For more photos (official + scans) of BLACKPINK for this issue, click HERE

YG Entertainment’s “BLACKPINK”. Composed of the 4 members JISOO, JENNIE, LISA, and ROSÉ, they’ve achieved overwhelming popularity not just in Korea and Japan, but the entirety of Asia. Previously, the girls first appeared in the January 2017 issue and graced its cover. The strong impression of how they sold out the issue within 2 days, before even debuting in Japan, is probably still fresh. Those girls have finally made a comeback to NYLON JAPAN! On our second meeting, the girls talked about the high expectations and unease they felt towards their Japanese debut, and many episodes about the hard work they put in for their live performance in Japan. We bring you once again, the charm of the even further improved, next generation girl crush group BLACKPINK!

NYLON (N): It’s been a while! Thank you for coming back to NYLON! We had such a huge response to your previous cover with NYLON that it completely sold out, did you know that?

BLACKPINK (BP): Really?! We didn’t know!

N: It’s been half a year since you were last with NYLON. How was the pictorial this time?

Jennie (JN):  To be able to work together again with the staff of NYLON JAPAN, as expected it’s different from what we’re used to in Korea so it was fun!

Jisoo (JS):  Each pictorial with NYLON JAPAN feels new so it’s very interesting. We’re able to have a pictorial with styling, hair, and make-up different from our usual selves, and we’re able to show this image to everyone. Because of that, when we see that we also enjoy.

N: This past half-year, you’ve received various Korean rookie awards. Could you please tell us about your feelings and thoughts about receiving the award and when you were receiving them?

Rosé (RS): From our debut till now, even to the point of winning awards, everything was because of all the great love that everyone gave. Our hearts were also thumping very much. When we were going up on stage to speak to receive our award, there were so many people we wanted to thank that we were nervous that we might forget to mention them (laughs). Our feelings of gratitude kept growing as we received each award.

N: You’ve become a wildly popular group. Has that popularity felt real yet?

JS: Friends tell us “Many kids around love BLACKPINK!” but we only spend time with the other members almost every day, so we hardly notice it (laughs). But this time, when we performed for our Japanese debut showcase at the Budokan, it felt real all of a sudden. We felt uneasy and thought things like “Will they know this song too?”, but everyone sang along with us. At that time we were extremely joyful.

N: Each member’s solo activities have also increased since your debut. Lisa is a model, Jennie had a shoot for a fashion magazine, Jisoo is a music show MC, and Rosé was on music programs, etc. Are there differences that you feel doing activities as a group, compared to when you’re active with your own thing?

RS: As for me, I was placed in a situation where the members who I’ve always had around me weren’t there all of a sudden, so I was exceedingly nervous. We’ve been together through it all like family, but all of a sudden I was alone without anyone to lean on. It was a new environment, and of course, it felt different. I’m still not used to it.

N: JISOO is a music show MC once a week, so have you gotten used to it a little?

JS: I’ve gotten a bit used to it recently, but in the beginning it was extremely awkward and a bit tough. It also hadn’t been long since we just debuted, so whatever I end up doing alone, I frequently end up thinking of the group. Thoughts like I want to go back to the group soon and stand on stage together (laughs).

N: Recently, you’ve also appeared on variety shows. How is it?

JN: Variety shows are still difficult. We’re still really bad at it, but we’ve set out to find and unleash our own confidence. The way we usually have fun, our usual selves, we’ll show all of that.

RS: It’s so fascinating. The TV programs that we usually watch together, to appear in those programs, and to watch ourselves there playing as we normally do brings about such a feeling of fascination (laughs).

N: Please tell us a little bit about your new song “AS IF IT’S YOUR LAST”!

JN: No! (laughs) I’m joking ♥ Uhm, our song this time is the brightest and most upbeat among the songs we’ve had so far. In LISA’s case, her rap part in the middle of the song is all in English. A new side is also visible in that part I think. In “PLAYING WITH FIRE” which was released last year, we had a powerful and strong image, but in our new song we show a bit of a girly, bright, and cute image.

RS: It’s a song that suits the summer well.

Lisa (LS): The dance also has many parts that you can follow along to, so we hope that everyone will follow along.

JN: We’re also excited to see what everyone thinks of it!

JS: For us, we’re always thinking of various sides of ourselves to show everyone. We’re trying out a lot of things so I think that we’ll able to show a different us next time.

N: You’ve been promoting and preparing a lot nowadays, so you’ve probably been spending much time together with all the members. How do the members spend time together?

JS: Recently we’ve all gotten into taking pictures. I like photography.

RS: And I’m busy modelling for that (laughs).

N: Looking at your Instagram I see many great pictures. Are those all taken by each of your cameras?

BP: Yes!

JN: As for me, aside from our live performances, I hardly have any opportunities to meet our fans, so I make lots of plans to share on Instagram. So I’ve started to take pictures and upload them to tell our fans what I’ve been doing.

JS: Jennie has 6 cameras.

LS: Yes. She’s a camera otaku ♥

JN: I feel great if I can take good pictures.

N: Jennie takes pictures, but before the pictorial you were also sending voicemail to friends. Is that something you usually do?

JN: I talk to my Japanese friend and study Japanese at the same time using voicemail. No matter what I do I’m bad at writing, so when my friend teaches me they say it, and we communicate through voicemail.

N: What about the other members?

JS: I also use it. Isn’t it easier to express your emotions through your voice than characters, and isn’t it more fun to speak? So I use it often with foreign friends.

N: You gotten so much more mature and even cuter over the past year. Did you start anything new in terms of beauty?

JN: You must be lying~♥ That makes me happy ♥

LS: JENNIE-chan has been on a low-sodium diet.

JN: Yes yes, I’m the type to bloat easily before filming, so I’ve been trying hard to avoid salty foods. I always start avoiding salt 1-2 weeks before, so it also becomes hard for the other members. Because I can’t eat it, everyone is also considerate enough to not eat it. Thank you.

JS: We don’t eat it in front of her. But I hide and eat (laughs).

BP: We know about it!!!

N: You uploaded a picture of flying yoga on SNS, is this something that everyone does together?

JS: Jennie and I do flying yoga, while Lisa and Rosie do ordinary yoga.

JN: Flying yoga is so fun so we’ve been continuing it.

LS: It looks fun but I don’t have the confidence.

JS: It’s already too difficult for me (laughs). Anyhow, the gym is in a really far place. It’s not that it’s bothersome – it’s extremely fun – but going there is difficult. Although yoga suits my body the best out of all the exercises I’ve tried, this isn’t an excuse but it’s really far! (laughs)

LS: That’s an excuse you know~

JN: But, it’s really far isn’t it (laughs)

N: Are there any cosmetics or make-up you’ve taken a liking to recently?

BP: Japan’s point make-up is red cheeks! We’re interested in the ‘hangover makeup?’!

JS: That make-up style isn’t done in Korea so I want to try new things at least once.

LS: I want to try make-up where you place sparkly things on your eyes.

JS: I like eyeshadow. There are many colors, and while they might look the same, if you look closely they look slightly different.

LS: Yes yes!

JS: There are instances when men can’t tell those colors apart right? I’m collecting those colors. Slightly red, ever so slightly red, and even more so slightly red.

N: Next is about fashion. What are items you got recently? Your personal clothing today is superb. Did you buy it recently?

RS: Recently I’ve been wearing my VETEMENTS long-sleeved hoody over and over. I intend to wear it many times before the weather gets even hotter!

LS: Today, Jennie is all GUCCI from head to toe!

N: What’s trendy now in Korea?

JS: Fishnet tights and high socks I think?

JN: And also chokers!

JS: Ah, I definitely see chokers often. Also, recently I think there are many people who have large piercings. Before, people who appeared on TV were the only ones who had piercings, but nowadays I see it often on the street too.

LS: I went shopping with Jennie in Hongdae. We bought crop tops and off-shoulder tops. It’s become hotter recently, so we want to pair it with short pants.

N: And about your debut in Japan. Congratulations! While enjoying high popularity in Korea, you’re also debuting in Japan soon. Were there any difficulties while recording the Japanese versions?

JS & RS: It was difficult to sustain/connect notes.

JS: We used to sing phrases separately one by one, but we had to elongate them.*

*T/N: One difference is that Korean has no concept of long/short vowel sounds, while Japanese does.

RS: The pronunciation between each sound is also difficult.

JS: There were pronunciation guides in Hangeul for the Japanese lyrics, but listening to our manager’s Japanese guide was different from the textbook. Hangeul is shortened and demarcated, while the guide had vowels and elongated sounds, so I ended up not being able to follow when I was listening while trying to read the lyrics. “Where, where are we?!” is what ended up happening.

N: Were there any difficult pronunciations among the lyrics?

BP: “Su, Zu, Tsu” (す、ず、つ）. We tried our best shouting “Suzutsu” every day!

N: Please tell us your thoughts and feelings about your Japanese debut!

JS: Because we’re debuting in Japan, I found the motivation to study Japanese. We studied Japanese originally, but when we stopped studying I unfortunately forgot it. But our Japanese debut is approaching, so the times when we have to use Japanese are increasing and so I feel that I need to study more. During the showcase, I feel that I need to at least be able to greet in Japanese, so I can feel the pressure to study Japanese even now (laughs).

LS: I’m the same as Jisoo. I’m really trying my best!

N: After your showcase, your appearance also been decided for a-nation, TGC (Tokyo Girls Collection), and others. Do you have any goals or things you’re looking forward to regarding your Japanese debut?

JN: While studying Japanese, we watch a lot of Japanese dramas, movies, and variety shows. We aren’t at that level yet, but someday we want to go on a famous Japanese talk show. We would be very happy if we could show our natural selves on TV.

N: Lastly, please give a message for all the NYLON readers!

JS: BLACKPINK is debuting in Japan. Please look forward to it! We will do our best!

LS: Please support us a lot!

JN: Japanese fans, BLACKPINK is going to Japan. Please wait for us just a bit longer! We’ve prepared many things. We want to meet everyone soon ♥

RS: Japanese fans, and all BLINKs, BLACKPINK will be debuting in Japan. We’ve been wanting to go since long ago, and we’re finally going! So everyone, please anticipate us. We want to meet you! Please look forward to us!

Translations by black2dpink824
Source: @lotsales2
Scans by @327_PERCENT | @xiulay__love