5 x 20 Pamphlet Translation (Part 1 of 3)
Hello all!!!
My goodness it has been FOREVER since I have posted a translation! I am definitely still lurking around though here and there :)
Today I am happy to bring you my translation of the 5 x 20 pamphlet!! I roughly divided it into 4 broad sections, which I called the "5 Questions," the "10 Thank Yous," the crosstalk, and finally the "About Tour" part. If you have a chance at all to get this pamphlet, I recommend it! The pictures are beautiful (and I found the time travel ones quite hilarious and adorable).
As usual, my translations will stay public unless they get stolen/reposted elsewhere (if you would like to use it for re-translating or something, please just ask!). And I like color-coding, I think it makes it more fun~
Without further ado, let's get started, shall we? :D
5 Questions
Question 1: In these 20 years, what makes you feel like you’ve become adults?
Masaki Aiba
Just in terms of age we’re definitely adults… but I wonder? Your preferences and stuff just become simpler. And the time you spend taking care of your health/body is longer (wry laugh). There’s not really anything I can say “It’s definitely this!” but I think I’ve become more calm and at ease. As the years go by (lol).
Sho Sakurai
Probably, spending time with my juniors. When I was a Jr, I thought, “juniors shouldn’t rely on a helping hand from their seniors” and when I became more senior, I still thought the same thing. But… I think it was after I turned 30, I started thinking that if there is a message or something I want to leave behind, that I’d like to pass that to the next generation.
Satoshi Ohno
More like, I’m becoming more childish (lol). I was more adult-like in the past, or more stoic. In my 20s I think was particularly stoic. But, aren’t there things you can understand because you had a period like that? Now… for instance, if I make a goal for myself I already know “If I do this, this will happen” or “At this rate I won’t make it anymore” (lol). I know “I have to do this!” Now… I’m pretty relaxed though (lol). But, isn’t that ok too?
Kazunari Ninomiya
I don’t think anything has really changed. In terms of age, I became an adult a long time ago…. There’s nothing in particular that makes me think I’m childish, or that I’m an adult. Well, I have started thinking more about my health though (lol). Yup, I’ve started thinking about my health. That’s one thing I’ve become more an adult about!
Jun Matsumoto
From the opposite point of view… there are plenty of moments where I think I’m still not quite an adult or I’m immature (lol). Well, but I get told that I’ve become more “soft/round.” I got told that by an actor the other day too. I thought “I must’ve been pretty bad in the past” (lol)…. Probably, I’ve come full circle (lol). Compared to that (being on edge) time, my perspective has clearly become more opened/wide.
Question 2: Things that make Arashi Arashi, and things you like about Arashi
Jun Matsumoto
There’s not really anything I can say. Because I’m part of Arashi after all (lol). Well, there are probably a lot of people that think of us as “a normal group of guys that look like fun,” but I think of us as a “professional group.” Of course, we didn’t start out that way. I think we’ve grown to become that, and have been helped along the way by everyone.
Sho Sakurai
I think we have a kind of “handmade warmth” that we’ve slowly made over time with the help of the fans and staff. That’s why all of the members love Arashi and can feel that warmth. Well, I think we are a group that took some time, and we had times where we had it “hard” or were “at the bottom,” but we’ve always been enjoying ourselves to death (lol). I think we’re not the guys that would be standing out in the middle of the classroom, but the ones off to the sides, laughing together nearby the windows. Our Arashi-ness is probably that “enjoyment” I think (lol).
Kazunari Ninomiya
Isn’t it our public image of “the members get along with each other”? I don’t really think that though (lol). If this wasn’t for something like work, you wouldn’t normally be together so long. But, I’m not saying that we actually don’t get along or anything like that, you know? (lol). It’s simply that we have our interests and preferences, and have some things in common, and our relationships just get built that way. I mean, I don’t like stuff like fishing at all (lol). What I have in common with the members is our “work”… and everyone is taking it seriously, so we are all together.
Masaki Aiba
I like how our relationships don’t change. They may have changed a little as we’ve gotten older, but the base/foundation of them haven’t changed at all. What makes Arashi Arashi… I wonder? I can easily come up with lots of “Oh, this is so Kan-Jani!” things for other groups though. I can’t be quite as objective when it comes to Arashi (lol). Well but… In the end, if Arashi sings it, any song just becomes Arashi-like. But, I can’t tell what exactly it is that makes it Arashi-like.
Satoshi Ohno
We’re just natural and relaxed, somehow (lol). We’re not particularly noisy or quiet. We just go with the flow of our surroundings. Like we just naturally blend right into it.
Question 3: What/when/who was the turning point for Arashi and for you?
Satoshi Ohno
For me, it was 2008. I had my first solo exhibition and all, and something changed after that. Everything around us did too. I’m not sure what specifically changed… it was like, there was nothing I myself could do about anything. For Arashi…I think it was good how we talked together after we debuted. During our tours, we would stay up all night in the hotel room just talking together. Looking back on it now… it’s no wonder we felt like we had to talk (lol). It took about… 7 or 8 years before we had the privilege of being considered “popular.” In that way, we’re a group that very gradually became more well-known.
Sho Sakurai
For Arashi I think it was 2006. We had the Asia Tour and then the Domes, then the year after was Kokuritsu, and then our 10th anniversary… it was like, what on earth?! It felt like we were completely sucked into this “giant whirlpool.” For me personally it was also 2006. It was when I started ‘news zero’ after all. I joined Johnny’s in middle school…in a weird way, I felt like I had to have the “adults” of society accept and understand that, and I studied like crazy to convince them. That year was when I felt like my hard work wasn’t all for nothing, and that was big for me then. Of course, it still is today too.
Masaki Aiba
First, I think it was when our label changed to J Storm, that was big. It was when ‘a Day in Our Life’ came out. I think one of our turning points was when our recording company changed and we got our own label. Since then we’ve been able to do a lot of challenging things. Also, another turning point I think was seeing our concert venues get bigger and bigger. I feel like we were daringly pushing forward. For me personally…it was the first time I got a pneumothorax (TN: air in the chest cavity, outside the lungs). At that time, I was told that I may not be able to sing and dance anymore and I wondered if I was going to be able to stay in Arashi… I spent a lot of time reflecting on myself then. I got a lot of encouragement from many people and was fortunately able to overcome that obstacle.
Kazunari Ninomiya
I’ve said this many times before, but it was things like our first Kokuritsu concert, or Asia Tour… I think those were big for us. For me personally, I don’t really have anything definite that I felt was a turning point… or rather, I don’t remember them (lol). When all’s said and done, I think I’ve just steadily kept at it.
Jun Matsumoto
There’s too many things…both for Arashi and for me. Just narrowing it down to one thing makes that one thing have too much meaning. After all, we’ve worked together to make these 20 years, and were able to do so because of the people we’ve met. And I think that’s how we’ve gotten to here.
Question 4: What are your future goals? And what do you think you need from here on out?
Kazunari Ninomiya
I don’t have any goals at all (lol). I haven’t been working with that stance up to now either. In the first place, I haven’t yet done something that I’d said “I want to try that.” I’m always given the challenge, like “Would you try doing this?” And then I work to see if I can do it or not. That’s the stance I take towards my work. What am I lacking…? I don’t really have much interest in myself, so I hardly spend any time thinking about myself. So thinking “Oh, I wasn’t able to do this because I don’t have this”…I’m not sure how that would go until it actually happens. Ah! Muscles. I know that that’s what I’m lacking (lol).
Sho Sakurai
I think it would be great if I could do something that would remain in people’s hearts. Like even if I died…or rather like, something that would remain even after I die. I appreciate that we do have our music, dramas, movies… all kinds of things that will physically remain. But, is it something that will stay in someone’s heart…? I think it depends on what sort of thing we are able to give.
Satoshi Ohno
For me personally, I really think I’ve had the great privilege of being able to do all kinds of things. Honestly there isn’t really much I can think of that I definitely want to do. That might have been true ever since our 10th anniversary. What is most important to me now is “doing the thing that is right in front of me.” For Arashi… I think it has to be the concerts. I think it’d be great if we could spend more time directly seeing the fans and enjoying that atmosphere together. I think that’s what the “and more” means for our tour this time around too.
Masaki Aiba
We’ve already been able to do so many things… Well, I think more than what we want to do, it’s the attitude and how we approach the things we are doing. Since we’re working with other people, the relationship and trust you have in them is important, as well as having the composure to be able to observe what’s going on around you. I want to try being aware of that and fostering my relationships with others no matter what I’m doing. That’s even more important now that the world communicates so easily, even if you can’t see the faces of the other people.
Jun Matsumoto
First in terms of the 5 of us… it’d be great if we’re able to summarize our 20 years as Arashi over the course of this long tour. Being able to share the long tour, each day, memory, and this time, with the members is really something special. I’ve been doing this together with the members all this time, but I don’t take our being able to be together for granted. So that’s why I feel like there’s a lot of meaning in our being able to reflect on the 20 years we’ve walked together through this anniversary tour. For me personally, there are lots of things that I would like to try doing, but those things change as the time and place change. I’ll think about it after this tour is over.
Question 5: A message for the you of 20 years ago
Satoshi Ohno
It’s probably “just shut up and do it!” (lol). That time when we debuted… I really had no idea what was going on (lol). But I think I’d tell myself just to keep going without changing. Because now, I don’t really have any regrets or anything. So I don’t have any “do this like this” message for myself, that’s why it’s “just shut up and keep doing what you’re doing!” (lol)
Sho Sakurai
I guess it’d be “there are an unbelievable number of people around you/supporting you.” That includes the fans of course, and the staff as well. I mean, on the one extreme, we set sail with just the 5 of us, after all. But of course even at that time, we had the staff and fans with us too. But where we’re at now… it really is the “beyond the dream” that I wrote in the rap for “Mikan.” I don’t really want to say that to the me in 1999 though.
Masaki Aiba
I think it’d be “it’s a pretty tough world to be in, but any world is going to be just as tough, so don’t run away and work hard.” Because I’m sure wherever I’d run away to would be tough as well (lol).
Kazunari Ninomiya
All I can say is “please work hard!” (lol). I mean, things have turned out completely different than the future I’d imagined 20 years ago…I think, anyway.
Jun Matsumoto
Ehh, you mean to the me when we debuted, right? Eh…what is it? Something like “You guys, you’ll be made fun of for those outfits you’re debuting in…” maybe? (lol) And “Lots of people will laugh at you for it, but in the distant future, you guys will be able to laugh at it too, so don’t worry about it!” Like, “In the end, the (future) you will even bring it back, so don’t worry” (lol)
10 "Thank Yous"
Satoshi Ohno’s 10 “Thank yous”
1: To the fans
What I really feel…is that the fans know me better than I know myself (lol). That’s in regards to anything. I think they’re able to pick up on any changes or differences in me through watching tv or whatever. Does that mean… I’m really easy to understand? (lol). But I think it just shows how much they are trying to understand me, and that’s amazing. So I want to say “thank you for understanding me better than I do myself.” I don’t understand myself very well… so it’s been helpful (lol).
2: To Aiba-kun
Aiba-chan… I have this impression that whenever things have happened and I was feeling down, he was always just there by my side. And during tours, he always comes by and says, “Riida, let’s have a drink together.” We’re not comforting each other or talking about anything in particular, just hanging out in the hotel room drinking together. I know because I write in my journal. I’m writing “I had drinks with Aiba-chan at the hotel” (lol). That hasn’t changed at all. He’s a kind person.
3: To Matsumoto-kun
MatsuJun was pretty harsh back in the day (lol). But I think, wasn’t it good because he was like that back then? If he hadn’t been, I think we all would have been kind of incomplete/half-done. MatsuJun took the lead and went in, he really thought about Arashi…and I think because he did, we’ve been able to see and do all kinds of things. He’s thought about Arashi a lot… or rather, he always has been.
4: To Ninomiya-kun
Nino’s style/way of living has not changed at all over the years. So, for instance, when I’m doing a drama or movie or something solo and am feeling a bit tired, and I come to our dressing room with the 5 of us, there is always “the usual Ninomiya Kazunari” there. It makes me kind of relieved. Like, “ah… nothing has changed.” I feel like he’s naturally become the standard/baseline for my piece of mind.
5: To Sakurai-kun
Sho-chan is…someone I’m no match for. That’s been true since our debut. The oldest one in the group is this (points to himself), after all (lol). Even so, he’s always backed me up without complaint… he’s just naturally doing it. Sho-kun doesn’t say anything to me, and even if I said something about it, he’d just say “that’s not true” and laugh. Really… I’m no match for him (wry laugh).
6: To my family
I’m of course grateful for my family. Back when I still lived with my parents, we talked constantly. It’s been a long while since I moved out, and there were times when I was too busy to see them much. But even so, when I did see them, they’d be the same as always. I think that support has really helped me get this far… “please treat me well from here on too!” is what I want to say to them (lol).
7: To my friends
When asked about my friends, I think of the guys I worked with in my Jr. days. I recently met up with them for the first time in a long while, and it was the same as always. It has been ever since we were Jrs. I think things like this probably won’t change our whole lives. It’s not like we particularly have any specific episodes where we’d been supporting each other or anything like that, but just having people like that in my life is something I’m grateful for.
8: To the staff and people at work
The number of staff that are working with us continues to increase… I’d really like to thank each and every one of them in person. But that’s pretty difficult… so I always try to really look at their work. Like the tree cake that was made for the photos in this pamphlet, I wonder “how many hours did that take to make?” I make things too… so I know how much work it takes. So, that’s why I want to really look at each staff’s “work,” whatever that is. I have nothing but gratitude for the people at the agency… I think I’ve given them lots of trouble. Really, we’ve walked these 20 years with everyone.
9: To my seniors and juniors at Johnny’s
I think there’s a clear definition of what is Johnny’s-like, which was made by my seniors. And isn’t it only Johnny’s? For a company/agency to be so united and feel like a family. I think it’s because of them that I’m able to be here, both as Arashi and as myself. It’s amazing that Arashi is also in the history that my seniors and juniors have been passing down.
10: To Johnny-san
Johnny-san was the one that picked me, both when I entered the agency as a Jr. and when I started in Arashi. And he’s supported us ever since… I’m thankful for that. Johnny-san is really an amazing person. He really thinks of us all like his own children and cares about us. Last year (2017), the 5 of us went to his house for his birthday. It was nostalgic…it brought back memories of my Jr. days, like I just naturally return to being that kid when I’m with Johnny-san.
Sho Sakurai’s 10 “Thank yous”
1: To the fans
I really think they are our “understanders,” and like I wrote in “Take Off!!!!!”, Arashi is 5 rings, but at the same time…the 6th, if it’s ok to count them like that. I think we’ve walked together, including the fans. Really, we wouldn’t have been able to come this far without the fans. I had been saving this for the rap in “5 x 20,” but it didn’t quite fit…so I’d like to tell them here. We’ve all traveled together all this way. (TN: This last sentence was in English; no translating required).
2: To Aiba-kun
I hadn’t really talked to Aiba-kun much when we were Juniors… so honestly there’s not really that feeling that we’ve been together since our Junior days. It’s more like we created our relationship from zero when we joined Arashi. In Arashi, he is right in the middle in terms of our ages. But at home he is actually the older brother. So I think he really is an “older brother” kind of person. But he doesn’t really bring that out in Arashi. I think he’s keeping the balance in his own way.
3: To Matsumoto-kun
Of all of the members, MatsuJun is the one I’ve know the longest, and we talked a lot together even back around when we debuted. We had some times where we didn’t quite see eye to eye - but in that way we’re of similar mind. I pretty clearly remember that time, when his character/role totally changed from that of the “younger brother.” It was around the time of “Gokusen.” He was really trying to change himself. That he can come up with such unbelievable concerts at such a scale now just shows how hard he has studied to get here. He really is a hard-working person. And though he doesn’t look like it, he is pretty sensitive/delicate (lol).
4: To Ninomiya-kun
Nino is… just mysterious/fascinating. I think the way he perceives things is just fundamentally different from me. The fun of having someone like him as one of the members is really important. We get all kinds of different opinions and perspectives. I think… he is someone that typically looks at things a bit cynically. Probably the only thing he looks at straight on is us. He has a great amount of trust in us, or rather, I can tell how much he really cares about Arashi. The space that Arashi occupies in his heart is probably pretty big, I think.
5: To Ohno-kun
My first experience with Ohno Satoshi was in December 1995 at a V6 concert, when Johnny-san told me, “Go stand behind Ohno, watch how he dances, and copy that.” It’s still “his back” that I look at even now. He’s the oldest one after all, and that stance between us hasn’t changed. There’s still that foundation of respect that I have for him. 20 years…I think he’s done well to have continued with Arashi all this time (lol). He’s a person with so many talents. His drawings and figures, and of course singing and dancing, it wouldn’t be weird from him to turn his interests elsewhere, would it? But in the end…Arashi wouldn’t be the same without Ohno Satoshi’s “voice”, right?
6: To my family
I’m thankful for them, and at the same time…I think I caused them a lot of trouble at times too. I mean, ever since I was in 2nd year of middle school, my family has had the label/introduction “Sakurai Sho’s ___” follow them around. So, I have a very big “thank you” to them, but also a very big “I’m sorry.” But they have accepted that and have always surrounded me with their understanding. I’m truly grateful for them.
7: To my friends
Of course my friends are important to me. I have a lot of friends that I’ve known for a long time, from even before I was in Arashi or joined Johnny’s. Sometimes they tell me the hard things and sometimes they are there to comfort me. I probably wouldn’t make it far without them.
8: To the staff and people at work
I’ve said this for a long time… I think of Arashi as the name of a huge project. And the 5 of us are only the frontmen of that project. It’s like, “Without these 5, it’s not Arashi. But, with only these 5, it’s also not Arashi.” Really…without the staff, we wouldn’t be able to do anything. We’ve been able to come these 20 years not only because of the staff we have now, but also because of all of the staff that we’ve worked with along the way.
9: To my seniors and juniors at Johnny’s
All of the things we’ve done have been along the rails that our seniors have created over the history of the agency. Arashi was not the “first Kokuritsu,” nor were we the “first to host Kouhaku.” I always think about this when we are about to take on something for the first time. To the juniors… well, it’s not quite the same as thanks, but you know there are starting to be more of them that say “the first concert I ever went to was Arashi.” Though of course we aren’t doing this in order to get more people to join Johnny’s (lol), but it doesn’t make me happy to hear, and I take pride in it.
10: To Johnny-san
Out of the numerous résumés and countless auditions, the one that found me was just one person, and that was Johnny-san. It was October 22, 1995, when I was in 2nd year of middle school. If Johnny-san hadn’t found me then, all of this now wouldn’t be happening. Also in June 1999, I was waiting at a railroad crossing in my neighborhood when I suddenly got a call from Johnny-san about Arashi…it was clearly a crossroads in my life. Johnny-san is the one that “gave birth” to my life as an Arashi member, and I have nothing but gratitude for him.
Masaki Aiba’s 10 “Thank yous”
1: To the fans
I’m really thankful to them. We’ve been able to do this for 20 years firstly because the fans have been there supporting us. Because we have fans coming to see us, it motivates us more, like “Let’s show them this” or “Let’s do something different for the next time.” With each and every concert, we put more of our hearts and souls into it, in a way. If the fans weren’t there, we wouldn’t have any motivation in the first place (lol). Their presence is what pushes us to keep growing/maturing… yes, I’m thankful for everything they do.
2: To Matsumoto-kun
My very first day at the agency, the one that came to tell me, “Just stand back here and watch the person in front of you and dance like them!” was MatsuJun. We wound up working together a lot in our Junior days. Then we became Arashi… and have been together 20 years. And during this time he’s been actively involved in the concerts and creating them for us. That and… every year he readily lets me do whatever crazy idea I have, saying “that sounds great,” I’m thankful for that too (lol).
3: To Ninomiya-kun
I’ve been with Nino since our Junior days… probably in terms of time, I’ve been with him longer than my family. Our relationship is one where I can just be relaxed with him. In a way, it’s special/unique. This year (2018) on New Year’s when I went to his house, he even went out his way to come pick me up from my place (lol). It was the first time it was just us in a car, with me in the passenger seat. That time, we listened to “season” in the car… that was something. I think he keeps an eye out for me, and I do for him too. We both have that feeling.
4: To Ohno-kun
When we were Juniors, Riida was in Kyoto (doing stage plays for long periods), and he was older than me, so I looked at him as way senior to me. But then I went to Kyoto, and we played the “Senda Mitsuo game” all night (lol) and that was the first time I’d really talked with him. That was how we started… for my 20th birthday, Riida took me to a bar in Ginza, that was quite memorable. Since then we haven’t had much of an opportunity to go, but in this 20th anniversary year, I think it’d be nice if we were able to go again together.
5: To Sakurai-kun
Sho-chan is someone that teaches me all kinds of things. Whether it’s just information he has or anything… and he explains things very nicely (lol). There’s lots of things I respect about him. He was really senior to me when we were Juniors so I wasn’t able to just casually talk to him back then. But after joining Arashi, we got much closer… during the time I still lived in Chiba, we had been hanging out and it got too late for me to get back home, so he let me stay at his house with his family, I really remember that.
6: To my family
I’m thankful for them. They don’t tell me directly, but I think they are always supporting me. I think we have a good relationship. I’m sure I’ve caused them a lot of trouble… of course I’m thankful for them now too, but I also feel like I need to do more for them from now on.
7: To my friends
By friends… do you mean Kazama (Shunsuke)-kun? (lol) Nah, guys like Kazama-kun and Kimi-chan (Yokoyama Yuu) are in a different category from friends, more like a “really close and special” category. Of course, I have friends that I just normally play sports with or go have dinner with… we share hobbies and interests. You know, I… up until now I have always not really shared my weaknesses with others, and of course tried to handle my problems on my own without asking for advice, but lately I’ve started telling these things to my friends. And I’m getting support from them in that way too.
8: To the staff and people at work
Man… we really have been blessed with the most excellent staff. The concert staff, our managers, and the tv staff, all of them. Really… we of course need the staff’s efforts to help us shine at our best. And from there, we work hard. I really only have gratitude for the staff that always helps us to shine.
9: To my seniors and juniors at Johnny’s
To the seniors, I’ve had the privilege of following behind them (TN: he literally said “looking at their backs”). In a way, we are just walking along the “rails” that the seniors laid down before us, and for that I’m thankful to them. To the juniors, I can’t give them technical advice like “I think it should go this way,” but I think by watching us they can get a sense of how they should approach what they do. Things doesn’t always go well, after all. But how to conduct yourselves when things don’t go well, that’s what I think we can show them.
10: To Johnny-san
Johnny-san was the one that continued to call me as a Junior every week to practices or work in the first place, and I am here now because of that. Looking back… I remember him taking us out to family restaurants a lot, or going to karaoke with us when we were at the boarding houses. I have lots of memories of gathering with everyone around Johnny-san, and just having a good time. None of this would have started if he wasn’t here. I really have lots of gratitude for him, every day.
Kazunari Ninomiya’s 10 “Thank yous”
1: To the fans
I’m really grateful to the fans for being there. And I’m grateful for the fans that come to the concerts like this as well. But when asked, “What does the fans’ presence mean to you?” I’m not sure…though there’s no mistaking they are a “special presence.” I can’t really express it in any other way than that. But, saying it that way… kind of makes it sound like a lie, I think. Hmm…. how do I explain it? The people who watch us on tv are fans, and the people who come to the concerts are fans too. To take it further… the people who just happened to watch one of the member’s dramas are also fans. The people who bought this pamphlet are fans, but the people that didn’t buy it are fans too, right? People who only recently came to like Arashi are fans too. So, to put all of them into one big lump and ask me “thank all of the fans!”…it’s kind of hard to do (lol)….that’s what I think.
2: To Aiba-kun
“Thank you for always being cheerful and working hard!”
3: To Matsumoto-kun
“Thank you for always thinking about our concerts!”
4: To Ohno-kun
“Thank you for always being so darkly tanned!”
5: To Sakurai-kun
“Thank you for always taking charge and managing us!”
Of course I’m thankful for the members as well. But, a 20th anniversary… at the very least, our seniors have already crossed one too. So in regards to that “number,” I don’t really feel anything particularly special about it… all I think about it is that the 5 of us have really worked hard together this whole time. After all, no matter what the agency said, or how much adults may have tried to convince us… if one of us at some point said “I don’t want to do this,” then Arashi would not have continued for 20 years. We’ve somehow managed to work hard enough to get here, and that… I think that is truly the result of our 20 years together. It’s nothing but us just noting how far we’ve come, though. But it is amazing that we are and have been able to do so.
6: To my family
I’m thankful for them. I am truly grateful.
7: To my friends
I’m grateful for my friends too. Thank you!
8: To the staff and people at work
Of course, it’s “thank you.” I can’t do anything just by myself after all. I can work only because of the staff at the tv stations, magazines, the agency… it’s all because of them. I have to be grateful to them! Thank you!!
9: To my seniors and juniors at Johnny’s
Of course, our seniors have made the path and traditions that we have. But my feelings towards them and my juniors at this particular time…I don’t really have anything to say (lol). This sort of thing, I don’t think I would be able to say unless I was retiring from the agency or something. Also, saying “thank you” to our seniors for our 20th anniversary…seems kind of weird. I can understand telling our seniors for their anniversary year, “Thank you for everything you’ve done up to now! Please continue to work hard!!” though (lol). The thing we have of saying “thank you seniors!” when we turn 20… I don’t really understand that either (wry laugh).
10: To Johnny-san
It would have to be, “Thank you for picking me.” Because Johnny-san made a decision to pick Ninomiya, and he entered the agency… is how it went. Someone like me, you know? (lol) For the Johnny-san that picked me, that’s all I could say.
In the first place… I think people who know me well are thinking that “saying their thank yous in a public place like this is definitely not something Ninomiya would do, right?” (lol). But that does not in any way mean that I’m not thankful, you know? It’s just…saying thank you in such a public way is not really gratitude, that’s how I think. I’ve continued to say this for quite some time now, so for this time too… sorry it turned out like this (lol). In regards to the “looking back on these 20 years, what do you think?” question as well… I have difficulty with it because I haven’t looked back until now (lol). Everyone always says, “No, but it’s your 20th anniversary after all. Say something about it!” But I’m a person that thinks, what’s the point in having us all do the same thing just because it’s been 20 years? (lol) I’m probably not suited for these types of comments in the first place (wry laugh). But in that sense, I think the Arashi members are really amazing. I mean, they’re not complaining like me, right? I think they’re such professionals at this. But… in the midst of all that, what’s wrong with having one troublesome guy like me there! (lol)
Jun Matsumoto’s 10 “Thank yous”
1: To the fans
Over the past 20 years, I’ve always tried to imagine how to put together and keep the balance in the triangle between Arashi x the fans x the projects Arashi has worked on… though there were times when the balance between these things may not have been good. But, everyone had their own timing and way in which they somehow became connected to us. I’m just grateful to them for still having interest in the things we are doing.
2: To Aiba-kun
I wonder when it was, that I started thinking, “When this person is around, the atmosphere/mood gets more excited.” He’s a very passionate person. Like during rehearsals for choreography, he keeps dancing, saying “I need to practice more because I’m slow to remember it.” He really doesn’t rest at all… so then I think, “Well if Aiba-kun’s not going to rest…” and then I start dancing too, then somehow everyone says, “I guess we should all do it” and we keep going. That continuous passion that we have, I think has a lot to do with him being there.
3: To Ninomiya-kun
Nino and I entered the agency at around the same time. We were part of groups together from our Jr. days. He is… kind of interesting/mysterious. We’re the same age, but the way that he looks at and perceives things is almost the exact opposite of me. Even among our members, he is quite unique (lol). It’s easily seen in our variety shows, and also during the concerts as well. But having Nino there with his different tones does expand/supplement what makes Arashi interesting.
4: To Ohno-kun
The image I still remember from our Jr. days was sitting next to him on the train. He would talk a little, and then be silent… that was it. He hasn’t changed at all from the way he was back then (lol). The past few years, I’ve been working together more with Riida in particular on our concerts. We’ve traveled overseas together to see many things, and we find things that interest each of us and have built a common ground that way. I really rely on him a lot, and I think he is very talented when it comes to choreography.
5: To Sakurai-kun
He is the type of person that points things out to people like me, without worrying about having a misunderstanding. And he does it in a mild way… like, “I see what you’re saying, but on the other hand, wouldn’t it also be ok to do it more like this?” He’s someone that really feels strongly that “we should all have fun together.” He thinks, “If we’re going to do this, what can we do to make sure that no one has a bad experience?” I think because of that, that calmness and mildness that is unique to Arashi is maintained.
6: To my family
I’ve been doing this work since I was in first year of middle school, and since then until I became an adult, they have of course supported me a lot, and they have taught me about manners and common sense to live in today’s society. I really feel now how much they were watching over me with love and support. At the same time, I also am really grateful to the members’ families too. The 5 of us have been able to get this far because we’ve had their support all this time. Your family is your “foundation” after all.
7: To my friends
The fact that I’ve been able to keep doing this without getting bored/stale and can still finding things that keep it interesting… is probably due in part to my friends being there. People close to you show you that they’re working hard and give you new stimuli… being in that kind of environment is important for me.
8: To the staff and people at work
First to the concert staff…I really say a lot of difficult ideas every time. But they’ve made those things possible and for that I’m thankful. And at the same time, I’ve met a lot of people through movies, tv, and magazines. I’m thankful to have met so many unique people who actually want to work with someone difficult to handle like me (lol). In the end, there isn’t a single thing we can do without them. Around the 5 of us are the staff who work together with us, and around that are the production crew… I think of us as all riding on the same “boat.” We’ve really been supported by them the last 20 years… in a way it’s the 20th anniversary for them too. So I’d like to tell them “congratulations” as well as thank them.
9: To my seniors and juniors at Johnny’s
In the 50+ years of our agency and its history, we’re really nothing more than “one page” of it. We have our seniors, and our juniors, and us…I’d like to continue adding to the road/traditions that the agency has made over the years.
10: To Johnny-san
He is really a special person to me. Of all of the people I’ve met, he is one of the few I truly consider a genius. To have met such a person at the age of 13 like I did, it’s one of the biggest things that’s happened in my life. In the end, the foundation of my entertainment style is from Johnny-san and the agency he created. In that way, while my parents gave me life, he’s the one that created how I express myself. No matter where I go from here, I’m sure this will still be my base/foundation.
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Ok! That's the first half.
The crosstalk will be in its own post here, since it's so long (but oh so fun, as Arashi crosstalks always are).
And the "About Tour" section will be here, not quite as long.
I hope you all enjoyed reading that as much as I did! In light of their hiatus announcement, I thought we could all do with a little cheer.
Me, I loved Nino's 10 "Thank yous," especially that last paragraph, I could NOT stop laughing. It was so Nino in every way and just summed up everything I love about him XD
And Sho's "We've all traveled together all this way" made me cry the first time I read it. I've felt the same way about our boys for all these years I've been a fan. We've been on this journey together! (And I am heartbroken that it will be ending...pausing)
At any rate, comments are very greatly appreciated! I may not be able to reply to many, but I definitely do read them all and love hearing about what you liked (or not), your thoughts and fan memories, all that great stuff!
Will also crosspost this to my DW of the same name
Thank you for stopping by!!
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My goodness it has been FOREVER since I have posted a translation! I am definitely still lurking around though here and there :)
Today I am happy to bring you my translation of the 5 x 20 pamphlet!! I roughly divided it into 4 broad sections, which I called the "5 Questions," the "10 Thank Yous," the crosstalk, and finally the "About Tour" part. If you have a chance at all to get this pamphlet, I recommend it! The pictures are beautiful (and I found the time travel ones quite hilarious and adorable).
As usual, my translations will stay public unless they get stolen/reposted elsewhere (if you would like to use it for re-translating or something, please just ask!). And I like color-coding, I think it makes it more fun~
Without further ado, let's get started, shall we? :D
5 Questions
Question 1: In these 20 years, what makes you feel like you’ve become adults?
Masaki Aiba
Just in terms of age we’re definitely adults… but I wonder? Your preferences and stuff just become simpler. And the time you spend taking care of your health/body is longer (wry laugh). There’s not really anything I can say “It’s definitely this!” but I think I’ve become more calm and at ease. As the years go by (lol).
Sho Sakurai
Probably, spending time with my juniors. When I was a Jr, I thought, “juniors shouldn’t rely on a helping hand from their seniors” and when I became more senior, I still thought the same thing. But… I think it was after I turned 30, I started thinking that if there is a message or something I want to leave behind, that I’d like to pass that to the next generation.
Satoshi Ohno
More like, I’m becoming more childish (lol). I was more adult-like in the past, or more stoic. In my 20s I think was particularly stoic. But, aren’t there things you can understand because you had a period like that? Now… for instance, if I make a goal for myself I already know “If I do this, this will happen” or “At this rate I won’t make it anymore” (lol). I know “I have to do this!” Now… I’m pretty relaxed though (lol). But, isn’t that ok too?
Kazunari Ninomiya
I don’t think anything has really changed. In terms of age, I became an adult a long time ago…. There’s nothing in particular that makes me think I’m childish, or that I’m an adult. Well, I have started thinking more about my health though (lol). Yup, I’ve started thinking about my health. That’s one thing I’ve become more an adult about!
Jun Matsumoto
From the opposite point of view… there are plenty of moments where I think I’m still not quite an adult or I’m immature (lol). Well, but I get told that I’ve become more “soft/round.” I got told that by an actor the other day too. I thought “I must’ve been pretty bad in the past” (lol)…. Probably, I’ve come full circle (lol). Compared to that (being on edge) time, my perspective has clearly become more opened/wide.
Question 2: Things that make Arashi Arashi, and things you like about Arashi
Jun Matsumoto
There’s not really anything I can say. Because I’m part of Arashi after all (lol). Well, there are probably a lot of people that think of us as “a normal group of guys that look like fun,” but I think of us as a “professional group.” Of course, we didn’t start out that way. I think we’ve grown to become that, and have been helped along the way by everyone.
Sho Sakurai
I think we have a kind of “handmade warmth” that we’ve slowly made over time with the help of the fans and staff. That’s why all of the members love Arashi and can feel that warmth. Well, I think we are a group that took some time, and we had times where we had it “hard” or were “at the bottom,” but we’ve always been enjoying ourselves to death (lol). I think we’re not the guys that would be standing out in the middle of the classroom, but the ones off to the sides, laughing together nearby the windows. Our Arashi-ness is probably that “enjoyment” I think (lol).
Kazunari Ninomiya
Isn’t it our public image of “the members get along with each other”? I don’t really think that though (lol). If this wasn’t for something like work, you wouldn’t normally be together so long. But, I’m not saying that we actually don’t get along or anything like that, you know? (lol). It’s simply that we have our interests and preferences, and have some things in common, and our relationships just get built that way. I mean, I don’t like stuff like fishing at all (lol). What I have in common with the members is our “work”… and everyone is taking it seriously, so we are all together.
Masaki Aiba
I like how our relationships don’t change. They may have changed a little as we’ve gotten older, but the base/foundation of them haven’t changed at all. What makes Arashi Arashi… I wonder? I can easily come up with lots of “Oh, this is so Kan-Jani!” things for other groups though. I can’t be quite as objective when it comes to Arashi (lol). Well but… In the end, if Arashi sings it, any song just becomes Arashi-like. But, I can’t tell what exactly it is that makes it Arashi-like.
Satoshi Ohno
We’re just natural and relaxed, somehow (lol). We’re not particularly noisy or quiet. We just go with the flow of our surroundings. Like we just naturally blend right into it.
Question 3: What/when/who was the turning point for Arashi and for you?
Satoshi Ohno
For me, it was 2008. I had my first solo exhibition and all, and something changed after that. Everything around us did too. I’m not sure what specifically changed… it was like, there was nothing I myself could do about anything. For Arashi…I think it was good how we talked together after we debuted. During our tours, we would stay up all night in the hotel room just talking together. Looking back on it now… it’s no wonder we felt like we had to talk (lol). It took about… 7 or 8 years before we had the privilege of being considered “popular.” In that way, we’re a group that very gradually became more well-known.
Sho Sakurai
For Arashi I think it was 2006. We had the Asia Tour and then the Domes, then the year after was Kokuritsu, and then our 10th anniversary… it was like, what on earth?! It felt like we were completely sucked into this “giant whirlpool.” For me personally it was also 2006. It was when I started ‘news zero’ after all. I joined Johnny’s in middle school…in a weird way, I felt like I had to have the “adults” of society accept and understand that, and I studied like crazy to convince them. That year was when I felt like my hard work wasn’t all for nothing, and that was big for me then. Of course, it still is today too.
Masaki Aiba
First, I think it was when our label changed to J Storm, that was big. It was when ‘a Day in Our Life’ came out. I think one of our turning points was when our recording company changed and we got our own label. Since then we’ve been able to do a lot of challenging things. Also, another turning point I think was seeing our concert venues get bigger and bigger. I feel like we were daringly pushing forward. For me personally…it was the first time I got a pneumothorax (TN: air in the chest cavity, outside the lungs). At that time, I was told that I may not be able to sing and dance anymore and I wondered if I was going to be able to stay in Arashi… I spent a lot of time reflecting on myself then. I got a lot of encouragement from many people and was fortunately able to overcome that obstacle.
Kazunari Ninomiya
I’ve said this many times before, but it was things like our first Kokuritsu concert, or Asia Tour… I think those were big for us. For me personally, I don’t really have anything definite that I felt was a turning point… or rather, I don’t remember them (lol). When all’s said and done, I think I’ve just steadily kept at it.
Jun Matsumoto
There’s too many things…both for Arashi and for me. Just narrowing it down to one thing makes that one thing have too much meaning. After all, we’ve worked together to make these 20 years, and were able to do so because of the people we’ve met. And I think that’s how we’ve gotten to here.
Question 4: What are your future goals? And what do you think you need from here on out?
Kazunari Ninomiya
I don’t have any goals at all (lol). I haven’t been working with that stance up to now either. In the first place, I haven’t yet done something that I’d said “I want to try that.” I’m always given the challenge, like “Would you try doing this?” And then I work to see if I can do it or not. That’s the stance I take towards my work. What am I lacking…? I don’t really have much interest in myself, so I hardly spend any time thinking about myself. So thinking “Oh, I wasn’t able to do this because I don’t have this”…I’m not sure how that would go until it actually happens. Ah! Muscles. I know that that’s what I’m lacking (lol).
Sho Sakurai
I think it would be great if I could do something that would remain in people’s hearts. Like even if I died…or rather like, something that would remain even after I die. I appreciate that we do have our music, dramas, movies… all kinds of things that will physically remain. But, is it something that will stay in someone’s heart…? I think it depends on what sort of thing we are able to give.
Satoshi Ohno
For me personally, I really think I’ve had the great privilege of being able to do all kinds of things. Honestly there isn’t really much I can think of that I definitely want to do. That might have been true ever since our 10th anniversary. What is most important to me now is “doing the thing that is right in front of me.” For Arashi… I think it has to be the concerts. I think it’d be great if we could spend more time directly seeing the fans and enjoying that atmosphere together. I think that’s what the “and more” means for our tour this time around too.
Masaki Aiba
We’ve already been able to do so many things… Well, I think more than what we want to do, it’s the attitude and how we approach the things we are doing. Since we’re working with other people, the relationship and trust you have in them is important, as well as having the composure to be able to observe what’s going on around you. I want to try being aware of that and fostering my relationships with others no matter what I’m doing. That’s even more important now that the world communicates so easily, even if you can’t see the faces of the other people.
Jun Matsumoto
First in terms of the 5 of us… it’d be great if we’re able to summarize our 20 years as Arashi over the course of this long tour. Being able to share the long tour, each day, memory, and this time, with the members is really something special. I’ve been doing this together with the members all this time, but I don’t take our being able to be together for granted. So that’s why I feel like there’s a lot of meaning in our being able to reflect on the 20 years we’ve walked together through this anniversary tour. For me personally, there are lots of things that I would like to try doing, but those things change as the time and place change. I’ll think about it after this tour is over.
Question 5: A message for the you of 20 years ago
Satoshi Ohno
It’s probably “just shut up and do it!” (lol). That time when we debuted… I really had no idea what was going on (lol). But I think I’d tell myself just to keep going without changing. Because now, I don’t really have any regrets or anything. So I don’t have any “do this like this” message for myself, that’s why it’s “just shut up and keep doing what you’re doing!” (lol)
Sho Sakurai
I guess it’d be “there are an unbelievable number of people around you/supporting you.” That includes the fans of course, and the staff as well. I mean, on the one extreme, we set sail with just the 5 of us, after all. But of course even at that time, we had the staff and fans with us too. But where we’re at now… it really is the “beyond the dream” that I wrote in the rap for “Mikan.” I don’t really want to say that to the me in 1999 though.
Masaki Aiba
I think it’d be “it’s a pretty tough world to be in, but any world is going to be just as tough, so don’t run away and work hard.” Because I’m sure wherever I’d run away to would be tough as well (lol).
Kazunari Ninomiya
All I can say is “please work hard!” (lol). I mean, things have turned out completely different than the future I’d imagined 20 years ago…I think, anyway.
Jun Matsumoto
Ehh, you mean to the me when we debuted, right? Eh…what is it? Something like “You guys, you’ll be made fun of for those outfits you’re debuting in…” maybe? (lol) And “Lots of people will laugh at you for it, but in the distant future, you guys will be able to laugh at it too, so don’t worry about it!” Like, “In the end, the (future) you will even bring it back, so don’t worry” (lol)
10 "Thank Yous"
Satoshi Ohno’s 10 “Thank yous”
1: To the fans
What I really feel…is that the fans know me better than I know myself (lol). That’s in regards to anything. I think they’re able to pick up on any changes or differences in me through watching tv or whatever. Does that mean… I’m really easy to understand? (lol). But I think it just shows how much they are trying to understand me, and that’s amazing. So I want to say “thank you for understanding me better than I do myself.” I don’t understand myself very well… so it’s been helpful (lol).
2: To Aiba-kun
Aiba-chan… I have this impression that whenever things have happened and I was feeling down, he was always just there by my side. And during tours, he always comes by and says, “Riida, let’s have a drink together.” We’re not comforting each other or talking about anything in particular, just hanging out in the hotel room drinking together. I know because I write in my journal. I’m writing “I had drinks with Aiba-chan at the hotel” (lol). That hasn’t changed at all. He’s a kind person.
3: To Matsumoto-kun
MatsuJun was pretty harsh back in the day (lol). But I think, wasn’t it good because he was like that back then? If he hadn’t been, I think we all would have been kind of incomplete/half-done. MatsuJun took the lead and went in, he really thought about Arashi…and I think because he did, we’ve been able to see and do all kinds of things. He’s thought about Arashi a lot… or rather, he always has been.
4: To Ninomiya-kun
Nino’s style/way of living has not changed at all over the years. So, for instance, when I’m doing a drama or movie or something solo and am feeling a bit tired, and I come to our dressing room with the 5 of us, there is always “the usual Ninomiya Kazunari” there. It makes me kind of relieved. Like, “ah… nothing has changed.” I feel like he’s naturally become the standard/baseline for my piece of mind.
5: To Sakurai-kun
Sho-chan is…someone I’m no match for. That’s been true since our debut. The oldest one in the group is this (points to himself), after all (lol). Even so, he’s always backed me up without complaint… he’s just naturally doing it. Sho-kun doesn’t say anything to me, and even if I said something about it, he’d just say “that’s not true” and laugh. Really… I’m no match for him (wry laugh).
6: To my family
I’m of course grateful for my family. Back when I still lived with my parents, we talked constantly. It’s been a long while since I moved out, and there were times when I was too busy to see them much. But even so, when I did see them, they’d be the same as always. I think that support has really helped me get this far… “please treat me well from here on too!” is what I want to say to them (lol).
7: To my friends
When asked about my friends, I think of the guys I worked with in my Jr. days. I recently met up with them for the first time in a long while, and it was the same as always. It has been ever since we were Jrs. I think things like this probably won’t change our whole lives. It’s not like we particularly have any specific episodes where we’d been supporting each other or anything like that, but just having people like that in my life is something I’m grateful for.
8: To the staff and people at work
The number of staff that are working with us continues to increase… I’d really like to thank each and every one of them in person. But that’s pretty difficult… so I always try to really look at their work. Like the tree cake that was made for the photos in this pamphlet, I wonder “how many hours did that take to make?” I make things too… so I know how much work it takes. So, that’s why I want to really look at each staff’s “work,” whatever that is. I have nothing but gratitude for the people at the agency… I think I’ve given them lots of trouble. Really, we’ve walked these 20 years with everyone.
9: To my seniors and juniors at Johnny’s
I think there’s a clear definition of what is Johnny’s-like, which was made by my seniors. And isn’t it only Johnny’s? For a company/agency to be so united and feel like a family. I think it’s because of them that I’m able to be here, both as Arashi and as myself. It’s amazing that Arashi is also in the history that my seniors and juniors have been passing down.
10: To Johnny-san
Johnny-san was the one that picked me, both when I entered the agency as a Jr. and when I started in Arashi. And he’s supported us ever since… I’m thankful for that. Johnny-san is really an amazing person. He really thinks of us all like his own children and cares about us. Last year (2017), the 5 of us went to his house for his birthday. It was nostalgic…it brought back memories of my Jr. days, like I just naturally return to being that kid when I’m with Johnny-san.
Sho Sakurai’s 10 “Thank yous”
1: To the fans
I really think they are our “understanders,” and like I wrote in “Take Off!!!!!”, Arashi is 5 rings, but at the same time…the 6th, if it’s ok to count them like that. I think we’ve walked together, including the fans. Really, we wouldn’t have been able to come this far without the fans. I had been saving this for the rap in “5 x 20,” but it didn’t quite fit…so I’d like to tell them here. We’ve all traveled together all this way. (TN: This last sentence was in English; no translating required).
2: To Aiba-kun
I hadn’t really talked to Aiba-kun much when we were Juniors… so honestly there’s not really that feeling that we’ve been together since our Junior days. It’s more like we created our relationship from zero when we joined Arashi. In Arashi, he is right in the middle in terms of our ages. But at home he is actually the older brother. So I think he really is an “older brother” kind of person. But he doesn’t really bring that out in Arashi. I think he’s keeping the balance in his own way.
3: To Matsumoto-kun
Of all of the members, MatsuJun is the one I’ve know the longest, and we talked a lot together even back around when we debuted. We had some times where we didn’t quite see eye to eye - but in that way we’re of similar mind. I pretty clearly remember that time, when his character/role totally changed from that of the “younger brother.” It was around the time of “Gokusen.” He was really trying to change himself. That he can come up with such unbelievable concerts at such a scale now just shows how hard he has studied to get here. He really is a hard-working person. And though he doesn’t look like it, he is pretty sensitive/delicate (lol).
4: To Ninomiya-kun
Nino is… just mysterious/fascinating. I think the way he perceives things is just fundamentally different from me. The fun of having someone like him as one of the members is really important. We get all kinds of different opinions and perspectives. I think… he is someone that typically looks at things a bit cynically. Probably the only thing he looks at straight on is us. He has a great amount of trust in us, or rather, I can tell how much he really cares about Arashi. The space that Arashi occupies in his heart is probably pretty big, I think.
5: To Ohno-kun
My first experience with Ohno Satoshi was in December 1995 at a V6 concert, when Johnny-san told me, “Go stand behind Ohno, watch how he dances, and copy that.” It’s still “his back” that I look at even now. He’s the oldest one after all, and that stance between us hasn’t changed. There’s still that foundation of respect that I have for him. 20 years…I think he’s done well to have continued with Arashi all this time (lol). He’s a person with so many talents. His drawings and figures, and of course singing and dancing, it wouldn’t be weird from him to turn his interests elsewhere, would it? But in the end…Arashi wouldn’t be the same without Ohno Satoshi’s “voice”, right?
6: To my family
I’m thankful for them, and at the same time…I think I caused them a lot of trouble at times too. I mean, ever since I was in 2nd year of middle school, my family has had the label/introduction “Sakurai Sho’s ___” follow them around. So, I have a very big “thank you” to them, but also a very big “I’m sorry.” But they have accepted that and have always surrounded me with their understanding. I’m truly grateful for them.
7: To my friends
Of course my friends are important to me. I have a lot of friends that I’ve known for a long time, from even before I was in Arashi or joined Johnny’s. Sometimes they tell me the hard things and sometimes they are there to comfort me. I probably wouldn’t make it far without them.
8: To the staff and people at work
I’ve said this for a long time… I think of Arashi as the name of a huge project. And the 5 of us are only the frontmen of that project. It’s like, “Without these 5, it’s not Arashi. But, with only these 5, it’s also not Arashi.” Really…without the staff, we wouldn’t be able to do anything. We’ve been able to come these 20 years not only because of the staff we have now, but also because of all of the staff that we’ve worked with along the way.
9: To my seniors and juniors at Johnny’s
All of the things we’ve done have been along the rails that our seniors have created over the history of the agency. Arashi was not the “first Kokuritsu,” nor were we the “first to host Kouhaku.” I always think about this when we are about to take on something for the first time. To the juniors… well, it’s not quite the same as thanks, but you know there are starting to be more of them that say “the first concert I ever went to was Arashi.” Though of course we aren’t doing this in order to get more people to join Johnny’s (lol), but it doesn’t make me happy to hear, and I take pride in it.
10: To Johnny-san
Out of the numerous résumés and countless auditions, the one that found me was just one person, and that was Johnny-san. It was October 22, 1995, when I was in 2nd year of middle school. If Johnny-san hadn’t found me then, all of this now wouldn’t be happening. Also in June 1999, I was waiting at a railroad crossing in my neighborhood when I suddenly got a call from Johnny-san about Arashi…it was clearly a crossroads in my life. Johnny-san is the one that “gave birth” to my life as an Arashi member, and I have nothing but gratitude for him.
Masaki Aiba’s 10 “Thank yous”
1: To the fans
I’m really thankful to them. We’ve been able to do this for 20 years firstly because the fans have been there supporting us. Because we have fans coming to see us, it motivates us more, like “Let’s show them this” or “Let’s do something different for the next time.” With each and every concert, we put more of our hearts and souls into it, in a way. If the fans weren’t there, we wouldn’t have any motivation in the first place (lol). Their presence is what pushes us to keep growing/maturing… yes, I’m thankful for everything they do.
2: To Matsumoto-kun
My very first day at the agency, the one that came to tell me, “Just stand back here and watch the person in front of you and dance like them!” was MatsuJun. We wound up working together a lot in our Junior days. Then we became Arashi… and have been together 20 years. And during this time he’s been actively involved in the concerts and creating them for us. That and… every year he readily lets me do whatever crazy idea I have, saying “that sounds great,” I’m thankful for that too (lol).
3: To Ninomiya-kun
I’ve been with Nino since our Junior days… probably in terms of time, I’ve been with him longer than my family. Our relationship is one where I can just be relaxed with him. In a way, it’s special/unique. This year (2018) on New Year’s when I went to his house, he even went out his way to come pick me up from my place (lol). It was the first time it was just us in a car, with me in the passenger seat. That time, we listened to “season” in the car… that was something. I think he keeps an eye out for me, and I do for him too. We both have that feeling.
4: To Ohno-kun
When we were Juniors, Riida was in Kyoto (doing stage plays for long periods), and he was older than me, so I looked at him as way senior to me. But then I went to Kyoto, and we played the “Senda Mitsuo game” all night (lol) and that was the first time I’d really talked with him. That was how we started… for my 20th birthday, Riida took me to a bar in Ginza, that was quite memorable. Since then we haven’t had much of an opportunity to go, but in this 20th anniversary year, I think it’d be nice if we were able to go again together.
5: To Sakurai-kun
Sho-chan is someone that teaches me all kinds of things. Whether it’s just information he has or anything… and he explains things very nicely (lol). There’s lots of things I respect about him. He was really senior to me when we were Juniors so I wasn’t able to just casually talk to him back then. But after joining Arashi, we got much closer… during the time I still lived in Chiba, we had been hanging out and it got too late for me to get back home, so he let me stay at his house with his family, I really remember that.
6: To my family
I’m thankful for them. They don’t tell me directly, but I think they are always supporting me. I think we have a good relationship. I’m sure I’ve caused them a lot of trouble… of course I’m thankful for them now too, but I also feel like I need to do more for them from now on.
7: To my friends
By friends… do you mean Kazama (Shunsuke)-kun? (lol) Nah, guys like Kazama-kun and Kimi-chan (Yokoyama Yuu) are in a different category from friends, more like a “really close and special” category. Of course, I have friends that I just normally play sports with or go have dinner with… we share hobbies and interests. You know, I… up until now I have always not really shared my weaknesses with others, and of course tried to handle my problems on my own without asking for advice, but lately I’ve started telling these things to my friends. And I’m getting support from them in that way too.
8: To the staff and people at work
Man… we really have been blessed with the most excellent staff. The concert staff, our managers, and the tv staff, all of them. Really… we of course need the staff’s efforts to help us shine at our best. And from there, we work hard. I really only have gratitude for the staff that always helps us to shine.
9: To my seniors and juniors at Johnny’s
To the seniors, I’ve had the privilege of following behind them (TN: he literally said “looking at their backs”). In a way, we are just walking along the “rails” that the seniors laid down before us, and for that I’m thankful to them. To the juniors, I can’t give them technical advice like “I think it should go this way,” but I think by watching us they can get a sense of how they should approach what they do. Things doesn’t always go well, after all. But how to conduct yourselves when things don’t go well, that’s what I think we can show them.
10: To Johnny-san
Johnny-san was the one that continued to call me as a Junior every week to practices or work in the first place, and I am here now because of that. Looking back… I remember him taking us out to family restaurants a lot, or going to karaoke with us when we were at the boarding houses. I have lots of memories of gathering with everyone around Johnny-san, and just having a good time. None of this would have started if he wasn’t here. I really have lots of gratitude for him, every day.
Kazunari Ninomiya’s 10 “Thank yous”
1: To the fans
I’m really grateful to the fans for being there. And I’m grateful for the fans that come to the concerts like this as well. But when asked, “What does the fans’ presence mean to you?” I’m not sure…though there’s no mistaking they are a “special presence.” I can’t really express it in any other way than that. But, saying it that way… kind of makes it sound like a lie, I think. Hmm…. how do I explain it? The people who watch us on tv are fans, and the people who come to the concerts are fans too. To take it further… the people who just happened to watch one of the member’s dramas are also fans. The people who bought this pamphlet are fans, but the people that didn’t buy it are fans too, right? People who only recently came to like Arashi are fans too. So, to put all of them into one big lump and ask me “thank all of the fans!”…it’s kind of hard to do (lol)….that’s what I think.
2: To Aiba-kun
“Thank you for always being cheerful and working hard!”
3: To Matsumoto-kun
“Thank you for always thinking about our concerts!”
4: To Ohno-kun
“Thank you for always being so darkly tanned!”
5: To Sakurai-kun
“Thank you for always taking charge and managing us!”
Of course I’m thankful for the members as well. But, a 20th anniversary… at the very least, our seniors have already crossed one too. So in regards to that “number,” I don’t really feel anything particularly special about it… all I think about it is that the 5 of us have really worked hard together this whole time. After all, no matter what the agency said, or how much adults may have tried to convince us… if one of us at some point said “I don’t want to do this,” then Arashi would not have continued for 20 years. We’ve somehow managed to work hard enough to get here, and that… I think that is truly the result of our 20 years together. It’s nothing but us just noting how far we’ve come, though. But it is amazing that we are and have been able to do so.
6: To my family
I’m thankful for them. I am truly grateful.
7: To my friends
I’m grateful for my friends too. Thank you!
8: To the staff and people at work
Of course, it’s “thank you.” I can’t do anything just by myself after all. I can work only because of the staff at the tv stations, magazines, the agency… it’s all because of them. I have to be grateful to them! Thank you!!
9: To my seniors and juniors at Johnny’s
Of course, our seniors have made the path and traditions that we have. But my feelings towards them and my juniors at this particular time…I don’t really have anything to say (lol). This sort of thing, I don’t think I would be able to say unless I was retiring from the agency or something. Also, saying “thank you” to our seniors for our 20th anniversary…seems kind of weird. I can understand telling our seniors for their anniversary year, “Thank you for everything you’ve done up to now! Please continue to work hard!!” though (lol). The thing we have of saying “thank you seniors!” when we turn 20… I don’t really understand that either (wry laugh).
10: To Johnny-san
It would have to be, “Thank you for picking me.” Because Johnny-san made a decision to pick Ninomiya, and he entered the agency… is how it went. Someone like me, you know? (lol) For the Johnny-san that picked me, that’s all I could say.
In the first place… I think people who know me well are thinking that “saying their thank yous in a public place like this is definitely not something Ninomiya would do, right?” (lol). But that does not in any way mean that I’m not thankful, you know? It’s just…saying thank you in such a public way is not really gratitude, that’s how I think. I’ve continued to say this for quite some time now, so for this time too… sorry it turned out like this (lol). In regards to the “looking back on these 20 years, what do you think?” question as well… I have difficulty with it because I haven’t looked back until now (lol). Everyone always says, “No, but it’s your 20th anniversary after all. Say something about it!” But I’m a person that thinks, what’s the point in having us all do the same thing just because it’s been 20 years? (lol) I’m probably not suited for these types of comments in the first place (wry laugh). But in that sense, I think the Arashi members are really amazing. I mean, they’re not complaining like me, right? I think they’re such professionals at this. But… in the midst of all that, what’s wrong with having one troublesome guy like me there! (lol)
Jun Matsumoto’s 10 “Thank yous”
1: To the fans
Over the past 20 years, I’ve always tried to imagine how to put together and keep the balance in the triangle between Arashi x the fans x the projects Arashi has worked on… though there were times when the balance between these things may not have been good. But, everyone had their own timing and way in which they somehow became connected to us. I’m just grateful to them for still having interest in the things we are doing.
2: To Aiba-kun
I wonder when it was, that I started thinking, “When this person is around, the atmosphere/mood gets more excited.” He’s a very passionate person. Like during rehearsals for choreography, he keeps dancing, saying “I need to practice more because I’m slow to remember it.” He really doesn’t rest at all… so then I think, “Well if Aiba-kun’s not going to rest…” and then I start dancing too, then somehow everyone says, “I guess we should all do it” and we keep going. That continuous passion that we have, I think has a lot to do with him being there.
3: To Ninomiya-kun
Nino and I entered the agency at around the same time. We were part of groups together from our Jr. days. He is… kind of interesting/mysterious. We’re the same age, but the way that he looks at and perceives things is almost the exact opposite of me. Even among our members, he is quite unique (lol). It’s easily seen in our variety shows, and also during the concerts as well. But having Nino there with his different tones does expand/supplement what makes Arashi interesting.
4: To Ohno-kun
The image I still remember from our Jr. days was sitting next to him on the train. He would talk a little, and then be silent… that was it. He hasn’t changed at all from the way he was back then (lol). The past few years, I’ve been working together more with Riida in particular on our concerts. We’ve traveled overseas together to see many things, and we find things that interest each of us and have built a common ground that way. I really rely on him a lot, and I think he is very talented when it comes to choreography.
5: To Sakurai-kun
He is the type of person that points things out to people like me, without worrying about having a misunderstanding. And he does it in a mild way… like, “I see what you’re saying, but on the other hand, wouldn’t it also be ok to do it more like this?” He’s someone that really feels strongly that “we should all have fun together.” He thinks, “If we’re going to do this, what can we do to make sure that no one has a bad experience?” I think because of that, that calmness and mildness that is unique to Arashi is maintained.
6: To my family
I’ve been doing this work since I was in first year of middle school, and since then until I became an adult, they have of course supported me a lot, and they have taught me about manners and common sense to live in today’s society. I really feel now how much they were watching over me with love and support. At the same time, I also am really grateful to the members’ families too. The 5 of us have been able to get this far because we’ve had their support all this time. Your family is your “foundation” after all.
7: To my friends
The fact that I’ve been able to keep doing this without getting bored/stale and can still finding things that keep it interesting… is probably due in part to my friends being there. People close to you show you that they’re working hard and give you new stimuli… being in that kind of environment is important for me.
8: To the staff and people at work
First to the concert staff…I really say a lot of difficult ideas every time. But they’ve made those things possible and for that I’m thankful. And at the same time, I’ve met a lot of people through movies, tv, and magazines. I’m thankful to have met so many unique people who actually want to work with someone difficult to handle like me (lol). In the end, there isn’t a single thing we can do without them. Around the 5 of us are the staff who work together with us, and around that are the production crew… I think of us as all riding on the same “boat.” We’ve really been supported by them the last 20 years… in a way it’s the 20th anniversary for them too. So I’d like to tell them “congratulations” as well as thank them.
9: To my seniors and juniors at Johnny’s
In the 50+ years of our agency and its history, we’re really nothing more than “one page” of it. We have our seniors, and our juniors, and us…I’d like to continue adding to the road/traditions that the agency has made over the years.
10: To Johnny-san
He is really a special person to me. Of all of the people I’ve met, he is one of the few I truly consider a genius. To have met such a person at the age of 13 like I did, it’s one of the biggest things that’s happened in my life. In the end, the foundation of my entertainment style is from Johnny-san and the agency he created. In that way, while my parents gave me life, he’s the one that created how I express myself. No matter where I go from here, I’m sure this will still be my base/foundation.
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Ok! That's the first half.
The crosstalk will be in its own post here, since it's so long (but oh so fun, as Arashi crosstalks always are).
And the "About Tour" section will be here, not quite as long.
I hope you all enjoyed reading that as much as I did! In light of their hiatus announcement, I thought we could all do with a little cheer.
Me, I loved Nino's 10 "Thank yous," especially that last paragraph, I could NOT stop laughing. It was so Nino in every way and just summed up everything I love about him XD
And Sho's "We've all traveled together all this way" made me cry the first time I read it. I've felt the same way about our boys for all these years I've been a fan. We've been on this journey together! (And I am heartbroken that it will be ending...pausing)
At any rate, comments are very greatly appreciated! I may not be able to reply to many, but I definitely do read them all and love hearing about what you liked (or not), your thoughts and fan memories, all that great stuff!
Will also crosspost this to my DW of the same name
Thank you for stopping by!!
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