Jan 17, 2008

Message from BYJ

The following translation is provided for your personal enjoyment.
Respecting the rights of the original writer, please inform me if you wish to share this article with others. Thank you for your understanding!
(Jan. 19,2008)

From the pamphlet "The Making of Super Stars"
(Nov, 2006)

Original in Japanese
Translated into English by flowerbossa

A New BYJ, Only Brought Out by Leslie

“A lucky coincidence”, might be the most appropriate expression describing my encounter with Leslie. The shooting was not merely fun, but from the moment it began, the pure and innocent part hidden inside me seemed to be revealed…. I was able to be my natural self, and really enjoy the session. So, our first meeting left a strong impression, too. Leslie ran up to me the moment I stepped into the studio. Because it was so unexpected, I was a bit surprised, but I was able to sense how much he had been looking forward to this shooting, and moreover, feeling his passion and pure heart, I myself loosened up to him.

Normally, even for professionals, it often takes time to get used to each other’s tension in the first shooting. However, with Leslie, it was as if I was caught by his magic. How should I describe the expression of him looking into the lens…it was like that of a boy's, showing excitement over a big toy (laughs). After awhile, I found myself poising for him naturally, letting my own feelings and body lead me. Being with Leslie, I was returning to the child I had in me.

Actually, the session I had with Leslie took place after a long CM session, so I was quite tired out physically. But through the way he treated everyone in the same manner not creating any boundaries, the way he heightened the tension of the session as a professional, along with his motivation in bringing out a new dimension in me, he was able to bring out a masculine and sexy part of me which was something different from my past image. Recently, I have very strong thoughts on “my present self” and “my natural self” Needless to say, my past is important too, but each time I make an encounter with a new work, I face up to my new self, and little by little, I feel a change. In this sense, I hope I will be able to express my new self through my encounter with Leslie.

The Expressions of the Artists Collected Here Serves as a Tool for Thinking About Asia

The concept “ASIA IS ONE” that Leslie wanted to express through the “Super Stars” project is a fundamental one for me as well. Although the means of expression may differ – for me, through contents such as dramas and movies, and for Leslie through photography - we have connected with many countries of Asia. Perhaps that is why our meeting did not feel like a first, for we shared the same feeling of “ASIA IS ONE”. The reason I say this is because through you, my family (fans), I was actually able to feel “Asia becoming one”. I think that Asia is a community that can relate, help each other and develop together based on a cultural and emotional affinity. In Asia, there exist diverse cultures, languages, and customs and there are many parts which are different outwardly. However, every time I visit an Asian country outside my own, I feel “a spirit transcending language barriers”. Even when we are far apart, I am able to feel that we are one cultural community.

And in this project, I feel that the expressions of the artists that only Leslie was capable of bringing out will provide a new and wonderful tool to make one feel more familiar to Asia. It is a fact that when we receive love, we are all moved by this love. It is natural to share the love one receives and give something back in return, but in my position as an actor, the only thing I am able to do is present myself at my best in the works I appear in. This would lead to having you take interest in such matters as the world view of the work, the actors and staff who had created it, and the cultural roots of the work itself and of the people participating in the project, and this in turn should become a trigger for cultural exchange and mutual understanding. I also hope that every country of Asia will become capable of sharing a mind centering on culture rather than commercialism, so that even more exchange on an interactive level – not the exchange of merchandise such as movies and dramas as well as one way service – will be enhanced and also enable us to grow together.

15 comments:

bbmag said...

omo, this is great!! thanks for alerting me to this piece, it's a must-read, really...

sometimes i really really wish i can read korean, so that i can read first-hand his own thoughts, his own words. i've a strong feeling i won't be disappointed. his intelligence, thoughtfulness, his entire character seems so true-to-form from his writing, ya?

thanks much much!

and happy 2008!

Toujours_BYJ said...

OMG my dear Flowerbossa, I didn't know you started blogging again, I'm so happy as I missed you a lot (thank you bb).
Thanks for translating and sharing this great piece.
It's a little bit late but I would like to wish you and Pallet a Happy New Year 2008.
Hope to read more from you.
Love,
camille

gosijo said...

Dear flowerbossa,

Thanks for this great translation! I think as bb does about the way wuri YJ writes. Here again, he re-iterates his wish for uniting the strengths that exist in Asia’s disparate cultures. I think that's a really worthwhile goal, one he's in a wonderful and timely position to move forward, along with other like-minded individuals.

Naturally, as someone outside the Asian community and yet, hopefully, inside the fanmily (as Leslie Kee put it himself), it's easy to feel invisible and perhaps even left out by YJ's words. It's easy to counter that everyone should work toward forgetting differences between all people and start celebrating a world view.

I think the way I get over that is by realizing that there is value in highlighting interesting differences and uniqueness. My sense it that what YJ is saying amounts to something like this: just as other countries, starting with Korea's near neighbours, have been won over by Korean culture, let's now unite and present our Asian culture to the world.

Also, when he says “because through you, my family (fans), I was actually able to feel ‘Asia becoming one’”, I don’t think non-Asian fans should necessarily feel excluded. I think this is part of his appreciation of how the growing numbers of family that come from outside the Asian community are proof-positive that the rest of the world can be very deeply inspired by Asia’s culture.

p.s.: like Camille, I had missed your return to blogging and found this thanks to bb! Happy New Year to you and Pallet!

mishio said...

Hi flowerbossa,
I love how the honesty of feelings and his maturity comes through...........Thanks for bringing us a great piece!

P.S. ALthough I have no real knowledge of his ability to express himself, somehow I feel that your translation really does his words justice!
P.S. Stay well!

Lynn said...

Dear Flowerbossa, Thank you for sharing this with us. I have a question: Is it ok for me to translate this article into Chinese so that the Chinese family can enjoy it as well? I won't post your original English, what I will post is the Chinese version. It will be great if I can get your authorization, but if it's not ok with you, that's fine. Thank you again.

flowerbossa said...

Dear bb,

Happy new year to you too♪

Thank you for coming by when I know you are SOOO busy with the BIG DAY coming up tomorrow!

I really wish I could read Korean too, for the same reasons as yours. He must have so much in him that he wants to share with us! Also,with his ambitions of becoming a teacher, he would no doubt want to write a book or two some day... But WE all know that expressing his "natural self" is not all that easy for this man...

Hope you enjoy building your new home, and do take care^^

love,
flowerbossa

flowerbossa said...

Dear Camille,

Bonne Annee♪
(I hope I got that right... so many "n"s!)

Merci for coming by when I having missing for so long!
I thought about you often, especially when the recent issue of AERA came out featuring TWSSG.

I read that your back has been bothering you again. I know how difficult it must be for you to rest when you are so busy, but do take care of yourself. As I told you before, I am practicing yoga to improve my health. I enjoy it very much^^

Talk to you again!

love,
flowerbossa

flowerbossa said...

Hello Gosijo,

Whew, I can't tell you how grateful I am to read your thoughtful comment on this piece.

Though I am no spokesman for YJ (what a thought!), by following his pattern of thoughts in my own way, I think it is pretty illogical to think that he is purposefully excluding any culture or country from his family.
(There's no denying that he learned much from western culture. His early respect for directors like Scorsese probably has not diminished in the least^^)
I just believe that people like he and Leslie are in the rightful position to propose an alternative model to the western one.
I personally am drawn to "interesting differences and uniqueness" in a culture, and that anything remotely close to "oneness" can only be truly felt and achieved by respecting these differences. After realizing them, it may make sense in some cases to search for a middle path that will make more people on this earth happy!

Thank you again for understanding my intention for sharing this piece. I hope together we can enjoy observing how HRH will develop and actualize his ideals in the future.

Have a nice day/evening!

love,
flowerbossa

flowerbossa said...

Hi Mishio,

Do his words justice...?
Now you are scaring me!
I know who to blame if I go through a nightmare tonight with wuri prince yelling at me ^^;

Any way, I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the piece♪

See you around!

love,
flowerbossa

flowerbossa said...

How do you do Lynn, I believe this is the first time that we've talked? (Excuse me if I am wrong!)

I am happy to hear that this piece interested you, and you are welcome to share it on your Chinese site. I would appreciate it if you would state that the original text was in Japanese and that the English translation was done by me. And also add "pls do not repost".

I made a few changes since yesterday, so pls use this current text.

Thank you for your understanding.
Enjoy♪

love,
flowerbossa

p.s. just for my info, where will you will be posting it?

Lynn said...

Hi Flowerbossa,

I am very glad that you give me the authorization. I will post it to http://tieba.baidu.com. There is a forum for BYJ's Chinese fans which has 1217 members already. I will definitely mention its origin and will add "pls do not repost."

On behalf of the 1217 BYJ chinese family members, thank you very much.

Lynn said...

Dear Flowerbossa,

FYI, the Chinese version of this article is posted to the following: http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=311975823

And I told them that a nice Japanese Beasis has translated it from Japanese to English and Please do not repost.

Thank you again.

flowerbossa said...

Hi Lynn,

Thank you for being so thorough on your follow up.

I enjoyed some of the comments the Chinese sisters left on the site.
(With the help of a translator of course, but it helps to know the Chinese characters!)

再次谢谢♪

love,
flowerbossa

flowerbossa said...

To my dear friends and family,

I have modified my comment at the beginning of the article.

If you are interested, please leave your message here.

Thank you^^/

Love,
flowerbossa

Lynn said...

Dear Flowerbossa,

It is very thoughtful for you to modify your comment. I am sure that more and more people will enjoy your article.

Have a good day!

Lynn