Arashi - The Eulogy
“I want to quit.”
“Then, let’s take a break together.”
It’s easy to be selfish. It’s easy to ignore. But they decided not to. They’re the epitome of one for all and all for one.
It takes a lot to accept others’ choice, and it takes so much more to respect it. All this hiatus drama took me down a memory lane. I suddenly re-evaluating everything these past two years. Tsunagu. Untitled. UB. Song For You. All those “Arashi is five” speeches on their 5x20’s anniversary concerts… All of that now seems like a prologue, all leading up to this moment. To a decision that Arashi needs to lay low, that after all the glam and the fame, after all the pain and the tears, they eventually needs to take a much deserved break.
To say that I was shocked is an understatement. I was heartbroken, and still am, but after much consideration, lots of tears and a full bucket of ice cream, I come to accept -and respect- their decision. It was not something that was decided overnight. I’m sure they’ve had many talks about this matter. This is no light business that you can say on a whim. There had to be a lot of sacrifices made on their part, a lot of tears shed, but they’ve made it a point early on: “If we’re going to do this, we’ll do this together.”
I was reminded to Nino’s speech not too long ago. He said: “We never let go of our hands. We held on tightly, and journeyed toward the same goals. Not one of us pulled ahead or was left behind. No one quit, and no one else joined. That’s because we kept our hands linked, we held our dreams close to us.” Looking back, maybe he meant about this back then. That despite everything, Arashi will never let go of each other’s hands. That Arashi will not let anyone quit nor anyone new join in. And then Aiba-chan also said: “We held onto one another. We held our hands tightly. When it seemed like the wind would just carry one of us away, we’d hold on stronger and pull him back towards us.” Back then, it sounded to me that he was recalling his episode of fallout. But now, now those words held a double meaning. It now comes to me as a reassurance, that Arashi will stay Arashi -that it will stay five- against all odds.
When I first heard UB, I felt this indescribable feeling of nostalgia. Whenever I listen to it, the song somehow always brought tears to my eyes. And I never knew why. And then I found out about UB being an acronym to Unit-Bath, and that it’s completely comedic. I thought that it was so like NinoAi to do that kind of song. I began to listen to it with a different view. And then now, it just felt, bittersweet. The phrase “We just need to leave” that later changed into “We could never leave” and ended with “We are one” just got me. They tried to tell us a story in the making, their journey until they reached this decision. Starting from Leader who had wanted to leave, and then them talking with one another, probably looking back to how it was in the past, and then throwing arguments after arguments on what could possibly best not only for them, but also for the fans, the crews, the management, and practically everyone involved with them. And it leads them to one conclusion. That they are one. Eventhough they’re going separate ways, they’re still chasing after the same dream. Deep down, they are still and always be Arashi. It’d become their new ‘aikotoba’, the words: “Arashi is these five. If one gets out, or one joins, if anyone is replaced, then it no longer is ‘Arashi’.”
The bond that they share, the one special kind of connection they have with each other, will never cease to amaze me. It just feels so wonderful to know that someone got your back. I’m sure Leader is struggling with complicated feelings since the first time that thought of wanting to be free come around. But he’s blessed with such amazing people, those that will defend him no matter what, those that says: “If people think that Leader is to blame for this, then us four has failed him.” I’m sure that whoever is in Leader’s shoes will be defended just as hard, because they are Arashi.
Arashi never had it easy. Fame was not served on a silver plate for them. Success was gained hard, instead of given to them. They literally go from zero to hero. The concert seats that is almost impossible to get now used to be filled with crews just so it would look less empty. They used to be running in the middle of the night chasing ghosts or bowing their heads low to listen to people’ complaints. Their singles were cancelled because they just couldn’t sell. They were chosen as a personality of a tv show that was guaranteed to fail the ratings. Their 20 years journey is by all means not a smooth sail. So I believe that by deciding to take a break, meaning that they have to sacrifice a lot.
For one, there will be no Single, Album, TV performance, or concert until they return. That’s a given. Second, they will be losing a long running successful shows on their name. I’m pretty sure that after 2020 we won’t be seeing VS Arashi or Shiyagare anymore. No more This is MJ antics, or Cliff Climb fails, or legendary Baba Arashi. Damn, I sure hope there will at least still be New Year SP shows for January 2021. Although the possibility is rather low though. They will be still doing their individual job, I suppose, but who knows. This is Arashi we are talking about. And last, their lack of presence has this one risk: Fans losing their interest in them. Not to mention that after tasting freedom, there is always a possibility that one or more of them decided that they’re better off alone, or that they’d rather be off of the showbiz for good. And since it’s Arashi, if even one person decided not to return, I doubt that they will return at all. And I think that was the biggest factor as to why it took them a year and a half to finally tell the public about their plan to go on a hiatus, and even so they still give us two years to get ready for the real thing. Eventhough, in my personal opinion, I will never be ready for it. But it’s a decision they took together, and so they put faith in themselves, in each other, and in their fans. And just like Arashi, I will trust that they will surely return someday. It’s not a disbandment. They will surely return someday. There will come a day when they say “Tadaima” and we scream “Okaeri”. It is not just words. It’s a promise. And in the odd chance should they not return, then I will respect that as well. Someone says that ‘Arashi’ is a responsibility that is too hard to bear forever. If they feel like that they’re not strong enough to crown that burden once more, then that’s okay. They’ve done more than enough. Their legacy will never disappear. Arashi will remain in their fans’ heart forever.
For the time being, I would just like to relish to the fact that they’re still going fast and strong, and amazing as ever. Let their last present to the fans not go to waste. I’m hoping that we all can enjoy the last two years the best that we can.
“Arashi is five.”
“5-1=0”
Notes :
Quotes are not translated by me. Credit to ‘amnosxmatsujuntwitter’ for quotes.
It’d been very long since I last posted here. And my first post in a while is about this. But I will try to make up to it, if my life permits of course. Haha.
“Then, let’s take a break together.”
It’s easy to be selfish. It’s easy to ignore. But they decided not to. They’re the epitome of one for all and all for one.
It takes a lot to accept others’ choice, and it takes so much more to respect it. All this hiatus drama took me down a memory lane. I suddenly re-evaluating everything these past two years. Tsunagu. Untitled. UB. Song For You. All those “Arashi is five” speeches on their 5x20’s anniversary concerts… All of that now seems like a prologue, all leading up to this moment. To a decision that Arashi needs to lay low, that after all the glam and the fame, after all the pain and the tears, they eventually needs to take a much deserved break.
To say that I was shocked is an understatement. I was heartbroken, and still am, but after much consideration, lots of tears and a full bucket of ice cream, I come to accept -and respect- their decision. It was not something that was decided overnight. I’m sure they’ve had many talks about this matter. This is no light business that you can say on a whim. There had to be a lot of sacrifices made on their part, a lot of tears shed, but they’ve made it a point early on: “If we’re going to do this, we’ll do this together.”
I was reminded to Nino’s speech not too long ago. He said: “We never let go of our hands. We held on tightly, and journeyed toward the same goals. Not one of us pulled ahead or was left behind. No one quit, and no one else joined. That’s because we kept our hands linked, we held our dreams close to us.” Looking back, maybe he meant about this back then. That despite everything, Arashi will never let go of each other’s hands. That Arashi will not let anyone quit nor anyone new join in. And then Aiba-chan also said: “We held onto one another. We held our hands tightly. When it seemed like the wind would just carry one of us away, we’d hold on stronger and pull him back towards us.” Back then, it sounded to me that he was recalling his episode of fallout. But now, now those words held a double meaning. It now comes to me as a reassurance, that Arashi will stay Arashi -that it will stay five- against all odds.
When I first heard UB, I felt this indescribable feeling of nostalgia. Whenever I listen to it, the song somehow always brought tears to my eyes. And I never knew why. And then I found out about UB being an acronym to Unit-Bath, and that it’s completely comedic. I thought that it was so like NinoAi to do that kind of song. I began to listen to it with a different view. And then now, it just felt, bittersweet. The phrase “We just need to leave” that later changed into “We could never leave” and ended with “We are one” just got me. They tried to tell us a story in the making, their journey until they reached this decision. Starting from Leader who had wanted to leave, and then them talking with one another, probably looking back to how it was in the past, and then throwing arguments after arguments on what could possibly best not only for them, but also for the fans, the crews, the management, and practically everyone involved with them. And it leads them to one conclusion. That they are one. Eventhough they’re going separate ways, they’re still chasing after the same dream. Deep down, they are still and always be Arashi. It’d become their new ‘aikotoba’, the words: “Arashi is these five. If one gets out, or one joins, if anyone is replaced, then it no longer is ‘Arashi’.”
The bond that they share, the one special kind of connection they have with each other, will never cease to amaze me. It just feels so wonderful to know that someone got your back. I’m sure Leader is struggling with complicated feelings since the first time that thought of wanting to be free come around. But he’s blessed with such amazing people, those that will defend him no matter what, those that says: “If people think that Leader is to blame for this, then us four has failed him.” I’m sure that whoever is in Leader’s shoes will be defended just as hard, because they are Arashi.
Arashi never had it easy. Fame was not served on a silver plate for them. Success was gained hard, instead of given to them. They literally go from zero to hero. The concert seats that is almost impossible to get now used to be filled with crews just so it would look less empty. They used to be running in the middle of the night chasing ghosts or bowing their heads low to listen to people’ complaints. Their singles were cancelled because they just couldn’t sell. They were chosen as a personality of a tv show that was guaranteed to fail the ratings. Their 20 years journey is by all means not a smooth sail. So I believe that by deciding to take a break, meaning that they have to sacrifice a lot.
For one, there will be no Single, Album, TV performance, or concert until they return. That’s a given. Second, they will be losing a long running successful shows on their name. I’m pretty sure that after 2020 we won’t be seeing VS Arashi or Shiyagare anymore. No more This is MJ antics, or Cliff Climb fails, or legendary Baba Arashi. Damn, I sure hope there will at least still be New Year SP shows for January 2021. Although the possibility is rather low though. They will be still doing their individual job, I suppose, but who knows. This is Arashi we are talking about. And last, their lack of presence has this one risk: Fans losing their interest in them. Not to mention that after tasting freedom, there is always a possibility that one or more of them decided that they’re better off alone, or that they’d rather be off of the showbiz for good. And since it’s Arashi, if even one person decided not to return, I doubt that they will return at all. And I think that was the biggest factor as to why it took them a year and a half to finally tell the public about their plan to go on a hiatus, and even so they still give us two years to get ready for the real thing. Eventhough, in my personal opinion, I will never be ready for it. But it’s a decision they took together, and so they put faith in themselves, in each other, and in their fans. And just like Arashi, I will trust that they will surely return someday. It’s not a disbandment. They will surely return someday. There will come a day when they say “Tadaima” and we scream “Okaeri”. It is not just words. It’s a promise. And in the odd chance should they not return, then I will respect that as well. Someone says that ‘Arashi’ is a responsibility that is too hard to bear forever. If they feel like that they’re not strong enough to crown that burden once more, then that’s okay. They’ve done more than enough. Their legacy will never disappear. Arashi will remain in their fans’ heart forever.
For the time being, I would just like to relish to the fact that they’re still going fast and strong, and amazing as ever. Let their last present to the fans not go to waste. I’m hoping that we all can enjoy the last two years the best that we can.
“Arashi is five.”
“5-1=0”
Notes :
Quotes are not translated by me. Credit to ‘amnosxmatsujuntwitter’ for quotes.
It’d been very long since I last posted here. And my first post in a while is about this. But I will try to make up to it, if my life permits of course. Haha.