お誕生日おめでとう、相葉ちゃん〜
２６歳，立派になりましたね〜今年は嵐として最高の一年でしたが、やっぱりそれこそ来年嵐に対しての期待が大きくなった。来年の嵐はどんな凄い奇跡を起こすか、きっと誰も楽しみしてる。僕もそうだから、来年、頑張ってください。嵐としてだけじゃなく、個人としての活動も。いつも幸せにいられるように。この楽しい一年の思い出を作ってくれて、そしていつも笑わせてくれて、心からのありがとう。これからも、応援し続けると思います。

In celebration of Aiba-chan's birthday, I translated the member's messages for Aiba-chan in Popolo Febuary 2009. I'm in a rush so no scans now (I translated from the physical copy), but I'll probably add them later. Scanned and added, get the large scans of all the Arashi pages here! ^^


Part 3: Member interviews
More than friends but below the level of lovers!? We talk about our member love (music note)
"I like Sho-chan's sloping shoulders!"
From here it's the start of the "Member love ♥ Confession General Meeting". Please have a good laugh at these 20 LOVE points that overflow with character!!

Matsumoto Jun speaks!
(To me) Aiba Masaki's points
"His hair quality with which he's free to do what he wants with it and temper are good yo ne"

I'm interested by Aiba-chan's hairstyle... No, his hair quality. Even when he's got a perm, it's always neatly arranged, matching his character (?) (1), and has a loose feeling to it, right? I think that's great. It must be some really easily-styled hair ne. I admire hair quality like Aiba-chan's, that does what it's told (obediently) yo.

But, I've never told him that in person. It would be gross for me to praise him like that wouldn't it (laughs). I wonder if he'd be surprised to read this. If his hair quality is free for him to do what he likes with it, then his disposition too is free. I want to always treasure this person whose character has an individuality that charges forth without capturing anything (?) (laughs).

Ninomiya Kazunari speaks!
(To me) Aiba Masaki's points
"It's fun because he's really interesting yo!"

I like how Aiba-kun is interesting. He's really interesting yo, this person. Just a while ago, he was getting all worked up over the manga I'd brought, going "Volume 3 isn't here! Volume 3 isn't here!" although it was plainly lying in the bag full of manga ne (laughs). A normal person would search there first if they though they couldn't find it right? But then Aiba-kun is the one who wouldn't search there (laughs). He was searching so intently on the table and in the green room ne. It was really interesting yo.

Even on variety programmes, when Aiba-chans speaks, he makes things fun and brightens up the atmosphere. Sometimes he says things without any logic because he's dumb, but if you add that to the equation too, Aiba-chan is really a fun person.

Ohno Satoshi speaks!
(To me) Aiba Masaki's points
"He eats my leftovers"

The big eater within the members is Aiba-chan. He eats rice a lot ne. Recently, the takeaways that we have in the studio during filming don't seem to be enough. "Ah~ I'm hungry," he'll say, and buy an onigiri (2) from the convenience store and eat again yo (laughs).

And, it seems lately he's in to rebanira set meals (3) and eats only that. He eats it so much every day that it's interesting even for me to watch, like "He's ordered it again yo!", and in my heart I'm secretly being tsukkomi (4) (laughs). He ate quite a lot on tour too ne. Well, eating is the joy of all the members, but Aiba-chan is outstanding with his big appetite, going as far as to devour all my leftovers. It made me laugh yo (laughs).

Sakurai Sho speaks!
(To me) Aiba Masaki's points
"He faithfully returns favours yo!"

If I were to sum up Aiba-kun in one sentence, he'd be my rental shop (laughs). That was a joke but he does often lend me DVDs. Besides, there's no fine for late returns (laughs). There've been times where I keep something for as long as two weeks yo ne.

This borrowing and lending began when I lent him the recording of the episode of "Himitsu no Arashi-chan!" where we did courage tests. The next day he brought along two DVDs and said "In return, I recommend these to you". We attend each others birthday parties too, but when he attended mine, for some reason he was holding a huge bouquet of flowers. His sense of obligation is strong yo ne. This time we've promised to lend each other "Ryuusei no Kizuna". One of us will make sure we don't miss it and record it ne.

Sho: "Aiba-chan is quite an honest person yo!!" (5)

(1) In Jun's section, all the (?)s are in the actual text... XD; But it's true, whereve he/the editor put in the (?), I really don't quite get what he's trying to say.
(2) Rice ball
(3) Seems to be a stirfry dish with beef liver (rebaa) and chives (nira)...
(4) Tsukkomi is basically a person who bullies another... It's interesting that Oh-chan should call himself that, because usually he's on the receiving end XD;
(5) Each member seems to have chosen one other member to give one comment on... Sho comments on Aiba. If you're interested in the others:

Aiba: I like Nino who can enjoy sports with me!
Jun: (I like) Sho-kun who goes as far as to stay up all night to burn discs with pictures for the members
Nino: Riidaa's gap between his outer appearance and talents is the best
Ohno: Strangely, I can laugh at Matsujun's weird Kansai-ben


Part 4: Pledges for 2009
"A.Ra.Shi" spells our pledges for 2009!
"We invite everyone to "Arashi Land"!"
Finally, in the spirit of the start of a new year, we got the 5 of them to make a pledge for 2009 using "A.Ra.Shi" to make an A-I-U-E-O composition.

Aiba Masaki
A-tsui
Ra-ibu
Shi-masse!! [Let's have passionate lives!!]

Let's liven things up at our lives in 2009 too!
In 2008, Arashi had our first 5-domes tour and our second Asia tour, making for substantial live actvities. My wish for the 2009 year that is to come is that we'll be able to have fun lives. With that said, let's liven things up and have passionate lives next year too! This is the pledge I've made here.

--

As always, comments and corrections are much appreciated! :D

With that, have a great Aibaka day, and Merry Christmas and God Bless to all who celebrate it! ^^

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
-Luke 2:11,13-14