SF9 (Who Made the Theme Song of the New Drama "KBOYS") and the Cast Interview! "We Are Happy You Introduced Our Song on SNS" | JPN → ENG (KSTYLE)

Original Post 2018.10.09

The drama, KBOYS where six ikemen high school boys aspire to be k-pop idols, a group of youthful boys chasing their dreams with their friends airs on 10/10 (Wednesday) at 1:44 AM JST on ABC TV & GYAO! As the six high school boys who were chosen out of many audition applications, are  Sakuma Yu (Ishiyama Ryo), Yutaro (Yamamoto Miyabi), Sakumoto Takara (Higa Gaito), Uehara Ichika (Nishijima Sho), Tamagawa Ren (Kawaguchi Daisuke), and Kubota Kousuke (Yazaki Takumi). In addition, the director is Yukiko Mishima who directs "Bread of Happiness", "Dear Entrager", and "Antiquarian Bookshop Biblia's Case Files (Memory of Antique Books)" (releasing 11/1).

Also, the popular Korean boy group, SF9, made the theme song. So at KSTYLE, we held an interview with the main actors Sakuma Yu, Yutarou, Sakumoto Takara and the SF9 members. There is a difference between Japanese and Korean and actors and artists but since they are the same generation, they had a lot in common and it was very exciting.

 * [T/N] underlined names are the actors with SF9 in the interview and pictures.

 * [T/N] The cast and SF9 talk together so it's best your read the whole thing! 💜

 

The drama where highschool boys aspire to be k-pop idols starts

―― Please tell us of your impression of you starring in KBOYS.

Sakuma: I've been acting with the same goals for several months, and I had a very meaningful time. I am filled with gratitude to those who have provided such opportunities and to everyone who shares the same time.
For the next few months, I think I'll hit various barriers like preparing for roles, dancing, and being with my friends. There may be times when it feels painful, but I think that it's a happy thing for sure. If they are having a hard time, I'll be by their side and if we run into each other, they can depend on me and I think I want to build that kind of good relationship with my colleagues.

Yutaro: This is my first time in a drama series, so I'm still anxious and nervous, but I'm glad to know that all the cast members are of the same generation, so we got along so quickly, so now, it's really fun! I want to know more about k-pop myself through this work, and I hope I can tell everyone how good K-POP is! We are currently taking very good dance lessons, so please look forward to the performance!

Sakumoto: To be honest, when the decision was first made, I was confused and I said, "What? Are you okay? Me?". I was saying that when I went to the audition and all around me were kids with modern and white-colored hair and me who had close-cut hair said, "I did it." Everyone has wonderful differences in characters, and they have their own strengths and weaknesses, but I'm very happy to be able to do this with everyone else.

SF9 sings the theme song for KBOYS...What's your first impression of each other?

―― How do you feel about SF9 doing the theme song?

Youngbin: I was very surprised and honored to hear that SF9's song was chosen as the theme song for a Japanese drama. I hope that this will make fans start watching a lot of dramas, and on the contrary, it will make more people learn about SF9.

―― What was your first impression of each other?

Youngbin: It was an honor to be able to take pictures and have an interview with Japanese actors, but I'm nervous because they are very handsome.
Yutarou: No, no~ 😂😅 On the other hand, even though they are of the same generation as us, they are completely different in height and frame, and I feel an overwhelming sense of defeat 🤣.
SF9: Not really ~ 😂😅 But thank you.

"I was full of unfounded confidence in my audition."😂

―― You heard that the members of KBOYS were chosen by auditions, so please tell me your (SF9's) memories of auditions.

Zuho: Since I auditioned at a young age, I was fearless, rather, I was filled with a strange confidence. For example, if the photographer asked "Look at the camera and smile" I said, filled with unfounded confidence, "Even though it's not funny, it's funny so I'll laugh if you make me laugh." 😂.

Youngbin: Isn't it because of your personality, regardless of age? Right? 😂

Jaeyoon: I don't think it's a good idea for them to learn this. 😂😅

Staff: 🤣🤣🤣

Yutarou: KBOYS had an audition for dancing and acting and I think your dancing looks nice when you are confident. But, I was not confident in dancing and couldn't do it at all, so I regretted it. On the other hand, I want you to have your confidence.

Sakuma: I couldn't dance at all so I did all I could do to keep up with the rhythm. I tried, but when I saw my footage later, I couldn't show it to anyone else. 🤣

―― Did you think you would pass?

Sakuma: Honestly, I never thought about it. 😂😅

Sakumoto: I'm round-headed and suntanned so I have a style that I think is far from k-pop and I thought, "I will never pass but since this is something interesting, I'll give it my all."

――What was interesting?

Sakumoto: I skim over the lines and it was a flat play but just in case, I read along... I tried that kind of thing.

Chani: Maybe because I was too nervous, my stomach started hurting in the waiting room, and I had the experience of holding on to my stomach for about 5 minutes. I think auditions are very tense after all.

Yutarou's personal favorite SF9 song is "Different"

―― By the way, Yutarou introduced SF9's "Different" as a personal recommendation song on Twitter.

SF9: OH!! ~

Yutarou: When I listened to SF9's album, it was the first song I heard. Of course, I love the other songs, but I thought "Different" was enjoyable to imagine dancing to, and I thought the part, " I run for you to the end of the earth." was really cool and I wish I could sing this kind of song too.

Rowoon: We really grateful that you thought so much of our songs and introduced us on your SNS.

―― Has Sakuma and Sakumoto ever listen to k-pop?

Sakuma: After I started this job, I started listening to it, but "Fanfare" was a song I heard by SF9.

SF9: Oh!!~

Sakuma: The way you guys followed the rhythm in the intro was really cool; I wish I could perform like this.

Sakumoto: Sakuma came to show off the MV to me. 😂 He said, "Look, it's so cool! We can't do this choreography either." We use "Now or Never" in the drama and it's cool and I like it too.

Hwiyoung: Thank you!

―― As for the story of high school students who are aiming to become k-pop idols, SF9, please tell us about your memories of your days as a trainee.

Youngbin: We had been practicing for a very long time, and we debuted as a group, but once the practice got very hard,  we all played the Mafia game for a while. Some of the staff members scolded us and punished us, saying, "What are you doing not practicing?"

Inseong: I was a trainee while attending school, it was late to aim for a being a singer and it was too late to start dancing. So I followed and practiced until midnight with Taeyang, Youngbin, and Chani, who were very good at dancing. I think I'm going to cry when I think about it.

SF9: 😂😂😂

Inseong: But now that I think about it, I think I'm where I am now because there were times like that.

Youngbin: Wahh, amazing~!!

SF9 responds to Korea's concerns about KBOYS!

――What is KBOYS interested about in Korea? SF9, please let us know what you are interested in.

Sakumoto: I'm interested in learning dance for the drama, but I think it's also a trend. What kind of dances are popular in Korea now?

Taeyang: There are plenty of American dances coming to Korea like (while doing the popular shoot dance) this.

KBOYS: Aahhh! It's popular in Korea, too!

Sakuma: What would I be able to eat if I went to Korea?

Dawon: (in Japanese) Do you like spicy food?

Sakuma: I'm a little bad at eating spicy food.

Dawon: Well, I recommend tteokbokki. In Korea, there's a chain restaurant that everyone knows, but a food that Koreans like is tteokbokki. You said you don't like spicy food, but this time, I'd like you to take a chance and try spicy food 😂.

Staff: 🤣🤣🤣

Yutarou: I have only been to Jeju Island, so please tell me what spots you recommend in Seoul.

Jaeyoon: I'm from Busan, so I don't know much about Seoul like the other members, but from my experience, I think Namsan and Han River are good places to go.

Hwiyoung: I think Gwanghwamun Square and the FNC Entertainment building are cool. 😂

―― So, lastly, please make an appeal to the drama.

Sakuma: There are scenes when I danced in the drama so I did my best in the lessons and went to the filming. Just like in the drama, the actors who play the roles of the KBOYS members worked and practiced hard. It would be a great honor if many people can watch it.

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