What brings Arashi to you?

[rininjapan.livejournal.com]

I've been speaking Japanese a lot longer than I've known about Arashi so I was really just wondering, what is it that jumps over those language barriers and dives straight into your hearts? What makes you wake up one day and say with a smile "Yep, I love Arashi"? Are there ever moments when you go "Whatever you just said, I don't care - that face you just did was absolutely adorable"? Were there fansubs/DVD subtitles for the moment Arashi grabbed your heart?

Sorry if I sound rude. I don't mean to. I'm just really, really curious!

What do you think in general brings Arashi into the hearts of so many international fans?

(Question inspired by that amazing video about fans in Peru posted by keiogirl )

Comments

[misherru.livejournal.com]

For me, I guess it would be that they have an amazing chemistry and the fact that they seem like really down-to-earth people. When I see them, I know they're on TV, in magazines, doing concerts, working as idols, however I never get the typical celeb-vibe from them. There was someone in fandom, but I don't remember who, who said " They're like your boys next door, except they're not." That's how I feel about them, I think. Hahah :)
Individually they're five very talented and different guys, and together they make such a good team, and when you see them working hard together everyday you notice the whole..realness, about them. If that makes sense.

And on top of all that, they're just so damned funny. They will always manage to make you smile. <3

Sorry for becoming so "deep", but that's my honest answer for ya:)

[nande-daiyo.livejournal.com]

In a way the question is valid but in another its weird you'd think language would become a barrier when it comes to the work Arashi does, the fact that they work hard to make their fans happy and give their best everyday has nothing to do with the fact that they speak Japanese.

Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese or Korean. Those five boys are popular for who they are and for their dedication.

They make me happy for all those reasons and I got interested in Japan because of them.

I mean there are hardly any English bands or signers that I like or my own native language for that matter.

[coolioshmo.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this question has a simple answer. I started liking Arashi about 3 years ago. I know that Aiba cought my attention the most, when I watched Aiba Speaks English on youtube, he just brought me so much laughter. Even though at first I thought this Japanese pop boy band was ridiculous, the personalities of the five members is what pulled me in the most. Which wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for all those fansubbers, so a big thank you to them.
Arashi for me is a source of joy, laughter, hope, everything thery are has helped to shape who I am today. It's not easy to explain and not a simple answer. Their music also shows what they stand for. Because of Arashi, I am hoping to major in Japanese and National Relations, to try to be a connection between the two countries. They have inspired me to do so much.
YAY ARASHI! ^_^

[allodole.livejournal.com]

They just do. It's as simple as that. I love my boys. ♥

(Back in the days when I first saw Love So Sweet and Kitto Daijoubu and all those good old songs.)

[jamasunda.livejournal.com]

There wasn't really any particular moment that the boys grabbed my heart, I had just watched a lot of videos of them on youtube and somehow.... I guess I just fell for them.

I like to think it's their charm and the friendship they give off in waves. ♥

(I was introduced to them through my searching of japanese music, and I've been interested in studying and somewhat studying Japanese for almost 7 years now. They motivated me to keep up the pace and study more! :D)

[jellybean6972.livejournal.com]

There are times when I think "Whatever you just said, I don't care - that face you just did was absolutely adorable" lol!

Though I do like to know what they are saying and I'm sometimes disappointed that I can't understand them. Kind of like disappointed in myself. I'm not Japanese or anything, but it's like I wish I could just learn and understand Japanese in a day.

I'm pretty sure that I found a video of Arashi no Shukudai-kun on youtube that was subbed and that's when I thought these guys are freakin' hilarious! I had listened to some of their songs first before that though and then wanted to find videos to observe them. I didn't think it would be that hard to find subbed videos on youtube because I watched subbed k-pop shows and stuff, but when I finally did watch them I definitely fell in love. The chemistry was there and this atmosphere that only Arashi can provide, I felt it.

I think it's their atmosphere that drags international fans to them. Plus, they have their own shows so fans can see them in that type of environment rather than just on a music show or another person's talk show.

I don't whether that made any sense and I don't know if I made any points, so sorry about that. And you don't sound rude at all! (^_^)

[jellybean6972.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I forgot to mention that at a young age I was always interested in other cultures (their language, music, etc) so maybe that affects my case.

[cheeze2888.livejournal.com]

I think its the way they interact with each other when ever they are together in which you seldom can see this in a group. The harmony and the closeness they have. Each of them help the other for the better and they really work hard for their group, staff and all of the fans out there. They really have a great chemistry as a group. Their individual personality doesn't clash with the others instead it enhances thus creating a very strong relationship that even us, fans out there can see in any candid moment, It shows their wholeness as a group in whatever projects they have :)

That is one of the many reasons I love Arashi :)
they bring smiles & laughter in all the fans out there :)

[nezumikun.livejournal.com]

my cousin brought arashi to me - -"

past 11-12 years ago, her fav member is Nino, so she showed me whom she was in love with, this is a funny story everytime I think about it hahaha!!!

I started watching their shows, I think Johnny's TV shows're interesting, I watched more other shows, also other Japanese shows but as I'm a girl I prefer watching boys!! little by little, Arashi showed me who they are, what they can do, there's nothing they can't!!! they're talented, amazing, they catched my eyes

I think if you love Arashi that much you know...
there's no reason for someone you love, you just love them^^~

[dramaticsurgeon.livejournal.com]

This is the first time I've posted in arashi_on, because this is the first time I have anything useful to contribute. :P

I don't know how it's been for others, but I ended up discovering Arashi because I'm learning Japanese. I watched Maou with English subs and loved the opening theme. Then I watched the music video for "Truth" and didn't understand why the lead actor was singing in it. XD I also noticed the guy who was in the first episode (later to be known as "Nino", making a cameo appearance) was in the music video, and it confused me enough to do some research. That's when I learned what Arashi was. ^_^

I watched a lot of their shows after that--new and old, some subbed, some not. In a way I think Arashi is single-handedly teaching me Japanese, because they're *everywhere* now.

As for why they have international appeal, I've been trying to figure that out myself. The best reason I can come up with is the fact they've never really acted like idols at all--they're always down to earth and approachable, which is different than other celebrities in the world, and even different than most other idol groups in Japan. You don't get to be ambassadors for the country by acting aloof and stuck-up.

They claim they've never had a fight, and just watching them interact with each other, it's easy to believe that. It also took them 10 years to become the hottest act in Japan, so it's obvious they understand the meaning of "persistence". To me, that's why everyone from children to grandparents can't help but to love them. They're just like everybody's favorite son/brother/grandson.

Just my opinion. ^_^

[rininjapan.livejournal.com]

I watched Maou with English subs and loved the opening theme. Then I watched the music video for "Truth" and didn't understand why the lead actor was singing in it. XD I also noticed the guy who was in the first episode (later to be known as "Nino", making a cameo appearance) was in the music video, and it confused me enough to do some research.

This just answered another old curiosity of mine. I'm so used to it now I've forgotten how odd it is for the "evil" lead actor and co-actors to be SINGING together in a music clip! xD

[doublejan.livejournal.com]

oh I have that question in mind too! coz I got pre-order of arashi con gds from Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina, Malaysia, France, Italy, Canada, USA, Britain, Australia etc. It really amazes me.

So let me share my story. I am from Hong Kong and I do not speak Japanese. I was first attracted to Jun in Hanadan 1. Yet, I would not claim myself as Jun fans or Arashi fans at that time. The turning point is AAA in Taipei 2008.

I thought I would not go to Japan for their concerts (coz too expensive and hard to get the tickets) so AAA in Taipei was a good alternative and I got to see Jun in real life!

It turned out to be the best concert I have ever attended in my life! (up to 2008 =P) The atmosphere was really good. Arashi did pay lots of effort to wave/respond to their fans. The interaction between Arashi and their fans was amazing. I was impressed. It totally changed my view on concerts.

Since then I become Arashi fans and am addicted to Arashi concerts.

[yamashitatrang.livejournal.com]

Somehow just by seeing these 5 guys standing close and talking, I'm so happy that I feel like I can swim from my country to Japan immediately ^O^
It's really amazing that Arashi themselves and their fans got the warm atmosphere whenever they talk about Arashi stories.
I think you'll never get bored if you're Arashi fan ^O^

[dyan1219.livejournal.com]

Let's swim together!!!! HAHAHAHA!!! :DD

[alexxasick.livejournal.com]

I've been a manga and comics freak for a long while so one day I woke up and said I wanna see doramas too. So I watched a bunch, one of them being ppoi with aiba and I just loved him so I started to look information about him xD and ended up watching a lot of vids on youtube but the one that got my heart was a shukudai-kun epi it was more or less subtitled xD they were with ayase haruka and they were such a bunch of lovable dorks I just went gaga I mean where else in earth are IDOLS or BOYBANDS that funny and up to get down and dirty as these guys. Even if they're successful they still do silly stuff and work really hard. They make me want to do my best too!

[iddictive.livejournal.com]

Why I love Arashi? What is there not to love about them? hehehe.. i think most Arashi fans fall for Arashi due to their extreme closeness to each other.. their friendship seems honest to me.. as a team they're adorable combination! Individually, they are pretty much different from each other and they're surely talented. Most Arashi fans can't choose one particular member as their number one.. Why? because they simply love them all.. They never fails to make me smile, be it their hillarious TV Shows, their inspirational songs etc seeing them just made my day.. in a way they inspire me..

Language barrier? i guess, that's the charm of it. I might not be a Japanese speaker and most of the time i'm clueless of what they're are saying when i'm watching them.. but somehow, they still caught my attention even without me understanding them at all! When listening to their song, i don't feel like i need to understand the lyrics to make me feel good about it.. still i can enjoy their song and feel moved or motivated.. I'm slowly learning Japanese over the years, hoping i'm able to converse the language someday..

[yoshiblack16.livejournal.com]

I guess for me it was that subtitles or not, they never failed to make me laugh. I kind of got addicted to that and then it grew on admiration and respect when I found out what they were capable of and I really liked that they never seemed to want to outshine the others, that they actually behave like one when they're together. In the end I just couldn't resist them either.

[ann0510.livejournal.com]

to cut it short, korean drama brought arashi to me. to be more clear korean version of HYD.
Though i was studying japanese before i liked arashi, i was a mere beginner to understand what they were saying.
I did watch a lot of subtitled stuff. but even when there weren't any subs i would watch the video just to enjoy their expressions or mannerisms.

I do have not yet seen any western artist like them. They seem quite humble and natural ( though I know it MAY be just for the camera) I don't think a person can fake it 100%. It may also be cultural , but i like it that they give their fans a lot of credit, and don't attribute their success to personal merit alone.

I guess this entire shift that one sees from western celebs attracts international fans to them.

[yumett.livejournal.com]

it's a tough question that i think i can't answer 'cause i do speak and understand japanese. So i surely got interested in them at first 'cause i understood them, their humour, their language, their songs, the subtility of the words they were choosing to make people laugh, the references and culture... i "understood" them and not only in the language, in the way of thinking too (a little).
and therefor i often questionned myself, would i have got interested and fallen in love with these boys if i didn't get a thing of what they were saying and didn't feel connected and somehow close sometimes to them ? I am not sure at all.

But i also know that although i basically love all the JE boys Arashi really have a special place. I'd never be able to love any other Johnny's in the same way and as much as i love them. It's like they were home, i sometimes go outside to see the other people but in the end of the day i'm so happy to go back home where i feel the best.

I got into Tohoshinki and BigBang too but it was also because they have some activity in Japan (and because a korean that speaks japanese is one of the cutest thing really), and i didn't try hard, but i don't think i could entirely get into their fandom because i simply don't understand korean. (although i actually love korea, i think it really sounds cute to my ears ^^)

But anyway so this make me think that if i didn't speak japanese i wouldn't have been into Arashi. And it makes me a little sad and guilty.
And i admire you (fans), because i think that i wouldn't be able to be into something as much as most of you are for someone i simply don't understand when he speaks.
... I'll never know i guess.

[arashisamon.livejournal.com]

I was interested in M&A and than I started to listen to japanese music...and a little later I started to watch drama.. and I found hyd... and by accident I found 'eyes with delight' on yt... and I fall in love and there as no way out xDD
I even said to my friends "I had found new love!! - Arashi"xDD... and before arashi I was interested in japanese language..so it was just another reason to lern more :P
I'm 'whatever you said' always when I here next stupid rumour...because I don't care about those part I'm in them music, personality..not them personal life..its them personal stuff and they can do whatever they want.
and even when they do stupid stuff they always make me laugh, and those stupid things that they do, reason why they do it, its to make people smile. Its important to me to have such place, just for me where I can just enjoy things that I like and learn more about japanese coulture^^

[naeusix.livejournal.com]

Because they're the most ridiculous, silly and affectionate bunch of dorks ever ♥

Just earlier today, I was pretending to be studying and listening to music on my mp3 when ARASHI's [Everything] came on. Listening to their five voices blending together, I felt such a surge of warmth and affection for them five absurd, gorgeous boys. People have always asked me, always with a tone of perplexity and slight disgust, why I do even like ARASHI? They're so cheesy and they're not even super hot blablablabla. Before, I've always tried explaining to them but almost always, I was sure I came off unconvincing and uncertain. These days though, I've stopped trying to satisy their queries. Instead, I just answer this: "because they make me happy."

In the end, that's the very truth of it.
How could I possibly summarise into a few simple sentences the charm of ARASHI.
Their closeness? (Cliche, but true) Crazily embarassing tv shows? Wicked sense of humour? Utter gorgeousness? Professionalism? Delightful little individual quirks? Endearing gestures? Skinship? Efforts in pleasing others? Adorable fails? Deliciously happy music? OhmiyaSK? The sunshine that is Aiba Masaki? xD

I guess what I'm trying to say in this essay is that whatever language we speak, the five very different characters that make ARASHI have their very own brand of appeal. I guess these kind of charisma is simply unrestricted by language, timezones and trivial things like that. Having said that, everyday I thank God for the unselfish kindness of translators and subbers who spend hours to support the international fandom. They're the best! ♥

And yes, the "Whatever you just said, I don't care - that face you just did was absolutely adorable" moments are always there when I am impatient enough to watch the raw videos first, especially in regards to a certain Mr. Kazunari. ;D

[ohmiya-luv14.livejournal.com]

I also get those questions as well towards "Why do you like Arashi?" especially from my family -sigh- And I have no idea what to say and just start listing a bunch of things usually the cliche remark of their closeness and started listing their accomplishments. There's really not a definite answer for that question because Arashi are just an overload of humaine qualities <3

[daun-pisang.livejournal.com]

hmmmm....everything began 2 years ago...i start with japanese dramas...well,i am a drama freak...the chronology on how i finally open my heart to ARASHI:
-hana kimi,just how much i love nakatsu here...
-gokusen BUT i hate sawada shin(not matsujun)..
-hanadan BUT still i hate domyouji tsukasa(again,NOT matsujun)...
-attention please,here i start fall in love with nishikido-chan,later with Kanjani8,next with NEWS which introduce me to Yamapi..and it was only for 3 months..
-stand up!!,originally i watched this drama because of Yamapi,but asai shohei caught my attention and i start to search everything about him and i got to know his real name,Ninomiya Kazunari...
then only,i got serious searching the pv and i found Kotoba Yori Taisetsu na Mono in Youtube...and only that time i realised that sawada shin/domyouji was in the same group with nino which called ARASHI...i just love the PV and there i found more fanvids which amused me so much that i start to search for forum and community...and got hooked....
and now,i just cant get rid of them...even i start to speak japanese seriously because of them...and i even can watch japanese drama without subs now...all thanks to ARASHI....

[daun-pisang.livejournal.com]

and lastly,why i love ARASHI?hmmmm......................................................
because they are ARASHI....

[saku062.livejournal.com]

I don't really know. I think it became natural?

But I still remember how I discover the boys. Just like 98% of the fandom I watched Gokusen, this only thing that differs after that is that I wasn't Jun baited but...Oguri Shun baited XD I fell for Uchi and so I looked for others drama with him at I found: Stand Up! Then I liked the opening theme and searched for the PV, there I recognized 'that guy who played Sawada Shin' and also 'the main character of Stand Up!' I really loved the PV and so my little brain thought that maybe they sang other songs...I found out 'Wish', 'Sakura Sake' (I fell in love with Sho THERE XD), 'Nice na Kokoroiki',... And thought these guys were so funny! Then...C/D/G no Arashi and little by little...I was already a fan without knowing it ^_^
For me, Arashi give me the daily happiness I need to smile every day. To tell the truth at first I didn't understand what they were saying but laught anyway because as you said 'They look cute and funny' I didn't have a always 'happy' childhood but I've always tried to smile no matter what and the guys being how they are...maybe it's ridiculous but sometimes I feel I'm like them. Their songs have a strong power on me too (now better since I understand Japanese a bit better ^^")

It's been almost 5 years now...and I still love and support them as the first day ^_~

[kotobalai.livejournal.com]

To me, a person who's never liked pop and distrusts pop culture - due to the facades that celebs put on just to garner fans and to seem politely correct -, becoming a fan of Arashi was extremely...off. I mean, I had to really write down the reasons why I thought those 5 people were something special to me, since idols and celebs are usually just facades and nobody deserves to be worshipping an illusion, a facade, a mere mask. A lie, above all. A product of hypocrisy and desire for money.

So I had to keep my cool about becoming a fan of Arashi, and before calling myself a fan, I put them under level-headed criticism.

It was something that troubled me, because we never know if the face they are showing on TV is the same they show when they are off camera. But after watching a lot of Arashi video's, I believe it's almost impossible to feign personalities and character traits for more than 11 years, though I do believe that in TV, in order to be entertaining, they emphasize some of their traits, which makes them stay true to themselves while still being hilarious. I do not feel like I'm being deceived.

Pop is not all the same, and there's garbage pop, and there's good pop, and we forget that we are seeing people, real human beings on TV, not idols. Not robots. Having said that, I now see and refuse to put Arashi on the same bag as Miley Cyrus and those American pop stars.

When I'm watching Arashi, I feel like I'm watching myself and my friends when we are goofing around after school, basically. I feel like there's still friendship, hope, closeness in the world, that human beings are not just black and white. I don't feel too skinny nor too fat, I don't think I'm too this or too that, like immature teens might feel when they are faced with certain American pop stars. I feel comfortable with myself.

And I feel comfortable with the work they are doing. Now that I think about it, I never once cringed because of Arashi, whether it was because of something they said or because of some attitude they had. It all comes so naturally that you can't possibly conceive the idea that these people are not true friends. I'm watching their shows, and I'm watching people, human beings. Not robots who only know how to smile and stay in pose all the time. Through their shows, they made me laugh, smile and sometimes tear up. They make me see there's people and moments to cherish and that those things are the most important things in our lives.

About the language barrier... Well, ironically, the thing that made me look up more of Arashi stuff was Aiba Speaking English xD And of course I wouldn't know what I know today if there weren't fansubbers and translators out there, who are like, the most awesome people on the planet, just for enabling us to understand Arashi.

You know, I would admire Arashi all the same, even if they were just a mere facade. They've helped numerous people for just being there on TV, being goofy and your next door kids. The smiles, laughs, hope and support they gave people from just being there... It's something that can't be replaced. I know that when I'm feeling down, there's one thing that will cheer me up and make me realize there's so much more to life other than money and career success. And they aren't spreading bad believes or habits through what they say and the attitudes they have. It's like, you have no reason whatsoever to not allow your kid to watch or hear Arashi! They only put out there good values.

Sorry for the rambling, but I just needed to share.

[kotobalai.livejournal.com]

xD I re-read my comment and have come to the conclusion that not even a book would convey properly what Arashi means to me and to us all. What I wrote were mere crumbs. To understand Arashi and see why they are so loved, you need to watch them in action. That's all. It' not something you can explain with words.

[xxbonbon.livejournal.com]

haha this is a good question i must say
for me i guess it would be the fact that they have such a tight bond. and w/e it is they do they always put a smile on your face. i love the fact that sometimes what they do makes you laugh so much, sometimes it makes you go "omgsh that's so cute/cool" and sometimes you just go "aww they care about each other so much"
the best part is, it all seems so real and unintentional. a lot of my friends go "oo you like arashi, they're ok, not that good looking" but looks aren't the reason why they appeal to me. it's more of what they do and their different personalities that go together so well. honestly speaking, this is the one and only group that captured my attention without looks. Although the more you watch their videos you seem to feel like you get closer to them and then they just look that much more handsome because their personalities are so beautiful=)
basically language might seem like a barrier at first but after a while you just want to put in the effort to eliminate it because you want to get closer to them
it's hard to truly express what i feel for arashi but i'm sure that all other arashi fans out there will understand what i'm trying to say.

[thefortysecond.livejournal.com]

Hmm, what brought me to them is very different than what kept me with them. I can't say there's anything that I've "always been interested in", I had a college roommate who was obsessed with them, and she used to watch their stuff and listen to it nonstop. It took up so much of her time, I eventually got curious and watched some things with her- DnA, AnS, also Hana Kimi- it's not Arashi, but Toma led me to Maou and Shun led me to Hanadan, so I count it as part of my "indoctrination".

At first it was curiosity, becuase in general Japanese culture, and specifically the idea of a group like Arashi was so utterly alien to me that I couldn't help but be fascinated. I think part of it is that the novelty never wore off, only got stronger (two years isn't a lot comparatively, but I love them more every day) over time. It's also that once you get to see them interact with each other, and interact with other people, you see the absolute love they have for each other, and how dedicated they are to their work despite how hard or embarrasing it may be. That made me respect them as people. I mean, of course there is the crack factor- you can't love Arashi without loving the crack, but I think that it's their love for each other that really pushed me beyond the point of no return.

Now I have them to thank for so many things- I'm learning Japanese, I aspire to go on JET when I finish my degree, and not just because of Arashi, but becuase I've grown to love the whole culture, flaws and all. It's given me a direction that I never expected to see in myself- my goals had always been fairly boring: finish my degree, start my career, get married. Good goals, but there wasn't a feeling of drive to it, I might have dropped out of college by now if it weren't for that sense of drive. And beyond that, their shows, their love for each other, their hard work, it's something that keeps me strong and keeps me happy even in my hardest times. I can have a tough day at work or in school and be able to hold out because I know when I get home there will be a new episode of HnA coming out.

(argh sorry for so much text)

[kotobalai.livejournal.com]

''...their love for each other, their hard work, it's something that keeps me strong and keeps me happy even in my hardest times.''

Definitely. They are not a foolish obsession nor a stupid fascination; they are my walking-stick. When I'm lonely, depressed or sad, I remember them and how they work so hard and never give up. I remember the few hours they sleep per day, the busy days they have, the smiles they have to show even when they don't want to... I remember that they also suffer but they hang in there, just like we have to.

xD We really could go on and on about this subject.

[legsinthepond.livejournal.com]

There is something about them that makes you learn an entire whole language just so you can understand what they're saying. Mostly what I saw of them to begin with was subbed, so while obviously something gets lost in translation, it makes no difference what language they're speaking, it's what they say, and how they act, and just ARASHI. I don't really feel there is much of a language barrier, to be honest. I know much more Japanese now that I did, even back when I couldn't understand them, it's just how expressive they are, you can tell a lot from context and tone of voice, and what you can see is a group of people that just bounce off each other, complement each other, lean on each other and be so distinct from each other as well. I never had any trouble telling them apart. They've never really let fame spoil them or change them as people, at least not for the worse. (though sometimes it seems like Sho's letting it get to his head :/)

They clearly love what they do. Obviously all of them have off days, but that just makes them human. They're just every friendship and relationship in one, and every good quality and some bad between them. I could go on forever, but I'm going to shut up now and read what other people have said. I've gone off topic, but I just don't think language is an issue. Sometimes it's a little frustrating if you can't understand exactly what they say, but it's very easy to appreciate just watching them, and some things are universal, like laughter.

[anixmj.livejournal.com]

Totally Jun baited!!!! Hanadan was my first japanese drama. I don´t speak japanese, because I´m from Colombia, but I don´t care, I love Arashi beyond those language barriers. These boys are happiness for me.