I really, really liked Jun's interview. He veered away from the usual thanking of the fans and spoke at length about the staff, plus other thoughtful little things that I thought was very nice.

Comments are always appreciated; enjoy!

~*~

arashi marks ARASHI AROUND ASIA 2008

+ Thank you messages
+ Aiba Masaki
+ Matsumoto Jun
+ Ninomiya Kazunari
+ Ohno Satoshi
+ Sakurai Sho

~*~

arashi marks ARASHI AROUND ASIA 2008 - Matsumoto Jun

Arashi's concert staff is really amazing. Just as I thought, when it comes to concerts, you need to become one with the audience in order for the "stage" to come together, to become something complete... Before this step though, the staff who create the "framework" in the framework of entertainment shows are truly truly amazing... I'm very grateful. Truly, I think they're very interesting. From the staff from the same the same generation as us to those older than my own father, the fact that these people are enjoying themselves as they work for us is something I've felt profoundly. Things that stick out in particular were the parade and balloon from our last tour, and the waterworks this time, and the balloons... that ridiculous amount (of 50,000 for one show) (laugh). Of course, though we do discuss with the staff about the installation and composition, in the end the ones who implement it all are still the people on our staff. Seeing the enormous scope of those things, you understand even more that they had really taken pleasure in creating them for us. And in doing so, on this stage that these great people had happily created for us, I really think that they became one with our enjoyment on the stage as well.

About the content of our Asia performances, I can't give any detailed explanations yet... It's our second time in Taipei and Seoul, the concerts we held two years ago... how should I say this, I really felt things there that I haven't felt in Japan... in going back to the places where I felt these things, what will I think of it? Speaking of that, I honestly am looking forward to it right now. As for going to Shanghai for the first time... I will only be able to go and see for myself once the second visits to Taipei and Seoul are over. Both Taipei and Seoul might have changed since two years ago too. As expected, we don't know what's going to happen before the curtains open, so I can't go into it with any strange preconceptions or predictions. Well, no matter what kind of situation arises, it'll be fun! That feeling is the only thing I can be certain of (laugh).

What I felt from our last Asia tour was the incredible "passion" of the fans everywhere. That was really something to be thankful for. No matter how much I like a foreign artist, to sing all of that person's songs in the original language, to pour myself into studying the language in order to understand their MCs, that is something I've never done before. To have people actually do that for us... It makes you think "Ahh, this place feels like it could be a home for us too"; I'm really happy about it. Just as I thought, that first Asia tour became a chance for Arashi to expand afterwards. It seems like "a door opened" for us at the time. Though we'd worked hard with everything we had up until then to open that door, it didn't open at all... But, that door has opened now, and it was because of that 1st concert. Over the two years that followed, I guess it felt like we were trying steadily to pave the road on the other side of that door. On the way, we've encountered obstacles, and clouds hung above us; frankly, we didn't know what was going to become of it. But because we knew that the road will always stretch on, even if we stopped or rested for a bit, we'd soon want to go "Okay, let's move on!" again.

Arashi will have been together for 9 full years this fall. I feel the same towards Arashi's increasing years as I do the arrivals of my own birthday. To me, birthdays aren't just things for me to be happy about. I think it's a day to express gratitude to those who gave birth to me and to those around me. That's why on Arashi's 10th anniversary as well, I think it would be nice if we can return the favour and express our gratitude to those who have been together with us all this time. And so, before this 10th anniversary, I am very happy to be able to repay our debt of gratitude to everyone on our second Asia tour.