Now that I'm almost completely back to normal (although this cough and sore throat are hanging on somehow) I feel like I've just been cranked up to the highest level of a rollercoaster...actually, I can conjure the exact feeling if I think about it, just like riding the mindbender in Edmonton: watching the walls and ground fall away, clinging desperately to the restraints and feeling your stomach get tighter and tighter with anxiety as you begin to round the summit and get a glimpse of the drop that awaits you below, a scream just waiting to come out...XD Yes, it's the last push before winter break, exams and assignments and papers, oh my! But I can see the end, I can see the whole month where I don't have to study or run for the bus at 8am just floating in the distance like an oasis>_< Okay, I feel really charged up, I want to tackle somethingXD Anyway, part of my reason for mentioning that is that I may be even more scarce than I am now for a little bit...but after that there will be lots to look forward to^^ Just a little bit more...
But today's main event is the last episode of MMA *sniff*>_<

Aiba: So it's begun, Mago Mago Arashi~!
Sho: I have two questions.
Aiba: Yes?
Sho: Why are you hosting, and, why are you wearing that questionable suit? (writing)
Aiba: Eh, this is questionable?
Sho: When you wear that it's never something good.
Aiba: Don't say it's never something good! (writing)
[Announcer: That's right, do you remember? Speaking of times when Aiba wore this green tuxedo, brimming with
enthusiasm...]
Aiba: Sorry to keep you waiting! (writing) 3, 2, 1, go!
[Announcer: The giant failure at becoming a bird-man, 10 million yen gone in 2 seconds!]
Aiba: Alright~! The 101st episode special has begun! (writing)
Sho: Sorry, but when you wear that outfit it makes me extremely nervous. (writing)
[Announcer: For the 101st episode special he treated the staff at Fuji TV to a grand tuna feast.]
Ohno: Yes, wait's over! (writing)
Jun: Yes, real tuna! (writing)
Aiba: Yes, it's real tuna.
Jun: Wait's over.
Announcer: Delicious~! (writing)
Ken: Delicious! (writing)
[Announcer: Exactly what is he plotting today...?]
Aiba: Do you think I wear this for no reason? (writing) Today MMA has reached 2 and a half years! Ne? Isn't
that kind of dreadful?
Jun: Why is that? (writing)
Aiba: Why?
Jun: Yes.
Aiba: That's the only question I can't answer... (wriitng)
[writing: Still a secret]
Aiba: I can't say yet. I'll tell you later though.
Nino: Then go abck to hosting.
Aiba: Yes, let's take a look back. For the 2.5 years here's the number of appearances for everyone. Matsumoto-kun
21, Ninomiya-kun 26, Sakurai-kun 26, Ohno-kun is the best, 37 times! And Aiba-kun 28.
Ohno: Amazing ne.
Aiba: 37-
Sho: You're the best of the best as a grandkid ne. (writing)
Aiba: Really. Which grandpa do you remember?
Ohno: The one that left the biggest impression was the very first one ne.
Aiba: The one that Riidaa went to the very first time?
Ohno: The poultry farm. That grandpa was incredibly cool ne.
Sho: He was cool. **Hello.
Grandpa: Hello. What's up?
Sho: Um, we've come to take part as grandchildren.
Grandpa: Yes, favor us.
[writing: Long hair?!]
Sho: Your favor please.
Grandpa: Favor us.
Sho: Your favor please.
[Announcer: The one's Ohno-kun remembers are the Asano couple he met on the poultry farm.]
Ohno: Uwa, amazing. uwa~! There's this many of them! About how many are there? (writing)
Grandpa: There's 5000 layers. (writing)
Ohno: 5-5000??
[Announcer: Ohno-kun's first helping task as a grandkid was gathering freshly laid eggs.]
Ohno: They seem like they'll break. (writing)
[Announcer: Just when he'd thought he was getting fairly used to handling the chickens this is what happened!]
Ohno: Uwa! It ran away!
[writing: Chicken escape!]
Ohno: It got away, it got away! Grandpa, it got away! Grandpa, one of them got away. (writing)
Grandpa: It'll come back when it gets dark out. (writing)
Ohno: What's with that? That easily?? (writing)
Grandpa: That's right, that's right. That's it for today. (writing)
Ohno: It's over? (writing)
Grandpa: It's over. Now we play. (writing)
Ohno: What kind of play is waiting for us? (writing)
Grandpa: WShat kind of play indeed.
Ohno: You ride this? (writing)
Grandpa: This is what I use.
[Announcer: After helping out they went touring the countryside on grandpa's bike. They set off without delay
...or so he thought. ]
[writing: Engine stall?]
Ohno: What happened grandpa? Is it okay?
Grandpa: here we go~. (writing)
[Announcer: He was a wild and cool grandpa. And, there was this too.]
Grandma: Tsutomu-sama...
Grandma: Because I'm a crybaby... (writing)
Grandpa: You're a crybaby?
Aiba: Hi there, we came to be grandkids. Your favor please, truly.
[Announcer: Among Ohno-kun's memories of being a grandkid are the farm-running Sekizawa couple. Grandma wrote
grandpa her first love letter ever for their 50th anniversary.]
Aiba: Grandpa, listen closely.
Grandma: Thank you for guiding the crying me of 50 years ago all this way. Right now I'm extremely happy. I
don't know how many more years the two of us can be together like this, but Tsutomu-sama, please
favcor me from now on as well. Michiko.
Grandpa: Yes. Thank you very much.
Ohno: Oh man, you're crying? I'm really crying.
Grandma: I'm a crybaby.
Ohno: I'm a crybaby too!
Grandpa: You're a crybaby?
*Ohno: I'm a crybaby too!
[Announcer: Joy welled up at hearing Grandma's letter]
Sho: There was an episode where the grandpa and his son really started fighting wasn't there. (writing)
Aiba: That was us right. That was when we went. That was a lot of trouble huh~. (writing)
Nino: I'm definitely not going again... (writing)
[writing: Hey!]
Aiba: I mean, it was a serious fight.
Aiba/Nino: Grandpa~, Grandma~. (writing)
Aiba: Hey~. (writing)
[Announcer: The Oomikawa family of farmers. The situation was that the son wasn't married and had no grandchildren,
so their relationship had soured.]
Nino: There's something he wants to talk to grandpa about. (writing)
Son: When I look closely at the way things are right now I'm undertaking a lot of different roles, so how
about things staying the way they are?
Grandpa: They say that parents expect too much ne.
Son: It's not parents, it's because that's how mother feels that I'm trying to match up to it-
Grandpa: But you're talking to me aren't you, all the time. Its because it will become a strength to your life.
Son: I've ben thinking about that...
Grandpa: It's because we're here-
Son: ...my future. But I'm looking at the actuality of things right now-
Grandpa: It's because we're here that you depend on us. But first and foremost we want to you quickly get
married! (writing) That's number one. And then we want you to show us that you're happy. That's
the most impotrant thing. (writing)
[Announcer: The conversation that they were unable to have just by themselves, with the grandkids there they
were able to talk frankly about it. ]
Grandpa: This kind of conversation ne, for the most part we can't do it. If it was the 3 of us. We'd be all
over the place. (writing)
Nino: That's why it becomes a fight.
Grandpa: That's why we've been able to go this far. Thank you. (writing)
Aiba: No no, not at all. *Aiba: is there a grandpa and grandma?
Jun: That ne, I guess it would the grandpa who liked baseball.
Aiba: It was 100 hits huh.
Jun: 100.
Aiba: That was it ne.
Jun: The story was that he was gradually losing his sight. In the end it became about catching hits and that's
what we did. (writing)
Aiba: I see ne~.
Jun: That was kind of moving ne. (writing) *Are you grandpa?
Grandpa: I'm grandpa! (writing)
[Announcer: Matsumoto-kun's memory, the Yamano couple.]
Jun: What grandpa's hooked on is...
Grandpa: only baseball.
Jun: 'Only' baseball?
Grandpa: Yeah.
Grandma: It's diabetes. (writing)
Jun: Grandpa? Eh?
Grandma: He can't see... (writing)
Jun: Right now?
Grandma: He can't really see very well... (writing)
[Announcer: They say grandpa's eyesight is deteriorating due to diabetes.]
Grandpa: Her I go Jun! (writing)
Jun: Yes! Let's go!
Grandpa: Yes, here I go!
[writing: The time he has left...]
[Announcer: For the sake of the time he has left for the baseball grandpa's devoted, the grandkids responded
with all their strength]
Grandpa: This is the last one, the last one! The last one!
Jun: Grandpa! (writing)
Grandpa: Yes, here I go Jun! Go! Amazing. You did your best.
Jun: You were amazing.
Grandma: Thank you very much. (writing)
Ohno: That was amazing.
Jun: Grandpa is amazing~. (writing)
[Announcer: It was a day where he burned hotly with grandpa]
Sho: Us ne, I guess it would be the portable shrine episode. I went with Ohno-san. We went to the portable
shrine craftsman's place and carried one for Grandma. Everyone was like 'wasshoi wasshoi wasshoi!'. But
me, when I looked back later my face was like this, like (grimaces) 'wasshoi, wasshoi' and Ohno-kun
was like (grins) 'wasshoi, wasshoi wasshoi!'. I was like 'what's with all this commotion'?
Sho: Hello~!
Ohno: Hi there.
Sho: hello~!
Ohno: Amazing.
Sho: Eh, grandpa you made these as well?
Grandpa: That's right.
Sho: Eh~, amazing.
[Announcer: Sakurai-kun's memory, the Ogawa couple. Thye gave grandma this gift...]
Sho: About years ago they carried portabl shrines around here right? So you'd want to see people carrying
portable shrines again right? (writing)
Grandma: I love it. (writing)
Sho: Ne. Grandma said 'guys carrying portable shrines are cool', this time Satoshi-kun and I will do it as
well, so how about we carry a portable shrine? (writing)
Grandpa: how about it?
Sho: How about it? It's been decided.
Grandpa: We'll do it!
Sho: We're all in twisted headbands and yukata ne. (writing)
Ohno: Yes, amazing.
Sho: this is your grandkid Sho.
Grandma: my my my...
Sho: Um, there's something we want to give you, so would it be alright for you to wait outside the entrance?
(writing)
[Announcer: For grandma, who is facing her golden wedding anniversary, Sakurai-kun and ohno-kun cooked up this
surprise. With the help of the village people and under the guidance of grandpa's voice they head straight
for where grandma is.]
Grandma: Ah, it's a portable shrine! (writing) Sho-kun, do your best! Thank you! (writing)
[Announcer: Grandma was over-joyed]
Nino: Me ne...
Sho: Yeah?
Nino: The kites or...
Aiba/Sho: Kites?
Nino: ...the doll-maker ne.
Sho: Why is that?
Nino: Because with regard to the dolls, the grandpa was really no good.
Sho: How was he no good?
Nino: Well, the dolls that grandma made were amazing ne. But the dolls that grandpa made were all warped.
Grandma: hi there.
Nino/Ohno: Good morning.
Grandma: We were waiting for you.
[Announcer: The grandparents that Nino remembers are the doll-making Nakajima couple. Grandpa kind of hated
working.]
Grandpa: Che! (writing)
[writing: tsking?]
Ohno: Grandpa, you don't really want to make them? (writing) Hey, you just tsked. You don't really want to
do it?
Grandpa: I don't want to. (writing)
[writing: The doll is quickly finished]
Ohno: Ah, that's the finished product?
Grandpa: it's finished.
Ohno: Let go of it grandpa. It turns out that grandma still wants you to do things as an artisan. (writing)
Grandpa: That might be how it is, surely. (writing) I'll do my best with all my heart (writing).
Nino: A little bit at a time is good ne.
Grandma: Then do a pinky promise. Do a pinky promise. That means you can't lie about it.
[Announcer: Grandpa made her a promise in front of the grandkids. Is he making dolls even now? Ohno-kun and
Ninomiya-kun peeked in once again.]
Nino: Grandma! Ah, it's been a super long time~! (writing)
Grandma: A lot of things have happened.
Nino: A lot of things.
[Announcer: Grandma looks energetic after a year and a half]
Nino: Where's grandpa? (writing)
Grandma: Grandpa's waiting at home, because he's making dolls. (writing)
Nino: Ah, he's making them?! (writing)
Grandma: A little ne. (writing)
Nino: A little bit? It's really just a little bit huh. (writing)
Grandma: Well, in his way.
Nino: In his way huh.
[Announcer: After this, the reunion with the legendary grandpa! Finally, the reunion with grandpa after a
year and a half!]
Nino: Oh! Huh?
Ohno: He's resting a little?
[Announcer: Certainly, this is how it was last time...]
Ohno: You like sake ne. (writing)
Grandpa: I do, I love it. (writing)
Ohno: If you compare the two, dolls and sake, which one do you like? (writing)
Grandpa: That would be sake.
Nino: Are you drinking sake lately? (writing)
Grandpa: I'm not. (writing)
Grandma: Just now the doctor made him stop. The doctor caught on that we was drinking on the sly. He got
caight yesterday. (writing)
[writing: Yesterday...?]
Nino: Seriously? Are you making dolls grandpa? (writing)
Grandma: How is it? You kind of got a little will to do it huh?
Grandpa: Well~, make-...make...how would you say this. (writing)
Nino: Make- make- making them?
Grandpa: Though I want to make them there's no way I can. (writing)
Nino: So you haven't made a single one since then. Grandpa, the other day you made lunch right? (writing)
Grandpa: Yeah, I did. (writing)
Nino: Do you rmember what you made? (writing)
Grandma: The salty egg omelet. (writing) You made it right.
Grandpa: Ah, I know egg omelets. (writing) Eggs...
Nino: You know egg omelets...
Grandpa: That's right, it was an egg omelet.
[Announcer: The egg omelet that grandpa made]
Ohno: This is salty.
Grandpa: But it's tasty huh. (writing)
Ohno: It is not! (writing)
[Announcer: Today he's going to avenge that horribleness.]
Ohno: Grandpa, do you like cha-han? (writing)
Grandpa: I like cha-han. (writing)
Ohno: Let's make cha-han. You drink too much sake? (writing) Or is that not it?
Grandpa: I drink too much sake as well I'm sure. (writing)
Ohno: You drank yesterday too?
Grandpa: I did~. (writing)
[writing: Not even a hint of reflection...]
Ohno: What about work? (writing)
Grandpa: I'm not doing my work. (writing) I'm not working.
Ohno: That's kind of no good.
[Announcer: Grandpa has no will to do it. At that moment Ninomiya-kun and Grandma are...]
Nino: But I thought grandpa was going to make them~.
Grandma: Make him make them today. (writing)
Nino: Today? Seriously? You wnat to see it?
Grandma: I do. Give him some amount of will to do it! (writing)
Nino: Again?
Grandma: Do it again;P
Nino: That wayward grandpa from just now...
Grandma: That's right.
[Announcer: It doesn't have to be everyday. She wants to see him earnestly making dolls.]
Grandpa: Ah, you're good!
Ohno: Oh, it looks delicious! Grandpa, shall we make an egg omelet? (writing)
Grandpa: Eh?
[Announcer: So, now it's grandpa's turn! The grandkid has upped his skills but...]
[writing: Ah~ah]
Grandpa: Sugar?
Ohno: You're putting in sugar? (writing)
[writing: Ah~ah x2]
Ohno: Ah...this is nostalgic ne, Grandpa. Shall we try tasting it? (writing)
Grandpa: Okay. Delicious! (writing)
Ohno: That was fast! (writing)
[Announcer: Well then, lunch time. Ohno made his special kuzu sauce cha-han. And grandpa made his revenge-filled
egg omelet.]
Nino/Ohno/Grandma: Thanks for the food.
Grandma: The flavor's good. You've improved an incredible amount ne. (writing)
[writing: the egg omelet he made last time]
Nino: Because last time it looked like an egg omelet that was in accident ne. (writing)
Ohno: There's round number two right here though... (writing) It's the first egg omelet in a year and a
half.
Grandpa: Ah? Ah ah? (writing)
Ohno: Grandpa, eat the egg omelet. The egg omelet is delicious?
Grandpa: It's terrible... (writing)
Nino: Sweet. What do you like the most out of the cooking that grandma makes? (writing)
Grandpa: Sashimi. (writing)
Grandma That's not cooking... (writing)
Nino: Which sashimi is the tastiest? (writing)
Grandpa: Tuna. (writing)
Nino: Between grandma and tuna, which do you like most? (writing)
Grandpa: That would be tuna. (writing)
[writing: Blunt answer!]
Ohno: Between tuna and dolls?
Grandpa: I like dolls better. (writing)
Grandma: Why don't you show them? When you make them (the dolls). (writing)
Ohno: Shall we do it together? (writing)
Grandma: They're saying they want to do it-
Grandpa: No, I'm not doing it anymore. (writing)
Grandma: Why?
Grandpa: Because as an artisan I'm a half-assed artisan. (writing)
[writing: A half-assed artisan?!]
Grandma: It's come down quite a bit huh;P
Nino: So take a little break Grandpa, and then shall we make them? Make some dolls?
Grandpa: Che, we'll make them. (writing)
[writing: Is this unwillingly?]
Nino: Amazing;P
Grandpa: We'll do it after I rest! (writing)
Grandma: You're going to rest? You've got the will to do it?
Nino: He's gotten the will to do it.
Grandpa: Although I actually don't have the will to do it... (writing)
[Announcer: Hearing grandma's words the grankids give grandpa a little push.]
Nino: Grandpa, try making one all by yourself! (writing)
[writing: Yes!]
[Announcer: Grandpa is working o the dolls for the first time in ages. Taking in everyone's feelings he
does his utmost to create it. Watching over him kindly is Grandma.]
Grandpa: It's this part.
Grandma: It would be better to do that a little tighter.
Grandpa: Ah, is that so.
Nino: Grandpa, face the camera and say 'it's finished~'.
Grandpa: It's finished~. (writing) It's finished~.
Ohno: I hear 'contemplation~';P (writing)
Nino: Wonderful.
[Announcer: The Wisteria Girl that grandpa made. It's the first time he's worked in a long time.]
Ohno: How was it grandpa? Was it fun?
Grandpa: It was fun. (writing)
Nino: How was it seeing him focussed like that grandma?
Grandma: it was the first time I'd seen it in ages. (writing)
Grandpa: I'll plan to do it for you next time you come. (writing)
Grandma: He'll plan to do it.
Grandpa: i'll make you a doll so huge that you'll ask me to show it off! (writing)
Nino: Well, then we;re coming tomorrow. (writing)
Grandpa: Tomorrow? Tomorrow's no good~. (writing)
Nino: So, shall we go homene? It was fun seeing you after such a long time. Grandma too ne.
Grandma: Yes, thanks. Be happy.
Nino: Thanks for taking care of us.
Grandma: See you again ne.
Nino: See you again ne. Grandma, be well ne.
Grandma: Yes, see you again ne.
Nino: Bye ne, we're going home ne.
Grandma: Yes, thank you very much.
Nino: Bye-bye.
Grandpa: Bye-bye~.
Nino" Bye-bye grandpa!
Grandpa: Bye-bye~.
Ohno: Bye-bye.
Grandma: Yes, thank you very much~. See you again ne!
Nino: See you again ne!
Grandma: be well ne~.
Ohno: Bye-bye.
Nino: Bye-bye! Looking at their relationship, you can't just stay quiet and leave it up to grandpa ne? Grandma
probably wants him to do it, but grandpa's also kind of speedy. In terms of his sensation. So I thought
that might be the best, as I watched them.
Ohno: That's right ne.
Staff: you made another promise ne? (writing)
Grandpa: A promise?
Grandma: You said you'd make a big one didn't you. (writing)
Grandpa: I'll make a big one next time. (writing)
Grandma: Because today grandpa kind of made this one out of contemplation ne. I think just him doing it was
great. Thank you very much.
[Announcer: Grandpa, Grandma, be well!]
Aiba: Should we go already?
Sho: Why are you depressed Ohno-kun?
Aiba: You know...could you listen to something serious for a moment? Cameraman, cut for a moment! (writing)
Sho: No, he's not going to stop.
Aiba: You know ne...today [Arashi's Grandkid for a Day] ends. (writing)
[writing: A shocking announcement!]
Ohno: it's Mago Mago Arashi as well.
Nino: Eh? Why did you say that? What does 'Mago Mago Arashi as well' mean? (writing)
Sho: The Mago Mago Arashi that we've been doing for 2.5 years is ending? (writing)
Jun: That's the important announcement? (writing)
Aiba: of course it's important! (writing)
Sho: That's fairly important! (writing)
Aiba: It's important! You'll cry huh.
Ohno: I'll cry. It's like 'what happened?'
Aiba: Well, I was thinking of discussing that.
Sho: Well, on the other hand, what will happen from now on? (writing)
Aiba: That's right. Ah, you want to hear what's happening from on? You want to ask?
[writing: Sudden change]
Aiba: From October 20th ne, Mago Mago Arashi will undergo renewal, furthermore it will be powered up! (writing)
Ohno: The title is Golden Rush Arashi! (writing) For short, GRA! (writing)
[writing: Eh?]
Nino: Which means ne?
Sho: So what kind of show is it going to be? (writing)
Aiba: If I were to describe it in detail, big name guests will come every week, and from those big name guests
we'll get various information and learn new things. Arashi are already some fine men, so we're going to
leanr more about the world.
nino: I see.
Aiba: The first episode, the commemorative first episode I can't talk about yet, but right now we're making
an offer to an incredibly big name! (writing)
[writing: In the process of making an offer]
Nino: If it's just an offer then anybody do it can't they! (writing)
***
Aiba: Beginning on Octboer 20th, it's GRA! Please watch everyone! Favor us!
Sho: Favor us!

*sigh* Okay now I have to accept that it's really over...and really, they didn't look all that sad^^; But I really enjoyed looking back at all the older episodes, especially the ones where Ohno cried and Jun was so concerned about the grandpa who was losing his sight>_< I couldn't swear to it, but Jun looked pretty teary-eyed himself in that one...:3 And in the one Sho brought up I noticed something I'd missed the first time...when they bring the portable shrine to Grandma's doorstep, as they're holind it, right before grandpa motions for them to lift it and grandma says 'do yuor best Sho-kun' the guy behind Ohno starts like feeling him upXDDD Seriously, that's what it looks like, and Ohno himself is a little like 'what's going on..?'XD And frankly I've come to agree with Sho, that green suit is a sign of nothing goodO_o Well, I guess I'll just wait and see what GRA is like...

I mentioned I'd try to finish off the Dec. Popolo interview I worked on the week I got sick. Well, this is pretty much as far as I got before I quit for good;P

XCredit to Mori for the scans:D



Read it from top right to bottom left=) A glasses-wearing solo photoshoot, what's behind the scenes?

Today's word, the murmur of the stars
Today's wise (or witless) saying: Ihave no idea what happened to tha shark (laughs)
Since I'm busy lately I haven't been able to see the petto shark my friend's taking care of at all. It's
like *cry*.

After the interview was finished Ohno-san said [Yay~] and good-humoredly posed for the cameraman.

While looking at the [Happiness] materials Aiba-san did his utmost to give advice on the points of the dance.

(In the middle of looking back on the dance)

In the middle of taking a rough shot. The picture with the slightly uneasy face that he took saying [I wonder if it will
come out properly] is the Aiba-san on the below left.

Today's food
I'm hungry~
This is today's food!
Things you can comfortably snack on
The refreshments this time were bean curd skin sushi, sandwiches, fruit, and others. The members gobbled
them up.

Today's fashion, the stylist's commentary
These are today's outfits!
Aiba Masaki
The heavy color represents autumn
Unified with an autumn-like calmer tone. The glamorous feel with the velour stole added as a necklace is a
bonus.
Matsumoto Jun
Casual x high quality
Mixing an antique mint stole with an impactful print t-shirt for an elegant style with high quality.

Everyone tries out the moe~ glasses image!
Since the conversation about [Nino's mid-performance glasses image was moe~] got them so worked up at the
round table discussion in the previous issue, without delay we had everyone pu them on. The five of them
chose the glasses that suited themselves. The comically acted out serious characters.
Also, when we asked him to do a peace sign Matsumoto-san had a shy sensation. While saying [It definitely
suits Hey! Say! Jump! better] he faced the camera with an exquisite smile.

Ninomiya-san and Sakurai-san, running their eyes over the Popolo they brought with them to the set. By the way,
the page that Sakurai-san is reading is the one with the round table discussion.

In the middle of heatedly reading Popolo.

An expose behind the scenes of the photoshoot!
The background used for the front page photoshoot. Matsumoto-san holding a white board into Matsumoto-san
holding a notebook. Sakurai-san and Ninomiya-san obliged us by lying down on the tatami floor for the poses
of them lying down in the corners of the page.

Snap!
Today's photo
I'm the cameraman!
Self-shot photo gallery
In the free time between interviews we asked them to take some polaroid pictures. They each shot themselves
in their own way.

Aiba Masaki
The last work of the day!
Holding on to the the end of the Popolo interview, a long day has ended. Thanks for your hard work~!

Matsumoto Jun
A shock photo from above!
Since normally I'm pretty much not shot from above I tried doing it myself (laughs).

Ninomiya Kazunari
My feeling right now is 'nothing'
I shot it without thinking about anything, so this is the expression that came out. How I feel right now is
just as you see, a state of void (laughs).

Ohno Satoshi
Why hello there perfect form!
This is my perfect form expression ne (laughs). Right now I have an appetite and a healthy body. I want to
keep it that way.

Sakurai Sho
It's a new hairstyle!
To have a change of attitude after the drama finished I got my hair cut. It's really been a long time since
I had the neck area cut.

Can I say how much I love Jun in glasses?X3 The slightly shy, geeky smile just puts me over the moon<3 Why can't I run into him at my university while I'm digging through the library for books on Heian culture??XDD Speaking of which, on a radio show of his a while back in September he mentioned enviously how everyone was going back to school, and said that if he could he would go into the faculty of literature:3 Yet another reason to study abroad in the makingXD But I wasn't aware that Ohno had a shark??O_o The candid shots are the best part...Aiba looks scared, Sho looks like a deer caught in the headlights, Nino looks like someone just woke him up, Ohno looks like he just died, and Jun looks like someone caught him doing something terribleXDD Yes, thank you for making me feel better about not being photogenic!XD You're all too cute for words;P

But my favorite part of today's post is up next:3 We were blessed with not one, but two heavenly photoshoots this month for Jun, the other being Nikkei Health<3

Again, thanks to Mori for the scans:) I did a little editing on the last two to make it all one though, cause it just looks better that way:3



Is it just me or does this whole photoshoot make him look younger? Like around the time of Tokyo Tower?<3



At crucial moments I too use Chinese medicines
My health routine is one glass of water after waking and before bed
Lately I also eat cereal and yogurt with brown rice in it for breakfast

He's a serious person. [I always want to properly face the things in front of me] he says. Therefore no matter
what interview he looks through all of the back issues laid out at the location, he reads into the pages that
he will be featured in, and then he carefully ascertains what is being sought from him. Today as well, in the
make-up room, that was how he was.
And no sooner had the interview begun then the laughing counter-question [What is the theme of the feature this time?]
came flying out...
[I too use Chinese medicines. There have been times when I've brought several different varieties on to the set
as a precaution. I have an acquaintance who informs me about Chinese medicin practioners and knowledge. And,
because I get the feeling that it suits my constitution, at critical moments I use Chinese medicines.
For example, in my case, when my throat hurts because I've caught a cold and I take some Chinese medicine
that's good for the throat my throat symptoms will subdue, next it'll be my nose...in that way the place
where the symptoms are occurring will change. I can actually feel the condition of my body changing. I think
it's probably because the recovery ability of my whole body is being raised that that happens. What could it
be, it ends up that I'm always inevitably dealing with my body that much more ne.]
Nonetheless, the main point of his health is ultimately his daily lifetsyle. The aim being to instinctively
give his body what it wants, at each occasion.
[I guess an example would be water. When I go into the studio the opportunities to drink coffee will by all
means mulitply, in order to not spoil my stomach I do my best to drink water. The glass of water upon waking
and before going to bed that also leads to good blood flow is one of my few daily health routines. Actually,
often the only thing I have ready in my fridge is water (laughs).]
What about meals?
[For the purpose of raising my blood sugar levels and supplying energy I eat breakfast. The onigiri bentou
on sets, on days when shooting in the studio a set breakfast from the cafeteria that seems to have well-balanced
nutrition. Lately at home I eat cereal or yogurt with seasonal fruits with brown rice in them.]
When it comes to working up a sweat [Rather than lying around in the bath I prefer to move my body]. Like
how he's come to enjoy going out biking lately.



The body and the mind are connected
I want to focus my eyes beyond my body on to the condition of my mind
With girls as well, I think people who have a good balance between body and mind are fantastic

[Naturally standing pedaling as hard as I can uphill kind of makes my heart beat faster. I suppose you could say it
it rminds me of how I felt when I was a child. That makes me it possible for me to become incredibly happy
and energetic.]
He feels that the body and mind are connected. That's why he wants to do things that are good for both the
body and mind at the same time, he focusses beyond the body on to the condition of his mind.
[Even though it's hard on physical strength when I feel like I want to drink alcohol I go drinking. That way
I can reset.]
[With girls as well, I think that people who not just know health information but have a good balance of body
and mind are fantastic.]
Well then, this person has a very strong image of being energetic, but actually he says [I get fairly nervous,
so there's a lot of things I'm fearful of.]
[For example, this year they let us do our first Dome performance as "Arashi", but with live performances
every time, no matter how particular about creating it, until the opening on the first day you have no idea
what the actual reaction of the guests is. It's the same with plays and dramas and movies. It's not completed
by practicing, it's something that's first completed by conveying it to the guests. Because with that kind of
sense you can't remain indifferent to the pressure ne.]
For that what he habitually keeps foremost in mind is breathing.
[Everything changes with the rythym of your breathing. If you don't adjust it so that you're breathing deeply
your emotions won't be transmitted, it'll become painful.]
As a relaxation aid he sometimes burns aromas, dried sage nad other herbs in his dressing room.
[Since the people other than myself like the staff won't be sleeping I think that it would be nice to have
even a little bit of a good-feeling atmosphere.]
The filming next year of drama [Hana yori Dango]'s movie version, as well as of his first performance in a
period drama in the movie [Kakushi Toride no San Akunin], is closing in.
[I've never been satisfied with the status quo. Because I'm a person with deep desires (laughs).] says this
person, for whom it seems there's yet another exciting year coming his way.
On a side note, what about how every year at the end of the year his health deteriorates.
[The Countdown live performance on December 31st at the Tokyo Dome. We rehearse from morning onwards, at any
rate it's cold~. I'm sensitive to cold, so please teach me ways to avoid getting chilled.]
Everyone, please send information to the editorial department.





Oh, I can think of a few dozen, but they'd necessitate a plane ticket...*evil grin*XD But really, there's lots of things...like sticking your clothes in the dryer a few minutes before putting them on (or the microwave...I had an ex who used to nuke his underwear...believe it or not, it can actually burn little holesO_o Yes, thank goodness I haven't seen him in a decade, I shudder to think of what he may have becomeXD)...buying those compact heat packs that work when you break them open and last all day (you put them in your pockets for your hands, or if you get the right kind of scarf you can wrap them around your neck or stuff them under your coat;)...etc, etc;P I live in a climate where you have to be creative like thatXD
But I really enjoyed reading this article:3 The beginning where they describe how he earnestly pores over the back issues and asks what is needed from him, then suddenly smiles and teases the reporter was perfect JunX3 He is very serious, but the mischief underneath that is such an amusing facet of him<3 In the end though, it was the part where he talks about how he uses breathing to control the anxieties of life, and aromas to creat a comfortable setting that I really got absorbed with. I used to always burn incense and scented candles (my favorites were lemon grass and patchouli/sandalwood) but the neighbours complained too much...>_< I really wish I could learn how to use breathing techniques though, (effectively anyway) because when my chest is tight from stress it would help if I could take a deep breath and relax... Imagining him relaxing on a couch in his dressing room breathing deeply amidst the scent of lavender oil (good for sleep) is somehow very pleasant and soothing:3 I think I know what he means about remembering his feelings of being a child, sometimes I think that's part of the joy I feel when I see the blue sky and feel the wind in my hair...part of the wonder at the beauty and wideness of the world that made my heart so full of light back thenX3 He's such a sweetheart<3
And on that note, I give you ' the two sides of Jun';)




Yes, I think I can say with some certainty that it doesn't suck^^ That's a nice feeling...but seriously, it's almost like he's two different people here!O_o Hehe, if you could only have one which would you pick?XDD I think I'm being pulled towards the devil....X3

Hope you're getting geared up for whatever the season has in store:D It seems like xmas starts the day after Halloween, but now that I've been roped into planning an office xmas party I'm really starting to sense the season;P Let the countdown begin, only 20 days until I'm on break!XD Take care, stay warm (or cool), and find the little moments of happiness that make life sparkle:3

気合入っているよ！X3負けないぞ、頑張っていこう！XDラストスパートですから、早くに終わりたいな～＾＾