Arashi Blast Concert Report 9/19 & 9/20
I remember first hearing about the tickets being sold through Ticketmaster and really had no intention of going. I mean how could I possibly afford it. I'm a single mom for crying out loud I have responsibilities and all that adult shit going on. I remember clearly the day they went on sale. I logged on with no intention of buying a ticket, and next thing I know...CLICK... I had a ticket for Friday and only Friday. After the initial shock of what I had done set in I remember thinking, "Ok, now what?" I remember someone on Tumblr posting about a group on LJ that had found of everyone going so I hopped on. In a matter of days I had bought a concert ticket, a plane ticket and found a hotel. It was on LJ that I met Kiri and saw that she was looking for a roomie. Well, my room at the time had an extra bed so "YOO HOO!! Hey perfect stranger want to room with me??" "Sure!!" We then spent the next few weeks talking on Twitter and Line. I also did something kind of crazy. Since I am a travel agent I decided to try and find transportation from the Waikiki area to the venue for everyone in our group. This task stressed me out for days and weeks, but in the end I found a company and it seemed to come together, then something crazy happened. Since I am a travel agent I contacted my rep at the Ko Olina and just asked if they had any available rooms, I knew deep down this was a long shot, but I so wanted to stay at this hotel. She called me back a couple of days later and what do you know...we now had a room at the venue sight. Somehow when that fell into place I kind of felt like it was fate that I should take this trip.
I was at the airport at 4:30am on Thursday with a belly full of nerves and a LONG flight ahead of me. It's kind of funny really. I won't go to a restaurant or to the movies alone, but I thought nothing (at the time) of getting on a plane and flying 5,000 miles by myself. I remember thinking to myself, how the heck am I going to find this girl in a sea of people at the Honolulu airport. I told her I would have on a bright yellow "Nino" scarf. It took all of three seconds to spot her and we hugged like we were long lost friends. It's like being Arashi fans immediately made us like family. We hopped in a cab and headed straight to Ala Moana, and I remember kind of disappointed that I didn't see more Arashi stuff along the way.
First stop was right to the shop and OMG the line for the radio station tickets was so crazy long. We didn't have to wait long in line at the shop and it was so surreal being there. After seeing pictures on line for so long of the Blast Shop it was kind of weird to be standing there in the middle of it. We got our goods and then went on the hunt for the huge poster with their faces on it. We turned the corner and I saw a punch of people taking pictures of a wall and sure enough BAM!! There were their five amazing faces. We ended up taking a cab out to the Ko Olina, and thank god because I don't think either of us could have handled a bus ride. Bless Kiri's heart she waited for me at the airport for FIVE hours. She deserves a medal for that alone.
We talked the whole way non-stop, hard to believe we had just met each other. That's something that people in line kept saying to us all weekend too. We kind of started freaking out a little bit when we saw two helicopters that were flying close to the resort. We had all heard the rumors about the helicopters so we thought maybe...just maybe that could be them. As we drove up to the Ko Olina we caught our first glimpse of the back of the stage and you would have thought they were standing right in front of us. As we were checking in we heard them rehearsing. WHAT?? That's no just a sound check, they were TALKING!! Those voices you don't forget and you recognize them instantly. We literally ran to our room, through our stuff down and went to find them.
From the room to the venue was litterally down a sidewalk and out a gate and there they were. We kept telling ourselves we were going to spoil the concert for ourselves, but we could not move. Every time another song came up we would squeal and just smile and giggle. Sho-chan was the first one I saw. His unmistakeable face on this huge screen and then this figure on the stage below that mirrored him. As we watched we realized that Jun was not actually rehearsing with them, but a girl was standing in for him. We could hear him though and it was then that I knew 100% just how involved he really is in directing their concerts. You hear rumors, but until you see it in action you just never know. Toward the end of rehearsal we noticed that Nino was just done. You could tell he was tired (they all were) and he had just had it. Well, now we know that was probably when he started not feeling well.
Sleep that night was practically impossible and I remember Friday morning me and Kiri both laughing when GUTS started playing on her phone. We had a breakfast next to the beach, which was about the only time we saw the beach. We realized they were rehearsing that morning and stopped to watch and noticed some people were already in line. Well the rumor about seating not being assigned seemed to be confirmed, so we went and grabbed our stuff and grabbed a spot, which was pretty near the front. Everyone we met in line was so nice. It did get a little chaotic when some confusion about Ticketmaster vs. the radio station tickets popped up, but it didn't last long. Cecilia showed, she's a friend of Kiri's from Japan that flew over for the day and then Jess finally made it. I had met Jess on Tumblr and had picked up some goods for her and we just incorporated her into our little group, and thank god. I don't think our weekend would be complete without her. Kiri & Jess both made my weekend. It is weird talking to people online for weeks and months and suddenly there you are talking to their sweet, adorable faces and you're instantly friends. Kiri & Jess both came from Japan and I couldn't be happier for them to meet and hit it off.
Once we got into the venue I can't tell you how I felt. It's like time kind of blurred a little. Our seats were amazing on Friday, right next to the moving stage track. Friday honestly was a blur to me. I think it is because I was trying to take everything in. When the countdown started to play of the boys on the screen starting at 1999 this vibe passed through the crowd and then there it was...the helicopter. It was really them. You could see them waving down at us. When they landed and then entered as A.Ra.Shi started playing I stopped breathing for just a second. What I remember most about Friday is this Sho-chan was in our area a lot and he is so damn cute. The Aloha stage and My Girl and Everything left me breathless. During Kansha Kangeki Ame Arashi I FINALLY got a good look at Aiba-chan. And I mean a really good look. As the moving stage came by he knelt down right at the edge and he was right above me. I nearly lost it. When Ohno cried that first night during his speech I lost it. I have a hard time handling it when these guys cry, and he had such emotion in his voice.
Sleep Friday night was damn near impossible. How does one sleep after that? How could Saturday be any better? It was like I was tempting the fates just by thinking it. Kiri and I walked to the lagoon that night and just kind of relived the moments in kind of a state of shock. We knew Saturday was going to be crazy with people lining up early, so we had the brilliant idea of getting in line at 530am and taking turns going back to the room for breaks. Well that worked at first, but me, Kiri, Jess and Cristina (who we met at 6am that morning) formed a little support group and hunkered down to wait out the day. We had a little tent city going on.
I could say a lot of things about the line on Saturday and crowd control. The fact is I just don't think they had enough staff to handle the kind of crowd that showed up on Saturday. It was highly disorganized and could have been handled way better. Chaos errupted a few times and I'm kind of surprised no one got hurt. Once inside the venue it was a mad rush for seats, and we got amazing seats on Saturday. We were in D4 second row back from the stage right in the corner of the T stage. We had some drama break out in our section and I think everyone was just on edge and the heat certainly was not helping. I remember that rain clouds and SLOWLY been rolling in during the afternoon and I kept saying that I wish it would rain and I kept getting these looks, because we know what rain does to uchiwas right?? ;-)
Me, Kiri and Jess were literally the only non-Japanese people in our section. The lady in front of us was an Aiba-chan fan (I loved her already), but she would spend the concert making sure that Kiri got a good view of Jun. It was the sweetest thing and just one of those things that made me love Arashi fans even more.
So here we go again, the countdown started and my heart started beating so fast. I think it was because I KNEW how close I was this time. When they came through the stairs as A.Ra.Shi started I didn't even have to look at the screens. There were RIGHT there and I could see them so clearly. Ohno pulled off the one handed cartwheel that everyone has been gushing over and I could clearly see Aiba's bouncy hair. A.Ra.Shi is one of the first Arashi songs that I actually learned the words to and I loved that I could sing along without missing a single word. Next came Lucky Man and they were all over the main stage. I think Sho loves performing this song because he was in his element just drawing off the crowd. Next came Gori Muchuu and here they came. WHAT?? They were coming down the center RIGHT FOR US!! I noticed on Saturday that Nino was taking his time, and after hearing that he missed rehearsal that morning it was just good to see him at all. The got down to where we were and broke off and he came Leader who is just so damned tiny and cute and making his connections with fans. He was all smiles and then OMG Aiba stopped right in front of us. This is NOT happening. I thought I would lose it, but we were just singing and dancing along, but let me tell you that man looks so damn good in red.
Next came Hadashi No Mirai and between songs I saw the guys all grab water which was good, because Friday I didn't really see anyone but Jun drinking water. They had their mic stands for this one and hello Aiba wiggle right in my face. Kind of how I know Kiri was focused on Jun, I was all eyes on Aiba-chan. I just kept thinking, holy shit he's right there and he can dance and HE'S SO DAMNED PERFECT!! If I remember correctly they shed their longer coats after this while clips from the Pikanchi movies played. They were all center stage and it was raised when Pikanchi started. The last time I had watched this performance was when Aiba did it solo so seeing all the guys do it was amazing. I love this song and was just mesmerized. They went right into Pikanchi Double which I actually love the choreography too. At the end of the song Jun was facing our section and was looking right toward us. I remember thinking "Is he looking at us?" and then it dawns on me HE IS LOOKING AT KIRI AND HER UCHIWA. It was kind of funny because I remember leaning over a little so he could see her and he had this smirk on his face. It was that "cool Jun" look, and it was just perfect. After they disappeared I thought Kiri would die right there. She was hugging Jess so hard and I was just so happy for her.
A VTR rolled while they did a costume change and the thing that stood out to me was just how surprised these guys are by their success. Aiba was saying that he was surprised people outside of Japan recognized them, but they would call out their names. Jun talking about how they really came together when Sho broke his hand. The one thing that always gets me with these guys is how humble they are about their success. I don't really think they ever expected it and I think even now after so long they almost can't believe they are still so successful.
Love So Sweet started and the crowd does not miss a beat with singing along. If I remember right this was my first good look at Nino when they came back down. Nino is so cute with fans and I swear sometimes he looks like he is in his own little world. During Love So Sweet Jun stopped right in front of us and did this little twirl thing and for a brief second "cool Jun" was gone and "happy Jun" was right in front of us. Let me tell you, Jun is a good looking guy up close. Not that you don't already know that, but Jun was really the one I was most curious about. I really wondered if he would be in "cool" mode all night or if I'd see playful Jun, and let me tell you he was SO happy and in his element. Jun is a born performer!! Next up was Oh Yeah! and this is when they were going all over the place on the moving stages and carts. Leader is so good at spotting his fans and connecting with them. They all are, but Leader seems to have a special knack for it.
Kitto Daijoubou was next and I LOVE this song. It's just a fun song and I love the choreography and by this point they were on the stage in the back. You know the "Whoa" part of that song. I loved hearing all the fans singing and waving their penlights to it. Step & Go came next and is there any Arashi fan that doesn't like this song? The place practically exploded when it started. What is it about this song that we all seem to love so much? Maybe for me it was seeing the making of and remembering a moment when Aiba pinched Sho's ass, but that's another story for another time. Up next was Happiness... eek! Do you know how much I love Happiness?? It's my alarm tone. It is one of those songs that never fails to make me smile and the whole crowd was pumped. This song brought all back to the stage via moving stage or cart and at one point I look over and Aiba-chan is RIGHT there in the cart. All smiles and finger wiggles. I can't hadnle his adorable-ness.
Back up on the rising stage they did Believe where Sho messed up the choreography twice and just kept looking at Leader and laughing. It's the human side of these guys that gets me, especially when Mr. Perfect himself is the one screwing up. They tease him about this later, but right now is where my feels kick in. Because 5x10 is up.
Up to this point a huge storm cloud has been moving in on us, and it has been for HOURS. I kid you not it was the slowest moving cloud I've ever seen and now I somehow think Arashi has a direct connection to nature, because if this wasn't a special effect I don't know what is. I had been saying for a long time that I wanted it to rain during 5x10, because seeing the video of them singing it in the rain at Kokuritsu was something that was etched in my memory. I WANTED that experiece, some how I NEEDED it. 5x10 started and it didn't rain, instead right over their heads was this amazing dark cloud with the sun filtering around the edges. I couldn't help it and the tears just started flowing. They always do when I hear this song, but especially now. I just remember looking up at the their faces, seeing Leader tearing up a little and thinking "My god this is really happening!" It was PERFECT.
After this was a costume change and the cutest Sakumoto moment. These two on stage not making eye contact was pretty hysterical. Aiba & Ohno came back out and were talking about Aiba's movie and if I understood my Japanese correctly they were teasing him that it was a romance and asked him about kissing and he told them to stop. Jun creeps back out on stage right as Aiba is talking about the biscuits he has been eating every night before he goes to bed and Jun says "Biscuits!" and makes Aiba jump. Cue Sho not knowing which door to go through to go change, because Jun now has him all flustered. Jun was talking about how he could hear through his earpiece the guys eating lemons (to help with heatstroke) and they kept saying "Sour. It's so sour!" Nino comes back out and then disappears again and Sho comes out asking where Nino went.
The Aloha stage. The guys head over to a simple stage lit with tiki torches and a local band is set up and they perform a BEAUTIFUL Hawaiian arrangement of My Girl and Everything two of my favorite Arashi songs, and they've just made them even better. Friday night this was done against a gorgeous sunset. Saturday it was getting cloudy, but it was no less a gorgeous scene and their voices were just so well blended together. Next up were Summer Splash, which I believe is when Nino came right in front of us and then nailed the fanboy with the water canon. That was hysterical and Neener's cheeky grin when he bowed in "apology" was so funny. I seriously love that little shit. Carnival Night is always a fun song and the second time we got to see badass Leader do his backflip. Up til now it had only been sprinkling a little. Friday night Jun had helped Ohno out of his jacket and on Saturday Jun took of his own jacket and wiped the floor for Leader. Let's all take a minute to remember that Leader is 33 and hasn't done a backflip in concert in what....5 years. That's pretty damned impressive. He of course lands it with no problem and the crowd goes NUTS!
Cue another video and costume change and right on cue here comes the rain.
The guys come shooting up at center stage in that signature gold and black that only means one thing, but first Monster starts playing and the screens are put to some good use with the amazing graphics and fucking FIRE DANCERS!! Yea, you read that right!!. This leads into a killer remix of Face Down and a dance number that is so damn hot that leads right into Daremo Shiranai and now the rain is coming down in buckets and the cool as shit colored fire is going off and people are in kind of a frenzy. Just hold your shit, because things are about to get HOT!!! They make it to the rising stage and those unmistakable first notes of PARADOX start.
Arashi, Paradox and a downpour is some straight up porn. I seriously thought I was going to lose my shit. At first Aiba is right in front of us and that man looks GOOD wet. As they move around with all their thrusting and shaking Jun is right in front of us during his part. If you have seen the video you know exactly what I am talking about and seriously I think several women might be spontaneously pregnant now. The best is yet to come, because here come Nino and his is RIGHT in front of us for his butt wiggle and I thought Jess was going to faint. And then Sho...sonofabitch...hearing Sho's part live and when he does that sharp intake of breath that he does...ALL THE FEELS, but here it comes. They are back down on stage level and Leader and Aiba are right by our section and Abia is turned facing our section for the last PARADOX and I'm dead. Looking at that damned perfect face in the pouring rain. DONE!!!
Next is Your Eyes which puts Nino & Jun directly in front of us on the stages that went up and down at various times. This is when I made eye contact with Nino and Jun had his cool grin on, but I saw him look down at us a few times. Three distinctly American girls in a crowd of Japanese fans is kind of hard to miss I would think. And it's just pouring. Water is just cascading of Jun's arms. And I look over and Aiba is center stage on the raised stage and the spotlight hits him and seriously I was a goner again. I really cannot describe what that man does to me. But I'm about to get the moment to end all moments when Meikyuu Love Song.
The raised stages are down and they are criss crossing the stage and Aiba passes us to go the the end and then comes back, and that's when it happened. EYE CONTACT WITH AIBA-CHAN and that SMILE!! At first I thought I imagined it and this Cristina turned to me and said "Did he just...?" Yes, he fucking did!! Got a huge smile from Aiba, which made me day. I could have cried!!
Troublemaker & Wild At Heart came next and honestly they were kind of a blur, but I remember the guys were all over the venue again and making their way to the back. During Wild at Heart all I remember jumping up and down and feel the mud just splash everywhere and I just did not care one little bit.
Can we talk about GUTS!...in the pouring rain and fireworks. Guts is one of those songs that grew on me. I really didn't like it when I first heard it, but now it's another of my favorites. They started off on the back stage together and then got individual raising platforms that had them a good 30 feet in the air and then the fireworks. Fireworks in the pouring rain I swear it was magic. THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT AN ARASHI CONCERT WAS ALL ABOUT.
Kansha Kangeki Ame Arashi started and I can't explain what that song does to the crowd. Hearing everyone yell ARASHI is just amazing. The guys start yelling their "arigatos" and their goodbyes and poof they disappear down the stairs and it's only seconds before we are all chanting Arashi! Arashi!
They come back in their beautiful white coats to give their final messages. To be honest Aiba & Jun's are the only two I really remember. Aiba got so choked up and if I remember right he was talking about the fans in Japan that couldn't come, and he lost it, and well I was holding on ok until then and I just started sobbing. For one I already told you I can't handle their cry faces and two, to see Aiba's heart is a beautiful thing and Aiba loves Arashi fans. They all do, but I think Aiba really does hold a special place for them and it's beautiful. I also think it speaks to his character that he is still bothered after all this time that his lung collapsed and he was unable to perform with them the last time they were in Hawaii for Stand Up. Jun spoke about how he didn't know when in the last 15 years we had found Arashi and that it didn't matter, that we were all walking the same path together. Season started and the screens showed pictures of the guys from the last 15 years. They had recreated a picture they had taken on a road in Hawaii fifteen years ago and it just made me cry harder. I cried through Bittersweet, but how could I when Aiba and Nino both came back by us. Ohno, Sho and Jun all made it back around during Energy Song. I got to see Sho's bouncy hair in full effect and poor Leader the rain was no match for his gravity defying hair.
A.Ra.Shi started again and we knew the end was coming. We were all singing as they exited the stage and the screen came on showing them saying their final goodbyes to us and getting back into the helicopter...where poor Abia smacked his head getting in. Oh Baka-chan I adore you. The most beautiful moment had to be the crowd singing the final lines of A.Ra.Shi as they flew away. All of us waving our penlights and singing together. I think at that moment the lines pretty much blurred between Japanese and International fans, we were all just Arashi fans at that moment.
When it was all over and we were gathering up our soaked and muddy stuff I just kind of stopped. I looked around and I just got tears in my eyes. I think it was Kiri that asked me if I was ok and I just burst into tears. Saturday was everything I wanted in an Arashi concert. Great songs, the RAIN and being there with amazing friends. I felt that in that moment if I never again got to see Arashi live that it didn't matter I had seen the best show ever and I could be happy with the experience I had. Jess and Kiri and Cristina all just hugged me. There was no judgement, no "Is this girl crazy." I think they truly understood and bless their hearts they embraced me and told me there would be other concerts and we would all see each other again, and I believe them.
I came to Arashi Blast and met strangers and left Blast with friends that I know will be friends for a lifetime. I don't doubt that in my heart at all. That is one thing that Arashi gave me this weekend. Jun once said we were all sky-connected and that never wrang more true to me than it did this weekend. On my way home on the plane I actually wrote a letter to each of the members expressing my gratitude. I do plan on sending them, and who knows if they will ever actually be seen by them, but I simply had to tell them how five guys on the other side of the world changed my life over a weekend.
That may sound dramatic, but let me explain. Sho once said that he didn't believe his music could save anyone, and I am here to tell you that he is wrong. This weekend Arashi saved me from myself. In times past I have been so self-consumed and self-conscience and just afraid of the world around me. This weekend I stepped out and outside of myself to experience something bigger than I could imagine. As the rain came down in that venue, especially during GUTS I felt like a part of me was washed away. A part that feared life a little bit. I've always played it a little safe, but now hear I was and I could just feel that nothing from that moment on was going to be quite the same.
I don't know if that sounds incredibly cheesy, but it's how the moment felt and it's a feeling I've been carrying with me since I got back home.
To Kiri... I could not be more happy that I met you. How did I get so lucky to spend this incredible weekend with you? I feel like I have known you for ages and you are already dear to my heart. As Nino once said: "I'm glad that we met."
To Jess... my Tumblr buddy turned friend. How happy I am that we found each other and got the spend this incredible weekend together. You are a doll and I adore you! As Nino once said: "I'm glad that we met."
To Cristina... how did we get lucky enough to end up next to you in line so early in the morning? You completed our little group on Saturday and I am so happy that you did!! You've got a big heart and I adore you! As Nino once said: "I'm glad we met."
I was at the airport at 4:30am on Thursday with a belly full of nerves and a LONG flight ahead of me. It's kind of funny really. I won't go to a restaurant or to the movies alone, but I thought nothing (at the time) of getting on a plane and flying 5,000 miles by myself. I remember thinking to myself, how the heck am I going to find this girl in a sea of people at the Honolulu airport. I told her I would have on a bright yellow "Nino" scarf. It took all of three seconds to spot her and we hugged like we were long lost friends. It's like being Arashi fans immediately made us like family. We hopped in a cab and headed straight to Ala Moana, and I remember kind of disappointed that I didn't see more Arashi stuff along the way.
First stop was right to the shop and OMG the line for the radio station tickets was so crazy long. We didn't have to wait long in line at the shop and it was so surreal being there. After seeing pictures on line for so long of the Blast Shop it was kind of weird to be standing there in the middle of it. We got our goods and then went on the hunt for the huge poster with their faces on it. We turned the corner and I saw a punch of people taking pictures of a wall and sure enough BAM!! There were their five amazing faces. We ended up taking a cab out to the Ko Olina, and thank god because I don't think either of us could have handled a bus ride. Bless Kiri's heart she waited for me at the airport for FIVE hours. She deserves a medal for that alone.
We talked the whole way non-stop, hard to believe we had just met each other. That's something that people in line kept saying to us all weekend too. We kind of started freaking out a little bit when we saw two helicopters that were flying close to the resort. We had all heard the rumors about the helicopters so we thought maybe...just maybe that could be them. As we drove up to the Ko Olina we caught our first glimpse of the back of the stage and you would have thought they were standing right in front of us. As we were checking in we heard them rehearsing. WHAT?? That's no just a sound check, they were TALKING!! Those voices you don't forget and you recognize them instantly. We literally ran to our room, through our stuff down and went to find them.
From the room to the venue was litterally down a sidewalk and out a gate and there they were. We kept telling ourselves we were going to spoil the concert for ourselves, but we could not move. Every time another song came up we would squeal and just smile and giggle. Sho-chan was the first one I saw. His unmistakeable face on this huge screen and then this figure on the stage below that mirrored him. As we watched we realized that Jun was not actually rehearsing with them, but a girl was standing in for him. We could hear him though and it was then that I knew 100% just how involved he really is in directing their concerts. You hear rumors, but until you see it in action you just never know. Toward the end of rehearsal we noticed that Nino was just done. You could tell he was tired (they all were) and he had just had it. Well, now we know that was probably when he started not feeling well.
Sleep that night was practically impossible and I remember Friday morning me and Kiri both laughing when GUTS started playing on her phone. We had a breakfast next to the beach, which was about the only time we saw the beach. We realized they were rehearsing that morning and stopped to watch and noticed some people were already in line. Well the rumor about seating not being assigned seemed to be confirmed, so we went and grabbed our stuff and grabbed a spot, which was pretty near the front. Everyone we met in line was so nice. It did get a little chaotic when some confusion about Ticketmaster vs. the radio station tickets popped up, but it didn't last long. Cecilia showed, she's a friend of Kiri's from Japan that flew over for the day and then Jess finally made it. I had met Jess on Tumblr and had picked up some goods for her and we just incorporated her into our little group, and thank god. I don't think our weekend would be complete without her. Kiri & Jess both made my weekend. It is weird talking to people online for weeks and months and suddenly there you are talking to their sweet, adorable faces and you're instantly friends. Kiri & Jess both came from Japan and I couldn't be happier for them to meet and hit it off.
Once we got into the venue I can't tell you how I felt. It's like time kind of blurred a little. Our seats were amazing on Friday, right next to the moving stage track. Friday honestly was a blur to me. I think it is because I was trying to take everything in. When the countdown started to play of the boys on the screen starting at 1999 this vibe passed through the crowd and then there it was...the helicopter. It was really them. You could see them waving down at us. When they landed and then entered as A.Ra.Shi started playing I stopped breathing for just a second. What I remember most about Friday is this Sho-chan was in our area a lot and he is so damn cute. The Aloha stage and My Girl and Everything left me breathless. During Kansha Kangeki Ame Arashi I FINALLY got a good look at Aiba-chan. And I mean a really good look. As the moving stage came by he knelt down right at the edge and he was right above me. I nearly lost it. When Ohno cried that first night during his speech I lost it. I have a hard time handling it when these guys cry, and he had such emotion in his voice.
Sleep Friday night was damn near impossible. How does one sleep after that? How could Saturday be any better? It was like I was tempting the fates just by thinking it. Kiri and I walked to the lagoon that night and just kind of relived the moments in kind of a state of shock. We knew Saturday was going to be crazy with people lining up early, so we had the brilliant idea of getting in line at 530am and taking turns going back to the room for breaks. Well that worked at first, but me, Kiri, Jess and Cristina (who we met at 6am that morning) formed a little support group and hunkered down to wait out the day. We had a little tent city going on.
I could say a lot of things about the line on Saturday and crowd control. The fact is I just don't think they had enough staff to handle the kind of crowd that showed up on Saturday. It was highly disorganized and could have been handled way better. Chaos errupted a few times and I'm kind of surprised no one got hurt. Once inside the venue it was a mad rush for seats, and we got amazing seats on Saturday. We were in D4 second row back from the stage right in the corner of the T stage. We had some drama break out in our section and I think everyone was just on edge and the heat certainly was not helping. I remember that rain clouds and SLOWLY been rolling in during the afternoon and I kept saying that I wish it would rain and I kept getting these looks, because we know what rain does to uchiwas right?? ;-)
Me, Kiri and Jess were literally the only non-Japanese people in our section. The lady in front of us was an Aiba-chan fan (I loved her already), but she would spend the concert making sure that Kiri got a good view of Jun. It was the sweetest thing and just one of those things that made me love Arashi fans even more.
So here we go again, the countdown started and my heart started beating so fast. I think it was because I KNEW how close I was this time. When they came through the stairs as A.Ra.Shi started I didn't even have to look at the screens. There were RIGHT there and I could see them so clearly. Ohno pulled off the one handed cartwheel that everyone has been gushing over and I could clearly see Aiba's bouncy hair. A.Ra.Shi is one of the first Arashi songs that I actually learned the words to and I loved that I could sing along without missing a single word. Next came Lucky Man and they were all over the main stage. I think Sho loves performing this song because he was in his element just drawing off the crowd. Next came Gori Muchuu and here they came. WHAT?? They were coming down the center RIGHT FOR US!! I noticed on Saturday that Nino was taking his time, and after hearing that he missed rehearsal that morning it was just good to see him at all. The got down to where we were and broke off and he came Leader who is just so damned tiny and cute and making his connections with fans. He was all smiles and then OMG Aiba stopped right in front of us. This is NOT happening. I thought I would lose it, but we were just singing and dancing along, but let me tell you that man looks so damn good in red.
Next came Hadashi No Mirai and between songs I saw the guys all grab water which was good, because Friday I didn't really see anyone but Jun drinking water. They had their mic stands for this one and hello Aiba wiggle right in my face. Kind of how I know Kiri was focused on Jun, I was all eyes on Aiba-chan. I just kept thinking, holy shit he's right there and he can dance and HE'S SO DAMNED PERFECT!! If I remember correctly they shed their longer coats after this while clips from the Pikanchi movies played. They were all center stage and it was raised when Pikanchi started. The last time I had watched this performance was when Aiba did it solo so seeing all the guys do it was amazing. I love this song and was just mesmerized. They went right into Pikanchi Double which I actually love the choreography too. At the end of the song Jun was facing our section and was looking right toward us. I remember thinking "Is he looking at us?" and then it dawns on me HE IS LOOKING AT KIRI AND HER UCHIWA. It was kind of funny because I remember leaning over a little so he could see her and he had this smirk on his face. It was that "cool Jun" look, and it was just perfect. After they disappeared I thought Kiri would die right there. She was hugging Jess so hard and I was just so happy for her.
A VTR rolled while they did a costume change and the thing that stood out to me was just how surprised these guys are by their success. Aiba was saying that he was surprised people outside of Japan recognized them, but they would call out their names. Jun talking about how they really came together when Sho broke his hand. The one thing that always gets me with these guys is how humble they are about their success. I don't really think they ever expected it and I think even now after so long they almost can't believe they are still so successful.
Love So Sweet started and the crowd does not miss a beat with singing along. If I remember right this was my first good look at Nino when they came back down. Nino is so cute with fans and I swear sometimes he looks like he is in his own little world. During Love So Sweet Jun stopped right in front of us and did this little twirl thing and for a brief second "cool Jun" was gone and "happy Jun" was right in front of us. Let me tell you, Jun is a good looking guy up close. Not that you don't already know that, but Jun was really the one I was most curious about. I really wondered if he would be in "cool" mode all night or if I'd see playful Jun, and let me tell you he was SO happy and in his element. Jun is a born performer!! Next up was Oh Yeah! and this is when they were going all over the place on the moving stages and carts. Leader is so good at spotting his fans and connecting with them. They all are, but Leader seems to have a special knack for it.
Kitto Daijoubou was next and I LOVE this song. It's just a fun song and I love the choreography and by this point they were on the stage in the back. You know the "Whoa" part of that song. I loved hearing all the fans singing and waving their penlights to it. Step & Go came next and is there any Arashi fan that doesn't like this song? The place practically exploded when it started. What is it about this song that we all seem to love so much? Maybe for me it was seeing the making of and remembering a moment when Aiba pinched Sho's ass, but that's another story for another time. Up next was Happiness... eek! Do you know how much I love Happiness?? It's my alarm tone. It is one of those songs that never fails to make me smile and the whole crowd was pumped. This song brought all back to the stage via moving stage or cart and at one point I look over and Aiba-chan is RIGHT there in the cart. All smiles and finger wiggles. I can't hadnle his adorable-ness.
Back up on the rising stage they did Believe where Sho messed up the choreography twice and just kept looking at Leader and laughing. It's the human side of these guys that gets me, especially when Mr. Perfect himself is the one screwing up. They tease him about this later, but right now is where my feels kick in. Because 5x10 is up.
Up to this point a huge storm cloud has been moving in on us, and it has been for HOURS. I kid you not it was the slowest moving cloud I've ever seen and now I somehow think Arashi has a direct connection to nature, because if this wasn't a special effect I don't know what is. I had been saying for a long time that I wanted it to rain during 5x10, because seeing the video of them singing it in the rain at Kokuritsu was something that was etched in my memory. I WANTED that experiece, some how I NEEDED it. 5x10 started and it didn't rain, instead right over their heads was this amazing dark cloud with the sun filtering around the edges. I couldn't help it and the tears just started flowing. They always do when I hear this song, but especially now. I just remember looking up at the their faces, seeing Leader tearing up a little and thinking "My god this is really happening!" It was PERFECT.
After this was a costume change and the cutest Sakumoto moment. These two on stage not making eye contact was pretty hysterical. Aiba & Ohno came back out and were talking about Aiba's movie and if I understood my Japanese correctly they were teasing him that it was a romance and asked him about kissing and he told them to stop. Jun creeps back out on stage right as Aiba is talking about the biscuits he has been eating every night before he goes to bed and Jun says "Biscuits!" and makes Aiba jump. Cue Sho not knowing which door to go through to go change, because Jun now has him all flustered. Jun was talking about how he could hear through his earpiece the guys eating lemons (to help with heatstroke) and they kept saying "Sour. It's so sour!" Nino comes back out and then disappears again and Sho comes out asking where Nino went.
The Aloha stage. The guys head over to a simple stage lit with tiki torches and a local band is set up and they perform a BEAUTIFUL Hawaiian arrangement of My Girl and Everything two of my favorite Arashi songs, and they've just made them even better. Friday night this was done against a gorgeous sunset. Saturday it was getting cloudy, but it was no less a gorgeous scene and their voices were just so well blended together. Next up were Summer Splash, which I believe is when Nino came right in front of us and then nailed the fanboy with the water canon. That was hysterical and Neener's cheeky grin when he bowed in "apology" was so funny. I seriously love that little shit. Carnival Night is always a fun song and the second time we got to see badass Leader do his backflip. Up til now it had only been sprinkling a little. Friday night Jun had helped Ohno out of his jacket and on Saturday Jun took of his own jacket and wiped the floor for Leader. Let's all take a minute to remember that Leader is 33 and hasn't done a backflip in concert in what....5 years. That's pretty damned impressive. He of course lands it with no problem and the crowd goes NUTS!
Cue another video and costume change and right on cue here comes the rain.
The guys come shooting up at center stage in that signature gold and black that only means one thing, but first Monster starts playing and the screens are put to some good use with the amazing graphics and fucking FIRE DANCERS!! Yea, you read that right!!. This leads into a killer remix of Face Down and a dance number that is so damn hot that leads right into Daremo Shiranai and now the rain is coming down in buckets and the cool as shit colored fire is going off and people are in kind of a frenzy. Just hold your shit, because things are about to get HOT!!! They make it to the rising stage and those unmistakable first notes of PARADOX start.
Arashi, Paradox and a downpour is some straight up porn. I seriously thought I was going to lose my shit. At first Aiba is right in front of us and that man looks GOOD wet. As they move around with all their thrusting and shaking Jun is right in front of us during his part. If you have seen the video you know exactly what I am talking about and seriously I think several women might be spontaneously pregnant now. The best is yet to come, because here come Nino and his is RIGHT in front of us for his butt wiggle and I thought Jess was going to faint. And then Sho...sonofabitch...hearing Sho's part live and when he does that sharp intake of breath that he does...ALL THE FEELS, but here it comes. They are back down on stage level and Leader and Aiba are right by our section and Abia is turned facing our section for the last PARADOX and I'm dead. Looking at that damned perfect face in the pouring rain. DONE!!!
Next is Your Eyes which puts Nino & Jun directly in front of us on the stages that went up and down at various times. This is when I made eye contact with Nino and Jun had his cool grin on, but I saw him look down at us a few times. Three distinctly American girls in a crowd of Japanese fans is kind of hard to miss I would think. And it's just pouring. Water is just cascading of Jun's arms. And I look over and Aiba is center stage on the raised stage and the spotlight hits him and seriously I was a goner again. I really cannot describe what that man does to me. But I'm about to get the moment to end all moments when Meikyuu Love Song.
The raised stages are down and they are criss crossing the stage and Aiba passes us to go the the end and then comes back, and that's when it happened. EYE CONTACT WITH AIBA-CHAN and that SMILE!! At first I thought I imagined it and this Cristina turned to me and said "Did he just...?" Yes, he fucking did!! Got a huge smile from Aiba, which made me day. I could have cried!!
Troublemaker & Wild At Heart came next and honestly they were kind of a blur, but I remember the guys were all over the venue again and making their way to the back. During Wild at Heart all I remember jumping up and down and feel the mud just splash everywhere and I just did not care one little bit.
Can we talk about GUTS!...in the pouring rain and fireworks. Guts is one of those songs that grew on me. I really didn't like it when I first heard it, but now it's another of my favorites. They started off on the back stage together and then got individual raising platforms that had them a good 30 feet in the air and then the fireworks. Fireworks in the pouring rain I swear it was magic. THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT AN ARASHI CONCERT WAS ALL ABOUT.
Kansha Kangeki Ame Arashi started and I can't explain what that song does to the crowd. Hearing everyone yell ARASHI is just amazing. The guys start yelling their "arigatos" and their goodbyes and poof they disappear down the stairs and it's only seconds before we are all chanting Arashi! Arashi!
They come back in their beautiful white coats to give their final messages. To be honest Aiba & Jun's are the only two I really remember. Aiba got so choked up and if I remember right he was talking about the fans in Japan that couldn't come, and he lost it, and well I was holding on ok until then and I just started sobbing. For one I already told you I can't handle their cry faces and two, to see Aiba's heart is a beautiful thing and Aiba loves Arashi fans. They all do, but I think Aiba really does hold a special place for them and it's beautiful. I also think it speaks to his character that he is still bothered after all this time that his lung collapsed and he was unable to perform with them the last time they were in Hawaii for Stand Up. Jun spoke about how he didn't know when in the last 15 years we had found Arashi and that it didn't matter, that we were all walking the same path together. Season started and the screens showed pictures of the guys from the last 15 years. They had recreated a picture they had taken on a road in Hawaii fifteen years ago and it just made me cry harder. I cried through Bittersweet, but how could I when Aiba and Nino both came back by us. Ohno, Sho and Jun all made it back around during Energy Song. I got to see Sho's bouncy hair in full effect and poor Leader the rain was no match for his gravity defying hair.
A.Ra.Shi started again and we knew the end was coming. We were all singing as they exited the stage and the screen came on showing them saying their final goodbyes to us and getting back into the helicopter...where poor Abia smacked his head getting in. Oh Baka-chan I adore you. The most beautiful moment had to be the crowd singing the final lines of A.Ra.Shi as they flew away. All of us waving our penlights and singing together. I think at that moment the lines pretty much blurred between Japanese and International fans, we were all just Arashi fans at that moment.
When it was all over and we were gathering up our soaked and muddy stuff I just kind of stopped. I looked around and I just got tears in my eyes. I think it was Kiri that asked me if I was ok and I just burst into tears. Saturday was everything I wanted in an Arashi concert. Great songs, the RAIN and being there with amazing friends. I felt that in that moment if I never again got to see Arashi live that it didn't matter I had seen the best show ever and I could be happy with the experience I had. Jess and Kiri and Cristina all just hugged me. There was no judgement, no "Is this girl crazy." I think they truly understood and bless their hearts they embraced me and told me there would be other concerts and we would all see each other again, and I believe them.
I came to Arashi Blast and met strangers and left Blast with friends that I know will be friends for a lifetime. I don't doubt that in my heart at all. That is one thing that Arashi gave me this weekend. Jun once said we were all sky-connected and that never wrang more true to me than it did this weekend. On my way home on the plane I actually wrote a letter to each of the members expressing my gratitude. I do plan on sending them, and who knows if they will ever actually be seen by them, but I simply had to tell them how five guys on the other side of the world changed my life over a weekend.
That may sound dramatic, but let me explain. Sho once said that he didn't believe his music could save anyone, and I am here to tell you that he is wrong. This weekend Arashi saved me from myself. In times past I have been so self-consumed and self-conscience and just afraid of the world around me. This weekend I stepped out and outside of myself to experience something bigger than I could imagine. As the rain came down in that venue, especially during GUTS I felt like a part of me was washed away. A part that feared life a little bit. I've always played it a little safe, but now hear I was and I could just feel that nothing from that moment on was going to be quite the same.
I don't know if that sounds incredibly cheesy, but it's how the moment felt and it's a feeling I've been carrying with me since I got back home.
To Kiri... I could not be more happy that I met you. How did I get so lucky to spend this incredible weekend with you? I feel like I have known you for ages and you are already dear to my heart. As Nino once said: "I'm glad that we met."
To Jess... my Tumblr buddy turned friend. How happy I am that we found each other and got the spend this incredible weekend together. You are a doll and I adore you! As Nino once said: "I'm glad that we met."
To Cristina... how did we get lucky enough to end up next to you in line so early in the morning? You completed our little group on Saturday and I am so happy that you did!! You've got a big heart and I adore you! As Nino once said: "I'm glad we met."