Finally, the ARASHI IS ALIVE! photobook translations are complete-- only months too late, but that's okay! I'll probably translate a quick pre-debut interview before I continue to (finally) work on the last bits of Sho's +act article, where other producers/directors talk about him.

Enjoy!

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ARASHI IS ALIVE!

+ Aiba Masaki
+ Sakurai Sho
+ Ohno Satoshi
+ Ninomiya Kazunari
+ Matsumoto Jun
+ Section blurbs

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ARASHI IS ALIVE!


"A tour is created by experiencing the same senses
as every single person present in that single place."

- Matsumoto Jun



---Not only did you hold performances at all 5 domes, they were in full capacity. How does Matsumoto Jun view the present Arashi's momentum?

I genuinely think we've done something amazing. To see those enormous venues fill up with people was truly an amazing sight. We're no longer surrounded by the same environments as we have in the past. But, it's because of our past that we are here today, and it's because we have people who have been watching over us since the early years that we have the current Arashi, so I'd like to cherish that.


---Then, what has Jun-kun yourself gained from this tour?

To be given the chance to perform in a place on such a large scale, what I felt most strongly was that I wasn't alone. Both members and staff, and also the many audience members who have gathered for us are there. It was like experiencing the same time and senses as everyone present in that single place. That might have been the the very best part of the dome tour. Especially songs like "YOUR SONG" and "Love so sweet", the songs where everyone sang with us left very strong impressions on me.


---Placing a seal on "A-RA-SHI" until your final concert at Sapporo, was there a special meaning behind it after all?

We all feel that we've finally matured, and we're well aware that "A-RA-SHI" in itself is an extremely popular song, so we wanted to take on the challenge of seeing if we can pull off a tour without it. But you know, when it came time to arrange the set list, even without "A-RA-SHI" we were still able to put one together naturally. That might just have been our own arrogance though, since it's always better to perform popular songs. But, I do think there was meaning behind this challenge of ours.


---I think it was a tour where we once again got a strong sense of the passion and power of unity between the five of you.

Especially since the number of individual jobs has grown as well lately, instances were we're all together has decreased compared to the past. But on top of that, there's also a feeling of us becoming more unified. There's a completely different kind of joy in being together all the time like we have in the past, but at the present with the times where we're on our own increasing, it's interesting to see what kind of things we can do when we do gather. Above all else, all of us are trying to bring the best of ourselves into full play at any time.


---Finally, where will the 25 year old Matsumoto Jun and also the Arashi facing its tenth year be heading towards?

To me, I've always thought of the age 30 as a single juncture. The things that I want to accomplish before then and also the the things that must be done in order to get to that point, I want to maintain a firm awareness of that in everything I do. Regarding Arashi, that's right, we're a group that's already been doing this all along, so... presently speaking, we don't have a concrete objective in mind.


---Arashi will still be Arashi. Meaning it's something that's not going to change, huh.

Yeah, that's right. At any rate, we'll face our tenth year anniversary first and enter into it with feelings of gratitude towards those who have supported us. It would make me happy if we can hold an event that would linger in everyone's memories!