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wauta · 6 years ago

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Yuta’s Full Interview Men’s Non-no

The pioneer of Japanese K-pop Artist, We Ask NCT 127′s Yuta

K-pop continues to win fans across Asia and all over the world. Men’s Non-no notices NCT 127, a boy group that consists of multinational members, including Japanese, and is outstanding for their music, fashion, and overwhelming performance! Following last summer articles, Yuta’s first exclusive interview is happened. He told us all about it right after his performance in his own home town, Osaka, where he was still excited.

Spent his childhood in Osaka and encounter with K-pop

Q. What made you wanted to go to Korea and be active in K-pop’s world?

I, always played soccer when I was in my hometown, Osaka. Since I was a kid, I’m the type who is active, and I was running around with my friends from morning until night. I played soccer hard, but when I became a junior high school student, I’m worried with my future. In that situation, I watched TVXQ senior in TV and I was shocked, thinking they’re so cool! Their powerful performance is amazing. I thought that I want to be like that. I was 14 years old. My mother was a fan, so I had DVDs at home, but I felt that I thought it was good because I met something naturally rather than being recommended.

Q. Were your interest changed from soccer?

My sisters (both older and younger) were doing dance, music was familiar to me since the beginning. Perhaps there was a base because I listened and felt it on a daily basis

Q. On the previous interview, you said that you read Men’s Non-no?

Yes! I had a friend who wanted to be a model when I was in middle and high school. I used to read it with them.

Q. How was the story until you actually jumped into K-Pop world?

I went to Korea in the age of 16. I decided to go to Korea as the trainee after passing the audition that was held by SM Entertainment, where I belong now, in Japan. Because I didn’t understand Korean at all, I remembered that I learned hard by sticking papers that I wrote Korean words on the toilet’s wall for about a month to go. I thought that I had to do everything I could. It’s completely self-taught.

Q. When was the timing you consult with your family?

Ah, I took the audition in secret. After I passed it, I told my parents, “I want to go to Korea”, and my mother is surprised somehow… and I saw my father’s crying figure for the first time. Maybe I was lonely living apart. I was so absorbed in those days that I couldn’t remember much. I also didn’t tell my sisters about it. I was embarrassed because I was in puberty (laugh). I was checking the audition magazine alone.

Q. And the power you have developed by yourself is connected to now

Yes. If I have something I want to do, I think I definitely need to do it. But, I wasn’t confident, and I felt like trying a challenge for the time being. If there’s a great audition, I’d like to take to the entertainment where my favorite artist exists. I was really nervous. I’m still nervous when I remember it (laugh). It was my first time doing it.

Aiming for debut and rough days

Q. It’s a tough world that it’s not always possible for trainees to debut, right?

Looking back, everyday I worked hard for myself, singing or dancing, feeling, “It’s really best for me to make my debut!”. I think there were many things that I was only thinking about myself. But, I realized this first tour after debut, there are fans and we’re here, so I want to deliver a better performance. That way of thinking is different from my trainee days.

Q. Did you learn Korean in the same time with the lesson?

I remember it naturally during lesson. In the beginning, I had conversations with an interpreter application in my smartphone. There were times where I get confused when it’s translated strangely. Hahaha (laugh)

Q. It feels like you’re positive although you’ve had a hard time

I’m doing what I like, of course there’s a difficult thing as well, but it’s fun. And I rarely feel homesick. I didn’t want to go home in the middle of the way, but it was nice, really.

Facing debut

Q. What was your particular effort?

What I really thought about was how to express my opinion and thought to others. I think there’s many ways to do this but how can I make a strong argument and agree with the others while respecting them. It’s not a language difference, it’s how to convey my view and feeling. It’s not a problem what language you can or can’t speak, it’s “Is it understandable”. When I make something, whether music or concert, I talk a lot with people I work with. I think I have to stick to my opinions when I have something I want to do. On the other hand, I think it’s necessary to communicate with someone because I have to accept their opinions properly and not make it alone.

Q. Your great effort besides dancing and singing?

The most important thing is to polish dancing and singing, plus it’s really important to interact with people.

Q. Did you learn how to show yourself?

I think you can express yourself only if you know yourself well. Fashion is also the same. I have opportunities to work with awesome creators and artists, but as I talked to them, I could understand what kind of person I am. I think it’s impossible to create our own color unless we do self-analysis, so first rethink what do you want to see and how do you want to be seen. But it’s not until recently I started to think like that. After debut, I looked at myself objectively and thought, “something is wrong, why do I want to look more like this?” I think that kind of experience is important.

Q. What do you think your strength as an artist you’ve found out?

I think my dancing and singing are still not there yet, but I want to challenge more, and I think it means that I have confidence. I think I can build up my confident, if I have it, I’ll do my best to show it to everyone. Please look forward to it.

Q. What’s the best thing about making debut?

I was looking for… after all, can I have a concert. This year in January we had our first solo concert., and I felt that I could back to the beginning or remember during debut days. I think it’s turned out to be the best turning point for us.

NCT 127’s charms that Yuta thinks

Q. NCT 127 is steadily increasing the numbers of areas of their activity and fans.

I think that our personality and the core of our strength is always challenging. It’s open minded on music and fashion. I think it’s great that the members are multinational as well. We talk to everyone that we want challenge all genres and we want to become the team that create trends. That’s why we change our concept every time we release a song. There’s no such a thing like stopping because we’re not like them.

Q. Your sound is always at the forefront, it’s like you’re spreading your antenna

It’s because we’re multinational. I ask about Korean music information and to members from U.S. and Canada about what’s popular in the U.S. or other English-speaking countries. The detailed genre are also different so we can ask someone in the team, like R&B and hip-hop is Mark and pop general is Johnny. Yes, you can ask everything! (laugh) I also thought about Japanese trends. We’re so blessed with environment that opens with no barriers, including good teamwork.

Q. Chain, that became Japan’s debut, was symbolizing it. The message is also in the lyrics, “let’s connect beyond the border.”

Right. I performed with feeling to connect the empathy from Seoul to Tokyo, to the world. I hope all the Men’s Non-no readers listen to it and watch the dance as well.

Q. Anyway, what kind of music that you listen by yourself?

I listen to many kinds of genre. Because I like it rather than studying. Kanye West, Sam Smith, Bruno Mars… I also listen to Japanese songs, I like back number. Among Japanese rappers, I like BAD HOP the most. I also recommended it to Taeyong who is in charge of rap.

Q. What’s the important thing for the group when you work up for performance?

It’s teamwork. For example, when the person in the middle sings and the person near them did a flashy move, there’s a possibility that people will look to there. I’m aware not only of my own highlight, but also other members. I think it’s interesting that the members understand each other good points and each person’s special skill is different.

Q. What praise that Yuta got from other members?

It’s embarrassing (laugh). I was told that my character is cheerful. They said my performance is good, but everyone is so kind… but sometimes it’s pointed out. Taeyong, the leader, has a great sense of how to show on the stage. He said something that can be used as reference, such as, “Yuta, it would be nice if this time choreography is a little bit like this” or “if you try the expression like this”. Even after the completion of such interactions between members, we communicate to each other and we constantly revise it. In my case, I change my gesture a little every time. It’s different each time.

NCT 127’s activities overseas

Q. It’s become a big topic where NCT 127 also made debut in U.S., performed in Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and the only Asian who was invited to Mickey Mouse 90th Anniversary Concert. The first Asian artist who gets featured in Apple Music Up Next and several celebrities posted their photos with NCT 127 in SNS when they attended American Music Award.

It was truly an exciting experience. I went from Japan to Korea and even performing in America… I couldn’t imagine it. It feels like our music is accepted in various places. We also learnt about cultural differences. But, fans’ feelings are the same in every country. Though there’s slight difference on the way they sing. Then, English is hard. Although I remember the phrases, the pronunciation is quite (hard). Before recording, i was taught by the members who can speak English. I asked them, “say it slowly!” then I recorded it in smartphone’s voice memo and I listened it repeatedly (laugh). As I thought, it’s easy for Japanese (language) to express a little feeling, but I enjoy singing in various language. From now on, I want to go and work in various countries more.

Q. What Yuta wants (fans) to pay attention on the first Japan tour?

I want you to pay attention to everything (laugh), but it’s a bit acrobatic. I practiced a lot! Also, I think our song has strong image of dance performance but this time we’re challenging from medium tempo to full-scale ballad. I want people to enjoy different expressions for different songs.

Q. You’re leading MC in Japan tour, right?

Yes! But I was helped by other members. They’re working hard on their Japanese. Because it’s Japan, maybe everyone understands the pressure I feel. I can do my best with gratitude. It’s NCT 127’s charms that we understand the importance of words because we’re multinational. Even if there are things that don’t convey well, our bound will become stronger because we try to understand it. Please pay attention that I’m worried with the details, like whether our costumes are conceptual or there’s a tribute to certain age, or whether to take the string that attached to my shirt (laugh)

Expressing myself with fashion

Q. It’s interview with Men’s Non-no, so we’re going talk about fashion

Ah it’s coming~ (laugh). I, usually wear bucket hat, right? Even when I was dancing, I wear it as well and it becomes my trademark. As for styling, because I dance, I’m standing in front of mirror and trying to move casually. It’s important to know whether I look cool or not.

Q. I think you often wear luxurious brand’s items, but have you found your favorite item?

Recently, it’s fluorescent color! Today’s sneakers are like that too, but I want to challenge more. It looks attractive on the stage. I even think like, “you look good on me, right?” (laugh)

Q. What do you want to wear for spring?

Oversize coat. I want to wear it with slightly bigger feeling. Since I’m turning 24 years old this year, with calm atmosphere like an adult, I even wet my hair. Ah, I’m reading Men’s Non-no (laugh)

Q. What’s the difference between performance and work like today’s photoshoot in fashion?

I think I’m pretty connected. Because when I see people wearing cool clothes, I think like, “wow! They’re artists”. I think it’s close to equality between making performance and coordination. It can be expressed with both of them because they have their own feeling and sense. In fashion photoshoot, it’s very close to when dancing, to show the exact momentary facial expressions and movements.

Q. What would Yuta ask to the readers of Men’s Non-no?

When deciding on coordinating clothes, I want to ask everyone what’s going to be your factor to decide it. Today I had a moment where I was like, “ah, I’d better to wear a ring.” If you think, why do you think like that? It means you’re interested. Because I think each person has it.

Spreading out future’s dreams

Q. The future goal of Yuta, who is making his dream come true?

I would like to do concert at bigger venue and visit 47 prefectures! I want to give more gratitude to those people who are waiting for me. There are times where I want to tell you something, but the it doesn’t come out instantly. It makes me think later like, “Why can’t I tell this story…?” That’s why I want to tell them from Hokkaido to Okinawa.

Q. Last, tell something to your 16 year old self who decided to go from Japan to Korea?

Get through your problems, you can grow up more.