Currently celebrating their 10th anniversary, Johnny’s Entertainment group Arashi has seen their popularity skyrocket in the past year. It seems they have no intention of slowing down as they have been added to the lineup for NHK’s Red and White Singing Contest.
Their newest single ‘My Girl’ has also become a hit, successfully earning them the top 4 spots on this year’s Oricon singles chart with the highest first week sales. ‘My Girl’ has reached number 3 on the charts, just after ‘Ashita no Kioku / Crazy Moon’ and ‘Believe / Kumorinochi Kaisei’. The fourth spot also belongs to them with their previous single ‘Everything’. They seem to have effortlessly dominated the sales in the singles chart for 2009.
In addition, fans from all over the world were thrilled when they announced their appearance on NHK’s Red and White Singing Contest. It is the first time that Johnny’s Entertainment will be having four groups perform on the show. Arashi’s popularity has continued to rise within this year, especially riding on the success of individual projects from all five members. To be invited to perform at the 60th Red and White Singing Contest during their 10th year seems very appropriate.
The latest KinKi Kids single, “Swan Song,” ranked #1 on the charts this past week with more than 160,000 in sales. This is their 29th consecutive number-one single, starting with their debut in 1997.
On the albums chart, Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” was #1, selling close to 74,000 copies. Also in the top ten were The Gospellers (#2), The Cro-Magnons (#5), JAY’ED (#6), Junichi Inagaki (#9), and Chihiro Onitsuka (#10).
Meanwhile, Arashi’s new DVD “5×10 All the BEST! CLIPS 1999-2009″ took the top spot on the overall DVD charts. At 428,000 copies sold, it set the record for highest first-week sales of a music DVD, surpassing the 374,000 of KAT-TUN’s “Real Face Film” in 2006.
Japanese idol group Arashi held a three hour live special yesterday to celebrate their 10th anniversary. The special, which began at 7pm, was titled ‘Odoroki no Arashi! The Century’s Biggest Experiments! Impossible Feats SP and Miracle Experiments Live Broadcast!’ (from NTV). According to numbers from video research, the average ratings from the Kanto region was at 23.5%, peaking at a record of 29.8%. Airing at the same time was the Japan Series baseball game between the Yomiuri Giants and the Nippon Ham Fighters, which had average ratings of 16.4% on Fuji TV.
The three-hour live broadcast wrapped up Arashi CHALLENGE★week (from October 25th to November 1st), in which Arashi took over NTV studios for more than 50 hours of broadcast to mark their 10th anniversary. They specially prepared a flying stage and introduced 3D effects to their performance by using enhanced glasses.
In the Japan Series, Nippon Ham pitcher Darvish made his return to the mound after battling injuries. In addition, the drama ‘JIN’ airing on TBS at 9pm, maintained the same ratings from the previous week at 17.2%
What an interesting drama!!! I must say very interesting as well as clever. I was never bored at all!!! From the character introduction to the cases, by each episode, i was getting more and more intrigued by the story and plot. I finished watching the drama in less than 2 days. haha.. i even sacrificed sleep just to watch this. haha.
This drama Boss has 11 episodes. I really like the main character Osawa Eriko played by Amami Yuki. Her character is very clever and smart. And she’s hilarious! haha. Also she brings together her separated team into one great team. This is like a detective/police story.
The last part of the story will probably surprise u. It surprised me. When you think its this way, its actually THAT way.. haha.. u’ll get it when u watch it. If u like cool detective/police stories, then you’ll like this. This is abit more with some humour.
On September 15th 2009, Arashi celebrated their 10th anniversary!
Even after 10 years, they continue to have an avid fan base, and there are no signs of their popularity diminishing.
Along with their careers as singers, they’re riding high on their successes as actors and newscasters as well.
10 years ago on September 15th the members had marked their debut with a press conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. To commemorate the special day, goo [a Japanese search engine and web portal] conducted a survey in which they asked fans their favorite Arashi song. Let’s take a look at the ‘Favorite Arashi Singles Ranking’!
The No.1 song was ‘Love so sweet’, and ‘One Love’ came in at No.2. ‘Love so sweet’ was the main theme song for the TBS Friday Night drama ‘花より男子2 (リターンズ) / Boys over Flowers 2 (Returns)’, and ‘One Love’ was the title theme song for the movie ‘花より男子ファイナル / Boys over Flowers F (Final)’. Matsumoto Jun appeared in both the drama and the movie. Needless to say, these two singles were immensely popular. Their debut single ‘A･RA･SHI’ took the No.3 spot. Arashi became the special supporters of the 1999 FIVB Men’s World Cup (Volleyball Championship), and ‘A･RA･SHI’ was the main theme song for Fuji TV’s live coverage of the tournament. In just a week after its release, ‘A･RA･SHI’ sold nearly 560,000 copies. At that time that was a new record for a debut single. The song is undoubtedly the cornerstone of Arashi. ‘One Love’ and ‘truth/風の向こうへ (truth/Kaze no Muko e)’ (ranked in at No.4) were the No.1 and No.2 singles of the 2008 Oricon Ranking. The singles epitomized the group’s ever-growing popularity.
How many of your favorite Arashi songs ranked in? Check below for the whole list!
As was mentioned before, in addition to their music the Arashi members’ have thrived in an assortment of different fields. Fans must have high hopes for Arashi as a group, and also for the individual members. It will be interesting to see how much they will continue to evolve and further their careers!
１．Love so sweet
２．One Love
３．A･RA･SHI
４．truth/風の向こうへ (truth/Kaze no Muko e)
５．Beautiful days
６．明日への記憶/Crazy Moon～キミ・ハ・ムテキ～ (Asu eno Kioku/Crazy Moon～Kimi wa Muteki～)
７．Happiness
８．WISH
９．きっと大丈夫 / Kitto Daijobu
１０．Everything
As expected, the boy band Arashi dominated the charts this past week with their collection “All the BEST! 1999-2009.” The album sold 753,000 copies, setting their own personal record for first-week sales.
The album also sets the record for opening week sales during the 2009 period. The previous highest was Mr.Children’s “SUPERMARKET FANTASY,” which sold 708,000 copies when it was released this past December. That album has already become a million seller, suggesting that Arashi’s album will likely achieve that milestone as well. If it does, it will be their first million seller.
Aside from Arashi, the week’s top ten included new releases from Big Bang (#3), MINMI (#5), Denki Groove (#6), and Hi-Fi CAMP (#8).
On the singles chart, Kiyoshi Hikawa also set a record. His “Tokimeki no Rumba” sold 68,000 copies to become his third chart-topper, which is the most for a solo enka artist.
TOKIO (#3), Yuko Hara (#5), The Gospellers (#7), Tatsuro Yamashita (#8), and Ayabie (#10) also entered the top ten.
Fans of popular boy band Arashi will now be able to watch the group every week during golden time. Their show “VS Arashi” on Fuji TV is moving from its Saturday afternoon time slot (12:59pm-1:30pm) to an hour-long time slot on Thursday nights at 7:00pm. This will be Arashi’s first show during golden time hours.
“VS Arashi” has been on the air since April 2008. Each episode features Arashi competing against different guest celebrities in a variety of games, such as “Falling Pipe” and “Cliff Climb.”
The show will air in its new time slot starting this October.
Arashi member Masaki Aiba (26) is set to take on his first lead role in a drama series this fall. He will star in TV Asahi’s “My Girl,” his first series since “Yankee Bokou ni Kaeru” in 2003.
Aiba, who is more known for appearing in variety shows than in dramas, said that he wants to show his fans a “completely different Masaki Aiba” from his usual self.
“My Girl” is based on a manga by Mizu Sahara (an alternate pen name of mangaka Sumomo Yumeka), currently being serialized in Shinchosha’s Weekly Comic Bunch. The comic is described as an “ultimate love story” about a young man named Masamune Kazama (Aiba). During high school, he had a girlfriend four years older than him, but she suddenly left one day. Six years later, he receives news that she has passed away. In addition, she secretly gave birth to Masamune’s child, whom he finally meets and decides to raise.
TV Asahi will broadcast “My Girl” in its Friday 11:15pm time slot, starting in October
Arashi member Sakurai Sho has had a very busy year so far. He was the lead actor in a movie, made appearances in many TV shows as a regular member, and also played the main character in a TV drama series.
The drama series in which he played the lead role is called ‘THE QUIZ SHOW’ and recently he finished shooting the final scene. He then had to head straight to a different studio to appear in the news program ‘NEWS ZERO’ as a regular newscaster.
Sakurai: “The last scene we shot was the drama’s climax.
In the scene I had to ‘cry’ a lot.
I think it was the most I cried after becoming an adult.
After filming the climax, I felt sort of dazed because I was tired from all the crying and also because I was elated about completing the drama.
I couldn’t make head or tail of the whole situation. I felt so ‘parupunte.’”
…What’s ‘parupunte’?
According to Sakurai…
“’Parupunte’ is the name of a spell that appears in the RPG ‘Dragon Quest*’. The player doesn’t know beforehand what the spell effect will be. A couple of years ago a staff member for the TV program ‘嵐の宿題くん / Arashi no Shukudai-kun’ [in which Arashi are the main hosts] first used the phrase.”
“For me, the year 2009 has been a roller coaster; from first playing the lead role in the movie ‘ヤッターマン / Yatterman’ and all the way up to becoming the lead actor for ‘THE QUIZ SHOW’.
Right now I feel like I’m taking a break halfway up the mountain.
I can’t say for sure but I think my fans feel the same way too.”
Right now Arashi can be said to be the most popular group among people of all ages.
Let’s hope Sakurai Sho’s success continues!
*The word ‘parupunte’ is translated as ‘chance’ in English versions of the game series.
I am completely in love with this song!!! I reali reali love this song esp the part where Ohno sings his solo part. That part gets me! haha.. Also i tink the video is awesome.. nice sunset view!
I’m soooo happy for Toma!!! It’s reali great that good things are coming more and more for him. This was also a drama that starred Kinki Kids a long time ago! Probably 10 over years.
Ikuta leads adaptation of Dazai’s “No Longer Human”
Wed, May 13, 2009 (1:12am EDT)
Popular young actor Toma Ikuta (24) will star in a new movie directed by Genjiro Arato, the producer responsible for the award-winning “Zigeunerweisen” in 1980. The film is “Ningen Shikkaku,” based on the Osamu Dazai novel of the same name. Also known in English as “No Longer Human,” the book is generally considered to be Dazai’s greatest masterpiece.
Ikuta has recently had major roles in several television series, but this role will actually be his first time appearing in a movie. Published in 1948, the semi-autobiographical “Ningen Shikkaku” was Dazai’s last completed work before he successfully committed suicide. Despite selling millions of copies, the story has never been adapted to screen. However, this year is the 100th anniversary of Dazai’s birth, prompting the decision to create a movie.
Filming starts in July, with a release projected for spring 2010.
Nikkan Sports has finished announcing the winners of its 12th annual reader-chosen Drama Grand Prix. The awards cover the period from April 2008 to March 2009, with the final nominees consisting of the top five from each season.
The TBS thriller “Maou” was voted Best Drama. Arashi leader Satoshi Ohno picked up the title of Best Actor, impressing fans with his acting in that series. Meanwhile, Best Actress was won by a wide margin by Aoi Miyazaki, who starred in the hit taiga drama “Atsuhime.”
NEWS and Kanjani8 member Ryo Nishikido was the top choice for Best Supporting Actor, having played the violent and possessive boyfriend in Fuji TV’s “Last Friends.” Juri Ueno also picked up Best Supporting Actress for the same drama series.
Readers of TVnavi magazine have cast their votes for 2008’s Drama of the Year, and on Saturday it was announced that the winner is the TBS suspense series “Maou” that starred Satoshi Ohno and Toma Ikuta. Ohno also was named Best Actor for his role in that series.
Aoi Miyazaki was voted Best Actress for “Atsuhime.” Best Supporting Actor and Actress went to Eita and Juri Ueno, who both appeared in Fuji TV’s “Last Friends.” In the Best Newcomer category, Ryosuke Yamada (“One-Pound Gospel,” “Scrap Teacher”) and Manami Higa (“Code Blue”) received the most votes.
Hurrayyy for a new Sakurai Sho drama called “The Quiz Show”… This is actually the 2nd season as there was a 1st one made last year but with a whole different cast.
Sho plays a host on a quiz show. There are different guest that come on the show in order to get the “Dream Chance”, which is getting whatever you wish for to come true. But the questions come out very easy and just based on common sense and knowledge. BUT as the game progresses, the questions become more intimate and are actually questions based on your on life. Of coz mostly things that you dont want people to know about.
But Sho’s character also has a past of which he cannot remember anything about. And the show’s producer who is played by Kanjani8’s Yokoyama You is one character to look out for as it seems maybe he knows abt Sakurai’s past and is that evil what i would call “Do-S” man. haha..
OHHH the drama’s theme song is sang by Arashi too!
I muz say how impressed i was by Nino’s acting skills in this special. He plays a 22 year old cerebral palsy. Juz graduated from vocal school, he’s trying to land a job as a salesman juz like his late father. His mother is wif him every step of the way taking care and looking after him. This is actually based on a true story of Bill Porter.It’s a story of a man believing in going door to door to sell his products.
Nino’s juz amazing in this. Reali reali amazing. I nv can believe how well that man can act. I tot it was so real. Every moment, every movement touched me completely. I cried, rooted for him and laughed with him. It was reali a beautiful drama. I love Kato Rosa too. She’s juz a delight to watch. And also Higuchi Kanako who played Nino’s mum was amazing at her role.
If u have not watched this yet, go watch it. Prepare tissues too! haha
Me and my Mumsy went to Vietnam for like 4 days. At 1st i tot it wld be alot like Bangkok BUT honestly kinda very different!! It’s our 1st time in Ho Chih Min City. There’s no subway or trains that bring u around the city. Oh i went to Ho Chih Min City. And the 1st thing that i noticed was MOTORBIKES!! OMG!!! I have reali nv seen so so so many motorbikes in my life… it was like all over the town.. In fact on the roads, i cld say that motorbikes to cars were 70:30… honestly SO MANY!!! And also the constant horning of their horns.. NON-STOP!!!!On the roads, even though the car or motorbike is goin in the right direction, there would be motorbikes comin from another direction too!!! Scary!!! haha!!!
I can say that i ate ALOT!!! Until my tummy was goin to burst everyday!!!! But i tink we didnt reali get to explore very much. But lots of things are cheap there. Like pyjamas, slippers. I bought this cute slippers that had like a japanese feel to it. haha.. It was rectangle. haha.
Mumsy had reali nice friends! Chi Haiyen went with us to Vietnam and brought us around. And also mumsy’s friend Chi Le Van is now back in Ho Chih Min City took us around on her motorbike. She also introduced her 2 sisters, Ha and Trang. Reali nice ppl. Very very nice. I always sat on Ha’s motorbike! haha
Hopefully, i’ll get to go again next time to fully explore again!!!
With springtime meaning lots of fresh graduates entering companies for the first time, Oricon conducted a survey of 20- to 40-year-olds, asking them which famous person they would like to have as their new co-worker. Sho Sakurai of Arashi and talento Becky took the top spots in the men’s and women’s rankings, respectively.
For the male rankings, one female stated that Sakurai “thinks quickly and seems like the type to remember things about work quickly.” Working as a newscaster for NTV’s “NEWS ZERO,” Sakurai has gained a lot of attention for his opinions. In the survey, he was followed by Teppei Koike of the duo WaT and pro golfer Ryo Ishikawa.
Sho Sakurai
Teppei Koike
Ryo Ishikawa
Hiro Mizushima
Haruma Miura
Satoshi Tsumabuki
Yusuke Kamiji
Takeru Sato
Junpei Mizobata
Eiji Wentz
Among the women, Becky’s regular TV appearances have given her a very cheerful image. Some of the survey takers described her as someone who can “read the situation at hand,” and as someone “so lively and cheerful that it’d be a nice breath of fresh air to have her around in the company.” Right behind her in the rankings were actresses Aya Ueto and Yui Aragaki.
Nino has been on a roll.. this is goin to be his 2nd SP this year.. I still have not watch “Door to Door” yet but i know he reali gave an extrodianary performance. This is some news of his new drama SP.
Kazunari Ninomiya, Mao Inoue play couple in drama special
Sat, April 11, 2009 (12:12am EDT)
Arashi’s Kazunari Ninomiya (25) and actress Mao Inoue (22) will co-star in a drama special on TBS. The story is based on two novels written by professional windsurfer Natsuki Iijima, who died of cancer in 2005.
During Iijima’s battle with cancer, he wrote an essay titled “Gan ni Ikasarete,” which formed part of the basis for the 2007 film “Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara,” a biography of Iijima that starred Takao Osawa and Misaki Ito. Around the same time, Iijima penned a novel also titled “Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara,” as well as a sequel titled “Kamisama ga Kureta Namida.” The drama special is based on those two books, which sold more than 450,000 copies combined.
The drama is also being called “Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara.” Ninomiya plays the main character, a psychiatrist working in the counseling room of a cancer treatment center by the beach. While tending to the patients, part of his job involves taking dictation from them when they want to send a letter to a loved one.
Inoue plays the psychiatrist’s wife and mother to the couple’s twin daughters. Other cast members include Nobuko Miyamoto as a nurse, Yusuke Santamaria as a surgeon, and Naoto Ogata as the owner of a surf shop.
The broadcast date for the drama has not yet been determined.
At first, it was the manga that got me addicted. It’s still ongoing, the manga. So den my sister had recommended me to watch the drama too. I was addicted man!! haha.. It’s actually pretty different from the manga. Well same in some sense but overall a fresh outlook too. This drama has 10 episodes. Sato Takeru who plays Shibata Kento really grew on me. I love this guy! haha.. He has so much personality and so upbeat. I love his “EHHH” face. haha..It’s prob every girl’s dream to have a butler as charming and handsome as Mizushima Hiro and Sato Takeru. haha. I think overall, the cast is much fun and lively!
The story revolves around a young woman named Mei, who was rescued as a young girl by someone calling himself her “butler.” With only a vague memory, though, the experience seems like just a dream. But one day, after her parents’ accidental death, he appears: Rihito comes from a line of outstanding butlers, and he has been appointed to serve her! Now her ordinary life has completely flipped, as she discovers that she’s actually the heiress to a fortune, and is forced to transfer to St. Lucia Girls’ Academy, where all the students have butlers! As a result, her childhood friend Kento decides to enroll in a butler school so that he can stay close to her.
Readers of TVnavi magazine have cast their votes for 2008’s Drama of the Year, and on Saturday it was announced that the winner is the TBS suspense series “Maou” that starred Satoshi Ohno and Toma Ikuta. Ohno also was named Best Actor for his role in that series.
Aoi Miyazaki was voted Best Actress for “Atsuhime.” Best Supporting Actor and Actress went to Eita and Juri Ueno, who both appeared in Fuji TV’s “Last Friends.” In the Best Newcomer category, Ryosuke Yamada (“One-Pound Gospel,” “Scrap Teacher”) and Manami Higa (“Code Blue”) received the most votes.
Omg!!! Sho is goin to have a new drama… ahhhhhh I cant keep up anymore!!!! haha Arashi has so much goin on for them!!! But it’s goin to be great to be able to watch a Sho drama since Yamada Taro!!!
Arashi’s Sho Sakurai has been chosen to star in the NTV drama series “The Quiz Show.” The show is a prime time version of last summer’s late night drama “The Quiz Show,” which starred Jin Katagiri and Shigeyuki Totsugi.
In the new version, Sakurai plays the host of a live TV quiz program. On the show, contestants who achieve 7 correct answers win 10 million yen, and those who get 8 correct answers will have one of their wishes granted by the TV network. But while the questions start off innocently enough, as the game progresses, the questions gradually delve into the contestants’ past crimes or indiscretions, presenting them with the dilemma of having to confess their guilt in order to win.
Sakurai’s character also has a mysterious past. Before becoming the show’s host, an accident had left him in a vegetative state for six years, which also resulted in him losing most of his memories.
The supporting cast includes Kanjani8’s Yu Yokoyama as the show’s director, Aya Matsuura as a rookie assistant director, and Miki Maya as the producer. Broadcast begins on April 18 in NTV’s Saturday 9pm time slot.
Arashi’s latest single, “Believe / Kumori Nochi, Kaisei,” dominated the charts this past week. With roughly 502,000 copies sold, it has become the best-selling single of 2009 so far. It is also the first to break half a million in its opening week since KAT-TUN’s “Real Face” (754,000) in April 2006. Arashi achieved the same feat once before with their debut single “A-RA-SHI” (557,000) in 1999.
New singles flooded the top ten, occupying the next seven spots behind Arashi. The releases came from GLAY, AKB48, Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, Yuna Ito, YUKI, Ken (of L’Arc~en~Ciel), and ROCK’A'TRENCH.
On the album rankings, FUNKY MONKEY BABYS edged out a win with their aptly named third album, “FUNKY MONKEY BABYS 3.” The album sold 80,000 copies, only 2,000 more than Chatmonchy’s “Kokuhaku.” Also in the top ten were JUJU, supercell, Mika Nakashima, Dragon Ash, Kalafina, and AI.
YATTAAAA!!!! Sho ちゃん will be guest starring on Uta no Oniisan!!!! Yeahhhh!!! Episode 7 on 6th March!!! I wonder wat role he’s playing or how long or short his appearance will be! Maybe he’ll appear as Taiyou せんせい!!! haha… Taiyou せんせい is a character from his drama Yoiko no Mikata!
Here’s the source of when Sho will appear on Uta no Oniisan!
Omg i was soooo excited to hear him speak in english! It’s not bad at all!!!!!!!!! It’s kinda amazing how his popularity even reaches the American audiences!
And here is one with a fancam! Where they sing A.RA.SHI. and he does the hand movements!
Romantic Funny Movies
Listening Music
Johnnys Entertainment
Kinki Kids & Arashi
Sleepin!!!!
Sushi
Eating gummys & chips
Hearts
Japanese Drama
Japanese Variety
Manga
Lookin at clouds
Hanging out wif frens
Daydreaming
Graphic T-Shirt
Fav Dramas/Variety
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
Uta no Oniisan
Hana Yori Dango
Good Luck
Yamada Taro Mongatari
BOSS
Shin Domoto Kyoudai
D no Arashi
Arashi no Shukudai-kun
Mago Mago Arashi
VS Arashi
Himitsu no Arashi-chan
Tokyo Friend Park
![The Quiz Show Golden - Episode 1[13-35-56]](http://leisypeisy.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/sbk-the-quiz-show-golden-episode-113-35-56.jpg "The Quiz Show Golden - Episode 1[13-35-56]")
![The Quiz Show Golden - Episode 1[13-36-02]](http://leisypeisy.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/sbk-the-quiz-show-golden-episode-113-36-02.jpg "The Quiz Show Golden - Episode 1[13-36-02]")
![The Quiz Show Golden - 01[15-20-45]](http://leisypeisy.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/the-quiz-show-golden-0115-20-45.jpg "The Quiz Show Golden - 01[15-20-45]")
![The Quiz Show Golden - 01[15-30-19]](http://leisypeisy.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/the-quiz-show-golden-0115-30-19.jpg "The Quiz Show Golden - 01[15-30-19]")
![The Quiz Show Golden - 01[15-50-54]](http://leisypeisy.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/the-quiz-show-golden-0115-50-54.jpg "The Quiz Show Golden - 01[15-50-54]")
![The Quiz Show Golden - 01[15-57-49]](http://leisypeisy.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/the-quiz-show-golden-0115-57-49.jpg "The Quiz Show Golden - 01[15-57-49]")
![The Quiz Show Golden - 01[16-35-00]](http://leisypeisy.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/the-quiz-show-golden-0116-35-00.jpg "The Quiz Show Golden - 01[16-35-00]")
![The Quiz Show Golden - 01[16-40-18]](http://leisypeisy.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/the-quiz-show-golden-0116-40-18.jpg "The Quiz Show Golden - 01[16-40-18]")
![The Quiz Show Golden - 01[16-40-45]](http://leisypeisy.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/the-quiz-show-golden-0116-40-45.jpg "The Quiz Show Golden - 01[16-40-45]")
![The Quiz Show Golden - 01[16-40-57]](http://leisypeisy.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/the-quiz-show-golden-0116-40-57.jpg "The Quiz Show Golden - 01[16-40-57]")
Hansy & Leisy
