INI says they saw ‘Squid Game’... wants to perform in Sky Dome

▲ This photo, provided by CJ ENM, shows INI performing in Japan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

▲ This photo, provided by CJ ENM, shows JO1 performing in Japan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

▲ This photo, provided by CJ ENM, shows JO1 with its fans. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

 

SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- “Everyone saw things like ‘Squid Game.’” (INI Kimura Masaya)

INI and JO1 shared their love for Korean culture in an interview held with Yonhap News on the 15th, after the “KCON 2022 Premiere in Tokyo,” which was held at Makuhari Messe (based in Chiba Prefecture) from the 14th to the 15th.
 

Goto Takeru (INI) shared his thoughts on S. Korea before his debut, “The roads were wide so it felt nice to walk.”

Sato Keigo (JO1) shared, “Every night we gathered around our room and ordered Kimchi stew,” and chose Galibitang (Beef Short Rib Soup) as food that gave strength to other JO1 members.

Kono Junki (JO1) said in Korean to the Korean fans, “Please look forward. I love JAM (JO1 fandom)."
 

JO1 and INI were created in season 1 and season 2 of "Produce 101 Japan," a Japanese audition program modeled after "Produce 101," respectively.

The influence of BTS was also felt through these members.

Matsuda Jin (INI) mentioned that he first listened to K-pop during high school and said, “I listened to BTS and it was very catchy.”

The member praised the charm of Korean pop music by saying, “It's a color that only exists in K-pop, like powerful dance or vocals that overwhelm with high notes, that doesn’t exist in J-pop (Japanese pop music).”

Ikezaki Rihito (INI) said, "I fell in love with BTS and admired them," and when he heard that the first season of Produce 101 Japan was doing a season 2, he recalled, "I was an ordinary college student, but I decided to go out only with a longing heart."

Tajima Shogo (INI) said, “I have many places that I want to perform. Despite it being a dream, I want to take the stage in Tokyo Dome in Japan and Gocheok Sky Dome in Korea.”

KCON 2022 Premiere Tokyo was held in Japan by CJ ENM for the first time in three years since May 2019, and the response was so good that tickets to the 10,000-seat concert hall were sold out per day.

The members couldn’t hide their joy about the offline performance which was finally held after the prolonged COVID-19.

Yonashiro Sho (JO1) said, “Until now, it had to be done online. I am very happy that the atmosphere has increased at the large-scale KCON with fans of other artists as well as us.” (Assistant interviewer: Sakiko Murata)

(This article is translated from Korean to English by An Hayeon.)

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