this is a long unimportant ramble

I've just spent this weekend homestaying with a very nice Japanese family (three cute kids). I quickly got along with the mother (Rumi-san) since -although she doesn't like Johnnys- she follows entertainment news and we talk a lot.

She doesn't think Arashi is famous. Sadly, but probably this is the common opinion, because I remember asking about Arashi to a friend who came from Kyoto, and her answer is exactly the same as Rumi's that it surprised me. "Arashi? hmm...SMAP is famous..."

Rumi :"Arashi don't appear much in TV right? It's just Matsujun in Utawara or doramas"

me : "But, Ninomiya..."

rumi : "ah, Ninomiya also doing dorama sometimes."

me : "and iwojima kara no tegami..."

rumi : "e? has it been run yet? I want to see it, but I thought it won't be until new year"

apparently, when it comes to Johnny's, non-fans only relate it with SMAP, which is huge, because Kimu-Taku is in it. she said everything that had Kimutaku in it will be success, so even if Nakai's ability to sing is close to nothing that the staff turns off his mike (Nakai is so adorable in personality, but not in voice), as long as SMAP has Kimutaku, there's no way Arashi would surpass them.

so the talk change to Kimutaku, and how the whole Japan thinks Kudo Shizuka is super clever because no matter how things could go worse in the future, they won't break up for the kids. then I asked her if she knows about my future husband, and

"Oh, Sakurai-san? the one from Keio right? he's really something, isn't he? to be able to work and graduate from that kind of university straight(4 years). Do you know that his father has important job in government's place(she mentioned a goverment departement, I think it's the foreign affair)? and his mother is smart too. I heard that Johnny actually don't like the boys goes to higher school, but since Sakurai's background is special, he let him go. If it's Sakurai-san, he won't fall to any woman easily. a boy from that kind of family will pick woman carefully, looking at background, etc."

yeah, I know all of that, but still, hearing it from a non-fan...

so...hmm...maybe sho's parents won't be very please if he marry a foreigner.

 

anyway,  my brother kinda suffer since he's became a fanboy, thanks to matsujun and his fashion sense that send my brother to "matsujun's clothes hunt", and I took every Arashi goodies to Japan, leaving only Iza Now concert behind and my sister said he watch Ohno's dance everyday (he adores Ohno's dance), and keep complaining why I took Arashic with me knowing he hadn't listened to it yet.

Arashi is actually very likeable for boys and girls, ne? my brother never likes boyband (he'll probably get dumped if his girlfriend knows he likes Arashi), yet he likes Nino's solo song, Matsujun clothes and Captain's dance. Sadly, he doesn't like Sho and Nino's appearance, and I doubt he realizes Aiba's existence unless some special times when Aiba is not talking but only walking in kakkoii clothes.

Comments

[投稿情報: 松 さや]

i really hate johnny!! he made a lot of rules!! it doesn't make any sence to forbid the boys to take higher education.. but, it's good u can have a long chat with japanese.. i really wish too..

[投稿情報: rin]

As long as we love them and believe in them, I believe that there will be a day when our boys would succeed in getting the recognition from non-fans that they deserve. That's what I feel. Whether it's acting or dancing or singing or hosting... there must be something that non-fans can also enjoy of our boys. If something is good, it's good ne. If our boys being Johnnys is the problem, then I feel that the problem doesn't really lie with our boys. After my "experiment" yesterday, I get to understand how non-fans and even guys can enjoy our boys' work. Maybe the way we introduce the boys to the non-fans is also important ne. I'm glad your bro has become a fanboy. XD  

[投稿情報: doki-doki]

I think it's because SMAP is an older group and hence the older generations are more familiar with them ... :) I'm a fan of both groups and I think both groups are great!

[投稿情報: Dúnadan]

It's sad but true that most people hardly know the rest of JE because they only know SMAP and they only know of SMAP because of Kimura.

Anyway, we don't want Arashi to surpass SMAP (yet) but it would be great if Arashi reaches a level of recognition by the normal public and not just the fangirls.

Slowly but surely, Arashi will get the attention they deserve.

--

Sho, what can we say that's already hasn't been said? I think his dad is in finance instead of foreign affairs. One thing is that he has already proven himself (and it's through the tough ladder system) to get into Keio and there would have been two outcomes:

1- If JE had refused, it's no question that Sho would have quitted. But since they "allowed" him, they got additional promo because of "Keio Boy".

2- They would also know Sho isn't the type who falls short in whatever he does. He would see it through and do WELL, which he did. So he proved that even as an idol, you can do well in work and school.

Sadly the bunch that follows him, even though they get into university, you can't really say they are the sharpest or hardworking bunch that Sho is.

Some people say Sho is an overachiever but heck! If he strives for it and does well, no one has the right to stop him LOL.