Saturday 2-Jan-2010

[yamakaze067.livejournal.com]

UPDATE
Ameba News, <Is Arashi national idol?> The question from guy who is fan of Arashi and Smap “Do you think Arashi is national idol?” at questioning site “Yahoo! Chiebukuro” have attracted attention. He admits Arashi’s great success and on the one hand He feels they are not popular among males and elderly people much. He feels strange that girls around him call Arashi as national idol. The guy thinks “national idol or star must be known irrespective of age or sex and supported. That’s why it’s national. He takes example, Ichiro baseball player, Smap, Keisuke Kuwata of Thousand All stars (singer) as national star. He thinks about Arashi “it’s exaggerated to say national idol.” He asks to users “Do you think they are national idol at the present moment? “ answers “They are still developing” “ I think they are popular witheringly to women. This can’t be national idol.” “I think Smap is national idol ad they and their songs are known to any generation. “Many opening sympathize to this guy’s opinion. However, “Actually not many support by men but I think this is not asked to all of men. I think they are national idol.” “why you say so? I think they are national idol” some object this guys opinion too. The argument gets exciting. Me, I think they are still developing as older generation doesn’t know them hope they will supported by as many as possible.
New tune will be on air at Jun style next week!
Nikkan Sports, <Time slip: article of 1/1/2000 Arashi experienced new year twice> They marked new-year’s day 2000 and back to new-year’s eve 1999 then marks millennium new-year again. It was idol group had debut 3 month ago “Arashi” who challenged this unpredicted time trip. This is Fuji TV project “World Count down super special” They are with high expectation. Sydney marks millennium earlier among major cities in the world. 5 mark new-year there. Then they fly to Hawaii , -21 time-zone difference. Then they mark new year there again. Hawaii is memorial place for Arashi as they ad debut press conference there. Masaki Aiba (16) “It’s lucky to mark millennium in Hawaii again and I feel honored.” There is concern that W2K issue and it was hard challenge for them. Sho Sakurai (17) it’s only once a thousand year to have such experience. I do or die.” They participated Marathon event (each 5 km) in Sydney. They marked 1^st millennium in Sydney running through. 6:30 am, 6 hours and half later they left Sydney. It was only one flight #003 between the cities.. They experience “time trip of the century” that only few hundred people can experience. They past date line in the place, “ I haven’t notice it (about W2K issue)” Sakurai told. They arrived Honolulu at 6:55 and at gate 40 passionate fans welcomed them. Then 5 hours later again year crossing marathon. They celebrate 2^nd millennium, running through. At goal they get mobbed spectators. Their challenge was done safely. The press conf at Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. They act as if nothing has happened. They told with fulfilling smile “I’m satisfied as I could run trough and time was also good.”
Kabach, AP diary, Kabachi team starts filming from tomorrow! Today assistants to director and director work for tomorrow preparation. This must be tokujo (supreme) new-year holiday. Maybe New-year is good chance to watch previous work of Sho-kun or Maki-chan. You can compare grown up as social people role. I recommend that. Then tomorrow filming re-starts so we are getting busy. Hope to do our best and film safely and will bring to you.
My Girl, staff blog updated. Happy New year. Did you se your gold of this year? There’s very impressed scene for me. That was the scene of Shara Shara Pong, it was warm day of winter that you feel it’s a bit hot. At site Aiba-san checks monitor with Momoka-chan. That time Momoka-chan started waving fan. Aiba-san noticed it and smiled back. I get used to Momoka-chan show her affection to him. But it was first time I see her to take the lead to do thing for him. I remember clearly I was speechless. That growth could be later if you didn’t have affection to Aiba-san. I was happy to meet My Girl 2009 and get sanctify my dirty heart. It’s 3months to be on sale DVD of My Girl. I we do best to make you feel happy. So please support My Girl this year too.
Orista blog, inside episode of Aiba-kun. Aiba-chan got short break. He approaches to the table prepared suppers and drinks and tries to pool tea from pet bottle. The staff says “we serve you.” A: no thank you. It’s fine. Staff: no. I do it. A: no, no,no. I do by myself, such a simple stuff. Staff: well, well, A: I’m not kind of person who is served to pooling tea. Staff: what? He was so modest and surprisingly humble. They fight holding cup and pet bottle for while. And after all it was Aiba-san who won. However he is so popular but very modest. It’s likely Aiba-san.

Today’s Jun Style

TV 
19:30-20:43 Wonder xWonder NHK, special almost complete open to public! Back stage of Kohaku.in live. Kohaku stage that 50 groups and over 100 participants change for 4-5 minutes. The due time for change staging is less than 1 minutes. On the stage over 100 staffs run around. Introduce that wonder operation and close up the charm of over 4 hours live show. close up to popular group▽出場歌手決定から緊張の本番まで▽人気グループに大接近▽興奮の大晦日に迫るタイムリミットは９０秒大物歌手も驚きの転換
19:00-21:54 Nep-league 3 hours special, FTV, Arashi 5 of Arashi participate as Arashi team. Kiyotaka Nannbara, Tetsuro Degawa join to Neptune team. And Quiz Master team leading by Rie Shibata, Hiryoyuki Ariyoshi, Junji Takada, Hiroko Nishikawa, Ryo Fukawa participate the game. Three-way hard-hitting fought. Arashi teams who stars “drama “ The last promise” VA entertainers who are flourished at quiz shows.Junji Takasa, Rie Shibara, Hiroyuki Ariyoshi, Ryo Fukawa VS Neptune team with helper Kiyotaka Nanbara and Tetsuro Degawa! Van they get total cooperation or have a falling out!? 1st New year broadcasting is 3 hours special. Neptune team, Arashi team and Quiz Master teams lead by Rie Shibata fight for 5 million yen of award in three-cornered. Arashi team, Kazunari Ninomiya who participate twice this time shows relaxed smile. but Satoshi Ohno, Masaki Aiba, Jun Matsumoto have nervous face. Sho Sakurai who is also second time of participation fired up “wanna get on tram”. Which team will win?2010年も大いに盛り上がります!!▽ドラマ“最後の約束”に出演する嵐チームvs高田純次・柴田理恵・有吉弘行・西川史子・ふかわりょうなどクイズバラエティー番組で活躍している芸能人チームvs助っ人南原清隆&出川哲朗参戦のネプチームが激突!!▽白熱必至のチーム間対決で一致団結なるか…?あるいは仲間割れの展開も!?◇ネプリーグ芸能界超常識王決定戦◇新年1回目の放送は3時間スペシャル。ネプチューンチームが優勝賞金500万円を懸けて嵐チームと柴田理恵率いるクイズマスターズチームと三つどもえの戦いを行う。ネプチューンチームは南原清隆と出川哲朗を助っ人に迎える。嵐チームは、2回目の出演になる二宮和也が余裕の表情を見せるが、初登場の大野智、相葉雅紀、松本潤は緊張の面持ち。二宮と同じく2回目の出演の櫻井翔が、5人のきずなを持ってボーナスクイズのトロッコに乗りたいと意気込む。クイズマスターズチームのほかのメンバーは高田純次、有吉弘行、西川史子、ふかわりょう。柴田は高田が寝なければ勝てると発言する。勝つのはどのチームか。Common knowledge quiz, largest ever stage total 158 questions. National idol Arashi team challenges serious quiz battle. Embarrassed answered by panicked Matsjun, Maiba and Ohno and Sakurai and Ninomiyya raise a cry of fighting spirit! Arashi, Nepture and Kiyotaka Nanbara, Rie Shibata, Junji Takada and other separate 3 teams, challenge common knowledge quiz. Nanbara and Degawa join to Neptune. 3 of Satoshi Ohno, Masaki Aiba and Jun Matsumoto of Arashi Team are first time. The challenge the game armed with bond of members.▽ネプリーグ新春芸能界超常識王決定戦拡大版出来なきゃ恥…常識Ｑ最多ステージ全１５８問▽嵐チーム参戦国民的アイドルのガチクイズテンパる松潤＆相葉と大野の恥解答に櫻井＆二宮が気合の雄叫び！▽同級生の南原清隆＆出川大失態でネプ危機ＶＳ最強クイズ常連軍団高田純次＆西川＆有吉嵐に毒舌とアダ名連発▽新コーナーハイパートロッコで５００万円は誰の手に？衝撃の結末▽嵐、ネプチューン、南原清隆、柴田理恵、高田純次らが３チームに分かれ、常識クイズに挑戦する。ネプチューンチームには南原と出川哲朗の同級生コンビが加わる。南原が「クイズは苦手」と言うのに対して、出川は自信満々の表情で、優勝を目指す。嵐チームは大野智、相葉雅紀、松本潤の３人が初登場だが、メンバーのきずなの強さを武器にクイズに臨む。柴田チームは高田、西川史子、ふかわりょうらがメンバー。柴田から「高田が寝なければ勝てる」とコメントされ、高田は開始早々からテンション全開で突っ走る。
Aiba-chan and Aiba-chan performed as we all expected. Ariyoshi-san named nickname to AIba-chan, shallow word stupid. O-chan, a pitiful boy. O-chan has 8 level of Kanji qualification. N: this is actually 4^th grade of primary school level. Jun-kun was unexpectedly good. As he continue wining. N: I want to appear to TV too!! Aiba-chan didn’t know Kanji, he writes non meaning letters. And O-chan didn’t guess Pythagoras even letter of “pythagora” are already appeared. this time again 5.5.2 this time was Wasshoi (it’s cry to carry portable shrine) , then they got only 200K as prize…

RADIO
10:20-10:50 Arashi Jun Style Jun Matsumoto Nack5

Happy New year, it was good to do Jun style 2^nd day of New year. Seems Jun-kun in high spirit today. This year is tiger (tora) year. So, many magazine asked us what I would try (tora-i) this year. I wan to travel overseas. This new-year I couldn’t do it. Last year I did from 1^st Jan. As this new-year I have short holiday I couldn’t make it. I talk with usual friends to go somewhere warm this year. And what I want to do personally. I wanna clean up my room. Actually blood type A has impression cleanliness freak. But according me, when I talk with others I have impression type O and B are cleanliness freaks./ Samisen (kind like guitar instrument) hum my old days I often sang Shamisen-boogie, is it Shonen-tai’s song? Japanese culture, good. I can’t do anything at all. I wanted to do Japanese dance. Actually there’re many people do for long time. I think I can’t compare with them.../ fairy. Mail: my friend saw fairy like tiny uncle. I haven’t seen them. But I heard there’re some in entertainment industry too. I hope to gather them and record their round table talk and on air on Jun style some day. I don’t think they are only Chofu-city. So If you’ve seen them please mail me. So this project title is Small Uncle./ Love so aired. Hope you watched Kohaku. Today I tunes that we did at Kohaku. That stage was done as we could like Arashi./ Super fresh again. I think he really loves this tune it’s been 2 month and half this tune aired! ( I like this one among My Girl CD too as this is really cool)/ closing, we participated Nep-league, is tonight. It was really hard so hard firghting! Which one we are cleaver, or stupid? Do we okay? Something like that. So next week I think I will talk about our drama (The last promise) and next week new tune will be on air too!

MAGAZINE
 

CHECK
□Arashi  commandeers Omote-sando station until 3rd Jan.also 7day at Kobe Newspaper poster at Shibuya Station of Tokyo Metro, Kabachi poster at Shibuya station

Upcomings here

Comments

[faifantc.livejournal.com]

I mean, as it stands, I think Arashi is a group that is well known internationally - more so than SMAP and more so than Ichiro as well as Keisuke Kawata. I think that naturally, because they are young, females gravitate towards them. As they get older, I think that their male fans will increase. I think that they already have a fair amount of male fans, actually, but as they get older and have more experience they will be able to proudly hold the title of National Idol. They're well on their way, though.

[(Anonymous)]

I think Arashi is a group that is well known internationally - more so than SMAP and more so than Ichiro as well as Keisuke Kawata.

... Are you basing your assumption on internet activity or something? Otherwise, where is your proof of this?

[fliii.livejournal.com]

is it okay that i get pissed? >_< seriously. How can you go by one person its not like that person knows EVERYONE in japan to say what he does >_> I think arashi should just come to america and not worry about whether or not they are national idols. Let them take it to another level and become world idols<3 I'm not really a smap fan. The only time i really had interest in them is when i saw them fanboyin' michael jackson XD Other than that its just..hmm but anyway people have their opinions and i dont agree with them T3T

[floweranza.livejournal.com]

There are many reasons Arashi are unlikely to come to America, and the biggest of them is probably economic.

I think what we should be hoping for is for them to gain even more prominence throughout Asia.

[anya131986.livejournal.com]

thank you

[ll13jl.livejournal.com]

Arashi is Arashi and SMAP is SMAP... Gaaahh... It's like comparing MJ to Kobe (Gomen.. I'm a huge fan of basketball specially of Kobe Bryant...)

I mean both are great and both groups are distinct from each other. I'm sure Arashi has done some stuff that SMAP hasn't and vice versa. Plus, SMAP has been in Japan for quite a long time so I'm not surprised that more people in Japan know about them. Besides, older people has started noticing Arashi and even young kids as well. I don't want to say anything against SMAP since I don't really know much about them. But I'm sure they're really popular in Japan and they're Arashi's sempai.

Anyways, what I'm trying to say is... I don't want to get into this kind of argument.. LOL.. All I can say is I LOVE Arashi and I don't care what other people say.. to me they're the number 1. ^_^

And yes, can they at least hold a concert here in N.America? It sure will be less expensive than me flying to Japan. LOL..

[alphanumerx.livejournal.com]

i love how you compared it to michael jordan/kobe bryant issue (on first read i took MJ as michael jackson XD) because honestly... i feel like that how it is--and i'm a big fan of kobe too.

[nurikocam.livejournal.com]

the whole thing about arashi vs smap is really getting bigger and biggger. Whats with being a national idol or not? im just ok with them doing whats theyre supposed to be doing.. i dont think arashi minds anyway being called national idols or not.

[taiwanf4sale.livejournal.com]

LOL here they go again. arashi's early years: where are the screaming japanese fans? there were a few, yes. those who supported them right from the start. but i don't think most of japan didn't really give a thought who arashi is.

NOT UNTIL arashi has come back from taiwan and korea.

now everyone was buzzing. now everyone was wanting to get a piece of this johnny's group and see for themselves why they are so big in other countries.

then bam! arashi became a big hit suddenly.

i don't think the author is looking at the bigger picture. he's just looking at arashi at one angle: in japan. perhaps it is time to see and recognize other fans who contributed to the singles sales, the album sales, the DVD sales. the fans who made japanese fans see what they are missing. these are the international fans.

i am not saying that arashi's popularity is tremendous around the world, it's just over the past years they've also already acquired lots of foreign fans too.

and so here they go again. arashi is starting to be recognized and yet they are already hindering arashi's growth.

why make such a negative comment when nobody even mentioned they are ALREADY national idols? this LOLed me so much. is getting the 4 top spots of the oricon charts too bad? and i don't think anybody was saying to get the artist total sales award already equates to being a national idol.

if some of the japanese media can't say something nice about arashi, i hope they would just allow arashi to grow and develop. besides, i think international fans, like myself, also has a say about arashi. we also support them, don't we?

[cynicalsnark.livejournal.com]

I'm getting kinda sick of the darn SMAP comparisons everyone (meaning the media) is making.

SMAP is SMAP and has YEARS over Arashi in the business, and are a pop culture phenomena in Japan. I don't understand why Arashi has to be their "successors" and therefore get compared to them all the time.

Let Arashi rise on their own, and be popular because they are themselves, and awesome in their own way. Not because they're "SMAP #2".

</ 2 cents >

[thechampion116.livejournal.com]

I think there are bound to be comparisons no matter what because it was SMAP who paved the way for groups like ARASHI but I don't think people are trying to put them up as SMAP 2.0.

The question merely being asked is 'Are ARASHI national idols?' and everyone has their own opinions about the matter.

Its just that SMAP and people like Ichiro, Antonio Inoki are national idols thus comparisons will be made. It would be foolish to ask that comparison and then compare ARASHI to people or groups that aren't national idols.

[arashi3723.livejournal.com]

well everyone knows smap, but i only know like 2 or 3 of their songs. and arashi is known to elder people too! my grandma's friends knew them before i did!

[megaffud7.livejournal.com]

I believe Arashi is more waaay popular than smap internationally..just the pre-order cd support count alot and foreigners in their concerts too. Whatever the more buzz about Arashi the more they're getting there and become the best...there's no word to say I will just keep my long argument within.

[booksandsarcasm.livejournal.com]

Out of any Johnnies I like Arashi the most. However, it doesn't really feel like you can say that as solidly as a fact if you've never been to a SMAP con to see if there are international fans there too. I'm not attacking you but I'm really wondering. Have you?

[meoinkie2.livejournal.com]

im excited to hear the new tune! xD

[aimai3.livejournal.com]

i always think that Arashi is the new SMAP.
i you know what i meannn! :]


NEW TUNEEE! YAY!

[xanderave.livejournal.com]

I'm hungry.

[neocopasetic.livejournal.com]

Between Arashi and SMAP, I like SMAP more... but the similarities all have to do with the fact that they're both breakout hit groups. And of course more people in Japan recognize SMAP as a "national group"; They've been around for twice as long. Simple as that. Doesn't make Arashi any less popular. One day they'll be recognized as legends too, without question! :3

As for intl. fandom, both have pretty big followings, but right now it's Arashi. Arashi are the big thing right now, and since finding things on the web (which is the essence of ebing an intl. fan) is easier NOW during Arashi's time on top than it was for a LOT of SMAP's time as the top group, it only makes sense that Arashi are more popular at the moment, internationally speaking. HOWEVER. It is a little silly to assume that nobody goes to see SMAP members when they're abroad. I just went to see a SMAP member's musical in New York two months ago and it was packed!

Neither one are better than the other. People need to stop getting angry about them and arguing over whose more popular and so on. Who cares which group is more popular. That's not why you like them, right? :3

[rockingboat88.livejournal.com]

THIS.
well-said!!!!!!!

[lovejunchan.livejournal.com]

I don't care if arashi isn't a national idol. Arashi is Arashi, i mean, they have their own path and own history. For me, today Arashi is the best entertainer.

[iupdarlin.livejournal.com]

Can't wait to hear the new tune from the new drama (at least, I understand it will be that one??) :)

[showyoursmile.livejournal.com]

NEW TUNE. ♥

[cassyclim8.livejournal.com]

excited about the new tune jun will be playing next week!!!!

weeeeee NEP league is tonight?!?! i better watch it. thanks for the heads up

hmmmm if arashi is popular with older people, it's probably because of their mago mago arashi episodes.

[little-star-92.livejournal.com]

Arashi vs SMAP?? Whatever it is, i dont even care about it coz right now, i'm too excited for the new tune~!!!

Cant wait for the new song :D

[drigby.livejournal.com]

Why the heck is it so important that Arashi be considered national idols? Does this in any way affect how their fans both in and outside of Japan support them? I just say, to hell with the national idol label, as long as they sell their CDs, sell out their concerts, perform abroad, broaden and strengthen their fan base and generally be loved, who cares? Everyone else can be national idols.

[yamakaze9.livejournal.com]

I really dont care about Smap ( dont even know them that much)..... but they are always mentioned here so i got to know them too but seriously a sempai is a sempai and Arashi will always be their Juniors. like Sho said, their sempai made the easy path for them their juniors to make it easier for them to reach popularity...connection matters and its Arashi and other juniors to continue it. As for Arashi.....they can make it better ..and only time can say...no need to surpass them. Arashi can be the best they can be.

>and wait whats with Arashi celebrated new year twice? they've gone abroad....?

[rockingboat88.livejournal.com]

haha, they would love to go abroad i bet, but with their busy schedule....i doubt they can afford the time.
it was in 1999-2000. they essentially went to 2 different places with time differences to mark new year twice :)

[ogawaciz.livejournal.com]

hmm i realy don't care about it and i don't know if arashi has bothering by this...but it think they didn't...

since i'm one of their international fans, i agree with some of comment before me...that arashi is arashi...became national, international or whatever since it's arashi, it doesn't matter...

maybe the status make us more proud about them...but yes, that an award and a title....it will doesn't has much influence to me as arashi fans...hahaha i only love them as them

[msmuse.livejournal.com]

The definition of national idol is going to be different for everybody. Personally for me, I think Arashi are national idols. I believe they are national idols not just because of their popular songs or the kinds of fans they have. It comes down to what they have done for Japan. When they were younger they were involved in USO Japan, visiting haunted sites, very sensitive to the point of Aiba collapsing in one episode. They are national idols because they became grandchildren to lonely grandparents all over Japan whose children and grandchildren either died, never had one, or didn't visit them anymore, and Arashi did hard chores like going to the fields, picking cabbages, shoveling snow, doing household chores, everything and everything they did to make these senior citizens happy for one day. I even remember the episodes they did as a Rowing Club, just to fulfill one man's dream to be able to row with young people again. Never mind that they trained every day inspite of their entertainment schedules. For example, that was at a time Jun was filming Hana Yori Dango, first season. Inspite of how busy they were, these guys took time out to help other people. They even became Official Childminders. In Japan, you have to take the classes, the on-hands training, and a test to be certified as childminders before you can take care of a child, and these guys, every single one of them, became official childminders, helping working mothers by taking care of their children. They've even done scientific and okay not so scientific but crazy experiments because they were curious. Heck, they even had Touch Eco, attempting to address environmental issues. That is Arashi. They grew up from awkward boys to mature men because of what they went through, not just within entertainment but also as decent human beings who contributed to the environment around them. So yeah, if anyone knows the site of the guy who posted that question, feel free to use my response here anytime. I believe Arashi are national idols because they are all that an idol should be - a great singing group, award winning actors, entertaining hosts and radio DJs, an informative newscaster, and yes, childminders and grandchildren of Japan.

[yamakaze9.livejournal.com]

WOW you have a broad mind...Arashi will be so proud of you!

[ailamarie.livejournal.com]

our boys are slowly getting there

[ma-i-do-a-ri.livejournal.com]

agreeing with all that said that Arashi is Arashi ^^

enough with the comparisons people. love each group for who they are. and lets be fair, SMAP has like a 8 year headstart on Arashi.

they're on their way, so lets just keep supporting them :D

[boarashi.livejournal.com]

I think we should revisit this question in a few years after Arashi have build up their fanbase to the point where they are recognized all across Japan. I love Arashi to death but I don't think they're National Idol YET. They're very very popular at the moment and if they can keep the momentum going for a few more years to the point where they are known by all generations and genders, then they might be considered a National Idol. But if their popularity fall in the next few years, then this whole debate is really pointless. It seems like the Japanese industry is really fickle these days, one year you can be super popular and the next year, you're not. So only time can tell.

I love Arashi to death and personally could care less if they're National Idol or not. Regardless of how popular they are, I will support them all the same. And Arashi have said that they just want to do things the Arashi way, so I don't think they really care about this National Idol title.