Japonism report - November 15, 2015 Sapporo
Finished!
Once again this is a supplementary report so I'll be skipping the performances that didn't change. Please check my previous report for full details of the concert.
We arrived really early today and waited outside the dome to go in as soon as the doors opened. Our seats were probably the highest yet, halfway up the top section. We were just to the right of center stage so we could see everything well. We went with two of our other friends so all four of us wore a matching tunic that had a Japanese type print on it.
Today they didn't show the special concert version preview of Manabu (probably because it aired yesterday) just the regular generic one they had before.
The show started on time. When the lights dimmed and the penlights came on it seemed like there was quite a lot of blue ones. I don't know if that meant Ohno fans or people that couldn't figure out their penlight settings (since blue is the default color).
The opening was the same. During Wild at Heart when Sho and Ohno made their heart, they leaned back really far again and kind of missed (their fingers on top slipped so it didn't really look like a heart). When the camera zoomed in on their hands Jun moved out from behind them completely and waited at the side but I guess he had to get into position because he walked back on while the camera was still zoomed up. He covered his crotch and covered his mouth scandalously while looking at the camera.
After yesterday's MC I was watching Sho specifically. He seemed to be dancing normally during Aokimi but I think the other members were going out of their way to let him walk through the middle. They never said anything about it though so maybe it's just me. During the solo for Sho and Ohno at the end they were pointing at the camera.
Juns speech was almost the same as yesterday except he added it was the last day. He still did the "I can't hear you" gesture.
Nino's was the same too. Aiba started out the same but added "tarinai tte iwarechattiru yo" (literally "You're being told it's not enough!" But for me the nuance means we should try harder.) He also did a yeah~ call but it sounded like eh~ instead.
Ohnos was also the same. Sho was too, asking about Sapporo, the upper, above the upper, lower, and then did the Arashi call. He ended with his English line again.
Back on he moving stages they were all waving a lot at everyone. Just like yesterday Aiba came up behind Sho during his solo and wrapped his arms around his shoulders from behind. Today he moved his head back and forth from Shos left to right and eventually began rocking both of them sideways each way. When he backed away he hit Shos butt and then tried to poke his crotch while Sho jumped back out of the way. Aiba ran away before Sho could get revenge.
When Nino came for our his solo he was teasing us again. He did a sample of his tap and then when we all cheered he raised one hand in thanks. He let his hand down and then raised it up again to cue us to cheer. We did so then he held both arms out to the side in a stop sign. He repeated that all again while grinning the whole time.
For Jun's solo they had the MJ cam again and also one on another stuntman just like before. I think I liked watching the stunt mans cam when he's trying to catch Jun the best.
When Happiness started Jun put his arm over Ohno's shoulder when they were walking to the cart but after a second Ohno left to get one the cart first.
During Hadashi Mirai they were all waving a lot and Jun was leaning on the railing but he didn't look as tired as yesterday. During Guts Nino was dancing whole heartedly and using his mic probably like we were using our penlights for the bat swing choreography. For their solos Jun and Ohno stood next to each other and then immediately after, the camera switched to Aiba and Sho standing really close next to each other.
Jun was able to stand without Ohno's shoulder for Ai wo Sakebe but he was staring at Leader the whole time like "look at me I'm doing it!" But Jun did crowd closer to Ohno on one of the close ups I think. For the middle close up solos Jun blew a kiss like usual but after him Sho touched his fingers to his lips and raised them up to the sky. It was his impression of a famous soccer player he always does on VS Arashi.
The MC:
Sho: Yeah! x3
We are Arashi!
They all mumbled their thank yous and bowed a few times.
Sho: Today is the last of our three day concert in Sapporo. How was it?
Nino: Hot!
Sho: You mean it was hot outside?
Jun: Outside is cold!!
Nino: No, our prep room was hot.
They decided to do the men vs women call because Ohno and Sho said they saw a lot of men today. They told Ohno to do it and chatted about what they should have them call out before they did it. Since they were men they decided on "omaera". (a very slang term for "you" used by men because it's vulgar/unrefined for women to use in Japan).
Sho: So when Ohno says "ready..." you yell "omera!"
We waited a moment for Ohno to go but after about two seconds a really loud man yelled out "omaera!" And made us all laugh.
Ohno: That was too early!!
Sho: As I said, Satoshi Ohno will say "ready..." And then you say it!
They tried to do it again but before Ohno could say anything at all a man yelled out "ready..." in his place. I think Ohno thought it was funny but I know that's the kind of thing that irritates Sho. XD
Sho: You are not Ohno!!
Anyway they did it properly the last time and had all the men yell out. It really did seem like a lot. Judging from only voices like 30%.
Sho: Next the ladies. You do it Jun-
Jun: Ok my beautiful warriors! Are you ready? In the name of the moon...? Can you do it?
Us: *cheer*
Jun: In the name of the moon...
Us: I'll punish you!
(For those that don't know this is Sailor Moons catch phrase.)
Sho: Ok last let's have everyone together. Aiba?
Aiba: Let's have them say Arashi!
Ready...
Us: Arashi!!
They finally told us we could sit down for the talk.
Sho: A wide variety of people came today huh.
Aiba, how's Sapporo?
Aiba: It's so exciting here!
Sho: Was there any trouble today?
Ohno: Just barely none.
Nino: Was there trouble?
Ohno: It's okay.
Sho: Kazunari-san?
Nino: I was fine.
But Aiba said something stupid during his greeting.
Nino did an impression of Aiba's garbled "tarinai tte iwarechattiru yo."
Nino:What are they supposed to say to that? Do you want them to cheer at that comment?
Aiba: It wasn't just me. Ohno suddenly changed the final pose of his greeting.
I guess Aiba and Nino copy his pose which is raising both hands up like yeah! But today Ohno just put one hand up like he was pumping his fist. He showed us a demonstration of what he changed.
Sho: Was that something people noticed had changed?
Us: ...
Sho: Well, who should I ask for that answer??
(I for one didn't realize he was directing that at the audience...)
Well, Ohno, is that something you expect fans to copy and do with you?
Ohno: They don't have to. Unless they want to, then please do! Or you can do it really small. Or all the way above your head. (He demonstrated with gestures.)
Or you don't have to do it.
Jun: Someone messed up during Troublemaker (pointing at Nino and Aiba).
Nino and Aiba: We didn't do anything! :3
Jun: I was trying so hard today. When the heart was made.
Sho and Ohno got together and made the heart and we all yelled out.
Sho: Is that really so exciting?
He pulled away and then made the heart again and we did the same thing so he crushed their hands together several times to see if we could keep up with him. They explained what they had talked about in the MC yesterday with Juns crotch being in the heart.
Jun: So I just got out of the way instead.
But when I walked back into the frame I was drawing attention to myself (because he was walking) and I realized that my crotch was right there! So I covered it.
Sho was laughing so hard at the explanation.
Sho: Can I ask about something that happened before in the prep room?
Aibas been eating a lot of kaki (persimmons).
I asked him why one day. Tell them.
Aiba: At Waku Waku we learned about eating fruit and vegetables when they're in season. So right now the seasonal fruit is kaki.
I also peeled some for Ohno and shared. "Oh-chan~ I finished peeling it!"
Jun: Lately Aiba is acting so girly! I heard him say, "oh right, let's have some cake~" the other day. (Jun's high pitched impression of Aiba sounding like a girl was cute.)
Nino: What's the seasonal fruit after kaki is finished?
Ohno: He peeled the kaki for me but I couldn't eat it all...Aiba ate the rest.
Sho: Since I asked about it I suddenly had kaki on my table too.
Aiba: By the way, if you eat kaki when it's turning red (meaning it's overripe since kaki is usually orange) it's really healthy! It'll keep the doctor away.
I want everyone to eat kaki. I'll bring some for everyone next time.
It's just a pain to peel and it has seeds.
Jun: You could try making juice.
Nino: I can just see that! Aiba running around will his arms full of kaki looking for a mixer! (He did a gesture to show what he meant.)
So after kaki is... Mikan? (A Japanese Orange like a tangerine.)
Aiba: I'll peel Mikan for everyone next time!
They went to change and they shooed Jun off first. They said they would tell us why later but I don't think they ever did. The last four played rock paper. Tonight Nino and Aiba stayed out together first.
Aiba told him to do his promotions and Nino finished all three of them in about twenty seconds, just saying the days and times.
Aiba: Please watch them, everyone.
Now it's free talking time.
Let's do a quiz! A Japonism quiz! What's this sound quiz!
I'll got first.
Nino: I have to do it too?!
Aiba made his sound but it was kind of mediocre and he couldn't get it all out. To me it sounded like a cat meowing haha! Nino fell down on the stage as a joke to show how bad he messed up.
Aiba did it again, first making a high pitched beeeeew sound and then flicking his lips with his fingers into the mic. It was quite cute to see him trying so hard.
Nino: Is it the farts of a really sick person?
Aiba: No!! (Aiba smiled really happily and made me swoon a little. These two were so adorable!)
Aiba: It's the first question so the quality is pretty low. Let me try again.
He did it again and I could tell what he was going for. He asked us to yell out the answer which I did, fireworks.
Aiba: That's right!
Nino looked shocked that we got it.
Nino: It's not your fake phone on vibrate mode?
Aiba: I already told you my phone isn't a fake!!
Sho popped out of the doorway looking excited.
Sho: I came back fast. It seems like you guys are having fun.
Ohno came a few seconds after and Nino saw his escape.
Nino: Ok you two can try it then!
After Nino and Aiba left the other two were sort of quiet as they decided what to do next.
Ohno: What Arashi song is this?
Us: Huh?!
Ohno: What corner are we doing again?
Ohno being clueless was really cute. His expression was fun.
Ohno: Ok here I go, ready?
He made a small popping sound with his lips and then tried it again because it wasn't very loud. Jun had come out by then and was sitting on the stairs.
Jun: Ok! It's a marble glass bottle being opened (the kind of bottle ramune comes in- I also thought that's what it was.)
Ohno: No.
Sho tried to imitate the popping sound Ohno was making but couldn't do it well. He held the mic close to his lips and leaned his head back but it didn't change anything. Apparently he still didn't figure it out.
Sho: A bottle of champagne when it opens?
Ohno: No.
Sho: What's the answer?
Ohno: The sound effect when you get a message on Line. (Line is a messaging app that's popular in Japan)
Actually some girls had been yelling that answer out behind us but they never asked the audience unfortunately.
Next they asked Jun to give a question and he thought about it for a moment.
Jun: What is this corner anyway? *thinks hard*
Sho: This is probably the calmest MC of the entire tour so far.
Aiba and Nino came back out and Nino teased them, "I was thinking backstage, what the hell are those guys doing?!" (I laughed because Nino had managed to escape having to make a question.)
Jun: I wanted to do a Johnnys quiz, not a sound effect quiz.
Aiba: That's fine!
Jun: Are you sure you're Johnnys?
Aiba: I am!
Jun: Okay, raise your hand if you know the answer. Johnnys Entertainment is celebrating it's 50 anniversary. What was the first official group that debuted from Johnnys Entertainment?
The other four raised their hands at various speeds but Jun claimed Nino was first.
Nino: The first group was called "Johnny"
Jun: ... Nope!
I of course didn't know anything about the topic but I guess that was the expected answer. They all looked thoughtful but then Ohno raised his hand and guessed "Four Leaves". Jun stared at him really hard and asked in a Japanese accent "final answer?" Ohno replied in his best America accent with a smile, "final answer." Jun kept staring at him and the camera zoomed up in his face. He opened his mouth slowly with wide eyes and the camera changed to Ohno waiting in anticipation with a cute o: expression. Finally Jun said "that's correct" and explained that the group "Johnny" was formed before Johnnys Entertainment existed, so technically Four Leaves was the correct answer.
Jun: So do you have a question Aiba?
Aiba: This is too sudden!
Jun: It can be about Johnnys, or about you. Just not when you were a kid.
Aiba: How about when I was a junior?
Jun: Of course.
Aiba started to form the question and then said that Nino couldn't answer and pulled him over to stand by his side. Of course some girls screamed.
They sat down in the bottom steps like they were squatting and Aiba explained, when he was a junior, they were sitting like that at the station.
Aiba: An old man walked past and did something to us. What was it?
Okay we need the old man! (Sho ended up getting picked and he came over to stand in front of them.)
Aiba: We were sitting like this and you walked over. If you were an old man what would you do?
Sho demonstrated his answer by smacking Aiba across the top of his head.
Aiba: ... That's right.
I was being really loud so the old man hit me.
Sho: What did you do when that happened Nino?
Nino demonstrated by just staring forward and avoid eye contact with Aiba (pretending he didn't know him).
Aiba: You always pretended not to know me or ran away when stuff like that happened!
I guess they ran out of time because Jun went right into his speech about the Japonism tour and that the second half would be more of a tribute to Johnnys Entertainment.
The second half started out the same. I was really focusing on watching for the backflips in Nihon Yoi Tokoro.
When they came on for Funky, Jun was directly in front of our section. I noticed he danced the same dance we were doing (I feel like the others were doing the special Arashi version that looked cooler). I can just imagine Jun watching the video to do his concert research and doing it the same as us for that reason. :)
For the end of Bolero their solo dances were the same. Jun and Nino did a "dance battle" at the back stage, Sho did a solo on the front stage and then pointed to Aiba to do the last one.
During Ohno's solo when he disappeared behind the red curtain as it fell we could see a whisp of his hair as the curtain hit the ground (not sure if that's because we were up high or the timing was off).
After the junior introductions in Sunrise Nippon, Ohno came up in the tower in front of us. He was very relaxed and waving at everyone (or doing the fishing gesture). During Oh Yeah I noticed Nino (in front of the section to our right) was waving towards us instead of the section he was in front of. After about ten seconds Ohno finally noticed and looked over. Nino waved wildly at him and Ohno pointed to himself like "who, me?" Nino nodded and waved again while we all cheered and Ohno waved back happily with wide movements.
During Believe Jun was doing that background dance with the juniors at the center stage as he passed. Nino still sat down for his solo on the moving stages and Sho did the rap similar to yesterday (starting out softer and then getting passionate).
During the speeches its usual for everyone to change their penlight color to the member color of who's talking but I noticed the ones that didn't change were all blue tonight... Something was weird about all the blues I'm the crowd haha.
Sho's closing speech was almost exactly the same as the previous nights. He just noted a piece of rap lyrics he wrote (I'll have to double check the exact ones) 6-7 years ago that fit his theme well.
I'll go ahead and write the rest since they were only half the same.
Ohno: Thank you! *bows*
The Sapporo dome tour went by so fast.
I did a lot of Johnnys-like things like the masks, and backflips, stuff I did a lot as a junior.
Everyone was happy and cheered for us so I'm happy too.
I realized I could still back flip so from now on I'll continue to do backflips.
I will.
And I'll keep moving my body. It's a way that I can communicate with you.
Please continue to support us.
Thank you.
Aiba: Thank you! *bows*
Was it fun?
Us: cheer
Aiba: Funky was so beautiful. Everyone was dancing in sync together. I was actually looking at you while dancing instead of having you look at me.
Thank you for remembering how to do it.
There were fun parts of the concert and parts I was nervous.
And parts that I thought "If I let go I'll die."
Since you were all cheering for me I could climb really high. Thank you.
I want to say thank you for creating this place for me.
I want to be grateful to my kohai. And everyone living.
Please continue to follow us from now on too. (Kore kara mo yoroshiku.)
Nino: Thank you. *bows*
So many people came, today and the other days too.
It was a fun, good concert.
That's what I think.
This concert is awesome.
Arashi is awesome.
There are a lot of feelings that you get during a Johnnys concert like this. Fun, excitement, suspense (hara hara) ... Heart fluttering (kyun kyun), fuzziness (moya moya).
This is Johnnys.
It's an awesome company.
They did a great job. (yoku yatta)
It's been 51 years... I mean 15 years! Sorry I suddenly raised the bar.
We grow year by year, change the way we do things. We want to be able to look back and feel satisfied.
Although as we get older the Cc will get longer and longer, like 20 minutes long.
Our Leaders speech will get longer too I bet.
But please come even to our 51st concert. That's the kind of group I want to be. I don't know about other groups but I think you and us are really close to each other.
Let's continue to get together and make happy memories together.
Jun: It was fun, thank you. *bows*
We've made it 16 years as a group. For this concert we looked back on Johnnys, us, our sempai and the path that we have followed them down. We're sempai too. We're getting more and more kohai and juniors.
For the concert we made after looking back, we danced a lot. We sang and danced. We're challenging ourselves to make our own original concerts, working in our own style. That's why we took this time to look back on our past and think about our history. We're retrying some old things and doing things we never had the chance to back then. This isn't a common form of entertainment.
If you could take something positive from our performance and pass it on to another person everyone could become happy. What we want to say is were all connected to someone else. If you're connected a new road will always open for you.
16 years have passed but well continue as the five of us from now on too.
Reaffirming your roots is an important step to making a new path for yourself.
Please keep spending this time together with us.
*pause*
We're waiting for you.
This is the last song. We hope it reaches you.
Bokura ha Tsunaide Iku ended at 18:32:38.
The songs for the encore were the same but today on their carts there were cameras attached to the corner rail!
Sho gave us a big wave as he passed with Nino. For Love So Sweet Jun went up to the corner camera and started to sing his solo while looking at it. Ohno stepped up behind him looking curious so Jun pulled him in and they sang together at the camera. It was really close since it was right next to them.
Sho and Nino also did their airplanes again before getting off, but they showed it from the cart camera. When they passed it Nino looked straight at the camera but Sho was looking ahead of him. When they got to the main stage for the last yeah yeah yeah part Nino and Sho were pumping their fists fists in time with the music as usual and then started jumping too.
For the last rap part in A.ra.shi Nino came up behind Sho again and looked over his shoulder at the camera while pointing at Sho like a gangster with cute furrowed eyebrows. The camera was nice enough to focus back and forth between them.
When they did the last introduction of the dancers and bands, Ohno, Sho, and Nino were sitting down on the stage this time in front of the taiko drummers. When their solo came on all three of them started immitating them from where they were sitting.
When they were about to leave Sho did the Disco Star pose again and Aiba shot him an amused look. When they were descending down the stage I saw Sho pick something up off the ground. When it zoomed up in Nino he was waving goodbye while Sho dropped some of the discarded Sakura petals over him for effect. Ohno had some too and blew them forward when the camera focused on him.
The concert ended at 7:50 or so. We yelled for Arashi for a while. When the staff started to make an announcement it suddenly got really loud, but they didn't come back out for a second solo.
Overall they were all energetic and excited tonight so it was fun to watch!
Once again this is a supplementary report so I'll be skipping the performances that didn't change. Please check my previous report for full details of the concert.
We arrived really early today and waited outside the dome to go in as soon as the doors opened. Our seats were probably the highest yet, halfway up the top section. We were just to the right of center stage so we could see everything well. We went with two of our other friends so all four of us wore a matching tunic that had a Japanese type print on it.
Today they didn't show the special concert version preview of Manabu (probably because it aired yesterday) just the regular generic one they had before.
The show started on time. When the lights dimmed and the penlights came on it seemed like there was quite a lot of blue ones. I don't know if that meant Ohno fans or people that couldn't figure out their penlight settings (since blue is the default color).
The opening was the same. During Wild at Heart when Sho and Ohno made their heart, they leaned back really far again and kind of missed (their fingers on top slipped so it didn't really look like a heart). When the camera zoomed in on their hands Jun moved out from behind them completely and waited at the side but I guess he had to get into position because he walked back on while the camera was still zoomed up. He covered his crotch and covered his mouth scandalously while looking at the camera.
After yesterday's MC I was watching Sho specifically. He seemed to be dancing normally during Aokimi but I think the other members were going out of their way to let him walk through the middle. They never said anything about it though so maybe it's just me. During the solo for Sho and Ohno at the end they were pointing at the camera.
Juns speech was almost the same as yesterday except he added it was the last day. He still did the "I can't hear you" gesture.
Nino's was the same too. Aiba started out the same but added "tarinai tte iwarechattiru yo" (literally "You're being told it's not enough!" But for me the nuance means we should try harder.) He also did a yeah~ call but it sounded like eh~ instead.
Ohnos was also the same. Sho was too, asking about Sapporo, the upper, above the upper, lower, and then did the Arashi call. He ended with his English line again.
Back on he moving stages they were all waving a lot at everyone. Just like yesterday Aiba came up behind Sho during his solo and wrapped his arms around his shoulders from behind. Today he moved his head back and forth from Shos left to right and eventually began rocking both of them sideways each way. When he backed away he hit Shos butt and then tried to poke his crotch while Sho jumped back out of the way. Aiba ran away before Sho could get revenge.
When Nino came for our his solo he was teasing us again. He did a sample of his tap and then when we all cheered he raised one hand in thanks. He let his hand down and then raised it up again to cue us to cheer. We did so then he held both arms out to the side in a stop sign. He repeated that all again while grinning the whole time.
For Jun's solo they had the MJ cam again and also one on another stuntman just like before. I think I liked watching the stunt mans cam when he's trying to catch Jun the best.
When Happiness started Jun put his arm over Ohno's shoulder when they were walking to the cart but after a second Ohno left to get one the cart first.
During Hadashi Mirai they were all waving a lot and Jun was leaning on the railing but he didn't look as tired as yesterday. During Guts Nino was dancing whole heartedly and using his mic probably like we were using our penlights for the bat swing choreography. For their solos Jun and Ohno stood next to each other and then immediately after, the camera switched to Aiba and Sho standing really close next to each other.
Jun was able to stand without Ohno's shoulder for Ai wo Sakebe but he was staring at Leader the whole time like "look at me I'm doing it!" But Jun did crowd closer to Ohno on one of the close ups I think. For the middle close up solos Jun blew a kiss like usual but after him Sho touched his fingers to his lips and raised them up to the sky. It was his impression of a famous soccer player he always does on VS Arashi.
The MC:
Sho: Yeah! x3
We are Arashi!
They all mumbled their thank yous and bowed a few times.
Sho: Today is the last of our three day concert in Sapporo. How was it?
Nino: Hot!
Sho: You mean it was hot outside?
Jun: Outside is cold!!
Nino: No, our prep room was hot.
They decided to do the men vs women call because Ohno and Sho said they saw a lot of men today. They told Ohno to do it and chatted about what they should have them call out before they did it. Since they were men they decided on "omaera". (a very slang term for "you" used by men because it's vulgar/unrefined for women to use in Japan).
Sho: So when Ohno says "ready..." you yell "omera!"
We waited a moment for Ohno to go but after about two seconds a really loud man yelled out "omaera!" And made us all laugh.
Ohno: That was too early!!
Sho: As I said, Satoshi Ohno will say "ready..." And then you say it!
They tried to do it again but before Ohno could say anything at all a man yelled out "ready..." in his place. I think Ohno thought it was funny but I know that's the kind of thing that irritates Sho. XD
Sho: You are not Ohno!!
Anyway they did it properly the last time and had all the men yell out. It really did seem like a lot. Judging from only voices like 30%.
Sho: Next the ladies. You do it Jun-
Jun: Ok my beautiful warriors! Are you ready? In the name of the moon...? Can you do it?
Us: *cheer*
Jun: In the name of the moon...
Us: I'll punish you!
(For those that don't know this is Sailor Moons catch phrase.)
Sho: Ok last let's have everyone together. Aiba?
Aiba: Let's have them say Arashi!
Ready...
Us: Arashi!!
They finally told us we could sit down for the talk.
Sho: A wide variety of people came today huh.
Aiba, how's Sapporo?
Aiba: It's so exciting here!
Sho: Was there any trouble today?
Ohno: Just barely none.
Nino: Was there trouble?
Ohno: It's okay.
Sho: Kazunari-san?
Nino: I was fine.
But Aiba said something stupid during his greeting.
Nino did an impression of Aiba's garbled "tarinai tte iwarechattiru yo."
Nino:What are they supposed to say to that? Do you want them to cheer at that comment?
Aiba: It wasn't just me. Ohno suddenly changed the final pose of his greeting.
I guess Aiba and Nino copy his pose which is raising both hands up like yeah! But today Ohno just put one hand up like he was pumping his fist. He showed us a demonstration of what he changed.
Sho: Was that something people noticed had changed?
Us: ...
Sho: Well, who should I ask for that answer??
(I for one didn't realize he was directing that at the audience...)
Well, Ohno, is that something you expect fans to copy and do with you?
Ohno: They don't have to. Unless they want to, then please do! Or you can do it really small. Or all the way above your head. (He demonstrated with gestures.)
Or you don't have to do it.
Jun: Someone messed up during Troublemaker (pointing at Nino and Aiba).
Nino and Aiba: We didn't do anything! :3
Jun: I was trying so hard today. When the heart was made.
Sho and Ohno got together and made the heart and we all yelled out.
Sho: Is that really so exciting?
He pulled away and then made the heart again and we did the same thing so he crushed their hands together several times to see if we could keep up with him. They explained what they had talked about in the MC yesterday with Juns crotch being in the heart.
Jun: So I just got out of the way instead.
But when I walked back into the frame I was drawing attention to myself (because he was walking) and I realized that my crotch was right there! So I covered it.
Sho was laughing so hard at the explanation.
Sho: Can I ask about something that happened before in the prep room?
Aibas been eating a lot of kaki (persimmons).
I asked him why one day. Tell them.
Aiba: At Waku Waku we learned about eating fruit and vegetables when they're in season. So right now the seasonal fruit is kaki.
I also peeled some for Ohno and shared. "Oh-chan~ I finished peeling it!"
Jun: Lately Aiba is acting so girly! I heard him say, "oh right, let's have some cake~" the other day. (Jun's high pitched impression of Aiba sounding like a girl was cute.)
Nino: What's the seasonal fruit after kaki is finished?
Ohno: He peeled the kaki for me but I couldn't eat it all...Aiba ate the rest.
Sho: Since I asked about it I suddenly had kaki on my table too.
Aiba: By the way, if you eat kaki when it's turning red (meaning it's overripe since kaki is usually orange) it's really healthy! It'll keep the doctor away.
I want everyone to eat kaki. I'll bring some for everyone next time.
It's just a pain to peel and it has seeds.
Jun: You could try making juice.
Nino: I can just see that! Aiba running around will his arms full of kaki looking for a mixer! (He did a gesture to show what he meant.)
So after kaki is... Mikan? (A Japanese Orange like a tangerine.)
Aiba: I'll peel Mikan for everyone next time!
They went to change and they shooed Jun off first. They said they would tell us why later but I don't think they ever did. The last four played rock paper. Tonight Nino and Aiba stayed out together first.
Aiba told him to do his promotions and Nino finished all three of them in about twenty seconds, just saying the days and times.
Aiba: Please watch them, everyone.
Now it's free talking time.
Let's do a quiz! A Japonism quiz! What's this sound quiz!
I'll got first.
Nino: I have to do it too?!
Aiba made his sound but it was kind of mediocre and he couldn't get it all out. To me it sounded like a cat meowing haha! Nino fell down on the stage as a joke to show how bad he messed up.
Aiba did it again, first making a high pitched beeeeew sound and then flicking his lips with his fingers into the mic. It was quite cute to see him trying so hard.
Nino: Is it the farts of a really sick person?
Aiba: No!! (Aiba smiled really happily and made me swoon a little. These two were so adorable!)
Aiba: It's the first question so the quality is pretty low. Let me try again.
He did it again and I could tell what he was going for. He asked us to yell out the answer which I did, fireworks.
Aiba: That's right!
Nino looked shocked that we got it.
Nino: It's not your fake phone on vibrate mode?
Aiba: I already told you my phone isn't a fake!!
Sho popped out of the doorway looking excited.
Sho: I came back fast. It seems like you guys are having fun.
Ohno came a few seconds after and Nino saw his escape.
Nino: Ok you two can try it then!
After Nino and Aiba left the other two were sort of quiet as they decided what to do next.
Ohno: What Arashi song is this?
Us: Huh?!
Ohno: What corner are we doing again?
Ohno being clueless was really cute. His expression was fun.
Ohno: Ok here I go, ready?
He made a small popping sound with his lips and then tried it again because it wasn't very loud. Jun had come out by then and was sitting on the stairs.
Jun: Ok! It's a marble glass bottle being opened (the kind of bottle ramune comes in- I also thought that's what it was.)
Ohno: No.
Sho tried to imitate the popping sound Ohno was making but couldn't do it well. He held the mic close to his lips and leaned his head back but it didn't change anything. Apparently he still didn't figure it out.
Sho: A bottle of champagne when it opens?
Ohno: No.
Sho: What's the answer?
Ohno: The sound effect when you get a message on Line. (Line is a messaging app that's popular in Japan)
Actually some girls had been yelling that answer out behind us but they never asked the audience unfortunately.
Next they asked Jun to give a question and he thought about it for a moment.
Jun: What is this corner anyway? *thinks hard*
Sho: This is probably the calmest MC of the entire tour so far.
Aiba and Nino came back out and Nino teased them, "I was thinking backstage, what the hell are those guys doing?!" (I laughed because Nino had managed to escape having to make a question.)
Jun: I wanted to do a Johnnys quiz, not a sound effect quiz.
Aiba: That's fine!
Jun: Are you sure you're Johnnys?
Aiba: I am!
Jun: Okay, raise your hand if you know the answer. Johnnys Entertainment is celebrating it's 50 anniversary. What was the first official group that debuted from Johnnys Entertainment?
The other four raised their hands at various speeds but Jun claimed Nino was first.
Nino: The first group was called "Johnny"
Jun: ... Nope!
I of course didn't know anything about the topic but I guess that was the expected answer. They all looked thoughtful but then Ohno raised his hand and guessed "Four Leaves". Jun stared at him really hard and asked in a Japanese accent "final answer?" Ohno replied in his best America accent with a smile, "final answer." Jun kept staring at him and the camera zoomed up in his face. He opened his mouth slowly with wide eyes and the camera changed to Ohno waiting in anticipation with a cute o: expression. Finally Jun said "that's correct" and explained that the group "Johnny" was formed before Johnnys Entertainment existed, so technically Four Leaves was the correct answer.
Jun: So do you have a question Aiba?
Aiba: This is too sudden!
Jun: It can be about Johnnys, or about you. Just not when you were a kid.
Aiba: How about when I was a junior?
Jun: Of course.
Aiba started to form the question and then said that Nino couldn't answer and pulled him over to stand by his side. Of course some girls screamed.
They sat down in the bottom steps like they were squatting and Aiba explained, when he was a junior, they were sitting like that at the station.
Aiba: An old man walked past and did something to us. What was it?
Okay we need the old man! (Sho ended up getting picked and he came over to stand in front of them.)
Aiba: We were sitting like this and you walked over. If you were an old man what would you do?
Sho demonstrated his answer by smacking Aiba across the top of his head.
Aiba: ... That's right.
I was being really loud so the old man hit me.
Sho: What did you do when that happened Nino?
Nino demonstrated by just staring forward and avoid eye contact with Aiba (pretending he didn't know him).
Aiba: You always pretended not to know me or ran away when stuff like that happened!
I guess they ran out of time because Jun went right into his speech about the Japonism tour and that the second half would be more of a tribute to Johnnys Entertainment.
The second half started out the same. I was really focusing on watching for the backflips in Nihon Yoi Tokoro.
When they came on for Funky, Jun was directly in front of our section. I noticed he danced the same dance we were doing (I feel like the others were doing the special Arashi version that looked cooler). I can just imagine Jun watching the video to do his concert research and doing it the same as us for that reason. :)
For the end of Bolero their solo dances were the same. Jun and Nino did a "dance battle" at the back stage, Sho did a solo on the front stage and then pointed to Aiba to do the last one.
During Ohno's solo when he disappeared behind the red curtain as it fell we could see a whisp of his hair as the curtain hit the ground (not sure if that's because we were up high or the timing was off).
After the junior introductions in Sunrise Nippon, Ohno came up in the tower in front of us. He was very relaxed and waving at everyone (or doing the fishing gesture). During Oh Yeah I noticed Nino (in front of the section to our right) was waving towards us instead of the section he was in front of. After about ten seconds Ohno finally noticed and looked over. Nino waved wildly at him and Ohno pointed to himself like "who, me?" Nino nodded and waved again while we all cheered and Ohno waved back happily with wide movements.
During Believe Jun was doing that background dance with the juniors at the center stage as he passed. Nino still sat down for his solo on the moving stages and Sho did the rap similar to yesterday (starting out softer and then getting passionate).
During the speeches its usual for everyone to change their penlight color to the member color of who's talking but I noticed the ones that didn't change were all blue tonight... Something was weird about all the blues I'm the crowd haha.
Sho's closing speech was almost exactly the same as the previous nights. He just noted a piece of rap lyrics he wrote (I'll have to double check the exact ones) 6-7 years ago that fit his theme well.
I'll go ahead and write the rest since they were only half the same.
Ohno: Thank you! *bows*
The Sapporo dome tour went by so fast.
I did a lot of Johnnys-like things like the masks, and backflips, stuff I did a lot as a junior.
Everyone was happy and cheered for us so I'm happy too.
I realized I could still back flip so from now on I'll continue to do backflips.
I will.
And I'll keep moving my body. It's a way that I can communicate with you.
Please continue to support us.
Thank you.
Aiba: Thank you! *bows*
Was it fun?
Us: cheer
Aiba: Funky was so beautiful. Everyone was dancing in sync together. I was actually looking at you while dancing instead of having you look at me.
Thank you for remembering how to do it.
There were fun parts of the concert and parts I was nervous.
And parts that I thought "If I let go I'll die."
Since you were all cheering for me I could climb really high. Thank you.
I want to say thank you for creating this place for me.
I want to be grateful to my kohai. And everyone living.
Please continue to follow us from now on too. (Kore kara mo yoroshiku.)
Nino: Thank you. *bows*
So many people came, today and the other days too.
It was a fun, good concert.
That's what I think.
This concert is awesome.
Arashi is awesome.
There are a lot of feelings that you get during a Johnnys concert like this. Fun, excitement, suspense (hara hara) ... Heart fluttering (kyun kyun), fuzziness (moya moya).
This is Johnnys.
It's an awesome company.
They did a great job. (yoku yatta)
It's been 51 years... I mean 15 years! Sorry I suddenly raised the bar.
We grow year by year, change the way we do things. We want to be able to look back and feel satisfied.
Although as we get older the Cc will get longer and longer, like 20 minutes long.
Our Leaders speech will get longer too I bet.
But please come even to our 51st concert. That's the kind of group I want to be. I don't know about other groups but I think you and us are really close to each other.
Let's continue to get together and make happy memories together.
Jun: It was fun, thank you. *bows*
We've made it 16 years as a group. For this concert we looked back on Johnnys, us, our sempai and the path that we have followed them down. We're sempai too. We're getting more and more kohai and juniors.
For the concert we made after looking back, we danced a lot. We sang and danced. We're challenging ourselves to make our own original concerts, working in our own style. That's why we took this time to look back on our past and think about our history. We're retrying some old things and doing things we never had the chance to back then. This isn't a common form of entertainment.
If you could take something positive from our performance and pass it on to another person everyone could become happy. What we want to say is were all connected to someone else. If you're connected a new road will always open for you.
16 years have passed but well continue as the five of us from now on too.
Reaffirming your roots is an important step to making a new path for yourself.
Please keep spending this time together with us.
*pause*
We're waiting for you.
This is the last song. We hope it reaches you.
Bokura ha Tsunaide Iku ended at 18:32:38.
The songs for the encore were the same but today on their carts there were cameras attached to the corner rail!
Sho gave us a big wave as he passed with Nino. For Love So Sweet Jun went up to the corner camera and started to sing his solo while looking at it. Ohno stepped up behind him looking curious so Jun pulled him in and they sang together at the camera. It was really close since it was right next to them.
Sho and Nino also did their airplanes again before getting off, but they showed it from the cart camera. When they passed it Nino looked straight at the camera but Sho was looking ahead of him. When they got to the main stage for the last yeah yeah yeah part Nino and Sho were pumping their fists fists in time with the music as usual and then started jumping too.
For the last rap part in A.ra.shi Nino came up behind Sho again and looked over his shoulder at the camera while pointing at Sho like a gangster with cute furrowed eyebrows. The camera was nice enough to focus back and forth between them.
When they did the last introduction of the dancers and bands, Ohno, Sho, and Nino were sitting down on the stage this time in front of the taiko drummers. When their solo came on all three of them started immitating them from where they were sitting.
When they were about to leave Sho did the Disco Star pose again and Aiba shot him an amused look. When they were descending down the stage I saw Sho pick something up off the ground. When it zoomed up in Nino he was waving goodbye while Sho dropped some of the discarded Sakura petals over him for effect. Ohno had some too and blew them forward when the camera focused on him.
The concert ended at 7:50 or so. We yelled for Arashi for a while. When the staff started to make an announcement it suddenly got really loud, but they didn't come back out for a second solo.
Overall they were all energetic and excited tonight so it was fun to watch!