[131026 B-PASS Japanese magazine translations]

Beast, which debut in October 2009 with Bad Girl in their motherland, Korea.
Displaying individually, each of their charms, singing and dancing is a definite point, through dramas, CFs and variety shows, they've gained popularity. First penetration into Japan in 2010 through a large scale showcase. Debut in Japan in March 2011 through the single, Shock. In 2012, they embarked on their world tour and had a tour in Japan as well, which was a huge success.
Also, in the summer of 2013, had a comeback in the Korea music scene with their 2nd full length album Hard to Love, How to Love. They will be releasing their Japan licensed Hard to Love, How to Love - Japan Edition - album on 30th October.
Now, let's hear what the six of them, whose hearts have been put into the album, have to say.

Q: For the Japanese licensed version of the album Hard to Love, How to Love - Japanese Edition- to be put on sale on the 30th of October, you're staying in Japan for one week.
KK: Yes, it's been a fulfilling one week.
YS: We had a showcase as well, and it was really fun!
DW: Through different forms of media, we have done interviews, appeared on radio shows, participated in variety shows, it was a blessful week.
DJ: We played soccer with Nakamura Shunsuke through a broadcast program too! To us, it has been a meaningful week.

Q: Did you have no off time?
YS: Yesterday was our off day! During our off time, there are members who went to the onsen (hot springs) and members who went shopping. Although it's only one day, we enjoyed our time to the fullest and it was a fulfilling day.

Q: Who went to the onsen?
KK: Me and Doojoonie!
DJ: We went to the onsen near Yokohama! It is a different style from the hot springs in Korean, but we were feeling good!

Q: Where did the shopping team go?
JH: Harajuku.
YS: I bought tracksuit and shirt!
DW: I bought hat and shoes!
HS: I bought shoes and hat. And shirt!

Q: It's good that you had fun. But this July's comeback, it has been a year since your previous comeback, what are your feelings now?
KK: We are having fun doing both Korean and Japanese promotions, and feeling/blissful very happy able to share these fun times with everyone else as BEAST. It was a comeback with the album Hard to Love, How to Love, but in Japan, we will be releasing the Japanese licensed verison of Hard to Love, How to Love - Japan Edition- so I'm really excited/happy. A lot of time has been spent on preparing this album, it will be good if the Japanese can give as much love to it as it has been given in Korea.

Q: What was the concept when Hard to Love, How to Love was made?
JH: Just as the title suggest, this album holds the songs that have love as its theme. There are various genres of songs on the album, I think it's an album that is able to receive love from a greater audience.

Q: What are the popular songs in Korea?
DJ: How to Love and Shadow.

Q: What do you think will be popular in Japan?
All: Shadow!

Q: In the Japan licensed version of the album, the Japanese version of Shadow will be on it as well.
JH: Yes. The contents of the lyrics will be same as the Korean version of Shadow, so when we sing it, we will sing with the same emotions we have (for the Korean version).

Q: What songs do you like individually?
DJ: I like How to Love! The lyrics are so beautiful. It's evident the ones who are listening to it will be able to agree as well.
JH: I like Shadow. When I was making this song, it was really tough, so I've an affinity/emotions attached to this song.
KK: I'm Sorry. This song describes love really outrightly/directly so I like it.
YS: I like Will You Be Alright. This song was released on the internet before the album went on sale, and since then this song has received much love, so it was etched in my memory.
DW: Like Kikwangie-hyung, I'm Sorry. The melody is good! It is a song that matches autumn if you listen to the melody. From now until autumn, it matches the weather that is turning slightly colder.
HS: I like Shadow. It is the album's title song, and it's also a song that brings out/describes BEAST. It will be good if the song is able to receive lots of love from the Japanese fans.

Q: This album's songs were produced by Junhyung, so how was the production process like?
JH: I was the centre of the production of the songs, but whenever the members came forward to ask "What songs have been produced?", I let them listen to the songs made from time to time. Amongst that, Yoseob-koon came to the studio, and discussed and responded to various aspect, even to the details. One of the behind-the-story episodes was that, when Dongwoon first listened to one of the songs, what I heard from Dongwoon was that "This song has somewhat a lack of energy.".
-all burst into laughter-
JH: At first, I thought, "What?! What are you talking about!?" and got shocked by it, but after listening to it again for a few times, I understood the meaning. I thought Dongwoon is really something.

Q: Did you redo the song?
JH: No, I had no qualms about chucking it. I got the understanding that "those words are right/true." I'm quite thankful for Dongwoon, having to speak those words which are difficult but still put his thought across truthfully.

Q: Was there any point that was difficult?
JH: Everyone was doing their own schedules, and our timings didn't match, so the timing was tight; and prior to the comeback was the concert, so we had to prepare for the concert as well, and as such there was no spare time and it was tough. There wasn't any special difficulty with singing. It was the intention to make an album that everyone has fun, and something that is more Beast-like.

Q: To the members, any instances of receiving the question/request "I want to sing this type of songs, so make it for me"?
HS: Didn't plan and request for it this time round.
DW: There were instances when requests were made but not this time round. Shall I say, put across the nuance to do so. But Junhyungie-hyung made that really cool/suavely.
JH: I let them all listen to the song, and produced the song by discussing this and that with them. Before going into production, I think it was good that I asked the members what type of songs did they want to sing and asked for their suggestions.

Q: What thoughts from the members?
JH: For example, "this tempo is good", "putting acoustic guitar in is good", "It will be good to put in a powerful orchestra with guitar and synthesizer" etc. It was almost morning when everything was said/discussed. (laughs) However, it was because I have such suggestions from the members that this album could be made to what was our style.

Q: This time round, with the addition of the songs by the members in the album, how will the concert be changed?
YS: The breadth/scope will be wider. There are changes to the dance as well. Up till now, Beast's style is to have all the members matching our dances, but this time round, in order to bring attention to each member, when each one is dancing, the rest of the members stay still, and this enables to showcase each member's personality. Please look forward to our concert.
KK: This is an album that you will be able to feel our growth.

Q: That's right. Beast turns 4 in October 2013, four years seem like the first phase. In future, how do you want the group to grow, and what do you want to do for Japanese activities?
DJ: The size of the concert hall doesn't matter, it will be good if we will be able to do concerts in various concert halls. Right now, we want to be able to meet more people, want to do more shows/concerts, and want to meet all the various people. Also, in five years, in ten years, it will be good to be able to grow/expand these meetings further.
JH: I have the same thoughts as Doojoon-koon. I want to work hard and be able to put across our music to each and every one of those who want our music and our performances. And I hope that Beast will be an existence that is able to receive more love from everyone that what we are now.
KK: Just like how we like music and songs more than anything else, we like our fans who cheer for us. I like it the most, such concert halls in which we are able to meet such fans. So I want to work hard to be able to be with the fans that I like the most at the place I like the most.
YS: Me too, if it is a place where the fans are, wherever it is, whatever kind of place it is, it doesn't matter; I want to do lives there. There are many fans out there who we have not been able to meet, I'm most excited about the album through which these fans can meet us.
DW: Even though the language between us and the Japanese fans are different, I think the feelings that we have are the same. So I want to be able to have fun and be sad together with all the fans. I think language doesn't matter as long as the hearts are connected. It is also one of the aspects I've felt doing lives in Japan. I've really felt the great/suave relationship there. In future, it will be good to be able to accumulate such relationship/connection with the fans.
HS: Not only just for concerts, I also want to go out on broadcast programs in Japan. If there's a chance, I want to be able to go on variety programs on which we can laugh and have fun together. And also, I want to let everyone know of our name more than what it is now. I think that, to let everyone know of us is also a form of meeting, and it will be good if we are able to understand further and more deeply about each other. I think it's a form of meeting by listening to the album Hard to Love, How to love, so it will be good if you can meet us through this album.

Q: That's right. So in future in order to understand more about the six of you further, I'll ask a little personal question. What are you into now?
JH: Fishing! I liked fishing since the before! But we are a little busy now, so I am unable to go (as often) as before, but I think of going whenever I have the time!
DJ: Soccer!
KK: Me too, soccer!
DJ: I like watching it, but I like playing it too! When playing soccer, I can empty all my thoughts.
KK: Me too!
YS: Boxing!

Q: Seems like Beast is the outdoor type.
YS: That's right. We are really active! Because we are guys, we need to actively go out!
DW: I'm slightly different from the outdoor type... I like to watch the economic trend on properties. I like hunting for houses too, but the movement in property prices is interesting! (laughs)
YS: That's not outdoor.. (laughs)
HS: Bowling.

Q: Do you go with the members:
HS: There are times we go together as well.

Q: Do you have your own bowling ball?
HS: No, I don't have my own (laughs)
JH: I have my own! (laughs) Let's pitch against each other next time!
HS: Yeah, sure (laughs)

Q: What is trending in Korea now? Evidently it's not the property prices. (laughs)
DW: Hahaha. That's only a boom on my end. Dramas are popular amongst the youths in Korea. The drama "Secret" is really popular. Although I haven't seen it, so I don't know. (laughs) But it is really popular on the internet. It is so popular that there is almost no one in Korea who doesn't know about it.

Q: In Japan, the drama that is popular is Hanzawa Naoki.
YS: Hanzawa Naoki?

Q: Yes. "Baikaeshi**"!
All: We've heard it before! (laughs)
DJ: The viewer ratings have been tremendously (good) right? There're rumours that it's up to 60%!
KK: Seems like in both Korea and Japan trends have been starting from dramas. (laughs) Although we are returning to Korea tomorrow, I want to come back and meet the Japanese fans soon! So, until then, please listen to this album carefully and wait for us!

**Baikaeshi = a famous line from the show Hanzawa Naoki.


Credits: @kongkongXD for JP-KR translations

Apologies in advance for any inaccuracies!

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