I'm back :D For now. Just in time to do March/2007's articles ^^ Not all done yet, so here's AMN, with O and S coming soon. I have a Japanese exchange student (I hope she likes Arashi harhar) coming soon and I'll have to bring her around Singapore and all, so I don't know if I can finish O and S by the time March ends, but since I've already started with this set (in fact, I'm halfway through Sho's), I'll make sure I finish it! ^^

In other news, I'm back frm YLTC 09 :D A very fun and introspective camp, despite the dirtiness and what not. If you're interested in that you can go to my personal blog to read about it, but I assume more people are interested in this translation so... XD;

Scans from Myojo, Feb 2007, by stolenfayth ^^ Arigatou m(_ _)m



Today seems peaceful too!!
In mellow moods, the murmurs of the year-end

With their Asia tour done, Arashi is on the verge of a triumphant homecoming concert at the start of the year. Although they've all stood out recently with their solo activities like stageplays, movies, dramas, the calm air given off by the members remains strong! Try and get a feel of their everyday lives, since we've consolidated the 5's casual monologues.

MATSUMOTO JUN
[F4 Assembles!]
After Arashi's Asia tour ended and we returned from Korea, the filming for "Hana Yori Dango 2" (TBS) began proper. This time, when I heard that (Ikuta) Toma would be making a guest appearance in the first episode, I was looking forward to it, but in the end, we had almost no scenes together, did we. When it comes to the two of us co-starring, there hasn't been anything since the stageplay "Stand By Me" [1]... What a shame! There was drama filming yesterday, too, and we filmed just one scene at the same place, from morning to deep into the night. That time was the first time in a year that we filmed a scene with all of F4 assembled together, so I felt then that "'Hanadan' has finally begun"

[Becoming Doumyouji Right Down to the Hair-tips ☆]
In order to become the Doumyouji of "Hanadan", I had my hair permed yesterday. At the start, although there were still concerts, I just permed the ends, but yesterday, I made it my whole head of hair. Did I over do it? Speaking of which, the previous time too, there was a Myojo interview the day after I permed my hair, wasn't there?

[Overdosing on Sleep!]
During the break before this, I slept all the way until noon. Then, when I woke up, since I'd brought home the demo tape of the new song, I listened to it all the way.

[Midnight Ramen]
Recently, I keep thinking "I wanna eat ramen". After the location shoot for "Mago Mago Arashi", I had an unbearable urge for Shouyu Ramen & Gyoza & Half-Rice (half a bowl), you know. But then, when I realised that by the time I got back into town after the shoot ended, the shop I wanted to go to would have closed, I was super shocked! Up till now, I haven't had a chance to go.

[Warning: Dry Weather!]
Lately, the weather's been dry, so I've been using a humidifier in my room. With aroma oils. My favourite scents are eucalyptus, ylang ylang, sandalwood and lemon. When I'm in my room, I sometimes light a candle, too. I don't like fluorescent, mercury or white lights. Don't they irritate your eyes? That's why I made all the lights in my room either incandescent or orange-ish.

[I Want Warm Down!]
Recently, I haven't gone shopping at all. Even if I had the time, I wouldn't feel like it. I want down stuff this winter as outer wear. Not too long, light, OK worn over a T-shirt, I want one like that!

[Mochi]
I ate Mochi for the first time in a long while. One Kinako-mochi and two Isobeyaki [2]

[Can You Speak English?] (written in Katakana, according to English pronunciation)
I went to New York for a location shoot for "Hanadan". I studied a little English before going. The result of that... Watch the drama and see, okay? ♡



AIBA MASAKI
["JAWS"Right from the Morning!]
Lately, I've been watching old movies on DVD rather often. This morning, I woke up at 7am and watched "JAWS" right from then (laughs). I watched it while screaming in my heart, "Oh no! He's gonna get attacked! Oh no!". But right then, it was time to leave the house, so I couldn't watch to the end. Anyway, I've watched it countless times, so I already know the ending. Another movie I like is "Back to the Future". I only have "1", so I'm looking for "2" and "3". I'd like to watch all of them at one go.

[4am. At the hotel corridor...]
Recently, I went to Korea for the Asia tour. It was on the night we first arrived in Korea. I slept in the hotel room, but I woke up at 4am because I wanted to use the toilet. I remember going to the toilet, but I must have sleepwalked. When I realised it, I was in the hotel corridor! Oh no! I thought to return to my room, but the key was in the room... I was locked out!! (sweat) At that time, I was in jerseys and barefoot. For the time being, I'd go to the staff's room, I thought, but I didn't know the room number! I thought the two rooms flanking mine must have been the members', but since the day before was the concert, I thought it'd be bad to wake them up, and ending up idling along the corridor, I found a room with an ajar door. "Lucky~" I thought as I entered, but it was 2 unfamiliar Koreans. Even though I was sober and had my wits about me. I failed miserably that first day in Korea.

[Uwahaha at the Golf Green]
I went to play golf with the staff of "Arashi no Shukudai-kun" and "Shimura Doubutsuen". When one goes with this group of people, one can never stop laughing from start to end. Two of them are skilled, saying "Golf is a gentleman's sport", but to me and one other person, golf=leisure. Because of that, we've gotta have fun! So the 2 of us kept suggesting unique methods of play. Half way, we made a "English Forbidden" hole, and hit balls while making Senryuu [3]. We were in a fit of laughter on the green, going "Uwahahaha". Since we went in a single car, so when we were going back, we did janken. Since I won, I slept in the front passenger seat. But I was awoken by the person driving, who said "There's a jam and I've become sleepy". Left without a choice, we had a Senryuu-making match, got off the expressway, saying "Let's find a new road!" and so on. In the end, we got back on the expressway, totally wasting the 700yen road tax...



NINOMIYA KAZUNARI
[Speaking of Osaka?]
I went to Osaka to promote the movie "Letters from Iwo Jima". Backstage right before the press conference, my co-star Ihara (Tsuyoshi)-san said that "It's Osaka! Let's eat Tecchiri (blowfish)!", and it was decided that after the press conference everyone would go eat together. We didn't go to a Tecchiri shop, but had Tecchiri delivered to us in a different shop! It's amazing, this Ihara Power (laughs). While in Los Angeles, we said we'd meet up even in Japan, but our schedules didn't match and it'd been 4 months since we last had a meal together with all of us. It was good being able to meet everyone again ♡

[Finally!]
Since the filming for the drama "Haikei, Chichiue-sama" (Fuji TV) has begun, I just cut my hair yesterday. But, neither the feel of it nor anything else has changed, has it? To me, hairstyle isn't important.

[Ehh, You're Born in Heisei!?]
Yoko (Yokoyama Yuu), who co-stars with me in the drama, and I were surprised, "Fukuda (Saki)-san is 16!". She's born in Heisei [4]! Times are changing, aren't they.

[Where has my Modesty Gone?]
I was praised by the culinary instructor, "Ninomiya-kun's knife movements are top-notch". But there may not be a scene in the drama where you can see my knife movements. I was praised with "You're good" by (Scriptwriter Kuramoto) Sho-chan, so I said "I'm good, you know (laughs)" and was told "You have no modesty, have you?".

[Jump!]
I haven't bought anything lately, have I. Ah, I bought a copy of "Shounen Jump" [5] at the convenience store today.

[Looking Back on The Past Year]
It was around November 2005 when I had my audition for "Letters from Iwo Jima". At that time, I'd been practicing ping pong for a drama. I feel 2006 was a year where I was allowed to do things I wanted to do. I caused a lot of trouble for many people, going to Los Angeles and being unable to film for shows and be interviewed for magazines. But I was happy that everyone accommodated my selfishness!

[2007 is...]
I want to visit Thailand, a place I've wanted to go to, but couldn't; and places within the country too, I want to go to even just one more place I've yet to see. Thereafter, I want to meet up with the people I haven't been able to meet with recently. I also want to pay a visit to Uncle Ikariya's (Chousuke) [6] grave. Although we don't have chances to meet that often even normally, "I've been busy" is no excuse. Whether they're dead or alive, the people who matter to me won't change. I can't not acknowledge the help they've rendered me! ... That I've thought of such a thing, rather than having become more adult, I've become an uncle, me.

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[1] Stageplay starring all members of then-Junior unit MAIN (Jun, Aiba, Nino, Toma)
[2] Kinds of mochi. Kinako is soybean flour, while Isobeyaki refers to the mochi being wrapped in seaweed.
[3] Senryuu are sort of like haiku, but are more humourous
[4] According to the Japanese calendar, the Heisei era began in 1989. Thus, 2009 is Heisei 21. Nino and all the rest of Arashi were born in the Showa era, in particular, Nino was born in Showa 58 (1983). Basically, to those born in Showa, anyone born in Heisei is young :P
[5] Shounen Jump is a manga magazine in which One Piece, Bleach, Naruto and other popular shounen (boy-centric) manga are serialized.
[6] Ikariya Chousuke is a comedian and actor. Co-star with Nino in "Namida wo Fuite". He died in 2004.
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Note: If you would like to use this for anything, translate into another language or repost it anywhere, please ASK first. I'm okay with you using it (though not reposting wholesale), but I do ask for credit and a link back, as well as at least a notification.

Comments and corrections are much appreciated! ^^

I recently discovered, thanks to someone informing me (don't know if you wanna be named...) that one of my translations was posted without permission or credit, so I'm a bit annoyed. But... Oh wells. Things like that happen. The nice comments I get from people will keep me doing this for the fandom, don't worry XD Not to mention that I take a lot from the fandom too in other ways, so this is more a way to give back than anything else. Yes :D