[Compilation] Ohno Satoshi and Sen-chan the hamster
I’ve compiled a few episodes of Ohno and his pet hamster Sen-chan during mid-2005 till late-2006 period. We can see his journey with Sen-chan from first meeting till separation, where Ohno-mama is also actively involved since he was still living with his parents at that time. Excerpts are from Duet magazines and Arashi Discovery. Please do not repost any part of this entry without permission.
DUET 2005 June issue
Ohno had a pet hamster named Ushiwakamaru during junior days (because he performed as this character in Kyo to Kyo).
I had it when I was performing in Kyoto. Hamsters are easy to take care, even if you just put them aside they’ll be fine. I always let my hamster run freely around the room. When I let it run free, I have to be careful not to step on it and walk lightly (laugh)
When I was in elementary school, I had many hamsters. My first hamster Hamu-chan died after about a year. When I woke up in the morning mom was crying, I was just thinking “don’t tell me…?”, Hamu-chan died. The both of us sat crying together. And I didn’t go to school that day…
Right after that, I had a male hamster Choro-chan, he moves lightly (chorochoro) so mom named him that way; and a female hamster Poo-chan. Because they’re male and female, we kept them apart, but when I let Choro-chan out from his cage, somehow he made his way to the little pool where we placed Poo-chan… they had 9 kids (laugh) We gave them to our neighbours and friends, and kept 2 for ourselves. During this time, people around us are quite into keeping hamsters, I’m the one who started all this alright (proud). It was Golden Hamster at that time, Ushiwakamaru was a Djungarian!
Mom wants to keep a hamster, but dad is allergic to hamsters so he didn’t quite like the idea. But it’s still up to us to keep this hamster (he bought a Pudding Hamster and was happily holding its cage while saying this).
(He was very satisfied with the project this time) because I had the chance to meet this hamster. What bought me over was its fur and and colour. And that it seems quite fat (laugh). About its name, well even if I give it a name my mom will change it anyway. I’ll report about it next month!
ARASHI DISCOVERY 2005.05.04
Everyone, do you keep pets? I kept hamsters when I was younger.
A while ago, really, for a magazine project there was something like “let’s go to the pet shop”, and I went. When I did, the shop had hamsters. “Ah, so cute,” I thought, and bought one (laugh) Ah, it’s really cute. Hamsters are great, really, they’re not that smelly either. Just about the size of a palm. I really like them. Ah, I bought one just like that. I had a Djungarian Hamster about 7-8 years ago, this time I bought a Pudding Hamster. Pudding Hamster, I wonder if it’s because their colours are like pudding. So it’s like beige series. Ah, he’s so cute. When I brought him home, everyone was so happy about it. My mom, she’s all over him (laugh) She kept looking at him. But, even though I’m the one who bought him, he seems to stick to my mom a lot. When I put him on my palm, thinking “wa~ so cute”, “ah, hamsters are so warm”, then, after another good look…. he’s gone, really (laugh) He hates me that much? I thought. Well, I’ll be keeping a pet from now on, I’ll do my part as a parent and take care of him the best I can!
DUET 2005 July issue
The hamster I bought during the shooting for last month’s issue of Duet is doing really well. His name is “Sen”. Because he has a line (sen) on his back so my mom named him that way. But, I call it Hamu or Hamutarou (Hamtaro). His fur is really beautiful, he’s very very cute. When I tap my knees he’ll come, thinking that he’ll get food. Some time before this, just when I was thinking he’s behaving quite well while sitting on my knees, he peed… He’s closer to my mom compared to me. It seems like he can’t help liking her and liking her a lot. My mom bathes him everyday using a small basin and he seems to enjoy it very much. Sometimes he even falls asleep. He’s already part of the family.
ARASHI DISCOVERY 2005.07.26
Everyone have you had any scary experience lately? Well, it’s summer now, those kinds of experiences may come in bundles, you’ll never know. For me, recently, it happened about a week ago. I was tired when I went home, “ah~, I’m tired. I should sleep soon” and crawled into my bed. Then I heard “kasakasakasakasa, kasakasakasa”. “Oh my! Something’s there!” I thought, and went closer to where the sound came from. Apparently, that something, was my Sen-chan, the hamster… Yeah so that’s about it. How is it, everyone? Early in the morning, I’m sorry, really. Well this is how I spend my days, please do keep watch over me.
ARASHI DISCOVERY 2005.07.29
Well speaking of animals, I have a pet hamster. His name is Sen-chan. Well this guy probably won’t get married, for life. Umm~ (laugh) because he thinks it’s good enough that I’m here. Recently, Sen-chan, he stuffs everything and anything into his mouth. Things like cabbage, sunflower seeds, he stuffs them in as much as he can. Some time ago, in the middle of the night, he stuffed tissue into his mouth, so much so that he couldn’t really close his mouth. Then he wanted to move over to his little nest. But I guess he felt sick, mid-way, he spit them out. It’s all tissue (laugh) I thought, if you want tissue you could’ve made a few trips. It seems like my Sen-chan is the type which settles everything in one go (laugh). He’s really amusing, everyday. Yes. Sen-chan is like that. I’d like to report about him next time when I have the chance.
ARASHI DISCOVERY 2005.08.09
Well, I also have a hamster, Sen-chan. A beach specially made for hamsters, I’d love to have someone make that for me too. It’s too hot to walk on, hahaha (laugh) real sand I mean. But, right, my hamster, Sen-chan, it’s gotten fatter again, this guy. If you’re wondering why, he eats anything at all, when I eat my bento and stuff, really, he comes close. Before this even I myself got eaten by him. Yes. I went back to my room after I had my meal. I let him run free in my room and when I went back to my room, he came up to me. Then while saying “oh~ so cute”, “Sen-chan, Sen-chan”, I leaned my face towards him, Sen-chan. Then, my lips got attacked. “Hey you this isn’t food!” I said. He eats everything and anything. Really I’ve got to be careful, this case. People who keep hamsters, let’s be careful that our hamsters don’t eat too much.
ARASHI DISCOVERY 2005.08.22
I too, though not a dog, have a pet. Sen-chan the hamster. But, recently, he’s not very active. Just when I was wondering why, he caught a cold. My Sen-chan. Speaking of why, I let him run free around my room, and when I turn on the cooler, Sen must’ve felt cold. And now he has a cold (laugh) Really, he goes like “kusyun kusyun”. Yes. When he gets better, I’ll report it to everyone. I’ll take care not to catch a cold myself too.
ARASHI DISCOVERY 2005.08.31
I keep a pet hamster Sen-chan now. If I have this robot, I can properly know how Sen-chan is. I can know immediately if he’s alright or not. But, I keep Sen-chan by letting him run free around the room. Yes. Even if I have this robot, instead it’ll be “look out, robot!” like that. I’ll be worried about that instead. Speaking of why, my Sen-chan, he goes everywhere and bites on everything. When I go home the robot is broken in half, things like that. How is that possible (laugh) Well, from now on, I’d like to talk about his tricks little by little.
ARASHI DISCOVERY 2005.10.06
I’m being controlled by a hamster everyday. But, the chore of taking care of him is going smoothly. Yes. I’m keeping a hamster now. I let him run free in my room. It was really bad the other day. I woke up in the morning. I went down from the bed and sat on the zabuton. “It hurts!” seem like he bit me somewhere, on my toe. The middle toe. He bit me real hard, “hey you, what are you doing!?” (laugh) “This is not food!” I thought. When he bit my foot, I picked him up and threw him. Yes. If he goes unpunished, he’ll be very full of himself. Well but then, he woke me up when I was just about to fall back to sleep again. Yes. From now on, I’ll report any incident caused by him.
ARASHI DISCOVERY 2005.10.19
My Sen-chan and my mom, these two, really I want you to apologize. You can apologize on behalf of both of you together too, mom. You know, I go home feeling tired, right? Mom, I understand how you’re very considerate. When I go home, everything’s changed and rearranged. The cabinet’s shifted, the whole layout is different. It’s fine if you could’ve just told me. But you changed everything without saying a thing. But, I’m happy no doubt. Then again, there is one problem. We have a hamster here. I keep my hamster running free in my room. Yes. So, my Sen-chan has his own place like on the bed, the corner of the cabinet, he has his place. But you changed the layout suddenly, my Sen-chan seems to be at lost and does not know where to go, pooping and peeing everywhere. Man, really, my room is no longer my room. I hope you’ll apologize. Since hamsters can’t talk I can’t expect anything from him. Mom, this is surprisingly an annoying blessing.
ARASHI DISCOVERY 2006.03.14
(Ohno used to have a dog named Don) Indeed hamsters suit me better. Sen-chan the hamster is doing great, please don’t worry.
ARASHI DISCOVERY 2006.06.27
I have a pet too. Eh, I haven’t talked about him in a while, Sen-chan the hamster! People who are listening to this show, “how is Sen-chan doing?”, I guess there are a lot of people asking that question. I’m taking care of him properly! I’m taking care of him properly, please don’t worry (laugh) But I can’t go on vacation with Sen-chan. Yes. You see, I can’t just put him in my pocket and go off like that. He’d need a cage right? What shall he eat? Problems like that keep popping up. For example if I bring him out for a walk, he might be taken away by a bird or something. It’s possible! How scary! I got scared just by thinking about it now! Fuhahahaha (laugh) Well, he’s at my home. My hamster Sen-chan is doing great, please don’t worry!
ARASHI DISCOVERY 2006.09.28
I played with Choro-Q before too. It’s great, this thing. Just now a staff told me “wouldn’t it be nice to let Sen-chan have this as a playmate?”, the hamster I have at home. Impossible! That’s for sure (laugh) That guy, he won’t play at all! He won’t play with me at all. No matter what I do. He doesn’t play with me at all recently you know! That’s why, even if I let him play with Choro-Q I think he wouldn’t play with it. He won’t even bother. That guy, he’s really full of himself! That feeling. Really. Perhaps pets are similar to their owners? But I’m not full of myself! Yes. So I guess, from now on, Sen-chan, I shall give him a lecture!
DUET 2007 January issue
(Something that you cried over recently)
The hamster Sen-chan that I started keeping after ArashIZM project passed away. I’ve been busy lately so my mom has been taking care of Sen-chan, but no matter how much he ate he kept becoming thinner… I guess he was sick. And, when I went home in the middle of the night he passed away peacefully as if he were sleeping. I held Sen-chan in my palm, and cried for a long time.