Translation: Ori★Suta 2010.01.4 ~ 11 - Arashi - Part 2
Second part of the translation from Ori★Suta (Oricon Star) issue January 2010. This and that kept coming up in the past week and it got delayed for sooooo long, gomen *bow*
This is the first part, with the individual interviews of Shou and Jun.
There is yet another final part, with a group's talk, which I swear I will translate later, ahahahaha :"] Me and my random schedule... Made it somehow XD
Btw, some of you girls have been indulging me too much regarding my random comments and this time they are back, all over the place... *sigh*
Aiba Masaki
On the day of our 10th anniversary, we also went out to eat, then went on for some drinks. It was really so fun
----------“In the drama “My Girl”, you played the role of a father, but in your opinion, do you have the confidence that you can become a good father?” (female reader, 26 years old)
Aiba: Before, I used to think that I would become a really good father, but when I acted in the drama, I realized that it is very hard.
----------But as time passed in the drama, Masamune kun, as played by Aiba san, became more and more father-like, such was the impression he gave off.
Aiba: Because I paid a lot of attention to portraying the feeling of his gradual and refreshing change. During the course of the drama, there were things that I learned from Masamune kun. But because the storyline itself was about a topic made of the ordinary life’s little things one at a time, it’s rather difficult to turn on my acting mode. Rather than rushing things, I got into the role in a somewhat lukewarm manner.
----------Lukewarm? (laugh) So it was difficult to separate between the role and yourself.
Aiba: That’s right. I was totally in that state for 4 months, so at the moment of the crank up, other than “it’s over”, I couldn’t think of anything else.
----------By the way, Murakami kun of Kanjani∞, who co-starred with you in the drama said that during the filming, you two talked about “Arashi love, Kanjani∞ love”, what did you talk about in particular?
Aiba: Really, it was all silly things. “Arashi absolutely get along with each other better!” “No way, Kanjani∞ is better!”, stuffs like that. It was a conversation at the level of primary students - both of us kept boasting about things and competing against each other (laugh).
----------(laugh). Next up is “Is there any secret factor that helps you to smile and be happy always? Please tell me” (female reader, 19 years old). When you’re filming for the drama, there was also your concert on top of that, it must’ve been quite hard. At such times, what is the driving force behind Aiba san’s smile?
Aiba: I guess it’s the thought that, in whatever I do, I am not alone, and that it’s not only me that’s having a hard time. See, if I had a job in which I do everything on my own, I wouldn’t know what kind of face I make. I may even close my eyes as I do things (laugh).
----------“Right now when is the moment you’re happiest?” (female readers, 14 years old)
Aiba: The moment when I come home, really, I’m happy when I’m alone. Then I would feel really relieved when I changed into my pajamas. Recently, I guess that’s when I have my switch turned off. That’s why, in the morning, sometimes when I don’t have enough time and just go to work wearing the clothes I wear at home, I really can’t quite get into the on mode, because at those times I go to work with about the same mood as when I go to a convenient store. Therefore, no matter how little time I have, I always try to change my clothes first before heading out.
----------“What is the thing that recently raised your tension the most?” (female readers, 15 years old)
Aiba: It’s the concert after all.
----------I have this image of Aiba san always dashing around with full force at concerts, don’t you ever feel tired in the middle of all that?
Aiba: I do feel it. There are times when “this is bad, I ran around too much”, but I just keep going. Just that sometimes my body can’t keep up with my wild dash anymore, and for about 2 songs I would stand still. But for some reason I never feel any pain.
----------“Please tell me about a miracle episode you’ve worked out recently” (female reader, 18 years old), there’s such a question too, but I guess the thing you’ve just told could already be counted as a miracle in your concerts.
Aiba: That’s true. I was able to do that because it was at a live performance. I bet everything is possible with adrenaline.
----------“Recently have you discovered anything interesting about the members?” (female reader, 17 years old)
Aiba: In 2009, the 5 of us went to eat together a lot. On November the 3rd, our 10th anniversary day, we also went out to eat, then went on for some drinks. It was really so fun. I think it was great that we were able to do that a lot in 2009. (X Monster’s comment: Miracle Boy miraculously wandered a~ll the way off the topic. But, heck, there’s hardly any other off-topic answer in the world that is so full of love, so I’ll forgive you just this time, Aiba chan, be grateful!)
----------“As you’re now welcoming your 11th year, is there anything that you’d want to experience again?” (female reader, 17 years old)
Aiba: In 2000, I went on a trip across different time zones and welcomed the Happy New Year twice, at Australia and Hawaii (“World Countdown Special 24 Hours Complete Live LOVE LOVE 2000” - Fuji TV). (T/N: ‘kay, is there anyone here who has been Arashi’s fan since 1999? Some? No one? Right, this event with a ridiculously long name was the 1999 - 2000 equivalence of what we referred to simply as the Johnny’s Countdown today. Guess what, that long name is still NOT the full title of the event, here you go, just for FYI, “J-FRIENDS MILLENNIUM in TOKYO DOME 『World Countdown Special 24 Hours Complete Live LOVE LOVE 2000~The thing we can do for the world’s children with love~』” LMAO I think I finally find something that can beat the oddity of Shou chan’s “earthquake drama”) I learned a lot from that event, and it was really fun. I think I wouldn’t do that on my own, but if I’m told to, I’d be glad to do it again.
----------Lastly, in 2009, you started with a stage play - “The Green Finger”, then in the later half of the year, you ended with the leading role in “My Girl”, do you think that you have improved as an actor?
Aiba: Stage play and drama are two different things. However, with stage plays, I was able to widen the range of characters I act, and that became very helpful in drama. That’s why from now on, if there’re chances, I’d want to continue acting in both stage plays and dramas.
Ohno Satoshi
For 10 years the 5 of us had appeared together, then all of a sudden there’s no one else around me. When I sat at the MC seat too, I kept wondering “Eh? What about those 4?"
----------You must’ve done so many interviews. Do you remember the things you talked about?
Ohno: I do remember…… somehow (laugh). (X Monster's comment: really? as in, really? -__-)
----------Right, then we have a question from a reader. “Is there anything you’d want to challenge as you turn 29 years old?” (female reader, 17 years old)
Ohno: Challenge? None in particular, for me, there’s nothing left undone…… Well, the painting I’m doing right now, I’d like the 29 years old me to finish it.
----------What is its motif?
Ohno: Well,… I’m just drawing freely, using a fine pen. It’s a pretty big painting.
----------“Ohno kun is good at dancing, singing, and drawing too. What is the thing that you’re bad at?” (female reader, 15 years old)
Ohno: Fufu. (T/N: this is Riida’s laugh, pretty grandpa-like LOL) Things I’m bad at? There are a lot…… Eh? Is there anything?
----------(laugh). What about fishing? Are you good at that?
Ohno: About fishing, it’s not quite clear whether I’m good or bad at that. The first time I went fishing I was able to catch quite a big fish…… Anyway, I don’t understand the feeling of the fishes very well (laugh). (X Monster's comment: I totally don't understand what he's trying to say anymore... mou~ Riida, why do you have to make life harsher for a shabby translator like me? T__T)
----------In dramas and variety shows, is there any job that you feel that you’re relatively bad at?
Ohno: (thinking for a while) When I get involved in an acting job, I always go “Ha~……” (bitter laugh). (T/N: as in, he’s always surprised every time he’s offered a role)
----------“Good work with your filming for “0 Gou Shitsu no Kyaku” (Fuji TV). If you were to give yourself in 2009 a score, how many points would that be?” (female reader, 18 years old) (T/N: everyone knows what this question is about, right? Or is there anyone here who hasn’t watched Riida’s drama?)
Ohno: Around 20 points, I guess (laugh). (X Monster’s comment: *gasp* what are you talking about Riida??? You mean 120 points, don’t you?)
----------Why is it so low?
Ohno: Because I lived a very simple life.
----------But didn’t you have a lot of jobs piling up?
Ohno: Nah, 2009 was relatively easy for me. After I experienced 2008, 2009 is only somewhat busy.
----------So what if you give yourself in 2008 a score?
Ohno: Shouldn’t it be 100 points? I was even able to open my own exhibition. I did everything I wanted to.
----------You tried your best?
Ohno: I tried my best (flatly). (X Monster’s comment: oh, see, Riida is capable of being proud sometimes :D) In 2010, I’ll aim to get 80 points.
----------“From now on do you want to try challenging yourself with any other kind of artwork?” (female reader, 15 years old)
Ohno: Right now I’m challenging myself with the work I’m doing too. (T/N: meaning, the painting he mentioned earlier) Because I have no idea how it’s going to turn out in the end, its final shape that is. I completely can’t imagine. At the moment I’m just earnestly drawing with my pen. After this I plan to color it, but I’m not too sure either. I might well think that it’s good enough after finishing the pen drawing. It’s always a challenge. (X Monster’s comment: wow, Riida’ll get talkative if it comes to his art, remember that you interviewers!)
----------“I think that Ohno kun is really very good at singing and dancing. But you say that you’re not good at all, why are you that strict with yourself?” (female reader, 15 years old)
Ohno: I’m not being particularly strict or anything. For dancing, in the end, it’s always a situation where you are the only one who can be satisfied with yourself. So I think I should try to do it until I’m completely satisfied…… From time to time, in the concerts, I do get satisfied with my dancing…… I do, um (laugh).
----------“If you were not in Arashi, what do you think you would be doing at the moment?” (female reader, 34 years old)
Ohno: I really do not know the answer for this question. Umm…… I think I would have tried my best at high school. At that point, I wanted to become an illustrator…… maybe?
----------In your everyday life you must have come across a lot of occupations, have you ever had the sudden thought that it’d be nice to try doing this certain kind of job?
Ohno: That I have. Like, becoming a fisherman, or an angler. (X Monster’s comment: how curious it is that I didn’t even bat an eye when a super idol confessed to dreaming of becoming a fisherman)
----------“Recently have you discovered anything interesting about the members?” (female reader, 17 years old)
Ohno: It’s already 10 years, there’re not that many new things left to discover. (X Monster’s comment: LMAO this is the best response ever)
----------Is there anything you’ve discovered about yourself?
Ohno: I wonder if there’s anything. Nothing. Fufu. Because I always feel that I’m inside a dream, especially in 2009. I received congratulations from everyone. At Disneyland, I got on a boat with Mickey and his friends. It’s like “how and why am I here?” (laugh)
----------In 2009, you made your appearance on the front cover of Ori★Suta with your solo. What do you think about your solo activity?
Ohno: I appeared on “Music Station” (TV Asahi) all by myself…… I had never been that lonely before (bitter laugh). Because, for 10 years the 5 of us had appeared together, then all of a sudden there’s no one else around me. When I sat at the MC seat too, I kept wondering “Eh? What about those 4?"
----------Was there anything else that you got to experience for the first time?
Ohno: There’s also “NEWS ZERO” (NTV) (featuring the talk with Nara Yoshimoto san - T/N: he’s a famous pop artist, see wikipedia for more information). That was fun. We totally didn’t stick to any script (laugh).
----------Last question, what is your goal for this 11th year?
Ohno: I’d want to somehow finish the painting I’m doing. I’d give myself 80 points the moment I finish it (laugh).
Ninomiya Kazunari
It can be said that all the things the 5 of us have done are connected with each other by our “Arashi-ness”
----------This is the first question. “Congratulations on your starring role in the movie “GANTZ” (Toho production, to be released in 2011)! I think the filming must have started already, so how do you feel about the first action of the movie?” (female reader, 23 years old)
Nino: I have yet to do any action scene. That’s why for now I can’t say anything about it. Even though today too, I had been filming until morning……
----------I’m looking forward to it. There’s this question too: “I’m always anxious in front of strangers. How can I be like Ninomiya kun, always relaxed no matter what kind of people you’re with?” (female reader, 13 years old)
Nino: I’m totally not relaxed. See, if I’m ever told “you don’t have to talk”, then I won’t speak at all. Just that, in my work, there’s no way I could ever be like that…… Talking about these things, maybe I would be regarded as a cold person. But of course I do make an effort to create a fun setting.
----------But it seems to me that you always maintain a good balance. This year you’ve acted in 2 special dramas, “DOOR TO DOOR ~Boku wa noseimahi no top salesman~” (TBS) (T/N: translated to: “DOOR TO DOOR ~I am a top salesman with cerebral pansy~". Oh, oh, I surely hear somebody saying “What? So that’s the full name of the drama?” Yes it is LOL Lately Arashi have maintained a track of acting in dramas with amazing titles, na~) and “Tengoku de kimi ni aetara” (TBS). (X Monster’s comment: “Question!” - “Yes, X Monster?” - “Why is it that I translated the previous title but not this one?” - “Because everyone already knows what it means, idiot”. Putting my tasteless one person comedy act aside, you girls do know what this title mean, right?) Moreover, you had the stage play “Mishiranu Jokyaku”, (T/N: literally “Unacquainted passengers”, more commonly known around the fandom as “Strangers on a train”) your performance was really natural in all of those.
Nino: I thought that I should act in a relatively straightforward way for those. But it’s not like I had that much awareness about it. I never seriously think “let’s act like this”. Actually, I think that being able to encounter a good production is already my bliss, after that, it’d all come down to the judgment from the audience.
----------You’re really modest. Next, “Do you have any long-time habit?” (female reader, 28 years old)
Nino: I guess that would be the habit of spacing out whenever I have a little time. Recently I haven’t had much sleep, so I’ve been spacing out a lot (laugh). But I think it’s also important to have some time when you’re doing nothing.
----------That’s true. “Regarding the songs you danced to when you were a Junior, right now if you feel like dancing them again, would you be able to?” (female reader, 18 years old)
Nino: If I feel like dancing I guess I’d be able to. Those dances are already deeply ingrained inside me I think. Even though I rarely danced (laugh).
----------By the way, what about Arashi’s songs?
Nino: There are also some songs which would make me go “Eh? What’s it (the choreography) like?” But after trying a few times, surely I’ll start to recall it.
----------The next question is about Arashi in 2009. “To Arashi whose appearance on Kouhaku has been decided. In 2009 you’ve been extremely busy with concerts, the Arashi CHALLENGE ★ week, and also the Premium Night. Which is the event that left you the deepest impression?” (female reader, 18 years old)
Nino: Surely it’s the event of our 10th anniversary. I don’t think we’ve been able to do much of stuffs like reflecting on things or reviewing how we’d come thus far, but we’ve received a lot of advice and congratulations - that was really something to be happy about.
----------“I’m really looking forward to Arashi from now on as you welcome your 11th year! But I’d like to know if there’s anything in the past that you’d want to experience again?” (female reader, 17 years old)
Nino: Everything has been fun. I just can’t choose the best one. Because, without any single one of them, I wouldn’t be able to have the feeling as I do now.
----------It’s important to have the feeling that you yourself are able to have fun with everything, right?
Nino: Well, there’s also the thought of “it’s been lots of troubles”. (T/N: as in, we’ve gone through lots of hardship to get here so we might as well have fun with it LOL) Without that thought maybe we wouldn’t be able to have fun. But then, it’s not like I give it that much thought, I just do everything naturally.
----------“What are the things that you’d want to do from now on with 5 people?”(female reader, 19 years old)
Nino: It’s good enough if we can keep going on as we are now. It’s not like we are a group that always do whatever we want to. We are here right now because we’ve been doing the things we are offered in “our own way”.
----------That “Arashi-ness” is important, right? (X Monster’s comment: that’s a new word to be added to English dictionaries, Arashi-ness)
Nino: That’s true. It could also be said that all the things the 5 of us have done are connected with each other by that “Arashi-ness”. If we can continue to do things the way we’ve been up until now, then there is nothing I’d feel more grateful for.
----------This is the last question. “Please tell me your goal for this 11th year!” (female reader, 14 years old)
Nino: Er, goal? I wonder what…… well, “being healthy, without any injury”. The later half of 2009 has been quite hectic, so I’d want to live without bringing much trouble to anyone.
----------Considering that, during the filming of “GANTZ”, in the action scenes too, please make sure that your health comes first.
Nino: That’s right. Staying healthy is the first priority.
(to be continued) Part 3 - group talk
This is the first part, with the individual interviews of Shou and Jun.
There is yet another final part, with a group's talk, which I swear I will translate later, ahahahaha :"] Me and my random schedule... Made it somehow XD
Btw, some of you girls have been indulging me too much regarding my random comments and this time they are back, all over the place... *sigh*
Aiba Masaki
On the day of our 10th anniversary, we also went out to eat, then went on for some drinks. It was really so fun
----------“In the drama “My Girl”, you played the role of a father, but in your opinion, do you have the confidence that you can become a good father?” (female reader, 26 years old)
Aiba: Before, I used to think that I would become a really good father, but when I acted in the drama, I realized that it is very hard.
----------But as time passed in the drama, Masamune kun, as played by Aiba san, became more and more father-like, such was the impression he gave off.
Aiba: Because I paid a lot of attention to portraying the feeling of his gradual and refreshing change. During the course of the drama, there were things that I learned from Masamune kun. But because the storyline itself was about a topic made of the ordinary life’s little things one at a time, it’s rather difficult to turn on my acting mode. Rather than rushing things, I got into the role in a somewhat lukewarm manner.
----------Lukewarm? (laugh) So it was difficult to separate between the role and yourself.
Aiba: That’s right. I was totally in that state for 4 months, so at the moment of the crank up, other than “it’s over”, I couldn’t think of anything else.
----------By the way, Murakami kun of Kanjani∞, who co-starred with you in the drama said that during the filming, you two talked about “Arashi love, Kanjani∞ love”, what did you talk about in particular?
Aiba: Really, it was all silly things. “Arashi absolutely get along with each other better!” “No way, Kanjani∞ is better!”, stuffs like that. It was a conversation at the level of primary students - both of us kept boasting about things and competing against each other (laugh).
----------(laugh). Next up is “Is there any secret factor that helps you to smile and be happy always? Please tell me” (female reader, 19 years old). When you’re filming for the drama, there was also your concert on top of that, it must’ve been quite hard. At such times, what is the driving force behind Aiba san’s smile?
Aiba: I guess it’s the thought that, in whatever I do, I am not alone, and that it’s not only me that’s having a hard time. See, if I had a job in which I do everything on my own, I wouldn’t know what kind of face I make. I may even close my eyes as I do things (laugh).
----------“Right now when is the moment you’re happiest?” (female readers, 14 years old)
Aiba: The moment when I come home, really, I’m happy when I’m alone. Then I would feel really relieved when I changed into my pajamas. Recently, I guess that’s when I have my switch turned off. That’s why, in the morning, sometimes when I don’t have enough time and just go to work wearing the clothes I wear at home, I really can’t quite get into the on mode, because at those times I go to work with about the same mood as when I go to a convenient store. Therefore, no matter how little time I have, I always try to change my clothes first before heading out.
----------“What is the thing that recently raised your tension the most?” (female readers, 15 years old)
Aiba: It’s the concert after all.
----------I have this image of Aiba san always dashing around with full force at concerts, don’t you ever feel tired in the middle of all that?
Aiba: I do feel it. There are times when “this is bad, I ran around too much”, but I just keep going. Just that sometimes my body can’t keep up with my wild dash anymore, and for about 2 songs I would stand still. But for some reason I never feel any pain.
----------“Please tell me about a miracle episode you’ve worked out recently” (female reader, 18 years old), there’s such a question too, but I guess the thing you’ve just told could already be counted as a miracle in your concerts.
Aiba: That’s true. I was able to do that because it was at a live performance. I bet everything is possible with adrenaline.
----------“Recently have you discovered anything interesting about the members?” (female reader, 17 years old)
Aiba: In 2009, the 5 of us went to eat together a lot. On November the 3rd, our 10th anniversary day, we also went out to eat, then went on for some drinks. It was really so fun. I think it was great that we were able to do that a lot in 2009. (X Monster’s comment: Miracle Boy miraculously wandered a~ll the way off the topic. But, heck, there’s hardly any other off-topic answer in the world that is so full of love, so I’ll forgive you just this time, Aiba chan, be grateful!)
----------“As you’re now welcoming your 11th year, is there anything that you’d want to experience again?” (female reader, 17 years old)
Aiba: In 2000, I went on a trip across different time zones and welcomed the Happy New Year twice, at Australia and Hawaii (“World Countdown Special 24 Hours Complete Live LOVE LOVE 2000” - Fuji TV). (T/N: ‘kay, is there anyone here who has been Arashi’s fan since 1999? Some? No one? Right, this event with a ridiculously long name was the 1999 - 2000 equivalence of what we referred to simply as the Johnny’s Countdown today. Guess what, that long name is still NOT the full title of the event, here you go, just for FYI, “J-FRIENDS MILLENNIUM in TOKYO DOME 『World Countdown Special 24 Hours Complete Live LOVE LOVE 2000~The thing we can do for the world’s children with love~』” LMAO I think I finally find something that can beat the oddity of Shou chan’s “earthquake drama”) I learned a lot from that event, and it was really fun. I think I wouldn’t do that on my own, but if I’m told to, I’d be glad to do it again.
----------Lastly, in 2009, you started with a stage play - “The Green Finger”, then in the later half of the year, you ended with the leading role in “My Girl”, do you think that you have improved as an actor?
Aiba: Stage play and drama are two different things. However, with stage plays, I was able to widen the range of characters I act, and that became very helpful in drama. That’s why from now on, if there’re chances, I’d want to continue acting in both stage plays and dramas.
Ohno Satoshi
For 10 years the 5 of us had appeared together, then all of a sudden there’s no one else around me. When I sat at the MC seat too, I kept wondering “Eh? What about those 4?"
----------You must’ve done so many interviews. Do you remember the things you talked about?
Ohno: I do remember…… somehow (laugh). (X Monster's comment: really? as in, really? -__-)
----------Right, then we have a question from a reader. “Is there anything you’d want to challenge as you turn 29 years old?” (female reader, 17 years old)
Ohno: Challenge? None in particular, for me, there’s nothing left undone…… Well, the painting I’m doing right now, I’d like the 29 years old me to finish it.
----------What is its motif?
Ohno: Well,… I’m just drawing freely, using a fine pen. It’s a pretty big painting.
----------“Ohno kun is good at dancing, singing, and drawing too. What is the thing that you’re bad at?” (female reader, 15 years old)
Ohno: Fufu. (T/N: this is Riida’s laugh, pretty grandpa-like LOL) Things I’m bad at? There are a lot…… Eh? Is there anything?
----------(laugh). What about fishing? Are you good at that?
Ohno: About fishing, it’s not quite clear whether I’m good or bad at that. The first time I went fishing I was able to catch quite a big fish…… Anyway, I don’t understand the feeling of the fishes very well (laugh). (X Monster's comment: I totally don't understand what he's trying to say anymore... mou~ Riida, why do you have to make life harsher for a shabby translator like me? T__T)
----------In dramas and variety shows, is there any job that you feel that you’re relatively bad at?
Ohno: (thinking for a while) When I get involved in an acting job, I always go “Ha~……” (bitter laugh). (T/N: as in, he’s always surprised every time he’s offered a role)
----------“Good work with your filming for “0 Gou Shitsu no Kyaku” (Fuji TV). If you were to give yourself in 2009 a score, how many points would that be?” (female reader, 18 years old) (T/N: everyone knows what this question is about, right? Or is there anyone here who hasn’t watched Riida’s drama?)
Ohno: Around 20 points, I guess (laugh). (X Monster’s comment: *gasp* what are you talking about Riida??? You mean 120 points, don’t you?)
----------Why is it so low?
Ohno: Because I lived a very simple life.
----------But didn’t you have a lot of jobs piling up?
Ohno: Nah, 2009 was relatively easy for me. After I experienced 2008, 2009 is only somewhat busy.
----------So what if you give yourself in 2008 a score?
Ohno: Shouldn’t it be 100 points? I was even able to open my own exhibition. I did everything I wanted to.
----------You tried your best?
Ohno: I tried my best (flatly). (X Monster’s comment: oh, see, Riida is capable of being proud sometimes :D) In 2010, I’ll aim to get 80 points.
----------“From now on do you want to try challenging yourself with any other kind of artwork?” (female reader, 15 years old)
Ohno: Right now I’m challenging myself with the work I’m doing too. (T/N: meaning, the painting he mentioned earlier) Because I have no idea how it’s going to turn out in the end, its final shape that is. I completely can’t imagine. At the moment I’m just earnestly drawing with my pen. After this I plan to color it, but I’m not too sure either. I might well think that it’s good enough after finishing the pen drawing. It’s always a challenge. (X Monster’s comment: wow, Riida’ll get talkative if it comes to his art, remember that you interviewers!)
----------“I think that Ohno kun is really very good at singing and dancing. But you say that you’re not good at all, why are you that strict with yourself?” (female reader, 15 years old)
Ohno: I’m not being particularly strict or anything. For dancing, in the end, it’s always a situation where you are the only one who can be satisfied with yourself. So I think I should try to do it until I’m completely satisfied…… From time to time, in the concerts, I do get satisfied with my dancing…… I do, um (laugh).
----------“If you were not in Arashi, what do you think you would be doing at the moment?” (female reader, 34 years old)
Ohno: I really do not know the answer for this question. Umm…… I think I would have tried my best at high school. At that point, I wanted to become an illustrator…… maybe?
----------In your everyday life you must have come across a lot of occupations, have you ever had the sudden thought that it’d be nice to try doing this certain kind of job?
Ohno: That I have. Like, becoming a fisherman, or an angler. (X Monster’s comment: how curious it is that I didn’t even bat an eye when a super idol confessed to dreaming of becoming a fisherman)
----------“Recently have you discovered anything interesting about the members?” (female reader, 17 years old)
Ohno: It’s already 10 years, there’re not that many new things left to discover. (X Monster’s comment: LMAO this is the best response ever)
----------Is there anything you’ve discovered about yourself?
Ohno: I wonder if there’s anything. Nothing. Fufu. Because I always feel that I’m inside a dream, especially in 2009. I received congratulations from everyone. At Disneyland, I got on a boat with Mickey and his friends. It’s like “how and why am I here?” (laugh)
----------In 2009, you made your appearance on the front cover of Ori★Suta with your solo. What do you think about your solo activity?
Ohno: I appeared on “Music Station” (TV Asahi) all by myself…… I had never been that lonely before (bitter laugh). Because, for 10 years the 5 of us had appeared together, then all of a sudden there’s no one else around me. When I sat at the MC seat too, I kept wondering “Eh? What about those 4?"
----------Was there anything else that you got to experience for the first time?
Ohno: There’s also “NEWS ZERO” (NTV) (featuring the talk with Nara Yoshimoto san - T/N: he’s a famous pop artist, see wikipedia for more information). That was fun. We totally didn’t stick to any script (laugh).
----------Last question, what is your goal for this 11th year?
Ohno: I’d want to somehow finish the painting I’m doing. I’d give myself 80 points the moment I finish it (laugh).
Ninomiya Kazunari
It can be said that all the things the 5 of us have done are connected with each other by our “Arashi-ness”
----------This is the first question. “Congratulations on your starring role in the movie “GANTZ” (Toho production, to be released in 2011)! I think the filming must have started already, so how do you feel about the first action of the movie?” (female reader, 23 years old)
Nino: I have yet to do any action scene. That’s why for now I can’t say anything about it. Even though today too, I had been filming until morning……
----------I’m looking forward to it. There’s this question too: “I’m always anxious in front of strangers. How can I be like Ninomiya kun, always relaxed no matter what kind of people you’re with?” (female reader, 13 years old)
Nino: I’m totally not relaxed. See, if I’m ever told “you don’t have to talk”, then I won’t speak at all. Just that, in my work, there’s no way I could ever be like that…… Talking about these things, maybe I would be regarded as a cold person. But of course I do make an effort to create a fun setting.
----------But it seems to me that you always maintain a good balance. This year you’ve acted in 2 special dramas, “DOOR TO DOOR ~Boku wa noseimahi no top salesman~” (TBS) (T/N: translated to: “DOOR TO DOOR ~I am a top salesman with cerebral pansy~". Oh, oh, I surely hear somebody saying “What? So that’s the full name of the drama?” Yes it is LOL Lately Arashi have maintained a track of acting in dramas with amazing titles, na~) and “Tengoku de kimi ni aetara” (TBS). (X Monster’s comment: “Question!” - “Yes, X Monster?” - “Why is it that I translated the previous title but not this one?” - “Because everyone already knows what it means, idiot”. Putting my tasteless one person comedy act aside, you girls do know what this title mean, right?) Moreover, you had the stage play “Mishiranu Jokyaku”, (T/N: literally “Unacquainted passengers”, more commonly known around the fandom as “Strangers on a train”) your performance was really natural in all of those.
Nino: I thought that I should act in a relatively straightforward way for those. But it’s not like I had that much awareness about it. I never seriously think “let’s act like this”. Actually, I think that being able to encounter a good production is already my bliss, after that, it’d all come down to the judgment from the audience.
----------You’re really modest. Next, “Do you have any long-time habit?” (female reader, 28 years old)
Nino: I guess that would be the habit of spacing out whenever I have a little time. Recently I haven’t had much sleep, so I’ve been spacing out a lot (laugh). But I think it’s also important to have some time when you’re doing nothing.
----------That’s true. “Regarding the songs you danced to when you were a Junior, right now if you feel like dancing them again, would you be able to?” (female reader, 18 years old)
Nino: If I feel like dancing I guess I’d be able to. Those dances are already deeply ingrained inside me I think. Even though I rarely danced (laugh).
----------By the way, what about Arashi’s songs?
Nino: There are also some songs which would make me go “Eh? What’s it (the choreography) like?” But after trying a few times, surely I’ll start to recall it.
----------The next question is about Arashi in 2009. “To Arashi whose appearance on Kouhaku has been decided. In 2009 you’ve been extremely busy with concerts, the Arashi CHALLENGE ★ week, and also the Premium Night. Which is the event that left you the deepest impression?” (female reader, 18 years old)
Nino: Surely it’s the event of our 10th anniversary. I don’t think we’ve been able to do much of stuffs like reflecting on things or reviewing how we’d come thus far, but we’ve received a lot of advice and congratulations - that was really something to be happy about.
----------“I’m really looking forward to Arashi from now on as you welcome your 11th year! But I’d like to know if there’s anything in the past that you’d want to experience again?” (female reader, 17 years old)
Nino: Everything has been fun. I just can’t choose the best one. Because, without any single one of them, I wouldn’t be able to have the feeling as I do now.
----------It’s important to have the feeling that you yourself are able to have fun with everything, right?
Nino: Well, there’s also the thought of “it’s been lots of troubles”. (T/N: as in, we’ve gone through lots of hardship to get here so we might as well have fun with it LOL) Without that thought maybe we wouldn’t be able to have fun. But then, it’s not like I give it that much thought, I just do everything naturally.
----------“What are the things that you’d want to do from now on with 5 people?”(female reader, 19 years old)
Nino: It’s good enough if we can keep going on as we are now. It’s not like we are a group that always do whatever we want to. We are here right now because we’ve been doing the things we are offered in “our own way”.
----------That “Arashi-ness” is important, right? (X Monster’s comment: that’s a new word to be added to English dictionaries, Arashi-ness)
Nino: That’s true. It could also be said that all the things the 5 of us have done are connected with each other by that “Arashi-ness”. If we can continue to do things the way we’ve been up until now, then there is nothing I’d feel more grateful for.
----------This is the last question. “Please tell me your goal for this 11th year!” (female reader, 14 years old)
Nino: Er, goal? I wonder what…… well, “being healthy, without any injury”. The later half of 2009 has been quite hectic, so I’d want to live without bringing much trouble to anyone.
----------Considering that, during the filming of “GANTZ”, in the action scenes too, please make sure that your health comes first.
Nino: That’s right. Staying healthy is the first priority.
(to be continued) Part 3 - group talk