[Translation] Arashi FC Pamphlet Vol.87
In Vol.87 (Aug 2019) of the Arashi FC Pamphlet produced by Nino, we got handwritten letters by Arashi on the theme of 'About me'.
NOTE: Took some liberties with line/paragraph breaks for legibility in my translation, but they're preserved in the Japanese transcriptions.
Transcript of Ohno Satoshi's letter:
嵐になった最初の頃は、何の経験も自身もなく、
よく人と比べてました。20歳の時、初めて一人で
舞台の仕事をしました。稽古中に先輩井ノ原くん
に言われた言葉、「お前恥じらいあるだろ、恥じ
らいあったら芝居にならないぞ」。この言葉を
言われてから何もかも吹っ切って全力でやって
ました。結果、自分自身に初めて大きな
自信が生まれました。井ノ原くんには今でも
感謝しています。この経験をきっかけに自分
なりの全力で今までやってきました。正直、
何が正解で何が正解じゃないかはわかりま
せん。良いことも悪いこともたくさんありまし
た。ただ１つだけ思うことは、全てに意味
があり感謝です。何の悔いもありません。
心から、本当にどうもありがとう！です!!
これからも宜しくお願いします。
大野 智
When I first became Arashi, I had no experience or confidence and often compared myself to other people.
I worked on my first solo stageplay at the age of 20. During rehearsals, my senior Inohara-kun told me, "You're shy, right? You can't perform if you're shy". After he told me that, I had a breakthrough and just did everything with all that I could. As a result, for the first time I started having much more confidence in myself. I'm still grateful to Inohara-kun.
Thanks to that experience, I've been able to keep working with all my might, in my own way. Honestly, I don't know what's the right answer or not. There's been a lot of good and bad.
One thing I believe is that everything has meaning, and I'm grateful for that. I don't have any regrets. From the bottom of my heart, truly, thank you very much! I hope you'll keep supporting me from here on out.
Ohno Satoshi
***
Transcript of Sakurai Sho's letter:
「最初の嵐で泣きました。」 スマホを開いたら飛び込んできた文字。
13才。中学2年生。10月21日。土曜日。 サッカー部からの帰宅後。
台所の前の机の上に、ジャニーズ事務所から届いた手紙が置いておりました。
母は台所で爆笑し、父は目も合わせずにTVを見つめたまま 「行くな」
と一言発したのみ。翌日“買い物へ行くから”と、まだ小さかった妹を含む
家族全員、父の運転で六本木へ。オーデイション会場の前でただ一人、車を降りました。
1人でオーデイションを受け、1人で家に帰りました。翌朝も部活だったかな…
それが13才の10月22日（日）
その後の数年間、母はサポートをしてくれ、父は“黙認”という形と認識しています。
高校生の頃でした、小学生からの同級生の母親が保護者会で母に言ったそうです。
「あの合唱団みたいなことは、いつお辞めになられるのですか？」母はこう返したと
後に聞くことなります。 ―――「うちは本人の意思に任せていますので。」
中高生の頃、父と約束しました。“留年したらジャニーズを辞めること”
大学に入る頃、父と約束しました。“留年したら、以後の学費は自分で賄うこと”
2019年。5x20のコンサート終演後、スマホを開くとメッセージが届いていました。
「１曲目の“嵐”、泣きました」 …父からでした。（いや親父、1曲目…それじゃね…）
13才、17才の決断。家族の理解。家族の支え。…親としての決断。
前を向くだけでは堪えきれず。上を向くことでしか進めない。 …いざ。
感謝で全てを包み込める日まで
翔
"I cried right at the start in Arashi." Those words leapt out the moment I opened my phone.
Age 13, a second-year middle-schooler. Saturday, 21st October. After I came home from soccer club. On the table in front of the kitchen lay a letter from J&A.
My mother burst out laughing in the kitchen. My father refused to meet my gaze, his eyes fixed on the TV. "Don't you dare go," was all he said.
The next day, with the pretext of "going shopping", my father drove the whole family, including my sister who was still young, to Roppongi. Only one person got down from the car in front of the audition venue. I took the audition alone. I went home alone. I guess I had club activities the next morning...
That was (Sun) 22nd October of my 13th year.
A few years later, my mother was supportive. My father acknowledged it in the form of 'tacit consent'.
When I was a high-schooler, the mother of a friend I'd known from elementary school said this to my mother in a PTA meeting. "When are you going to make him quit that choir-group-like thing?" I only learned that my mother replied like this some time later. ---"I'm leaving it to his own decision."
When I was a middle-schooler, I'd promised my father, "If I repeat a year, I'll quit Johnnys."
When I entered university, I'd promised my father, "If I repeat a year, I'll cover all the remaining tuition by myself."
It's 2019. It’s after the end of a 5x20 concert. I open my phone and there's a message.
"During the first song, 'Arashi', I cried" ...It was my father.
(No, old man, the first song... That's not it...)
The determination at age 13 and 17. My family's understanding. My family's support. ...My father's determination.
You can't last to the end by just facing forward. You won't progress just by looking up. ...Now.
Until the day gratitude completely envelops everything.
Sho
***
Transcript of Aiba Masaki's letter:
僕の20年（笑）
1999年11月3日、CDデビューしてすぐは見るもの全てが新鮮で刺激的で忙しくて、でも
それは長くもつづかなくて…ちょっとすると落ち着いてきます。ただただ、がむしゃらにやってきました。
後にそのころを鳴かず飛ばずだった時代って言われるんですが（笑）結構頑張
ってたんですけどね（笑）その時期にレコード会社も変わったりして、そうじゃないって信じてきますけど
少しは思いましたよ…俺達は見込みが無いのかぁ～って（笑）それでも僕等の士気を下げずに
レベルを作ってくれた事を本当に感謝しています。その後に大変な時がやって来ます。
肺が破れるという自然気胸になります…治っても再発する可能性が高いと…
歌って踊るのが基本の僕は終わった…って見いました。肺に穴があいた以上に心に穴があいて
しまった様な…ファンの皆んなとメンバーと沢山の人たちに申し訳なくて…落ちる所まで落ちました…
でも僕がアホで助かりました!!深く考えずに早く治して。嵐として1日1日を全力でやろう。ダメになる日が来ても
後悔しない様に!!全力でやれば、もしそうなっても諦めがつくって（笑）それからは体の体調も無く活動していきます。
次の転機はコンサートの応援の数が増えてきて1日3回公演をやってからどんどん広がっていった気がします。アジア
でライブをやらせて頂き、ドームで国で…怖い位に変化していって…嵐っていうものが自分の中で大きく大きく感じて…
前へ前へどんどん進んで行って…ヤバイ。置いていかれるって…全力で走って一所懸命しがみ付いていたのが10周年位の時かなぁ
それから15周年までの間でようやく自分のペースがわかってきて、生き急ぐ事もなく、自分なりの表現をすれば良いんだ!!って思っ
たらあれだけ前へ前へ大きく大きく感じていた嵐ってものが…とても暖かい最高に居心地の良い空間に感じました。
自分次第なんだなぁと思いました、のまれるってこういう事があって…自分を強く持たな…と!!自分は自分。嵐は嵐（笑）
15周年からの時間は、1つ１つに感謝をして楽しみながら全力でぶっかっています。人生色々な事が起こりますが
今までやってました事を信じて、時には歩き、時にはで止まらない様に前に進んで行きたいと思います。
相葉 雅紀
My 20 Years (lol)
Right after our CD debut on 3rd November 1999, everything looked novel and stimulating and we were so busy, but that wouldn’t last long... After a while, it’ll calm down. So I just recklessly went with it. The period after that was known as our period of obscurity (lol) We worked pretty hard though (lol) At that time, our record company changed, and I had believed that it wasn’t true, but a small part of me did think that... Maybe there’s no hope for us (lol) Still, I’m grateful for the fact that we went on to make a label without our morale flagging.
After that came hard times.
Part of my lung collapsed due to spontaneous pneumothorax... Even if I recovered, there’d be a high chance of a relapse... My singing and dancing days were over... That’s what it looked like. It felt like a hole had torn in my heart instead of my lungs... I felt so apologetic to the fans and the members and so many people... I’d fallen into a hole...
But I was saved because I’m an idiot!! I didn’t think too deeply about it and quickly recovered. I’d give my all to each and every day as part of Arashi. So that I wouldn’t have any regrets if the day came where I couldn’t go on!! As long as I gave it my all, even if that happened, accepting defeat was... (lol) Since then, I’ve continued my activities without any bad health issues.
The next turning point was when we started getting more support for our concerts and we’d have 3 performances a day and it felt like we were gradually becoming more widespread. We got to perform concerts in Asia, in the Domes, in the National Stadium... that transition was almost scary... Personally I also really, really, felt the thing called Arashi... Gradually progressing on, onward and forward... Crap. Being left behind...
We were hurtling along with all our might to keep up during our 10th anniversary, I guess? It took from then until our 15th anniversary to finally find our own pace. Not living fast and furiously, but it’s fine just to express ourselves in our own way!! Just as I thought that, the thing called Arashi which I’d felt so strongly progressing onward and forward... It felt like a really warm, comfortable space. I thought it was dependent on me, and I got swallowed up by it... You gotta have a strong grip on yourself... but!! I’m me. Arashi is Arashi (lol)
The time since our 15th anniversary has just been spent being grateful for each and every thing while enjoying it all and going through it with all our might. A lot of things have happened in my life, but I’m going to believe in what I’ve done so far and, while sometimes strolling, sometimes at full, unstoppable speed, to keep going on.
Aiba Masaki
***
Transcript of Ninomiya Kazunari's letter:
1983年の6月17日に3900ｇで私は、生まれてきました。それから13年後の1996年。
僕の人生は変わった。見た事、聴いた事がないものばかりで毎日が楽しかった…
と思う（笑）それや、辛い事もあったろうけえど、そこで出会った仲間達と頑張ってやっていく
事に達成感があったんだと思う。必死に頑張って向きあった3年間。
1999年11月3日。新な人生が始まった。…多分（笑）それ位に衝撃
を受けたなぁ～。そこからはもう…必死でした。何が出来て、何が出来ないのか
それすら分からず僕は、落ち込んでいたと思う。だからなのか、その頃の記憶が
うまく思いだせない（笑）皆とも夜な夜な話しあい、嵐を考える日々。そこからは
もう“出来る”ではなく、“やる”か“やらない”かに変わった。
とにかく色んな事をやらせてもらった。“やらない”なんて選ばなかった。
うまくいく時、いかない時、色々あったが後悔はしていない。皆と一緒だったから。
あっという間の20年。何とか繋いできた20年、楽しかった20年、大変だった20年。
本当に色んな思いがあるけど、ただ一つだけ言えるのは、この5人での20年は、
最高である。という事、今までやらせて頂いたお仕事や、景色、思い出、どれも大事だけど、
“何をやってきたか？”よりも“誰とやってきたか？”が大事だと教えてくれたのは、この4人なんです。
それを教えてくれたのが貴方達で僕は本当にラッキーな奴。感謝でしかない。
この4人に会えた事、そこに自分の人生の運を全て使ったんじゃないか？っていう位
素晴らしい出会いです。これからも我々らしく！歩いて行こう。そうしよう。
二宮 和也
On 17th June 1983, weighing 3900g, I was born. Then 13 years later, 1996. My life changed. My days were fun and filled with things I'd never seen or heard of before... I think (lol). Of course, there were also tough times, but I think there was a sense of accomplishment in working hard together with friends that I'd met there. I frantically worked hard for those 3 years.
3rd November 1999. My new life began. ...Probably (lol). That's how much of an impact it had on me, I guess. From there, it was all... frantic. I think I fell into a slump from not even knowing what I could or couldn't do. So maybe that's why I don't really remember that period too well (lol). Night after night, I discussed things with the rest, thinking of Arashi daily.
From there, it wasn't about what we 'could do'; it changed into a matter of 'will do' or 'won't do'.
In any case, I've gotten to do a lot of different things. I never chose 'won't do'.
There were times when things went well and when they didn't; a lot of things happened, but I never regretted any of it. It was because I was with everyone. In no time at all, it was our 20th anniversary. 20 years that were somehow connected, 20 years that were fun, 20 years that were tough.
There's a lot of memories there, but one thing I will say is that the 20 years that the 5 of us had absolutely rocked. All the work we've been given the chance to do so far, the view, the memories - all of that's important, but the ones who taught me that it's not about 'what have you done?' but 'who have you done it with?' were these 4.
The fact that you were the ones who taught me that makes me a real lucky guy. I have nothing but gratitude. I figure I must've used up all the luck in my life in meeting these 4; that's how wonderful this encounter was.
Let's keep walking on in our own characteristic way! We'll do that.
Ninomiya Kazunari
***
Transcript of Matsumoto Jun's letter:
ジャニーズの世界を知ったのは 1995年の夏だった。
姉が友達から借りたビデオテープを見て、当時小学6年
だった僕は衝撃を受けた。こんな世界があるのか…と。
半年後、一本の電話で僕の人生は大きく変わる。電話の主は、
ジャニー喜多川さんだった。「今日レッスンあるからYOU来ちゃいなよ」
訳もわからず、でも嬉しくてドキドキしながらテレビ朝日のリハーサル
室に。レッスンが終わり「ここからはリハーサルだからもう帰っていいよ」と
社長。松本「せっかくなんで後ろで踊っててもいいですか？」社長「もち
ろんだよ」確かこんな会話だったと思う。小さい事だけど、この
些細な会話があったから今の僕がいる。そこから僕のインターテイン
メントの道は始まった。歌やダンスの練習に明け暮れる日々が
続き…1999年9月15日、僕は嵐になった。それから20年間
一歩ずつゆっくりと歩んだ。決して良い日ばかりではなかった
けれど、それ以上に数多の夢のような景色を見させてもらい
ました。みんなに。
そして、この夢にはまだ続きがあるんだ。描きたい景色が
僕にはまだある。どうかその景色を一緒に見てもらえたら
嬉しいです。それからもよろしく......
松本 潤
I learned of the world of Johnnys in the summer of 1995.
Watching the video tape my older sister had borrowed from a friend, my 6th grade self back then was blown away. So there’s a world out there like this...
Half a year later, a single phone call changed my life in a huge way. The caller was Mr Johnny Kitagawa. “There’s lessons on today, why don’t you come over.”
I didn’t know what was happening, but I was happy and excited as I went to the rehearsal room in TV Asahi. After the lesson ended, the president said, “It’s rehearsals from this point, so you can go home.
Matsumoto: “Since I’m already here, could I dance at the back?”
President: “Of course”.
I’m pretty sure that’s how it went. It was a tiny thing, but it’s because of these trivial conversations that I’m now here. It was since then that my life in entertainment began. The days were filled with practising song and dance...
On 15th September 1999, I became Arashi. Since then, for the past 20 years, we’ve been slowly walking along step by step. It definitely hasn’t been just smooth sailing, but beyond that we’ve gotten to see a great many scenes that seem right out of a dream. To everyone.
Also, the dream still continues. I still have a lot of scenes I want to depict. I’d be happy if you’d like to enjoy that scenery with me. So with your support from here on out...
Matsumoto Jun
***
NOTE: Took some liberties with line/paragraph breaks for legibility in my translation, but they're preserved in the Japanese transcriptions.
Transcript of Ohno Satoshi's letter:
嵐になった最初の頃は、何の経験も自身もなく、
よく人と比べてました。20歳の時、初めて一人で
舞台の仕事をしました。稽古中に先輩井ノ原くん
に言われた言葉、「お前恥じらいあるだろ、恥じ
らいあったら芝居にならないぞ」。この言葉を
言われてから何もかも吹っ切って全力でやって
ました。結果、自分自身に初めて大きな
自信が生まれました。井ノ原くんには今でも
感謝しています。この経験をきっかけに自分
なりの全力で今までやってきました。正直、
何が正解で何が正解じゃないかはわかりま
せん。良いことも悪いこともたくさんありまし
た。ただ１つだけ思うことは、全てに意味
があり感謝です。何の悔いもありません。
心から、本当にどうもありがとう！です!!
これからも宜しくお願いします。
大野 智
When I first became Arashi, I had no experience or confidence and often compared myself to other people.
I worked on my first solo stageplay at the age of 20. During rehearsals, my senior Inohara-kun told me, "You're shy, right? You can't perform if you're shy". After he told me that, I had a breakthrough and just did everything with all that I could. As a result, for the first time I started having much more confidence in myself. I'm still grateful to Inohara-kun.
Thanks to that experience, I've been able to keep working with all my might, in my own way. Honestly, I don't know what's the right answer or not. There's been a lot of good and bad.
One thing I believe is that everything has meaning, and I'm grateful for that. I don't have any regrets. From the bottom of my heart, truly, thank you very much! I hope you'll keep supporting me from here on out.
Ohno Satoshi
***
Transcript of Sakurai Sho's letter:
「最初の嵐で泣きました。」 スマホを開いたら飛び込んできた文字。
13才。中学2年生。10月21日。土曜日。 サッカー部からの帰宅後。
台所の前の机の上に、ジャニーズ事務所から届いた手紙が置いておりました。
母は台所で爆笑し、父は目も合わせずにTVを見つめたまま 「行くな」
と一言発したのみ。翌日“買い物へ行くから”と、まだ小さかった妹を含む
家族全員、父の運転で六本木へ。オーデイション会場の前でただ一人、車を降りました。
1人でオーデイションを受け、1人で家に帰りました。翌朝も部活だったかな…
それが13才の10月22日（日）
その後の数年間、母はサポートをしてくれ、父は“黙認”という形と認識しています。
高校生の頃でした、小学生からの同級生の母親が保護者会で母に言ったそうです。
「あの合唱団みたいなことは、いつお辞めになられるのですか？」母はこう返したと
後に聞くことなります。 ―――「うちは本人の意思に任せていますので。」
中高生の頃、父と約束しました。“留年したらジャニーズを辞めること”
大学に入る頃、父と約束しました。“留年したら、以後の学費は自分で賄うこと”
2019年。5x20のコンサート終演後、スマホを開くとメッセージが届いていました。
「１曲目の“嵐”、泣きました」 …父からでした。（いや親父、1曲目…それじゃね…）
13才、17才の決断。家族の理解。家族の支え。…親としての決断。
前を向くだけでは堪えきれず。上を向くことでしか進めない。 …いざ。
感謝で全てを包み込める日まで
翔
"I cried right at the start in Arashi." Those words leapt out the moment I opened my phone.
Age 13, a second-year middle-schooler. Saturday, 21st October. After I came home from soccer club. On the table in front of the kitchen lay a letter from J&A.
My mother burst out laughing in the kitchen. My father refused to meet my gaze, his eyes fixed on the TV. "Don't you dare go," was all he said.
The next day, with the pretext of "going shopping", my father drove the whole family, including my sister who was still young, to Roppongi. Only one person got down from the car in front of the audition venue. I took the audition alone. I went home alone. I guess I had club activities the next morning...
That was (Sun) 22nd October of my 13th year.
A few years later, my mother was supportive. My father acknowledged it in the form of 'tacit consent'.
When I was a high-schooler, the mother of a friend I'd known from elementary school said this to my mother in a PTA meeting. "When are you going to make him quit that choir-group-like thing?" I only learned that my mother replied like this some time later. ---"I'm leaving it to his own decision."
When I was a middle-schooler, I'd promised my father, "If I repeat a year, I'll quit Johnnys."
When I entered university, I'd promised my father, "If I repeat a year, I'll cover all the remaining tuition by myself."
It's 2019. It’s after the end of a 5x20 concert. I open my phone and there's a message.
"During the first song, 'Arashi', I cried" ...It was my father.
(No, old man, the first song... That's not it...)
The determination at age 13 and 17. My family's understanding. My family's support. ...My father's determination.
You can't last to the end by just facing forward. You won't progress just by looking up. ...Now.
Until the day gratitude completely envelops everything.
Sho
***
Transcript of Aiba Masaki's letter:
僕の20年（笑）
1999年11月3日、CDデビューしてすぐは見るもの全てが新鮮で刺激的で忙しくて、でも
それは長くもつづかなくて…ちょっとすると落ち着いてきます。ただただ、がむしゃらにやってきました。
後にそのころを鳴かず飛ばずだった時代って言われるんですが（笑）結構頑張
ってたんですけどね（笑）その時期にレコード会社も変わったりして、そうじゃないって信じてきますけど
少しは思いましたよ…俺達は見込みが無いのかぁ～って（笑）それでも僕等の士気を下げずに
レベルを作ってくれた事を本当に感謝しています。その後に大変な時がやって来ます。
肺が破れるという自然気胸になります…治っても再発する可能性が高いと…
歌って踊るのが基本の僕は終わった…って見いました。肺に穴があいた以上に心に穴があいて
しまった様な…ファンの皆んなとメンバーと沢山の人たちに申し訳なくて…落ちる所まで落ちました…
でも僕がアホで助かりました!!深く考えずに早く治して。嵐として1日1日を全力でやろう。ダメになる日が来ても
後悔しない様に!!全力でやれば、もしそうなっても諦めがつくって（笑）それからは体の体調も無く活動していきます。
次の転機はコンサートの応援の数が増えてきて1日3回公演をやってからどんどん広がっていった気がします。アジア
でライブをやらせて頂き、ドームで国で…怖い位に変化していって…嵐っていうものが自分の中で大きく大きく感じて…
前へ前へどんどん進んで行って…ヤバイ。置いていかれるって…全力で走って一所懸命しがみ付いていたのが10周年位の時かなぁ
それから15周年までの間でようやく自分のペースがわかってきて、生き急ぐ事もなく、自分なりの表現をすれば良いんだ!!って思っ
たらあれだけ前へ前へ大きく大きく感じていた嵐ってものが…とても暖かい最高に居心地の良い空間に感じました。
自分次第なんだなぁと思いました、のまれるってこういう事があって…自分を強く持たな…と!!自分は自分。嵐は嵐（笑）
15周年からの時間は、1つ１つに感謝をして楽しみながら全力でぶっかっています。人生色々な事が起こりますが
今までやってました事を信じて、時には歩き、時にはで止まらない様に前に進んで行きたいと思います。
相葉 雅紀
My 20 Years (lol)
Right after our CD debut on 3rd November 1999, everything looked novel and stimulating and we were so busy, but that wouldn’t last long... After a while, it’ll calm down. So I just recklessly went with it. The period after that was known as our period of obscurity (lol) We worked pretty hard though (lol) At that time, our record company changed, and I had believed that it wasn’t true, but a small part of me did think that... Maybe there’s no hope for us (lol) Still, I’m grateful for the fact that we went on to make a label without our morale flagging.
After that came hard times.
Part of my lung collapsed due to spontaneous pneumothorax... Even if I recovered, there’d be a high chance of a relapse... My singing and dancing days were over... That’s what it looked like. It felt like a hole had torn in my heart instead of my lungs... I felt so apologetic to the fans and the members and so many people... I’d fallen into a hole...
But I was saved because I’m an idiot!! I didn’t think too deeply about it and quickly recovered. I’d give my all to each and every day as part of Arashi. So that I wouldn’t have any regrets if the day came where I couldn’t go on!! As long as I gave it my all, even if that happened, accepting defeat was... (lol) Since then, I’ve continued my activities without any bad health issues.
The next turning point was when we started getting more support for our concerts and we’d have 3 performances a day and it felt like we were gradually becoming more widespread. We got to perform concerts in Asia, in the Domes, in the National Stadium... that transition was almost scary... Personally I also really, really, felt the thing called Arashi... Gradually progressing on, onward and forward... Crap. Being left behind...
We were hurtling along with all our might to keep up during our 10th anniversary, I guess? It took from then until our 15th anniversary to finally find our own pace. Not living fast and furiously, but it’s fine just to express ourselves in our own way!! Just as I thought that, the thing called Arashi which I’d felt so strongly progressing onward and forward... It felt like a really warm, comfortable space. I thought it was dependent on me, and I got swallowed up by it... You gotta have a strong grip on yourself... but!! I’m me. Arashi is Arashi (lol)
The time since our 15th anniversary has just been spent being grateful for each and every thing while enjoying it all and going through it with all our might. A lot of things have happened in my life, but I’m going to believe in what I’ve done so far and, while sometimes strolling, sometimes at full, unstoppable speed, to keep going on.
Aiba Masaki
***
Transcript of Ninomiya Kazunari's letter:
1983年の6月17日に3900ｇで私は、生まれてきました。それから13年後の1996年。
僕の人生は変わった。見た事、聴いた事がないものばかりで毎日が楽しかった…
と思う（笑）それや、辛い事もあったろうけえど、そこで出会った仲間達と頑張ってやっていく
事に達成感があったんだと思う。必死に頑張って向きあった3年間。
1999年11月3日。新な人生が始まった。…多分（笑）それ位に衝撃
を受けたなぁ～。そこからはもう…必死でした。何が出来て、何が出来ないのか
それすら分からず僕は、落ち込んでいたと思う。だからなのか、その頃の記憶が
うまく思いだせない（笑）皆とも夜な夜な話しあい、嵐を考える日々。そこからは
もう“出来る”ではなく、“やる”か“やらない”かに変わった。
とにかく色んな事をやらせてもらった。“やらない”なんて選ばなかった。
うまくいく時、いかない時、色々あったが後悔はしていない。皆と一緒だったから。
あっという間の20年。何とか繋いできた20年、楽しかった20年、大変だった20年。
本当に色んな思いがあるけど、ただ一つだけ言えるのは、この5人での20年は、
最高である。という事、今までやらせて頂いたお仕事や、景色、思い出、どれも大事だけど、
“何をやってきたか？”よりも“誰とやってきたか？”が大事だと教えてくれたのは、この4人なんです。
それを教えてくれたのが貴方達で僕は本当にラッキーな奴。感謝でしかない。
この4人に会えた事、そこに自分の人生の運を全て使ったんじゃないか？っていう位
素晴らしい出会いです。これからも我々らしく！歩いて行こう。そうしよう。
二宮 和也
On 17th June 1983, weighing 3900g, I was born. Then 13 years later, 1996. My life changed. My days were fun and filled with things I'd never seen or heard of before... I think (lol). Of course, there were also tough times, but I think there was a sense of accomplishment in working hard together with friends that I'd met there. I frantically worked hard for those 3 years.
3rd November 1999. My new life began. ...Probably (lol). That's how much of an impact it had on me, I guess. From there, it was all... frantic. I think I fell into a slump from not even knowing what I could or couldn't do. So maybe that's why I don't really remember that period too well (lol). Night after night, I discussed things with the rest, thinking of Arashi daily.
From there, it wasn't about what we 'could do'; it changed into a matter of 'will do' or 'won't do'.
In any case, I've gotten to do a lot of different things. I never chose 'won't do'.
There were times when things went well and when they didn't; a lot of things happened, but I never regretted any of it. It was because I was with everyone. In no time at all, it was our 20th anniversary. 20 years that were somehow connected, 20 years that were fun, 20 years that were tough.
There's a lot of memories there, but one thing I will say is that the 20 years that the 5 of us had absolutely rocked. All the work we've been given the chance to do so far, the view, the memories - all of that's important, but the ones who taught me that it's not about 'what have you done?' but 'who have you done it with?' were these 4.
The fact that you were the ones who taught me that makes me a real lucky guy. I have nothing but gratitude. I figure I must've used up all the luck in my life in meeting these 4; that's how wonderful this encounter was.
Let's keep walking on in our own characteristic way! We'll do that.
Ninomiya Kazunari
***
Transcript of Matsumoto Jun's letter:
ジャニーズの世界を知ったのは 1995年の夏だった。
姉が友達から借りたビデオテープを見て、当時小学6年
だった僕は衝撃を受けた。こんな世界があるのか…と。
半年後、一本の電話で僕の人生は大きく変わる。電話の主は、
ジャニー喜多川さんだった。「今日レッスンあるからYOU来ちゃいなよ」
訳もわからず、でも嬉しくてドキドキしながらテレビ朝日のリハーサル
室に。レッスンが終わり「ここからはリハーサルだからもう帰っていいよ」と
社長。松本「せっかくなんで後ろで踊っててもいいですか？」社長「もち
ろんだよ」確かこんな会話だったと思う。小さい事だけど、この
些細な会話があったから今の僕がいる。そこから僕のインターテイン
メントの道は始まった。歌やダンスの練習に明け暮れる日々が
続き…1999年9月15日、僕は嵐になった。それから20年間
一歩ずつゆっくりと歩んだ。決して良い日ばかりではなかった
けれど、それ以上に数多の夢のような景色を見させてもらい
ました。みんなに。
そして、この夢にはまだ続きがあるんだ。描きたい景色が
僕にはまだある。どうかその景色を一緒に見てもらえたら
嬉しいです。それからもよろしく......
松本 潤
I learned of the world of Johnnys in the summer of 1995.
Watching the video tape my older sister had borrowed from a friend, my 6th grade self back then was blown away. So there’s a world out there like this...
Half a year later, a single phone call changed my life in a huge way. The caller was Mr Johnny Kitagawa. “There’s lessons on today, why don’t you come over.”
I didn’t know what was happening, but I was happy and excited as I went to the rehearsal room in TV Asahi. After the lesson ended, the president said, “It’s rehearsals from this point, so you can go home.
Matsumoto: “Since I’m already here, could I dance at the back?”
President: “Of course”.
I’m pretty sure that’s how it went. It was a tiny thing, but it’s because of these trivial conversations that I’m now here. It was since then that my life in entertainment began. The days were filled with practising song and dance...
On 15th September 1999, I became Arashi. Since then, for the past 20 years, we’ve been slowly walking along step by step. It definitely hasn’t been just smooth sailing, but beyond that we’ve gotten to see a great many scenes that seem right out of a dream. To everyone.
Also, the dream still continues. I still have a lot of scenes I want to depict. I’d be happy if you’d like to enjoy that scenery with me. So with your support from here on out...
Matsumoto Jun
***