Arafes concert MC

Arafes Concert MC

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( 嵐、嵐 for dream....誰のdream? 私達、嵐とファンのdream )

And cue 感謝カンゲキ雨嵐. Such a perfect timing, to sing this just as the rain starts...it's like the skies are helping them create the right atmosphere.

I remember. Do you?

The feelings when it was announced that they have won the right to perform at Kokuritsu. It's not just the scale. It's also the meaning to it.

Of course, the ability to attract enough concert-goers to fill up the ~50,000 seats. If I don't remember wrongly, the 'behaviour' of fans are also important, so that they will not create any disruption in the areas round Kokuritsu.

Back then, the only artistes who had held concerts at that 'sacred' venue were SMAP (2005, 2006) and DREAMS COME TRUE (2007). In 2008 was the year. And every year since then. The venue limits only 1 concert each year, and our Arashi has made it every year since 2008, which, like Ohno and Jun and Sho said, is totally unbelievable (to them who had went through slumps) and a prestige to be thankful for. This year is especially special as the stadium would be demolished for the construction of a new one. Perhaps this is why both Arashi and L'Arc~en~Ciel were granted permission to hold concerts in Kokuritsu this year. I remember almost having a breakdown when L'Arc~en~Ciel's concert was announced, because it would mean that Arashi wasn't going to have one.

For a moment, my world was shaken. Kokuritsu has became a norm. But now, thinking back, the sense of pride and happiness felt in 2008 came rushing back.

While I'm still terribly frustrated that JE isn't doing anything to pish Arashi out to the International, or even the regional market, I'm satisfied that the boys made it there, and stayed there. It would be crushing for them if they went down from their peak in 2008, to have that one moment in limelight at Kokuritsu and then disappear again. I'm sure that if JE put in some effort, Arashi can be bigger than XXXX from some other country, but one shall not be greedy, especially when the boys from C no Arashi has made it so far, out from the basement at the TV station to the open-air Kokuritsu where they can fly anywhere they want.