TRANSLATION - KAT-TUN "HONEY" pamphlet

 Hey there!
Finally, after some days of work, here's the full translation of this pamphlet too! I hope you guys enjoy reading it, especially given all the interesting details KAT-TUN gave about the live and album making process! Also, thanks a lot to YooLeeAna (on Twitter) who helped me giving a better interpretation/translation of some parts of Kame's interview 💕
I also added some scans I made of the pamphlet, just for the view lol
That being said, please enjoy it 💗💙💜


P.s. When I used "17th year" it's not a typo, they actually talk about them entering the 17th year, rather than saying 16th anniversary 

KAT-TUN - Honey pamphlet translation



1st section – Album Interview

Kamenashi Kazuya




This album, “HONEY” is a work with a strong meaning and awareness of doing it as KAT-TUN


The title “HONEY”, as a first shot after graduating from our 15th anniversary, was a thought the staff had, “to give it a different feeling from what we have done so far”, so we chose what kind of pattern to use based on this theme. Its remark is pop, and it includes various meanings. It can have a sweet image, a precious person = family or lover, and it also includes a bee-like component. Originally, honey is a mishmash of various sources, right? So, we could say that its nuances imply a gathering of feelings from the staff, the members, and fans. Even concerning the songs, some of the ones we included are sweet, while some others are more piercing songs. It has a concept of both direct and paradoxical meanings.
This time, it was the staff giving us this theme; however, for the past few years, our group has been working in a way where rather than letting the members only discuss about the tropes to follow, in a certain extent, we’d devote ourselves to the people around us to make decisions. Especially I may have a strong awareness about this. Leaving it to the staff only might sound like it is an assembly-line system, but this is not what I mean as, of course, we would give our opinions about this or that matter. Whatever KAT-TUN does will eventually become KAT-TUN, so we dare to try put things through a different filter, that’s the sense.
I have the impression that the songs as a whole are very familiar to the ears, and when I first listened to some of them I felt that they sort of drifted away from KAT-TUN, but now I feel that they properly are KAT-TUN songs. The impressions we had at the recording stage are gradually becoming dimmer, or rather, as we record them, they are becoming our own thing to a certain extent. As I go on with the recording process, I thought that this time it is more technical in terms of singing than our usual albums. Also, the songs are made in a way that they couldn’t be done individually, and the singing couldn’t be possible without the three of us. Also, CRYSTAL MOMENT, for which (Sakurai) Sho-kun provided the rap, is a song in which you can’t just sing it alone, but overall, I think that this is a work which bears a strong sense of meaning and awareness of what it -means- to do it as KAT-TUN.
My solo song, Yoru wa aiteru, was written by CHARA-san and arranged by Kobayashi Takeshi-san. In these last years, my solo themes comprehend to spend time with people who can help me creating new knowledges, this, because I tend to show all my own feelings in group activities, or rather, I put all the knowledge and experience I have into the group. This time, in the first place, I made the offer to CHARA-san, whom I’ve always liked. Then, while talking with her about what direction to take, we talked about the arrangement too, so CHARA-san said: “Wouldn’t Kobayashi Takeshi-san be okay?”
I think it’s because I talked a lot about the film Swallowtail in the middle of our conversations, so she said: “Let’s ask him directly. I’m going to the live after this, do you have time?” /laugh/. Hence, I hurriedly went to Takeshi-san’s live that day, I greeted him in the backstage and had a direct talk with CHARA-san /laugh/, and he guaranteed to take me on.
As for the song’s theme, the song I initially got CHARA-san to give me a song you could fully immerse yourself into, alone at night, when your mind is vacant in your free time. It gives the kind of image of something you can listen to on your way back home or in your house, in the dark. (T/N: Thanks to YooLeeAna for giving me a better interpretation of this part!). Then, we also talked about how “watashi” would be better to use as a first person, rather than “boku”. The recording went on for about six hours. That was the first time it took so long to record one single song. CHARA-san directed me, but we decided the track as I was singing, consulting about some insertions to put into the lyrics, and we recorded while discussing about it, like: “Let’s try this or that one, which one do you like the most, Kamenashi-kun? Shall we go for different lyrics?”
What was amazing is that CHARA-san would sing it each time. Every time, I was impressed because it was “So genuine! So genuine!” /laugh/. Though, it would have been different if I sang it too close to CHARA-san’s singing style, so I tried various singing ways, while getting CHARA-san’s density at the key points. She gave me very detailed directions. When I sang the very first sentence of the song, I did it in the usual KAT-TUN style, but then I was told: “That’s not it, let’s try making it more like mumbling”, but when it came to the lines, I was told: “You used a too-cool voice”, so I had to fix that /laugh/. Since I recorded it like that, the vocalisation is different from usual, and the singing style is also completely different from my usual. That was an amazing time I had. I really wish we could have filmed the recording /laugh/. Soon, we’ll all be going to Takeshi-san’s studio to gather the final mix, I’ll also be joining this circle, right? It’s really thrilling. It’s a real luxury to be able to spend time in the artists’ environment and get into their senses. It was an amazing social study inspection and I also enjoyed myself. I’m grateful for having been able to have this experience through my solo song.

 

Ueda Tatsuya



The album “HONEY” is a new way to launch the group

This album, “HONEY”, is an album whose concept has been decided based on the staff’s suggestions. The way we did the previous album, “IGNITE” is the complete opposite, as so far, we gave our own opinions about what kind of work we wanted it to be, but this time we made it as if we completely revolved around the producers’ side. Every time we work on an album its production is different, for example, during “IGNITE”, I was pretty much involved in its production, so I chose the songs among a hundred of others, yet, this time, the members’ opinions aren’t involved as much, we almost didn’t select any song. On our 15th anniversary, we showed everything we wanted to do, and we did up until now, and on our 17th year, we have been discussing about what kind of launch we would like to have as KAT-TUN; the staff expressed their opinion, saying: “In order to show a new view, you should take this direction”, so we agreed with them about this.
When I first heard that the concept was “Honey”, I honestly thought “This isn’t like us”, but this time I decided to try to completely get on it. I think it’s unusual from us to ride on the rails somebody has imposed to us so far, really. To put it in other words, this time’s theme is more “Leave it to us”. The more we would say our opinions, the more this album would have ended up looking just like the others without any change, and so this wouldn’t lead to any transformation for the group, hence we consciously didn’t say anything.
The staff explained the songs to us, and they said these are more like an artist, rather than an idol, so I think it’s rather high-quality music. They told us things like: “We want you to do difficult songs”. Then, they also said things like: “Songs familiar to the ear, which you can choose to listen to anywhere”, or “Western Music style”. In fact, I believe this is an album which is pleasant to listen to daily, unlike the previous works we worked on so far, this time there are a lot of songs which can be generally listened to when nothing much is going on.
Personally, I really like STING and Womanizer. I think that Womanizer is good, in the sense that it is something new and unprecedented, and I personally recommended it as the lead song.
For this album, there basically weren’t that many difficulties, including in the production, but the one only tough thing was the recording. It took long to just learn the songs, and the new singing method was difficult. The recording time was the same as usual, but it was super tiring /laugh/. When I talk about memorising stuff, I don’t mean the lyrics, but the detailed music ratio or the singing style? That’s because it was so written in a fine detailed way on the lyric’s sheets, like: “Release here, then use a vibrato at this moment”. I really don’t think fans will be able to sing along with the album /laugh/. Then, this time, during the recording, we were told a lot not to mess around. I didn’t really plan to do that anyway, but normally, even just singing per se, it’s like “messing around a little”. But it wasn’t okay to mess around at every important point /laugh/.
My solo song, Cantabile, is… well, as I said before, there are a lot of difficult songs in the whole album, so I chose to dare and add a song that isn’t so as well. The result of it is demonstrating with a mischievous attempt “How would it be if I were to add JPOP to an album full of Western Style music”, and the finished result was this sweet encouraging song. It’s also a song in which the “not mess around” element has been erased during the recording /laugh/. Of course, this wasn’t the song I originally wanted to express. This is because I’m basically what you’d call a stoic character, and I’m more the kind of person who’d think: “Don’t act like a spoiled child and just do it!”
But if ended up insisting on that, then it wouldn’t have been “Honey” /laugh/, so I wrote a spoiling song which goes more like: “Just be alive”. Although, I had a hard time writing the lyrics. Even though I thought about the image of a bright spring and sweet phrases… I still couldn’t put them into words; hence, I have constantly been thinking of it for around one week, either staying at home or going out for walks from time to time. I chose the title “Cantabile” only once I completed the song. As I was writing the lyrics for the rap, I thought I could try using all classical terms in the last rap block. Then, I thought it’d be okay if the very last words were like an overall summary -of the whole meaning of the song-. The words in the title usually appear in the lyrics, right? But I thought not to do so and, instead, to make it a little more fashionable saying the title at the very end of the song.
To tell another inside story about my solo song, this time I listened to about 150 candidate songs, and I chose two songs among them: that is the song which would later become Cantabile, and another song which is the taste I originally wanted to do. I’ve been thinking of it way before working on this album, but the next step I personally wanted to take for myself is working on an English rap, so the song I originally wanted to go for is a song that would challenge me to do so. That song was Tonsoku no maachi (explanatory note: I reported that the title of the completed song would be Tonsoku no maachi on Johnny’s web). Of course, the one I wrote on my blog is fake. That’s not the title. Though, the song I originally wanted to do isn’t actually out to be published too. I think you’ll be able to listen to it soon, so look forward to it.

 

Nakamaru Yuichi



It’s an album worth listening to, which could be made possible by the current KAT-TUN

It’s been about two years and a half since we released an original album, with “IGNITE”. Although, we were able to constantly release singles during our 15th anniversary, hence, in terms of experience, it didn’t feel like that much of a gap. I think that the title “HONEY” is easy to remember and leaves a strong impression, which is good. It’s not like the 15th anniversary or anything, so to speak, since it’s a “normal year” in which we can release an album, there was this opinion during the production for which we thought: “On the contrary, let’s just leave the special feeling”. The staff members came up with some candidates for the title, and so we chose it among them.
Compared to the ones we’ve done so far; in the making of this album, we almost didn’t say any opinions at all. From the beginning, there was the firm opinion from the staff of “wanting to show KAT-TUN in this way”, hence we entrusted it to them like this. Trying to entrust it to them, I thought it would be… simply easy /laugh/. No, it’s not just about wanting to make it easy, but if we were to still stick to the production in the same way as always, we’d still want to say a lot of things each time. And, doing so, I believe it -the album- would have ended up giving the usual feelings as always, so we tried not to say much. Even among the members, we shared that kind of atmosphere. So, even in terms of the songs’ selection, this time we basically left it to the staff. Among all the songs we had, I believe we all talked together about what to do with the lead song. The staff gave us many good songs, and at that point we decided “let’s add this song”, so I believe that there weren’t many songs we cut out from the original list of candidate songs we had. Even personally speaking, I do like all of them equally. Up until now, as a group, we always liked to play songs which emphasise on the force, yet this time there are many calm songs. As a result, this time… it’s not just not in KAT-TUN style, but I think that this is an album with a different more mature taste in it, within the range of it being “more appropriate to KAT-TUN’s age”. When you listen to the full album, it will feel like it’s the 17th year. I think it’s an album worth listening to, which could be made possible by the current KAT-TUN.
For my solo, Moonshot, I wrote the lyrics together with a lyricist. First, I explained to the lyricist the kind of worldview and concept I wanted to convey, then, once they wrote the lyrics, I made some additional adjustments. I added like half of the lyrics afterwards, though. Just like all the solo songs I’ve done so far, I work with the lyricists in a half and half balance. I pretty much always do it this way when I write songs’ lyrics: I have them written once, then I work them out for as long as I have time to do it. I personally think it’s a good thing not to understand which word was written by whom. If I were to write all the lyrics myself, then the amount of vocabulary I have would be found out and the listeners would likely think: “So he has this way of thinking” … To put it in other words, it’s a little embarrassing to have a look inside my head, hence I adopted this method /laugh/.
At the meeting, I told the lyricist I wanted to make a song about the worldview of the manga I’m currently writing. I started working on this solo adding the storyline of my manga. I told the lyricist what words I wanted to use and what parts I wanted to put more emphasis to, and with this the lyricist put them into the lyrics. As for what feeling it has, it feels close to making a theme song for an anime. Of course, I don’t have any plans to turn my manga into an anime, though /laugh/. The manga I’m drawing is completely fictional, the expanded story of my favourite urban legend. The one who appears as the main character is indecisive, but I wanted to write a story in which the main character would then master their decisiveness through their adventures.
If I were to say I’m personally particularly fussy about in my solo song is the inclusion of urban legend’s words into the lyrics. The song is originally a story coming from urban legends, so I wanted to add urban legend’s words into the lyrics. So, definitely, listen to the album and confirm this. Also, I still couldn’t decide what to do with the chorus till just before the recording, so I worried about it till the very last minute. Like, where to put the accent of the key words of the lyrics in the melody?... Is it fitting in the lyrics? Those were the points of concern. As for the music, we ordered a song “which can be danced keeping the concert in mind”; we were sent a dozen of candidate songs from which we made our selection.
I listened to them and simply chose the most uplifting song. The chorus is rather powerful, so I felt pretty refreshed when I sang it to record it /laugh/. Overall, the songs of this album sound like they would be pleasant to even play in the car, there are many calm songs, so I think that this song will add some spice to the album. Of course, it’s okay to also just listen to it normally, but please, I’d love it if you guys could sing Moonshot at karaoke.

 

2nd section – Live Interview

Ueda Tatsuya



I feel like we’re taking some good steps towards the 17th year

Right after the 15th anniversary year ended, I believe that it was decided at a fairly early-stage last year that we would have a live around spring or so. During the 15th anniversary we heard a general prospect of it. The fact that we can start the 17th year with an album and a tour is a good connection with what’s ahead after the end of the 15th anniversary and a good step forward. I’m simply just happy to be able to have a live concert. I really want to be able to do concerts at least once a year, and that’s because I believe that this is our principal occupation. We’ve been doing this ever since before our debut; from the past, we’ve been a group specialised in concerts, and it’s only when we hold concerts that KAT-TUN feel lively. It’s also an opportunity to meet our fans. For this tour, there are a few more shows than the 15th anniversary’s, right? I’m also looking forward to meeting everyone.
Now, we’re at the stage where we have decided the setting and roughly put together a setlist. There are still a lot of things we haven’t decided yet, though. Since the album is what carries this tour, both as a singer and as a performer, there’s this feeling of wanting to enjoy the worldview given by “HONEY”, but the meetings for the concert… I feel like they are done the same way as usual, with the staff, with us and everyone speaking their own opinion at once. It’s the same as always, there’s the anticipation of thinking about the performances and building up the concerts. The stage’s setting is inspired by “HONEY”’s worldview’s image. The only opinion that I’ve given so far is the water during performances, I guess.
I like water and flashy things, so I said something like: “I want to use water in a different way than the last time”, and also given some details… for example, I said how to use the stage’s depth. When I saw the stage’s materials, I felt like it was a limited surface, so I thought it wouldn’t have been interesting without a three-dimensional component in it, hence I gave various opinions about these details. I’m still thinking about my solo song’s production. If I were to say anything about the stage I’m at right now is that I thought to give it a sexy feeling. Then, I plan to do the things I want to do. Well, please look forward to it /laugh/.
Now that we’re approaching the end of the milestone that the 15th anniversary is, and I try to look back and think of the group -what I think of- is… The program “Nani suru KAT-TUN?” makes a path in it, we had more opportunities than usual for the three of us to have some deep talks and we were able to hear things we wouldn’t normally be able to. I feel like we had a bit more of a glimpse into the deeper feelings of the members than what we had before the 15th anniversary started. That’s because we’re not the kind of group that usually talks about this kind of stuff that much. Given the occasion of our 15th anniversary, we finally had the chance to talk about various things and we were like: “Did you think so?!” or “I also feel like that”, there have been a lot of pile ups in that time. Then, I also thought that, just as always, we are a group of people who do as they please, though within a certain limit. It’s a little hard to have things decided like this because everyone is quite moody /laugh/. But we members substantially understand each other, so we accept that… accept that or rather we are grasping each other, and that it is typical of KAT-TUN that each of us can do whatever we like to do. I think that the reason why the three of us can proceed like this is because there is this accurate frame called KAT-TUN: everyone is aware of this frame and, even if we all do what we like to do, we still are within this frame.
Of course, the 17th year will have us as its core, but I guess it will also be a year in which we will enjoy entrusting some things to others, to a certain extent. If the staff has any strong ideas like: “We want you guys to show this in this way”, then take on that and see how it goes. Since this album and tour are the beginning of our 17th year, I’m simply looking forward to seeing how, in response to this, things will change during this year. As we keep rehearsing for the concert and realise that “This time, we’ll go for this kind of feeling”, I think that only then we will be able to clearly see the groups’ direction form the 17th anniversary thereafter.
As for my own goal… I’ve already said it before that it probably is rapping in English. I’ve realised it various times lately when I rapped. We had AK-69-san for We Just Go Hard feat. AK-69 and Aniki (Sakurai Sho) for CRYSTAL MOMENT, who were present during the recording, and I was reminded every time about such things like how to rhyme or create a rhythm, how the way to use words can change depending on the song, how to gradually raise the melody accordingly to the song and I want to show my improved rap even during this concert. In my mind, I keep thinking of things like: “Can’t I show something a step higher, can I?” now.
The theme of our 15th anniversary was “gratefulness”, and I feel like we were able to properly convey it to the fans. So, what we want to say now is: “All the same, we’ll keep on counting on you”. Somehow, since we’re still in the period of our anniversary, although the 15th anniversary is over, I don’t really know how I’ll feel in the 17th year /laugh/. I’m sure there’ll be things I’ll think about when we’ll have the concert. If I feel something, then I’ll say it in my greetings at the concert. Anyway, we are looking forward to meeting you too. I hope it will be a place where we can enjoy each other.

 

Nakamaru Yuichi



If we could take on new challenges in the 100% freedom of our concerts…

The previous "15th ANNIVERSARY LIVE KAT-TUN" was a big milestone tour, and, looking back to the things we've done so far, there was a strong feeling of gratefulness, but this time, comparing to it, there's a stronger consciousness of simply wanting to transmit what we want to do and have the others see it. Essentially, this is normal, it's the same feelings we had facing the other tours we held so far, except for the anniversary. Since the concert's organisation isn't fully certain yet, we still don't know what it will be like, but the songs are rather calm, so it might be mostly a mellow time.
During the meetings for the concert, so far... I still haven't expressed my opinion that much yet. I don't want to consciously just leave it to look like the album, but it turns out it is quite so; the ideas coming from the members and from the staff are interesting, so I just go with them. I guess that the funny corner I usually do will be a bit more when the content will become more solid. We'll decide on the main parts and then, if such a content will be needed, I'll start to think of it at that moment. I still haven't chosen anything yet for my solo performance, though I don't want to be redundant with my other performances, but I like lasers, so I think I still want to use them.
After that... I'm just thinking of it freely right now, so I don't really know what it will end up being like, but I'm thinking of having dancers dancing a lot. And for this reason, I chose a song we could dance to. I'll do it... moderately. At least, I'll have the dancers dance as hard as they can, and besides that I'll see how far I can go with dancing myself... I'll think of it later /laugh/.
Basically, we hope we can hold concerts at least once a year, so we'd be happy to be able to do so at that pace. That's also because, I think, concerts are the only place where we can 100% freely do whatever we want in front of people supporting us. We do have our own freedom in other jobs, till a certain extent, but when it comes to concerts then we are completely free. From the start, we grew up holding concerts, it's a basic thing we've been doing ever since we were younger, so it's like the stem of our activities. Then, also the staff at KAT-TUN's concerts is amazing. Every department is professional, like the acoustics' staff, the lighting staff, and programmers. When we are at a loss of ideas, they come up with ideas; they're trustworthy and reliable people.
In this year, we've been able to do various activities given our 15th anniversary, we were also able to convey our gratitude to everyone and I'm quite satisfied with myself. I met with the members more frequently than usual, but... even when we weren't physically together, there were a lot of times where it felt like we were working together. There were a lot of places where they'd tell us "Congratulations", so it felt like we were together when it happened. When I think about the group now, everyone is doing things with a natural feeling. Up until now, we haven't consciously tried to put each of us into any particular role, but, when we're holding concerts and the three of us are talking, or at any other time, we all feel that each of us has settled in a place we're comfortable in.
I hope that the 17th year will add more events, different from the ones we had on our 15th anniversary. Even in the middle of our 15th anniversary, we would often talk about our 17th year, and we hope that we can try some new challenges. It'd be good if we could have some fun while holding a challenging spirit. From the 15th anniversary, KAT-TUN started delivering their music -online-, and we've tried to make our songs available to a wider audience outside of those supporting us, but we are also trying to do something more different... like, for example, taking a step into the online world with our concerts as well. I don't know how far it will take shape, but we want to take this challenge to present our work on different platforms than before and want to create more opportunities for us to dispatch our concerts outwards. I wish I could show to the ones who can't come to our concerts, as well as to those who come of course, that "KAT-TUN do it this way".

Personally, something I want to challenge during our 17th year is... I've been saying this for the past years, but it's manga, of course. I wonder, is it okay to say that now the first episode is almost done? I have just started writing the second episode. The first episode is 30 pages, and I want to draw 10 episodes, so my goal is to draw a total of around 300 pages. The number of pages I've drawn is terrible, but I'm constantly working on redrawing it, so the number of pages I've completed is not that much. I'm seriously taking two steps forward and two steps back, and I've been always doing it like so. But it's like I keep drawing anyway.
We will be showing many different faces of KAT-TUN with our music as well as with our concerts and tv shows, so we hope that those who are supporting us will keep enjoying us. Right now, I just wish for us to safely be able to hold the shows we have planned for our tour this time. It's still difficult to attend events since it's still hard to go out every day. That's why I want to make it the most memorable day of the year.

 

Kamenashi Kazuya



A special concert in a space which consciously changed designs

I think that our goal as a group is… to be able to hold concerts at least once per year, but KAT-TUN is a team that hasn’t always really been able to do so. But, during this year, we were able to spend our time with a strong awareness of various things, including the 15th anniversary live, and when the 15th anniversary is over, we have the album release and the tour. Doing so, we have something to properly present to our fans, which is something great for us as a group. For me, concerts are an important thing, after all. It’s a special place where we can meet our fans in person, and, differently from other plays out of our job, concerts are produced within Johnny’s. It’s especially a personal space where I get to spend a lot of time and in which I pour my full spirit with no limitations. It’s something I sow and nourish for KAT-TUN’s sake and for the fans’ sake. It’s the same with concerts’ making and also when we work on a piece of merch as well, I pour everything in it every time, until it’s all empty (T/N: I think he talks about himself, like, emptied of all he can give).
The performances in this live will, of course have KAT-TUN’s features like “Boom!” and “Kyah!”, but I think it will also be a lot like a “proper presentation”. We have a lot of opinions about this circumstance. There might be people who prefer the feeling of an explosive opening, as well as there could be some other people who might think “Isn’t it better to also not have such an explosive opening too?”. I think it depends on how one interprets “Honey”, but “Honey” doesn’t sound too on the edge or packed to the hilt, right? Rather than something like “Hey” Let’s push it!” or something “dangerous”, I personally think it’s going to be something a little more relaxed after 15 years. For example, if we use water as a special effect, we could show it like “drops” … Of course, I don’t think it’s possible to actually use just one drop, but we could use an image like “a fickle drop”. KAT-TUN’s comprehensive subjectivity is that we want to incessantly add special effects, and there are certainly opinions about it, but we want to consciously change the way we use the same things.
Right now, I’m just wondering what to do with my solo performance. When I first received the demo from CHARA-san it was only with the piano, so that was the kind of image I had for the song’s performance based on that; but once we also added (Kobayashi) Takeshi-san’s arrangement I changed my mind again and had to reset it all once more. But if I were to choose between something more “calm” or something more “dynamic”, I’d definitely choose to go for a more “calm” performance. I think it’d be interesting if I either were to simply sing on a Persian carpet or do it with a recording mic, as if it was a one-shot recording. Once I soaked the singing style of the soundtrack in my own body, it might be good if I were to change the way I sing on days where there is a higher density of CHARA-san and on days where there’s a higher density of Kamenashi, depending on the mood of that day. I still don’t know yet about it since there’s also a balance with the other corners as well, but, anyway, I think it will be more of a listening experience than an enchanting one; something like “Please, close your eyes and listen” /laugh/. I ordered the book called Ai suru to iu koto (The Art of Loving), which is mentioned in the song, so I’ll try to read the book and think about it again.
The approach to the group has basically been the same in the 17th year as well. We will properly put this out year by year. I’ve always said it to the members and to the group with no hatred and I’ve always faced what was in front of me with all my strength, so I will keep on doing so even from now on. I’ve personally experienced it on my own skin that you never know what is going to happen and I know that nothing is certain, hence I want to pour myself into each moment. The group called KAT-TUN is a group whose tension changes with every little thing the individual members do. Be it when Ueda-kun acts in a butai or when Nakamaru-kun started YouTube, at those times, the members have their own density, so I think it would be good if the members could gather with their own thoughts about how they want to stand as a group and what things they want to do. Then, we also think about the staff’s thoughts and the thoughts to the fans. I also talked about this to the group and said: “We’ve yielded ourselves for these last few years”, but to me, “to yield takes as much thought and energy as “not to yield”. Whatever you choose, the effort doesn’t change. We’ve yielded now, but I know, deep inside of me, that I always have two choices for me and there’s always a thought that goes either way. (T/N: I’m a little uncertain about this part. The verb Kame used, which I’ve translated as “to yield”
身を委ねるmi wo yudaneru and委ねる yudaneru, like he means that KAT-TUN have yielded to the staff and fans’ opinion, but what Kame also wants is to show what KAT-TUN can give as a group on their own, hence the two choices thing. I honestly don’t know if the way I’ve decided to interpret it is the way Kame meant it, so I’m open to someone else’s opinion too about this part and its translation! Feel free to tell me how you think it could be interpreted. I also asked YooLeeAna on Twitter and she also thought it could be an interpretation, but if anyone thinks differently, don’t hesitate to comment about it)
Finally, to those coming to the concert: let’s have a good time with each other. In terms of nuance, it’s not a one-sided way of saying “Enjoy it!”, because I’m also looking forward to that. We can hold concerts only if the audience is there. To say the truth, I’d like to exchange long sweet kisses in order to follow the title “Honey”, but it’s not likely to happen /laugh/, so let’s have a good time together. If I don’t have a good time, it’s honey’s fault, right? /laugh/. We’ll go to that space with a lot of time and coming up with many things, so let’s have a good time!

 

3rd section – HONEY QUESTION

Nakamaru Yuichi



Q: What’s your most Honey (precious) thing at the moment?
A: The dog at my parent’s house. I don’t really get to meet it that much, but I got to meet it when I returned to my parent’s house at the beginning of the year. When I met it last time, it seems like they gave it too much food and, so, it got a little fat. However, when I met it the other time, it got a little thinner. Seems like its weight is controlled -now-.

Q: Honey also means “Wonderful” or “Classy”. Please, tell us the efforts you make in order to stay classy.
A: That’s tough. Though, I’m not saying this because it’s the concert’s pamphlet, but I believe that concerts are our main occupation; so, as long as we manage to deliver good performances, or better, to properly do what we’ve done, I feel that, even if we jest a little in other venues, things will still be balanced.

Q: “Honey” means “something sweet”. What do you do when you want to pamper yourself?
A: Videogames. Though, I’m not playing as much as before. Whenever I’m home, I’m pressed to make a choice between two options: either play videogames or draw manga. Basically, it’s like I play videogames only when I feel like it’s the time I can pause with the manga. Lately, getting to play videogames has become like a sort of reward.

Q: Do you have honey at home? If so, what do you use it for?
A: I have it, but I don’t use it. I wonder how is it now? Speaking of which, I bought some for my throat. But I’m not using it either, currently. Then, I also got a honey-flavoured candy; I did taste it for a while.

Q: If a bee were to be flying near you, what would you do?
A: I’d run away if I can. I’d be afraid to provoke it in a weird way and it could take revenge on me.

Q: Please, reword the phrase “Flutter like a butterfly, sting like a bee” in your own way.
A: Tongue like a cat, sweet tooth like a bee. (T/N: “To have a tongue like a cat” means to be sensitive to very hot food or drinks)

Q: Please, tell us your best 3 precious somethings
A: My precious best 3 shortcuts on my PC’s keyboard

1-     1. Ctrl+V

2-     2. Ctrl+C

3-     3. Space

The ones I use the most are Ctrl+V (paste) and Ctrl+C (copy). I do use these two quite often. The other one isn’t a shortcut, it’s the space key. It’s to play and stop videos.

 

Ueda Tatsuya



Q: What’s your most Honey (precious) thing at the moment?
A: Speakers. I got them from (Domoto) Koichi-kun two years ago. I’ve been using them a lot these years as they play an amazing sound so clearly. Currently, I listen to the album’s songs on those speakers. I have the sound files on my phone, but, since it’s a phone, the sound isn’t that good, and you can’t hear the sounds’ details that well at all. But, with those speakers, I can hear the sound at the back really well and the quality is on a whole another level, hence it’s really useful for listening to sounds related to work.

Q: Honey also means “Wonderful” or “Classy”. Please, tell us the efforts you make in order to stay classy.
A: Convincing myself that I am first-class.

Q: “Honey” means “something sweet”. What do you do when you want to pamper yourself?
A: Travelling and going to the onsen. I didn’t really think I’d have that many opportunities to go there, but I could go during a tv show. I get pretty dull at those times.

Q: Do you have honey at home? If so, what do you use it for?
A: I have manuka honey. It’s the remains of the one I used a lot to take care of my throat during SHOCK. I also use it now when my throat hurts too much.

Q: If a bee were to be flying near you, what would you do?
A: I’d ignore it, because if I were to hit it, I’d provoke it. I don’t like being stung, so that’s the only way.

Q: Please, reword the phrase “Flutter like a butterfly, sting like a bee” in your own way.
A: Crush the butterflies, and crush the bees too.

Q: Please, tell us your best 3 precious somethings
A: My best 3 precious spots at home

1.     1. Bedroom

2.     2.Dining table

3.     3. The sofa in the living room

Rather than precious, they’re my relaxing spots. The sofa at the 3rd place is the place I often sit on when I watch tv. The one at the 2nd place is when I do something… I don’t study, but I mainly use the dining table when I write lyrics or when I want to concentrate. The 1st place is definitely my bedroom. I’m really fussy about my bed. Since it’s king size, it’s pretty wide. My dog takes a lot of space, so that can’t be helped. Before going to bed, I watch videos on the projector. I cast the videos either on the ceiling or on the wall with the projector and I can watch them in a pretty big size.

 

Kamenashi Kazuya



Q: What’s your most Honey (precious) thing at the moment?
A: My dogs. They’re basically at my parents’ house, but recently they came to my house, and we sleep together every day. Anyway, they’re precious!

Q: Honey also means “Wonderful” or “Classy”. Please, tell us the efforts you make in order to stay classy.
A: I’ve never thought (of myself) as classy. I’m not. So, it’s difficult to answer, “that I make efforts to stay classy”, but there are things I consciously do. -Like- Being flexible and taking in and putting out various things, all kind of happenings, events and entertainment. I always want to have a high sensitivity in my every day. Of course, towards people as well.

Q: “Honey” means “something sweet”. What do you do when you want to pamper yourself?
A: The day after I bear a hangover, I get another drink in the morning /laugh/. I’ve decided it as a way to spend my days off: “Today is the day I’ll be soaked in sake!”. It’s the most unordinary thing, right? You can’t drink alcohol when the day comes if it’s not a day off, can you? You usually go shopping during the day, but it’s not extraordinary. You wake up, brush your teeth and champagne /laugh/.

Q: Do you have honey at home? If so, what do you use it for?
A: I also have various types. It’s not like I’m particularly fussy about collecting it, but rather I often receive lots as a gift. I use it when I bake cakes, or when I make sauce. Then, I usually make yuzu honey and drink it; I use it to take care of my throat as well.

Q: If a bee were to be flying near you, what would you do?
A: It’s case by case. Depending on the case, I’d dust them off waving my hand, but I basically won’t attack it. Wouldn’t it bad to attack it? I was stung by a bee in the past. By a wasp. When I was in kindergarten or in elementary school, I got stung on my mouth and it got swollen a lot.

Q: Please, reword the phrase “Flutter like a butterfly, sting like a bee” in your own way.
A: Walk like a turtle, flutter like a bee.

Q: Please, tell us your best 3 precious somethings
A: My best 3 precious people.

1.     1. It’s the fans, right?

2.     2. It’s the fans, right?

3.    3. Fans

… Somehow, it ended up sounding like an answer Kenty (Nakajima Kento) would say /laugh/.

 

4th section – CROSSTALK




Early February, in the middle of the 15th anniversary year.
The members were already focusing on the 17th year and on site to produce the album and the live accompanying it.

What did the members feel while spending their 15th anniversary with Hyphens?
What is the next stage KAT-TUN will head to?

A round-table discussion with full of KAT-TUN’s character as they continue to take on new challenges.

 

What is the most memorable event of KAT-TUN’s 15th anniversary?


Kamenashi
: The period of the 15th anniversary is almost over, but I feel that we could pass the 15th anniversary in a good way. We’re already taking the first step to set forth on the next stage, with the album and tour, so I feel that, rather than “put an end” on our 15th anniversary, we’re “in the middle of a good flow”.
Ueda: Yeah. I think we’re taking some good steps. We’ll be going into our 17th year with the same connection we’ve had since the 15th anniversary.
Nakamaru: Right. But, if I look at this year on its own, I’m 100% satisfied. It was a 15th anniversary better than I could ever hope for.
Kamenashi: Even looking back at it, the live on March 22nd in 2021 was memorable. Given the circumstances we were in, we couldn’t quite think of such a thing; but, given the era we’re in, we could make that attempt (the live broadcast). Above all, we were able to properly hold a live as KAT-TUN on that day. Wanting to properly celebrate the 15th anniversary has been the main theme of the last few years, so we were mixed with various feelings.
Ueda: The 15th anniversary, including the live broadcast on March 22nd left a deep impression for me too. Above all, the end of the concert on March 22nd. From “Flashback” till the end it was particularly memorable for me.
Nakamaru: Kamenashi-kun cried…
Kamenashi: I won’t declare it /laugh/.
Nakamaru: But, well, it’s just normal for a human to end up crying.
Ueda: I didn’t cry at all.
Nakamaru: What about that? /laugh/
Ueda: No, because when the video (the surprise from the fans) came out at our back I thought “Ah, crap” and I quickly faced the front /laugh/.
Nakamaru: So, you thought that might have been dangerous. You(?) were about to cry, so you turned to the front.
Kamenashi: The mint I had in my cheeks for so long was finally showing its effects… (T/N: I think Kame was trying to “explain” why he was crying? Aka. making an excuse lol)
Ueda: Ahaha! It worked well after all the wait /laugh/.
Kamenashi: We also did a live broadcast event. We were able to directly chat with the fans through the tablets. We basically never did something like that up until now, so it was really fun.
Ueda: Aah, the chat! That was indeed so much fun.
Nakamaru: When it comes to the live broadcasts, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like, you can still be able to have a good event. I’d like to do it again in future, when the timing is right.
Kamenashi: We exchanged presents during the live event we did for We Just Go Hard feat. AK-69 / EUPHORIA (on September 26th); I’ve been using the knife Ueda-kun gave me.
Ueda: You are?
Kamenashi: Then, Nakamaru-kun gave me…
Nakamaru: The fan heater!
Kamenashi: The fan heater /laugh/; I brought it to my parents’ house a while ago to equip their room.
Ueda: Ahaha!
Kamenashi: The presents Nakamaru gives me… I still haven’t opened the wine cellar I got from him, I wonder what’s that /laugh/.
Nakamaru: Aren’t you using the chin-up bar? (a present from the past)
Kamenashi: I have it outside.
Ueda: Outside?! /laugh/
Kamenashi: I haven’t thrown it away.
Nakamaru: It’s difficult to throw that away.
Kamenashi: When I say it’s outside, I mean it’s in my house’s veranda. But I don’t use it at all /laugh/.
Nakamaru: I have it too, but I do use it.
Kamenashi: No way! You do?
Nakamaru: We gave those chin-up bars to each other about 10 years ago, right?
Kamenashi: Right, right. We thought that if we were to buy the same thing, then we better give it to each other as a present so we can use it with care. Speaking of which, the pull-up bar was in a pic I took in my house the other day.
(He looks for the pic in his phone)
Nakamaru: Did you get it in the pic by accident?
Kamenashi: Ah, look!
(Shows the other two a pic with the pull-up bar in the edge)
Ueda & Nakamaru: Ahaha!
Nakamaru: It’s partly cut off! /laugh/
Kamenashi: I just hang onto it at times. When I want to stretch, I just go “Gah!”.
Nakamaru: It’s good for those times. So, you use it a little.
Kamenashi: Then, look (he shows a pic), I also hung the rescue swim ring I got during “Tatta hitotsu no koi”, it makes it pretty.
Nakamaru: It’s for decoration /laugh/.
Ueda: I’m using the room diffuser Kame gave me. I push it when I want to smell the aroma. It also comes out if you leave it as it is, and when I notice it, the room is already fully smelling like lavender.
Kamenashi: You can also set it so it comes out automatically.
Nakamaru: (to Ueda) What about the earphones I gave you? When I gave it to you, you said that “you already have like 4 of them”.
Ueda: There actually is a proper sequential order for that. They’re still waiting for their turn /laugh/.
Kamenashi: They’re still in the box, right? I put the presents I get from Nakamaru to bed /laugh/. When he gives me presents in the future, he better give me presents that are not in a box, or else I’ll leave them laid up forever.
Nakamaru: You can store them as they are.
Kamenashi: It has to be bare… Like the pull-up bars /laugh/. Or also something with an expire date.
Ueda: Ah, right. In that case, you’d consume it soon.
Nakamaru:  I see /laugh/. I placed the desk clock (given by Ueda) and I use the projector (given by Kame) a lot.
Kamenashi: Is the projector’s image quality quite okay?
Nakamaru: I think it’s okay.
Ueda: I also have the same projector and I use it too, it’s really good.
Kamenashi: I wonder, should I buy it for external use too? It’s annoying when I have to take a big one with me. You can also send the sound to the speakers via Bluetooth, right?
Ueda: Yup. It’s pretty small and convenient.
Nakamaru: I use it almost every day before going to bed, I project YouTube videos on the ceiling of my bedroom. It automatically goes off after 15 minutes, so it’s just right to fall asleep.

The appeal of the album “HONEY”, which includes different music from the past

Kamenashi: This album, “HONEY”, includes two lead songs, STING and Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet. These are two songs which want to give everyone more things to enjoy with enthusiasm.
Ueda: This time, the selection of the songs for the album as a whole has been entrusted -to others-, however we all talked about which song to choose as the lead song. We each gave our opinions, and there also were talks like: “Wouldn’t a different song be good?”, but the staff also had strong feelings, so the result was these two songs.
Kamenashi: I think Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet is the song assigning this time’s concept.
Ueda: It’s charming. It’s a fashionable song which brings a mature charm.
Kamenashi: To say it simply, it’s something like “mature cool”. It’s quite weird to say that it’s “mature” at this year -age- /laugh/. I still haven’t seen the completed MV, so I don’t know yet, but it looks like it will be a world of shadow and monochrome.
Nakamaru: It will feel like a kind of video we haven’t done so far.
Ueda: If we have to say it, STING is in KAT-TUN style, but the sound at the back is quite charming. The song includes KAT-TUN’s style and charm, like it’s not heavy but with a light rhythm.
Nakamaru: We haven’t seen its finished MV yet as well, but it was filmed in an artistic style, so I’m looking forward to it.
Ueda: Rather than a new way of showing both new songs, one song (STING) is a bit of a material for relief, a song which is closer to us, while the other (Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet) is also a new adventure.
Kamenashi: We’re having songs which we haven’t done so far as a group, but we’re also releasing songs which are close to our roots again. I believe we’ve created a good balance.
Ueda: We’ve also recorded the song CRYSTAL MOMENT, which has been released digitally.
Nakamaru: Of the many things we’ve done for our 15th anniversary, personally, CRYSTAL MOMENT is the one I have a stronger impression of. It might also be because it’s just the period of the Olympics.
Kamenashi: The recording had a weird feeling. We just got to greet (Sakurai) Sho-kun and went straight into the recording booth; I was singing and Sho-kun was sitting right there… it was a feeling I’ve never experienced before. I did have the artist directing me, but it felt totally different from that.
Nakamaru: I was nervous.
Kamenashi: I was. I can’t tell what kind of nervousness it was like:  it wasn’t anything like “Ahh, I’m nervous!”, but when I was holding the pen (in order to write on the lyrics sheet) it was like… my hand was shaking.
Ueda: I wasn’t -nervous- at all. I might not be that nervous. But it felt really refreshing to have a senpai directing us. Wasn’t it the first time, maybe?
Kamenashi: Maybe Takki (Takizawa Hideaki). That happened in the past. That too was a little different as well.
Nakamaru: Sho-kun’s direction was amazing, it made me feel really good for the recording. He was really apprehensive and told me all the important points, letting me take part to that. He was kind.
Kamenashi: It was like: “Try to do it as you like”. To make it easier for Sho-kun to choose the take (to use on the soundtrack) I would say: “Then, I’ll try to sing a few patterns”.
Ueda: I finished in a moment, so I was like: “Is it okay if I do it a little more?”
Kamenashi: That was fast. (Sakurai) would say: “It’s okay!”, and I was like: “Eh? Is it already okay?”. Then, I was also told: “It’s okay if you don’t depend on (Sakurai’s rap)”.
Nakamaru: Ah, right right. When I asked about it, -he said- that it could happen a sort of phenomenon for which the more I recorded it, the more it would end up sounding like Sho-kun’s style. In the end, it was like: “The first shot was the best”. Sho-kun added a provisional song, so we listened to it and did the recording.
Ueda: Since I think a lot of people will listen to this song, I sang it adding both my and Aniki’s style. I think I mixed it about fifty-fifty.
Kamenashi: CRYSTAL MOMENT was released digitally because there were the Olympics and, so, those who heard it on TV during the Olympics could listen to it right away, but that kind of distribution was also okay. That was the fastest way to be able to reach more people. Since Roar, KAT-TUN have been releasing their music digitally little by little.
Nakamaru: Considering the current times, digital releases are convenient.
Kamenashi: It’s really good for the sense of speed -it has- and for those people who feel that they aren’t that close to KAT-TUN to listen to the songs. On the other hand, for those who are way closer to KAT-TUN and who spend time with us, I want to keep releasing CDs as CDs as always. Lately, aren’t also the movies released digitally, are they? Interestingly, it looks like even DVDs are becoming something from the past now. On the contrary, the value of DVDs has gone up enormously. It’s like a record, like something a core layer receives.
Ueda & Nakamaru: Eeh.
Kamenashi: I think CDs too will be like that. I don’t want the experience of… opening a CD, putting in the CD and looking through the booklet to disappear. Instead, it’s right because we live in this era that I want to value what I can feel on my skin, including the material and texture of paper.
Nakamaru: I think it’s good to release things digitally to a certain extent, but basically, we are happy if people pick the CDs.

First album tour after almost three years.
The live production and goods filled with KAT-TUN’s whole are…

Kamenashi: Currently, the live is taking a fast direction at once. Though, the details are yet to come. Since we've performed a lot of the songs we've done so far during our 15th anniversary live, this time we're talking about making this concert more of an album tour, in which the concept is carefully incorporated into the concert.
Ueda: It's still approximately, but we're going to take on new challenges starting from the opening. We want people to feel that we're going to a slightly different way than before.
Kamenashi: The first song will also be representing the aim for this time.
Nakamaru: We're talking about if we could use some new equipment too. I don't know if that will happen, but I hope it can work out.
Kamenashi: The last time we went from arena to arena, so I want to make the best use of arena's peculiarities and add them to the production.
Ueda: The arena is relatively closer to the audience. The audience line of sight is very different from the dome. In the arena, there are some venues in which you get to be pretty close -to the audience- as well.
Kamenashi: At the dome, the front row is about 10 meters apart from the stage. But in the hall, that would be around 1 metre, right? I'm not saying which is better, big or small venues, but the things you can show and do change, that's why the plans differ, after all. Including stuff like the set. What you can and can't see with the naked eye, the three-dimensional effect too and so on.
Nakamaru: Your own consciousness is also different. When it's the dome's level, the sensation of performing for the people in front of you becomes a bit dimmer, it's like you have to appeal to a whole. If it's the arena, during the two hours of the concert, in extreme talk, I can grasp the idea of the audience, like "there are these people".
Kamenashi: Saying it weirdly, we can see everyone /laugh/. Also, the way you feel after a dome concert ends and after an arena concert ends is also somehow different.
Ueda: The arena, comparatively, has the image of using your stamina. At the dome, it's not much about the stamina, but more about absorbing and being absorbed by the audience's energy. It feels like you're using energy.
Nakamaru: Now that you say it, that could be so. (In a dome) there are like 50.000 people, so you might feel nervous even though it's a home. In the arena you can be more natural.
Kamenashi: It's not about which is better between the dome or the arena, but each has their own advantages. Also, another thing I'd like people to look forward to is the concert's goods. Aren't the goods a factor of excitement?
Ueda: For the uchiwa, people should definitely buy the new ones.
Kamenashi: We'll be excited if you'll have the new ones!
Ueda: That's right. For this reason, it's like filming the tour every time /laugh/.
Kamenashi: Then, also the T-shirts since they're like the uniforms for the concert. The consciousness of wearing the same item is really heartening.
Nakamaru: We were also particularly fussy about the bath towels’ colour. We want you to change all the towels you have at home /laugh/.
Kamenashi: (using the ikemen voice) We want everyone to wrap your bodies into these bath towels after taking a bath. Since I think we've already made the best bath towels...
Ueda: Whose way to talk was that? Fishy! /laugh/.
Kamenashi: I mean, our goods feel like it's a present we give to our fans. It's like, we want to give this thing as a present to Hyphens.
Ueda: Yup. That's true.
Kamenashi: Because we make them thinking: "This is the kind of thing we would like to use together". But, this time, there are some things we made as a response to the fans' voice. The acrylic stand! Rather than saying "I want to make an acrylic stand" ourselves, it's like we've responded to those voices who said: "I'd be happy if we had one". Since we received a few voices -asking for it- here and there.
Ueda: (holding the acrylic stand in his hand) Look, you look like that! It's not a face like: "Let's take the pic!", but like "Since everyone wants it, I'll take this pic for them" /laugh/.
Nakamaru: You can see it from the expression /laugh/. Will they really be happy?
Kamenashi: In dramas, a lot of people enjoy wearing the role's costume, taking pics with a teddy bear, and having tea. More than being photographed, it's more like: "I'll take a pic of the scenery together with this person". It'd be good if people used the acrylic stand like that.
Nakamaru: Eeeh. To take pictures?
Kamenashi: It's like in "Minami-kun no koibito". Take it anywhere.
Ueda: Putting it here (in the chest pocket)?
Kamenashi: Yes, right right. And go together on a trip or something.
Nakamaru: Then the coasters are no good? Like "I'm here~" together with the coaster.
Kamenashi: No, no. You don't look at the coaster and think "Yucchi”, do you? /laugh/
Ueda: Ahaha!
Nakamaru: Then, next time we'll make something like a dress-up acrylic stand.
Ueda: A version with a different pose.
Kamenashi: Like, if you go to a place with a beautiful night view you wear this, if you go on a road trip you wear this, right? Something for each season.
Ueda: That could be fun.
Kamenashi: I'd be glad if people could enjoy it in different ways. It's the real pleasure of being an idol.
Nakamaru: Then, this year's penlight is...
Ueda: Of course, we did it in KAT-TUN style! /laugh/
Kamenashi: Check it out too!
Nakamaru: Let's enjoy the goods like this /laugh/. Make each and every performance a special feeling and a memorable time.
Ueda: I want to have a good time while having fun with each other.
Kamenashi: With everyone, be it people who have come to all our concerts so far and those who are coming for the first time. See you at the concert!

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