What a revelation: The then ‘rookie’ group BTS was able to promote in Japan in 2014, thanks to the visuals of the group’s ‘Worldwide Handsome,’ Jin.
Legendary Japanese producer Saito Eisuke is the director behind the music company Amuse. Among Japanese artists, he was working closely with stars such as the Southern All Stars, Mari Hamada, Mariko Takahashi, Yasuko Agawaand, and so much more. He was also heavily involved in the expansion of Korean music in Japan. Eisuke became the Deputy General Manager of Fu Shide Investment Co., Ltd. in 2020.
In 2014, the producer was the one who agreed to help BTS with their expansion in Japan. In the credits to BTS’ first Japanese album, ‘Wake Up,’ Saito Eisuke was assigned as the general producer.
One Korean news outlet revealed that in Saito’s recent interview for the Japanese best-selling book “Legendary Producers Leading the World,” he talked about his experience working with BTS and meeting them for the first time. Bang Si-hyuk, founder and chairman of Hybe (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) reached out to him and asked to see BTS when he happened to be in Seoul. They also performed a couple of songs in front of him.
The producer decided to give them a chance in Japan and signed a contract with BigHit. He also shared that 10 different companies have rejected BTS due to them not being a group from the Big 3 and not liking their name, ‘Bulletproof Boys.’ In the end, BTS had their first concert in Japan, which turned out to be a success. Now they are the most successful K-pop group in the Japanese market.
The legendary producer has mentioned Jin when talking about his first impression of BTS, which garnered lots of attention online with many people liking and retweeting his words about the BTS member.
“Bang PD asked me to come see BTS. There were exactly 7 people. What was my first impression?” I saw Jin and thought he had a popular face suitable for dramas, we call it ‘an effective visual.’ If you have that in your group, you can ‘sell’ it to Japan, and it turned out to be true.”
This statement left fans in awe, making them appreciate Jin’s visual even more.
not him saying he decided to work with bts and promote them in japan because of seokjin's visuals😭
— yougotnojams (@seokjin_halo) March 18, 2023
He saw Jin, fell in love with him and decided to give him the spotlight in Japanese tracks. https://t.co/no14zHB3ei
— ʳᵏ⁷ Like Crazy 03.24 (@4AMReflections_) March 20, 2023
It's always him that people are affected by …
+ i really wanna see him acting in dramas one day ❤️🔥 https://t.co/NrMuVt3P2W— { ArEeN } (@AreenBO) March 19, 2023
jin indeed paved the way for bts https://t.co/IonpkYBK4e
— bye (@ariesksj) March 19, 2023
“we call it an effective visual. If u have that in ur group, u can sell it to Japan & it turned out to be true.”#JIN's handsome face alone attracted a music producer from one of the world's biggest music market! he's something else! 😅🔥
can we have a 🇯🇵 track on #KSJ1 now? 🥹 https://t.co/fp5BElU6lY
— ⋆•ᴗ•⋆ (@superstarjinkim) March 19, 2023
It's the Seokjin effect https://t.co/BVp4IJJ8Vf
— Kia🐹 👩🏻🚀 (@Kepiphany92) March 19, 2023
When I first got into bts, he was the first person I developed a huge crush on. Like I have always been a jimin bias coz I relate to him a lot but Jin…
I fell not just for his looks but also his personality. It was during be promotions and I heard his room audio and fell hard😭 https://t.co/g6N3icAbnU— piyu 🏳️🌈 OHM DAY!!!! 🐶 (@foolsglddarling) March 19, 2023
WWH indeed irl 🙌🏽 https://t.co/cNs8Qy8C1N
— Zayza 진♡ (@zayzaislets) March 19, 2023
Jin was evidently the ‘visual’ of the band ever since the boy band debuted. He had a lot of fansites at the very first BTS performance and received a lot of compliments from the general public. In 2015, Jin went viral in Korea as the ‘Car Door Guy.’ That was not the only time when he captured people who were strangers to the band as he trended with names such as ‘the third guy from the left’ and ‘the orange suit guy.’ Ever since then, he has gone viral in other countries, including the US.
Saiko Eisuke ended his thoughts by meeting Jin and BTS, which happened to be prophetic. He gave the band a chance because he saw great ambition and talent in them.
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