And I Spoke Too Soon....

Seems there were a lot of us who prayed to Quilt may be revived because no sooner after I successfully published by previous post our beloved BYJ Quilt is back online.

Let's just hope that a solution can be agreed upon so that the site can remain online. I'm sure there will be a lot of volunteers willing to do their share in keeping our home alive.

Saying Good-Bye To A Home

I just read about Quilt finally closing it's doors from bb's blog and tears slowly dropped from my eyes. It was home to all BYJ english speaking fans in the truest sense of the word.

I first got to know about the site when Winter Love Song started to air in the Philippines in November of 2003. It was a haven of information for a newbie like me, in fact in took me two whole days to finish checking all his photos and saving most of it in my hard drive. I started reading all the fan accounts of those lucky enough to have a glimpse of him or better yet had a short conversation with the man.

But the greatest legacy Quilt has in my life is the friendship I've gained through all these years. From fellow filipinos like Mariz (sunset) and Judy whom I first came into contact and later became the core officers of BAEwatchphil. To foreign sisters like Evelyn (HK) who kindly sent me a BYJ Calendar, a gift I treasure up to now; Helen who is also so generous with her collections; bb my blogging mentor; haeyon tiffany; mariko; tomato and countless other sisters whom I only encounter on the net but has accompanied me in my journey as a bae fan. Through their postings I have gotten to know more and more about Yong Joon and kept the fever alive for me and I'm sure to countless other fans.

Three years down the road who would have thought that the home I treasured will bid good-bye. But nothing is the world is constant except change and so with a heavy heart I'm saying farewell. To Joanne and Hyeon who did their very best to maintain the home for us, my undying gratitude to both of you. You may never truly know how through Quilt you have changed countless lives for the better. I will forever include you and your family in my prayers.

I'm still hoping that there is a way to rebuild our home. After all like the name itself Quilt is a patchwork of different people all after one goal. I'm sure from amongst us we can find a way to help each other in maintaining the site in whatever little way we can. Till then...

It's been a while since I visited KOB because I'm still having problems going online. But it was a joy to see baesis tomato translate a part of the Nikkan Sports Special for us so I'm keeping a summary of his activities for 2006 here in my blog.

★　Looking back Yon-sama’s year 2006 with Nikkan Sports ★

☆ January ☆
◆ DVD”April Snow” record sales of 89,000 copies.
Hits number one on Oricon DVD chart on its first appearance on 16th.
April Snow making DVD sold in September 2005 also won number one,
it was first time in history to double top one’s.

☆ February ☆
◆ Invest in Kosdaq listed software company with 9billion won and owns 37.5% of its stocks and becomes its largest shareholder.
Company changes its name to “Keyeast,” and changes its business to producing movies and drama contents and its distribution.

☆ March ☆:
◆ IMX in Japan opens ‘café-B’ at Shibuya, Tokyo.
Yons-sama sends message, “I hope this place will be loved by everyone and that it will give comfort in everyone’s busy life.”
◆ As beginning of TWSSG shooting starts, traditional ceremony was held in Jeju.
Yon-sama attended the ceremony with Director Kim Jon- hak and other staff.
BYJ gave his words, “Everyone attended and determined our minds.
Now I am looking forward to and getting tense.
I hope everyone will be safe and healthy till the shooting ends.
I will do my best for this work.”
◆ Some geography text books for year 2007 high-schools will be using BYJ’s Japan visit photos as a symbol for Japan- Korea cultural exchange.

☆ April ☆
◆ DVD sales and DVD showing for fan event of 31 August 2005, “April Snow –reunion-” was announced.
◆ it came to known that Hong Kong’s wax museum Madam Tassau’s will exhibit Yon-sama statue.
Experts from London head office visited Korea to measure Yon-sama’s body size and took 8 months to make the statue.


☆ May ☆
◆ selected to be media diplomat for “Hallyu Expo” wih Lee Yong Ae.
◆ co-stars with Yuko Ogura for Lotte Almond Chocolate,.
Yon-sama shows a confused look with a smile when Yukorin (Yuko Ogura) acts as a convenience shop clerk and replied with her “Korin language.”
“I am not able to go shopping at a convenience store in Korea,
but when I am abroad I do shop for sweets.”
◆ House in Seoul has caught fire and burnt his bed and some of the furnitures.
No injuries for Yon-sama. Cause of fire was short circuit.


☆ June ☆
◆ Movie “April Snow Director’s Cut” to be shown in theaters from September.
People lined up all night to buy advance tickets, and theaters were expanded to several big cities and
showed remarkable phenomenon.


☆ July ☆
◆ Donated 200million won to Korean heavy rain disaster victims
◆ Visits Japan on 20th for CF shooting and press conference for restaurant “Gosireh,” which he had produced.
To avoid confusion, schedule was hidden but some of the fans gathered around Gosireh,
IMX had send out message for fans soon after his arrival to calm down the situation.


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★finally we can reveal his schedule during his Japan visit ★

20 July
◇ am11:15 depart Incheon Airport, Korea
◇ pm 1:30 arrive Narita Airport
◇ pm 3:00 arrive hotel in Tokyo
◇ pm 7:00 dinner

21 July
◇ am 10:30 breakfast
◇ pm 1:00 leave hotel
◇ pm 1:30 arrive at restaurant Gosireh at Shirokane (have catering lunch)
◇ pm 2:10 start shooting for Lotte CF
◇ pm 6:00 finish shooting, other shootings
◇ pm 7:00 leave Gosireh
◇ pm 7:30 arrive hotel
◇ pm 8:00 dinner

22 July
◇ whole day off physical exercise at hotel gym etc.

23 July
◇ am 9:30 breakfast
◇ pm 12:30 lunch
◇ pm 2:00 hair and make up
◇ pm 3:10 leave hotel
◇ pm 3:45 arrive at Gosireh
◇ pm 4:20 press conference at Gosireh
◇ pm 4:45 leave conference
◇during press conference at Gosireh,
Yon-sama commented, “I wish to do more activities for Asian culture exchange.”
later attended Korean traditional ceremony ‘Gosa.’
He sent message to fans, “I feel sorry for not being able to greet you directly.”
◇ pm 6:00 Opening party at the restaurant. Mr. Shigeo Nagashima also attended the party.
◇ pm 7:30 leave Gosireh, stopped by for shopping on his way

note: Yon-sama stopped by at a well-known jewelry shop in Tokyo.
His stay was only about for 20 minutes but he did buy several jewelries that he liked.
During his 5nights-6days Japan visit, this was only time he enjoyed his private time.

◇ after pm 8:00 arrive hotel
◇ pm 8:30 dinner

24 July
◇ am 9:30 breakfast
◇ am 10:30 hair and make up
◇ pm 1:30 arrive at studio in Tokyo
◇ pm 2:00 shooting for Secom CF’s steels
◇ pm 5:00 finish shooting. costume change, hair and make up.
Photo shooting for photo book and CD jacket etc.
◇ pm 10:00 finish shooting
◇ pm 10:30 arrive hotel and dinner

25 July
◇ am 10:00 breakfast
◇ noon leave hotel
◇ pm 1:00 arrive Narita airport
◇ pm 1:55 leave Japan
◇ pm 4:20 arrive Incheon airport

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☆ August ☆
◆ Sends video message to Nihon TV’s program “24hours TV” to support its charity.
“Family and ‘Kizuna(bond)’ with family(fans) in Asia is important,
I hope that this warm heart will last for long time.”
◆ On his 34th birthday(29 Aug), he concentrates on drama shooting.


☆ September ☆
◆ His costumes for new drama was revealed for the first time,
“I am looking forward to shooting after long period of preparation.”
◆ Appears in new CF for SECOM, short hair and dressed up in security uniform
BYJ commented “(wearing uniform,) I feel I have to go out and guard someone.
Family in broad meaning is everyone you love.
I sympathize with the commercial message.”


☆ October ☆
◆ To commemorate sales of charity photo book ”Super Stars,” photo exhibit is to take place at Omotesando Hills, Tokyo in November.
Project was planned by Singapore photographer Mr. Leslie Kee, photo book will feature more than 300 Asian stars from various quarters.


☆ November ☆
◆ Announcement of First Classic music selected album “BYJ Classics / Hero” to be on sale from 25 December 2006.
Two types of album, special edition and regular edition will be released.
It will feature photo book and booklet with original essays.
Essays will explain how he has selected Mozart or Beethoven and also writes how and when he listens to these music.
Photos were taken by Mr. Leslie Kee.
Album recorded 20,000 sales just after 10days it has started to accept reservation
This record sales is equivalent to ranking 10th at Oricon weekly album sales chart.
◆ Attended opening ceremony at “Hallyu Expo.”
His appearance to Korean public event was first time after two years absence.
He joined the tape cut ceremony.


☆ December ☆
◆ With his wishes to “help out children who need hope and courage.”
Collaborated with natural cosmetic company KohGenDo and sell “BYJ deep moist lip & gloss set.”
Part of profit will be sent to charity.




source: Nikkan Sports
japanese to english translation by tomato99 of KOB
photo by makiko @byj’s gallery

BYJ's New Year's Message

Dear family, Annyonghaseyo? This is Bae Yong Joon..

I’ll start off this letter by greeting everyone into the 2007 new year.
I wonder how everyone will be spending the last few days of 2006.^^
Hopefully, everyone will spend those days with their families and friends..
Last month, I was very glad to have met all of you again at the very meaningful location
of the Asian Culture Exchange.. The event motivated me to, again, contribute myself to the cause.

Looking back on the past year and my hectic schedule, I was able to enjoy some joyful, wonderful moments with everyone thanks to your support. On the other hand, I also remember the tsunami many Asian families had to suffer through; and recently, I have also been concerned when having been informed of unfortunate events occurring throughout the world.. I just hope that no one had too much of a loss during these times, and pray that everyone is better.

Despite my lack of often meeting all of you this year, throughout my projects and other works this upcoming year, I hope there will be many good chances to be a part of this family. And I sincerely hope that you and your families will be well, and many good things will come to you all this upcoming year. And I will continue to do my best as an actor and as Bae Yong Joon, an individual.

I hope everyone has a good new year.

Sincerely,


Bae Yong Joon

credits to suehan of KOB for translating Yong Joon's message in english.