Ichiro (Endzone)

Ichiro is a member of SM Entertainment's Endzone. His positions within the group are Lead Dancer, Sub-Rapper, Sub-Vocalist, Visual and Face Of The Group.

Facts

 * Ichiro is a part of Endzone M, Endzone Dance Unit, Endzone C and Endzone 016
 * Ichiro is a part of SuperM
 * Ichiro's hobbies are shopping for accessories, playing soccer and hanging out with friends
 * Ichiro's favorite artist is TVXQ
 * Ichiro was introduced as the eleventh and final male member of SM Rookies on April 25th, 2015
 * Ichiro joined SM Entertainment in 2014
 * Ichiro's vocal type is Baritenor
 * Ichiro is the most popular member in Endzone
 * Ichiro said that he was scouted in the streets and didn't have to audition
 * Ichiro said he had a really hard time when he came to Korea because he was not good at anything compared to the other trainees and he couldn't speak korean
 * Ichiro said he almost quit SM but Q convinced him to stay
 * Ichiro said Chihun is his best friend in life
 * After a fan asked if Ichiro would ever change his hairstyle he replied negatively
 * SM didn't know where to put Ichiro but Haeseong convinced them to put him in the Dance Unit
 * Ichiro said he hated Chewing Gum at first but ended up missing it after promotions ended
 * Ichiro was voted as the most handsome member by the others
 * Ichiro was voted as the most popular member among other idols by Endzone members
 * Ichiro shares a room with the other Endzone M members
 * Ichiro's ideal type: "Someone who makes me feel at ease and loves me very much"
 * Ichiro's vocal range: G2-B4(G5)

Becoming Endzone: Ichiro
2014

Hey, what's up? My name is Ichiro. I'm 16 and am studying at the moment. My goal is to become a pro soccer player. I'm the ace of our school's team, I play the right forward position which means I score, and I score a lot. We are going to nationals soon, it is in Tokyo. I have high hopes, I believe we can win thise year and become Japan's number one high school soccer team.

Tokyo

The nationals are here. I want to go all out and take this trophy already. It's cool coming to Tokyo, I don't usually do it too much except when we have matches here but it's a really nice busy city. I'm from Yokohama and there's a J-League team called Yokohama Marinos. It's my dream to become a player for them. Actually, my dream is to become their captain.

We win the first game and advance to the quarter-finals. We have a day off so me and my teammates are going to go hang out around the city.

While we were out, this guy approached me. Apparently, he's the casting manager for SM Entertainment. He said they are holding global auditions right now and he said I should audition. I said no. He kept insisting on getting me to audition and saying I should try out. He made me talk to him, he insisted hard that I should consider being an idol. He even tolde me that soccer is a waste of time when I have my looks. It annoyed me to be honest. I told him to leave me alone. He said he wouldn't give up on me just yet. I told him to just get lost. I hope he just leaves me alone.

Why would I even consider being an idol? That's a lame lifestyle. All you do is dance and sing all day. My thing is soccer

Game Day

Today we beat another team easily and are now on our way to the semi-finals. The dude from SM came to talk to me again. He wants me to go to Korea for an individual audition. I told him that he should just give up on me. I don't want that. Why would I waste my time and money going to Korea just for some losers to look at me and say that I'm not skilled to be an idol. I know I'm not, you know why? Because I'm a soccer player.

After the game, I was ready to leave to our hotel but I was stopped by a scout. He said he was interested in me. He is a representative of a second division soccer team. He said if I can take the trophy he might offer me a contract to actually be part of the official roster of the team. Do you have any idea how crazy that is? I wouldn't have to spend years only practicing at their facility, I'd actually be on the field or even like a bench option. I need to win this.

Last year was a disaster. We lost our final match before qualifiying for the nationals. I was really mad then. My team seemed really unenthusiastic about playing. I hate to admit it but I think I'm the only in the team that actually wants to pursue a soccer career. The others just play because it is fun. Not even our captain intends on playing soccer as a pro. That does make me lose motivation from time to time but I know this is all I've got.

I'm not a good student. I don't get good grades, I know my worth, I'm not intelligent. I don't have talents. All I have is soccer. It's what I do and I do it well. The opportunity I have now of joining an actual club is the exact thing I needed in my life right now. For some reason I feel like this is it for me. All I have to do is win this whole thing and then I'll have proven my worth.

Semi-Finals

We meet the strongest team. They are from Tokyo, so they are playing at home. They have an all-star squad and amazing staff. I know this is going to be hard but we have gotten so far I can't let this go to waste.

My teammates are the worst. They are just saying that we are definitely losing. I hate that. It's common that this happens. We meet a strong team and they all start acting like we've already lost, I hate it so much. Our captain tries to motivate the guys but I can tell not even he thinks we're coming out victorious. You know what, I don't care. Even if I have to play all by myself, I'll win this. It's my life, they have nothing to lose but I do. I can't expect my team to win this game for me, I have to do it myself.

Disaster. That's all I can think of. Disaster. We lost 6-0. It was humiliating. I got mad and stopped playing with my team. They got mad at me. They all blame me for the loss. Everyone does. Even I do a little bit but at the same time I'm angry at everyone. They just didn't even try. I did. It's not my fault they were useless. I had to take charge but in the end it was useless. One versus eleven is impossible.

After the game, I tried to talk to the scout but he just said "do I know you?". That's it for me. I can't play soccer with this team anymore. I can't play soccer like this anymore. This sucks. I hate it all.

Next Day

I'm leaving the hotel after our disgusting loss. The guy from SM comes up to me and says he's sorry for our loss but then proceeds to ask if I have thought about his proposal. I say I don't want to go to Korea to audition, it is a waste. He then tells me he's going to Korea tomorrow and if I want to go with him I'm arriving in Korea as an official SM trainee.

For some reason that woke me up. He then said that they are making a new boygroup and he thinks I could be part of it but first I'd have to go through some training. It was all or nothing. I called mom and dad and told them about it. We discussed it for a while but in the end, they agreed.

Next thing I know, I'm in Korea and about to do things I'd never done before.

Trainee Days

I joined SM as an official trainee. I don't think I've ever heard so many people call me handsome before. I was assigned to so many classes it is unbelievable. I have so many private lessons too. I think some of the trainees despise me because it feels like I'm special. I don't know why they are treating me like this. I hear people say I'm just a pretty face. No one likes me here. No one except for one guy, Maresuke.

Maresuke is also japanese. Apparently, he participated in the global auditions in Tokyo at the same time I was playing nationals. He loves music and is a reallt gifted artist. He has been my biggest friend here. He even introduced me to other japanese trainees from other companies. I think I even have a crush on one of them but that is irrelevant.

Learning to dance, to sing, to perform, korean, it all has been really challenging. I have been feeling worn out a lot. My only rest is my 4 hours of sleep if I'm not up practicing. I don't even know why I'm doing this but I am. Months ago I was a soccer player and now I'm a dancer? A singer? I don't even know what I am right now.

I keep feeling like I have lost my identity. I don't know who I am. I told Maresuke I was thinking about leaving and returning to Japan. I explained to him that I lost myself. Maresuke told me I never was a soccer player, I have always been Ichiro. He said what I do doesn't define who I am. My identity is not a job or a hobby, my identity is the person I am on the inside and that won't change just because I'm doing something else.

SMROOKIES

Though Maresuke convinced me to stay, now we don't meet anymore. He was called up to SMROOKIES which is the project for the next boygroup. I remember that the reason I was brought here was because the casting manager said I seemed to be perfect fit for the group. I wonder if by seeing me in the lessons he and the other staff still think I have what it takes.

I won't lie. I want to become an idol. At first, I was really lost and just did whatever the teachers told me to but now things are different. I like what I do. I wake up excited for the lessons and I even enjoy that I'm pushed to do my best. Being in an environment where everyone is working hard also boosted me. There are so many people who dream of this and give their best every day for it, I guess this is what I needed.

Right now, if you ask me what is my biggest goal, I'll answer that it is to be called up to SMROOKIES and become an idol alongside Maresuke.

It has been announced to all the trainees that the last male member of SMROOKIES and future boygroup will be announced on April 25th. I have to do my best until then.

April 25th, 2015

It's official. Furuta Ichiro is the final member of SMROOKIES. I made it. I finally feel it. The joy of achieving a dream. I will become an idol. I was told to not think of it as the end because I now have to work even harder than before. Honestly, that's exactly what I wanted to hear.