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mokkoriness · 5 years

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ROCK AND READ vol. 73 - Saga Interview

Photo credit: ROCK AND READ Twitter

On May 27, Saga uploaded a music video to Twitter without warning. It was the "Yukue Shirezu" music video for VOLLAND GUMP, his solo project which he had worked on, without revealing that it was him, while activities as a band had stopped. "Everything is connected". Saga, who says that they found the ideal way for the band to be through leaving the management company they belonged to for many years, re-starting activities as A9, and "IDEAL", the album that was released after having gone back to their roots. He talks about the "now" of A9, who are dashing towards their 13th year anniversary, and his rock and carefree solo work.

So it seems like for this photoshoot, upon your request, you were wrapped in bandages.

Saga: Yes, because to date, I've done quite a lot of things. Won't people not take a look at my section if there isn't anything to make them go "Huh?!". So even though it might be late, I thought to wrap myself in bandages. It's my first time wearing bandages.

Are the bandages wrapped over your naked body?

Saga: I'm not wearing anything on my upper half. Please relax, I am wearing something on my lower half.

(laughs). Even though you just celebrated your birthday (Interview was done in late June), you are still doing this sort of thing (laughs).

Saga: That's right. Even with my birthday, for several years now, I didn't feel happy celebrating it. But for some reason, I felt glad this year. I felt blissful.

Your birthday this year was celebrated with a live show in your hometown, right?

Saga: Yes. This year, I celebrated it in the place I was born. As expected, it was different. The mood. We arrived the day before, and on that night, the members threw a birthday party for me in Kooriyama. For me, that is where my birthday live started.

Does A9 always hold birthday parties?

Saga: For a long time now, we've always done something. Honestly, on that day, I had to do pre-production for a coupling song on the new single. So at the hotel, when I had turned on my computer and was getting ready to work, all of a sudden, they called me out, saying "Let's go out for a drink now!". I said that I'll go meet them in 20 minutes. While thinking "Is it okay to not do the pre-production?", they took me to a Japanese bar. The boss of Kooriyama Hip Shot and even the lighting staff was there, so that's when my feelings had changed, and I thought that it was a good thing I came. I had fun drinking that night.

Did you get any presents from the members?

Saga: I did. I got an Apple TV.

Do you give presents to each other every year?

Saga: If we don't forget. I think a good thing (about A9) is that we properly do this sort of thing. If I were the leader, we definitely wouldn't be doing these things (laughs). Immediately, I would be like "This is a pain in the ass", and distance the members even more. I think a good thing about A9 is that the members are close.

If you were the leader of a band, it wouldn't be like this.

Saga: I don't think it would. I'm AB-type1, so I have my own territory. There's a line that I don't cross. But after 13 years, that line has been infringed upon...... Like having my parent's home exposed.

Huh? What do you mean by that?! Isn't that infringing on you too much?

Saga: It is. On Nico Nico, we used to do a show called "Alice9 Channel". On that show, without me knowing it, they exposed my parent's house. When I saw the footage, he laid on my mum's lap (laughs). And he also took a bath there. He laid on my mum's lap, took a bath, and ate pizza.

He really infringed upon your territory.

Saga: Yes. That's why I got my revenge. I secretly went to Tora's parent's house. I ate the curry that Tora's mum made. Ever since doing that kind of thing, it's been impossible to say things like "This is my territory in the band, so don't come here".

So perhaps you think it is what it is, because they're your fellow members now?

Saga: Perhaps I think it is what it is because since my 20s, I've been running forward with them and spent emotional times together with them. I think that it a big part of it. Also, A9 falls on hard times at just the right moments. Oddly enough, when that kind of thing happens, it's not a time for us where we start fighting. The moments where things won't work out if we don't work hard together comes upon us time and time again. That's why we all get along well. Or rather, we are in unity.

So you fall on tough times at just the right moment.

Saga: That's right. In general, it happens every two years. Bothersome things or big incidents.

So what would be the real strength of A9, who can overcome these difficulties each and every time?

Saga: It would be because we are blessed. I can only think that we have good luck. When we are at times when it really seems like too much, there is always someone there to save us.

Do you mean that someone like a saviour appears?

Saga: Yes. To be honest, we would definitely have not been able to overcome these difficulties just with our own strength. At each every one of those times, there is someone there supporting us. Sometimes us members even talk about it, that we have good luck. That's why when the difficulties have passed, I can think of it as a good thing. I think that including all the tough times we've had up until now, it is all connected for us to be here now. When things don't go well, we can learn from it and grow. Even as a person, I'm not quite sure why, but I feel like I've gotten more capable. So when bad times come, we face the problem without panicking in a manner that suits the occasion.

I felt that the response to A9's first full album "IDEAL", which was worked on concurrently with such rough times, and the tour in conjunction with that, "IDEAL HORIZON", were both something that made the fans extremely happy, like "This is what A9 is!".

Saga: To put it another way, I thought that we had put something out where nothing could be done if it wasn't received well. So I was confident that it would be received well. Because the goal we have as a band is even further beyond that. With that considered, it wasn't a time for us to take a gamble. We all thought it was a time where we should just put out something that was simply good, something that was A9.

So that's why I got the impression that a lot of former fans came back.

Saga: Oh, many people have told us that, that they had recently drifted away but then came back. It makes me happy. But we could only have done that sort of thing now.

Why now?

Saga: We have a route, after all. I think that if it weren't for the 12th anniversary live where we went back to our roots, we would not have been able to do a tour like "IDEAL HORIZON". Before that, last year, we made "LIGHT AND DARKNESS". I think that we were able to return to our roots only after having done the "TRUTH IN LIGHT AND DARKNESS" tour. In that way, everything is connected. After going from one place to the next, it turned out like this. So it's not something that you can aim to do. We have always chosen the path where we think "We can only do this right now".

And what you can only do now is this release, where the members wrote the same amount of songs.

Saga: That was, if I do say so myself, a success. For our band, it wouldn't be enough if I were to just write plenty of songs on my own and tried to write songs in different genres. This is something that I had thought before making the album. In our early days, we all wrote songs in a balanced way. So in that case, I was free to do any bass arrangement I wanted, and thought the fans would find it more interesting to listen to that sort of album.

To date, with you taking the initiative in terms of the music, did the other members come to write songs less?

Saga: I don't know about that. Everyone does write songs, but there is a tendency for me to arbitrarily narrow down the selection. In my mind, I think "This song is not quite right".

When did this start?

Saga: Quite a long time ago, since around "VANDALIZE". But I've gotten tired of doing things that way. I've come to understand that this is not necessarily something that is good for the band. In A9, there can be no chemical reaction if the personality and musicianship of the five of us is not balanced.

Yes! That is exactly right.

Saga: I thought this around the time before we made "MEMENTO". After all, the people that like us want the see this balance.

When there is that balance, the band shines brightly.

Saga: That's right. No matter what kind of excellent music, detailed arrangement, or good sounds we perform with, that is not the scene that people want to see with A9. That is not the biggest weapon we have in our arsenal. In the end, I think that what everyone wants to see is the five of us doing something. In that way, we are like SMAP (laughs).

Just like SMAP, people want to see all five of you shining.

Saga: That's right. Even if only Takuya Kimura were to shine, the SMAP fans would think "This is not right". I think the same applies to us.

What made you realize that?

Saga: For example, when you look at the songs that our fans want to hear, it's all songs that are different from the songs the members are pushing. To us, we're like "You want to hear that song?".

There is mismatch between the songs the members like and the songs the fans like.

Saga: The mismatch was huge. Of course, there were also fans where there was no mismatch. Somehow, for me, I felt discomfort at that mismatch, and thought that we couldn't let it continue. So once again, when I thought about what it is that the ship called A9 wants to ultimately do, I thought that it would be pointless if the band wasn't shining. It's not that one member of the band is cool, it's that all five of us have to be cool. At that time, I realised that sometimes, the fans look at us from an angle that we can't even imagine. They look at the parts of us that are cool and that we don't even notice.

The fans knew of the different types of cool you can be.

Saga: I learned that fans have things that they are particular about, and there are as many favourite angles and many viewpoints as there are fans. So I reached the conclusion that if the five of us shine the most when we are united, then no matter what angle they look at us from, we would be cool.

Until then, it was as if for the music side, you were like "Now we're going to wear mode clothing and show this to everyone. Does it look good?". It's like you were coordinating what A9 would do.

Saga: When you do that and wear the clothes you like, even if people on one side thought it looked very cool, the people on the other side would be like "What's that? It doesn't look good at all". That's why the songs (that people want to hear) are always completely different from my own expectations. Since that mismatch kept getting wider and wider, I realised that it couldn't keep on going like this. That's why for the album "IDEAL", as a result of creating the album with the concept that it had to be something the five of us were involved in, it turned out the way it did.

In that respect, you were able to make something where there was no mismatch between the band and the fans.

Saga: That's right. Even on tour, the members were really liberated. From my position as the bassist, I saw the members performing really energetically.

In actuality, the fans were also happy, saying that on the tour, it had been a long time since they saw a live where the five of you were shining brightly.

Saga: That's right. To me, that's why made me the happiest. I really do think it was a good thing we did that.

So with that momentum, you will be releasing the new single "Re:Born" and rushing towards your 13th anniversary live.

Saga: First of all, regarding the 13th anniversary live, Show had said that our next stage costumes would be red. Then, when we were discussing what to do for the next single, since "MEMENTO" and "IDEAL" had a heavy feeling to it, there were concerns that if we kept going down that road for the next single, then we would be seen as that kind of band, so we talked about departing from that style and making a cheerful song. So I wrote the song. Then after that, there was the opinion that since people are saying that our style now is good, we should keep on going with that style (laughs). It makes you think "Don't screw with me!" (laughs).

That is quite cruel.

Saga: So we had a meeting. We were able to find balance by first showing the cheerful side and then not a cheerful side.

And the cheerful song that you wrote is "Re:Born"?

Saga: Yes.

It's not often that you write a cheerful song.

Saga: That's right, because I'm not good at writing cheerful songs. I'm not good at it, but I can't just leave it at that. If you only use cheerful chords, it's quite disgusting, so I tried to use as many minor chords as I could. As a result, it's a song that has quite a lot of changes. There's even a part where it's like Show is reading poetry. It's a confusing song (laughs). I hope that it's a song that sits well once we try playing it live.

So it's not a song that's straight up cheerful.

Saga: It's not. I can't write a song that is straight up cheerful. There is a part of me that stops me from doing so. Since it's cheerful, I have to do something weird with it. Something inside of me just makes me do that. I'm scared of it, like "Is it okay to write a cheerful song?". You need quite a lot of courage to release a cheerful song in this scene.

Is that so? You need courage?

Saga: At least I do. A part of me does not want to be seen as a cheerful band. I think there is a huge part of my subconscious that would hate it if we released a cheerful song as a single and people who listened it would say or think "They're a cheerful band". I don't like "cheerfulness that is easy to understand".

But if we had to say if A9 were a cheerful or gloomy band, then--

Saga: We're a cheerful and. But we're a "cheerful band" after having done many things, and there is nothing wrong with that at all. But personally, I am really against releasing a cheerful song as the lead track on a single. That's why naturally, we do many things with "Re:Born".

I see. And Tora was the director for the "Re:Born" music video, right?

Saga: Yes. It was great. It was so good there virtually weren't any unusable scenes. During the shoot, Tora took out his own phone and recorded my scenes, while saying "Cool" and "That was good~". That kind of thing has never happened before, I thought "It's going to start snowing" (laughs). I guess his senses would change now that he is directing.

But I was surprised that that kind of creative side was inside of Tora.

Saga: Tora is the type of person to see to the very bottom of things without rest regarding the things he likes, and the same goes with making videos. If the members can skillfully control that, then he is like a worker ant.

That is the user manual for Tora.

Saga: Yes (laughs). If you handle him in the wrong way, he just ends up being a guy who only drinks.

That's certainly true (laughs). And as for you, activities as the Chairman of the "Nose Mountain Club" are livening up.

Saga: That's right. I am deepening my social network.

How did that club start?

Saga: I've been curious for a long time now. I've arbitrarily thought "This person has a high nose bridge. I somehow feel some affinity with them". When I tweeted "I wonder what it would be like if such people came together and took a photo?", the fans reacted. And even the people themselves reacted to it. I was happy that they had interacted with me, and also a guy who had the look on his face that they also wanted to join the club appeared (laughs). There are actually more than I thought. If we can find a drummer, then we can put on a live show.

Isn't that amazing? The Nose Mountain Club.

Saga: Some fans even sent me information about a drummer with a high nose bridge, but that person turned out to be YOSHIKI (laughs). Isn't that just impossible, no matter how you look at it? So we are desperately looking for drummers! With a high nose bridge. If you find one, please let me know on Twitter (laughs).

Weren't you originally a person that didn't interact with people from outside your inner circle? But when it comes to the Nose Mountain Club, why are you so social?

Saga: I wonder why. Lately, I've been really popular among males. Even though I'm really unsocial, I've heard from people things like "That guy really likes Saga". Both my seniors an juniors. Encouraged by that, I've gradually become more social, like "I guess I will go talk to him then".

Wow! You go up and talk to them?

Saga: Only sometimes (laughs). Some time ago, Pentagon's Minpha...... Ah, but I couldn't approach him. One of the members had said to him "Saga wants to take a photo with you". It was kind of like a middle-schooler confessing to someone. Minpha came to me, as if he was summoned by his senior, and took a photo with me. He was a little embarrassed (laughs). So it's been gradual, but I've come to be more sociable. Usually, I'm not social at all. But everyone is nice. When we play to two-man shows or events, there are many nice seniors and well-mannered juniors, so I thought that I couldn't be unsociable. I came to think that I had to be more sociable. Some time ago, when we did a two-man show at Kooriyama, since the dressing room at Hip Shot is tiny, we rented a part of the dressing room at Club #9. On that day, Takuto Nakajima was doing a live there. It seems like he knew that we were using the dressing room. When I went there, he left a note on the table that said "Happy birthday, Saga".

Wow!! That's wonderful!

Saga: It's too wonderful. He's a real veteran. It made me wonder why he can just casually do these things. As expected, most of the veterans are really wonderful people. They're very nice. It made me want to be that kind of senior too.

While becoming more sociable and going out in the world as a musician, the other day, on your own Twitter account, without any hesitation, you publicly announced the "Yukue Shirezu" video for VOLLAND GUMP, your solo project which up until then, you had not publicly announced. It was so sudden, I was a little surprised.

Saga: Ah~. It was uploaded out of the blue. That was a song that I had secretly written two years ago. Two years ago was just the time when the band was not active, and I had nothing to do. So I thought about doing that kind of thing. To me, it felt natural. It didn't feel like I was taking on the challenge of doing it. Originally, I wanted to be a singer-songwriter, so rather than it being a bassist trying to sing, it felt like I was able to express the person that I had originally wanted to be, and it came really naturally. I pretty much played all the instruments in that song!

You even played the drums?

Saga: I got someone called Tsuyoshi Ratatouille (actually Nao) to play the drums (laughs). Apart from that, I played every instrument. I recorded it all at home.

And you also demo'd the song?

Saga: I had written the song some time ago, since when I was a high school student. Even though I thought that the song would never be released, since I had time, I thought about making it into a song, so when I worked on it at home, it turned out pretty good. So that's why I like the song. Since it's a song I freely made.

Did you not feel like doing that song with A9?

Saga: I didn't. It were to be done through the filter of A9, it would not have turned out that way. I'm sure that there are some fans who think that I should have done this song as A9, but by doing the song as a band, the melody changes. Also, A9 has two guitarists, and we arrange the songs with a heavy focus on Hiroto and Tora. If I were to write the song imagining how they would play it live, the guitar would be completely different. And if that is the case, then it wouldn't be the kind of tune and melody that I would do as a solo artist. But since it is my solo after all, it turned out that way.

I see. So what was the reason behind you disclosing that you were VOLLAND GUMP?

Saga: I thought about saying nothing about it and doing it secretly, but...... The reason why I did it in secret was because this part of me was gradually becoming weaker. I felt a sense of discomfort at the thought of fans buying the CD, even though it's not Visual-kei music, just because I made it. That's why I didn't say anything about it at first.

Oh. Fans would want to buy it if they knew it was you.

Saga: They probably would, and won't other people see it as more like "A9's Saga tried singing"? I didn't want it to be thought of that way, so I did it in secret. But my feelings changed to one where I didn't care what people thought. However, I really don't think of it as something I would make a business out of. I don't mind even handing it out for free. Because it's not something that I think has the value to be sold.

So it's more like you were sharing something that you freely made and had people listen to it, like "Please take a listen".

Saga: Yeah. It really was like that. That's why I made it so that you could listen to the full thing for free. And if you listened to it and liked it, you could also buy it.

What does "VOLLAND GUMP" mean?

Saga: I combined the names of the main chracter from two of my favourite movies: The music teacher Mr Holland from "Mr. Holland's Opus" and Gump from "Forrest Gump". Gump is a person that lives off his instincts quite a lot, and I do look up to him. With the feelings that that is the form that I want my music to have, I chose that name.

Do you have any other songs?

Saga: I still have a lot more songs apart from this one that I haven't released. I have about 30 songs. Because I have to sing those songs. I mean, I am the one who understands the song the most. So I want to give shape to it.

Do many of the songs solitary and a North European feel to them?

Saga: It's varied. There are also bright songs. I've always liked the shamisen. I really like Tsugaru-jamisen.

How did you come to like it?

Saga: What was it...... It was much earlier than the Yoshida Brothers, but it wasn't Fuyumi Sakamoto. Who was it? It was an enka singer, and the prelude to their song was tsugaru-jamisen, and it was really cool ("Come Home" by Kazuko Matsumura). It was really cool. So cool that I thought "A guitar couldn't beat this". It felt like that coolness could only be got with the shamisen, so ever since then, when I've got nothing to do, I was videos of shamisen playing on YouTube. At home, I would imitate the playing style of the shamisen on the guitar or bass. When I did that, I thought "Oh! This is pretty cool". And that phrase I played with the guitar--

Is in VOLLAND GUMP's "Sayonara Rosalia"?

Saga: That's right! I still have many of these shamisen-like phrases. I've not used them even once in A9 songs, but I actually have a lot of them. Personally, it's those phrases that are the most rock-like.

Huh? Really?

Saga: Yeah. The rock music I make = shamisen-like phrases. They are phrases that I can be confident in saying "Only I can make this phrase". So no matter how many times I listen to it t home, I think that it's really good. I really do think that only I can make this kind of phrase. For this phrase, I played it on the guitar only with downpicking. In the same way a shamisen is played.

That's why the guitar sounds so percussive.

Saga: That's what's so good about it! It's rock. Even just playing it gets me fired up. I have about 10 songs in that style. I really like the phrasing in the introduction of "Sayonara Rosalia". I still have plenty more amazing things! I even have a song in this kind of style that is 10 minutes long.

You should put them out into the world.

Saga: Rather than it wanting to sell well, I want people to listen to it.

When you performed a VOLLAND GUMP song as "THE ALTERNATIVE" with Nao, while singing, do you play the bass or guitar?

Saga: I sang while playing the guitar. Although performing in front of fans, they would say "Saga is standing in the center playing a guitar and singing~", won't a person who knows nothing about me not react in that way? Because they would think it's normal. That's the way I actually wanted to present my songs. But I don't care about that anymore.

So you should release an album.

Saga: I will. Since I have completed songs. All I have to do is write lyrics.

Will this be done concurrently with A9's activities?

Saga: That's right. But I don't want to get in the way of A9's activities. I hope I can release the solo album by the end of the year while doing A9 activities. I want to release the fruits of my labour.

The fruits of your creative activities.

Saga: Yes. Since that is the only place where I can present 100% of myself. For A9, don't we have to think about how to not let this ship that we're all riding sink, and have to move it towards our destination? That's why the simple attitude of just making anything won't work. But for VOLLAND GUMP, there is nothing riding on this, so I can take it easy, like an amoeba drifting in the ocean.

You should also make some songs for the Nose Mountain Club! Since you're the one who suggested it, you need become more sociable to bring the people together and lead them, or else nothing will happen.

Saga: That's right. Please put an ad in ROCK AND READ too, saying "Looking for drummers with a high nose bridge" (laughs).

Since A9 is doing well, your extracurricular activities must be fun.

Saga: That's right. It would have been great if it were like this from the beginning, but there are many setbacks in life. The same goes for bands. But we have to use that as motivation. If not, we can only live an unfortunate life. If we use it as motivation, when things go your way even in the slightest, you'll be able to think "I'm so happy". So to those people who think their life is a mess right now, please use that as motivation.

Where did that mature life advice come from?

Saga: The fans have it tough too, you know? There are also some fans from the generation that says "It's tough giving care to my mother, so seeing Saga is the only bright spot in my life". That's real.

Of the fans supporting you, there are some fans in that generation?

Saga: That's right. And fans that were once elementary school students now have kids. Hearing that, I feel that even more so, I have to support the fans with all my strength as A9's Saga.

You've become a little more sociable, and it seems like you are becoming a more dependable person.

Saga: I'll keep working hard!

1 In Japan, some people believe that different blood types have different personality traits.

#A9 #a9 translation #saga #rock and read #alicenine.#alice nine translation

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deer-tokki · 5 years

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SHINee Minho's first solo event, "Everyone, don’t forget about today, for sure!”

190224

Minho (SHINee) held his first solo fan event [CHOI MINHO FANMEETING - Best CHOI's MINHO] at Mori General Sports Plaza in Arena in usashino, Tokyo, on February 23rd (Sat) and 24th (Sun). The two-day event was sold out with 20,000 fans. Minho entertained his fans with various charms like singing, dancing, talking, sports, games and entertaining. Here we report about the 23rd.

As soon as Minho enters the stage, fans' loud cheering filled the venue. He's wearing a white shirt with a vest, singing to the soft melody of Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning" with a nice smile. The venue is filled with an ocean of pearl-aqua, SHINee's image color, creating a warm atmosphere.

From here, the comedian duo "Dorians", Tsutsumi Taiki and Hirai Shunsuke are hosting the event. Minho once again appeared on stage, being called out with his nickname "Flaming Charisma, Minho!"

Minho: "It's me SHINee's Minho! Welcome to my first fan meeting!"

When he was being asked how he's feeling (about his first fan meeting) he confidently replied "I will try my best to burn my body!"

The first part of the event was a psychological test. The teacher's goal was to explore Minho's thoughts/feelings using a multiple-choice test. One of the questions was [What would you think if you choose the answer [Because it's blooming within a big grass field?] Minho chose the answer [Because it's blooming so beautifully I don't want to break it]. The teacher mentioned this answer explains Minho's "ideal (way of) love". [Minho likes to be patient, he waits, no matter what happens, he puts his partner first and tries to do anything for this person.]

Minho was satisfied with this answer and shouted with a big smile "Yes, that's me!"

The next part of the event focused on actor Choi Minho. We asked him about his feelings/thoughts as an actor. So far he had appeared in 4 moves and 8 dramas. 9 years ago, with 18 years old, he had his acting debut in the drama called "The Pianist". Minho: "Because it's my first drama I still remember everything well, I even practiced playing piano. The first shoot was a car scene, I still remember the weather, air, and my feeling at that time."

We asked him about his interest in acting.

Minho: "As a child I was dreaming about becoming a professional soccer player. Secondly I dreamed of becoming an actor. When I'm acting I always want to have something in common with the role/character, including and showing some parts of myself."

Q: "Is it difficult to remember the lines?"

Minho: "Yes it is. I can remember 100% of the script, but when it comes to the acting part I'm showing/giving 200%!"

Approving his real flaming charisma!

He was been asked. “What’s the difference between singer/SHINee’s Minho and actor Choi Minho?” Minho: “The biggest difference is that my members aren’t with me (lol). “When I’m with my members they can support me, as an actor I need to give my best all by myself, I really appreciate their support! THANK YOU!!!” (screams into crowd) MC “DO you watch/like Japanese drama? Minho: “Of course! I’ve watched “Pride”, “Kim no suizo tabetai” and “Umigain Diary”.”

Here the Dorians asked “It’s a little sudden but would you mind to show us some acting?” Minho: “Yes of course!” (smiling)

It was a scene from the drama “Hajimete Dakara”, translated into Japanese “Boku kimi ni kurutai” (“I want to be crazy about you”) Minho got shy and smiled embarrassed. This attitude shows how much he thinks/cares about his fans.

After this, Minho introduced his next song to perform “I’d like to sing a song of one of my favorites artist, Fukuyama Masaharu “Heart”. He held the microphone tightly and fascinated the whole venue with his warm voice.

Guinness World Record Challenge

Next it was Minho’s turn to show his sports universal charisma at the Guinness world record challenge. The challenge was called “The Most Recorded Basketball Free Throw in sitting within one minute.” The Guinness Records Official judge mentioned, if he could get at least reach 20 times Minho’s name will be posted as a world record in the challenge.

Although it was very difficult, Minho’s burning fighting spirit let him stick into winning this game. He gathered all the cheers of his fans with his hand and kept on throwing the balls with a serious look. He seemed to struggle at the last remaining minute, however, he demonstrated the charismatic Minho and kept on going to reach his goal. After 3 rounds, the highest count he could get were only 10 times. Even though Minho couldn’t reach the Guinness record, he received a big round of applause for his fighting spirit.

Game Corner/Collecting Items

For this game, Minho needed to go around the audience seats and borrowed items from fans that where written on a piece of paper. To get the items from fans, he walked around the 3rd, 4th floor and even down to the arena seats. The items varied from easy to difficult to get, such as a bath towel, a scarf, 2,000 yen note, SMTown Live pen light or a Korean fan meeting ticket. One fan even brought a rare item like a autographed ball of Minho. Both Minho and fans enjoyed this game together.

The second half of the event was Minho’s stage time. Together with his dancers he showed a cool dance performance to Charlie Puth’s “Attention”. Afterwards he got on a cart and moved around the venue singing SHINee’s “321”, “Boys Meet U” and “Diamond Sky”. While the audience’s tension kept on increasing, Minho returned to the stage and showed his dance skill to a SHINee medley. He performed “Sherlock”, “Good Evening”, “Lucifer” and “Everybody”. The audience was attracted to his flexible and sharp dance skills.

But time flies when you’re having a great time. The end of the event was approaching. Minho: “I really wanted to share a great time to enjoy with everyone and prepare this stage. I am truly happy to be able to make memories and spend this precious time with you, thank you so much for coming to see me. Finally I have one more song that I would like to listen to.” [SMAP’s “Beyond the Night Sky”] He firmly delivered this song with emotions that words can’t express.

At the last MC, Minho conveyed his honest feelings to the audience.

Minho: “Did you receive my emotions through my voice/singing? I hope you and I we can trust and believe in each other. I’m going to be away for a while it I would like to think to be connected to all of you whenever I’m looking at the night sky, I would like you to do the same. I love you all” Taemin will be representing SHINee for a while, please support him. Please keep this promise. Everyone, thank you very much for coming today. As always, you are my hope, I will see you again!”

As at every SHINee’s live closing, he farewell everyone with the thumb up pose.

“Everyone, don’t forget about today, for sure! Everyone you’re the best!”

The event ended here. This 1st fan event showed us Minho’s fun and “burning” personality. When will he be back on stage? How will it be? Let’s look forward to that day

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