Jin Akanishi Press conference (translation)

オリ☆スタ(Ori-suta)

28/02/2011, No8-1578

Q: I would like to ask you, Akanishi-kun, to make the announcement.

Akanishi: My first single to be released in the US has been decided.

Q: You look like the President today.

Akanishi: Yeah, isn’t it amazing!

Q: It is amazing.  Were you the stage director today, Akanishi-san?

Akanishi: No (laughs).  Um, they were the ones who got it together for me.  It…feels good.

Q: (laughs)  Surely you must be having some sentimental feelings about your first single, but you’ve also been able to meet a very special person, is that right.

Akanishi: Ohh, yes.  I’m hoping to release an album by autumn though.  But while I was choosing songs for it, the guys at Warner gave me a demo song to listen to, and we talked about it, and chose Jason Derulo’s song.  Then he said he liked it after listening to a recording.

Q: What’s the song like?

Akanishi: We’re still making it and I think there’ll be a few changes on the way so I can’t say too much…but it’s probably going to be a pop song.  I’m working with a producer called J.R. Rotem at the moment too.

Q: So it is a collaboration.

Akanishi: It’ll be a collaboration between Jason Derulo and me.

Q: I understand your dreams are coming true one at a time now, but did you ever imagine it going this smoothly?

Akanishi: I feel like I’ve been working towards this, or that I happened to end up here.

Q: Is it beginning to be all you had hoped for?

Akanishi: I want to work in places all across the world so I feel like I’m taking the first step.

Q: Your first step.

Akanishi: My first step.

Q: What did you think of Jason’s work?  He’s amazing isn’t he.

Akanishi: I didn’t know he was 21, I thought he was older than me so when I heard he was 21 I was like, “what!”.  And he was a nice guy in person too so…it was a double surprise for me (laughs).

Q: No third surprise?

Akanishi: I think my third surprise is coming soon.

Q: Did you get along with him?

Akanishi: It was okay.  We talked about things.

Q: I’ve noticed everyone is “J” something.

Akanishi: J.R. Rotem, Jason, Jin…oh right.

Q: And Johnny-san.

Akanishi: Oh yeah, and Johnny-san.  That’s right.

Q: You went on exchange for six months but were you able to learn a lot of English?

Akanishi: The same as everybody else I think.

Q: How did you study?

Akanishi: Talk.  As much as possible!  And ask when I didn’t get something.

Q: What’s your advice when it comes to studying.

Akanishi: Ehhh!  You’re asking the wrong person.  I’m the one who’d like to know if there’s a good way of studying.

Q: Where will be your home now?

Akanishi: I’m not sure at all.  My schedule gets planned at short notice.  But I’d like to stay at the place where I’m working, and then go home to Japan…something like that.

Q: So you will work in Japan too.

Akanishi: Japan is my foundation so, yes.

Q: Now, Kis-My-Ft2 who used to be back dancers for KAT-TUN just got news about their debut…

Akanishi: Ooh!  I heard about that.  I heard about it!!  I heard about it just before.

Q: They got told during their concert yesterday, but what did you think?

Akanishi: Oh yes.  We were just talking about how good it was.

Q: If you could say something?

Akanishi: I’ve got nothing to say (laughs).

Q: Whereas KAT-TUN took five years (from their formation) to debut, Kis-My-Ft2 took seven.  It’s the longest period a group’s been in Jr. before their debut.

Akanishi: Oh, the number of years they were in Jr.  Ohhhhh.  (extended silence)  What!?

Q: (laughs)  But being in Jr. for five years must’ve been tough.

Akanishi: I mean, we never thought of things like that…like debuting.

Q: If you could send them a congratulations message.

Akanishi: Congratulations…actually, I think I’ll call Kitayama since I know him quite well.  I happened to talk to him yesterday but he didn’t mention anything about it.  Then I heard about the news before and I was like, “whaaat”.  Oh, wait, it wasn’t yesterday, it was the day before yesterday.

Q: They got given an envelope on stage that had a letter inside saying they were going to debut.  Apparently they had no idea until that moment.

Akanishi: That’s Johnny’s entertainment for you (laughs).

Q: Who do you want to thank right now?

Akanishi: Everyone.  Of course my fans, staff, family, friends.  Everyone.

Q: Can you send them all a message, please.

Akanishi: Ummm, please continue to support me in the future!

Q: …isn’t there something else you should be announcing?  Are you alright?

Akanishi: Oh, yes yes yes!  My DVD! …will be released on May 4th, “Yellow Gold Tour” will be available on DVD so please check it out.  Could you squeeze that in, please.  Just so it comes right in after the message to my fans part.  Cut out the stuff in between.

Q: No, we’ll put all of it in (laughs)

Akanishi: (laughs) Okay, thank you very much.