It's funny how much the seasons have an impact on my mood...I think one of the reasons I love spring so much is that, as it gets warmer and the snow melts, it feels like my soul is unfurling like the bud of a flower from a tree. But I know it's not just the weather, it's finally having a direction for the first time in my life...it's feeling the warmth of the dreams and friends I share, it's being buffeted up by the gentle breeze of hope and seeing the blue sky of my future stretching for miles below me. I'm stubbornly clinging to this feeling, as my life depended on it, praying it will let me stay in the sun that I haven't felt in so long. Only time will tell what clouds will come, but I want to believe that as long as I have this piece of sky in my heart I can smile at the rain and keep walking this path as far as it may go:3
I saw Tada Kimi wo Aishiteiru this weekend, it was absolutely gorgeous, I'm so glad Jun recommended it<3 He really does have good taste, now I have to try Nada Sou Sou too:D And Modori Ame is so sweet!X3 That kind of torch song really gets to me, the whole era feels like something I wish I could have lived for real...;P Really looking forward to the movie^^
De wa, today's episode is the MMA from 07.02.24...in other words, the first new Jouka Machi!XDD Kind of a different format though, not sure which one I like better yet...;)

[Announcer: With an old map in hand they are walking the streets of today's Tokyo. There they will find unmapped
legends and armed soldiers! Arashi's Edo Life Exploration! (writing) This is a map from when Tokyo was still called
Edo. The plot of land called Shibuya village before long changed into a young people's hotspot. From this spot
that used to be the ocean, a new city was born. In the end, can people of this era use a map from old Edo to
walk around today's Tokyo? (writing) In order to commemorate the first try, we'll be meeting these two from
among Arashi. writing: Nihonbashi.]
Sho: I don't get it at all~.
Aiba: I give up on this.
Sho: We should be heading for the Matsudaira Izumi grounds right?
Aiba: That's right. Here?
[Announcer: What they're looking for is the Matsudaira Izumi grounds' mansion. Arashi's competitors are these two.
writing: Anjasshu]
Ken: I have no idea which way this map is supposed to go. We have to go here right?
[Announcer: That's right, they have to get to Matsudaira Izumi's mansion using this map! (writing)]
Tamaki: I myself am at this moment at the place on the map designated as Matsudaira Izumi's grounds. Currently
I am in front of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
1:16
{The Tokyo Stock Exchange at 2nd Street in Kabuto-cho, Nihonbashi is on the spot where Matsudaira Izumi's grounds'
mansion stood. Tamaki says that no one has arrived as of yet, and the announcer says to hurry up and find the place
or the program can't move along.}
1:37
Ken: Do you know of Matsudaira Izumi's grounds?
Guy: Sorry.
Ken: That guy doesn't know either! Oh man, I have no idea where we're supposed to go;P
Kazuya: Of course huh, not a clue;P
1:49
{The announcer asks what they're talking about, if they look closely it's on the map.}
1:54
Ken: Eh, this place called Eitarou still exists?
Girl: It does.
Ken: Ehh? What is this Eitarou? What kind of store is it?
Girl: Japanese candy and confections.
Ken: Ehhh? Wow, it's still a real place.
Kazuya: That's great~.
Ken: Let's go, let's go to Eitarou.
2:07
{The annoucner says this shop is still in the same place it was during the Edo era. When they use the map to try
and find it...it really does exist. It's a Japanese candy store, the original outlet of what is now a franchise.
The business was establised in the 4th year of the Ansei era, 1857. They still continue to maintain the same
flavor of long ago in their famous Kinzuba (bean-paste cakes). The owner of this long-lived store called Eitarou
may perhaps be able to help? writing: Beginning to gather information. Ken says that he wants to go to the Matsudaira
Izumi grounds, and the store owner says that around here there is a Nihonbashi post office, and that he thinks
they should just go straight down the street to get there. Tha announcer says that if they follow the prediction
they'll reach their destination in just udner 600m. Meanwhile, the Arashi team hasn't got a clue. And then...}
3:03
Aiba: Ah, the entrance to that highway gets used a lot.
Sho: What is that?
Aiba: Ah, it's says Edobashi on it! The name of it is Edobashi junction!
Sho: Ah, it's true!
[Announcer: What Arashi has chanced upon is the Edobashi exchange of the underground highway. If you look closely
at the old map, right across the canal is the Matsudaira Izumi grounds. And, the canal of the Edo era has transformed
into an aboveground highway in modern Tokyo, so if they pass underneath it they should reach their destination.]
Tamaki: Ah, here they come, here they come!
Sho: Satou-san!
Tamaki: Hi there~!
Sho: Hi there!
Tamaki: Yeah~, you got lost right?
Aiba: that's right ne.
Sho: We were completely lost.
Tamaki: This is where it begins.
Ken: Oh crap!
[writing: 15 minutes later]
Aiba/Sho: You're late~!
Aiba: You're late!
Tamaki: Right here ne, is the correct place, Tokyo's Stock Exchange.
3:56
{Writing: A place with deep roots in the House of Tokugawa, also undertook the duties of being part of the council
of elders of eigth generation Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune. Announcer: In year 11 of the Meiji era (1878), what
was to become the first incarnation of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Tokyo Share Exchange, was built on the spot
where Matsudaira Izumi's grounds' mansion once stood. (writing) Now Tamaki says that today they'll be using the old
map to walk to various places in Tokyo, and the first place of all is where they are now, Nihonbashi;) The announcer
says that it flourished as the 'jouka machi' (or castle town) for the castle there and a gathering place for
merchants from all over Japan, acting as the centre of growth for Japan's economic development. And it's not only
the centre of economics, it's also the centre of Japan on maps as well. This 'zero miletsone' is the starting
point of all roads in Japan}
4:44
Tamaki: Furthermore, this time ne, I'm going to introduce a person who knows anything and everything about Nihonbashi.
Sho: Could it be...
Tamaki: This is the Nihonbashi producer guide, Kawasaki Haruki-san~.
Sho: Kawasaki-san!
Haruki: I ask your favor.
[Announcer: Certainly the person who knows everything about Nihonbashi.]
Tamaki: The Nihonbashi of the current age was erected in 1911, the 'Nihonbashi' written on it was written by the
15th generation Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu!
Sho: The Shogun?
Ken: Handwritten?
[Announcer: The characters written on the bridge were written by the last Shogun himself, Tokugawa Yoshinobu. Mm,
here as well, the fragrance of Edo.]
Tamaki: Eh, this project ne, while walking the streets of Tokyo using the old map the Arashi pair and Anjasshu
pair will complete history quizzes to receive a reward.
Sho: So the point is the reward ne.
[Announcer: The restaurant [Shimamura Cuisine], established in 1850. The winning team will be able to enjoy the
flavor of the food of this store that great men Itou Hironbou and Nagai Kufuu once set foot in.]
Tamaki: First, you have to head for Kitamachi's magistrate office.
All: Kitamachi's magistrate's office?
Tamaki: That's right, I believe you have the maps.
[Announcer: The next target is the place where Touyama Kin-san, from the historical play, first showed himself.
Aiba: To go here...
Sho: Yes.
Aiba: ...Gofukubashi?
Sho: That's the sole northern bridge ne?
Aiba: Ah! I often use that when I'm on the freeway! (writing)
Sho: There it is! It's your local neighbourhood!
6:18
{The announcer says that the bridge exists both on the map and in the real world, and that he's caught sight of
something very helpful. Meanwhile, Anjasshu are also heading for Gofukubashi. They both are happy to find that
it does exist, and Ken says that right now they're crossing a moat. By crossing Gofukubashi they're crossing a
river on the map, and the announcer agrees. It was formerly Gofukubashi Gomon, an essential fort in protecting
Edo castle. In the present day Gofukubashi Gomon is no more, and the excavations are now called Sotobori Avenue.
They've been searching for Kitmachi's magistrate's office for 20 minutes, Arashi crosses Gofukubashi as well.}
7:02
Sho: We crossed this. Let's say for now that we crossed this...
Aiba: It's that way.
Sho: It's that? Aiba-kun?? Aiba-kun!
Aiba: Something hooked me... (writing)
Sho: Then isn't this it? (writing)
Aiba: Here?
Sho: I mean, the flag got pulled this way right.
[Announcer: What Arashi's radar has struck upon is the Daiwa Securities Building near the Tokyo train station.
Is this the Kitamachi magistrate's office?]
Aiba: The Kitamachi magistrate's office is... (writing)
Aiba/Sho: ...right here! (writing)
[writing: Is this the first sighting of the Kitamachi magistrate's office? Announcer: Well, if you're wrong
you'll get shot!]
Aiba: This is the worst!
Sho: Something got in, something got in!
[writing: 200m away from the correct spot]
Aiba: The worst! We're wrong, it's over there after all.
Sho: It's over there.
Ken: Excuse me. Do you have a minute? Do you happen to know where Kitamachi's magistrate office is? Eh, where?
Man: Near Tokyo station.
Ken: What kind of place is it?
Man: Tokyo station's...ehhh, no.
[writing: Refusing for some reason!]
Ken: Ah, what what??
[Announcer: At which point the Arashi team has a flash of inspiration.]
Aiba: Hey, that there, if you went left it would Tokyo station huh. Huh?! (writing)
Aiba/Sho: Wouldn't it be Tokyo station? (writing)
Aiba: That's definitely what it is.
Sho: It's Tokyo station.
Aiba: It's Tokyo station.
[Announcer: it's been 30 minutes since they started looking. Aftewr having set their sights on Tokyo station
they're making a dash for it.]
Sho: Kitamachi's magistrate office is... (writing)
Aiba/Sho: ...right here! (writing)
Tamaki: You're completely right!
Sho: Alright!!
[writing: Kitamachi's magistrate office has been located! Announcer: Anjasshu arrives just one step behind.]
8:38
{Tamaki says that what is now Tokyo station was formerly the Kitamachi magistrate office 500 years ago, and Aiba says
it was Touyama Kin-san's. The announcer says that, upon this spot where the 37 floor Tokyo station is currently
under construction, formerly was the location of the Kitamachi magistrate office. Here is aslo where Touyama
Kin-san gave out government funds. And now it's time for the Kitamachi magistrate office common knowledge check!
Tamaki's quiz question is, Touyama no Kin-san is known for his sakura snowstorm tattoo, but did he in actuality
have a tattoo? They all mutter amongst themselves in surprise, and the answer turns out to be, he didn't have a
tattoo. Aiba and Kazuya are shocked, but Haruki explains that because he was a samurai, he did not have one,
and Ken says it was unusual for a samurai to have one. The annoucner says that in 1811 the Shogunate put out a
decree banning tattoos, so they're told that since Touyama undertook the duties of a magistrate, he didn't have
a tattoo. On top of which, being a magistrate was hard work, so although in dramas he has a playboy image, he
might have been a super serious person.}
10:26
Tamaki: Well, now that we've learned a little of the era, let's move along to the quiz questions. The team who
knows the answer will use the blowgun to hit this unspinning wheel.
Aiba: It's unspinning?
Tamaki: It doesn't spin. So if you hit the pink you can answer, if you don't then you can't answer.
[writing: If you answer correctly you get one point! The blue says 'shameful' and the pink says 'Edo in sight!']
Tamaki: Here's the question.
Aiba: Yes.
Tamaki: Due to a certain illness, Touyama no Kin-san moved around riding on a basket. What is the illness? (writing)
Kazuya: Oh!
Aiba: He hit it, he hit it.
Tamaki: Yes, Watanabe-san, your answer please.
Ken: Gout!
Tamaki: Incorrect!
Ken: Wrong??
Tamaki: It occurred when moving around.
Ken: It did? Ah, I've got it!
Tamaki: Yes, Aiba!
Aiba: Agoraphobia!
Tamaki: Incorrect!
Aiba: Ehh??
Tamaki: It's kind of embarrassing.
Aiba: Ah, I've got it, I've got it! Hemorrhoids!
Tamaki: Correct!
11:23
{Tamaki says that in those days it was expected that they ride horses, so he had to submit a form saying he couldn't
because of the hemorrhoids, and Ken asked if he actually wrote hemorrohoidsXD The announcer says that this is
the written oath to the gods that Touyama submitted to the Shogunate, saying that due to hemorrhoids he couldn't
ride a horse for 5 months, and to please allow him to make his appearance in the basket.}
11:45
Aiba: So he'd also have to use the donut cushion...
[writing: Gentle on your butt]
Ken: I'm sure there was something.
Tamaki: For the enxt ne, pelase go to Kinza.
Ken: Hah??
Tamaki: Not Ginza but Kinza.
Ken: There was a place called Kinza??
Kazuya: Then that's where we're headed?
Tamaki: Yes.
[Announcer: That's right. As the name suggests, this is where they made the large and small gold oval coins of
the day. So, who will arrive first this time?]
12:13
{Ken says they should search for Kinza on the map and they quickly locate it near Edobashi and figure out how
to get there, then yell out that they've got it and that they'll arrive first as they run off, while Sho jokes
that it doesn't make him want to run at all;P The annoucner says it seems that they don't want to go off half-cocked
so they do so thorough info gathering. They ask a passerby, who seems clueless, then Aiba asks if Tokiwabashi
still exists, since it's the closest way to get to Kinza.}
12:43
Man: Umm, I don't really know...
Sho: Eh? You had such an air of someone in the know!
Man: Well, I cam eto see the dentist. (writing)
Sho: Ah, I see, I see.
[Announcer: The bridge is the point this time as well. Locating Tokiwabashi is the fastest path to victory.]
Aiba: It's probably this way ne~.
Sho: Ah! There it is. Tokiwabashi.
Aiba: It really is. Here's Tokiwabashi!
Sho: Ah, Kinza Mitsukoshi! (mitsukoshi is a department store)
Aiba: Totally!
Sho: That Mitsukoshi!
Aiba: That's totally good!
[Announcer: The Arashi team has locked on to Mitsukoshi.]
Sho: Eh, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi was originally Kinza Mitsukoshi! (writing)
[Announcer: Kinza Mitsukoshi...and in the end??]
Sho: My tension went down an incredible amount.
[wqriting: 400m off from their target]
Aiba: this is wrong?
13:34
{The annoucner says that in the meantime Anjasshu are going north along Sotobori Avenue after crossing Gofukubashi
again. They talk about how after crossing the bridge it should be right in front of them according to the map.
Just then, Sho looks at the map and sees a mnarking that says Old Kinza on the map, right where the Bank of Japan
is, and Aiba says he said so from teh beginning;P As they hurry over they catch sight of Anjasshu, and as they run
up Kazuya grabs their flag and tosses it aside so that he and Ken can claim the spot first;) Tamaki says they're correct
and that 400 years earlier this was the site of Kinza. The announcer says that in 1595 Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu
had them make small oval Japanese coins there and that's how it came to be called Kinza (Kin meaning gold), and
on the remains of Kinza the Bank of Japan was erected. And now it's time for the Kinza common knowledge check!
Tamaki's question is, when returning home what were the Kinza workers subjected to? A, being naked or b, being turned
upside-down. Anjasshu chooses A and Arashi chooses B, and Tamaki reveals that the answer was A, being naked. Ken
asks what the girls didXD The announcer explains that to prevent people from just walking out with the coins
they were forced to submit to a body check on their way home. Then she adds that Ginza, the adult side of town
got its name because they used to make silver currency there (Gin meaning silver).}
15:37
Tamaki: Now, we're entering to point-scoring quiz.
Ken: Okay.
Aiba: Alright, let's go.
Tamaki: The Bank of Japan, which around 400 years ago was Kinza, when viewed from above has the shape of a certain
character. What character is that?
Ken: Ah! I've got it, I've got it!
Aiba: You've got it?
Tamaki: Yes, go ahead.
Ken: This...is 'kuni' (country) isn't it?
Tamaki: Kuni?
Ken: Kuni!
Tamaki: Incorrect!
Ken: I'm wrong?
Haruki: It's a simple character.
Tamaki: A hint is that it has something to do with money.
Sho: Oh, go! I'm not getting excited at all!;P
Tamaki: Now you can't answer.
Kazuya: I've got it, I've got it!!
Tamaki: So, the second attempt.
Kazuya: 'En'! (read as 'yen';)
Tamaki: Correct!
Aiba: We were right but we couldn't answer!
[Announcer: The Bank of Japan's main building. When you take a good look at this building from above, it's clearly in
the kanji for 'en'. However, it's not certain whether it was done intentionally.]
Tamaki: This time, you'll be heading for Echigoya.
Ken: Echigoya?
Tamaki: yes.
Kazuya: Echigoya.
16:39
{The announcer says that Echigoya is approximately 400m from where Kinza used to be, and that currently it's
a famous department store that anyone would recognize. Sho and Aiba peer at the map and Sho finds it and says
it's very close by.}
16:53
Aiba: We've got it!
Sho: We've got it.
Tamaki: You've got it already?
Aiba: We're going ahead! (writing)
Tamaki: You're going ahead of me? Hey! Hey! Hey! (writing)
Ken/Kazuya: Ah, there it is, there it is!
Tamaki: Eh? Is it normally supposed to seem like such a short distance?
[writing: And here we are! Announcer: It seems like such a short distance that they've already arrived, but for some
reason they are going around and around in circles.]
Kazuya: It's here.
Ken: Oh, the Arashi team is here!
Kazuya: Why, there was a corner there right?
Sho: Eh? Why are Anjasshu just standing there? This lion...for Mistukoshi.
Aiba: Ah, this is it!
Sho/Aiba: Echigoya is Mitskoshi! (writing)
Ken/Kazuya: Ahh!
Tamaki: It's the Arashi team's victory~!
Ken: Ah, we were wrong~.
17:44
{The announcer says that the Gofuku store opened by the great merchant Mitsui Takatoshi in 1673 was the origin of Echigoya.
He took the 'mitsu' from Mitsui and the 'koshi' from Echigoya to make Mitsukoshi. As the shop with the most history
in Japan, it holds a lot of warm regard from many people. Tamaki says that they are in fron of Nihonbashi's Mitsukoshi,
and that in his hands he has the painting by Utagawa Hiroshige-san, he asks if they recognize anything. Ken asks
if the mountain is Mt. Fuji and Tamaki says yes, and that it's should be over there. Ken asks if you cna actually
see it, but apparently not. The painting was done of Nihonbashi in the Edo era, and there you can clearly see
Mt.Fuji; in only about 300 years, Nihonbashi has changed this much. Haruki explains that since it was a town
you could see Mt. Fuji from it came to be named Suruga country, and then Suruga town. Now time for the Mitsukoshi
common knowledge check! Tamaki's question is, Echigoya was a place that new services sprung up regularly, was it
portable umbrellas or sake treats that enjoyed a favorable reputation? He says he thinks it';s a good question
and Aiba agrees, Kazuya thinks it's the sake treats but Ken isn't sure, while Aiba thinks it's the umbrellas...
and it is;P The announcer says that about 300 years ago Echigoya's umbrellas became very popular, and walking
along with one was a sign of status in the Edo era. The score is Arashi 3, Anjasshu 2, but the final question
is worth 2 points so Anjasshu still has a chance>_<}
19:18
Tamaki: Well then, I'd like to move along to this quiz. In Echigoya they came up with an original idea,
'no cash value', that is a fixture in today's department stores; exactly what kind of commerce
is this?
All: Cash?
Tamaki: 'No cash value'. That has changed into 'such and such'. Sakurai-san! Ah!
Kazuya: Even though he blew it and it hit-! Shaemful!
Aiba: Shameful!
Ken: Ahh!
Sho: Not requiring...
Kazuya: Alright, I've got it. So ne...price reduction! Price reduction! Like when you bring the price down, what
do you call that, when you lower it a little-
Tamaki: Incorrect! But ne, the 'ne' was right.
Kazuya: Ahh! They put price tags!
Tamaki: Correct!
[writing: Correct answer: They had established pricing.]
Tamaki: Correct.
Haruki: They ahd that kind of thing.
Kazuya: It was so obvious I overlooked it.
Haruki: That ne, they'd only pay during the end of the year festivals.
Ken: In cash?
Haruki: In cash.
[Announcer: Right now it's unthinkable, but at the time the tradition was for the shop owners and customers to
come to an agreement about the prices; Echigoya did away with this system, added price tags and began doing business.]
Tamaki: Anjasshu are the winners! (writing)
Ken: Yes! We did it!
Aiba: That's something I don't remember at all.
[Announcer: Today's gourmet history reward is here. The restaurant [Shimamura Cuisine] frequented by Itou Hironobu
and Nagai Kufuu. It opened in Ansei year 2, 1855, it was a well-enough known store to be written in large letters
on the ranking of restaurants at the time. Please have some of this restaurant's [End of Shogunate Dinner].]
Ken: Ahh, this is amazing.
Kazuya: The Arashi pair are fine with just watching ne.
[writing: Watching only]
Ken: Well, let's dig in!
[writing: Tempura don 100yen]
Kazuya: Ah, amazing~.
ken: really gourmet. Well, thanks for the food!
Sho: Ah, that looks tasty!
Kazuya: Yeah, that's got to be the way to eat it ne.
Ken: Plump! (writing) Amazing!
Kazuya: Crunchy. (writing)
Sho: Crunchy? Did you bite the head?
Kazuya: It's better than 'plump'. (writing)
Ken: Yeah, it's more than just plump huh, oh, guests, guests-
Kazuya: Please don't come up onto the tatami.
Ken: About how much is all of this? (writing)
Chef: In the past ne, it was about 3yen 50 hundredths. Well, going with the values from that time it would be
close to 100 thousand yen.
Ken: Lastly, what is this fish?
Chef: That's red snapper, red seam bream ne.
Ken: It's sweet and succulent!
Kazuya: It's succulent but it's firm ne.
Ken: That's right ne. Ahh, delicious!
kauya: Delicious ne.
Aiba: Well, life isn't sweet ne. (writing)
Sho: We'll aim to be regulars and keep trying. (writing)
ken: Keep trying ne. (writing)
[Announcer: The places they traveled to on the old map this time are these. When you're visiting Nihonbashi, let
yourself enjoy some Edo era memories too!]
Aiba/Sho: We went to do Arashi's Edo Life Exploration~!
Sho: How is it, the flavor of this segment?
Aiba: For people with no sense of direction it's completely impossible ne. (writing)
Ohno: But you know, if you don't know where east and west are on that map-
AibA; You don't know.
Ohno: - then for people who aren't good at maps it could conversely...ne-
Aiba: Conversely ne!
Jun: Conversely ne;P
Aiba: Conversely ne, people who are skilled at using their sixth sense might do better ne.
Ohno: Conversely right;P
Jun: Ah, the sixth sense??
Sho: There was a time when it took 3 hours to get to Disneyland. (writing) First of all, no the freeway we went
to Akuarai you see, went around Kawasaki, and came at Disneyland from the opposite side.
Aiba: I see ne. You went through Kisarazu...;P
Sho: So three hours to get to Disneyland. Disneyland is far after all! (writing)***
Sho: Arashi's new single [Love So Sweet] went on sale February 21st!
Nino: Arashi's first single for 2007!
Ohno: There are currently two different versions being sold!
Jun: It's the opening theme for the drama I, Matsumoto Jun, am acting in.
Aiba: I, Aiba Masaki am delivering this very sweet single to you~!
Ohno: Just how naive are you?;P (the word for sweet and naive is the same, he's making a pun;)
Sho: He added a punchline!;P
Aiba: I'm sorry, but that kind of hurts! That hurts a little, you hit me as hard as you could!
Jun: Thanks! Thanks a lot.
Ohno: Buy it ne!

Mm, very interesting, the different historic sites and areas. It's also cool how much Tokyo has changed since the Edo period...but really, I just want Arashi to winXDD And get sprayed by teh water gun some more, I was picturing Jun getting sprayed and going all DoS<3<3 I want to see that!XDD And Sho got lost on the way the Disneyland...;P Does this mean he's not suited to this new project either?O_o Poor guy, this doesn't look good...
And Ohno and Aiba have started doing their own comedy act (although I don't think Aiba was aware of it this time;P) Too funnyXDD

And I have two articles, Jun's April Duet and Potato:3

This first one, the Duet article, seems to be a concept where they took letters that girls wrote in and had the boys write back replies, kind of like penpals....*jealous*XDD Credit to Mori's pdbox for both of these scans!:D



Your sexyness and hard-working traits. (Aomori-ken, Kumi)
...at any rate, your aura and pheromones are on full throttle.* On top of which, when you're rehearsing for live
shows you lead everyone, I love you because you're incredibly dependable.

Because live performances are dependent on producing ne. But I think that truly sexy things are something you can't
produce at will. Other than that, although I do lead everyone somewhat, I'm not dependable. Because even if you
rely on me I'll double-cross you (laughs).

A wicked tongue. (Hokkaidou, My 6th year of loving Jun-kun<3)
...although you're pretty harsh with the members, I like the parts of you that have love for them. Lately a gentler
atmosphere has been conveyed through your appearances.

Although I don't think I'm harsh when it comes to the members, sometimes I realize I've said something unnecessary.
As in something that comes out of my mouth instinctively as I thought it. Well, when you compare it to the past,
I've gotten more laid-back. I think that's simply becoming an adult (laughs).

Everything! The coolness that makes it so you look good no matter the hairstyle or outfit! (Kanagawa-ken, 817)
...they way you focus your gaze on even the most detailed things, the zeal with which you put across the best of
everything! Passion! The kindness with which you respond to fan's support, the gentleness that allows you to look
after not only your own but the members' health, not forgetting to be yourself, carefully holding onto your own
opinions, having pride in being one part of Arashi. And your DoS-ness.

It's not like anything and everything looks good on me. I choose things that look good on me. When it comes to thinking
that I want to make something good, rather than just for the benefit of others it's because I think that would be
good too. I ne, think that 817-san's zeal is much more amazing, for having written this many reasons.

Your coolness and mischieviousness. (Iwate-ken, Arashi*Jun*Masa*Sho*Satoshi*Kazu*Arashi)
...the gap between your adult-like coolness and your child-like mischieviousness.

I'm mischievious ne~. The other day, when I was eating dinner, my friend said that they wanted to leave in an hour,
so while saying [I understand] I drew it out to 5 hours (laughs). Being mischievious, is that just a nuisance?
It's pretty troublesome right (laughs).

Your twin personalities. (Hokkaidou, Itacchi)
...it appears that you're inhabited by both an angel and a devil.

Though I'm neither an angel nor a devil ne (laughs). When it comes to my image of things, angels are things like
babies, someone with silky hair...I don't find those things inside myself. Devil-type areas...there are occasions
that come to mind (laughs). Because I laugh at imprudent moments (laughs).

Frankly, your eyebrows! (Osaka, Maho)
...because mine are thick too.

The reason being 'because mine are thick too' is funny. Meaning that she feels a sense of affinity for my eyebrows
right. For this girl's sake from now on as well I'm going to persevere with my thick eyebrows. I feel a sense of
affinity when we have similar hobbies, or when we hate the same foods.

Somehow or other, the thick areas. (Hyogo-ken, Noriko)
...although your face is also like that (laughs), even when it comes to work or your private life you do your utmost,
your appearance of enjoying things from the bottom of your heart is fantastic because it's something rarely seen
in contemporary people.

My face and eyebrows are no longer the only thick areas (laughs). But if 'thick' is the definition of the appearance
of doing one's utmost then it's beautiful ne. Well, within myself I don't have the sensation of doing my utmost,
only thinking of enjoying it.

Pretty eyes. (Hokkaidou, Rina)
...you have amazingly beautiful eyes, so being able to be gazed upon by those eyes would be fairly dangerous.

Is that so, have I gazed at you? (someone from the staff speaks up, [Isn't saying that your eyes are pretty like
telling you that you're pretty right down to your heart?]) Eh?! Although I've been told that I have pretty eyes,
I've never been told that I have a pretty heart (laughs).

Sex appeal! (Fukuoka-ken, Miyuki)
...since your singing and dancing appearance in [Kitto Daijoubu] is also extremely sexy, I think you're an amazing
person. I like that kind of prince.

Thank you very much! Although [Kitto Daijoubu] is by no means a sexy dance (laughs). I've never thought that I have
sex appeal, although since sex appeal isn't something you can really 'exude' and manipulate for your own benefit
I really don't know.

Your DoS-ness. (Hokkaidou, Juri)
...for the DoM me, the low voice and the expression with the ever increasing power in his eyes when Jun-kun gets mad
is irresistible! I always think [get angrier!].

I'm both S and M though. Since in mentality diagnostic tests both S and M come out, I even think that I have both.
Isn't the DoS due to Doumyouji's influence? Well, I do have times in my private life when I get irritated though
(laughs).



This is what's fascinating about Matsumoto Jun!
He's unexpectedly more kind than the characters he appears as on TV (laughs). He's a person who's able to be aware
of others. (Aiba)
Jun-kun has good points for Jun-kun. If they're the points that everyone thinks, then that's great (laughs). (Nino)
He's amazingly doing his utmost, constantly. I think he's fairly busy. Making the dramas, as well as doing Arashi's
regular work. But he doesn't show it. I think that's amazing. He definitely won't give up. (Ohno)
Matsumoto-kun is methodical! He often notices things the rest of us don't. Other than that, he's good at dividing
up dishes (laughs). Isn't that the way it is when you see him on [Shukudai-kun]? At the time when we did a barbequeue
as part of an interview, he made us the yakisoba all by himself. He's detailed ne. (Sho)

This is what's fascinating about Arashi's fans!
Arashi's fans good points are, as you would think, the points where they support us right? (laughs) What I've come
to know from the project this time is that everyone always looks closely at our speech and conduct. (Jun)

I thought it was interesting how some of his responses seemed stand-offish while others seemed really warm, I was wondering if it was just me reading into that...but I really liked how he said he's both S and M XDD And what exactly is Nino getting at...?;P Very cute, this article is an good concept.

And now Potato, my favorite out of the two<3



Voices..., what springs to mind is a female's calm singing voice. Because as you would think, when I'm relaxing it
matches up extremely well. Only, lately I've been constantly listening to The Beatles ne. Last year an album called
[Love] came out, I started listening to it at the beginning of this year and it's extremely good, to the point
where I'm listening to their other albums over and over as well. Really ne, no matter what Beatles song you listen
to they're cool, from the harmony to the song's arrangment to the way the sound is produced, in a word, it's amazing.
When it comes to The Beatles, they're not something I listen to only at certain times, I listen to them 24/7.
People's voices and words are things that naturally bring out emotions ne, with things like the tone or the power. In
terms of that kind of nuance, voices that have aspirations are great ne. For example, on the set of dramas when the
staff says the words [rolling!], just from the way they say the words your image of things changes a little. That's
why I think it's very important. I think that, no matter what director, the actors are conscious of that. Because
just from that one voice the consciousness of the set and the speaker changes, you can't say it in a loo~se way, like
[yes~...rolling...] ne (laughs). Of course, it's also possible that they may be aiming for that loo~se kind of
expression, but when they want to go forward with a properly visible sense of tension I don't think they use that
kind of voice. Because just that one voice can convey motivation to the people it reaches.
Speaking of myself, I'd use the recording of my radio show as an example. Even when I'm in circumstances where I
want to relax, in a situation where I don't draw that spirit out I can't talk. I'll have a mental attitude where
I won't talk. If I were to talk about radio-related things, naturally I properly read the voices and letters
that reach me from the listeners. The feelings of the listeners are conveyed to me. I want those voices to gather
in more and more ne.
At the live performances the voices of the guests fill my ears, especially in the opening. Because when the songs
come on the cheers are liable to be drowned out no matter what ne. As you would think there are a lot of things
we can convey through sight at a live performance. Only ne, before the concert starts we monitor the state of things
in the hall from our dressing room. That's right, that means we can see the guests entering the hall from our
dressing room. Then, right before the opening gets underway, when the hall lights go off a huge shout rises up
from the guests right? Depending on that we can really get the sense that there are lots of guests right in front
of our eyes, the feeling of jumping to the stage while feeling those voices.
A few words for myself? That would be [Don't sit around watching TV till late at night, hurry up and get into the
bath and go to sleep] ne (laughs). Although of course after I get home from work there are portions where I reset
my feelings and my body, but there are also times where, by the time I realize it I'm spaced out in front of the TV
for 2 hours (laughs). Since that's a waste of time, as you would guess, I think that I want to stop doing it.

I can't put my finger on exactly why, but this article really warmed my heart. It reminded me why I love him so much, and really inspired me to be a little more proactive:3 And I thought it was hilarious how he described them watching from the dressing room, as if they were the wizard behind the curtainXDD But I can't even imagine what a rush it must be to hear that shout go up and then jump onto the stage into the centre of all that adulation and excitementX3 Better than any drug...;)

The month is almost over, what happened?XDD


信じてしかいないよね。。。