10 posts tagged “me”
For those of you who have already celebrated the new year, Happy New Year~!:D May 2008 bring you all the happiness, all the love, and all the waking dreams that you could ever wish for:) For those of you like me who are still a few hours away (and already too excitedXD), let's have some fun~;P *cranks up Lucky Man*
First up on the playbill is the boys' TV Guide article for this week:D
Credit to mori for all the scansXD
Holding an urgent Thank-You Party and Group Discussion!
The Triumphant Return Concerts, the first Solo Dome concets, the summer tour, the release of 3 singles and an album...those are the energetic
activities that Arashi completed. Looking back on '07, the members' indiviudal 'thank yous', and Arashi's ambitions for '08 are...?!
We're bringing you the individual members' own 'thank you' messages, looking back on '07, in relay format. Arashi's own brand of super 'hot talk' is the
development?!
Ohno Satoshi, '80/11/26, born in Tokyo. Sagittarius. A blood type. In '07 he made a guest appearance on [Yamada Tarou Monogatari] (TBS). Ohchan
says [When I remembered the movies we all used to do back in the day it was really nostalgic].
Sakurai Sho, '82/01/25, born in Tokyo. Aquarius. Blood type A. In '07 he appeared in the House of Council election special [Zero X Election 2007] (JapanTV),
[World Cup Volleyball 2007] (FujiTV). In '09 his movie [Yatterman] will be released.
Ninomiya Kazunari, '83/6/17, born in Tokyo. Gemini. Blood type A. In '07 starred in [Haikei, Chichiue-sama] (FujiTV), and [Marathon] (TBS). His
co-starring with Sakurai Sho in their starring drama [Yamada Tarou Monogatari] (TBS) was much tlaked about.
In '07 he gave a good performance as a youth living in silence in his own second starring play [Wasurarenai Hito].
Matsumoto Jun, '83/8/30, born in Tokyo. Virgo. Blood type A. In '07 he starred in [Bambi~no!] (JapanTV). Trying his hand at period pieces for the
first time in the movie [Kakushi Toride no San Akunin] (release: May 10th, '08). [Hana Yori Dango Final] is planned to be released June 28th.
From Ohno Satoshi (Ohchan) to Sakurai Sho (Sho-kun): [Thanks]
Thank you for Okinawa (laughs). Please give me more stimuli ne
This year I got a vacation and went to Okinawa's Miyakojima, but coicidentally Sho-kun came too. While we were travelling we were sending each
other pictures on our cellphones (laughs). After I'd get an email from Sho-kun saying [This is where I am now] I'd go there, take a pciture, and send
it abck saying [I came here too]. I also coincidentally ran into Sho-kun at the Tenjin Festival before in Osaka ne. Though Sho-chan's that kind of
fated person, I respect him because he's doing things I can't do, like being a news and volleyball caster, I want to run along more swiftly.
From Sakurai Sho (Sho-kun) to Ninomiya Kazunari (Nino): [Thanks]
I get the feeling that it was because Nino was there that the atmosphere on the set was able to be created quickly
'07 was a really full year huh. As an inidividual there were a lot of new things I tried, like the House of Council Special and being a volleyball caster.
Even amid all that I was really there with Nino ne. Because when we were doing [Yamada Tarou Monogatari] it also overlapped with the summer
tour I think that Nino, as the star, had even more of a hard time than me. But because Nino was there the atmosphere on set was able to be created
fairly quickly, it was easier for me too ne. I'm going to work hard so that we can work together again, so when that happens please favor me (laughs).
From Ninomiya Kazunari (Nino) to Aiba Masaki (Aiba-chan): [Thanks]
He's not a person to whom I formalyl say 'arigatou' ...?!
Thank you to Aiba-chan?! It's not that kind of relationship (laughs). Since being with the members is a given, in exhange for not fighting we don't
formalyl show gratitude... Geez, I don't even know what I should be saying 'thank you' for, it's embarrassing. Naturally, after work the two of us go for
dinner and talk on occasion. The subjects at that time? If it was me with my favorite girl I would make sure not to forget it, but with him...it's not
like I'd remember that (laughs).
From Aiba Masaki (Aiba-chan) to Matsumoto Jun (MatsuJun): [Thanks]
I can't really express it, so why don't we go drinking?
It's my intention to be in touch with the feelings of gratitude I have towards the members on a daily basis. Because I love all of them. Because in '07
I had a lot of solo activities like the play when I was back among Arashi again I felt "comfort". That's why I feel this even more. Only, that's just
how I feel, I can't really say it out loud. Even though I'm always saying to MatsuJun 'let's go drinking', it hasn't become reality. Whether it's with
the other members or just the two of us it would be great, so let's go. Under the influence of alcohol I might be able to say it?!
From Matsumoto Jun (MatsuJun) to Ohno Satoshi (Ohchan): [Thanks]
Riidaa's unchanging gentleness is a relief
I wasn't able to be with the other members much in the first half of the year ne. But, to make up for it we had a lot of chances to go eat dinner
all together in the local regions huh. We went to ramen shops, yakiniku restaurants, we had a barbequeue with the staff. When I go to those kind
fo Arashi locations I feel relieved on seeing Riidaa's face. No matter when we meet Riidaa doesn't change, I really calm down when I touch that
gentle atmosphere. Thank you for always letting me feel 'it's Arashi~'!
Urgent Group Discussion
Arashi's Ambitions for 2008
Now that they've looked back on '07 and expressed their 'thank yous', we're holding an urgent group discussion on the Arashi of '08! Arashi's
ambitions are...?!
Sho: I'd like to talk about '08 using the theme of Arashi's ambitions. I'm Sakurai, and I'll be hosting today.Your favor please.
All 4: If you please~! (clap)
Aiba: But, it would be great if we could have a great number of stage performances in '08 as well after all ne.
Jun: '07 was the hightest ever right?
Sho: The guests as well, they came from France, Italy, germany, lots of countries. Nino said it before but we're fairly popular in France anre't we?
Nino: That's right, that's right, we're very popular in Paris.
Sho: Then, should we do Paris in '08? So how many people would gather again?
Nino: ...mm, about 700 people. But 700 people is very popular! I told you it wasn't an overwhelming number, are you snickering at me?
Aiba: We're not (laughs). But they definitely said 700 people? It might be a lie you know.
Nino: ...the cable tv person said it.
Aiba: Uhaha! Is it okay to believe them ne?
Jun: It's not just that person likes Arashi or something?
Nino: That person probably likes us ne (laughs). Riidaa, what do you want to do in '08?
Ohno: I want to constantly be doing live performances after all ne.
Aiba: Are there places you want to do them or something?
Ohno: (thinking) Don't you want to do Koya?
Jun: Ah~, that would be nice ne.
Ohno: Because it was so small and fun at the Kagoshima venue, somewhere smaller.
Sho: We'll get you to do that by yourself.
Ohno: Huh? Don't you all want to do it?
Nino: Well, I'll go with you!
Sho: (laughs). How about you Matsumoto-san?
Jun: I want to do new things with all 5 of us again ne.
Sho: Which means that Matsumoto-kun wants to do a musial in other words.
Jun: No, not a musical.
Aiba: All 5 of us (laughs).
Jun: I haven't said that either?
Nino: It's the same with the musical but, there are people who say they still want to see more even if we just do concerts ne.
Jun: If there weren't we'd break up.
Sho: Can it be that in '08 we're quickly in danger of breaking up?!
Nino: No no no. We'll do concerts as long as everyone says they want to see them.
Sho: That's right ne. So, to end off with, our plans for '08 from Ohno-san, if you please.
Ohno: We'll set up our plans for next year in the first month.
Nino: Hey you, we're doing that right now.
Ohno: That's the first plan.
Nino: Ah, the very first part ne? Which means that next time we'll need a plan for January.
Ohno: Let's having that planning meeting at the very end of '07 and begin thinking of the plan for January there.
Aiba: Which means that right now...?
Ohno: We're setting up our plans, setting them up.
Other 4: (uproariously laughter)
Nino: What a pain~! So, what's the plan's name?
Ohno: 'The Plan'!
Sho: (laughs). Thank you very much!
Jun: Please favor us in '08 as well!
Ohno: (Ending cleanly) Favor us!
[Hana yori Dango] is at it's final at last. [HanaDan] was the first time I did a sequel to a serial drama. Doing it again for 3 months with the same cast was
interesting ne. I remember really looking forward to seeing how much everyone had changed in a year. Since the end of part one we'd each had
various experiences, everyone including myself thought about how to deliberately bring that out in the end result. It's been another year since that
impression of part 2. Although I meet up with people in my private life as well it's a really happy thing to be gathering together with everyone again
and 'making one single creation' ne. I'm already looking forward to the filming from here on! Because I haven't gotten the script yet I don't know
what kind of story it'll turn out to be, but I guess it'll be something that goes along with the flow of part 2. Because this will be the last glimpse, personally
I think it would be great if it were a story where everyone ends up happy. At any rate, since this time the movie feels like a festival I want to have
fun on the set. What do I like about Doumyouji? I guess his silliness (laughs). But I think that Doumyouji's unwavering parts are extremely cool.
At the graduation prom Makino Tsukushi (Inoue Mao) accepted Doumyouji Tsukasa (Matsumoto Jun)'s marriage proposal. At about a yaer after that
Tsukushi gets tangled up in a certain incident. What does Tsukasa do? We can't keep our eyes off the original story movie with the [HanaDan]-like
thrilling love comedy in the fans' eagerly awaited sequel!
Love that last picture<3 And the one where Jun has his scarf wrapped around OhnoX3 Ohno and Sho both were in Okinawa?? How did that happen?XD But that's so cute, like phone pic tag;P (I want to try that someday, I need a better phone...) Sho thanks Nino for making things easier for him, Nino turns around and says he doesn't need to thank Aiba, Aiba says he loves everyone and wants to go drinking with Jun (me too me too!XD), and Jun loves Ohno...<3 And this plan for next year...well, I'll let you watch what happens with that later;P
Second billing goes to TVPia:D
Happy time spent with Arashi
Without ceasing their variety and drama shows they had 3 hit singles, the release of their movie [Kiiroi Namida], a packed-house first Dome concert,
calling attention on all fronts in '07. A big step to fulfilling ambition!
- We acknowledge that looking back on the last year doesn't suit Arashi, but what kind of year was the Great Leap Forward '07.
Sho: It was a full year ne? Beginning with the concerts in the new year...we were even able to have 2 Dome concerts that year.
Jun: It was great ne. It's really like, who would have thought that Arashi would be doing the Dome with this kind of timing ne!
Nino: Because even we ourselves didn't think it ne (laughs). Well, it's not like we originally had doing a concert in the Dome as our final goal.
Sho: How about you, Prince Nail Cutter (looking intently at the nail-cutting Aiba).
Aiba: Just wait a bit, I've only got my pinky left (laughs).
Jun: Then go back to your nails.
Aiba: (confused) I mean, we were able to do the Dome twice this year right?
Jun: We just said that!
- How about you Ohchan? Have you been increasingly noticed when you're out in the city.
Ohno: No, conversely I'm remembering the faces of the fans. When I went to a cafe the other day I'd seen the employee somewhere before. I
was like '...ah, this girl came to the concert!'.
As one: He~~?!
Nino: Eh? Did you tell her? Like, 'you came to my concert'.
Ohno: I asked her.
Jun: And then? What did they say?
Ohno: (showing signs of embarrassment) She said 'yes'.
Aiba: Uwa~, amazing! But isn't that flirting?!
Ohno: Flirting.
Aiba: Uhahahaha!
Sho/Jun: What are you doing! (laughs)
Ohno: That was a joke (laughs), but that kind of thing happens a lot.
Aiba: I'm no good. I don't remember that much~!
Sho: I don't know about 'popularity', but I certainly feel like we're being nationally 'recognized' ne. Although I had a lot of regional work in the form
of the volleyball and [Kinminsei SP], I was talked to a lot in the various places.
- You also had a lot of television appearances, but what was particularly memorable?
All 5: What indeed...?
- Though the different colored skinny jeans on [Music Station] were extraordinarily memorable (laughs).
Aiba: Ah~, we get told that a lot ne. The five-colored ones. I was red was I.
Jun: You often get told that (laughs)?
Sho: For me it would be the special with Ehara-san (aired in March, [Ehara Hiroyuki & Arashi, Solving the Worries of the Modern Person! Live
Broadcast SP]). All five of us, live, on top of which during primetime, I think that was a new challenge for us,.
Now we can understand each other even if we don't talk about important feelings
- Right now I'd by all means like to ask anew. What is Arashi's appeal?
Sho: Sleeping lion Satoshi-san, please talk about appeal, sooner than later!
Ohno: ....Arashi ne....
Nino: Arashi ne (complete mimicry).
Ohno: It's harmonious ne.
Nino: It's harmonious ne~.
As one: (laughs).
Sho: It certainly is harmonious, really ne.
Ohno: I don't know about anything else, but Arashi has an unstrained harmonious atmosphere right. Lately I've been thinking how nice that is ne.
Aiba: It's something that never changes ne, really.
- You say it doesn't change, although you appear to get more and more friendly with each other.
Ohno: Yes, we're getting more and more harmonious.
Nino: Wouldn't that be Riidaa's group unifying character coming out after all?!
Aiba: If Ohno-san was someone extremely scary...
Ohno: Everyone might be scared.
Jun: Arashi's appeal huh. In a good sense wouldn't it be how we're all diverse? I think that it's amazing that personalities this diverse are properly
collected into one... (to the reporter) is that no good? Like that.
- No (laughs)! Only, although at a glance you may appear diverse, the effect of everyone fixing their eyes on the one point they must aim for makes
you feel an unparalleled unity.
Sho: Well, we are always together ne~. Although we don't talk like that much lately there's already points where we can understand without having
to talk about it ne.
Aiba: That's right ne!
Sho: Because we're 'connected by the C' ne. (trying to practically apply the lines from the C1000 CM)
As one: ........
- (laughs). It was a lso a year where Sho-kun brought out an unexpected side of himself ne (laughs).
Sho: As a news caster ne? (a little arrogantly)
- No, rather something opposed to that.
Sho: Eh!
Nino: Yeah, I think that's it ne (laughs). But you know, it was just that the world wasn't seeing his funniness. We've been seeing it for a long time.
Aiba: For a time, when [News Zero] was beginning, he tried to restrain himself a little. But he couldn't keep it hidden after all ne.
Nino: I think that this year Sho-kun got even bigger than before.
Arashi's appeal is how they exhibit their true worth when all 5 are together?!
- Well then, conituning on with Arashi's appeal, Arashi's No.1 fan Ninomiya as well!
Sho: Oh, you're a fan? I'll sign something for you. (beginning of small act)
Nino: Thank you very much!
Jun: Since when are you a fan?
Nino: Ah, well, I've been always cheering you on since the time when you debuted! It may be preumptuous of someone like me to say this but,
after all Arashi's appeal is..."being vaguely dissatisfied with it as an individual" ne~!
As one: (uproariously laughter)
Sho: Hey! That's messed up (laughs)!
Nino: Well~, regardless of the sense of unity and shiny sparklingness when all 5 of us are together, when you get on your own (dropping head)
feeling not quite satisfied...that gap is great ne<3
Nino: That's right, that's right.
Sho: We've already been doing this for 8 years, let's get it refined already!
Nino/Aiba: (laughs).
- Does remaining unchanged for 8 years mean that by now there's no recent newly discovered sides of the other members?
Aiba: None I guess~. Ah, something like Sho-kun's teeth-grinding I guess. (The incident where, at the tour's first boarding house Ohno and Aiba were
sharing a room with Sakurai and weren't able to sleep because of his teeth grinding)
Nino: Would that be a 'discovery'? A 'reconfirmation'? I mean, Riidaa was in the same room as Sho-kun at the beginning (when they were formed).
Or could it be that at the time you were in such a deep sleep you couldn't hear his teeth-grinding.
Ohno: I didn't know back then.
Aiba: It might have started recently.
Ohno: That sound was really shocking!
Sho: (to Aiba/Ohno) Let's sleep together on the tour next year too. I'll sleep with you. It was great ne.
Aiba: ...mm, no, I think I'll pass next year... I'll turn over Sho-kun to Nino and MatsuJun's room. Ne?
Sho: Then, next time it'll be 2:3 like that.
Jun: It might be 1(Sakurai):4 (laughs).
Nino: But, didn't it start out that Sho-kun slept right in the middle of the two of you because he said he was too scared to sleep alone (laughs)?
Sho: That room is scary~!
Daring to have an election! Arashi's '07 MVP would of course be that person
- Well then, we'd like to choose the person who rendered the most distinguished service among this year's Arashi!
Sho: (immediate reply) That would be me!
Jun: No, that would be me (laughs)!
Nino: No no, that would be me (laughs)?
Ohno: .... Sho-kun I guess.
As one: (laughs)
Nino: Ah, Yes! So, then, Sho-kun (laughs)!
Jun: Riidaa, go with the flow (laughs)!
Aiba: I vote for Sho-kun too.
Jun/Nino: Everyone's in agreement!
Sho: This flow is messed up (laughs).
- Congratulations on winning the MVP, Sakurai-san.
Sho: Thank you very much. Well, that's right ne, it's because I had the help of the other members that I'm able to win this award. With this spirit
I'd like to shine as the best MVP that no other can follow next year as well. Thank you very much!
Other 4: Thank you very much.
Sho: You all do your best too. Work at aiming for the MVP!
Other 4: You got it (laughs)!
At any rate we'll be the moronic Arashi next year as well - Sakurai
Next year we'll work at an average rate - Ninomiya
Year of the mouse, it's the year of the mouse, year of the mouse - Matsumoto
Next year as well we'll do our best to find an opportunity to prey on you - Aiba
So...Ohno is remembering fans' faces??O_o Hehe, I'd like to think I'm memorable...XD But what a lucky girl! And what a clever way to pick up a girl (somehow I get the feeling Aiba has/will use this...XD) Poor Sho, he's going to be sleeping alone for a long time...;P (I think I see a couple of volunteers over here, winky, CK?XD) I lvoe the year-end haiku they have at the end here...Ohno's is beautiful (sasuga:3), Sho's is hilarious, Nino's is very Nino-ish (;P), Jun's...took less thought than anyone else's (XD), and Aiba's is confusingly amusing;P
Third act is 'The Television'...^^
The New Year 3rd J model group, Arashi made an even further breakthrough in '07! Johnny's foremost friendly 5 grin in a train pose<> You can't
stop the acceleration of the Arashi train!
It was thickly packed in, Arashi, '07 was a great leap forward ne~.
Jun: Ah, it was really full. We're over-using those words.
Sho: When '07 opened we were quickly beginning concerts, the first Dome concert, the summer tour, and the 2nd Dome concert. It was a summer
that all 5 of us together were able to spend with a lot of people huh.
Nino: That's the kind of summer we were able to have, it was a good year, '07.
Aiba: Thanks to all the fans who were saying 'I want to see more Arashi concerts' addition by addition the summer got longer. In the end, the final
Dome concert was in October.
Sho: We accepted the voices of the fans, the scope grew gradually larger and larger, that was '07's new form ne.
Ohno: It was gone in a flash. I no longer have any memories of summer.
Sho: That's memory loss (laughs).
Jun: That's not good.
The single [Love So Sweet] had the brilliant achievement of reaching the number 4 single spot for the year! That's amazing.
Sho: That's certainly amazing!
Nino: (looking at Sho, who's wearing gold clothing) is that why... You've kind of become nouveau riche huh~.
Aiba: It's unpleasant clothing huh.
Nino: You change when you get famous huh. After all, 8 years since the debut. The feeling is there was no mistake in what's accumulated up is it?
Sho: Ah~, it was a toddling mistake-dotted 8 years ne. But it's great ne. Speeding up at the point where it feels like the 10th anniversary is within
arms' reach.
Jun: Up until now I felt that the 10th anniversary was close, but from going through '07 I get the sensation it got further away ne. That as full as it
was from now on it'll get even thicker.
Aiba: That's right ne~. Although I certainly think things like the Dome are amazing, we haven't particularly changed ne.
Jun: The more you say it the more you really feel that you haven't changed huh.
Sho: Even though we ourselves thought earlier that we were 'coming up'. Were we wrong.
Aiba: There have been people who were saying that Arashi's 'coming up' for a long time ne?
Jun: Though it wa the minority ne (laughs).
How about taking this time to honestly compliment each other on Arashi's efforts in '07?
Sho: MatsuJun worked hard on [Hana yori Dango 2]! Arashi's sales chief!
Jun: I was the sales chief?
Nino: Chief ne...
Jun: Don't say chief (laughs).
Aiba: [We Can Make It] in [Bambi~no!] too.
Jun: I worked hard huh~.
Sho: Nino and I are the sub-section chiefs huh.The two of us worked hard on [Yamada Tarou Monogatari] and were able to put out 1 single.
Nino: Aiba-san too, for the first time in 2 years? We got him to work hard at his play. He's also in good condition on his variety shows!
Aiba: The play was fun.
Ohno: Sho-kun also worked hard as a news caster and at the World Cup Volleyball, he's getting more breadth ne.
Nino: Reporting on the House of Council too ne.
Jun: I want to compliment Riidaa. The fact that he continues to unchangingly be Riidaa. I don't know what would have happened if he got bored
midway through.
Ohno: Although part way through it was pretty bad actually.
Jun: You got bored (laughs).
Nino: I'm glad that Riidaa somehow managed to wait for us~.
Conversely, in '08 what is it that's like 'YOU, fix this'?
Sho: There's nothing (declaration)
Nino: You spoke well, Sho-chan.
Sho: If there was something to fix then we would have fixed it much sooner. If you hadn't realized it by this point that would be extremely painful.
There's nothing to fix anymore.
Ohno: If we fixed it Arashi woul change.
We have big expectations for the unchanging Arashi in '08 as well.
Sho: The other day Ohno-san said something wise. The 9th anniversary is more precious than the 10th ne?
Ohno: Because the 10th anniversay will automatically get exciting. If we don't preciously make it exciting then the 9th anniversary will be pitiful.
Aiba: That's right ne. We have to be like 'wasshoi wasshoi' and make it exciting ne.
Nino: Then, how should we make the 9th anniversary exciting, Ohno-san?
Ohno: Planning meeting. Around the beginning of the month.
Sho: Excuse me, Ohno-san (laughs). Aren't you mixing in what you just said into various other magazines ne?
Nino: It's fine. It means that he's finally got his thoughts together doesn't it?
Ohno: But since it's a plan I won't say what it is today.
Jun: Hey. The more you say it the more diluted it's getting~ (laughs).
Nino: In '07 the fans worked hard huh. They couldn't have helped spending money on the releases and concerts.
Sho: Arashi, a good economic effect!
Nino: Ohno-san, what do you think?
Ohno: What's an economic effect?
Nino: Since Arashi was very busy it resulted in the fans being made to spend money too ne. Are you thinking of an event in '08 that won't cost
money?
Ohno: Yeah. I'm thinking about it a little.
Nino: He's totally all talk (laughs).
Mouse New Year's Cards from Arashi
A fantastic everyday this year as well. A happy year! - Jun M.
Despite being quite reluctant, [Do I absolutely have to draw a mouse~?], it's a cute illustration<3
Happy New Year! I was highly obliged to you last year! Please favor me this year as well! - Ohno Satoshi, Heisei 20
The overly large teeth and singlasses on Riidaa's mouse are hilarious!
Happy New Year. I was obliged to you last year. Please favor me with your guidance and encouragement next year as well. - Aiba Masaki
Aiba-chan wrote this while confirming the characters for [guidance and encouragement] with the staff.
A happy new year!! I was highly obliged to you last year. I will continue to do so in the present year. I humbly ask you to favor me please. - Sakurai Sho
It's Sakurai with the number one refreshing smile, but the mouse is quite far from refreshing... (laughs).
Happy New Year. It's 2008 ne. It's auspicious ne. May it be a good year... - Ninomiya Kazunari
...mouse? Rabbit? (laughs). At any rate, the drawing was also an extremely cute Nino<3<3
Aw, Sho is MVP=) A real 'golden boy'XDD *nudge* Ohno's losing his memory and doesn't know exonomic terms (??) Nino wants to give us a free lunch!:D (I can offer a few ideas there...;) Aiba...didn't talk much:S And Jun really loves Ohno's lack of change^^ Okay, I was going to make a train joke here, but as I;'ve had too much choclate I think it's prudent to avoid humor at this point...and it's too easy;P
Now as an intermission, let's take a moment to reflect...
While we're looking back at a year filled with Arashi hilarity and smiles, I suppose some of us are already thinking up some resolutions and ambitions for the new year^^ For my part...I'm still thinking;) See, what goes hand in hand with my introspective personality is a tendency to stubbornness, so when I make a resolution I pretty much have to stick to it. Last year's resolution was to go back to school, go to Japan, and make it the best year of my life...and frankly, it was:3 And while I'll doubtless resolve to make this year even better (I think I already have, in my heart I'm already putting everything into thatX3), I need to think about what else...so, as kind of food for thought and a way to close one year and open another with a few words of wisdom, I decided to upload some pictures I took of proverbs and poetry in Japan:3
These first ones are from Higashi Honganji Temple in Kyoto, and they're originalyl Buddhist proverbs, but I think they can apply to anything if you think about it^^ Also, its a tradition in Japan to visit the Buddhist temples at the end of the year to atone for the previous year and prepare for the next, so this is a kind of secular version;)
Somewhat austere, but there is that grain of truth. The last one seems dark, but I think it's more apt than you might believe...by being aware of the existence of death we can more fully feel alive, like by having a shadow the light seems more bright by contrast:3 My favorite, the one that inspires me, is the one about going through life to become yourself...X3
The next ones are from some statues that have local poetry in Kurashiki, near Okayama:)
Here again, they're deceptively simple...but very meaningful if you look closely^^ Maybe that's why our boys have such beautiful smiles...:3 Words to live by...for me at least^^ Anyways, I hope you all have a wonderful beginning to the new year, and that for you as well it will be the best year ever:3
And finally, the closer...in Josei Jishin the boys want to party too=)
Welcome to the Arashi New Year's party~;) Just leave your coat on the bed and your shoes at the door, don't worry if you didn't bring a gift cause everyone's too busy having fun to notice^^ Lucky Man is playing and it's hard not to dance along, especially when Jun and Ohno start swinging their hips in unison to the beat;PBut since they've been dancing so much they're behind on preparationsO_o Sho hand Aiba some balloons and puts him in charge of decorating, seeing as he's so good at blowing bubbles through strawsXD
この傷跡は決して消えないけど、それでも心がまた幸せのところまで飛んで行きたい：３こんなバカで我がままで傷だらけな私でも、どうぞ宜しくお願いしますX3明けましておめでとう！＾＾
A dear friend of mine sent me scans of the November FC pamphlet and suggested I translate them for all of you as an xmas present because they talk about the summer concerts:3 Thank you so much dear!<3 I hope you all enjoy them and will be thankful to her too^^
The summer tour that started in July finally approached its finale at the additional Tokyo Dome performance on October 8th. Up until now and
beyond, this year's long hot summer. With what emotions did the five of them run through it. We tried asking the day after the last performance.
Time Kotoba no Chikara (The power of words)
Sho: Well, it's like [summer's over] isn't it?
Jun: Kind of ne, although there were delineations time and time again.
- It feels like 'this time it's really over!'?
Sho: Of course, of course. In this way it's not actually ending, even if they say it's a 'supplement' ne. Because we overdid it. I hereby
respectfully decline (laughs). Though the summer tour was long, even though it's already October it feels like when the Tokyo Dome is over
the summer will be over ne.
Ohno: Rather, it's finally over. It doesn't feel like a summer tour, looking back it's like it was constantly continuing since the beginning of spring...
Sho: Doesn't it kind of feel like the year 2007 is already over? I mean, there's only 2 months left right?
Nino: It might be because we were doing liver performances the whole time ne. Because when you're doing your job it probably normally feels
like this ne.
- Doing live performances makes a year go by quickly?
Sho: Fast. This year was especially fast ne.
Nino: We say it's 'fas' every year ne?
Jun: Haha.
Nino: For the last several years we've been saying it's 'fast'.
Ohno: When you do lives performances it's incredibly fast ne.
Jun: Because we really started doing live performances from the beginning of the summer right up until the end ne. It was kind of incredibly great,
even as an experience. In particular, the tension at each and every one of the locations for each of the live performances this year was left an incredible
impresision on me. For that reason as well right now I have an incredible feeling of 'it's over!'. Because we'll definitely not do that set line up
ever again.
- What was particularly impression-leaving?
Sho: The MJ walk, after all ne.
Jun: Well ne~, of course that's what you would expect from something with all 5 of us ne (making a joke)
Nino: Well, it's like the one I developped ne. (this too)
Sho: NK walk (laughs).
- As for the members other than MatsuJun, will you try using it?
Ohno: I'm not.
Jun: Even though would be fun if you tried it ne? Like, the 5 of us doing it before the MC and such.
Sho: Ah~, well that's right ne.(as if his heart's not in it)
- MatsuJun, were you seriously not scared when doing it?
- It seems like there were a lot of fans who were worried as well.
Jun: Ah~, well~, it was something I started saying that I would do. I think it's great that we were able to do it at each venue without missing any.
Sho: The only that's for sure is that it's 'yabai' (laughs). It was extremely dangerous.
Jun: It was interesting, amazing. It's kind of me saying it, but I think that doing flying in that way was interesting. That it's not just showily floating
around. To say it strongly, it's like 'you guys are still just flying?' (laughs). That's how I think of it.
Sho: Because when it comes to us we were only bouncing around on the bungees ne.
Nino: If it's the bungees we can do it too huh? Well, I guess that's the limit.
- It's a good interpretation of that to say that it's 'something that makes you feel excited just from seeing it' ne?
Jun: That's it, of course.
Ohno: Even if it's something people call 'cool' ne.
Sho: You're doubting their taste ne (laughs).
Nino: He's pulling it the other way (laughs).
Sho: If you asked which way it was, 'we have fun seeing everyone else having fun' would be correct. For example, at the first Osaka show the
guests were clapping their hands and laughing uproariously. But it's like, we should have fun in the latter half...
Jun: 'Being able to laugh' ne, in short (laughs).
Nino: There's no one making us alugh (laughs).
- Doesn't it hurt?
Ohno: At first it hurt.
Nino: Are armpits go stronger ne.
Ohno: Yeah. Although the first time I did it in rehearsal it hurt so much I thought 'I can't take it'.
Jun: The staff improved it ne.
Sho: At the very beginning, when we did it in rehearsals the tubes were in a much more raw state, so when we said 'this hurts' the staff improved it
for us. It became a much more gentle construction, our armpits are extremely strong even now (laughs).
- With what material did they make it more soft?
Jun: We don't know that much (laughs).
Sho: It's kindness ne. It's made with kindness.
Nino: That's right, that's important ne. It's 'kindness'!
- The moving stage also appeared in both it's small and large sizes, that was luxurious ne.
make it'.
(At this point Aiba-chan, who was doing other work, makes his appearance)
- Aiba-chan was overwhelmed with emotions at the very end ne.
Aiba: Ah~, I felt the warmth of all the incredible fans. I think what we've done up to now as well is thanks to everyone.
Sho: Aiba-san, when the lights hit you it already seemed like you were crying didn't it. Were you touched by my introduction (laughs)?
Aiba: That's right. That's exactly it. I was like [Sho-kun says great things huh~] (laughs).
- But wasn't everyone overwhlemed with emotions at that time?
Jun: Well, speaking honestly, it was because it was okay to cry ne (laughs).
Aiba: At that time ne, I really thought of a lot of good things, because it was the end.
Sho: Despite that it quickly ended without you saying anything ne~ (laughs).
Aiba: So, even though I was thinking about talking about those good things, what entered my sight was the smiles of the fans.
Sho: But it's better than talking a long time about good things? I think that what you were able to convey by tearily saying 'thank you' was very big.
Aiba: But ne~, there were a lot of things that I wanted to convey ne.
Jun: It wasn't the words you thought out right?
Aiba: Yeah, since what I thought at the time was 'thank you' I let it end like that.
Ohno: Well it was great, amazingly so.
Aiba: Despite that, even if you challenged me to I wouldn't say now the things I was thinking of saying.
- When you were doing the lvie performances what was the moment that really got you?
Sho: For me it's the instant we come out in the opening, when I see the sea of penlights and the audience, that's the part that gets me right at the
beginning. And seeing uchiwas that make you wonder just how far they go on. The view of the penlights from the seats is different than
from the stage. That's why, I'm sorry to say, that means it's only us 5 who can see that view. The view where the whole venue is filled with
our guests really does get to you ne. And it keeps getting to you for 3 hours.
Jun: Hey, with the guests that haev come for the first time, the people who don't know the moves, I wonder if they want to dance when seeing the
ones doing that?
Nino: I wonder ne~.
Sho: Wouldn't they? They'd probably want to join in.When they do that from both sides.
Jun: That's pretty much how it is ne.
Nino: Because they're coming to see us because they like us ne.
Aiba: For sure they do it, even if they don't know how.
Sho: I guess it was Niigata. I was so happy when a guy who came by himself was doing it ne.
Ohno: I guess it would be when everyone is dancing too. Like in [Carnival Night Part 2].
Sho: Because Ohno-kun did some of the choreography ne. Even though right now that's not on the DVD.
Ohno: Everyone being able to dance is amazing ne.
Jun: For me the thing that gets my tension up is something incredibly personal... At the point when Aiba-kun comes out to do his solo the guests
always go into an uproar. At that moment I think 'ah~, I did a good job huh'.
Sho: Ahaha! Nice pass (laughs).
Jun: I think 'I made a good assist huh' (laughs).
Aiba: You gave me nice passes (laughs).
- Do you always do a kind of celebratory thing after the end of the very last show?
Sho: Since the year 2001 I guess we don't have a celebration after everything is over. Normally we do it right about in the middle of the tour. This time
we did it about twice ne. In Sendai and in Niigata. After all, after it's over all of the staff have the scramble (tear down).Having a celebration
on the day that it's over is hard ne.
- What was the last day like this time?
Jun: This time we did it lightly with champagne. Because Sho-kun had to go out right away for work (News Zero) his manager held the leftover
glass in his place and the five of us made a toast.
Aiba: A pinch-hitter (laughs).
Sho: I joined in too, in spirit. I really do like that kind of thing ne. I wasn't there this time, but once before, I guess about 2 years ago. I have a memory
of doing that in the dressing room at Yokohama Arena or somewhere.
Jun: Ah~, we did it in the arena dressing room ne.
Sho: I love that kind of thing.
kind of a feeling that it's completely over, in the dressing room as well. Gradually more and more the luggage gets removed. Because toasting
it in the middle of a dressing room where it feels like it's getting more and more bare really made it feel incredibly like 'it's over huh~'.
- By the way, why would it be that Arashi doesn't lose that much freshness?
Jun: Fresh?! It wouldn't be freshness right?
Ohno: I don't know if that's good or not ne.
Sho: We haven't thought about that area at all.
- I think there are unexpectedly few people who sing and dance with such happy faces.
Aiba: It may just be that there are a lot of songs like that among our songs ne.
Jun: We don't think it's fresh.
Aiba: We also don't think 'let's do it like this'. Wouldn't it just be that doing it our way is fresh? Though I could be wrong.
Sho: If doing it happily and with good energy is fresh, then it would be because we're having fun I guess. We haven't been aware of it ne, at this
point. Although when we're past 30 we may begin to be aware of it. But when you're over 30 being fresh is kind of painful right (laughs)?
- Do you have the feeling of the 10th year getting closer?
Sho: We do. When 2 years go by it'll be the 10th year right? It's like, what will we do for the 10th year ne. To welcome the 10th anniversary in
a good way. How to do the 9th year. In the end it's that continuity. It's not like we're just working hard aiming for the 10th anniversary. That's
not the goal.
- Have your feelings towards the Dome changed?
Sho: Althougb my awareness of it hasn't changed a lot of people told me this this time. Something like 'there was more scope than the first Dome
occassion, in a good way ne'. That's why I guess it has changed from the perspective of those around us.
Jun: Each time the Dome topic comes up people say 'Aiba-chan cried ne' ne?
Aiba: Ah~...
Ohno: They'll say that for a year ne.
Nino: No, they'll probably say that for 3 years huh.
Jun: So then you'll get sick of not being able to cry ne (laughs).
Sho: Eventually you'll get sick of it saying [Cry Aiba!] on uchiwas and such ne (laughs).
Ah~, I wish I could have seen that last performance>_< I heard that not only was Aiba crying, the others were trying hard not to as well:3 And after working hard all summer, knowing that these moments were coming to an end, I'm sure it was quite an emotional moment. I was nearly in tears at my last concert>_< But poor Aiba, he'll never hear the end of it;) And I lvoed how they talked about their most impactful moments...yes, people who don't know the mvoes try to dance too, I didXD You pick them up as you go, it's part of the fun:D But I also had a good teacher beforehand^^ And of course, Jun and Aiba's 'passes'X3 So cute^^ That was one of my favorite parts, when Jun comes out and lovingly introduces the most 'peace' of the members and Aiba begins 'Friendship'<3 It's such a bittersweet feeling to think of it now~
After reading Jun talking about writing in the Oct. Wink-Up article I translated here, I went looking for an old short story I wrote, because I've always loved going back and reading my old stuff and he reminded of myself:3 I....was floored at what I'd written, and suddenly I had an urge to post it. After all, why be a writer if no one will ever read it?;) This post is about me, and if you're not interested in reading a short story, you can skip this and go to my lj for translations instead;)
At The Water's Edge
The sound of her footprints was the same dull grey as the pavement beneath them, a perfect match for the black she was draped in from head to toe. She was in mourning after all, she had decided in front of the dresser that morning; she was the proud new owner of a broken heart, and all the colors in her drawers seemed only to mock the fact. Her favorite yellow sweater was now a persona non grata, just like the sun it idolized. The only reason she was even outside was that they had been predicting rain for the last few days and it finally looked as if the gathering clouds might follow through on the weatherman's threat. She never missed a chance to walk in the rain when in one of these moods, it was the perfect way to be out in public but be almost the only one there, an unusual isolation like walking in a bubble. The wind was brisk and cool, toying with her hair in a playful way that would have driven her to the brink of distraction if she wasn't so deeply immersed in herself as she strolled along the leaf-lined river walk. The apartment block she lived in had even advertised this as part of their features, as if it had been purposely built there for it, when everyone knew it used to be a hospital. Sometimes, when the halls had just been cleaned, the smell of the cleanser combined with the decor to give one the feeling they were just about to catch sight of a gowned nurse on her way to surgery or a patient hobbling along with their I.V.; the rent was quite accommodating though, maybe for that very reason.
The river was a murky midnight blue, tiny wavelets making war between the wide, eroding banks, and as she walked she wondered just how cold the water was. October was a good month for walks, she remarked silently to herself, thinking with a pang of regret about how many times she'd wanted to go for walks in the preceeding years; he didn't like walks though, he considered them 'a lazy man's exercise', and offered to take her to the gym instead. Her brow furrowed unconsciously at the effort of pushing away the feelings that had burdened her the night before. A three-year relationship over by the time the check came, a parting kiss that felt like it was coming from Judas himself, and a box full of trinkets, pictures and memories that waited broodingly beside the trash cans on the curb. Her eyes and head still ached a little from the tears and her throat rasped from restrained fury but inside she felt deeper wounds, little closed doors in her heart, and the thought of having to face the office in the morning was rather daunting to say the least. There awaited her the very people who had introduced them, at an office party no less, and their mock-pity masks. She could hear their whispers almost as clearly as the jet arching overhead, puffs of malice and morbid curiosity with the weight of a fist. She had toyed with the idea of calling in sick....but that would only fan the flames, and she would be damned if she let anyone see how badly he'd hurt her; that he would take some kind of satisfaction from her condition was something she believed whole-heartedly, and vulnerability was never something she'd been able to find value in. Instead she would walk just as she was now, head high and cold as a statue, crisp, empty footsteps and rigid body to deflect the darting eyes. If only there was a way to make the front a reality.
A chill was working it's way up her legs despite their best efforts, she could feel the little hairs on her arms sounding the alarm, but she knew it wouldn't be able to escape the black hole in her chest. Past experience had taught her its power, and this was when it was strongest. At the best of times it was a faint twinge to remind her of the path behind her, a bitterness that made the sweet so much more enjoyable; but it grew to epic proportions when it had something to feed on, and her heartache was a veritable feast. The cold in her body was sucked in mercilessly like the rest of the external sensations, along with the pleasant memories and buoying hopes that suddenly seemed so pale and thin. She knew that trying to force it into submission through logic or stonewalling was a losing battle, in fact, there were times she almost welcomed the gentle downward tugging at her soul. It was better to simply ride it out, as close to the surface as possible, until the waves petered out on their own, like the river after the wind died away. She reached up to touch the tip of her nose with one numb fingertip, making sure it wasn't running, and became absorbed in examining her red and white dappled hands, wondering just why they seemed to exude loneliness from every crease. Even her face in the mirror that morning had been different, tired and old, and she unconsciously clutched her cheeks in introspection.
A bicycle's nosy wheels broke her reverie and she quickly stepped off the path into the dying grass as a reflector-clad man glided past effortlessly, his eyes hard upon the road ahead as if his life depended on it. She watched him wind around the corner further on detachedly, a self-appointed spectator to the stage of life. This was another side-effect of the gravity inside of her, although it occurred just as much in happier times: a deep interest in the people around her, almost a study of each one, that almost always resulted in her wondering with a longing just what it was like to be them, if only for a few minutes. The oddest subject would incur this fascination, with little explanation; a boy walking home from school in full winter gear, his back to her; the clerk at the clothing store with the painted-on eyebrows and heavy make-up whose voice was so obviously brittle; the unbelievably polished man sitting down with his matching girlfriend at the local sushi bar. Sometimes she closed her eyes and imagined their houses, cars, parents, pictured herself moving in that body, tried to guess the thoughts that must be going through their heads, and the longing would grow so great that she had to forcibly derail the train of thought to alleviate it. She'd often pondered the possibility of reincarnation, and had firmly decided that if at all possible she wanted to be reborn a million times, to experience the utmost of life, to accumulate the most knowledge, to understand what it was to be alive. And at the same time she feared just what those lives would contain, the pain and fear that might be inflicted, and retreated within herself while simultaneously feeling trapped. The throbbing in her chest slowly subsided as the seconds between her last sighting of him and the present moment elapsed, the sensation of the pedals under her feet and the imagined path ahead faded like a bad dream. She was alone again, in more ways than one.
Restlessness stirred her feet again, pulling her forward until inertia took over, and she proceeded along the ground while her spirit hovered among the inhospitable branches of the sleeping trees above. There was a bush whose leaves matched almost exactly his hair color, and she was hard pressed not to picture his face. Her throat tightened and her temporary immunity to pain was revoked rather abruptly. Her mind sadistically flew back to sweaty sheets and moonlit skin, then the first kiss, a Christmas dinner, a conversation in the car that had made her feel like the universe was a kind grandfather holding her lovingly in his lap. Sharply the needles found the mark and the poison oozed through her veins, her fists clenched until the fingers felt on the verge of shattering, and her heavy-lidded eyes burned with yet more tears. A scream rattled in her throat but her lips refused to allow it egress and it burned out its fury in pain and breathlessness as she blinked rapidly to force the tears back, frantically racked her mind for something, anything else to think about. Her thoughts hopped from place to place, taking flight as soon as any connection to him was found, and before long she found calmness as much from the effort as the result. Her chest still ached but she found her tired eyes drawn to a floating seagull, his lazy, rhythmic hovering acting as the hypnotizing agent she still so desperately needed. Then, as if his kite string had been reeled back in he was gone, soaring off into the woods above her head with only one sharp cry to announce his departure, leaving her in much the same state as when she had arrived, dazedly depressed.
A few feet away stood a worn stone bench, elegantly carved in an obsolete style, whose cold stone seat seemed to offer a little support. She crossed the distance languidly, getting sucked into the sound of the leaves crunching beneath her favorite black suede boots, wondering if she was invisible yet. It certainly felt that way, not even the bike-rider had seemed to even notice her in his path; this wasn't the first time she'd been invisible, or even the second, so it was almost a comforting experience now. She'd discovered when she was younger that simply by willing it and by emptying her mind of almost any other thoughts she could slowly become part of the scenery, unnoticeable the way a statue is. She'd been at the mall with her friends when two of them began fighting over something trivial, to the point where they almost came to blows, and the scene had reminded her so much of her parents' failing marriage that she had taken the first opportunity to break away on the pretense of buying a birthday gift. Once alone she felt so empty inside she found herself sitting on one of the wooden benches as if glued there, watching the various shoes and pant legs passing before her down-turned eyes for hours. All she could think was that she wanted to disappear, to be nothing more than a spectator, a witness, and she focussed so hard on it that someone almost sat on her; later, when her friends began looking for her they passed by right in front of her at least once each without even seeing her. It was if she was silently broadcasting her desire to be invisible, and everyone was subconsciously acknowledging it. Since its first inclusion in her much-prided collection of oddities this trick had become gradually easier and easier to effect, almost second nature at times like this; too bad it wasn't so effective at work, for whatever reason. She sat so slowly it was like oozing onto the bench, imagining herself deep under the cavorting river's surface, right down to the little trail of pearly bubbles escaping her glossy lips. She shut her eyes, feeling the cold water sway around her and teasing her hair into a snaky cloud, digging her chapped fingers into the muddy silt and stones before being carried away with the current to visit the sea. A fish tried to eat one of her coat buttons, wriggling fluidly and futiley until she reached out her hand to touch it, darting away so effortlessly into the lightless expanse around her. A boat's angry motor churned above her with long-suffering purposefulness and she wondered if they would cast a net, and what they would think if she were brought up along with the pike and pickerel. The song of the water was softly throbbing in her ears like a heartbeat and the different currents tugged with warmer and cooler hands at her unresisting body, whispering stories of other such visitors and their fates in a gentle undertone.
"You know, this is my favorite place in the whole city."
She gasped and started out of the velvet darkness to find another occupant of the bench, also staring serenely at the blue-grey tableau before them. An elderly woman in a beautiful dark green cloak now sat beside her, so calmly that she wondered if she had spoken at all.
"It's not on any of the postcards, and really I prefer it that way, but it is the most beautiful place I've ever seen in all my years here. And not just beautiful in the conventional, over-used sense of the word....there's that, certainly, if you like that kind of thing....I mean the way it makes you feel is beautiful. I get the same feeling from Niagara falls or the Welsh forests, but this one is much more personal, it's mine alone because no one else knows about it. Although, I can see you do, and since you have such great taste I suppose I don't mind sharing it with you." The woman's steel-grey eyes slid sideways for a second and the corner of her mouth curled a little in an austere, but sincere smile. Below her crushed silk skin her cloak was pinned with a silver celtic symbol and her leather gloved hands were folded properly in her lap; black slacks descended to dark brown ankle-boots with matching silver clasps. Her ears were crying pearl drops beneath her stick-straight shoulder-length white hair that was somehow still so full that it almost seemed like she had chosen that color. There was little make-up on her face, but it was obvious she had never really had much need, and even age couldn't completely soften the look of confidence that glowed like a lamp within.
She sat as if mesmerized, taking in this person who had seen through her precious invisibility, eating her words like feast from famine and waiting hungrily for more. It didn't even strike her as odd that at any other time or place, with any other person, she would have nodded and smiled politely, completely tuning it out and internally rolling her eyes until the interruption removed itself; this was nothing like those other times, for no reason she could conceive of. Instead of withdrawing further inside she was reaching out the intangible fingers of her soul to this impeccably perfect stranger. She waited for what seemed an eternity, feeling more and more like she had missed out on something, wondering if she should speak, and if so, to say what?
"I assume you have your reason for being here, as I have mine. There's something about this place that makes even the sickliest of nostalgia seem palatable, so I often come here to indulge in some reminiscing...or maybe it's being here that causes the reminiscing, I'm never quite sure. When this bench was first put here I was your age, and I say that with only the most delicate of implications to your age; suddenly this path that I walked home from work every day was no longer so invisible to me. Before that I only saw it in the most abstract sense of the word, like most people do, something to file under scenery in one's mind and think nothing more about. This one section was now a place, a location rather than a transition from one destination to another." She tapped the bench with her gloved fingers. "This is where I came when I got my first promotion, when I divorced my first husband...and sometimes just to enjoy those dainties they sell down the street. So of course I came here when I was first diagnosed with cancer; by now I don't feel like something important has happened unless I've seen it from the light of this spot."
Her mind contracted a little, her image of this shining star tainted with the rapid-acting poison of that one tiny word, no matter how hard she tried to fight it off. She thought perhaps she should say something, a platitude or a condolence, but instantly she knew it wasn't necessary or even wanted. This woman wasn't here for sympathy, or anything else she could give; this was the purest form of communication she'd ever known, one with no need for any kind of reciprocation, one that gave without taking anything away. She felt she'd known this person in another life, or that she'd sprung fully formed from her own mind as part of the grief process to comfort her, it was so strong a connection. Her chest now ached with something stronger than pain, akin to love or joy, that insisted on this person as its object.
Silence was a golden thread that bound them tightly for a while, growing stronger the longer it prevailed, until it seemed okay to her if neither ever moved or spoke again. The lady then turned her head and looked fully into her red-rimmed eyes with an unreadable expression. "You are something unique aren't you. If I were to say that we were kindred spirits I think you'd know exactly what I'm referring to, wouldn't you? In fact, I'm certain of it. All the better then; this place needs people like us as much as we need it. It's symbiotic in a way that others could never understand." The steady, searching gaze wandered back to the wind and water's play, but the faint, almost conspiratorial smile remained. "If I were to say to anyone else that I'll miss this place, and the memories formed here, the most, I could be sure of two things: a confirmation of their impression of me as 'eccentric', or whatever the new word for harmlessly crazy is these days; or a never-ending torrent of pity that would only end up drowning both of us. But I feel that you'll come to understand it in time. I even insisted on taking my treatment at the hospital down the road, until they told me I wouldn't be able to leave the room anyway; I foolishly thought I could still visit here, attempt to cling to some aspect of normalcy, but I'm here now because I know I have to let go. There are some points in life where you have to just be naked, where you have to leave everything behind and go forward without looking back, almost like Orpheus and Eurydice. When your time comes I hope you'll have the strength you need; there's no way to prepare for it, you either do or don't it seems....and those who don't lose something more precious than what they couldn't let go of. But if I make it through this, I know that coming back here will be all the sweeter...."
Her body was an unresponsive, unnecessary barrier, nothing more. She felt the waters of mutual understanding lapping around their mental shores with a keenness that bound her tongue with an iron chain. She wanted this moment to last forever, and at the same time she wished it was over so she could relive it endlessly in her technicolor memory. There was a mystery as powerful as her own sitting next to her and for the first time in her life she felt as if she understood what the word companion meant; it was a sensation that turned the cloudy dreariness she'd so desired into a silver-tinted surrealism. She glanced back dreamily at her touchstone and found she'd been watched herself. Their eyes met only for a split second, then the woman stood and glided regally away; and yet, she knew instinctively that if there was ever a chance for it they would meet again, and she looked forward to it with an irrepressible smile. The words 'thank you' were on her lips but there was no one there to say them to, and that was just as it should be.
She drew herself up, feeling several inches taller than only an hour before, and walked home on the clouds instead of under them. Maybe next time it would be her turn to make the connection, maybe next time she would be the one to give herself like a present. There was no need to be invisible anymore; she doubted anyone would even recognize her now. And that was just as it should be, since she barely recognized herself. Or rather, she realized she was now defined more by the light than the shadow.
I welcome feedback, and I hope you haven't gone blind from reading thisXD Thanks~^^
Ohisashiburi minna-san, it's been so longO_o I missed being able to chat with all of you, and although m brain is still fuzzy and tomorrow is the start of school (and therefore both exciting and terrifying for someone like me) I wanted to share a little of my experiences:) But, since I tend to ramble and digress to the point of inanity (inanity, not insanity!) I spent the last couple days posting verbosely on livejournal^^; I don't know if Vox could handle the sheer volume of it, (there's magazine scans, concert photos, translations of Happiness, Snowflake, and Music Station, con reports, other Arashi-related ramblings...) I humbly invite you to visit me there:) Nyanchan^^
Hope you've all been well and are having lots of fun with the new single!:D
*hums along to Happiness deliriously~*
I only saw the talk part of this week's MMA, but that inner brain maker game is so funny!XDD Nino gets 'secrets' and 'money' (of course!XD), Ohno has 'rest' and 'sex' and 'lies' and 'happiness';P Aiba has 'play', 'secrets' and 'rest'....hmmm, omoshiroi na~;) Jun has 'worry', 'friends', 'lies', and 'love'<3 That's perfect for him ne:3 poor Sho gets only 'lies'!XD Hmm...makes you wonder ne?;P So I decided to give it a try=) http://maker.usoko.net/nounai/ I used my first name in English and got this:
Yatta!XDD Hehe, it's funny how silly little things can give me a little burst of happiness;P
Now that sounds like a dream I'd like to have~<3 *dreamy sigh*~X3
Congratulations!!!You and Matsumoto Jun have gotten married and are now on your way to a special Italian Honeymoon in the Amalfie Coast with nothing but good yummy pasta and beautiful beach shorelines to fill your hearts with romance and passion!!
Take this quiz!
Someone sent me this text and link, very cuteXDDD
Subject: How the mouse cursor works
The Japanese have finally revealed a mystery for us.
Have you ever wondered how the small arrow cursor on your computer monitor works when you move the mouse?
Now, through the miracle of high technology, we can see how it is done - with the aid of a screen magnifying lens, the mechanism becomes apparent.
Click on the link below and you will find out.
-> -> -> -> -> -> http://www.1-click.jp/ <- <- <- <- <- <-
I'll never look at a mouse the same way againXDD