1 post tagged “calendar 2008-2009”

Interview with Kazunari Ninomiya

A surefire way to get a girl’s heart is to be just as you are.. I think.

Q： What’s the first thing you do when you get a new schedule book or calendar?
A： I don’t put anything in a schedule book or my cellphone. Basically I don’t do anything.
Q： What’s the most important day in a year?
A： It’s not in a year, I think. It could be the day you die. Everyone acts somber, but I don’t want it to become a day you’d hate.
Q： Arashi’s said to be glistening, but how would you describe Arashi in a word?
A： Wouldn’t it be that we’re an idol group?
Q： What kind of presence do the others hold for you?
A： Aiba-kun is kind, cheerful, and interesting. Jun-kun is cool and handsome. Sakurai-kun is smart and interesting. Ohno-kun takes it easy. All of them are good people. Though it’s different at every important point for how they’re good people, they’re holding something I don’t. And so I’ve become a diabolical human being, but I’ve decided that’s something I can’t help (laugh). It’s not having come in contact with them and analyzing everyone, but it’s just because we’re together the five of us, so I have no answer.
Q： If you were to make a kanji character for yourself in Arashi?
A:　It’s “one”, yes, “one”. Because I’m one in a group of five.
Q:　In Arashi you are the number one what?
A:　Fan of Arashi. I watch Arashi’s shows quite a bit.
Q: Right now, you are Japan’s number one what?
A: A man who thinks about stuff. I get distressed not being able to understand that thing well. As I’m one who lives with fine sense, I haven’t thought about living thinking about things. I can’t sleep lately thinking that everyone’s living thinking about stuff.
Q: What kind of image do you think you have?
A: That I’m a good person. I’m not called the devil’s advocate, ever! (laugh)　Shouldn’t the impression be left up to the individual? I don’t really find myself interesting, but in the end I like myself the best. I think I’m the best even when I’m watching variety shows and I’m happy when people praise me saying it was good. It’s just, I’m not one who goes out of their way to make people laugh. Yet whenever we say something amusing, my mom gets a kick out of it.
Q: Please tell us about love now.
A: I thought I’d like to live like a human, not perfect. And so suppose I have to sacrifice something, love is probably what I’d let go of first. Though that’s because I’m living thinking I want the parts that are lacking. For that reason, I’d want it.
Q: At what kind of moments do you get choked up?
A: When I’m shown things that go beyond my imagination. Can’t you cry with the Olympics? Don’t you get choked up from sports?
Q: Fun things as of late?
A: Soccer games. I feel I’d beat even Ronaldhino in soccer!
Q: When do you find yourself cool?
A: On ordinary days. I like that kind of self (laugh).
Q: What’s a surefire way to get a girl’s heart?
A: Staying the way you are, I think. A normal person can’t quite speak, can they? They’ve probably gotten choked up (laugh).
Q: Moments when you might fall in love?
A: When someone tells me they like me, probably.
Q: What two things support you the most?
A: Work and my personal life. I can meet various people with work and I don’t meet various people in my personal life. It’s a good balance, isn’t it?
Q: Forecast three big Ninomiya-like news for this year.
A: 1) I’ll be 25. Car insurance will become cheaper, and I will have lived for a quarter of a century. 2) I’ll be playing games. 3) I’d be the happiest to be able to do fun concerts more than last year. The people who come and watch us play the most leading role, but we also get a pleasant feeling for doing it.

Interview with Jun Matsumoto

I want to share the value of being unable to say what’s good exactly.

Q: What’s the first thing you do when you get a new planner or calendar?
A: I don’t buy planners. Supposing I’ve bought one, the first thing I’d write would be the birthdays of my family and friends, I guess.
Q: What’s the most important day in a year?
A: My parents’ birthdays. I contact them if I don’t forget.
Q: How would you describe Arashi in a word? It’s often said that Arashi is glistening.
A: I haven’t been told that (laugh). “A toy box”. I don’t know the reason (laugh).
Q: What’s something you want to accomplish even if it takes 10 years?
A: There’s something, but it’s actions before words.
Q: What kind of presence do the others hold for you?
A: Ohno is an ethereal person at this point in time. He doesn’t change, he’s calm, and pretty amazing. He’s at peace of mind. Sakurai is interested in various things, and gives the impression of being an intellectual. I always find it amazing. Nino’s clever. I think I feel it in his amiability. He distinctly turns it on and off, and so doesn’t he have good balance? Aiba’s an energetic person. When I look at various people, I end up thinking he’s energetic. He’s valuable, a national treasure.
Q: If you were to make a kanji character for yourself in Arashi?
A: “Move”. I move as I please. On the contrary, what kind of image do I have?
Q: What kind of image do you think you have?
A: An unpleasant fellow or touchy. Actually I’m a good fellow (laugh). I’m told often that I’m a surprisingly good fellow. Though I get a little annoyed at the word “surprisingly” (laugh).
Q: A compliment that makes you the happiest?
A: “That’s pretty good, isn’t it?” or “I somehow like it.” Rather than the fun of being able to say what’s good exactly, I’m happier to be able to share the value of being unable to say it. You feel something when you’re showed something in the arts or entertainment. There are times you’re frustrated if you honestly feel blown away with it.
Q: What two things support you the most?
A: I think incentives and a spirit of inquiry give me support. Finding something that takes your interest, you’d die if you don’t think deeply or about it or feel anything.
Q: Fun things as of late?
A: Soaking to my ears in the bath. The sounds are completely different from how you normally hear them. Even the sound of the water dripping from the faucet, and you can hear yourself say “Ah” in a different voice. It’s fun. Haha, a dark fellow (laugh).
Q: When do you find yourself cool?
A: When I’ve decided what to wear. There are times I decide what to wear the night before and times I decide the morning of. When I’ve decided the night before I won’t actually wear it, so it’s like “Alright!” when I’ve decided it when I put it on in the morning.
Q: Please tell us about love now.
A: When you can see what’s going on around you, you can feel even the smallest of things. Warm things.
Q: Tempting or being tempted. Which is good?
A: I really like both. How do I tempt people? I won’t say that much (laugh).
Q: When do you fall completely in love?
A: I have no preferences and the situations for falling in love are inconsistent. I guess it has to be the moment when I’ve discovered the good points that are like that person.
Q: What’s a surefire way to get a woman’s heart?
A: There’s none at all! Is there such a thing as surefire way!? What do you mean by surefire way!? Rather than that, it’s integrity.
Q: Forecast three big Matsumoto-like news for this year.
A: 1) Counting my hopes, trips to London and Paris. I’ll go see the Paris collection and see a play in London. 2) I’ll study and take the kanji skills and English proficiency tests diligently, and I’ll achieve a high enough level to have it printed in my profile. 3) I’d like to have a small, cute monkey or a dog.

Interview with Masaki Aiba

I love lives! I want to do a lot of them! More of them!

Q: When you get a new schedule book or calendar, what’s the first thing you do?
A: I decorate the calendar. I write in my dental appointments in the interior.
Q: What is the most important day in a year?
A: New Years, since I like being gathered together with my whole family.
Q: Arashi’s said to be glistening, but how would you describe Arashi in a word?
A: “Happiness” I enjoy doing anything together the five of us.
Q: What’s something you want to accomplish even if it takes 10 years?
A: I want to do a live in the outdoors! We’ve still only done it once. Because it’d take up a fair amount of space, there are a few sections you’d worry a little about, but I’m up for the challenge.
Q: What kind of presence do the others hold for you?
A: Matsumoto-kun’s a person who takes the initiative for us doing various things. Though he plays his role among the five of us, I want to cheer him on. My moral support. Leader is most definitely Leader, of course. Though he’s called Leader as a nickname, he’s reliable. My moral support. As Sakurai-kun is doing news casting these days, it’s a good time when we’re watching the news together. Like a tutor, my moral support. I hang out with Nino a lot playing baseball and such together, as well as play soccer games. So, he’s a friend. My moral support.
Q: If you were to make a kanji character for yourself in Arashi?
A: “outburst” I think. I sort of get out of control. Because I continue blabbering when I’m with everyone.
Q: You are the number one what in Arashi?
A: “Meek and mild”. I’m a meek and mild child (laugh).
Q: Right now you are the number one what in Japan?
A: That’s a broad question (laugh). I’m a man who doesn’t say things like “the number one in Japan”. But, I’m such a stud.
Q: What kind of image do you think you have?
A: I’m probably perceived as being a slight idiot. Because it’s slight, of course. Please put the emphasis on that word. Though actually I’m pretty shy and sensitive. But, because I just flip the switch, I don’t think I have anything to hide.
Q: A compliment that makes you the happiest?
A: “You’re certainly a dummy!”
Q: Please tell us about love now.
A: I don’t understand the difference between love [koi] and love [ai] at all. I think the feelings of “I like you” is the most important.
Q: When do you feel choked up?
A: Coffee first thing in the morning. I wake up feeling like it’s come and think that I’ll do my best once again today.
Q: What are fun things as of late?
A: The times I’m playing games with everyone.
Q: Please tell us a surefire way of catching a girl’s heart.
A: What kind of question is that? (laugh) Did someone come up with an answer? That’s quick-footed. I wasn’t popular in elementary school. So, all I did was run.
Q: What kind of moments would you seem to fall completely in love?
A: If we go camping and they pitch up the tent for us on their own! I like someone who can do anything on their own.
Q: What are two things that support you the most?
A: I’d say people rather than things. What, I wonder? It’s so difficult to narrow them down to two. That’s why my friends and family become my support, and even my dog back home is a support. I guess it has to be “Arashi and days off”. I’m not the type to really confide my troubles to my friends around me, but the answer somehow comes from inside myself when I’m hanging out with my friends. I don’t really have to seek the answer there. So, my days off for relaxing are also important.
Q: Forecast three big Aiba-like news for this year.
A: 1) A man stops growing at 25 and so with the final struggle, I’ll be 180cm. 2) I’ll probably be doing lives, of course. We did a lot the past year and so instead of not doing them, on the contrary I want to do them! 3) This year, I’ll become the first person in Japan to talk to animals.

Interview with Satoshi Ohno

While purely enjoying things the five of us it’s good we’re working our hardest.

Q: When you get a schedule book or calendar, what’s the first thing you do?
A: Supposing I had one, I only write in the days I have off (laugh). But in the past, for about 4 years I made one word journal entries in my planner writing only the most memorable events that happened on those days.
Q: What’s the most important day in a year?
A: I haven’t thought about it (laugh).
Q: It’s said that Arashi’s glistening, but how would you describe Arashi in a word?
A:　“Peace.” Arashi is peace, of course.
Q: What’s something you want to accomplish even if it takes 10 years?
A: Could it be things I want to do my entire life? Wouldn’t it be hobbies? I’ve liked drawing and such for a long time, and it’s so exciting because my interest for it has rapidly increased. Last year I picked up fishing as a new hobby. I’ll never ever get tired of it! Since there are a variety of rods, it’s fun to get a bite from even a small fish. But for me I think it’s the coolest when I draw and get so wrapped up in it that I wouldn’t ever take a break until I catch my breath when I’m finished.
Q: What kind of presence do the others hold for you?
A: Isn’t Nino one who can handle things easily? He probably doesn’t show it to people, but you haven’t seen him spirited and working hard (laugh). But, as he goes all out handling things, he’s amazing. Isn’t Aiba-chan serious-minded? He’s earnestly holding meetings with the staff for variety programs and such. When his engine starts every now and then, he’s racing around even in the dressing room (laugh). Sho-kun is interesting. If there are times the tension has risen, there are times he’s calm, and times he’s suddenly doing the news. Though I’ve seen various sides of him lately, everything gets completely interesting as a whole. MatsuJun comes in contact with various people in various jobs and getting absorbed in various things, I wonder. But no one changes, basically.
Q: If you were to make a kanji character for yourself in Arashi?
A: What? Say that yourself. I’ve got nothing (laugh).
Q: You are the number one what in Arashi?
A: Lazybones. No doubt about that.
Q: What kind of image do you think you have?
A: That I just sit back or that I seem sleepy. Go ahead and think as you like (laugh).
Q: A compliment that makes you the happiest?
A: I’m often told I’m healing. Because I’m told that even though I don’t do a thing, it makes me happy pure and simple (laugh).
Q: Please tell us about love now.
A: It’s something warm like completely wrapping the other person up naturally. Isn’t it something you feel naturally from the bottom of your heart for your family and friends? Besides, you’re supported by family and friends.
Q: When we go to concerts, What part of Ohno-kun would we fall in love with?
A: What the heck is that? (laugh) Rather than saying me, wouldn’t it be the fact the five of us are working our hardest while purely enjoying one concert? You can’t see it, but backstage is intense running around and changing quickly. The fact we’re working hard is the best thing.
Q: When do you feel choked up?
A: When I’m fishing and pull in the line. The resistance comes in, and I get the unbearable feelings that it’s come.
Q: A surefire way of getting a girl’s heart?
A: I’d say “I like you”.
Q: At what kind of moments might you fall completely in love?
A: Normally I’m doing things ordinarily, but during the trifling times when I can see a child-like innocence.
Q: Forecast three big Ohno-like news for this year.
A: 1) I’m addicted to fishing. 2) I’ll get an electric bicycle, leave it at my acquaintance’s place, and after that go by bicycle to go fishing. 3) Take pictures. I’ve been taking pictures of my own works and drawings with a normal single-reflex camera since I was young, but carrying that camera around, should I take pictures of people, landscapes, and everything, I wonder?

Interview with Sho Sakurai

It’s fun! I think I’m living by the words I was struck by in my work.

Q: When you get a new calendar or schedule book, what’s the first thing you do?
A: I write down all the decided plans. Until about two years ago I kept entries in my planner for the times I talk about situations for interviews, but I don’t do that these days.
Q: What’s the most important day in a year?
A: Birthday, since it’s the day you were born.
Q: How would you describe Arashi in a word? They often say Arashi’s glistening.
A: Is that true? (laugh) Suppose you can see us glistening temporarily, a seemingly fun atmosphere could be Arashi. But, individually I think we’re “worthless”. It could be us to earnestly do worthless things on late night variety shows.
Q:　What kind of presence do the others hold for you?
A: Ohno-kun’s a senior I respect. Saying something or other, it doesn’t come to mind. I can get energy from Aiba-kun. Talking with him, I lighten up cackling on my side. Nino makes me into a character of being fingered, and has expanded my range of characters. I think MatsuJun’s strong characteristics become a motivation. Even in “West Side Story” he has a way of making you feel meaning in Bernard’s role, “the role MatsuJun does”.
Q: If you were to make a kanji character for yourself in Arashi?
A:　“Entrust”. I often manage the MCing, and told I’m pulling it all together, but actually that’s because I’m just tossing the ball to everyone and creating a chance for them to talk.
Q: A compliment that made you the happiest?
A: When I had the privilege of casting for the volleyball tournament, I was told for the first time that there isn’t a day I’m not seen on the television as of late. Saying things like that coverage was great or that drama was good are opinions of subjectivity, but as these words were only in fact for those people, I was happy for that.
Q: Fun things as of late?
A: Work is fun! I’ve tried to cross the sea on an ice floe, and in my work as a newscaster, I can meet people I wouldn’t normally meet and see things I normally wouldn’t see. Just recently I went to Korea for the coverage of their presidential elections, and heard stories of the university students in the same generation as me. I’ve been struck by the words of the rapper Shing02 for a long time that it’s not the people of different generations in your culture, but those of the same generation in different cultures, but I think I’m doing precisely that in my work now.
Q: Tell us your surefire way of catching a girl’s heart.
A: If you’ve got any, I want you tell me (laugh). Has everyone said such things? When getting off an elevator, hold the “open” button and let her off first. I can only come up with something to that extent.
Q: When do you think you’re being seduced by a girl?
A:　When she suddenly touches my hand and lets go apologizing. Was this a trick or by accident!? (laugh)
Q: At what kind of moments might you fall completely in love?
A: As for me, thinking she’s nice as a person, because I’d fall in love for the first time, there aren’t really reasons for having some chance. Just, when you strangely realize the things you don’t notice yourself being told you’re unexpectedly something, it might become an entrance when you ask why they’re taking care of you so much.
Q: What are two things that support you the most?
A: All the people around me and experiences. Family, friends, the other members, co-workers; I’m supported by everyone, and both good and bad experiences, all of them, make who I am today.
Q: Forecast three big Sakurai-like news for this year.
A: 1) Filming “Yatterman” of course. It’s fun to be able to work with Director Miike Takashi. 2) I want to do something new with the framework of newscasting. 3) On the side of Arashi, a tour bigger than last year’s. Though I don’t want to completely decide that numbers or the venue size is what I mean by big, but it’d be nice to have the biggest tour ever.

Credits to taccho of LJ for the translation