Asahi Newspaper - Smile Project Comment

Here's an article on the evening Asahi Newspaper in Japan on the Smile Project.
Each participants has made a comment and masa-san has boxed up Hyun Joong's comment in the red box.

Source: masa@fc2blog + GEMINI
Japanese Translation: miyo@lovekimhyunjoong.com

2010.11.18
Comment for Smile Project

Kim Hyun Joong (Korea)
「Together with everyone's cheering to become as one,」
hope that through this event able to give hope and courage to the children in Asia.　

1st First Love Story Fan Meet - evening session & da return ~

@JCB Hall (Evening) ~
This time, I’m seated at the arena which is the ground level and my seat was 6th row from the front! ^^
The same opening video and HJ’s voice singing 고맙다 can be heard before he walks out..
It’s a different outfit from the afternoon session.
I was much more surprised that suddenly everyone around me stood up! I don’t remember anyone standing for the afternoon session.
As I couldn’t see, I have to stand up too..
He had walked over to my side first and screams and waving of penlights surrounded me.. lol..
I thought he looked a bit more confident singing and more into the song.

After the song, the usual greetings together with the host.
This time, I thought he looked so much more comfortable greeting as compared to the afternoon session.
He was also smiling a lot. Then he said he felt bad for those attending the afternoon session as he will be much more lively.
Thereafter they got seated and played the same video on Bali.
Was asked about Bali again and instead of saying he had no memory…
somehow.. he end up saying he had a choice, he would prefer to go South Pole instead.
Throughout the fan meet, I thought he mentioned “south pole” quite a number of times.. lol..
He had also mentioned that he would like to share pictures on the net with everyone.

On one of the talk on the style that suits him..he kept saying, dark..dark..
but was unable to recall the word.. then he just turned his head to the left and looked into the backstage asking for his stylist...
so he went on struggling with his dark ...dark..again..while the translator was explaining that he said he had talk to his stylist in regards to this 2 days ago but he need to confirm with her the word.
This got everyone curious and laughing and finally..he said he will later check with her and let everyone know about it .
Well..he later he did but it was so much later that everyone had forgotten about it..and was laughing when he out of the blue blurt it out.. ^^

Next..on drawing the ticket lots for the 3 lucky fans to ask questions..
Similar to the afternoon session, the host asked him to read out the seat number.
This time, he didn’t read the price..lol.. but he just read out the seat number without mentioning whether it’s “Arena”, “Balcony 1, 2 or 3”..
The host had asked him but he gave a dun really understand look and his eyes was searching on the ticket he was holding...so the host read out first..
“Oh..it’s from Arena..Arena..?? Arena..??” (the host saying it while looking around for that fan..the seat number was already said earlier..)
N being him..he just went saying it innocently...
“Oh.. Arena-san...Arena-san..” (he was calling out to the fan as if that was her name..)

On the question of how old he can accept…
From what I remembered, he said,
“There are fans here that are also from 20 ~ 29.. and I’m 25..so…I can accept from 20 till 35. “
That fan who asked was really happy patting her chest saying she’s 35…
N he immediately said to her,
“Congratulations!”

Another one of the lucky fan who went up onstage..she was sort staring at him nonstop..
So the host asked him how does he feel about her looking at him like that..
His answer,
“Here eyes look as if she has seen a jewel/gem..”
Everyone was like wooing and ahhing.. and I was thinking… if that’s the case.. ain’t he referring to himself as a jewel/gem?lol..
The host realized it too and said to him..
”in that case, you are the jewel/gem!!”
N he replied immediately,
“yup!” Making everyone laughed and clapping…^^

Next on to the birthday cake..
This time, there is only 4 candles instead of the 6.
But the host did point out that 2 more candles are lying at the side and if he wants to put it on the cake too..
So the host asked what does this 4 candle means then?
He seemed to be thinking for a while before answering..
“Music, Acting, Myself and Everyone..”
The fans were cheering when they heard “everyone”….^^
So while trying to get the candles lit... suddenly one of it went off..
N he immediately shout out,
“Ahh.. everyone died!” Everyone burst out laughing..
Then while they were trying to keep the flames on the candle from going out..
he actually also said..
“Ah..music too..”

So after blowing out the candles..the host asked him to taste the cake since there’s a fork..
Thought he would use the fork to scoop a bit to taste but I was wrong..
Instead.. he used the fork and tried to stick into the strawberry which was laid on top of the cake..
So end up the strawberry was pushed into the cake making a dent..(――;)
When asked how was it? He just munch and said..
”strawberry taste” and he munch a few more times..
“mmm…just as I thought..strawberry taste..”

Read More »

1st First Love Story Fan Meet - afternoon session~

@JCB Hall (Afternoon) ~
It was rather crowded when we arrived at the venue.
The fan meeting was held at JCB Hall which is beside Tokyo Dome.
For the layout of event, the ground level, they call it arena, and the next level, 1st balcony, another level up is 2nd balcony and the top most level is 3rd balcony.
M and I were lucky enough to get 1st row of the 1st balcony and our seats were near to the right side of the stage.
As usual, no photography etc was allowed but I still got my cam ready just in case I could take a few snaps..^^
Had attempted to take a few snaps but as M was warned by the staff earlier on taking photo..
I was afraid to take the cam out.. Took 2 snaps and 1 turn out like this… lol…

The other.. well.. only half the body was seen so I shall not put it up.. σ(^_^;)
I knew that there will be other good photographers out there so I gave up on it and decided to just listen to the talk. ^^
As I dun have the habit of taking down any notes nor do I record down the event…plus… I even have a terrible short memory…
N since there’s already report on what questions were asked…
So… I’ll just write down those that I remembered.. (Do note that I’m trying to remember this offhand so there might be some parts which I might have got it wrong… ^^)

The event started with some music playing and video flashing around and suddenly it went dark and the next min, HJ started singing 고맙다..
After the song, the host had asked him to greet but I thought he actually looked kinda nervous? Then they started the talk with him...
At the beginning, when he was asked about Bali.. everyone was kind of looking forward to what he will be saying but turns out.. he said he have no memory of it.. lol.. When asked another one.. he said the same thing and it was kinda funny that the host had to try asking other questions instead...
Then they brought out the clothes that were worn during the shoot.
The host even said that she was told by the staff that the clothes were unwashed right after HJ had wore it for the shoot.
She even said she took a sniff at it and that it smells good..
Then she asked,
“Is it that you particularly like the clothes (referring to the center piece) and wore it a lot of times? As I can see it is rather creased..”
But he answered casually,
“Normally the clothes are ironed properly and I supposed there must be some mishandling with the courier service that the clothes are all creased up.”

Onto the wedding scene..
The host asked,
“What do you think about the wedding part where all your fans were giving their best supporting you?"
“If it were to be my real wedding, I doubt any of you will be clapping as hard and loud like that.” (as usual the crowd burst into laughters)

Next onto the corner where he had to draw out 3 lucky fans that will get to go up the stage and to ask him a question.
When he drew out the first one...he was holding onto the ticket stub and the host asked him to try reading out the seat number...
He looked at the ticket stub in his hands and said,
“Eight thousand and six hundred yen” (reading out in Japanese with the most innocent look..)
Everyone burst out laughing… XP
The host laughed and pointed out to him where he should read it out.. ^^

That’s all I could recall of the afternoon session…
So while HJ went backstage to prepare for the high touch session, the host started asking around if there were fans that were from the Kansai area that made all the way to this event..
There were hands raised but since it’s abit hard for the host to look around, she said how about answering with clapping your hands instead.
Then she went on asking if there were fans from other regions of Japan. While she was asking this, I turned and asked M if we should respond if she asked if there were anyone from overseas?
We decided that we should and since we are sure that we ain’t the only overseas fans there.. ^^
So when she asked, both of us clapped our hands..
But turns out… we are the only ones and everyone turned their attention over and looked at us! (It only later occurred to us that logically, most overseas fans wouldn’t understand Japanese since they prob would learn Korean instead..(^_^;))
So she was asking us where we are from..
when she said Taiwan.. M nodded and though I shook my head.. the host kind of take it that I’m from Taiwan too… (――;)　
N she started looking elsewhere and asking if there’s any others from overseas..
So our STARLINGs from Singapore managed to callout but at the beginning, that host couldn’t make out the name and after they callout a few times did she understood.
There were also fans from US, Hong Kong and Korea calling out thereafter.. ^^

Soon it was the long awaited high touch session…
The first gal came on stage and walked over to the table and stood in front of him..
She was going to raise both her arms for the high touch but turns out.. he put out his right hand out for a handshake…
The gal was looking lost and he too was looking lost and looked at the staff.. and not sure what really went on but seems like he was insisting on the handshake instead…
So the host announced saying that instead of the high touch.. it will become a handshake instead…
Everyone were cheering and happy about it. So was M.
Since this was the first time that she got to see HJ in person.. and to think that she could have a proper handshake with him, she was getting excited about it.

Though this ain’t my first time seeing him in person, but it was my first time being able to “touch” him… lol..
As it was arranged to start from those sitting at 3rd balcony to queue for the handshake.. we had some time to sit around and watched how the handshake was done.
There was one staff standing near the table facing HJ, which is the one that most of you had seen her in the clip pushing fans.
We saw that there were even some who haven’t even touched his hand yet and she had already placed her hand on the fans back and starting to push already.
Though I do admit that there are fans who grasped on to him and not releasing… but most of the fans were well mannered and released his hands after shaking it.
As it’s drawing near for us to queue.. I had asked M if she intend to say anything to him? Though there’s only time to just blurt out one sentence quickly.
So we were thinking of the usual boring phrase of where we came from.. As we totally have no idea what to say to him.. (^^ゞ
But after discussing, we decide to change it and ask him to come over instead..
N we decided to say it in Japanese.
Reason being.. we have no idea how to say it in Korean..
N it makes much more sense that there is this slight chance that he will understand since he had that lil Japanese knowledge.. lol..
As we are walking near to the stage... felt the nervous, excited tension in the air.. ^^
N the next thing I know.. I’m already on stage… and suddenly.. M was already shaking hands with him and walked off after that..

So he turned his head over and looked at me while I’m walking over to stand in front of him..
N I reached out my right hand and touch shook with him..lol..
Suddenly I feel so damn short standing in front of him and as on and off, there are announcements and it’s a lil noisy..
I sort of lean over and said quickly,
“シンガポールに来てください～” (Please come to Singapore in Japanese)
All these while..he was looking into my eyes with that smile trying to melt you right on the spot… lol..
N I was surprised he leaned over a lil too to listen what I was going to say.. ^^
But I thought he prob didn’t hear it.. since I didn’t think I spoke loud enough and it was noisy..
About 2,3 seconds after I finished my sentence, I heard him said,
“はい．．”(yes/ok in Japanese)
Still with his smile plastered on... I nodded to acknowledge and walked off…
M had turned around and looked at mi while waiting for mi to walk out together..

She was jumping happily and said, “He did look at you!” . (cheap thrill since I know he looked at every single person who stood in front of him.. keke… )
So while walking out.. we were discussing about how soft and white his hand was.. keke..
I was commenting that it was fleshy too at the thenar...
As we were walking up... saw these 2 banners...

After walking out, there’s still an hour plus to go before the evening session starts.
As we only decided to go at the last min, we didn’t look for the evening session tickets.
I did have a look at the auctions but the prices were.... *shakes head*
But when I reached Japan, it was a surprised that a friend had decided not to go and let me have her tix!! ^^
It’s been a whole day and we didn’t had anything at all, so after a quick bite of a small croissant, I had to head for the fan meet again.

To be continued.......again..lol..

1st First Love Story Fan Meet - da arrival ~

I know...this is so...so..much late... 　
For my own record... posting this long overdue account..
So that I can reminisce it later... keke.. It took mi quite a while to pen this down... (^_^;)
As I’m not a good photographer nor am I good with words...
So this may start off boring with too much text..
*Skip if required..^^

First off... this trip was kinda last minute for me..
I have gone ahead to get the fan meeting tix even though I ain’t sure if I could really go...
But someway… somehow.. I managed to settle the airtix and all just 2 weeks before the event and got myself there... ^^
It was supposed to be a relaxing trip of just attending the event and prob shop around Tokyo...
Turns out.. it was so much tiring than I expected... but I was glad to make this trip cuz I made a few friends while I’m there. ^^
Shall start from the day before the event though if you dun wanna get bored.. you can just skip straight to the part on the day of the event.. ^^
(As I’m not sure if my friends like to be named, so I just use alphabets in replace of their names.. sorry if one feel that it’s confusing..)


10/10 (Day before the event)
@Haneda Airport
I had arranged to meet up with my friend M from Taiwan to attend the event together.
There were many assumptions and rumors that most probably he be arriving a day before.
N since it was M’s birthday, had asked her if she would like to head over to the airport to have “a look”.. lol...
She had agreed with me so we arranged to meet at Haneda airport since I have a lunch appointment and she will only be arriving in the afternoon too.
Thought that she will head home to put down her luggage first but I was wrong!
As she was worried not able to make it in time and to save the hassle, she took a bus from Narita and head straight to Haneda instead! (^^ゞ
So she was early and got herself a seat and doze off while waiting....
When I arrived... what a coincident! I found her sitting next to my Japanese friend, E... lol...

When it was time… we got up and stood near the arrival exit to wait....
There were already some fans gathering around forming a pathway out to the door...
We even saw a cameraman standing around so most of us were kind of sure that he will be arriving soon.
N after waiting for around 20mins... we saw the cameraman getting ready... and suddenly he was filming!
All fans got their cams ready...everyone got kinda frantic and started snapping away first...there was camera flash etc...
Then the next min, we saw some Ajussi in suit shaking hands with another one...we have no idea who he was... lol..
N everyone started laughing out loud for the misunderstanding... and some were even deleting the pics from their cams.. XP
As time passed... we conclude that he was not on that flight... (^_^;)

So we proceed to the café and I got to know a few other Japanese fans..^^
They were nice and surprised that my friend and I had travelled over for the event.
After chatting for a while, they were nice to share with us that they just got information that HJ was not seen at Gimpo so he should not be on the next arriving flight either. So while most of the fans were crowding around waiting at the exit, we continued to sit at the café. We even joked about what a joke it would be if HJ were to walk out and we are still sitting and relaxing at the café.. lol..
Again, after some time, we still did not have any news of him being seen at Gimpo. There were even speculations that he might have taken VIP entrance. We decided to wait on since we were had already waited for so long. So when the last flight has arrived and there was still no sight of him, we decided to call it a day. All of us had agreed to meet the following morning at Haneda again.

One of the Japanese fans, S that we had just met had offered to send my friend and I home since her place is kind of near to ours. She even offered to pick us up at a nearby station and drive us to the airport together the next morning! We were very surprised and touched that she was so nice and to think that we had met for a few hours only! (mind you that the car journey to the airport takes more than an hour... )
By the time we reached home, it was past midnight and poor M had spent her birthday at the airport and not seeing HJ at all... (@_@)
N she only had her first meal after midnight…by the time we head to the bed.. it was already 3am..


10/11 – Event Day
@Haneda Airport
After sleeping for around 4 hrs.. I had to drag myself out of the bed and head out to meet up S. When we arrived at Haneda, there were already some fans waiting outside the terminal. Met up with the rest and was told that he had taken ... (sorry.. I forgot which flight it was.. XP) and since there’s still some time, we headed over to the café again to grab a bite while waiting. There were also some other fans sitting inside the café..
Later I was informed by another Japanese friend, Y that HJ is wearing a black hat and brown jacket today.
While I was chatting with Y, suddenly this man walked past the both of us and it was funny that we had the same reaction, a short paused in our conversation before continuing what we were talking about. Then we broke out laughing and started whispering to each other asking if that fella was who we thought he was.
After looking at him for a while, we confirmed that he was HyeonJin, the ex-manager of the boys.. He was sitting with another guy at the café too.
As there were bodyguards/securities in suits standing around asking fans to wait outside the airport, we continued to stay in the café and we conclude that when that ex manager leaves, we will too. ^^
Much later, I supposed we were too busy chatting that we didn’t even realized that he had left... lol..
So we were a bit frantic and scrambled out of the café to wait...

The flight has landed and there were already passengers making their way out. The MIS(Men In Suits..lol..) were still walking around asking fans not to block the pathway etc. M and I had decided to stand at a corner.. where we could see him the moment he walked out from the door.
Ok.. I’m bad in explaining but most people will not be able to see the door where the passengers walked out as there is a board/screen blocking it out....
After walking out from the door.. the passengers still need to walk a lil distance and turn out to their right before everyone can see them.
So both of us were standing there chatting while looking out for him... lol.. I had reminded myself to lookout for someone with a black hat...but it turns out.. he was wearing a beanie and I forgot that the word “hat” in Japanese can be used to refer to that too... (；一_一)
Anyway... we were so engrossed in chatting… and suddenly right in front of my eyes.. I saw this guy in black beanie and sunglasses walking out..
He was happily talking to someone and he had this really nice and natural smile that caught my attention..
Apparently.. he caught M’s attention too.. lol..
For that few seconds.. our minds were blank and suddenly M just got into her sense and told mi that it’s him! (^_^;)
We got excited and others around us have also noticed him. But somehow.. when he turn out and saw the mass number of people.. he had this startled look and the smile was gone.. (@_@)
He just had this expressionless look on his face and then the MIS surrounded him and kinda everyone got crazy and chaotic.. all charging towards him..

There screams, camera flashes, people running, pushing around… n I just stood there watching... lol..
Sorry.. I can’t really bring myself to go squeeze into the crowd or tried to touch him or call out to him or etc..
Just ain't the type so no touchy encounters here... ^^
As I had to avoid the MIS who were trying to block the view and before the fans all swamped up to him...I only managed to take a blur pic when he walked out... Some of you probably have already seen it in some of the regular blogs.. lol.. cuz my friends took it using their mobile on my cam and send it out.. lol..

Just realised at the opposite side...there were also so many people trying to take his pics.. lol..

Zooming in a lil on the pic...sorry for the blur n bad quality..(ーー;)

Can’t remember much after he was out.. lol.. Everyone was cramming around the van that he has boarded and I walked the opposite direction from the van instead...
Still a lil dazed with that smile imprinted in my mind... I only remembered looking out for M and then we were heading towards the fan meeting venue.
Later I realized I totally forgot about E till she emailed me asking where I was at the airport...(@_@。
Felt really...really sorry to E... ごめん!

To be continued...