150 Arashi Trends, TV Guide Nov 2013: #26~#50 (3/?)
I was slightly horrifed to discover that I left off this article from 2013 and never quite returned to finishing it! Once again, am very sorry for the inactivity.
15 years ago, Arashi debuted with their single, “A.RA.SHI” on 3 November 1999. To celebrate the entry into their 15th anniversary year, we’ve compiled 15 years’ worth of 150 Arashi trends! From nostalgic fads to persisting preferences, we bring to you the people, things and items that Arashi is obsessed with.
Part 1 | Part 2
Trends #26 ~ #50 focus on Aiba!
Trend #26: I wear short pants to sleep in autumn and winter!
“It feels good to directly touch the futon with my feet. When it gets cold, I cover myself with a blanket and a quilt. Ideally, there ought to be 2 pillows.” says Aiba-chan. Has he been wearing the Aiba-length pants even in his sleep!?
- 2000.11.10 issue
Trend #27: When he travels overseas, he buys interesting T-shirts for the other members as souvenirs.
Aiba-chan always buys T-shirt souvenirs whenever he travels overseas. “That T-shirt was great,” said Nino in response to a T-shirt from Africa. “So everybody has great shirts, but what about mine? It has an elephant right in the middle, with the words “SOUTH AFRICA”. (laughs) That just reeks of a tourist souvenir!” says Matsujun, who assumes a troubled expression over the treatment of his gift.
- 2006.11.10 issue
Trend #28: He gets excited when the number of stamps in his passport increase.
“I’ve got lots of stamps in my passport!” said frequent traveler Matsujun, to which Aiba-chan immediately replied, “It’s great when you get to accumulate those, right?”
- 2008.11.14 issue
Trend #29: It’s important to measure the extent to which you can lift your leg.
When talking about a song, Sho-kun said this about Aiba, “Aiba-chan looks forward to how high he can lift his leg.” To which Aiba replied, “It’s during the second half of the dance.” He often does a one-legged dance during their concerts! (T/N: Guys, you know this Aiba move by now.)
- 2008.11.14 issue
Trend #30: Flowers on a birthday
When asked about what he’d give a girl on her birthday, Aiba replied, “I recently gave Sho-chan a huge bouquet of flowers for his birthday… Oh, he isn’t a girl!” And made a riposte on his own remark.
- 2009.03.13 issue
Trend #31: Aiming to be the Gyoza Master
“I’m trying to cook my own food,” says Aiba-chan. “I haven’t properly made gyoza by myself. I want to be able to cook it well.”
- 2009.11.12 issue
Trend #32: I watch mysteries while trying to guess who the culprit is
“I did that while watching Sho-chan’s NazoDi,” says Aiba-chan. “By the way, I’m usually off when it comes to nailing the culprit. (laughs)”
- 2012.03.23 issue
Trend #33: I talk about the same thing every time with Kanjani’s Ohkura
Aiba-chan ends up talking about the same topic every time with Ohkura, who’s working with him on “Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri”. “I’d ask him, ‘What did you do on your day off? Oh no, that’s the third time I’ve asked you that!’ Something like that. (laughs)” Apparently he’s on a similar wavelength with Ohkura.
- 2012.04.27 issue
Trend #34: If he likes clothing of a certain cut, he’d buy different colors of the same item.
When talking about color, Aiba said, “In the past, I used to think I wanted to try on different kinds of clothes. Recently, I’ve stopped doing it.”
- 2012.04.27 issue
Trend #35: I stay in a fixed position in a room
“Even if there are 6 chairs at a dining table, I always take the same seat. Same goes for the sofa.” Apparently it doesn’t sit well with him if he’s at a different seat.
- 2012.04.27 issue
Trend #36: He always puts on eye drops in the car before work
The reason being hay fever. Aiba-chan has a tough time filming outdoor locations in spring.
- 2013.11.01 issue
Trend #37: He reads his drama script before he goes to bed and in the morning
I check my script during the car ride on the way to work. “However, the swaying motion of the car is really comfortable. Before I know it, I end up falling asleep. (laughs)”
- 2012.04.27 issue
Trend #38: His evening drink is Green Label.
Aiba-chan often has a drink after he gets home from work. “Rather than aiming to get drunk, I’m trying to switch off internally.”
- 2012.04.27 issue
Trend #39: Has sandwich or onigiri (rice ball) every morning
Aiba answered as above when asked about his breakfast foods.
- 2012.05.25 issue
Trend #40: Checks the Chiba Lotte Marines (professional baseball team) information without fail
“If the news is featuring professional baseball, I’d definitely watch until the anchor is talking about the Chiba Lotte Marines!” That’s a Chiba-loving guy for you!
- 2012.05.25 issue
Trend #41: Rewards himself by caring for his body
He shared this fact with us while saying, “I’ve not done it very often.”
- 2012.05.25 issue
Trend #42: Pays attention to his butt at Kokuritsu concerts
From hitting his tailbone during a concert opening to ripping his pants… “It’s a butt warning, you know. (laughs) I’m completely into the performance once the concert begins!” It’s an episode that talks about Aiba giving it his all.
- 2012.05.25 issue
Trend #43: I aspire to climbing Mount Fuji
“Whenever I see comedians talking about climbing Mount Fuji on TV, it makes me want to climb it as well!” says Aiba-chan. “There are many types of courses, right? In any case, I’ll take the beginner’s course. (laughs)”
- 2012.09.21 issue
Trend #44: Bicycles are a recent fad
When asked about his recent fad, he told us it was bicycles. “Of course, I wouldn’t ride them to work. But I recently rode a bicycle to Ebisu at night, even though I didn’t have to. (laughs)”
- 2013.04.26 issue
Trend #45: Meat - his source of energy!
Aiba-chan, who’s famous for loving meat. “Somehow I end up eating it once every 2 days.”
- 2013.08.02 issue
Trend #46: His snooze button is timed 10 minutes after
Aiba-chan always uses the snooze button. “I set it at 10 minutes and go back to sleep!”
- 2013.08.02 issue
Trend #47: He heartily sings “Kinnikuman” songs at karaoke
When I’m with my classmates at karaoke, I definitely sing Kinnikuman songs in the second half.
- 2013.08.02 issue
Trend #48: He cries at Koshien (Japanese High School Baseball matches)
Aiba-chan, who cries at times. The members talk about how he often cries at closing parties. Aiba emphasizes that he often cries at sporting events. “Especially Koshien!”
- 2013.08.02 issue
Trend #49: His companions during a tour: Progress charts, sound generator and motivation
When asked about what he’d bring on a tour, Aiba-chan replied as above. “Motivation” is a very Aiba-ish answer.
- 2013.08.02 issue
Trend #50: My bedsheets are white
“In the past, I used black or gray bedsheets, and the (décor) surrounding my bed would be completely black as well,” says Aiba-chan. “But my saliva stands out, so I stopped using black sheets. (laughs)” He has since switched to white bedsheets.
- 2013.08.02 issue
15 years ago, Arashi debuted with their single, “A.RA.SHI” on 3 November 1999. To celebrate the entry into their 15th anniversary year, we’ve compiled 15 years’ worth of 150 Arashi trends! From nostalgic fads to persisting preferences, we bring to you the people, things and items that Arashi is obsessed with.
Part 1 | Part 2
Trends #26 ~ #50 focus on Aiba!
Trend #26: I wear short pants to sleep in autumn and winter!
“It feels good to directly touch the futon with my feet. When it gets cold, I cover myself with a blanket and a quilt. Ideally, there ought to be 2 pillows.” says Aiba-chan. Has he been wearing the Aiba-length pants even in his sleep!?
- 2000.11.10 issue
Trend #27: When he travels overseas, he buys interesting T-shirts for the other members as souvenirs.
Aiba-chan always buys T-shirt souvenirs whenever he travels overseas. “That T-shirt was great,” said Nino in response to a T-shirt from Africa. “So everybody has great shirts, but what about mine? It has an elephant right in the middle, with the words “SOUTH AFRICA”. (laughs) That just reeks of a tourist souvenir!” says Matsujun, who assumes a troubled expression over the treatment of his gift.
- 2006.11.10 issue
Trend #28: He gets excited when the number of stamps in his passport increase.
“I’ve got lots of stamps in my passport!” said frequent traveler Matsujun, to which Aiba-chan immediately replied, “It’s great when you get to accumulate those, right?”
- 2008.11.14 issue
Trend #29: It’s important to measure the extent to which you can lift your leg.
When talking about a song, Sho-kun said this about Aiba, “Aiba-chan looks forward to how high he can lift his leg.” To which Aiba replied, “It’s during the second half of the dance.” He often does a one-legged dance during their concerts! (T/N: Guys, you know this Aiba move by now.)
- 2008.11.14 issue
Trend #30: Flowers on a birthday
When asked about what he’d give a girl on her birthday, Aiba replied, “I recently gave Sho-chan a huge bouquet of flowers for his birthday… Oh, he isn’t a girl!” And made a riposte on his own remark.
- 2009.03.13 issue
Trend #31: Aiming to be the Gyoza Master
“I’m trying to cook my own food,” says Aiba-chan. “I haven’t properly made gyoza by myself. I want to be able to cook it well.”
- 2009.11.12 issue
Trend #32: I watch mysteries while trying to guess who the culprit is
“I did that while watching Sho-chan’s NazoDi,” says Aiba-chan. “By the way, I’m usually off when it comes to nailing the culprit. (laughs)”
- 2012.03.23 issue
Trend #33: I talk about the same thing every time with Kanjani’s Ohkura
Aiba-chan ends up talking about the same topic every time with Ohkura, who’s working with him on “Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri”. “I’d ask him, ‘What did you do on your day off? Oh no, that’s the third time I’ve asked you that!’ Something like that. (laughs)” Apparently he’s on a similar wavelength with Ohkura.
- 2012.04.27 issue
Trend #34: If he likes clothing of a certain cut, he’d buy different colors of the same item.
When talking about color, Aiba said, “In the past, I used to think I wanted to try on different kinds of clothes. Recently, I’ve stopped doing it.”
- 2012.04.27 issue
Trend #35: I stay in a fixed position in a room
“Even if there are 6 chairs at a dining table, I always take the same seat. Same goes for the sofa.” Apparently it doesn’t sit well with him if he’s at a different seat.
- 2012.04.27 issue
Trend #36: He always puts on eye drops in the car before work
The reason being hay fever. Aiba-chan has a tough time filming outdoor locations in spring.
- 2013.11.01 issue
Trend #37: He reads his drama script before he goes to bed and in the morning
I check my script during the car ride on the way to work. “However, the swaying motion of the car is really comfortable. Before I know it, I end up falling asleep. (laughs)”
- 2012.04.27 issue
Trend #38: His evening drink is Green Label.
Aiba-chan often has a drink after he gets home from work. “Rather than aiming to get drunk, I’m trying to switch off internally.”
- 2012.04.27 issue
Trend #39: Has sandwich or onigiri (rice ball) every morning
Aiba answered as above when asked about his breakfast foods.
- 2012.05.25 issue
Trend #40: Checks the Chiba Lotte Marines (professional baseball team) information without fail
“If the news is featuring professional baseball, I’d definitely watch until the anchor is talking about the Chiba Lotte Marines!” That’s a Chiba-loving guy for you!
- 2012.05.25 issue
Trend #41: Rewards himself by caring for his body
He shared this fact with us while saying, “I’ve not done it very often.”
- 2012.05.25 issue
Trend #42: Pays attention to his butt at Kokuritsu concerts
From hitting his tailbone during a concert opening to ripping his pants… “It’s a butt warning, you know. (laughs) I’m completely into the performance once the concert begins!” It’s an episode that talks about Aiba giving it his all.
- 2012.05.25 issue
Trend #43: I aspire to climbing Mount Fuji
“Whenever I see comedians talking about climbing Mount Fuji on TV, it makes me want to climb it as well!” says Aiba-chan. “There are many types of courses, right? In any case, I’ll take the beginner’s course. (laughs)”
- 2012.09.21 issue
Trend #44: Bicycles are a recent fad
When asked about his recent fad, he told us it was bicycles. “Of course, I wouldn’t ride them to work. But I recently rode a bicycle to Ebisu at night, even though I didn’t have to. (laughs)”
- 2013.04.26 issue
Trend #45: Meat - his source of energy!
Aiba-chan, who’s famous for loving meat. “Somehow I end up eating it once every 2 days.”
- 2013.08.02 issue
Trend #46: His snooze button is timed 10 minutes after
Aiba-chan always uses the snooze button. “I set it at 10 minutes and go back to sleep!”
- 2013.08.02 issue
Trend #47: He heartily sings “Kinnikuman” songs at karaoke
When I’m with my classmates at karaoke, I definitely sing Kinnikuman songs in the second half.
- 2013.08.02 issue
Trend #48: He cries at Koshien (Japanese High School Baseball matches)
Aiba-chan, who cries at times. The members talk about how he often cries at closing parties. Aiba emphasizes that he often cries at sporting events. “Especially Koshien!”
- 2013.08.02 issue
Trend #49: His companions during a tour: Progress charts, sound generator and motivation
When asked about what he’d bring on a tour, Aiba-chan replied as above. “Motivation” is a very Aiba-ish answer.
- 2013.08.02 issue
Trend #50: My bedsheets are white
“In the past, I used black or gray bedsheets, and the (décor) surrounding my bed would be completely black as well,” says Aiba-chan. “But my saliva stands out, so I stopped using black sheets. (laughs)” He has since switched to white bedsheets.
- 2013.08.02 issue