[NEWS] Kai - 171208 Vogue Japan: “Based on a work by Mukoda Kuniko, the drama 'Spring Has Come' stars Kai from the world renowned group EXO. We caught up with him for an interview in Tokyo!”
“Kai, a member from Korea’s quadruple million-selling and Asia’s top dance and vocal group, EXO has been making a buzz recently with his leading role in his first Japanese drama. The anticipated drama, ‘Spring Has Come’, will begin airing on 13 January. The drama is based on a work by Mukoda Kuniko and will also be featuring Kurushina Kana, Furuhata Seika, Takahata Atsuko and Sano Shiro. The overarching theme is ‘family regeneration’, with Kai taking up the role of a Korean photographer. To promote the drama, Kai came to Japan and sat down with us for an interview.
A light beige colour covered the studio that Kai was in. He was slender and tall, his gentleness reflected in the radiant aura that filled the room. He politely exchanged greetings with the staff before proceeding to the photoshoot. He sat in the chair with his legs extended, his movements were smooth as if he was dancing as he struck a bashful pose. ‘May I sit on the floor?’, ‘May I lay down?’…. Without waiting for the photographer’s instruction, Kai moved. After the shoot was over, he headed over to the table for the interview. Like a true gentleman, Kai handed water bottles to us and the interpreter before taking his own. As for the interview itself, Kai answered each question confidently in his own words. Near the end of the interview, when he was asked to give a message to fans, his expression and tone immediately became softer.
Why did you choose to tone your body?
ㅡ Please tell us what you did to prepare for the drama.
I play a photographer, so I had to learn how to use a camera. Above anything else though, I needed to speak Japanese well so I studied the language diligently.
ㅡ You seemed to have had to tone your body for the role.
In the drama there is a scene where I undress so I focused a lot on toning my body. Even during my time in Japan, while filming, I would work out alone and if I had time I would exercise every day. Even though I only began toning my body during the summer of 2016, I’ve grown to really like it now (hehe).
ㅡ ‘Spring Has Come’ paints a picture of an ideal family, but the drama also paints the image of a cold family. Did you feel any differences between these types of families to those in Korea?
I don’t think the drama could ever depict all of the types of families in Japan. All families are different and Korean families are just as different as those in Japan. With that being said, more important than the differences, I think things like the ideal family and problems within a family are the same regardless of country. Because of that, I felt very sympathetic towards the family in the drama. In addition, I also experienced a lot of warmth in the atmosphere amongst Japanese families through things like eating together under a kotatsu1. Actually, I had received one as a gift back when I debuted. It’s small and warm, I love it.
He spoke enthusiastically about filming on set with his costars.
ㅡ In the drama there are many scenes where a family is gathered around a dining table. Are there any memories you can recall about your family gathering around the dining table?
My mother was good at cooking so she would make a variety of food. Right now I’m into dak-galbi2 with mochi3. Even though she makes a lot of seafood dishes, I really want to eat dak-galbi. However, it’s difficult to find time to eat with my family and unfortunately we haven’t had any time to gather together around the dining table. I have good memories of overseas trips I’ve taken with my family during breaks.
ㅡ Did you get to know your costars?
Yes, we became good friends and had a fun time during the filming. They understood that I was studying Japanese and would try to help me out in various ways. They would teach me things such as interesting words, like ‘Omae mo na (right back at ya)’ (hehe). Naoko (Kurushina Kana) taught me that. I handed a copy of EXO’s concert DVD to Sano Shiro who played the role of the father during one reading of the script and he watched it. One of our members plays guitar and it happened to be one of the guitars Shiro liked, he also talked about things like a famous Korean artist he was close with along with just music in general. The other staff helped teach me hiragana as well, which made for a pleasant filming experience. During the filming I had memorised all of the hiragana, but if I were to look at it now I don’t think I would be able to read it since it’s been a while (hehe).
What scene from the drama made you feel most exposed?
ㅡ EXO’s song ’Lovin’ You Mo’’ is used as the theme for the drama.
The drama revolves around relationships between families, which differ from the love in romantic relationships. Despite this, I think both types of love signify the ‘relationship’ between people, which is what I think this theme song captures.
ㅡ What is different between the love among family and the love among lovers?
I think love between lovers begins with the desire for family. With the love between lovers, two people can become a family, and then I feel like the two types of love become the same.
ㅡ Along with ’Spring Has Come’ and ‘Andante’, you have appeared in many dramas. Have you ever considered using your dancing skills in a role of an action drama?
Action dramas are great! But unfortunately in this drama, ’Spring Has Come’, the scene that I felt most exposed was… No scene actually comes to mind (roar of laughter).
ㅡ It seems hard to think of a particular scene.
Nothing was particularly difficult, moreso, it was fun. Perhaps there were some scenes like that though (hehe).
ㅡ Kai, please send a message to your fans.
Hello. I am Kai. Everyone, please give ‘Spring Has Come’ a lot of love and support. It’s a drama about love between family members and lovers. It’s also a drama that let’s you see a different image of me than usual. To those of you watching the drama, I hope you can laugh and cry as you enjoy it. And please also give VOGUE JAPAN and WOWOW lots of support, thank you.”
1Note: Kotatsu is a type of Japanese heated table covered in a thick blanket (futon). Typically used during the winter, a family would all sit under the warm blanket and eat together, making kotatsu a symbol of closeness and family within Japan.
2Note: Spicy stir-fried chicken.
Credit: translation, dailyexo.tumblr.com, Source: Vogue Japan.
