Ahh, I'm so glad this week was more relaxing than last week^^ Still quite a lot of ups and downs, but I don't feel anywhere near as physically and emotionally drained, so I'm quite happy^^ Thank you so much for your kind words and comments, I really appreciated itX3 It's been snowing a lot, but the temperatures are mainly in the -10 range so it still feels like spring...and the sun is finally warm again^^ Oh, I saw the new album is out!XD I forgot to pre-order the other day, I hope there are still some left...>_< But other than that, I'm completely and utterly behind on Arashi news *cries*:S My head is full of Communist China and Semantics and Graph Theory, and the little dokidoki parts of my life that keep spinning me around like a tornado^^; But, school's almost over. Exactly a month until my last exam! Ganbarimasu~XD
Today I have the translation of GRA #6 about Buddhas=)

[Announcer: Japan's beloved Arashi...will welcome Japan's beloved guests...and study their beloved Japan. When waiting for the bus...
(writing)]
Girl: What is this?
[writing: Pigeon poop.]
[Announcer: Pigeon poop falls on your head...when you go to wash it off...you don't have a handkerchief. (writing)]
Girl: Ah, the bus is here!
[Announcer: When chasing after the bus you have to catch...you fall and miss it. (writing) Ahh, totally unlucky.]
Girl: For this I have to entreat the gods. May nothing else bad happen. May I find a boyfriend. Also...also, may I become rich. (writing)
[Announcer: Just kidding. Don't you also make lots of wishes? In actuality the properties of the buddhas are different. If you don't
know then it's embarrassing. Today on GRA we're studying the properties of buddhist icons! Well then, without delay, a warm-up! (writing)
Exactly what is the property of this Yakushi buddha?]
Aiba/Itou: Arash's Buddhist icon study group, yay~!
Aiba: The buddhist icon maniac from the entertainment world is Hana-san!
Itou: Your favor please!
Aiba: Hana-san.
[Announcer: Today's guest is Hana-san. While modeling in various fashion magazines like Non-no since the age of 16 she also graduated
from Joushi university with a major in art history and cross-cultural studies. After studying buddhist images there she even put out
a book. Today she's going to show us the allure of buddhist icons through their unique characteristics.]
Jun: What are the good points of buddhist icons? (writing)
Hana: Well, simply, they're cool. (writing)
Jun: Cool?? (writing)
Aiba: Buddhist icons are cool?
Itou: So even when looking at pictures you get excited...
Hana: Yes, I do. I even have posters of them at home.
All: Posters?
[writing: Culture shock]
Kanako: Really??
Aiba: That's kind of like putting up ones of your favorite female idol ne. Putting them up on the ceiling ne.
Hana: Ah, that would-
Aiba: There's buddhist icons on the ceiling. (writing)
Hana: The ceiling is... (writing)
Aiba: Nara Nara Nara. (writing)
Sho: You, let her talk! Let her talk. (writing)
Nino: It's no good if you're the only one talking.
Itou: That's right ne.
Aiba: Anyway, this Yakushi buddha- just show them for a sec please. Yakushi buddha, do you all know about it?
Hana: Yes.
Aiba: Yakushi buddha. Um~, this, uh, the profit is set. What profit- (writing)
Itou: Property ne. (writing)
Aiba: Property, property.
Sho: 'Profit';P
Nino: This isn't something that's going to be profitable. (writing)
Aiba: There's a set property.
Itou: Yes.
Aiba: Right now I'd kind of like to have a quiz on just what that property might be.
Nino: hey, we haven't heard anything about it at all.
Itou: The buddha MC is Aiba-kun ne. (writing)
Sho: What is this 'buddha MC'? (writing) What the heck is that?
Itou: Today you're kind of in a buddha mood right?
Aiba: That's right. Please say amen~. (writing) Yes, Matsumoto-kun. Correct!
Jun: Thanks.
Sho: Amazing.
Aiba: Fast, just as you'd expect. He's fast huh. Correct~! Correct. Ne, that's terrific.
Itou: It's a cultural question.
Jun: Nino...
Itou: I think that you'll know it...
Aiba: Correct! Correct;P
Ohno: really? Hana-san, let's go. That's correct! That's it~! (writing) Which means ne-
Sho: Why??
Aiba: Matsumoto-kun, Matsui-san, Ohno-kun, and Hana-san, well, they've gotten one step closer to buddha ne.
Itou: Yes, that was magnificent~. I'll announce the correct answer. The Yakushi buddha, in actuality this ne, is holding something.
Co you know what this is?
Sho: I didn't look over there~.
[writing: Medicine pot]
Aiba: Look closely, he's holding it in his hand right?
Jun: What is that?
Itou: It's medicine. It's a healing buddha ne.
Aiba: That's right ne.
Itou: Things like recovery from illnesses ne. Prayers for good health. That's the properties it has.
[Announcer: In this way the properties for each buddhist icon are different. In the case of the Yakushi buddha you can judge it based
on the medicine pot it's holding, but for most buddhist images you can't tell just by looking at them. Well then, let's learn the
properties of the representative buddhist images. But before that...]
Aiba: And Hana-asn is alos knowledgeable about buddhist images, but I went and widened my Aiba-network and called on a buddhist image
professor. (writing) I'll introduce them, eh, this is Miyazawa Yasumi-sensei.
Yasumi: Your favor please~.
Itou: Well then, first of all, let's sort out the various properties ne.
Aiba: Yes, let's do that.
Itou: Eh, let's try taking a look. For example...the Monju boddhisattva. There's one in Nara-ken's Koufukuji. So...
Aiba: This one-
Itou: Do you know what kind of property this one has?
Aiba: Do you know? Probably ne, according to my predictions, there's one close to the Sakurai-family home.
Itou: Ahh, I see, I see.
Aiba: Just a hunch. There might not have been one near my house.
Kazuyo: It's studying right! (writing)
Aiba: Correct! That's correct.
Sho: I was trying my darndest to think about what's around my neighbourhood. What was there around the supermarket again? (writing)
Itou: The god of studying. (writing)
Nino: I see ne.
Itou: That's right ne~.
Kazuyo: people taking exams should go to this one ne. (writing)
Aiba: That's right, that's right.
kazuyo: Because I'm the mother of one taking exams. So I've gone to see that one.
Sho: Really, the Monju boddhisattva.
Kazuyo: Because he's a third year high school student ne.
Aiba: Well let's move along-
Itou: Let's move along to the next one. Next is, ne...Daikokuten. This is famous, you've heard of it ne. What kind of buddha is this
Daikokuten?
Jun: It looks incredibly strong ne? (writing)
Aiba: oh, you hit on something good!
Jun: Oh, I got something good?
Aiba: You got something good, you got something good! What would be good to seem strong at?
Ohno: At fighting ne. (writing)
Aiba: Speaking of fights, Sho-chan...!
Sho: War. (writing)
Aiba: It was war, it didn't go to Nino, so close~, too bad~;P Yes, correct.
Nino: I haven't even said anything yet.
Aiba: Too bad.
Itou: So, that means that it's the buddha of combat.
Hana: For the most part when there's 'ten' in the name it's a buddha from India.
Yasumi: That's right ne.
Sho: Is that sO??
Itou: When there's 'ten' in it it's from India, then 'heaven' form of 'ten'.
Sho: Bishamonten too? (writing)
Yasumi: Bishamonten too.
Hana: That's right, that's right. That's where it flowed from.
Aiba: Amazing~.
Itou: Riidaa's looking kind of unimpressed;P What is it Riidaa?
Ohno: You know it's...are there any where it's like 'I don't think this buddhist icon is really very good...'? (writing)
Nino: All of them!
[writing: I love all buddhist icons - by Hana]
Jun: I want to see them ne, as you would think. (writing)
Aiba: You'd want to see them ne!
Jun: You won't know until you see them. (writing)
Aiba: Definitely~.
Yasumi: Let's all actually go ne.
Aiba: Everyone's watching;P
Itou: Sensei's suggesting a location shoot;P (writing)
[Announcer: unfortunately they couldn't go on location, so now we'll introduce the properties of the buddhist icons in Tokyo. First is
the buddha that listens to prayers regarding domestic married life, Kishimojin-sama. If you get off the Touden Arakawa line in front of
Kishimojin-mae station you'll find Houmyou temple, which has 200 hundred years of history. On this courtyard there is a slightly
unusual sight. An old-fashioned candy store. On top of which, it's said to be the oldest candy store in the city, having been open
continuously for 220 years! How about reliving your childhood with your spouse while enjoying some candy? After getting past the candy
store and going around the right side of the main building...you'll find the buddha of married bliss, Kishimojin. How about talking
about your domestic troubles while looking up at his kind face? The other place within Tokyo where there is a buddha for married bliss,
Kishimojin-sama, is taitou-ku's Shingen temple, 2 minutes from the Iriya station of the Hibiya line. By all means go ahead and visit
with as a couple. next is, for those of you with continous bad luck, the god for warding off evil, Shoukanrennon boddhisattva. 2 minutes
east of the Hakusan station on the Toei-Mita line. Surrounded by apartments and local offices is Tendaishuu's Enjou temple. When you get past
the narrow path to the main temple there you will see...the grave of Oshichi-san, the heroine of Ihara Saikaku's novel 'Five women who
loved love'. The dazzlingly decorated main temple. The one that shines the brightest is the buddha for warding off evil, Shoukanrennon
boddhisattva. For those of you who have been having nothing but bad luck all year, why don't you try visiting once? Other representative temples within
Tokyo where the buddha for warding off evil, Shoukanrennon boddhisattva can be found are these here. For those of you who are entering
an unlucky year next year, take good note. Now here's a question! The name of this buddha is Aizenmyouou. Despite the scary faces it
has it's the buddha of affairs of love. To be able to grant your lvoe prayers this Aizenmyouou holds an unusual item in it's hand. Exactly what
could that be? This is the buddha of affairs of love, Aizenmyouou. To be able to grant your lvoe prayers they hold an unusual item.
Exactly what could that be?]
Nino: Kind of like that Yakushi-san that we saw earlier...?
Aiba: They're hiolding a certain item.
Nino: They're holding it ne.
Itou: It's holding this thing. Earlier-
Sho: Seeing it you'd be like 'ah, this is love'? (writing)
Itou: My my my~.
Sho: Ah, really?
Aiba: Yes. There's a connection to love. Correct~!
Nino: Seriously?? (writing)
Aiba: You can't believe it right? You can't believe it right? Yes, Hana-san.
Itou: Well ne, Hana-san will...
Aiba: Correct~.
Yasumi: Amazing.
Aiba: You could say it's something you need...
Ohno: A bouquet. (writing)
Aiba: it's not a bouquet!
[writing: romanticist]
Itou: This buddhist icon is holding something unusual for a Japanese buddhist icon.
Jun: So that means it's golding something that didn't originate in Japan? (writing)
Sho: I see~.
Ohno: It's a foreign thing. (writing)
Nino: I've never actually seen one ne.
Jun: What kind of thing?
Aiba: Shall I do a charade? (writing)
Kazuyo: Yes, charades.
Aiba: Shall I do a charade?
kazuyo: I love charades! (writing)
Jun: Why do you have that kind of 'oh, well if I have to' mood? (writing)
Aiba: Ah, I'll do a charade.
Nino: Do it.
Itou: Well, there's a convenience, depending on the charade.
Aiba: i'm not going to go that way, I'll do a different one. I'm going to go with this type.
Jun: What type?
Kazuyo: Ah, this is that...
Aiba: What is this person holding, what are they holding? What is it holding in order to bring you love? Correct~! That's it~! (writing)
Itou: It's unexpected. It's unexpected.
Kazuyo: What?
Itou: This here. This here is Aizenmyouou. The correct answer is...
Aiba: Look closely.
Itou: It's holding a bow.
Aiba: Like cupid's.
Itou: This is the same concept as the European angel that pierces your heart.
Yasumi: That's right. Because it's an Indian god, it was an Indian god to begin with.
Itou: So it could be said that it's because it has this bow that pierces people's hearts that it can grant love.
Yasumi: That's right ne, that's why.
Ohno: Why does it have so many hands? (writing)
Kazuyo: Ah, I know! Because love goes hand in hand. (writing) Ne, that's how it is ne.
[Announcer: Unfortunately Matsui-san it's not 'love goes hand in hand'. The reason Aizenmyouou has so many hands and such a scary face
is because it belongs to the 'myouou' group. Although they're all lumped together as buddhist icons you can divide them into four groups,
nyourai, boddhisattva, myouou, and tenbu. And, we'll teach you about the characteristics of the nyourai and boddhisattva.]
Aiba: What does this mean sensei?
Yasumi: Yes, um...well there are a lot of ways to organize the buddhas. Eh, speaking in terms of order the nyourai is the highest. In
terms of appearance it's the one with the little nodules, the kind of afro perm. And just like the picture you showed earlier
it's sitting in a traditional pose ne. With kind of a relaxed body.
Itou: Ah, so the afro perm is only on the nyourai? (writing)
Yasumi: That's right.
Sho: Is that so??
Jun: So the one in Kamakura...
Yasumi: The Kamakura great buddha is called the Amida Nyourai isn't it. (writing)
Aiba: he~, Kamagaya too?
Yasumi: Kamagaya as well ne.
Hana: What makes it easy to tell is that the boddhisattvas have an incredible amount of accessories, or halos, and are really glittering.
because they're in the process of studying they put on a lot of earrings and such. Whereas, usually the myourai don't wear any
kind of adornment at all. And, for these buddhas they have big ears don't they? That's because when they were boddhisattvas they
wore heavy earrings and it stretched them out.
Aiba: I see sensei, thank you!
Kazuyo: They have long ears ne.
Aiba: Ah, from sensei's mouth;P
Hana: That's easy to understand.
Aiba: Ahh, I see ne~.
Itou: You kind of wonder if this one's work is better ne?
Sho: Because it would get annoying how much no.2 is glittering ne. (writing)
itou: As you would expect...
Kazuyo: Boddhisattvas like shiny things ne. (writing)
Aiba: They do ne~.
Kazuyo: Shiny things. They're Osaka-types.
[writing: Osaka-types?]
[Announcer" Next, the characteristics of myouou.]
Hana: The myouou have scary faces ne. Well, humans do a lot of bad things, have a lot of impure thoughts right? So this is to cut that
off, to stop it short. But they're vcery kind. (writing) They're kind.
Jun: Like they're good at heart. (writing)
Hana: They protect you.
[Announcer: Lastly, the characteristics of tenbu.]
Yasumi: What they often have is the armor-wearing, strong-seeming male gods ne. Also there are the pretty kind of female figures. There's
two types quite often.
Sho: That kind of...aren't there two of them in the temples? On the right and left. (writing)
Yasumi: The two guardian Deva kings ne.
Hana: This is the Om. Because this one has it's mouth open it's the 'ah'.
Itou: Ah, the 'om' breathing ne.
hana: That's right. And the other one is going 'mmm', making the 'mm' part. The 'om' breathing.
Nino: That's amazing.
Yasumi: Also, the 'ah-mmm' means that they encompass everything in the world, from beginning to end.
Sho: So interesting~. (writing)
Aiba: Amazing huh~. So many things...
Kazuyo: There's a lot of depth to this ne!
Sho: Um, are there genders?
Nino: Like that one just now.
Aiba: Yeah, there was that one ne.
Nino: There's that kind too isn't there? There's men and women aren't there?
Yasumi: Um, with regards to the nyourai and boddhisattvas there aren't. But since the tenbu were originally Indian gods there are men
and women ne.
Itou: Because this is a man? (writing)
Yasumi: That's right ne.
Jun: If that was a woman it would be really gross right? (writing)
Aiba: Kind of yeah;P Other than that, what intrigues me is those Jizou they have by the roadside right? Where would those be in here...
Yasumi: Jizou are boddhisattvas so they belong with the boddhisattvas.
Jun: They're boddhisattvas...
YasumI: Yes, boddhisattvas.
Kazuyo: Jizou are boddhisattvas...
Yasumi: Yes.
Sho: They really don't seem to have very much ornamentation...
Yasumi: That's right ne. It's said they've transformed into human appearance. Into a monk's appearance.
Sho: Ah, a monk;s...
Yasumi: They went to the trouble of transforming into a monk's image, and that's why they're here.
[Announcer: The boddhisattva that has transformed into the image of a monk, the Jizou boddhisattva. 8 minutes east from the JR Kouenji
station. The temple that has been around for 450 years, Zuishousan Hourin temple. Enshrined here is a large family of 57 Jizou. And,
on top of that there's a Jizou that will surely surprise you. With a height of 3.4 metres, the tallest Jizou in the city. It's a buddha
for longevity called Enmei Jizou. At the feet of Enmei Jizou there is this tiny little Jizou waiting for you. A surprising question
concerning the nyourai that we just learned about. Nyourai have a certain physical characteristic that allows them to same many people
even by themselves. Exactly what could that be?]
Hana: This is fairly difficult ne. (writing)
Aiba: It's fairly difficult ne.
Nino: Go go, you do it first! (writing)
Sho: Excuse me~.
Nino: You're going to get it wrong anyway. (writing)
Sho: Hey! (writing)
Aiba: What is it?
Sho: It has lots of hands. (writing)
Aiba: You;re wrong~! You've- you've set your eyes on something good though ne. Hana-san!
Hana: Yes.
Aiba: What is it?
Hana: Speaking of a wide mutual network... (writing)
Aiba: Correct!
Itou: I mean, she's another sensei ne.
Aiba: She's a sensei.
Kazuyo: There's a wart on it's forehead. (writing)
Aiba: There's a wart on it's forehead, wrong!
Nino: What are you doing??
Aiba: In order to save many people all by themself, what, what do they have? Riidaa?
Ohno: 3 eyes. (writing)
Aiba: 3 eyes??
[writing: Demon?]
Aiba: it's a god, a god!
Itou: Which means that...
Aiba: Let's give them a hint.
Kazuyo: it's the body-
Aiba: The hint is...it's the body, it's the body...it's the hand! Okay, let's go! What do they have in their hands in order to save
many people by themselves?
Sho: They have a long lifeline. (writing)
Aiba: it's not the lifeline! But you may have hit on something good. They're already in possession of it... (writing)
Nino: You're already in possession of it!
Ohno: They have a lot of fingers. (writing)
Aiba: They have a lot of fingers, uwa~, so close~!
Kazuyo: Close?
Aiba: So close!
kazuyo: Close??
itou: To *save* them ne. To save people.
Nino: I've got it!
Hana: To save them...
Aiba: Correct~! Really really. That's right, that's right. That's right.
Itou: That's right.
Nino: Everyone's really close.
Jun: Eh, what is it?
Aiba: Correct~! Okay okay, okay, to help you I'll give you a charade hint.
Sho: A charade hint;P
Aiba: A charade hint.
Sho: I lvoe charade hints.
Nino: If you please.
Aiba: Here I go~.
[Announcer: The studio is in complete chaos from Aiba-kun's charade hint. The nyourai have a certain physical characteristic to help
them save many people all by themselves. Exactly what could that be?]
Aiba: Okay okay, okay, to help you I'll give you a charade hint.
Sho: A charade hint;P
Aiba: A charade hint.
Sho: I lvoe charade hints.
Nino: If you please.
Aiba: This color is kind of good too. (writing)
Hana: it is;P
Itou: The color goes well ne, it goes well.
Kazuyo: Ah, that's right!
Itou: Ah, the color goes well too, my my my!
Aiba: Oh, now they'll know!
Nino: If you please!
Jun: Hah?? (writing)
Aiba: Hey, Riidaa.
Ohno: It's holding a frog. (writing)
Aiba: It's not holding a frog. it is a frog, but the hands...the frog's hands... (writing)
Jun: Ah ah ah.
Aiba: What's happening with them? (writing)
Jun: Eh, what was it?
Aiba: hey, hey!
Jun: The frog...
Aiba: okay, okay. Correct! That's it~! (writing) ne, Riidaa and Sho-kun didn't make it huh.
Itou: So I'd like to announce the correct answer.
Aiba: Yes.
Itou: The certain characteristic is...it has webbing on it's hands. (writing)
Aiba: So it can save people ne.
Itou: I'd like you to take a look, this here.
Yasumi: It saves people ne.
Itou: Yes.
Sho: That's messed up!
Itou: You're looking at the hands. Hana-san, did you know this?
Hana: Yes. It's called the wide mutual network... (writing)
Yasumi: So you know the technial term.
Itou: Sorry, what did you say?
hana: Wide mutual network.
Aiba: I have no idea what she's saying. (writing)
Itou/Aiba: Wide mutual network. (writing)
Aiba: 'Correct!';P (writing)
Sho: Hey! Don't say things you can't understand.
Aiba: Ahh, that's right ne.
Itou: So this is to save a lot of people.
Yasumi: Yes.
Itou: So then this would be saving like this?
Yasumi: Yes, that would be it after all ne.
Aiba: Which means that, though we've learned about buddhist icons, from now on ne, let's learn about the beauty of the appearances
of the buddhist icons.
Hana: Hana's my favorite buddhist icon. (writing)
Jun: My tension just went up incredibly high;P (writing)
Aiba: She had very beautiful pronunciation ne.
Itou: And because they're buddhist icons.
Aiba: it was an incredible collaboration ne. Which means that, we've learned a lot here, but from now on I'd like to strengthen our
knowledge of the varieties.
[Announcer: We'll now annoucne the rules: we'll have them guess which among 3 buddhist icons is today's guest Hana-san's favorite.
A, the one wearing the dazzling outfit, Koufukuji's Shoukanrennon boddhisattva. B, riding an elephant and giving off a quiet expression,
Touji's Taishakuten. C, with a brave expression, Zenkouji's Fudoumyouou. Among these there is a buddhist icon that Hana-san can't stop
loving. Everyone, do you know what it is?]
Jun: In terms of people do you perfer the more dazzling types, or the more reticent types-
Hana: That's not it ne.
Jun: Is that so?
Aiba: What is your type?
Nino: Do you have a favorite celebrity?
Aiba: Ah, that's good ne.
Hana: Ehhh, a celebrity?
Aiba: Your type.
Hana: But, um...but, among these 3 buddhist icons, when I was looking through a magazine the other day I thought that they might make
this kind of expression.
Jun: What if it was the Fudoumyouou;P (writing)
Aiba: That would be during a fight.
Jun: You'd definitely remember it if it was something like the Fudoumyouou right?
Hana: Everyone's like that ne.
Nino: I mean it just doesn't come to mind.
Sho: Definitely. What is this Taishakuten riding on? (writing)
hana: That's riding on a white elephant. (writing)
Itou: it's an elephant.
Jun: It's an elephant.
Hana: Yes, an elephant.
Sho: Have you ever ridden on an elephant Hana-san? (writing)
Hana: I have! (writing)
Sho: Eh, what was I thinking again?
[writing: Exactly!]
Aiba: You can't even figure it out yourself!;P
Nino: But I know which one it is.
Aiba: You know?
Hana: You know ne.
Nino: Because I've learned a lot.
Aiba: I see, then is it okay if the thinking time is over?
Kazuyo: I've got it too, one way or another.
Nino: That's fine.
Aiba: it's okay?
Nino: Yes.
kazuyo: One way or another.
Aiba: Okay, please line up behind the buddhist image that you think it is. Oh, everyone's going over there ne.
Sho: When Hana-san was talking ne, she was looking at it the whole time! (writing)
Aiba: Hana-san! Ne.
Hana: Wrong, wrong.
Ohno: You didn't look at this one at all. (writing)
[writing: hey!]
Itou: You;re giving it away!
Aiba: Matsumoto-kun, which one did you go with in the end?
Jun: Yes, this one.
Itou: So then everyone...
Aiba: Everyone...
Itou: ...is going with Touji's Taishakuten.
Jun: Yes.
Nino: Yes.
Aiba: Are you ready?
Jun: It's okay.
Aiba: it's okay ne?
Nino: If you please!
Aiba: Alright then, Hana-san, your answer if you please!
Hana: It's Touji's Taishakuten.
Aiba: Correct~!
Nino: Alright!
Aiba: Everyone knew cause you kept looking at it!
Hana: But I might have been looking at it without being conscious of it. (writing)
Aiba: In what way is this connected to the guy Hana-san likes?
Hana: Um ne, he looked like this when he was taking a nap. (writing)
Sho: He looks like this when he naps? (writing)
Nino: Just the face;P
[Announcer: In this short 30 minute period we learned about the unexpected allure of buddhist images. How was it? The fact that, depending
on the buddhist image, the properties are different, and the fact that there are four groups of buddhist images, are what we learned.
When standing in front of a buddha you begin to feel relaxed. That may be the true nature of the Japanese heart, living amidst the
frenzied everyday. Next time how about taking a close look at the faces of the buddhist icons near you?

I have to say that I lvoed every minute of this episode. I found the buddhist icons fascinating when I visited Japan last summer, took so many pictures, and really did feel a sense of peace when visiting some of them. So it was extremely enjoyable to me to learn more about them, who would have thought there was so much to know! And I lvoed how Nino made Sho go first because he said he'd get it wrong anywayXDD Poor Sho, no confidence in him at all;P And Ohno finally got an asnwer right, his surprised expression was adorableXDD Plus, Aiba's frog, and Jun's attempt to figure it out...too cute;) The one thing that surprised me was that no one could guess what the Yakushi buddha did...because 'yaku' means medicineO_o That's really been puzzling me...;P Anyway, next time it's soba, and Ohno looks hungryXDD

Finally managed to finish the April Roadshow article I started last week, omatase~;)

Credit to Mori for the scans!=)



Matsumoto Jun's Talk Session, Hug A Movie Vol.4

The movie that Matsumoto Jun picked up in response to the request that he 'finally do a love story' is [Moulin Rouge] starring Nicole
Kidman. It seems that he was completely won over by the background song 'Your song'...

- It seems like this is the first time you've seen this movie, but how about giving us your honest impressions?
J: Well~, to be honest, it was interesting (seriously)...actually, the other day I saw the...so-called B-movie starring Peter Fonda
called 'Chasing the Devil'. Sometimes they play it at bars so happened to see it one way or another (laughs). When he went camping
in an RV with his wife and 2 friends they reach a city run by a cult...that kind of eerie film. That in and of itself was extraordinarily
interesting. I saw that movie, and then the next day I saw 'Moulin Rouge'. In other words, after seeing that kind of completely unconventional
movie, the next day I saw the completely opposite conventional love story ne. That's why when I first saw it I honestly thought 'uwa,
how awkward...' ne.
- Awkward meaning?
J: Whether it's as a musical or as a love story it's an incredibly big movie isn't it? While I was watching it I was wondering if I
could handle that 'bigness' ne. Just from seeing a B movie the day before (laughs). But, midway through, around the part where 'your
song' (Elton John) is playing, I suddenly got sucked in. I really love that song, so it feels like I was just carried off by it. After
that I was completely absorbed right up until the end.
- 'Moulin Rouge' is something that creates people, expresses people, that's why the director, actors, and even the dancers have an
unusual amount of notoriety ne. The figure skater, Takahashi Daisuke, using The Police's 'Roxanne' that was used in this song... Also,
um, there was an Indian scene in the middle of the musical performance right? From that a Broadway musical called 'Bombay Dream' was
made... This project has been derived into many other projects ne.
J: That's right. Although earlier I said 'it's awkward', that 'awkward' is a so-called frontal attack ne. That is, this movie is emitting
that true established entertainment element right until the end isn't it? I think that's both the movie's interesting part and the
reason why I was so into it.
- Other than that, the music of course?
J: That's right ne. It's constantly easy to understand music. It was mentioned earlier too but, Elton John to The Police, Madonna's
'Like A Virgin'... What's interesting is, that even thouhg it's the year 1899 they use contemporary music, that gap is interesting.
- I myself thought it was great that they used Queen's 'Show Must Go On'. That 'the show must go on' type of song, wouldn't someone
involved with show business like Matsumoto-san feel that song more than the general public like me? I mean, even at times when you
don't want to appear on stage you have to...
J: No, I saw that just like anyone would.
- My, is that so? (laughs)
J: Yeah. Because for me that's something that really goes without saying.
- It's dyed into your body ne. Although I think you may say 'that's right ne' quite undoubtedly...it's quite a fresh feeling (laughs).
Also, earlier you were continuing to say that the 'awkwardness' of this movie is what makes it interesting, but what other parts
besides that 'awakwardness' could be drawing us in ne?
J: The words I guess. When I watch it it's not like the English goes right into my head, I understand it by reading the subtitles,
but despite that there are a lot of words that suddenly leave an impression. Like that 'the best thing in life is to love and be loved
by someone'.
- It's something that goes without saying ne.
J: Yeah. Though it's something that goes without saying, by singing it over and over again, just by singing it it echoes in your heart,
and the end is 'love' too.
- Love stories are honestly nice ne. That's right, that's right, although I think that Nicole Kidman was slow in gaining popularity
in Japan, in what way do you view her as an actress?
J: I think she's an actress who changes her image quite frequently. In a good sense, naturally. The one I saw most recently is when she
appeared in Lars Von Tria's 'Dogville'. Although I loathe that movie. Well, although that director wins because of the fact he was able
to make something that I can say I 'loathe' (laughs). Putting that aside, although I got the impression that that Nicole Kidman was
absolutely not flashy at all I was impressed that she was playing that kind of flashy woman ne.
- Didn't you want to try doing this movie in a play?
J: Yeah. To be honest, after I really got into it that was what I was thinking the rest of the time I was watching. But, you'd need
quite a lot of skill in singing and dancing to do this...



Yeha, Moulin Rouge really was kind of a 'big' movie huh. I could see how after going from something lighter it would be a little overwhelming. To be honest I don't think I saw all of Moulin Rouge, probably just the end when it was on tv..so I don't remember a lot^^; But I liked it. I somehow missed the part he mentioned where they say 'the best thing is to lvoe and be loved'...what a beautiful phrase, no wonder he liked it so much<3 And I think it's really clever that he realzies that even when a moviemaker creates something you hate they've actually still succeeded, if only because they elicited a reaction so strong to their work. The only time they fail is when there's apathy. Sasuga our celever Jun-kun:3 And it's cute how he plays down his own dancing/singing abilities at the end there...XDD I'm really looking forward to what movie he picks next:3

In other news, Ojiisan is back!XD And finally, finally getting braver;P I happened to see a shadow flickering on my blinds, and when I went to check there he was on my balcony!=) So I quickly ran and grabbed my camera, and managed to catch him before he dashed away^^



Here he is after hacing noticed my movement behind the blindsXD I think he was looking for food on my balcony, hopefully he ate the leftover tortillas from a month ago;P



Then he seems to know I'm watching and posesXDD he's such an adorable little critter:3 Sorry it's so dark, it was a cloudy day and I had to take the pictures through the glass door because otherwise he would have run away:S



Finally, he got tired of me and started to take off, but I caught him mid-leapXDD Spring has sprung, Ojiisan is on the prowl again;P The other day I sawa him scale all four stories of my apartment building just by climbing the walls; he'd stop on someone's balcony on each level, look around, and then keep going higher, as if he was looking for just the right vantage point;) Maybe he's forgot where his nuts are and thinks an aerial view will helpXDD

Well, that's all for today, I'm just glad I wans't late this week^^ Hope you all have a great week with many happy moments to make it sparkle:) Take care and have fun, I'm off to go bowling with n-boyXD

この人を信じてもいいのかな。。。信じたいけど、傷ついたらどうする？：S　恋はそんなに怖いなもの何ですか？それともあたしの妄想だけですか？O_o