[TRANS] "A group that surpasses Arashi will not appear." It may be Ohno's real feelings.
Also on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/arashickarened/status/1346101398656569344?s=20
Translation of this Nikkan Sports interview under the cut. Read it in conjunction with Nikkan Sport's last interview of Arashi here.
Another group may rise up and surpass Arashi in sales in the future. But in terms of Arashi's soft power: how they won widespread recognition even by non-fans, across age groups, and created many intangible assets in fans' lives and shared memories?
When the whole industry acknowledges and, dare I say, celebrates their success (not downplaying the commercial factor), when so many current/ex-staff, guests, fellow artistes, senpais send their well wishes, when kouhais see them as someone to aspire after...
Arashi is indeed top. I don't think anyone can surpass them. And we are allowed to think that.
If we continue to deny the obvious out of humility, isn't that a form of hypocrisy?
For fans at least, they can never be surpassed. Fans may move on, but will they find another Arashi?
Here in this separate article, it says
"The entertainment scene was indeed in a state of "Arashi Festival". Starting from the music shows of each TV station, TBS's Japan Record Awards, NHK's Kouhaku, and then the livestream concert. Up to the moment of hiatus, it was all about Arashi."
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"A group that surpasses Arashi will not appear." It may be Ohno's real feelings.
On 31 December, Arashi held a live streamed concert "This is 嵐 Live" at the Tokyo Dome and entered into hiatus. The national ido group has entered into "Sunday" (T/N: Rest day) after running for 21 years since debut. It's expected that the hiatus period will be for at least a few years.
It was a surprise. In December, Arashi responded to interviews by news outlets such as Nikkan Sports, and was asked, "Will there be another group appearing in the future, that will surpass Arashi?" At first, Ninomiya Kazunari replied, "No, I don't think it will appear" causing the members to laugh at his comeback. And then, the leader Ohno Satoshi said, with a straight face, "Well, actually, for real, I think it won't appear". That led to even more laughter.
Of course, that was a lip-service joke, but even that was surprising, because Arashi members are basically humble and unobstrusive. Not many members would actively come to the front and the so-called "center" is not fixed. It's also said that "Everyone stands at the center".
"One reason why Arashi has become so popular is the humanity of the members who do not stand out at the front too much," said a TV station personnel. There is a spirit of concession and the members respect each other. In a sense, it is a very Japanese and modest group.
What left the great impression during the 2 years since they announced their hiatus in January 2019 was how the other 4 persons supported and protected Ohno who had broached the hiatus topic. Of course, there were many fans and related parties who felt sad about the hiatus. In the midst of that, I felt the strong will of "Do not make Ohno the only bad guy."
In August 2019, during NTV's 24 Hour TV 42, for which they were the appointed main personalities, there was a scene where Aiba told the members, "Let's definitely do group activities in the near future!" Following the broadcast, the other 4 were asked about their feelings towards Aiba's words. However, before Ohno's turn came, the respondent had moved on to another topic. A related personnel speculated, "They must have realised that it'd be difficult for Ohno to reply, and made it such that the question doesn't reach Ohno's turn. It's because of the many years of being together that such teamwork was possible."
Riida who is always humbly saying, "I haven't done anything", who brings excitement to the place when he gets teased by the members. Running for 21 years since debut, and after 2 years from the hiatus announcement, he is probably thankful not just to fans and industry personnel, but also to the members.
"A group that surpasses Arashi will not appear." It may not be just lip-service but Ohno's real feelings.
