[Non FF] - 29 January
29 January 2011,
I rarely talk about how I become Arashian, and maybe no one was interested either as all Arashian has their own story, but let me share mine.
It was on the above-said date that I found 5 men called Arashi. Not that I haven’t known them before, but I just didn’t realize there’s a group called Arashi. Sure I’ve watched Hana Yori Dango, and ‘Wish’ is the first Japanese song that I memorized, but no, I never realized there was a group called Arashi.
So, on that day, my friend invited me to fill in her brother’s seat for Arashi’s concert DVD screening that was held by InoArashi here, in Blitz GI Jakarta. My first impression was, ‘wow. That’s a HUGE stage!’ song’s after songs coming, which I don’t know the words but other around me screaming nonetheless. I was amazed at the audience at the moment, I mean, we were just watching a DVD, no real person was standing in front of us, but they scream anyway. Then ‘Wish’ come up… ‘wait, I know this song, why they sang it?’ I asked my friend who look at me weirdly ‘it’s their song’ ‘oh, so Wish was sang by this group’.
I remember insisting that ‘Domyouji’ is the leader of the group, so when the time my friend pointing the ‘real’ leader of the group, I hardly believed her, ‘that one? The short chubby one? Why? Jun was more appropriate to be the leader.’ Then ‘Monster’ coming up, damn, how wrong I’ve been. I was instantly stunned when he turned with his hand extended like he was literary grabbing for my soul, which he actually did. And I was captivated ever since.
Starting that day, I look more for their songs, shows, concerts, dramas and anything related to them, especially to a man named Ohno Satoshi. I was at the lowest point at the last 2 years before that. Going through a lot of things that had me think dying was not a bad option. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll see me smiling even laughing, but then I still have that side deep down inside at that moment. When I heard Arashi’s songs, seeing their TV shows and concert, I lost in their world. A world that shows me there will be a rainbow after the rain, a place to accept me as myself and not what anyone expects from me, that it was okay to crumple but stand up after that and start running towards the light. I lost myself, my thought, my depression by hearing their songs, I feel that I should try living, which I did until now.
So if anyone asked me what is Arashi? I’d say they are my savior. They have given me strength, joy, smiles, laughter, dreams, and encourage me to be a better human being. They challenge me to do things that I never thought I’d do, like going solo travel to Japan and learning the Japanese language. They challenge me to open up to strangers, talk to new people, find friends even sisters in Arashian.
I learn a new way of leading from Ohno Satoshi, I learn that there was nothing impossible from Sakurai Sho, I learn to not ever give up from Aiba Masaki, I learn to accept myself and stop fulfilling other’s expectation from Ninomiya Kazunari, and I learn to put my aim high from Matsumoto Jun. I love them.
They have given me a lot. What more do I want? What right do I have to demand something from them? When they decided to go on hiatus, cease all their run for a while so they could look the view around them, it does hurt. A lot. I feel my soul leaving me. But then, seeing them in the press conference, still smiling, laughing, joking around when their eyes were all glassy, I know it was harder for them.
They who had given me strength are now making a hard decision, maybe almost as the same state as me, or any other Arashian before we meet Arashi, crumpling to the ground. Then I believe it is my time to be their strength, to be the one giving them love and support they well deserve. It is now our -Arashian - part to protect and taking care of ‘their home’ so when the 5 of Arashi will return from their summer vacation, we all could welcome them with a loud ‘OKAERI NASAI’.
Yesterday, 28 January 2019, I got my FC Membership number. I know it may not help much and maybe some will find it a waste of money since Arashi will go on their leave about 2 years from now, but not for me. Because I know, ever since 29 January 2011, until today, 29 January 2019, or until 29 January 2020, 2021 and even more, I will always stay as a proud Arashian. In Arashi's math, 5 x us=∞
#今日から嵐ファン全員で嵐5人幸せにしてやるよ
ps: sorry it's not an FF, just long random rant to prepare #大野くんの夏休み