[Arashi] Idol wo sagase! - Ending their era by their own hands, therein lies Arashi's greatness
Long time no translate!
"Idol wo sagase!" is a regular column in Aera that is written by Mitz Mangrove, who became famous for his cross-dressing and flamboyance on variety shows but is actually a Keio graduate (in political science within the law department!) and a very intelligent man. You may also know of him as the Sho fanboy who loves his naked anan spread! In the latest article he decided to talk about Arashi, which I thought was very interesting so I decided to translate it especially given how he has worked with them before.
Enjoy, and feel free to share your thoughts!
Idol wo sagase! - Ending their era by their own hands, therein lies Arashi's greatness
Along with a sense of shock, my honest reaction to it was "Arashi's dependable to the very end". And I'm not being sarcastic, nor am I insinuating anything. All along, they've been extremely sincere, thoughtful and also very levelheaded, to the point where you want to ask if idols even need to be so well put together. I would go so far as to say that they truly are a group that singlehandly bore an idol image suitable for the Japanese society in the new millenium.
There's always a distinct air of tension whenever I'm working with Arashi. By that, I mean it feels like disturbing that atmosphere they've created on their shows is practically like ruining the sense of peace and happiness in society, or in people's living rooms. Even so, I still like working with Arashi. They try their best to conceal all the risks and strains of being an idol; seeing the way they go about their business so calmly is almost like listening to classical music. Yet they have an overflowing sense of evanescence and magnificence that has been stretched thin, more so than any other idol. Just being in the same space gives you a marked feeling of "The transience of an era". That being said, it doesn't mean they give off aloof vibes that make it hard to get close to them. They have times when they show that they're human too, such as openly looking tired instead of putting on airs when we make eye contact on occasion. And more so than anything else, even when eccentric characters like myself go on their shows, they don't overreact or act overly gentlemanly. They're just neutral. In short, they help set the same bar for eccentric characters as they do everybody else. My own eccentricity naturally stands out more as a result, and I get the impression that I always give off a better performance than usual whenever I'm on Arashi's shows. I know this is extremely unusual when it comes to variety shows, but I feel like this "Arashi-like stance" could very well be the crux of the "modern idol image" that Arashi has established for itself.
Setting aside whether or not this crux is one of their techniques or something else, for these people who are able to do this without any effort at all, it's exhausting to continue doing mainstream "idol business" forever. Fundamentally, idols are supposed to be more innocent and carefree, able to do as they please and be allowed to do so. So it's strange that Ohno-kun said "I want to live freely" at the press conference. However, the "idol image" that Arashi currently has is actually un-idol-like in that they're bogged down by restrictions and contradictions. When you try to imagine what the future holds for these "eternal idols" and "lifelong idols"....
Humans are at a loss when they become aware of the "now" that continues endlessly, yet they're also creatures that can't help but get caught up in it. But Arashi took their own responsibilities seriously be it as providence, as a business, or as a commodity, and made a decision that everyone felt was "Arashi-like". They're amazing people, through and through.
In the past, changing times played a role in forcing a limit on everything that's currently "in", but now we're in an era where you can control your own moment, for better or worse. A prime example of that is the prolonged longevity of an idol. And with Arashi being the absolute number one idol in such an era, hearing that their decision is to take a "hiatus" rather than "disband" just makes the feeling all the more pronounced.
One of my favourite Arashi songs is a single called "Jidai" that was released in 2001. "This is the time when you can get anything / Everything you want to do is up to you" "In the darkness / A giant market beckons to you with its power / Imagination / Decisiveness / What truly matters is your own heart". It's a classic song and somewhere in the rapid-fire questions of Sho-kun's still-fresh rap lies a cause and effect. I've been listening to nothing but this song all week.
"Idol wo sagase!" is a regular column in Aera that is written by Mitz Mangrove, who became famous for his cross-dressing and flamboyance on variety shows but is actually a Keio graduate (in political science within the law department!) and a very intelligent man. You may also know of him as the Sho fanboy who loves his naked anan spread! In the latest article he decided to talk about Arashi, which I thought was very interesting so I decided to translate it especially given how he has worked with them before.
Enjoy, and feel free to share your thoughts!
Idol wo sagase! - Ending their era by their own hands, therein lies Arashi's greatness
Along with a sense of shock, my honest reaction to it was "Arashi's dependable to the very end". And I'm not being sarcastic, nor am I insinuating anything. All along, they've been extremely sincere, thoughtful and also very levelheaded, to the point where you want to ask if idols even need to be so well put together. I would go so far as to say that they truly are a group that singlehandly bore an idol image suitable for the Japanese society in the new millenium.
There's always a distinct air of tension whenever I'm working with Arashi. By that, I mean it feels like disturbing that atmosphere they've created on their shows is practically like ruining the sense of peace and happiness in society, or in people's living rooms. Even so, I still like working with Arashi. They try their best to conceal all the risks and strains of being an idol; seeing the way they go about their business so calmly is almost like listening to classical music. Yet they have an overflowing sense of evanescence and magnificence that has been stretched thin, more so than any other idol. Just being in the same space gives you a marked feeling of "The transience of an era". That being said, it doesn't mean they give off aloof vibes that make it hard to get close to them. They have times when they show that they're human too, such as openly looking tired instead of putting on airs when we make eye contact on occasion. And more so than anything else, even when eccentric characters like myself go on their shows, they don't overreact or act overly gentlemanly. They're just neutral. In short, they help set the same bar for eccentric characters as they do everybody else. My own eccentricity naturally stands out more as a result, and I get the impression that I always give off a better performance than usual whenever I'm on Arashi's shows. I know this is extremely unusual when it comes to variety shows, but I feel like this "Arashi-like stance" could very well be the crux of the "modern idol image" that Arashi has established for itself.
Setting aside whether or not this crux is one of their techniques or something else, for these people who are able to do this without any effort at all, it's exhausting to continue doing mainstream "idol business" forever. Fundamentally, idols are supposed to be more innocent and carefree, able to do as they please and be allowed to do so. So it's strange that Ohno-kun said "I want to live freely" at the press conference. However, the "idol image" that Arashi currently has is actually un-idol-like in that they're bogged down by restrictions and contradictions. When you try to imagine what the future holds for these "eternal idols" and "lifelong idols"....
Humans are at a loss when they become aware of the "now" that continues endlessly, yet they're also creatures that can't help but get caught up in it. But Arashi took their own responsibilities seriously be it as providence, as a business, or as a commodity, and made a decision that everyone felt was "Arashi-like". They're amazing people, through and through.
In the past, changing times played a role in forcing a limit on everything that's currently "in", but now we're in an era where you can control your own moment, for better or worse. A prime example of that is the prolonged longevity of an idol. And with Arashi being the absolute number one idol in such an era, hearing that their decision is to take a "hiatus" rather than "disband" just makes the feeling all the more pronounced.
One of my favourite Arashi songs is a single called "Jidai" that was released in 2001. "This is the time when you can get anything / Everything you want to do is up to you" "In the darkness / A giant market beckons to you with its power / Imagination / Decisiveness / What truly matters is your own heart". It's a classic song and somewhere in the rapid-fire questions of Sho-kun's still-fresh rap lies a cause and effect. I've been listening to nothing but this song all week.