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Source: asianfanatic & japan_now

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.

Source: udn
Translated by: sparkles_n15 @ asianfanatics.net

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Credit : Tokyo Graph

Source: Oricon

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This is really amazing.. i must say Arashi is amazing!! Take a look at the article below.

Website credit: Japan_Now

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%

Source: Yahoo! News | Translated by: sparkles_n15 @ asianfanatics.net

source: asianfanatic

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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.

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How cool is Arashi really!!! haha! This is really amazing!!! Hopefully with their new single “My Girl”, they would be able to take top 3!!!

Single Top 150
*1 *,655,498 ***,*** Believe/曇りのち、快晴 / 嵐、矢野健太 starring Satoshi Ohno 09/03/04
*2 *,620,237 ***,*** 明日の記憶/Crazy Moon～キミ・ハ・ムテキ～ / 嵐 09/05/27
*4 *,418,623 ***,523 Everything / 嵐 09/07/01

Album Top 150
*1 1,307,760 *12,338 All the BEST！ 1999-2009 / 嵐 09/08/19

Credits: Oricon

(icons credit: elitejean@ livejournal)

Source: Music Japan

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

(icons credit: shaneen@livejournal)

hahah found this video on youtube! Super cute!! haha Ohno really just says “Umai” all the time!

(Icons credit: arashism@livejournal)

YEAH!!! Arashi’s amazing really!! Check out this news.

Source: Tokyograph

wow!!! Arashi sugei na! I cant believe VS Arashi is going golden as well as instead of 30mins, it’ll be an hour long!!! This is super cool!

Source: Tokyograph

(Icons Credit: angelyrique@livejournal)

Yatta!!! Aiba Masaki will finally get a lead role!!! haha this is just great man!!! Ahhhhh i have to wait until October though!!!

Source: Tokyograph

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

(icon credit: eddictedd@livejournal)

Source: Music Japan

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.

(icons credit: iedike@livejournal.com)

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.

Source: Tokyograph

Source: Sankei Sports

Source: Nikkan Sports 

Source: Sankei Sports

(Icons Credit: violentxxxpose@livejournal)

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!

The 1st epi guest was Aikawa Sho.

Screencaps credit:gnomagno@livejournal

(icon credit: babbled@livejournal)

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

(icons credit: kimmyxfleur@livejournal)

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!!!

Icons Credit: kamesoul@lj

Source: Tokyograph

Source: Oricon

Icons Credit: shaneen@lj

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.

Source: Tokyograph

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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!

Source: Dramawiki

Synopsis:

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.

Screencaps by: fragile321@livejournal

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Souce: Tokyograph

Source: Sankei Sports

(Gifs credit: niannarashi@lj)

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!!!

Source: Tokyograph

Source: Sponichi Annex

Here’s 2 youtube links. The 1st one is the CM and the 2nd one is a news abt his new drama.

Dont u juz love that smirk! haha

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Source: Tokyograph

Source: Oricon 

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YEAHHH he did!!! He did..

Here’s the youtube link.

(icons credit: ashmauve@lj)

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!

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This is wayyyy clearer!!!!! Click on it twice in order to go to the youtube page to watch!

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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!

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Hansy is leavin me in 2 days! haiz… she’s goin back to Perth.. Lonely arashi days again!

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Went to visit my cousin Ailing jie yest as she had juz given birth abt 2 weeks ago. Baby Gabriel is sooooo cute…. soooo tiny……..

How adorable is that face!!!