[TRANS] 7 reasons for the revival of Kouhaku

Also on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/arashickarened/status/1345772717153243138?s=20

Only translating the Arashi-related part.

Timing of highlights

What's different from previous years is the timing of the highlight.

The lineup after 21:30 comprised GReeeeN, Arashi and LiSA, 3 performers who received a lot of attention this year. By placing them at this early timeslot, this splendid strategy caused the reach rating to increase by more than 4%.

GReeeeN is a vocal group which sang "Hoshikage no Yell", the theme song for the morning drama "Yell".

That morning drama's broadcast was affected by the Corona pandemic and became irregular. Its contents also had to be changed. Furthermore, the deceased Shimura Ken was also part of the cast. As such, it became a much discussed topic. The group had never revealed their looks and was set to appear in the form of a virtual reality performance, making it a much discussed topic.

Not to mention Arashi's last performance before their hiatus.

Between the songs performed, each of the 5 persons gave greetings. During the final song "Happiness", the highest reach rating of 32.86% was recorded. It is a Kouhaku performance that will be etched in memories.

In addition, LiSA, who sang songs including the theme song to Kimetsu no Yaiba, Japan's highest grossing box office movie in history, also put up a good fight.

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[TRANS] Daily Shincho - The reason for the continuing "Living room feeling" and "ordinariness"

Also on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/arashickarened/status/1345944451118579712?s=20

Translation of this thought piece. It resonated well with me - the sense that Arashi is my youth and how they have never changed. The environment has majorly changed, the form of things has changed, but at their core, Arashi has not changed.

THE REASON FOR THE CONTINUING "LIVING ROOM FEELING" AND "ORDINARINESS"
- SEARCHING FROM ARASHI'S HIATUS

Arashi went on hiatus at the end of 2020. For 20 years, they have continued to run at the top of the entertainment industry. We search for the secret tactic from their words.

"People change quickly. But there are 4 persons who continued at it without changing anything."

On New Year's Eve on 2020, Ohno Satoshi said this during the final greetings at the last concert before Arashi's hiatus.

To think of it, Ohno Satoshi also made such a comment during the 5 persons' vacation location shoot for Arashi ni Shiyagare's last episode.

"We are unchanging"

Although it was a casual comment, I think it clearly shows the reason why Arashi could continue to be the national idol.

( Read more... )

Kouhaku viewership ratings

Also on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/arashickarened/status/1346032715699691520?s=20

Following the article on the reach rating trend at Kouhaku 2020, this article adds further information on the viewership ratings for the show.  

1) The highest household viewership rating was 47.2%, at the time when Arashi performed Happiness.  

2) The highest individual viewership rating was 35.5%, which was also during Arashi's performance.

3) Arashi appeared at 9:42pm. At 9:43pm, the viewership rating became 44%, gradually increasing by the minute to 47.2% at 9:52 during their third song Happiness.  

4) Other performances:
2 - LiSA's (46.6%)
3 - MISIA (44.5%)
4 - GReeeeN (43.6%)
5 - Official Higedandism (43.5%).

5) Outside of the performances, the highest rating was 45.7% at 11:42pm, the segment which recapped the show and announced Team Red as the winning team. 

Chart of past viewership ratings for Arashi's Kouhaku performances, average viewership ratings for Kouhaku's second half, and the ratings achieved by the performance with highest ratings. 

[TRANS] "A group that surpasses Arashi will not appear." It may be Ohno's real feelings.

Also on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/arashickarened/status/1346101398656569344?s=20

Translation of this Nikkan Sports interview under the cut. Read it in conjunction with Nikkan Sport's last interview of Arashi here.

Another group may rise up and surpass Arashi in sales in the future.  But in terms of Arashi's soft power: how they won widespread recognition even by non-fans, across age groups, and created many intangible assets in fans' lives and shared memories?

When the whole industry acknowledges and, dare I say, celebrates their success (not downplaying the commercial factor), when so many current/ex-staff, guests, fellow artistes, senpais send their well wishes, when kouhais see them as someone to aspire after...

Arashi is indeed top. I don't think anyone can surpass them.  And we are allowed to think that.  

If we continue to deny the obvious out of humility, isn't that a form of hypocrisy?  

For fans at least, they can never be surpassed. Fans may move on, but will they find another Arashi?

Here in this separate article, it says

"The entertainment scene was indeed in a state of "Arashi Festival". Starting from the music shows of each TV station, TBS's Japan Record Awards, NHK's Kouhaku, and then the livestream concert. Up to the moment of hiatus, it was all about Arashi."

( Read more... )