Arafes DVD Petition

[bea-chan22.livejournal.com]

Hello, everyone! We would like to encourage everyone to sign the petition to have an Arafes DVD Petition! To sign, please go here. 

1.) Avoid signing anonymously and more than once so that the petition will look more legitimate and accurate when we send it to Johnny's and Associates. It's not only the quantity of the signatures that matters - it should be both the quality and quantity. 

2.) The signing in the petition is until October 21, 2012. 

3.) There’s NO MONEY involved. If the site asks for money, it’s most likely for the website - you can ignore it if you want, your signature is already listed anyway. However, if you still want to make sure, you can click the Signatures tab of the petition.

4.) Once the petition is done, the plan is to give a hardcopy of the proposal (with the peition list) to JE’s HQ. Hopefully, we can also send them through other means. We’ll keep everyone updated once that it has been sent. 

5.) Even if there’s a confirmation of DVD release, we’ll still send it to JE because they need to know the presence of int’l Arashi fans. 

6.) If there are any questions, email at pearlescentblue@yahoo.com

We're not ruling out the possibility of Johnny's & Associates had decided to have a DVD for this. However, wouldn't it be better if they know more how many international fans Arashi have that are waiting for this? 

That being said, thank you for everyone who supported the petition and let’s hope that JE will be able to release an Arafes DVD soon!

Comments

[ylunio.livejournal.com]

I thought about it many many times, but I'd like to point it out now... there is no hope for a petition like that, or a petition in general, to work, as long as we are talking about Japan.

Japan has a "way of doing things" and even if this way is sometimes old fashioned, or even not convenient, (and even if Japanese people KNOW it) they still do that way. In spite of living in a high-tech country, Japanese people are really slow when it comes to change things, and they don't like when other people (usually foreigners) try to push them and ask them to do something in a different way, or just do something different in general. And that's probably one of the reasons because JA doesn't really care about International Fans.

So, if Johnny-san (or I don't know who else) already took his decision about a possible Arafes DVD, there is really no chance for us to make him change is mind. And, believe me, JA knows there are International Fans, but it’s not going to change anything any time soon (or, if JA is going to do something like that it's because JA is already thinking about it and it started thinking about it a long time ago, and not because we are telling JA our opinion about it).

That’s all…
If you want to sign, do it. But it’s going to be pointless, or even a bother for JA.

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

I agree and I actually came here to say just that.
I don't want to discourage anybody, who wants to sign, but to say it bluntly: JE doesn't care about international fans. I mean, you can't even join Arashi's fanclub if you don't have a Japanese address, right?!

[lackschuh.livejournal.com]

Isn't it the wrong moment to do this? I mean, I want a DVD too but as I see it, there are only two options. They either already filmed for a DVD and then they will make one anyway or they haven't filmed and all the petitions in the world will go nowhere. I think for something like this to work, it would need to be done before a concert?

Sorry, I don't want to discourage you. Please do it, if it feels good to you! It's just that the international fandom relies on the agency to not bother too much about them. If they really watched us closely, we could never have the subs and files we have now. I know many people want to be acknowledged and I agree it would be nice if things were easier for us. But overall, maybe there are some good points to being overlooked, you know?

[drigby.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your level-headed answer. There has been so much drama in the fandom lately that it has become so irritating.

[drigby.livejournal.com]

Naman, tama na ang KSP behavior. Yun na. Period.

[meoinkie2.livejournal.com]

LOL hindi ko akalain n Pinoy k pla xDDDDD

[matsubunny.livejournal.com]

Sadly most of the people who signed up that petition will just download the dvd.

Anyway, I think you girls were rushing things a bit, when ONE tour dvd wasn't released, japanese fans (and i want to emphasize here that the market is mostly in Japan), started mailing to JunStyle quite many months after it should be out. There was even people asking Jun on the street about DVD, he was kinda pissed because he asked already staff to release but they didn't allow, so he didn't see the point of people asking again after he said it can't be released at thar time. Maybe, thanks to this there was a little digest of the tour on Arashic LE, but it's because Jun was asking for it to the staff.

The main reason One dvd was not released was because of their sales were really bad, so, judging recent sales and that the theme it's totally different from the upcoming Popcorn tour, we should have something, maybe digest, maybe a full dvd, who knows, but if by the time it should be released it isn't, let the japanese fans ask for it, they're the ones who buy arashi stuff till it gets to a million, we're just dunno a 1-5% of the total sales ^^

[j-halo7.livejournal.com]

Replying to your last sentence, I've always been curious to know exactly how many percent of Arashi's sales come from overseas market.

As a fan, I do buy their albums, dvds and singles (not the last few though when I cooled down a bit) but I wonder just how many other international fans buy them too.

It would be interesting to have a poll where international fans vote yes (they bought) or no (did not buy) for every single, album and dvd ever since they started selling tons.

[cresentruby.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh lol
I saw this petition from other comm
I ignore this of course
Coz this is just pointless
now u kinda spamming my f-list coz i'm watching both comm
So kinda annoying now
But good for my laugh of the day (should be night since my day almost over)
In the end i just want to say like other people already said
JE dont care about us
They know we exist
Lot of us are blond and blue eyes came to the con
So they know there are foreigners in arashi fanbase
Your petition letter wont even get an eye from them

[matsubunny.livejournal.com]

lol, the 3rd phrase to the final made me laugh, yes they know us, even in Time they talked with some of our buddies at con XD

[kiriezero.livejournal.com]

I agree what everybody else already said.
this is pointless and will only bring the wrong attention to international fandom >.< as Bunny said, let the Japanese fanbase power do the work! JA will hear them!
and, really, petitions always leave a bad taste for everybody, like the "Nino is fat, make him broke up with Nozomi" stupid petiton or the "ohmiya must marry" campaingn...... seriously, those "petitions" are very embarrasing for normal fans :s

[tokyobee023.livejournal.com]

Let them do the work? So what are we? Just leeches or some sort since we're JUST the international fans? Oh no no no. Work your ass out if you want something. Not depend on what others will/might do it. Just because we're JUST international fans we can't take the initiative? I beg to disagree.

[amitarashi.livejournal.com]

And I agree to the Users above.
They're aware that we're exist, but the profit of us may be to small.
If they dont want, we cant help it, right?

But since Japanese Fans spotted cameras on the 2nd day of arafes, i bet there will be also a DVD. JE wouldnt have placed the cameras there for nothing.
Also since the concert was something special, there will be a DVD.

- I'll bet my Ass on it! -

[tsuchi8562.livejournal.com]

JE knows about international fans or not... It's not the point. Point is that all fans, Japanese or International want that DVD because of many songs that were not preformed before or are not included in any DVD. I want to talk about a bit different thing that JE awareness of international fans though...

If Johnny didn't have any intentions in making a DVD from Arafes, not petition and no request will make him release it. Come on, DVD needs a major preparations, right? Equipment and so on... If there were no intention in making DVD from Arafes at the beginning, nothing will change that. Johnny won't charm the material for DVD from thin air! All we can do is to wait and have hope that JE will have mercy for us and release the most wanted DVD.

[amitarashi.livejournal.com]

i think it will take some time til they announce.
Since AraFes, only 1 (!!!) week has passed.

they filmed the "beautiful World" concert in september 2011 and it was released at the end of may.

To make a DVD takes some time, and if they made it, they'll announce it.

There'll be a DVD!

[mizumi10.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this is pointless. I also find it selfish and rude as an international fan to be demanding for something as arafes when it was only meant for japan in the first place. I don't want to sound to rude or anything, but that's how I feel about this whole petition ordeal. You all can try. It won't hurt technically, but it will tell a lot about us to JE about who we international fans are both good and bad. I understand that we want to see it. I do too, but I believe there has to be a limit in what we do as fans, and I think this petition is unnecessary .

[amitarashi.livejournal.com]

This is it!!

[tokyobee023.livejournal.com]

"If Sho stopped on his goal on becoming a newscaster just because he's an idol, and just followed the status quo, he wouldn't be on NTV right now. Or he didn't stay that long."

If Arashi did not strive harder, put an extra effort, and broke the norm back then, they wouldn't reach that far. They wouldn't be on top right now.

I personally think this petition is a good start. If we would not make that first step, if we would not break the norm, we will all stay as is and won't get anything more from what we have. One of the things I've learned from these boys is that all things start small. So what if 3,000 is just a small number? So what if they won't still reach out to us instantly after submitting this petition? And to those who think that this petition will be pointless or even a bother for JA, do I need to tell you those tiny steps Arashi made before they became who they are right now? Do I still need to slap on your faces those decisions and actions they made that seemed pointless to others at that time but actually made the biggest differences in their lives, making who they are right now?

Also, it seems like some people cannot see the greater objectives of this petiton. Aside from a request of an Arafes DVD and informing them we exist, this can be a stepping stone to new ideas and concepts. With this petition, at least they will have an idea on specifically how far the popularity of their talents can go, thy have an idea on what we think, and how we see their talents. This petition can be a possible reference to a certain project or whatever JE may do in the future, just like any other academic study we see.

Numbers. Norms. Instant results. These things did not matter to these guys when they we're striving to reach their goal so why would we be bothered by such things? If they won't give a DVD due to some circumstances, then fine! We're just requesting, not demanding. At least we know deep inside we tried and we know this will be of use in the future. This petition does not aim to be the primary cause to why JE must pay attention.

Just saying. Thanks for all your comments and now we are more determined to finish and submit this petition as soon as possible.

[quin-tessen-ce.livejournal.com]

Sigh well if anything, don't throw out sarcastic remarks, almost none of the users said STOP THIS RIGHT NOW, they said sure do the petition, but don't hope for much. Nobody was being mean or rude.

Arashi breaking out of the norm...? I don't really see that. They stuck by the rules, and worked on their variety for basically 8-9 years before they were able to receive the fruits of their work. They didn't really break out of the norm at all... And honestly I think that's how we should also think? Continuous and unfazing support from intl fans, and they'll do something to reward us in the future. If not, meh.

Now if this was a petition for something like an international/open release of Ura-Ara-Mania then I'd understand more of its relevance...(even if it defeats the purpose of it being 'ura' as in secret) Even as you say, we're requesting and not demanding, why request for something that's on the schedule to be released...? Requesting for it now makes us seem impatient and needy.

[drigby.livejournal.com]

I really hope that if you do get to send the petition, that sales of the DVD from the international fandom would back the numbers in said petition. Otherwise JE would be like "where the heck did all those petitioners go?". It's similar to people demanding artists to come perform but tickets don't get sold. Or a movie actor being so popular coz he has so many followers on twitter or facebook but nobody actually goes watch his movie.

How about a petition for international fans to be able to join the FC? We pay the annual fee, maybe extra for mailing and text charges. I bet JE would consider this. The get more income, while we get the "attention" people seem to want, and get a chance to ballot for tix.

[quin-tessen-ce.livejournal.com]

It's similar to people demanding artists to come perform but tickets don't get sold.

+1
I always facepalm when kpop groups/singers come to toronto and 200 people show up even if it's a free concert... even my boring professors get that many students to sit in class.

An international fanclub prospect is bleak but it seems like a better idea than one for a DVD, for sure.

[krystalkatz.livejournal.com]

As much as I would love for more Arashi/je for international fans to be honest there simply isn't the market for them to come abroad. Although there are a lot of fans out there isn't enough to justify the cost that it would take to market them over here. If I asked 30 people on the street if they knew who they were all of them would say no, I wonder how many would in Japan? If you want more arashi/je internationally you will have to work harder to get more people to know them internationally but that its self is a double edged sword ne :-/ I hate it as much as anyone but you can rant to whoever you want but until they can justify the costs they won't listen.
Sorry but this is just my opinion

[mizumi10.livejournal.com]

+1
yes! we also have to remember the cost. even production for these dvds; i imagine would be costly. if anyone knows about making profit, you must make more than what you spent in order to gain. If you don't sell enough, you lose money, and that's bad for any business.

[kawaii-solemia.livejournal.com]

Pointless, pointless, pointless.

I think is awesome that you are determined to go on with this petition. Really. But all the same, it will still be pointless. You're gonna bother someone working on JE and bother yourselves to get nothing.

Do you really think this will get more attention for us, international fans? I don't really think so. Maybe as much attention as those fans asking for Nino to break up with Nozomi because he was getting fat. And probably equally bad.

1. As many people have said before me, international selling numbers are pretty low outside Asia. JE will only care for now for WHAT Japanese fanbase wants. And most times they don't even listen to that fanbase.

2. Asking for the release of a concert that took place only 1 week ago? Are you right on your minds? Or are you newbies? Any fan can see some patterns: Kokuritsu stadium, a "requested by fans" theme, Arashi's popularity, cameras rolling in the second day... Of course JE is planning a DVD release! But announcements for these things are not made until MONTHS after the recording of the DVD!! And if they finally decide not to release it, the opinion of some hundreds of fans is not gonna change it.

3. Do you really want to "work your asses off" for something? Then change your petition purpose. Ask for Arashi FC to open up to international fans, for example. It will still be pointless, but at least the purpose will make more sense.

I really don't mean any disrespect, neither to "slap you on your faces" with this. But you must be realistic about the fandom in which you are right now, the market we're talking about. Do you need to get noticed? Do you need attention from your idols? Then work hard, save money and go to see them in a concert. That's the best way, in my opinion.

I'm not gonna elaborate any longer on this. Keep doing your best, I hope you don't end up disappointed.

[yuelnaye.livejournal.com]

+100000

so agree with everything you said.

[justironic.livejournal.com]

If there were cameras, there will be a DVD. If there were no cameras, there's not even a reason to have a petition because they'll have nothing to make a DVD out of. lol

[enorcsi.livejournal.com]

came to the comments just to say this ^^

also, wow so much drama in here...

[asaphira-sachi.livejournal.com]

If there will be a DVD, it won't be because of the petition, but it's because they planned it way before the AraFes even took place. js

[lelomew.livejournal.com]

Ooh, okay. Sidestepping some of the debate above, my first thought was: if they DID film it, they'd probably release the DVD (several months down the line) since Arashi are so profitable these days anyway. If not, that's their choice and we'll just have to make do with concert reports.

Japan's a large music industry; there's no need for them to expand their market and promote overseas. It's a bit love/hate for me, but at least for those of you who CAN go to Japan and see the boys, it'll be more of a worthwhile experience? One thing I'm glad for is their less aggressive approach (and one of the key reasons why I'm tiring of k-pop).

[quin-tessen-ce.livejournal.com]

All I gotta say this, I think it's way to early for a petition for a DVD. It's not like they've announced they won't release it.

They will, 99.9999999....% release it, probably one version packaged with Waku Waku Gakkou 2012 and one without but hopefully(!) with other backstage goodness or special packaging, unless if the group of people editing the DVD suddenly all crash their computers and backups go haywire. And nobody made a horrible mistake this time or fell off the stage at the concert, and there was Aiba's crane malfunction but JE has been known to edit around things like that, so all preparations for DVD are a-okay.

I understand the sentiments of worry because J&A wasn't too supportive of the idea of Arafes in the first place, but if the boys got them convinced to put up a concert, and a very expensive one at that, J&A will also do everything to milk everything from it, so I'm 99.99999....% sure there will be a DVD release.

So let's just wait and go crazy for the Popcorn tour instead for now.

[piggy4ever.livejournal.com]

if it comes out waho ill be preordering the limited (if there is one)
if there isont then ill be sad about it as ive almost got all the con dvds but ill just spend the money i would have on the dvd on someother arashi stuff and then wait around for the next dvd they bring out

[eskarina77.livejournal.com]

And just because I took the time to go and read it, you made a mistake in the japanese translation "みんなさま" sould be "みなさま" or "みなさん".
I can't tell if there are others, my japanese isn't good enough to tell.

[yarukizero.livejournal.com]

You really just need to be patient. They only barely finished the concerts and like I mentioned in my report, it looked like they might have filmed one of the nights for something. It may be a DVD or it may be included in something else. Either way, give them time to announce it first. Let's just wait a bit longer.

[MOD]

[mynamelessname]

Everyone is free to agree or disagree but please remember to be respectful of all members, whether they agree with you or not. Otherwise, I will need to start freezing threads and/or deleting comments that cross the line.

- Anie

Re: [MOD]

[asaphira-sachi.livejournal.com]

I appreciate the warning. Although, as far as I can see, most of the threads aren't really attacking others in a personal manner. They are still pretty civil discussions, and many are rather informative.

[jihunny.livejournal.com]

Basically too soon.
This is totally jumping the gun. It's like asking for the DVD of a movie which just premiered at the cinemas.

Look at J-Storm past DVD releases. It took months after the events for the DVDs to be announced and released. Not a day or a week immediately after.
Even the DVD announcements don't usually come after a month had passed. The cut-off date is also too soon. When is the planned submission date? Immediately after the cut-off, the end of October 2012? If so, once again, too soon.

Petitions like these would be more effective once J-Storm has officially announced they won't be releasing the DVD. To overturn a concrete decision, rather than a baseless assumption.

For concert DVD releases, J-Storm is doing rather well. They didn't release all (ONE, DAL, solos), but post-2007, they have the DVDs out. Based on that alone, there is a much higher likelihood of AraFes DVD being released than it is not.

Had this been a petition for AraFes to be released in Blu-Ray or have multi-lingual subtitle options (in the Japanese Edition), I'd sign up too because these haven't been done before.

Johnny's know about the international fans. They are aware of us. It's just that they couldn't even serve the demands of the domestic fans yet, let alone overseas. Their major overseas markets (China and Korea) have some political issues with Japan.
If they were to serve the American/European markets, they would need local partnerships and so far their ventures don't have the desired results it seems.
(Johnny's also need a lot of reassurance on copyright protection and revenue share from iTunes and other services, in my opinion. They don't seem to trust media sharing technology much.)

Anyway, it doesn't hurt to try, but please have a realistic expectation of the outcome. Good luck!

[eskarina77.livejournal.com]

If I may add...a realistic expectation will NOT be that...if they release a DVD, it will only be thanks to the petition.

[love323able.livejournal.com]

I honestly think that they will release an arafest DVD either end of year or next year.

[riapi.livejournal.com]

it's pointless you know, this petition.... if they will release a DVD they will, and by the way J&A works i bet they will, it's sales afterall.. and come on, arashi already knows they have international fans, haven't you watching mannequin 5 SPs??? foreign countries are mentioned there! ofcourse they know we exists!!

[vivizanessafan.livejournal.com]

well, here are my thoughts.
i think you are confused with the purpose of this petition. do you want AraFes DVD to be released? or do you want JE to notice the international fandom?

if the petition is for the DVD, i'd say it's very unnecessary. a petition at this time, like someone said, will only end up with us international fandom being needy, demanding and annoying in JE's eyes.

if you want us to be noticed by JE, there are other things that would make sense imo, like a petition for an international FC, definitely not a petition for a DVD, whose event only happened a week ago.

tbh, i read all the comments here. i see that ppl are not trying to negate your effort in breaking the norm. i understand your way of thinking and applaud you for that. however, you've chosen a wrong object this time (AraFes DVD).