (on weight and figure). Basically, what I do for sports are golf, mountain climbing, biking, and basketball and I do sports when I’m free of schedules.
E: Is there anytime that JaeJoong is free?
J: Do you think I’m so busy that I don’t even have time to get in contact with friends? I don’t think I’m busy to that extent.
E: What is your way to reduce your stress?
J: Shopping, shopping for interior decorations. I enjoy decorating my house. I think I’m a bit …(it’s hard for me to say it out loud) paranoid. I can’t bear seeing things not neatly put into place, even just a little out of order. I don’t like my house to be untidy and disorderly. You’d like to go out if you have bought good-looking clothes, wouldn’t you? It’s the same. If your home is clean and tidy, you’d want to go home everyday and you’d feel freshened up. When you get really tired, it’s annoying that you have to do cleaning when you get home.
E: Where would you go for a personal trip?
J: Honestly, Japan. Although there are many countries that I would love to go, I really want to go to Japan now. There are many good friends and I had memories there when we were rookies. I’d like to stroll on the streets that are filled with those memories.
E: Is there anyone that has influenced your life or your career?
J: Personal or job-wise, there are people whom I have only met once that stimulate or inspire me, bringing small or big influences.
E: What is your favorite phrase?
J: There are two: Thank you (Arigato) and Sorry (Sumimasen). The Japanese culture of ‘sumimasen’ is great. ‘Sumimasen’ is a good phrase to be used when you feel sorry, when you do something impolite or even when you feel grateful. There is nothing like this in Korean.
E: How do you recover from feeling depressed?
J: Just let the feelings go and you’d recover as time passes. Just patiently wait for the moment to come.
E: What would you be after ten years’ time?
J: I’d be single after ten years.
E: So certain?
J: Yes, I will still be working around for all sorts of reasons like what I do now.
E: Don’t you have any thoughts of getting married or having kids?
J: …I’ve just been thinking about these recently. I’d like to get married and have kids! But…just as expected, this may be my destiny, can’t get married early. I am being loved by so many people. Isn’t betrayal If I get married? It’s all right for all of you. Go get married and have kids. It’s important to have heroes or super stars that belong only to oneself. I believe I should take on such responsibility. You can all get married but I can’t. Isn’t this a good idea? Although discussion of life and death is quite heavy, I think I should not die before you. There may be people who can’t live without JaeJoong and that’s why I should take on such responsibility.
E: Oh, but it should be alright if you get married ten years later.
J: Um? I’d still have this awareness ten years later. The responsibility also entails taking care of my appearance. There are people who like the image of JaeJoong so if I age more than my fans or wrinkles appear…I asked on my Japan concert this year, ‘Have I changed?’ They said, ‘Nothing changed!’ Then I asked, ‘You’re all getting older!’ (laughs). It is alright for you to get older. I will grow old slowly.
E: What is your type of girl?
J: It doesn’t matter if she is not bright and smart. (Korean) As long as she is not someone with violent personality. It is 粗暴(sobou=rude) in Japanese right? Am I S or M? Perhaps I change according to my partner (laughs).
E: Has your heart been moved recently?
J: ….Yes. My staff has been working really hard for me. Recently, pictures were taken of my private life and the incident caused a lot of troubles to the staff. I thought that I shouldn’t even go to convenience stores because of this incident. I should just stop running daily errands and should diminish my sense of presence. After apologizing to my staff, they told me, ‘It isn’t JaeJoong’s fault.’ I cried even though we were at work.
E: Lastly, can you leave a message for the Japanese fans? (Manager says, ‘How about writing ‘sumimasen’?’ and everyone laughs.)
J: Very funny (laughs)…It’s meaningless to say things like I’m sorry to keep you waiting. Our relationship transcends that. So, I’d write something fans around the world would like!
(He then writes a message that everyone’s familiar with and everyone’s waiting for.)
‘I love you.’
Source: Elle Japan Magazine via BoingboingJae
Translated by: Mandragore of JYJ3
Shared by: JYJ3
Aww, I feel like he’s a bit lonely… And I guess they must be really busy, since they don’t visit each other as more. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like for them to live together again 😀
I’m kind of sad that he sees himself single in 10 years’ time. I think he deserves to have somebody special love him and cherish him…
Baby Jae, fighting! Elle Japan, thank you so much for this interview! And thanks to JYJ3 and Mandragore for sharing this with us!
*they don’t visit each other any more as much as they used to
I hope before military and during it they have more time for each other.. Now, maybe because they all know they be listed soon after Asiad Game 2014, all of them are working very hard on their solo projects…
Everybody for the best comeback October 2013, Jae has fallen far behind Ukiss.. Please help to vote… Ukiss now 22,000 over votes and Jae only have 17,000 over votes… Please vote as you can vote as many as you can..
http://www.mtvk.com/blog-posts/poll-best-comeback-october-2013/#pd_a_7524293 … …
Yeah, for each other and for their families) But honestly, I didn’t expect to hear that he’s not seeing Yoochun and Junsu as much as he used to, especially Yoochun, who is like his soulmate (and I really think they are, it’s not just a couple name).
YC is busy with the movie filming !! JS with his musical and before with his concerts !! they met in Vietnam tho ^^ and he seemed so happy seeing them !!
I have a feeling that by recently JJ means the last few months (when YC hadn’t started filming), but that’s just my opinion… Exactly, because he seemed so happy to see them, it’s strange to me why they’re not spending more time together since they all love each other))
But Soulmates do meet once a month for croissants and coffee at Le Alaska …haha……
Even if they don’t meet, I’m sure they text each other or talk over the phone.
Living alone can be lonely Jae…. unlike Chun and Junsu who have family with them.
I hope Jae finds someone special. Get married, have kids.
The JYJ members have their own busy solo activities, so it’s really normal they won’t meet up as frequently as fans would expect. I have close friends i don’t meet up with often, but when we do, it’s like we’ve never been apart. I think it’s this way with the guys, always comfortable and secure in their friendship 🙂
Oh, people, you don’t really understand what I’m trying to say… He seems kind of lonely, which is why I wish he spent more times with his dongsaengs… that’s all 😀 I know that they’re busy, especially Junsu, who hops from one project to another one, or does hundreds of things simultaneously)
You guys are missing some of what he said. They were only talking about going to each other’s houses, visiting each other’s home. Not seeing each other period. So basically he just said they don’t go to each other’s house as much as they used. This sounds fine to me, cause I have some friends who we hardly ever go to each other’s house, we just meet up and eat and hang out.
@Erica, exactly. In my original post that’s what I was pointing towards – them not visiting each other. I’m not saying they don’t see each other, but gathering with your friends at home is different than being in public, you can be more relaxed and you know… talk about intimate stuff, go crazy etc))
@bloodymidnightsun
Oops i didn’t mean to offend. My comment was more to express my concern that people might equate their not meeting up often as something wrong with their relationship. Of course you could be right about the loneliness part, we all know Jaejoong is a people-person. Hopefully when they are less busy with solo activities they will get to spend more time together.
Don’t worry. I don’t get offended that easily 😀 And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with their rel., in fact I think they became even closer, despite being so busy. I was thinking more along the lines that they must really miss each other, taking into account the long years they’ve spent in one another’s company 24/7. It’s hard to go from living with somebody to living alone (from my own experience). And, I worry that JJ is lonely and doesn’t really talk about it with his BFFs (he tends to hols things in, he’s said so himself).
*hold things in
@bloodymidnightsun
Actually more than anything i hope Jae finds a nice girl to date and eventually settle down. It’s sad that he feels he has to remain single so as not to ‘betray’ his fans’ love for him. But i’m glad he has strong family support, so until the right girl comes along, i hope he will continue to rely on them and his close friends/bros.
‘If someone speaks ill of our members, I can’t help but saying, ‘What do you know about him? If you know nothing, why don’t you shut up?’’
yeah tell them JJ!
So much sacrifice Jae… Just do whatever you like… We will still love you..
The bit about him thinking he has to belong to his fans was a bit disturbing. I hoped it was a joke.
hopefully he wasn’t serious or he’ll change his mind about that in time because really … he belongs to no one but himself.
this kind of logic is why just news about celebs dating lowers their popularity massively or in some cases run them .
I want to tell jaejoong not to think like that but …. unfortunately that’s the ” world” he lives in and it’s the same for Japan .
Yah, that’s the sad reality in Korea and Japan. See what happened to Jin Akanishi and also recently, Chunnie.
It’s sad how quickly Yoochun had to refute the news about he’s dating that golfer. Gosh…In my opinion she’s awesome. Pretty, professional golfer from wealthy family (her family has a mini golf field in their house!!). Just like Chunnie she spent her younger years in an English speaking country (she’s a member of New Zealand national golf team in her early teenage years). I always admire women who make a living doing sport, it’s so against stereotype. I’d rather see Chunnie dating an athlete rather than a celebrity. She would be perfect for him. She’s a master in sport that Chunnie loves to do. She has her own name and career in totally different field. Nobody could accuse her of being a social climber. But yeah, reality slapped him hard on the face.
Sorry for ranting about Yoochun. But that’s a case that close to home about this celebrity culture in SK.
@ fineday500
I know this is not Chunnie’s post but I had to reply you.
About that scandal, Chunnie himself said he was baffled over it.
1) It could be true 2) Someone trying to bring him down 3) The girl’s mgt is involved.
There was some speculation that the Girl’s management was involved and using the opportunity to create publicity for the girl. True enough she was all over the news. If it is true, then all I can say is ….. what a DESPICABLE act by her mgt. Using JYJ boys is just a big fat NO. The day it happened, JYJ was going to Vietnam. Chunnie was all smiles at the airport… which was really UNUSUAL. He had to show that the scandal didnt affect him.
I think the only way to break fans protest over idols dating is for all the idols to start dating whoever and whenever they want. If everyone is doing it, fans will eventually accept it as normal. A stark constrast …… in America, their publicity team deliberately ‘fix’ relationships between celebrities to create publicity for them.
Jae’s comment abt marriage must be after that pic scandal. I don’t know why he feels he has that responsibility towards fans. By the time he is 35yrs or older, fans will probably feel differently abt his single status. Well, hopefully. Seeing him living alone, I just wish he has a family with him…. wife and lots of cute kids.
@nyc That’s what I don’t understand about this. Why every time an idol dates, the person he dates always been accused of using the idol to gain popularity? No wonder those idols (including Jae) always so afraid to date anyone.
As a fan I would be glad to see my JYJ boys enjoying happy normal life including dating. I long to see Yoochun, Junsu and Jaejoong dating. They are nearly 30 (I cringe when I remember this.. Nearly 30 and never date is…..sad) When I read the news about Yoochun dating that golfer, I was excited and very happy for him. My immediate reaction was “it’s about time!”. And the girl is a professional golfer too. The sport that Chunnie enjoy so much. I smile when I imagine how happy they would be, to have a sweet date in the golf course, happily playing sport both of them love. If only people would leave them alone.
I want the same happiness for Jaejoong and Junsu too. But with the public (fans) hostility towards idols who are dating, they would be afraid to do so.
I also don’t understand why dating is called a scandal? As long as both parties are adult and single, dating is a perfectly normal human activity. Sigh…
T_T E: Has your heart been moved recently?
J: ….Yes. My staff has been working really hard for me. Recently, pictures were taken of my private life and the incident caused a lot of troubles to the staff. I thought that I shouldn’t even go to convenience stores because of this incident. I should just stop running daily errands and should diminish my sense of presence. After apologizing to my staff, they told me, ‘It isn’t JaeJoong’s fault.’ I cried even though we were at work.
Thank you so much for translating !!!
Didn’t really know that the pictures caused a lot of trouble !!! T_T
what picture is that??
i am sorry i am not aware and I am curious
:)))
About the picture, it must the one of him in a cafe/club with a girl last October. He was sitting very closely next to to a girl and whispering to her ear, spreading rumors that he’s secretly dating. As expected, Cjes was quickly denied and said that the girl was his sister (LOL, I don’t believe it). Or it might be that picture of a beautiful Chinese actress hugging the huge gorilla doll (Rilala!) in his house that also creating a dating scandal.
what picture??? i am sooo clueless rite now..
everything seems to cause trouble for idols ….they can’t get a break .
Awww Jae get married, have kids, life is too short! We will love you anyways!
Be happy and we will be happy with you! 🙂
agreed.
yup life is too short..
go get girl and married, jae! have kids! even if jae got married i will still love his music and his talent!
he’s really good person but always put others before himself.. so he sacrifice a lot.. because of it, sometimes i feel sorry towards him.. pray for his happiness..
and i wonder about the pics incident.. what about it..
Can someone please explain this to me !!! isn’t (Miyane) sorry in korean ? how come he says “The Japanese culture of ‘miyane’ is great.” when it’s korean !!
J: There are two: Thank you (arigato) and Sorry (Miyane). The Japanese culture of ‘miyane’ is great. ‘Miyane’ is a good phrase to be used when you feel sorry, when you do something impolite or even when you feel grateful. There is nothing like this in Korean.
isn’t it “gomen” ?!
There are a few way of saying sorry in Japanese (Gomenasai, sumimasen) just like in Korean (Mianhae, Chohasamnida), therefore I think what the author meant is that the Sorry he mentioned is the Japanese equivalent of Mianhae.
*ways
I love each of the JYJ members; tho Jae is not my bias^^ Through out his interviews, I find him to be a very deep and caring man; so much so that he would sacrifice his own happiness for fans!!! I do understand where he’s coming from, but I would also ask of him not to sacrifice his personal life beyond what is reasonable. I can only wish for him to find a lasting love<3 Thank You to all who made this interview possible 😀
We love you to our silly boy.
I think the picture he mean in this interview is the picture of him with a girl. Even if i am a jaejoong fan, i don’t think it his sister really. But i really don’t care if it’s his girl too. As long as he’s happy, i’m ok with it. But anyways, they already solved that case but telling the public it’s his sister.
Reblogged this on sound0fmyheart.
“Am I S or M?”
What is ‘S’, what is ‘M’?
Now I know.
Admin, please remove this post and the one above. THANKS!
i guess S means sadist and M means masochistic
those eyes…..
Reblogged this on -Jung YunYun-.
I said before that Jaejoong works for fans not for himself, this interview verified. Jaejoong takes responsibility as idol which includes keeping good image, keeping single status .We are not request him to do that, but he takes upon on his own. I love that part of him.
Reblogged this on Say It Like You Mean It!.
(Korean) As long as she is not someone with violent personality.
he meant it’s fine if she’s Korean as long as she don’t have violent personality ? someone explain it to me plz .
About the picture, it must the one of him in a cafe/club with a girl last October. He was sitting very closely next to to a girl and whispering to her ear, spreading rumors that he’s secretly dating. As expected, Cjes was quickly denied and said that the girl was his sister (LOL, I don’t believe it). Or it might be that picture of a beautiful Chinese actress hugging the huge gorilla doll (Rilala!) in his house that also creating a dating scandal.
All in all Jaejoong projects this classic aura of a tortured rock singer, a lonely genius trapped in this world. Like Jim Morisson and Kurt Cobain. And I always fall for those type. Arghhh…..
he needs to gain weight, he’s looking very gaunt
Am I the only one who got that s and m thing as submassive and master? May my mind was tricking me?
No I got it.
Jae you don’t have to stay single for us. I like your music and as long as you keep writing awesome songs I will listen, no matter if you are single or together with someone. Don’t sacrifice that kind of stuff, because life is too short. If you meet the right girl don’t throw it away is all I am trying to say. Who knows it might give you ideas for more music. 🙂
Thanks so much the translation.
You can order the magazine with JJ’s cover at Amazon.com.jp. See below link.
http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4573043241/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_awd_GwJCsb032D9TY
I just ordered to US. Magazine is Yen 743 and shipping is Yen 1200, So, total cost is Yen 1943 which is about $20.
I think that he likes the idea of marriage and children…..it looks good and sounds great but yeah not going there anytime sooner or later. Next time it will be something else or he will sneak and do it.
Convenient romances seems like his cup of tea for the moment……just saying
Reblogged this on Fazzienaz's Journal.
Stay single 10 years from now?!!!!! Oh no, please go and get married JAE, you have my permission & blessings honey 🙂
I want Jaejoong (and Junsu and Yoochun) to be happy. I would never be selfish enough to want him to be lonely for the rest of his life. Its sad that he feels so obligated to people he doesn’t even know…who, themselves, are living their own lives without being ‘faithful’ to him. Its HIS life. He’s a young man who still needs to find out what he likes and dislikes in a woman/girlfriend/wife/whatever. It makes me happy to see them happy.
i luv him more and more after reading this …. i don’t how to choose any words to describe this man …. i just proud of Jaejoong and it is the best chance in my life to be his fanclub …. to know someone with such kind heart
This is such a sweet and touching interview. I felt quite emotional after reading it. It shows you how caring Jaejoong is as a person and he needs that to reciprocated back to him. I’m not talking about Yoochun and Junsu as you can see and feel the love they have for Jaejoong but I mean in general
i just want Jaejoong just to be happy. Maybe it’s because I’m an older fan and not a teenager that i feel this way. He has the right to be happy and to live the way he wants to and be with someone. I don’t want him, Yoochun or Junsu to be single for the rest of their lives.
If we are true fans and care for the members then we would be happy for them no matter what.
i hope that all 3 of them find that special someone in their life.