Thank you Arashi!
Where to start...?
Ah yes... an email from JFC came to my inbox, notifying that there is an "important" message from Arashi. And suddenly I'd got a baaad feeling. What kind of important message that Arashi would want us to know in the middle of their 5x20 tour? Only 2 days after Sho-san's birthday? The feeling intensified when I looked at their solemn expression, and I expected the worst.
This can't be happening. My hunch was right. Arashi will be on hiatus starting 1 January 2021.
I couldn't think. I repeated the video over and over again. There must be some mistakes. Did I misheard something? Did I mistranslate? Did Oh-chan misspoke?
Then, I opened Twitter. My timeline is flooded by news of their hiatus.
It was just last year I lamented T&T disbanding and Takki's retirement. And now Arashi?
My mind was full of preconceptions. Did they fight? Did they have troubles with the agency? Did they have conflict with certain people in the entertainment business? Or God forbid: did they have a scandal?
And then came the press conference. It was a relief because the reason for their hiatus is none of the awful things aforementioned. But then, reality sank in. Loneliness started to seep in. And suddenly I felt very heartbroken. A part of me is thankful because this is Sunday. I'm not at work. And no one will see me cry. But cry I did. I couldn't imagine that in 2 years, we won't be able to see the 5 of them together again. I don't know when, but they became the constant in my life. It was because of them I can move forward with my life.
They are simply the best group I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Their humbleness. Their closeness with each other. Kindness towards stafffs and fans. Stoic professionalism. Brilliant concerts. Unparalleled dedication to their work. And so much more...
I know I won't be able to meet them in person, ever, but... they're like family. Like that distant family who keep cheering you on whatever happens in your life. Beside you in every step you take. Through their songs, their shows, their concerts, their dramas and movies.
A lot of feelings going on my mind right now. On one hand, there is sadness, disappointment, doubt, disbelief, a little bit (truly just a little bit) of anger, misery, heartache... and other negative emotions. But on the other hand, there is gratitude, appreciation, respect, admiration, warmth, kindness, affection... and a lot of positive feelings you can think of. With the positive ones outweigh the negative ones. So I guess, it's a plus rather than minus or zero? :)
Keep thinking positive is what needed right now. Because they themselves said that there is no fight among them. They reached this decision with no hard feelings. Just an understanding of each and every member.
I think... it's time to kindly see them off. They have given us a lot of things. It's the least we can do for them. Every decision, every action they take, they do it with us, their fans, in the forefront of their minds. For that I am truly grateful and proud to be in the fandom. I believe everything will be okay, because no one loves Arashi than Arashi themselves. I believe in the five of you.
So Ohno-kun, Sho-san, Aiba-kun, Nino-san, Matsujun-san, words can't describe the gratitude I feel. Thank you for thinking of us. And may these two years be the years full of good memories. We will be with you along the way. So don't worry. We'll still be here as Arashi's fans.
Thank you, Arashi!
P.S.: Parts of this post have been posted in my twitter account.
Ah yes... an email from JFC came to my inbox, notifying that there is an "important" message from Arashi. And suddenly I'd got a baaad feeling. What kind of important message that Arashi would want us to know in the middle of their 5x20 tour? Only 2 days after Sho-san's birthday? The feeling intensified when I looked at their solemn expression, and I expected the worst.
This can't be happening. My hunch was right. Arashi will be on hiatus starting 1 January 2021.
I couldn't think. I repeated the video over and over again. There must be some mistakes. Did I misheard something? Did I mistranslate? Did Oh-chan misspoke?
Then, I opened Twitter. My timeline is flooded by news of their hiatus.
It was just last year I lamented T&T disbanding and Takki's retirement. And now Arashi?
My mind was full of preconceptions. Did they fight? Did they have troubles with the agency? Did they have conflict with certain people in the entertainment business? Or God forbid: did they have a scandal?
And then came the press conference. It was a relief because the reason for their hiatus is none of the awful things aforementioned. But then, reality sank in. Loneliness started to seep in. And suddenly I felt very heartbroken. A part of me is thankful because this is Sunday. I'm not at work. And no one will see me cry. But cry I did. I couldn't imagine that in 2 years, we won't be able to see the 5 of them together again. I don't know when, but they became the constant in my life. It was because of them I can move forward with my life.
They are simply the best group I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Their humbleness. Their closeness with each other. Kindness towards stafffs and fans. Stoic professionalism. Brilliant concerts. Unparalleled dedication to their work. And so much more...
I know I won't be able to meet them in person, ever, but... they're like family. Like that distant family who keep cheering you on whatever happens in your life. Beside you in every step you take. Through their songs, their shows, their concerts, their dramas and movies.
A lot of feelings going on my mind right now. On one hand, there is sadness, disappointment, doubt, disbelief, a little bit (truly just a little bit) of anger, misery, heartache... and other negative emotions. But on the other hand, there is gratitude, appreciation, respect, admiration, warmth, kindness, affection... and a lot of positive feelings you can think of. With the positive ones outweigh the negative ones. So I guess, it's a plus rather than minus or zero? :)
Keep thinking positive is what needed right now. Because they themselves said that there is no fight among them. They reached this decision with no hard feelings. Just an understanding of each and every member.
I think... it's time to kindly see them off. They have given us a lot of things. It's the least we can do for them. Every decision, every action they take, they do it with us, their fans, in the forefront of their minds. For that I am truly grateful and proud to be in the fandom. I believe everything will be okay, because no one loves Arashi than Arashi themselves. I believe in the five of you.
So Ohno-kun, Sho-san, Aiba-kun, Nino-san, Matsujun-san, words can't describe the gratitude I feel. Thank you for thinking of us. And may these two years be the years full of good memories. We will be with you along the way. So don't worry. We'll still be here as Arashi's fans.
Thank you, Arashi!
P.S.: Parts of this post have been posted in my twitter account.