Ji Chang Wook releases a report on the handshake and talk event held to commemorate the release of his second Japanese original single, "The Wind of Spring"!

Ji Chang Wook is an actor who has played leading roles in numerous movies, dramas, and musicals, and is immensely popular in Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and other Asian countries, with his sweet and handsome looks and excellent acting skills. A handshake and talk event was held on June 22nd and 23rd to commemorate the release of his second single, “The Wind of Spring” (released on March 13th, 2024). We will provide you with a digest of the events from both days.

The venue on the 22nd was Tokyo International Forum B7. 2,000 fans were selected from over 12,000 applications submitted using the event participation application form enclosed in the CD of “The Wind of Spring,” and they gathered in two sessions, morning and afternoon.

During the morning session, Ji Chang Wook appeared on stage dressed in a grey knit and denim outfit, saying, “Hello everyone! I’ve missed you!”, and the venue was filled with loud cheers.

During the talk time before the handshake event, the MC first asked Ji Chang Wook about his thoughts on the single. In response, he replied, “It’s something everyone can sing along to,” and hummed a line from “The Wind of Spring,” saying, “♪ My favorite was latte.” Many fans were probably happy to hear his singing voice unexpectedly. Applause broke out from the audience.

In response to the next question, “What would you like to do in Japan?”, he replied, “I want to go to lots of places. I’ve never been to Hokkaido before, so I’d especially like to go there.” When asked about his “favorite Japanese word,” Ji Chang Wook mentioned the familiar phrase to fans, “Yoroshiku omasu,” as well as “ping pong,” which refers to the intercom. When asked why he chose “ping pong,” he said, “because it sounds cute.” Many fans were sure to have their hearts struck by this adorable answer, which gave a glimpse into Ji Chang Wook’s personality.

After the talk time, there was a photo time where attendees could take pictures of Ji Chang Wook with their own cameras… but before that, Ji Chang Wook had some exciting news. He will be holding a fan meeting on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2024, following on from 2023. The venue will be Tokyo Garden Theater, and other details will be announced on the fan club website in due course, so we look forward to it.

After the photo time, the long-awaited handshake session finally began. Ji Chang Wook, who had left the venue temporarily to make preparations, re-entered the venue and shook hands with the first person, which elicited loud cheers from the entire venue. Ji Chang Wook’s hospitality was overwhelming, as he sometimes bent down to match the height of each fan, looked them in the eye and shook hands with both hands. It’s no wonder people are whispering that his hospitality towards fans is top class.

Ji Chang Wook appeared in the afternoon session in a beige collared sweater and brown cargo pants. During the talk time, he showed a different side of himself by singing along with his fans to the phrases he had been humming alone in the morning session, and listing “ping pong” as well as “amazing” and “yabai” as his favorite Japanese words.

In the afternoon session, after the talk and photo time, he shook hands with 1,000 fans again nonstop. He looked at each person one by one, shook hands with both hands, and there was no sign of fatigue whatsoever, just like in the morning session. When he finished shaking hands with everyone and left the stage, he bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude to the fans, which was very impressive.

On the 23rd, a handshake and autograph session was held for those who purchased the fan club members-only version of “The Wind of Spring.” 150 lucky people, or rather, those with great luck, were chosen by lottery and gathered at the event space at Pony Canyon’s headquarters.

Perhaps because the venue made Ji Chang Wook feel closer than the day before, the enthusiasm of the gathered fans naturally rose. When the MC called for Ji Chang Wook to appear on stage, thunderous cheers rang out.

On this day, Ji Chang Wook wore a loose, open-necked black top with glitter and black bottoms. In stark contrast to the cute outfit he had worn the day before, he was dressed in a sexy, adult look as he began his talk session.

During the talk session, the conversation turned to their first MV (music video) shoot and their impressions of the Japan tour. They revealed that filming the MV was difficult but they were very happy with the final product, and how happy they were to be able to communicate with their fans by singing with them on tour.

During the talk, Ji Chang Wook also revealed the story behind the birth of his familiar phrase, “Yoroshiku omasu.” He said that the phrase “came to me when I was lying down in a hotel room,” and that “if ‘Thank you’ is ‘Azasu’, then I thought it would be okay to say ‘Yoroshiku omasu’ for ‘Thank you very much.” It was a casual anecdote, but it gave fans a glimpse into Ji Chang Wook’s everyday personality, and was surely a delightful topic of conversation.

Next, when asked about the future of the fan club and his enthusiasm for the Christmas fan meeting that was announced the day before, Ji Chang Wook said, “I want to create more opportunities for the fan club to interact with the fans and plan a memorable event where they can say, ‘I had fun with Ji Chang Wook.’ It’s thanks to all the Japanese fans that we’re able to hold the fan meeting again this year, so please look forward to it.” This attitude didn’t change even when he moved on to the autograph and handshake event. He welcomed all the fans with a kind smile, nodded to what they were saying while signing autographs, and at the end, he looked them in the eye, shook their hands, and handed them their autographed cards.

When the last person finished signing autographs and shaking hands, the audience erupted in spontaneous applause. Ji Chang Wook bowed deeply in response, waved and left the venue, remaining a star until the very end. For Ji Chang Wook fans, this weekend will remain forever in their memories as the happiest time in the world.

Text: Naoe Yamamoto Photography: KIPPEI OGATA

Ji Chang Wook Japan Fanmeeting 2024 is scheduled to be held!

[Date and Time]

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

【place】

Tokyo Garden Theater (2-1-6 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0063)

*Details about the performance and ticket sales will be announced in due course.

Further information will be provided on the Ji Chang Wook Japan official website.

Ji Chang Wook “The Wind Of Spring”

Music video https://youtu.be/eE9U0d-ZcZY

Music Streaming Service https://lnk.to/thewindofspring_

JI CHANG WOOK Ji Chang Wook 2nd Single “The Wind Of Spring”