AIR Magazine by Ruth Lozner

vol. 7

Your Lifeline to East Asia.

Special Edition:

BIG BANG

2012

WORLD TOUR

23894729387492

www.jype.com

INSIDE DEPARTMENTS 13

All the Drama

Never Enough

21 Beats from the East

Small Things Count

Doll Up

For Your Eyes Only

Straight from the streets of Osaka, we bring to you steaming hot takoyaki.

We bring you behinds the scenses of the hit Korean drama “Boys Before Flowers.”

This New Year’s haul of the latest knick knacks and accents to brighten up your home, clothes and electronics.

Wondergirls open up an international contest to see who can best perform a cover of their newest single “Be My Baby.”

Fresh new colors & brands of make-up and where to get them as well as special coupons & deals.

The streets of Seoul. Photo by Paulina Nguyen 7

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Keep warm this winter and still look trendy with cute knits and leggings that are all the rage in Japan and South Korea.

FEATURES

HAYAO MIYAZAKI

COTTINY

YUSUKE NAKAMURA

BIG BANG

GET IT STRAIGHT

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55 Off the Streets

Tis the season to cuddle up with someone special. Couple tees and accessories are trending like there is no tomorrow.

63 Detangle

Expert hair stylists reveal their secret to keeping your hair healthy, long and luscious.

70 One on One

Get ahead in an exclusive interview with Epik Highâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tablo.

76 DIY

Get in touch with your feminine side! Make a flirty skirt and matching hair bow from one of your old dresses. Illustration by Yusuke Nakamura 2012 JANUARY 8

All the Drama

Boys Before Flowers ! s e n e c s e h t d behin

These

days, when women aged anywhere from their teens through fifties gather, mention of a particular drama always crops up: KBS2â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Monday-Tuesday series, Boys Before Flowers. What could be the reason for its popularity? To find out, I visited the filming location. February 8, Yangpyeong English Village in Kyeonggi Province. Despite the cold, a swarm of spectators has formed, surprising even F4. Amid the dozens of fans here to watch the filming and the actors, a few tourists can be spotted. The following is a general look at the day on the film set, grouped by periods of time. (Continued on page 16)

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www.dramacrazy.net

Left: Koo Hye Sun

? n o s e o g t a Wh to you, -eul is important 4:30 PM: “Is Ga or am I?” Gu Jun-pyo shot at 4:30 pm, At the scene being where they , -di Jan l to meet has come to schoo th. bicker back and for ds the OK, es, the director soun tak o tw ly After on together. rk wo o well these tw demonstrating how e, “Is Ga-eul lin the ys sa o -py Jun In particular, when see from his or am I,” we can is important to you, es her even lik ch Jun-pyo truly expression how mu her. as he grumbles at them from ld weather keep Not letting the co o’s attitudes n-h Mi Lee d an un laughing, Gu Hye-s w. faces of the tired cre bring smiles to the

ol s inside the scho 5:30 PM: F4 film mpleted, the crew co are ts sho or As soon as outdo the episode use the scenes for moves busily, beca t yet been no ve ha ) bruary 10 to air this week (Fe completed. Village is ilding in the English In the drama, a bu Min-ho Lee ol. ho inhwa High Sc used as part of Sh

www.dramacrazy.net

ene, then more 6:30 PM: Last sc movement irs with Kim un-joong on the sta I can see Kim Hy Lee Min-ho are e ov n, while ab Bum an d Kim Joo with Jung Eui-chul. Kim Bum, and Kim Hyun-joong, This scene shows slowly, while e ing the staircas Kim Joon ascend o, telling him, n-h Mi Lee to gizes Jung Eui-chul apolo “I’m sorry.” s are shot rn out and many NG The actors are wo e it their giv d an er eth y stick tog [outtakes], but the because es, fac he’s read their best shot. Maybe d of their en the ng rki om ma ro the waiting shouts, “Great!,” 6:10 PM: Inside t do each the PD F4 members. Wha the Village shooting. es for sh e gli tim En t res t Swee er for them. Their fac ile they rest? wh e lik k ver, filming is not ov loo we ys Ho l have gu y’l the s. ak m the bre of these F4 s for orm e when the staff inf ys don’t have tim rds they’re change In short, these gu however at the wo time in name, but k” all night shooting, rea d “b en ve sp ha to y . ple laughter ng sim rki th They ma wo wi sily off bu ad s eat,” they he raphs, hand busy signing autog th barely “Let’s go sters and OSTs, wi children. ◊ po g of un yo res e lik sco n sig They t. res n ow ir the a minute for ess show, n’t let their tiredn But the actors do nkful that tha t jus m “I’ s, t smile saying with brigh erest.” there’s so much int

en has time , and, before he ev enters the building Kim Hyuners mb hands, F4 me to warm his frozen ce filming. en mm co n Joo d Kim joong, Kim Bum, an the mood , ma dra at ght, upbe In contrast to the bri tfalls are foo as though not even s, crew, on set is solemn, tor Ac . ion iss rm thout pe quiet. allowed to sound wi are all — allowed on set and the reporters in English s on cti tru ins ing , giv dispels But PD Jeon Ki-sang understood accent, in his clear, easily everyone’s anxiety.

Left to right: Kim Bum, Kim Hyun Joong, Lee Min Ho, Kim Joon.

2012 JANUARY 16

Hayao M

Studio Ghibli

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Miyazaki Hayao Miyazaki’s hand-crafted fables have made him Japan’s most successful film-maker. In a rare interview, he talks to Xan Brooks. In the garden of his Venice hotel, Hayao Miyazaki proves quite the celebrity. He signs autographs with a flourish, poses gamely before a barrage of photographers and excuses himself only briefly for a call of nature. “You have been called the god of anime,” an Italian journalist shouts at his retreating form. “How does it feel to be a god?” He visibly flinches on his way to the look.

“This shifting world is something Miyazaki has long been fascinated by” In the opinion of Pixar’s John Lasseter, Miyazaki is “the world’s greatest living animator.” According to the numbers, he is Japan’s most successful film-maker, with his 2001 fable “Spirited Away” breaking the domestic box-office record set by Titanic. But away from the limelight this white-haired little professor leads a monastic existence (all work, no play, TV or internet). His publicist tells me that this is the first interview he has agreed to in 10 years. Miyazaki’s latest film, Howl’s Moving Castle, plays out in a valley kingdom inhabited by wizards, fire demons and undulating shadow monsters in natty straw boaters. It’s based on a children’s book by Welsh author Diana Wynne Jones; Miyazaki has visited Wales several times and has a deep affection for the place.

He was first there in 1984, witnessed the miners’ strike at first hand and farmed the whole harrowing experience into his 1986 animation Laputa: Castle in the Sky. “I admired those men,” he says, sitting in the sun as the photographers melt away. “I admired the way they battled to save their way of life, just as the coal miners in Japan did. Many people of my generation see the miners as a symbol; a dying breed of fighting men.” He shrugs. “Now they are gone.” And here’s the thing. Miyazaki, for all his fame and acclaim, could soon be following them. It is his fate to find himself hailed as the greatest practitioner of hand-drawn cell animation (perhaps the greatest there has ever been) at a time when the art form appears to be headed the way of the dodo. He seems curiously Zen about this. “If it is a dying craft we can’t do anything about it. Civilisation moves on. Where are all the fresco painters now? Where are the landscape artists? What are they doing now? The world is changing. I have been very fortunate to be able to do the same job for 40 years. That’s rare in any era.”

This shifting world is something Miyazaki has long been fascinated by. His films feature cute creatures fighting tooth and nail to preserve their communities, and bucolic landscapes under threat of destruction. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds, his 1984 film, depicts a post-apocalyptic enclave menaced by toxic spores and giant insects. Princess Mononoke (1997) concerns the battle between the animals of the forest and the human developers holed up in an industrial stockade. (Continued on page 19)

Totoro illustration by Hayaoi Miyazaki

A God Among Animators All drama depends on this kind of conflict. And yet Miyazaki’s stance can be bizarrely even-handed. Invariably his hero or heroine is cast in the role of peacemaker, or piggy in the middle, while his supporting players are an unruly bunch. No-Face, the timid, helpful spirit in Spirited Away, blooms into an allconsuming carnivore. The wicked witch in Howl’s Moving Castle winds up as a cherished family member, slumbering in her armchair like some dotty old aunt. Most children’s storytellers install their characters as fixed symbols of good and evil. Miyazaki makes them bounce around like pinballs. In 1997, the director signed a distribution deal with Disney. It was to prove a springboard to global renown, paving the way for a dedicated exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art and helping him secure the 2003 Oscar for Spirited Away. Even so, the nature of Miyazaki’s films has been tweaked in transit. In Japan his films are blockbusters the whole family can enjoy. In Britain and the US he remains a predominantly adult, art-house phenomenon. Miyazaki taps a cigarette from a silver case. The Disney deal suits him, he explains, because he has stuck to his guns. His refusal to grant merchandising rights means that there is no chance of any Nausicaa happy

meals or Spirited Away video games. Furthermore, Disney wields no creative control. There is a rumour that when Harvey Weinstein was charged with handling the US release of Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki sent him a samurai sword in the post. Attached to the blade was a stark message: “No cuts.” The director chortles. “Actually, my producer did that. Although I did go to New York to meet this man, this Harvey Weinstein, and I was bombarded with this aggressive attack, all these demands for cuts.” He smiles. “I defeated him.” Disney releases Miyazaki films in two formats: a subtitled version for the purists and a dubbed extravaganza for the popcorn crowd. Howl’s Moving Castle is no exception. It features the voice of Billy Crystal as the obstreperous fire demon and Lauren Bacall as the Witch of the Wastes. This is fine, says Miyazaki, because Bacall is “a fabulous woman” who brought something to the role that home-grown actors couldn’t. “All the Japanese female voice actors have voices that are very coquettish and wanting male attention, which was not what we wanted at all.” In any case, he adds, who is to say that a subtitled

Animation still of Howl & Sophie from the movie“Howl’s Moving 19

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print is any more authentic? “When you watch the subtitled version you are probably missing just as many things. There is a layer and a nuance you’re not going to get. Film crosses so many borders these days. Of course it is going to be distorted.” In the meantime Miyazaki continues to hone his traditional art-works at Ghibli, his Tokyo animation studio. In the past he has been vocal in his criticism of computer-generated imagery, describing it as “thin, shallow, fake”. These days he seems to have made his peace with the beast. He admits that he likes Toy Story

“Maybe that’s what these films are doing. They are my way of blessing the child.” because it opened the doors to a new breed of animation and even admits to using CGI in his own movies (but never more than 10% of the finished print). “Actually I think CGI has the potential to equal or even surpass what the human hand can do,” he says. “But it is far too late for me to try it.” His is a very serene and contented brand of fatalism. He talks about New Orleans, and Hurricane Katrina and insists that the same thing will happen in Tokyo. There are a lot of water-gates in the city, and the river runs past his home. He smiles and taps ash from his cigarette. There are too many people in the world, he says, and too many wrong turns along the way. At the age of 64, he gives the impression that the planet is doomed but he’ll soon be leaving it, and not a minute too soon. “Personally I am very pessimistic,” Miyazaki says. “But when, for instance, one of my staff has a baby you can’t help but bless them for a good future. Because I can’t tell that child, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t have come into this life.’ And yet I know the world is heading in a bad direction. So with those conflicting thoughts in mind, I think about what kind of films I should be making.” (Continued on page 23)

Studio Ghibli

Perhaps this is why he tells children’s stories. “Well, yes. I believe that children’s souls are the inheritors of historical memory from previous generations. It’s just that as they grow older and experience the everyday world that memory sinks lower and lower. I feel I need to make a film that reaches down to that level. If I could do that I would die happy.” I ask if he feels he’s managed that already and he chuckles and shakes his head. Nor does he feel that film can be employed as a force for good. “Film doesn’t have that kind of power,” he says, gloomily. “It only exerts its influence when it stirs patriots up against other nations, or taps into aggressive, violent urges.” This is a black diagnosis indeed. But then, inexplicably, Miyazaki’s mood lightens. Perhaps it’s the sunshine, or the cigarette, or the fact that the interview is almost over. “Of course,” he relents, “if, as artists, we try to tap into that soul level-if we say that life is worth living and the world is worth living in-then something good might come of it.” He shrugs. “Maybe that’s what these films are doing. They are my way of blessing the child.” ◊

Concept art of “Howl’s Moving Castle” by Hayao Miyazaki 2012 JANUARY 23

Beats from the East

Wonder Girls â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be My Babyâ&#x20AC;? Cover Dance Contest

>>>

Winners will be announced February 5, 2012.

>>>

Scheduled Korea tour period: February 17-20, 2012. (3 nights and 4 days) *Schedule subject to change.

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info >>>

application period>>> Join

“Nobody”, “Tell Me” and “So Hot” and has wowed audiences again by their new release. The 2nd allbum ‘Wonder World’ shows a different side of the Wonder girls as the group moves away from the retro style explored in their first album to a more refined image. In the new album, the ladies burst forth with a more mature sound, bringing a whole new level of

confidence and charisma to the already celebrated group. The little track, “Be My Baby” is set to take the world by storm- expressing a sweet confession of love and its all-consuming happiness. Of course, who better to sing the joys of love than these five gorgeous gals! ◊

How to Participate 1. Upload a video clip of you/your group’s “Be My Baby” cover dance to your Youtube account (*One group should have 5 members or less.)

Email the URL of your video clip along with each member’s nationality and country of residence to JYP Entertainment (e-mail wgbemybaby@gmail.com). (*Applications without participants’ nationalities & counties of residence will not be admitted.)

Leave a message of support for the Wonder Girls + the name of 1 tourist attraction in Seoul you want to visit on the JYP Facebook event page.

Selection Criteria The Wonder Girls themselves will be judging this event! Videos will be judged on how well participants represent the original dance while also giving the dance their own creative twist.

Prizes >>> 3 teams from abroad: Free trip to Korea + a free tour of Seoul + JYP Entertainment tour + a chance to meet the Wonder Girls. (*Airfare, accommodations for 3 Nights/4 Days, & Seoul tour paid for by VisitKorea.) >>> 2 local teams: JYP Entertainment tour + a chance to meet the Wonder Girls Left to right: Yubin, Yeeun (Yenny), Sunye (Sun), Sohee Hyerim (Lim)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

the Wonder Girls cover dance contest for a chance to win a FREE trip to Korea & meet the Wonder Girls! The contest, jointly sponsored by Visit Korea & JYP, is being held in celebration of the release of K-pop sensation Wonder Girls’ 2nd album “Wonder World” featuring the single “Be My Baby”. The 5-member K-pop girl group is loved by fans all over the world for hit songs like

01.01 - 1.31. 2012

2012 JANUARY 22

The curtain has rose on BIGBANG’s ALIVE tour. The popular group BIGBANG held a press conference interview on March 2 at Seoul’s Olympic World Stadium at 5:00pm in regards to their 2012 BIG BANG ALIVE TOUR. At this interview, all five members of BIGBANG and the tour director Laurie Ann Gibson attended. Q: What is the meaning of “ALIVE”, the current concert theme? Since 2009, BIGBANG would always keep in mind a “Big Show” concept for each of their performance on stage. Three years later, the “Big Show” concept is “ALIVE.” A: TOP explains, “This year’s concert has a very strong story line. In some universe far away, there is a world frozen over in ice. The members wake up and break out of the ice, coming out of hibernation. Following this idea, we chose ‘ALIVE’ as our theme.” G-Dragon adds, “In past Big Shows, we would get close to the audience and have a good time. This time around, the story line has been strongly thought out. It’ll feel like watching a musical.”

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Meeting with World Star Maker Laurie Ann Gibson: The concept for this year’s ALIVE Tour came about as a joint collaboration between BIGBANG and Laurie Ann Gibson. Laurie Ann Gibson worked with such famous stars as Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Beyonce. She has predicted Lady Gaga’s rise to stardom and raised many such stars. The interviewer asked BIGBANG how they feel about working with Laurie Ann Gibson. TOP talks about his first impression, “When seeing Laurie Ann Gibson and staff at work, I realized there are a lot we can learn from them.” He reflects and adds, “We first met in the band practice room. We got to see the band practicing without music. Even before meeting us, they had studied our songs. They also refrained from smoking around us because they didn’t want to tempt us with it. They focused on practicing so well that they even skipped meals to do it.” He continues, “After seeing all that, I thought to myself that that is how we should practice and behave when we go abroad for performances.”

“It came to mind that we shouldn’t lose to her level of passion” Seungri says, “BIGBANG’s schedule is very tight. Laurie Ann would dance for us when we got tired and made a lot of effort to bring our moods up when we were down. As a producer and as a friend, she constantly showed us great passion for our joint work. It came to mind that we shouldn’t lose to her level of passion. We must show an equal and greater level.” (Continued on page 49)

Left to right: T.O.P., G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung. Seungri, 2012 JANUARY 48

Laurie Ann Gibson was also full of praise for BIGBANG’s unique charm. She praised them by saying, “I’ve worked with many superstars. When I first saw BIGBANG, I recognized their unique charm.” She continues to talk about their individual charms with, “I’m impressed by each member’s level of hard work at their age. They’re the best of the best. It was easy to work with them because they are so special. G-Dragon and TOP excelled on stage. Seungri is young, but powerful. Daesung gives off the vibe of a rockand-roll star. On the other hand, Taeyang reminds me of Michael Jackson.” Laurie Ann Gibson also talked about BIGBANG’s possibility to take on the 49

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world stage. She says, “The whole world is not yet aware of BIGBANG so I’m very excited to be working with them. I’m impressed by how they don’t complain or get upset when things get tough.” She also revealed how she wants to bring BIGBANG to the world without changing their lyrics or their music. Just like she said, Laurie Ann Gibson is prepared to help BIGBANG take that leap onto the world stage. G-Dragon adds a significant piece of news by saying, “It’s time for BIGBANG to upgrade to the next level. While Hallyu is a great arena for Korean artists, it is now the right time for our music to go out

Left to right: T.O.P., Taeyang, G-Dragon, Seungri, Daesung.

“Just as much as the audience is excited to see us, we feel the pressure that much more”

into the world. We don’t want to lose this timing.” He boldly dreams and continues to add, “We want to introduce the world to all the great Korean artists we have in the Hallyu wave. We want to be in the center of it all.” BIGBANG declared all six of their new songs as title tracks. Usually, a group will choose one song as their title track and promote it to sell their album. BIGBANG was asked what they planned to do. TOP explains, “We will show one or two songs a week. We won’t do our promotional activities based on a set schedule.” G-Dragon says, “We think the fans will love this because each song

has a different feel to it. We’ve prepared different concepts for each song.” Q: So which song does each member like the most? Taeyang says, “Personally, I choose ‘Bad Boy.’ It has the most hip-hop feel to it.” Seungri says, “I choose ‘Fantastic Baby.’ I think it is the song that has the most BIGBANG feel to it. There is a strong beat and a melody that many people will love.” G-Dragon chose ‘Blue.’ G-Dragon, who always liked slow songs, explained, “The song goes well with this season. Blue is filled with the emotional lyrics that all of you have been craving for.” When asked about their feelings in making this long awaited comeback,

BIGBANG leader G-Dragon gave an answer. He says, “This concert is like our first broadcast stage. Moreso than before, we are excited to go on the new stage all together as a five-member group. Just as much as the audience is excited to see us, we feel the pressure that much more. At the same time, we are thrilled to show an upgraded BIGBANG.” ◊

2012 JANUARY 50

Detangle

Long Luscious Hair and how to keep it like that!

There havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been enough articles for us ladies with our long hair (well guys can have long hair too I supposeâ&#x20AC;Ś) so I thought that I should give some general tips for taking care of longer hair. Likewise with short hair, the golden rule to healthy hair is a healthy lifestyle. Eat well, sleep well and steer clear of excessive smoking, drinking or stressing out.

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Remember to brush your hair before bed, before shampooing, and in the morning just out of bed. Brushing your hair in a way massages your scalp which stimulates more blood flow to your head which then results in better hair growth. Also, having the right sort of brush is important too. Plastic is bad. Boar hair or wood is the best way to go. Having a brush and comb is essential for massaging the scalp and getting those ghastly knots out. This little trick applies especially to very long hair, like halfway down your back. Flip your hair upside-down and give it a good shake. Then brush from the roots to the ends still upside-down. Yes, you may look like a fool, but just remember, all that extra blood flowing into your head will keep your hair follicles active resulting in noticeably healthy looking hair. Also massaging your scalp just with your fingers can do the job as well.

Always use heat protection cream or spray before blow drying, straightening, curling, etc. Hot air is dreadful for your hair, so never forget to use a decent amount of heat protection products. When blow drying your hair, use the cool setting; by doing this you won’t burn your hair and also it closes up the pores of your hair therefore making it stronger and shinier (and no, it will not give you a cold despite what many people say). Snipping off split ends will save your hair. If you see one, cut it off. Go for regular trims or whenever your hair is starting to look a bit dead at the ends. The secret to shiny long hair is strong hair, and that means hair all in one piece that won’t snap off. If your hair has been thinned with shears or has many layers, then you need to give it extra treatment (conditioner and leave-in cream will do the job). Never use more styling product than necessary.

(Continued on page 65)

“The golden rule to healthy hair is a healthy lifestyle.”

2012 JANUARY 64

Detangle

“Never use more styling product than necessary.”

Everyone knows chemicals are your hair’s worst enemy; all that wax to give it poof, gel to get rid of stray hairs sticking out and a quick blast of spray to hold it all together. This daily procedure is pretty hard on your hair. Wash it all out every night with a good quality shampoo and treat your hair with just as good quality conditioner (tip: keep conditioner in for at least 5 minutes, even if the bottle doesn’t say for that long). Always buy shampoos and conditioners that are specific to your type of hair (for instance, colour-protection, dry hair, etc). Investing in more expensive but superior quality products is always better than buying cheap stuff that only does more damage to your hair. And don’t forget, never put styling products on your scalp—it’ll clog pores and/or cause itchiness. ◊ Use products with natural ingredients such as green olives!

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Line up freely mount the

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