karened | [TRANS] Arashi’s Last Concert - “Another speech” that was not broadcasted

Also on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/arashickarened/status/1346429453795164161?s=20

Actually, I have always thought about this. The invisible Arashi member. Staff-san, manager-san.

Without them, the executing parties, Jun’s mind-blowing concert ideas will just remain as ideas. We could enjoy the This Is 嵐 LIVE conceert because they had worked crazy OT hours executing the ideas.

All these years, it was with the support of these behind-the-scenes people that Arashi made it this far.

As fans, we feel sad letting them go. How much it must hurt for the staff-san who have been working with them since they were newbies? It’s so heartwarming to read about Arashi thanking and acknowledging their contributions.

As fans we don’t thank them enough.

Translation of this article by News Sport Seven here.

ARASHI’S LAST CONCERT - “ANOTHER SPEECH” THAT WAS NOT BROADCASTED

On the New Year's Eve of 2020, having finished singing 28 songs at 23:10, Arashi disappeared from sight in front of their fans. The footage switched to the closing screen. Right before the date changed, about 50 mins later, meaning at the arrival of the new year, the livestreamed concert ended with the message "Thank you for watching". With that, Arashi entered into hiatus.

That was Arashi's last appearance that was visible to the concert audience. However, there was a "continuance" at Tokyo Dome, the concert venue. The 5 of them got onstage again to work on the "finishing touches". "Arashi! Arashi! Arashi! Arashi! Arashi!" At the venue which was supposed to be without an audience, the cries for them echoed. Asking for an encore, the estimated 1300-strong staff team clapped and continued shouting that name for almost a minute.

With that, Arashi returned to the empty stage. All 5 of them wore a bright expression and there were no tears in those eyes. And then, Matsumoto Jun said words of appreciation to the staff. "To me, Arashi is a dream. It was all of you, who had been creating this dream together with me." Welcoming this special day together, the staff listened to words from the other 4 persons, savoring each word over the next 10 minutes. The "miracle" and "surprise" that took place after the concert - with the accounts from related personnel, we reproduce the entire backstory.

The other last speech which started from 24:00

After the livestream ended at 24:00, the process of clearing the venue was supposed to start right away. However, the 5 of them stopped that, so that they could directly convey their feelings of gratitude towards the staff for the smooth completion of their last concert. The Arashi call at the start had spontaneously sprung up in response to the thoughts of those 5 people who did that. Returning to the stage, the 5 of them took the mic. What happened from here onwards is only known to related personnel.

Matsumoto conveyed his gratitude and said, "Thank you. I can't express how I feel, really. I had fun. I hope I'll get to work with all of you again somewhere." He expressed his wish to meet the staff, who had been running alongside him up till that point, again.

Trying to make them laugh, Ninomiya said, "I will work hard as a pro professional gamer from now on." To that, Matsumoto said, "Because you have what it takes."

Revealing his inner thoughts, Ninomiya said, "I worked hard for this last Arashi concert hoping that it will become something that remains in everyone's heart."

Aiba said in a straightforward manner, "Arashi will be on hiatus now, but please do not forget about Arashi ne. I'll be glad if you can recollect about Arashi everyday!"

To that, the other 4 teased him saying, "That's too heavy!" (T/N: stressful/burdensome)

"When it's time for the stage of the Johnny's Jrs present here please make it slightly less cool than Arashi's," Sakurai joked, but continued, "Thank you for making us shine, and for creating a stage that will remain in the hearts of our fans."

Lastly, Ohno. "If it wasn't for all of you, we wouldn't have been able to finish in such a beautiful way," he started. "I haven't decided on what to do from now on, but if I were to become a staff, there is a possibility that I will be somewhere amongst you," he continued to make the staff laugh. "I am grateful that you created this stage that we spoke about," he added, and asked for a sambonjime (T/N: Japanese ceremonial clapping to close an event).

As a loud, loud sambonjime echoed across the Tokyo Dome, the staff shouted, "Wait a moment!" A staff representative stopped the 5 of them who were about to leave, and passed them a commemorative gift together with a message card. The 5 of them thank the staff and the staff also conveyed the same to the 5 of them. The 5 of them were surprised but continued to say "Thank you" and "I'm happy for this", with soft smiles on their faces.

At the end of a long day, having put a pause on being Arashi, the 5 of them took a shower and changed into their private clothes. After a brief chat, at past 2am, they got onto their respective cars and started on their way home.

The reason why they went home straight without detouring elsewhere is probably because they wanted to properly savor the lingering memories of the last concert.

A new year has already begun. To the 5 of them, it was also the moment that a new step has begun.