February, to me, is merely the separation between winter and spring. January is most certainly winter, bleak, white, cold, while March is steeped in the fresh green of spring...February is the merely the slow blending of those two, the transmutation from lead to gold;) But because it's midway between the two, it feels a lot like limbo...waiting for something to happen. Good thing it's such a short month;P I suppose if it was winter one day and spring the next it would be more than a little disturbing and disorienting, in the same way that it's jarring to go right from dreaming to waking...something important gets lost in between. So many important things are lost in the little gaps and interstices of life...like the gap between what you say and what you mean;) I can't count how many times a week I hear myself saying something that was perfectly understandable when I thought it, but in words it's some horrible misunderstanding or unbelievably silly mistake^^; What blackhole swallowed my intentions and spat out that nonsense?XD Similar to the 'lost in translation' idea I guess...what one mind thinks is not always possible to convey to another, the gaps are like little moats that both protect us from absorbing into the collective and prevent us from ever being truly understood. Which is maybe why I like being a translator so much, I get to be the bridge across those some of those moats:) I may be rickety at times, but I'll get you there, I promiseXDD
Speaking of which, (yes, there is an end to my rambling;P) here is my translation of the Shukudai-kun from 07.01.22 with Takata Mayuko and the bitchslap heard around the forumXD

Sho: This is the beginning of Arashi's Homework~!
Ogura: What did you do for the New Year?
Sho: Though it was ages ago...;P We did concerts for the New Year. Ogu-san didn"t come to see us right! (writing)
Holding 5 uchiwas and wabing them like this, like this...
Ogura: Cause that's embarrassing...
Jun: Could it have been that Ogura-san was standing around talking the wole time ne...
[writing: Taping was done at the end of the year~]
Aiba: Cause, cause-
Ogura: -you weren't all gathered together.
AIba: Cause you came out in the MC too ne, Ogura-san ne. Really. Ne!
Nino: You sang Arashi with us didn't you?
Sho: What did you do for the New Year Ogu-san? (writing)
Ogura: Didn't you just say that I came (to the concert)! (writing)
Nino: That's right huh~! We all sang ne.
Ogura: I sang.
Sho: So, let's introuduce today's guest, it's this person here!
Ogura: Yes.
Mayuko: Hello.
Sho: We ask for your favor.
[writing: From the guest to the audience...from the audience to Arashi...various homeworks
are given out, it's a show with audience participation. Announcer: Arashi no Shukudai-kun is where, from the guests
to the audience, from the audience to Arashi, various homeworks are given out, and the answers are revealed gradually
throughout the show.]
Sho: Today's guest is Takata Mayuko-san, we ask for your favor~! (writing)
Ogura: Is this the first time?
Mayuko: The first time.
Sho: This is the first time ne. It is.
Ogura: Mayu-chan likes guys who are cooler than someone like me. (writing)
Mayuko: Ah, I ne, um...like Johnny's a lot... (writing) I'm very sorry for lumping you all together though.
Sho: Ah, it is lumping us together ne. It's okay, it's okay.
Mayuko: I'm a fan of ShibuGakiTai ne (older Johnny's group). (writing)
Ogura: And she was a idol-chaser.
Mayuko: That's right, I was an idol chaser.
[writing: Dyed-in-the-wool Johnny's fan]
Jun: On a side note, who was it?
Mayuko: I liked Mokkun. (writing)
Jun: Ahh, I see ne.
Aiba: You were in the Mokkun sect?
[writing: Mokkun sect]
Jun: A long time ago, there were concerts, of course they did concerts ne, ShibuGakiTai...
[writing: Takata-san's memories, a ShibuGakiTai Happi(like workamn style) coat]
Mayuko: Ah they did.
Jun: Were there things like uchiwas around that time? (writing)
Mayuko: There were uchiwas, and there were also uchiwa folding fans...
[writing: Folding fans?]
Sho: Hey wait a sec, folding fans?
Mayuko: Sorry-
Sho: Folding fans, sorry, there aren't any folding fans now ne.
Mayuko: Ah, there aren't any-
Sho: There were folding fans?
Mayuko: Foldings fans...ah ne, there was a song called [Well done! Fujiyama!] ne Ogura-san... (writing)
Ogura: That's right ne, there was.
Mayuko: Ne?
Jun: 'Well done! Fujiyama!'??;P
Mayuko: You don't have that either? Ah I don't like this!
[writing: 1984, [Well done! Fujiyama!] ShibuGakiTai]
Jun: What is that? I think that's pretty amazing, 'Well done-'
Sho: Although we have one called [Sunrise Nippon]...
[writing: 2000, [Sunrise Nippon] Arashi]
Mayuko: So in that song, holding the folding fans, we'd be like 'Well done~! Well done~!' (writing)
Sho: Well then Ogura-san, the first homework if you please.
Ogura: Yes. Homework from Takata Mayuko to the audience. Investigate and submit different kinds of sushi. (writing)
Mayuko: I love sushi, so when I go out to work I walk around looking for sushi restaurants throughout the whole
country.
Sho: Well we received replies from audience members all over the country. Aiba-kun!
Aiba: Yes.
Sho: If you please.
Aiba: This time ne, the total submissions from everyone in the audience across the country are an unbelievable
571 ne. (writing)
Nino: Wonderful!
Aiba: There are a lot of kinds of sushi, but today we're going to enjoy them in the studio. (writing)
Nino: That would be the best!
Aiba: Right?
[writing: 'This is Aiba Sushi! Come on in!' Bottom: Maguro (tuna), Tamago (sweet egg omelette), Middle Toro (middle grade
fatty tuna), High Toro (high grade fatty tuna), Amaebi (sweet shrimp), Kanpachi (rudderfish), Engawa (type of clam),
Anago (conger eel), Uni (sea urchin), Tako (octopus), Ika (squid). Announcer: Which means, they've made preparations
for sushi in the studio. This time, the 'Aiba Sushi' plan they've readied is... writing: Menu. Announcer:
The plan is 12 items in all. (writing) writing: -Surprising sushi, -Healthy sushi, -Grilled sushi, -Paper sushi,
-Fake sushi, -Japanese-style French sushi, -Vitamin C sushi, -Soy bean sushi, -Collagen sushi, - Lumpy sushi,
-Goat sushi. Announcer: They'll make their order from among these but...it's pretty much completely suspicious
names huh. As you would expect you can't leave it all to just Aiba-kun, so... writing: People who are sponsoring
the sushi...]
Aiba: Uh, here are the preparers of the new foods, come on in!
Sho: Come in!
Aiba: Hello, hi there~. There's more and more of them.
[Announcer: This is an incredible number of people huh.]
Aiba: Let's start wiht Takata-san shall we. (writing)
Mayuko: Yes.
Aiba: Ne. You love sushi ne.
Mayuko: I love it.
Aiba: SO then 'Come on in!'
Mayuko: What shall I do ne~.
Aiba: And 'The flavor is unparalleled'. Let's go.
Ogura: Can you sing it?
Mayuko: Although I like commonly sensible sushi, I'll go with the 'Destroying common sense?! [Grilled sushi]'.
(writing)
Aiba: Let's go with the grilled sushi! The person whjo will be preparing the grilled sushi is this person! (writing)
Hirakata: It's me?
Nino: Hey...
Aiba: Hey!
[writing: Kanai Sushi. Announcer: The one who's been summoned is from the working class Kanai Sushi restaurant
near the Oyamachi station. Exactly what is this grilled sushi that the master, Hirakata-san will make? writing:
Hirakata Hirotomo, Kanai Sushi.]
Jun: The question is what is being grilled ne? (writing)
Aiba: Yeah ne.
Hirakata: Ah, it's Tekka Maki. (writing; vinegared rice and raw tuna slices wrapped in seaweed)
Aiba: Ah, it's Tekka Maki.
[writing: Grilled sushi; making a toasted Tekka Maki with tuna, toasting the openings of the roll on both sides]
Hirakata: Um, it's Tekka Maki ne.
Aiba: It's Tekka Maki.
Hirakata: So since it's red-hot... (tekka can mean red-hot)
[Announcer: Seaweed-rolled sushi with tuna seasoned with garlic, soy sauce and salt. Furthermore both sides of
the open roll are grilled over an open flame. So, eat up! writing: 1 roll, 2000yen (tax incl.)]
Aiba: How is it? The grilled sushi we pray has delicious parts.
Mayuko: It's delicious. (writing)
Aiba: Delicious~.
Mayuko: Um, it's homey.
Aiba: That's it ne.
Mayuko: Really. There's the grilled outsides, and also deliciousness inside.
Jun: Oh, tasty!
Ohno: Tasty!
Aiba: Tasty!
Mayuko: Delicious.
Sho: This is unbelievably tasty! (writing)
Aiba: Right!
Jun: Oh man, Shukudai-kun is a super good show. (writing)
Ogura: Um, the 'wallet-worrying, surprising sushi'... (writing)
Jun: It's intriguing ne. (writing)
Ogura: It seems like an expensive plan right? (writing)
Aiba: Do you want to go with that one?
Ogura: I want to go with that one ne.
Aiba: Here comes the 'wallet-worrying, surprising sushi'. (writing)
[writing: What kind of sushi this time...? Announcer: Exactly what part is so high quality? Sponsoring this
one is Padrino del Shozan, found inside of the fort Venus port. Chef Yajima, confident in European cusine, makes
high-quality sushi. Let's enjoy! writing: Yajima Hiroyuki.]
Aiba: Yajima-san.
Yajima: Yes.
Aiba: What kind if sushi is it ne, if you were to put it in a few words. (writing)
Yajima: French-style sushi. (writing)
[Announcer: Sushi made in the form of French cuisine is... writing: French cuisine, sushi.]
Ogura: What kind of plan is it? (writing)
Aiba: The plan is XXXXXXX.
Yajima: Yes, I put it in, this here.
[Announcer: This sushi is seriously dangerous! (writing)]
Ogura: What kind of plan is it? (writing)
Aiba: The plan is foir gras! (writing)
Ogura: Foie gras huh?
Yajima: Yes, I put it in, this here.
[writing: The liver of a fattened goose or wild duck. With truffles and caviar, one of the world's three great
delicacies. Announcer: One of the world's greatest delicacies, foie gras. With this he's making an unexpected
type of cooking.]
Aiba: Take a look at this! It's a stone! (writing) Like stone-grilled.
Ogura: A stone?
Aiba: Ne!
Yajima: Yes. It's stone-grilled.
Aiba: Stone-grilled.
Jun: Ah, it's magnificent.
Nino: Wonderful.
[Announcer: Ah, that delicious-seeming sound is hard to resist. This is what the finished product looks like,
it's 2250yen. But how does it taste?]
Jun: It smells incredibly good.
Mayuko: Amazing smell.
Jun: The foie gras is still big ne.
Ohno: Try eating it.
Aiba: How is it?
Ogura: Tasty. (writing)
Aiba: Tasty?
Ogura: The flavor is fairly thick. So treat it carefully. (writing)
Jun: Which, which should I go for?
Sho: Either's fine.
Jun: This one's huge, this one has a lot of sauce. (writing)
Sho: The one with a lot of sauce is good! (writing)
Aiba: Don't eat the ginger! The ginger! (writing) Hey! The ginger!
[writing: Ohno loves ginger]
Aiba: The ginger is free...
Jun: Ah this is great ne.
Ohno: The foie gras that suits you! (writing)
Aiba: it's tasty.
Jun: It's amazingly tasty! (writing)
Aiba: Huh, that's great~.
Nino: Excuse me, is it okay if I order? (writign) I haven't eaten anything.
Aiba: Ah, it's okay, it's okay! SO go ahead Ninomiya-kun.
Ohno: Beware! (writing)
Ohno/Nino: Fake sushi! (writing)
Aiba: Ah! That's come! So that's come...
[writing: Beware! Fake sushi]
Nino: It's just cause you wanted to do it huh.
Aiba: So...
Nino: I don't know about this one...
Aiba: Go ahead. Please consume this.
Jun: What, it's the lean tuna and-
Aiba: Squid ne.
Jun: -seems like squid ne. What's up? What's up?
Nino: It;s kind of dehydrated ne. Is this okay? (writing)
Aiba: It's amazing that the shape is staying like that ne? Like sushi ne. It's deceptive ne.
Nino: It seems completely dehydrated though, so it might be no good. Here I go.
Ogura: It'll be delicious.
Nino: There isn't huh... This is completely no good when you eat it thinking it's sushi. My tension didn't go
up at all! (writing)
[Announcer: Well, there's nothing that can be done about your tension not going up. In reality this is Japanese
confectionary store candy aritsan Shiratae-san's 'just like sushi'. writing: Candy artisan Shiratae, Chiba-ken,
Funebashi-shi, Narashinodai. Pre=order necessary. Announcer: The concept is sweet bean jelly, cleverly disguised.]
Aiba: Is it okay if I ask for the bill? (writing)
Ohno: That's frustrating huh~! (writing)
Aiba: The bill. Ehh, it's 10000yen for the two of them. (writing; 100$CAD)
Sho: Seriously?!
Jun: Ten thousand?
Aiba: Afterwards...ten thousand yen, those are ten thousand yen-
Ogura: If that's the case, then wouldn't it be better to eat them instead of leaving left-overs? (writing)
Nino: That's right.
Aiba: For just one of them it's 5000yen!
[Announcer: Next is fairytale-like decorated sushi. writing: Decorated sushi (fairytale sushi). Kazumi Sushi,
Chiba-ken, Ichikawa-shi. Takeishi-san. 1 person, 2500yen (tax incl.) Announcer: Using fresh seafood he's created
a variety of interesting images.]
Aiba: This year's ne!
Sho: Oh, amazing!
Mayuko: He's doing those this year?
Aiba: It's amazing~.
[Announcer: Next is conger eel and cream cheese box sushi. writing: Conger eel and cream cheese box sushi (Japanese-
style French sushi) Shayari, Shinjuku-kun, Shinjuku. Satou-san. Announcer: Enchanted with wine and sweet soy
sauce.]
Ogura: Conger eel and cream cheese?
Aiba: Cheese?
Jun: Oh, amazing. It's new.
Mayuko: it's new ne.
Aiba: New.
[Announcer: Next is hung-dry sheet tofu and deep fried sheet tofu nigiri (soy bean sushi). writing: Hung-dry sheet tofu
and deep fried sheet tofu nigiri (soy bean sushi). Ichirin, Shinjuku-kun, Shinjuku. Maekawa-san. Announcer: They
say it has a light flavor like tofu. And, healthy vegetable sushi. writing: Vegetable sushi (healthy sushi).
Shinagawa Yuden, Minato-ku, Kounan. Nakagawa-san. The sushi are (from top left clockwise) turnip, burdock, squash,
baby tomato, yam, shiitake, Japanese ginger, tiny eggplant. Announcer: The new season's spring vegetables are the
concept, we hear it's very popular among young women. This is goat nigiri. writing: Goat nigiri (goat sushi).
Kachaashii, Shinjuku-kun, Kabukicho. Matsuhara-san. Announcer: This is rare mountain goat meat nigiri. Often
sold out. This is white shrimp and caviar battleships (style). writing: White shrimp and caviar battleships.
(lumpy sushi). Asanumo Isago Shi, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ku. Kubo-san. Announcer: The sweetness and saltiness
make a delightful harmony. Also there is Living spring roll sushi. writing: Living spring roll sushi (paper sushi).
Konomu, Minato-ku, Shirogane. Kagaya-san. Announcer: Sushi with shrimp, eel and rice with rice paper wrapped tightly around
it.]
Aiba: This is already dessert-like ne, in terms of the sensation ne! (writing) Because I'm sure everyone's already
quite full. This is it here~! Crepe-style...seaweed rolls. (writing)
Sho: That's amazing~.
[writing: Fruit sushi (vitamin C sushi). Sanosashi, Aichi-ken, Nagoya-shi, Suyama. Announcer: For the time being
it's banana, strawberry, chocolate, raw cream and rice. So in the end...]
Aiba: Yes!
Nino: Aiba-san, you haven't even eaten one piece yet, so why don't you eat it? (writing)
Aiba: Just wait a minute please, is that ok?
Mayuko: Please eat it.
Aiba: here I go~! (writing)
Mayuko: I wonder if strawberrys and seaweed go together...
AIba: Unexpectedly they do ne! I'd say give it a try. Really.
Ogura: Cheers!
Mayuko: Yes.
Sho: Ah, this is delicious.
Aiba: It's delicious, really delicious.
Ogura: Ohno will say it's super~ tasty. (writing)
Ohno: This is ultra tasty! (writing)
[writing: Just as predicted]
Aiba: That's why.
Sho: As you would expect.
Aiba: That's how it is, it's better to go ahead without being frightened.
Sho: Takata-san. How was this homework? (writign)
Mayuko: Ah, it's great ne, kind of, since I always eat ordinary sushi, this is the first time I've known that
there were so many different ideas for this kind of sushi. It was delicious. (writing) Thank you very
much.
Aiba: Thank you very much~!
Sho: This is the Homework for Arashi segment~! (writing) So, this segment is where we do homework given to us
from the audience. Who is it going to today?
Nino: Yes, it's me!
Sho: Ninomiya-kun, if you please.
Nino: This time the homework for Arashi from the audience is this! Try measuring teh speed of nearby things with
a radar gun! (writing)
Ogura: Nearby things?
Nino: This ne, came from Yamaguchi-ken's Fugusuke-san. They display the speed of the ball thrown by pitchers in
baseball, but doesn't it intrigue you what the speed of the things around yourself is? (writing)
Aiba: Mm, I see.
Nino: Won't you use a radar gun to measure the speed of various things? (writing)
Aiba: That's interesting ne.
Nino: That's the homework.
[Announcer: This time they're measuring the speed of the retractable cord on a vaccuum cleaner. (writing) The speed
of the cork flying off a bottle of champagne. (writing) The speed of a slap. (writing) And a rubber strip. (writing)]
Nino: Everyone, when you release the cork on this it goes flying ne?
Sho: Yes.
Aiba: Is it okay to measure it?
[Announcer: Which is to say, Matsumoto will face Ninomiya and let fly the cork, and they'll measure it with the
radar gun. (writing)]
Jun: It'll be fine. (writing) It's fine.
Nino: All right, come on!
Aiba: All right, come on!
Jun: It'll be fine.
Sho: You're the one who's most nervous is Matsumoto-kun.
Nino: Scary! Scary!
[writing: Until launch]
Nino: Scary~!
Ohno: Scary ne?
Nino: Scary~!
[writing: Slow replay. Announcer: Let's watch it in slow motion. The cork headed upward. So, what speed did it
reach?]
Sho: Scary!
Nino: This.
Aiba: How many kilometres (per second)?
[writing: Results, cork speed is 39 km/s.]
Nino: 39 km/s. This, here! A vaccuum cleaner. This time, the cord...
Ogura: Why would you measure something like that? (writing)
Nino: The retractable cord's-
Aiba: Velocity.
Nino: -velocity. So, how many km/s?
Ogura: This'll be bad right...
Aiba: This...
Jun: Wouldn't this be unexpectely fast?
Sho: I think this'll be super mega fast. (writing)
Nino: So, how many km/s?
Jun: Wouldn't it being doing it rather rapidly?
Aiba: Wouldn't it be in the single digits?
Nino: If you were to get your hand in the way at a bad moment it would hurt a heck of a lot. (writing)
Sho: It would hurt a heck of lot.
Nino: Here we go! (writing)
Aiba: Okay!
Nino: Ready~! Go! (writing)
Ohno: Oh, it's super fast ne~. (writing)
Sho: Fast!
Nino: Oh, but here, the speed, 17km/s.
[writing: results, vaccuum cleaner retractable cord speed is 17km/s]
Aiba: Oh, that's a good rate isn't it.
Nino: It's a good spot. Is that the end?! (writing)
Jun: Eh? Is this all we have for today? (writing)
Nino: Someone who wants to try the next experiment! Now accepting applications~! You can do the experiment with
Takata-san~! You don't often get a day when you can do an experiment with such a pretty girl~. (writing)
Aiba/Sho/Jun: Yes! Yes!
Nino: How many km/s...is an open-handed slap? (writing)
Sho: Why an open-handed slap?! (writing)
Ogura: Takata-san's open-handed slap.
Aiba: She's just going to give you a slap.
Mayuko: Are you avoiding it?
Jun: Let's do janken, let's do janken. (writing)
Aiba: Let's do janken.
Ogura: So you want to do it?
Aiba: Yeah, we want to do it.
Jun: Ready, and-
Aiba/Sho/Jun/Ohno: First throw, janken pun!
Jun: All right~!
Aiba/Sho/Ohno: First throw, janken pun!
Aiba/Ohno: First throw, janken pun!
[writing: Ohno's been decided on!]
Sho: You've done it Captain!
Nino: You've done it.
Aiba: Yay~.
Sho: Wouldn't it be better to say some lines that go along with the situation? (writing)
Nino: That's right.
Sho: I wonder what would be good...
Aiba: What's wrong with you! (writing)
JUn: You're the worst ne! (writing)
Sho: 'The worst ne' is good huh.
Nino: Then let's go with 'the worst ne'.
Aiba: 'Worst' is good ne, 'worst' is good ne!
[writing: 'You're the worst ne!' has been decided on!]
Nino: If you please.
Mayuko: You're the worst! (writing) Ahhh, sorry!
[writing: A miss?]
Mayuko: Did it come out?
Nino: It came out, it came out.
Ogura: Ah, but missing is no good.
Mayuko: Missing is no good?
[writing: Because it was a miss, they're doing it again]
Nino: You try doing it Matsumoto-san.
Aiba: Ah, that's right ne.
Sho: Matsumoto-san, Matsumoto-san have you taken off your rings? (writing)
Jun: I have ne.
Sho: You took them off? Yes, it's okay.
[writing: All preparations complete]
Jun: Is this really okay?
Nino: So, let's get on with it! If you please! (writing)
Jun: If you'll excuse me. What are you doing with my woman?! (writing)







Ohno: I'm sorry, I won't touch her again. (writing)
Aiba: All right, all right. All right.
Jun: What's the rating?
Aiba: Are you alright? Are you okay?
Nino: Incomplete results. (writing) Next! I wonder if the person in the dark clothes could help me out. Next is this!
The rubber strip! (writing)
Ohno: Uwa, I'm glad I already did one.
Aiba: Ne! Better than this!
Nino: Causwe after all, when you see this on tv it really seems fast.
Ogura: That's fast!
Sho: That's super mega fast. (writing)
Nino: That's right ne.
Ogura: That's extremely fast.
Sho: Seriously...No way! Anyone but him! (wriitng)
Aiba: It's okay. It's okay, it's okay.
Sho: Takata-san's good.
Aiba: Takata-san? Then Takata-san, would it be okay if you held it with me? For the atmosphere.
Mayuko: The atmosphere?
Nino: That's good ne.
Sho: This is super scary! (writing) This is super scary!
Mayuko: I don't like this...
Ogura: You don't particularly have to do it in the face though...
Sho: Ah, this is super scary!
[writing: The most cowardly guy in Arashi]
Aiba: He's fairly frightened ne, let's hold it a little more.
Nino: This you know, I was just thinking about it but, this isn't something you'd find nearby. Here's good ne?
Aiba: Take your hands off it, ptu your hands up, do 'banzai' ne. Lift your hands up, your hands!
Sho: But wouldn't it be dangerous if it hit me in the eye?
Aiba: Cover his eyes.
Sho: It's fine, I'll do it myself!
Aiba: So just protect your eyes. Ne! Here we go~!
Nino: Do it quickly ne.
Sho: OW!!
Jun: Yeah, that's scary after all huh~.
Nino: Wonderful~! The speed of the rubber strip is this!
[writing: Results, rubber strip speed is 116km/s.]
Ohno: Amazing!
Aiba: Amazing!
Sho: Ninomiya-kun, the experiment result if you please.
Nino: The experiment's result is...it was fun ne~. (writing)
Aiba: That's right ne!
Sho: Got it.
Nino: It was fun.
Sho: So Ogu-san, the next homework if you please!
Ogura: Yes. Takata Mayuko-san's image homework. What did you do last night? (writing)
[writing: Submission from Kaorin-san in Tokyo metro. area. What did you do last night? Announcer: Takata Mayuko,
what did you do last night?]
Staff: Great job~!
Fake Mayuko: Great job. Ah, Carl-san's over there! Guess who~! Ah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry~!
[writing: She called out thinking it was her husband, but it was Papaya Suzuki! (announcer) Submission from Takuya-san
in Chiba-ken, what did you do last night? (announcer) *wahhh*]
Fake Mayuko: Oh dear, oh dear, what happened? Oh, all right, all right. Papa~! Please do the usual.
Husband: All right. Got it.
[writing: Instead of a lullaby, began a classical music concert! (annoucner)]
Ogura: That's right ne, after all, your second child was born right?
Mayuko: Yes.
Ogura: Was it around July?
Mayuko: They were born in August, yes.
Aiba: Very new ne.
Mayuko: Very new.
Sho: What name did you give him? (writing)
Mayuko: His name is Mantarou. (writing)
Jun: Mantarou?
Sho: Mantarou?
Mayuko: Mantarou.
Jun: Mantarou?!
Mayuko: It's Mantarou.
Jun: It's Mantarou!;P
Nino: Everyone! Why are you all so taken aback? Isn't it wonderful name! (writing)
Jun: It's Mantarou.
Mayuko: Mantarou.
Ogura: Mayuko-san's 'Man' with Tarou-san's 'Tarou', making Mantarou. (writing)
Mayuko: Mantarou.
Nino: In terms of famous Mantarous, there's Hakase Mantarou right. (writing)
Sho: Hakase Mantarou?
Mayuko: Hakase Mantarou?
Nino: That was extremely weird! Like Hakaseman Tarou...
Jun: Like Hakaseman...
Sho: What do you want you child to be when he grows up?
Mayuko: When boys become extremely cool...kind of ne, like...
Sho: Johnny's!
[writing: Johnny's?]
Nino: Welcome, come on in!
Sho: If you gave him to me I'd take charge of him.
Aiba: If you could right? Cause there's nothing you can do.
Sho: Ah is that so? Nothing huh?
Ohno: He'll definitely get in! (writing)
Nino: Because you got in ne?
Ohno: Yeah.
Mayuko: Is it okay if you put his name on the list?
Ohno: Because the boss said he doesn't know how many people there are in Johnny's Jr. ne. (writing)
Sho: That's weird! Well, let's give that Takata-san some fantastic baby goods.
[Announcer: For the sake of Mantarou-san we gathered together some super high-quality baby goods. writing: I'll
buy them for you Mantarou!]
Sho: There are a lot of them, first is number one, to Takata-san's left.
Mayuko: Yes.
Sho: These are a Dior-made soother and baby bottle. (writing)
Ogura: A Dior soother?!
Jun: Ah, it's true! There's the Dior logo on it.
Sho: Cute ne.
Aiba: Amazing ne. If someone were drinking from this I'd get kind of annoyed ne.
Jun: For sure!;P I understand, I understand, but I think there are those kind of people too.
Mayuko: Right in the midle of the baby's mouth it says Dior! I don't know what to think about this either...
Ogura: This is probably expensive, with the name Dior on it ne.
Jun: By and large it's ordinary plastic.
Sho: An ordinary baby bottle is 1000yen for the whole thing.
Ogura: So this is about 5000yen.
Sho: The correct answer is, 4725yen for the bottle, 4725yen for the soother. (writing) For an ordinary one it's
about 1000yen for both.
Ogura: Uwa, they do this too.
Sho: This is the Sumi Collection baby spoon, Swan. (writing) The price for this baby spoon is an unbelievable 42000yen.
[writing: Baby sppon swan, 42000yen (abt. 420$CAD, tax incl.) A highly valued present to celebrate the baby's
birth or their first meal. It's also possible to have the baby's name inscribed on it]
Nino: Buy it mom!
Sho: This here...is the Ferrari-made baby carriage. (writing)
Ogura: This'll be expensive. Cause it's Ferrari.
Jun: Isn't it strange to say it's expensive just because it's Ferrari! It's a baby carriage!
Ogura: Well it's Ferrari.
Nino: It'll be fast huh.
Aiba: it'll be expensive huh.
Nino: It's Ferrari after all.
Mayuko: It'll make an incredible noise.
Sho: The price is 47250yen. (writing)
[writing: Detaching from around the neck with magic tape. The Ferrari cap-wearing bear noisemaker is also cute.
Announcer: In the same vein there is the Ferrari made noisemaker and bib set, yours for another 7770yen.]
Sho: Next is this!
AIba: What are we going with?
Aiba/Mayuko: Yes.
Sho: Oak Village's rocking horse, 'Grand Force'.
Mayuko: This'll be expensive~.
Ogura: This'll be expensive since it's from Oak Village.
Sho: This is a work from Oak Village, by planner Oodaime Kazuya.
[writing: Oak Village's rocking horse, 'Grand Force'.]
Mayuko: It's for sitting on.
Aiba: I think this'll definitely be expensive.
Mayuko: This'll be expensive too.
Nino: So, how much?
Ogura: Well, since it's from Oak Village it'll probably be in the 200 thousand yen area. Up to about 30 thousand
I guess.
[writing: Oak Village. [Grand Force]. Made from very highest grade [Mongolian Oak] aged for hundreds of years.]
Jun: 150!
Sho: 150.
Aiba: 100.
Sho: 100.
Ohno: 160.
Sho: 160.
Nino: 8 thousand.
Ohno: Could be ne,
Nino: Could be, I don't know.
Sho: Nothing's fixed, noithing's fixed yet.
Nino: Could be, I don't know.
[Announcer: After this the surprising amount of money is revealed. It's expensive~! (writing)
Sho: Oak Village's rocking horse, 'Grand Force'. (writing)
Mayuko: This'll be expensive~.
Ogura: This'll be expensive since it's from Oak Village.
Sho: The correct answer is, an unbelievable 262,500yen. (writing)
Jun: 200 thousand?
Sho: Just under 300 thousand huh?
Aiba: Ogu-san was right on the money!
Mayuko: Right on the money.
Ogura: Well, with Oak Village there's a value attached to it right?
Sho: How was it, is there one that appealed to you? If you would like, the show will help you buy one.
Mayuko: Well, if that's the case then I should pick the most expensive one huh?;P
[Announcer: Here let's take a look at Takata-san's unexpected side. writing: No more waiting, the reveal!]
Sho: I think we'd like to ask you for the revelation of an unexpected side of yourself.
Mayuko: Yes. Um, although I have a fair amount of different special skills... (writing)
Ogura: Special skills?
Mayuko: ...but among those cup-and-ball is pretty much my specialty. (writing)
Aiba: Cup-and-ball?? (writing)
Sho: That's not like your image ne.
Aiba: You have one!
Ogura: But if you don't do a fair amount of cup-and-ball it's difficult ne?
Mayuko: That's right, though I haven't really done it lately...
Nino: You're only go to do it as a high-class woman?
Mayuko: Eh? Wait a sec! I've kind of gotten nervous, doing it in front of everyone.
Sho: A test run? (writing)
Aiba: Let's go with the test run.
Mayuko: A test run. I'm doing the test run. Is that okay?
Sho: Well we have a song-
Mayuko: I'm doing it with the song?;P
Sho: So, the sing if you please. Go ahead!
[writing: Hopping Bunny]
Mayuko: Eh? Should I have gone then?
[writing: That's not it Takata-san~! Announcer: This is too terrible.]
Sho: Go ahead!
Mayuko: Eh? Should I have gone then?
Sho: You have to match up with the song...
Jun: Yes!
Mayuko: Eh, it's fast ne~. I can't do it, I can't do it!
Nino: Stop the cameras!
Ogura: Yeah with this ne if you don't do it on your own it's no good ne.
Mayuko: i cna do it well, I can do it well...
Sho/Nino: Moshi moshi moshika...
Jun: She totally didn't get it at all:p
Mayuko: Wait, wait...
ShOo: It's no good, that was-
Mayuko: That was just practice.
Jun: But in terms of music that was pretty slow;P
Ogura: Time it youyrself.
Mayuko: Just...let me try to practice please. Ah wait...
Jun: Eh? But that's where it's supposed to sit...
Mayuko: It sits there ne. Ah, just a sec, this cup-and-ball's kind of weird...
[writing: Eh?! It's the cup-and-ball's fault...]
Sho: It was the cup-and-ball's fault!;P
Mayuko: I've become unable to do it.
Nino: Amazing! Amazing!
Ogura: In reverse!
Nino: In reverse just now!
Ogura: In reverse! Try doing it one more time.
Sho: Ogura-san, your comment if you please.
Ogura: Ah, it was fun! That's it. (writing)
[writing: This week's honours student is [Called out seeing her husband and it was Papaya Suzuki-san!], Kaorin-san,
Tokyo metro. area. (announcer) Submit information on [Different pasta cuisine] that you know of! (annoucner)
Image homework [What did you do last night?] for Harisenbon, Ogura Yuuko. (announcer) Announcer: Please do it
no matter what, we'll be waiting~.]
Sho: What do you want your child to become when he grows up?
Ogura: Johnny's!

Hahaha, poor Ohno!XDD That really really looked like it hurt, Jun doesn't hold back;P And the lines they used made it so much funnierXDD Aww, and then Jun was concerned and went to check on him..<3 Really, this is one unusually interesting show sometimes huh?;P And Nino and Ohno ate sugar sushi...yuck, I'd be pissed too if I thought I was eating Toro and it turned out to be jelly paste;) Oh, and Sho getting hit in the face with the giant rubber bandXDD They do that a lot on Japanese TV I guess?? Seriously, it's like they're borrowing ideas from JackassXD Well, whatever works huh?;) Of course, this is automatically one of my favorite episodes now...X3

I also translated the February Roadshow essay Jun did...yes, it's a little late (although, it is FebruaryXD), but I'd been putting it off because I heard it was his last one...the theme is movies he's seen in the last year:3

Credit to Mori's pdbox for the scans;)



[Year 2006, my best movies]
A cinema essay, talking about various emotions with movies as the theme. The theme of the 19th installment is,
[Looking back at my cinema lifestyle over the last year.] It seems that he watched a lot of DVDs as part of
references for work. [I want to see many more movies at the movie theatre!], is that a peek at his real motivations



Matsumoto Point: [Love Actually] ('03) Director: Richard Curtis, Actors: Gugh Grant, Keira Knightly. A love story
set in London near Christmas time, the romantic trials of a 19 year old girl are illustrated with an ensemble cast.
[In the wedding ceremony scene there was The Beatles' "All You Need is Love" was playing. I also liked the way the music
was added in, it was a fitting accompaniment to the action, and without thinking I was in the middle of humming
along (laughs)]

In terms of recently, though I went to the all night screening of [World Trade Centre], I wonder how many I actually
saw at a movie theatre this year? I pretty much wasn't able to go...
Since movies are made to be able to be viewed on the big screen to begin with, as you would think seeing them in
the theatre is the best ne. When you see it in the proper atmosphere you can also properly become part of the
'audience' ne.
But, in actuality I saw movies at home on DVD far more frequently. Especially this year, with two movies, a play,
a one-shot and TV drama series...so since I had a lot of opportunities to perform, with those occasional sensations
I often watched things that were close to the themes and roles and things I wanted to see.
And, among the ones that I watched this year, the one that had an impact for me was [Love Actually] ne. Although
I had predicted that it would be a hackneyed romance, it was extremely interesting. Among the many episodes it had
I liked the story of the Prime Minister that High Grant was playing and the story of the old man and his son-in-law,
but a type of miracle occurred for everyone and because there were a lot of good parts gathered at the end watching
it gave me a warm feeling. They were able to illustrate a great number of relationships between men and women,
and although the stories were scattered about I was impressed at how they cleanly gathered it all together.
I like Director Richard Curtis ne, who also wrote the script for such filsm as [Notting Hill]. I think it was
because it was a structured group drama, but he didn't draw out their individual stories too much, it might have
been the scene at the end where the Prime Minister and secretary kissed, it was stylish how they didn't try to
make it a big production! The music was also good, and the way the people's appearances gathered into the shape
of a heart at the end left an impression.
[Crash] as well, there was a blending of times and places and people, while the time axis was a little off the
separate stories all became one right? The episode with the African-American couple, the story of the key store
owner and the little daughter's "Angel Cloak", while these stories were being completed one by one, the way that
the whole thing came together to make one big wave was very skilled ne. Though it touched on social problems, it
wasn't to deeply investigate something and end there, the way it gave a glance into it was also cool.
With both [Love Actually] and [Crash], in contrast to the volume of their substance, it felt like I was done watching
them in the blink of an eye. Although I think it's definitely more difficult to show something shorter than to
have the audience complaining about how sluggish it is, after all the tempo was good, and I prefer fast things,
since I also have the tendencies of the modern age ne.
Although I often saw foreign films, this year I want to see alot of Japanese movies. Although I think it's also because
of the fact that I experienced shooting for two movies of my own, upon watching Director Kurosawa Akira's [Tsuba
Sanjyuurou] I felt the allure of "made in Japan", because lately, even when I talk with people, I've thoroughly
felt how interesting Japanese is, with the wealth of facial expressions and subtle nuances that it can convey.
On top of that there was also the time when I went to Asia for work, I also want to see a lot more Asian movies.
I want to see a lot of things next year!

Matsumoto Point: [Crash] ('05), Director: Paul Haggis, Actors: Matt Dillon, Sandra Brock. A car crash is the impetus
for the machinations of fate, the aspects of the people of LA's various different races, occupations and castes
are reflected. [Although it takes up a large number of various powerful subjects such as racial discrimination to
the extent each one is able to be one film, I like how, with an exquisite balance, it brings it all into one big
story.]

Profile/Matsumoto Jun:
Born August 30th, 1983, in Tokyo metro. area. '99 was his CD debut as a member of Arashi. Since then he has demonstrated
his abilites in a wide variety of genres in dramas, movies and variety. Currently he is appearing in [Utawara]
(JapanTV), [Vanilla Kibun! (Second part, Mago Mago Arashi)] (FujiTV), [Arashi no Shukudai-kun] (JapanTV). His
drama [Hana yori Dango 2 (returns)] starts on January 5th. His first independently solo starring movie [Boku wa
Imouto ni Koi wo Suru] is going into wide release after the 20th of January, 2007 (Introduction to the movie on
P.60~61). Also, the youth-themed movie that all five members of Arashi are starring in, [Kiiroi Namida], is porjected
to be released in Spring '07.
[Announcement from the editorial department]
Thank you for always happily reading this. At this time there is a request from Matsumoto-san, [I want to concentrate
on the filming of [Hana yori Dango 2 (returns)], so undertaking that request we're allowing this serial to take
a break for a short interval. Please be understanding of this.


Whew. So it's just a short break...that makes me feel better, although now that he's doing Bambino, I wonder how long that break will really be>_< I like his Roadshow essays, I hope he continues writing them when he has more time again:3 I liked both these movies, and it's funny cause I watched Love Actually with the same kind of cynicism and was happily surprised;) But Crash left a very deep impression on me, more for the content than the flow. Jun has a movie-maker's eye perhaps, he can see both the storylines and the construction of it in one large sweep, whereas I tend to focus on details to the point of losing the whole. It's not the first time I've mentioned this, but I often wonder if he aspires to work behind the camera at some point in his career, I would enjoy seeing what he would create:3

Plus, the kind yuckie_chan subbed my translation of the MMA with Grandpa the kite-maker (see previous post;) Here are the links, the common SRT and the fancy SSA=) Don't forget to thank her;)

Well, I know many of you are mired in work and school and other trying circumstances, I hope you will find the energy and drive to push through to the spring waiting on the other side;) Ganbarimashou ne=)

ご覧いただけることをありがとうございました：)是非、また訪ねてきてくださいね＝）