After May's birthday, Jun's birthday is here (<------------ a lame joke only close friends will get. Otherwise, ignore.)!!!! As promise this post includes all individual interviews from the 10-11 concert pamphlet! So go and read whatever you missed in the past week! I know I promised to finish the group interview and the individual Q&A by Jun's big day, but I was busy celebrating my own birthday so I didn't manage to go beyond 2 pages of the group interview. I hope to finish all by the end of the coming week! When I finish each part (the group interview and Q&A), I'll post them to my vox, neighbour-locked. But after I've finished everything, I'll update this post with everything. And this will be open till the nexttour comes on and no one bothers about the old one anymore. lol.
Basically, that means my neighbours get to read first. Because I want to make up for all the non-Arashi stuff they've been subjected to the past year. =P But don't add me to vox too quick ne. I prefer my neighbourhood close and cozy. =) Just be patient!
[EDIT] 11/9/2010: After adding the Group part, the post became too long to be posted, so I've created a separate post here for the Group and Q&A parts!
Arashi 10-11 concert pamphlet translationComments are greatly appreciated.
Scan from chai-chan and reuploaded by saobang2211.
Please do not repost without permission. If I ever find anyone reposting anything, I'll lock this immediately and keep all future translations locked.
I can't stop you from doing it but if you choose to go down that path, I wish you luck in rebelling against all established rules of the Arashi fandom - in which you won't last long. =)
OHNO SATOSHI
The overall theme is “Changes without changes”.
Although Arashi always doesn’t change, but experiences, confidence, such things are changing.
I think it’ll be great if the 5 of us could express that.
When I heard about the tour, I thought, “We can do it again this year!” Furthermore, hasn’t it been more than 2 years since we last went on tour with an original album? That means that I’ll be able to do it with fresh feelings once again. Last year was the 10th anniversary tour and I was happy to receive many congratulatory wishes from everyone but… Because that period was really busy, I didn’t have the luxury to feel various things in terms of feelings… That’s why, to be able to finish the drama without hiccups and to move towards the concert properly, I’m also really looking forward to it myself. (Looking at the estimated number of people mobilised in this tour) 860,000 people? It’s amazing huh? I can’t imagine… (Laughs). Honestly, it’s unbelievable. Are there this many people coming to watch Arashi? Even now, it is still unbelievable. It doesn’t change even after entering the 11th year (Laughs). With only the surroundings changing gradually, although Arashi itself isn’t changing, why, why do this many people come? I’m really shocked. Because it’s an amazing scenery. Such as the Kokuritsu Stadium filled with guests… Although the concert itself is always enjoyable, Kokuritsu is indeed difficult. I can’t get used to it… Regarding how I should communicate with that number of guests, I can’t get used to it at all. Surprisingly, it's visible. Although the guests’ faces are more visible than I thought, I don’t get where I should respond to. Aren’t there parts where the five of us split up to where the guests are? And don’t I end up being alone? And when I have to interact with this place (the area before myself) all by myself, I sing like this (Waving his hands widely) right? When I do this, everyone will wave their hands in the same way. I’ll think, “Eh, there’s only me!?” and turn to look back. But as expected, I’m alone (Laughs). That is unbelievable. They waved to me? I’m really happy and will think keenly, “Everyone’s waving to me.” (Laughs). I’ll be able to see that scenery again this year. Really... I want to burn it into my memory. I have to burn it into my memory properly.
It’s also been 2 years since the last album so I missed the recording sessions. As last year’s was a best of album, there wasn’t any recording. It was enjoyable to sing 1 song, remember the next, and sing… (Laughs). I often talked to Aiba-chan. Such as “Where have you recorded up to?” It’s also been a while since we had such conversations. Aren’t the new songs fresh? There are a lot of songs that can only be done for an album. In the end, this time it feels mature and the melodies somehow… feel like they can be danced to with style. They are fresh. For the solo, because I intended to dance to it during the concert, I want to make the song have that feeling too. Although I had that plan, it’s a bit similar to “Take me faraway” huh? Actually, although I had the image of a song that can be danced with more might, it became a feeling of calmness instead. That melody feels slow but I'm intending to dance just as it is. As of now, the plan is for me to think of the choreography by myself.
This time, the overall theme is “Changes without changes”. I thought that that was really fitting. Although Arashi always doesn’t change, but as expected, isn’t it changing? Like experiences, confidence, such things are changing. This means that it’s changing indeed. That’s why I think it’ll be great if the 5 of us could express these “changes without changes”. It’ll be great if it becomes a tour where people can feel such things. Like, after watching the concert, to think, “Somehow… Although those people haven’t changed, it was fresh.” (Laughs) With that, I’m looking forward to forming communication with the guests again this time. Although I always say this, it’s really a “festival” to me. It feels like concerts are festival merrymaking! (Laughs) It’s not something you watch carefully but something where everyone make merry and enjoy. I think it’s a festival that’s created by everyone and a “The season of festivals is here!” thing (Laughs). Let’s enjoy it this year too ok!!
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SAKURAI SHO
We passed last year's 10th anniversary,
the feeling that another 1 has started again to head towards the next 10.
It's a start line where every, both us and the guests, is together
so I want to see the same scenery together with everyone.
This year, we embark on a 4 day concert at the Kokuritsu stadium, something no one has done up till now… I first felt astonished. To begin with, there was the astonishment that we were allowed to hold it for 4 days!? And then, with respect to the continuous 3 years there, that is precisely because we had managed to build trust with our second time there last year since the time of that “very first step”. Although I don’t know if it’s the notion of “at the Kokuritsu stadium”… There was the joy of being acknowledged (as being suitable). Because we won’t be able to do it if we didn't have actual results. Meaning, it’s indeed all thanks to the guests1. Really, everyone, you know. If they hadn’t come last year and the year before that, there won’t be this year’s. But conversely, if they don’t come this year, there’s won’t be a next year (Laughs). It really depends on them! It feels like "Please, I humbly ask of you to gather again this year." (Laughs)2.
Regarding the new album, I haven't listened to it throughout so I don't know... Or perhaps I should say, it's always like that - in a good way, there's no consistency. Above all, firstly, the number of singles included in the album is large and there are bits of pieces of disconnected tastes establishing a distinguishing character. And the album songs, including the solos, should I say that they fill up the "spaces"? That doesn't mean that they are insignificant. They play the role of adding variety. I thought that it would be great if it became such an album. And then, we also sang songs that we weren't able to sing up till now. The approach of the lyrics is slightly different from what we had up till now… There’s such a difference. Does that have to do with our age, the time we spent as a group for 10, 11 years, or both? I don’t know… Maybe there’s an increase in “the things that the Arashi of today can sing”.
I was quite hesitant towards to the solo this time. There was a song among the demos that I felt I really liked. The moment the intro played, even I myself thought, “This sounds very me!” (Laughs) It’s just that we had set forth the premise that the theme for this album is for it to be slightly different from those from before. So, I thought that if I did that song, it’ll have the usual feel… So, I tried to go away a little instead.
It’s been 2 years since we last had an original album. As expected, we punched in a “full stop” with last year’s “5x10”… That wasn’t just a tour. Various members of the media did special feature reports for us and with the end of that grand 10th anniversary, I strongly think of it as a “restart”. That's why, rather than with a tension of "It's been a while!", I'm going with the feeling that from here, another 1 has started again to head towards the next 10. I'm moving on to talk about raps. The song called "movin' on", it originally didn't have a rap. But after hearing the song part, I asked if it's alright for me to write a bit and was allowed to do so. "I want to project the Arashi of today," I thought. The song itself was the usual "Let's go forward" kind of song, but within the rap, you can hear that it seems to be singing about Arashi, or you can also hear otherwise. I wrote the lyric that way. I managed to write it by treating the 10 years worth of time as something of the past, as a single unity. With that, I feel that "1" is really starting from here. Becaus unlike last year's tour which pursued "each and every Arashi image" and "each and every 10 years", it's a tour beginning from the start line where everyone, both us and the guests, is together. A scenery different from last year's... That's the scenery that we'll see. And the scenery seen by the guests from the audience stands will definitely be different. Indeed, each and every year, the scenery of the tour will become memories of that year. Like, 2009 is that of the 10th anniversary and 2008 is the the first Kokuritsu with "Arashi Around Asia 2008". Because that year's scenery will be burnt into memory. That's why, just like in the title, let's look at the same scenery! I want to see the same scenery together with everyone.
1 I used guests here because I feel that the audience at the concerts are like guests to a party. However, as shokim pointed out, a more ‘English’ translation would be ‘audience’.
2 Sho made this request in the highest level of politeness.
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AIBA MASAKI
For that many people to do a single thing together
It's by no means something that can be easily done, right?
It's enjoyable just being in the midst of that.
I really love concerts very much.
Indeed, before we go on to anything else, isn't it amazing that we're able to hold a tour this year as well? I'm really grateful and, as you would expect, happy to be allowed to do it again at the same venues as last year. As for last year, other than people who always came to our tours, I think there wwas also a considerable number of people who came with the thought "Since it's the 10th anniversary, maybe I'll just... go watch Arashi's concert a little". That's why I would feel very grateful thinking, "I was able to perform before that many guests." As for tours, I do them with fresh feelings each time. Although it's a long tour, there are empty intervals between each performance so it feels fresh each time. It's like "After doing some other jobs, I'll be able to return to the tour again!" That's why it's fresh each and every time. And there are also "amusing memories" that are quite...me (Laughs). Like forgetting my own solo... Anyway, this means that it (the solo) was that fresh! That's why, as this tour will again last for a long period, I want to enjoy each and every concert with fresh feelings. As expected, to begin with, I like "those places" where everyone gathers. For that many people to gather and do a single thing together... It's by no means something that can be easily done, right? It's enjoyable just being in the midst of that. I really love concerts very much.
With the best of album last year, people saw the "very major" 1 things that Arashi has been doing up till now. This is the first original album released following that and furthermore, it's been 2 years since the last one. Maybe I'm feeling that too much... But this album is a little different from singles, as one would expect. It has an "assaulting" feeling. I feel that there are many songs with melodies that definitely can't be released as singles (Laughs). But because the singles starting from "Everything" are also included inside, there are pop parts where we can do at ease. I think this is a piece of work that will allow people to feel "the Arashi in their 11th year".
As for my solo, well... Within myself, I do feel that maybe I've overdone it a bit (Laughs). It's something like Trance or Eurobeat? It's more like "disco" and "center-stage" rather than "clubbing". English phrases such as "sensation" were also used... It's a song that hasn't been heard recently, one that feels a little like it's bursting out (Laughs). Whether they think of it (the song style) as new or old... Although it'll differ from person to person, I think it's really new! Precisely because it's to be done now, I want to do this song! I probably had feelings such as "Let me try challenge myself to that extent!" within me when I decided on the solo (Laughs). In any case, I can't explain it well but... It's a song that has quite a bit of vigour. I enjoyed myself a lot while singing and will be glad if everyone also develop feelings like "Ah~ It was enjoyable!" after listening. I will dance to the song at the concert! Or rather... I'll make merry2 (Laughs). I hope everyone won't leave me making merry by myself. Because I'm thinking of having everying sing and dance together to the solo this time round too. So please think of it as helping me and make merry together! Yoroshiku (Laughs).
Really, we're really blessed by the mere fact that we've been able to hold a tour every year... I'm grateful. And then, indeed, it's probably just once a year that everyone gathers at one same place and get excited along with the same members, right? (Each year) The guests are all different, and the atmosphere also changes depending on the venue. That's why I'll make merry with each valuable round (Laughs)! That includes the solo right? I'll make merry with the concert itself. While being chastened by various people for "horsing around too much!" (Laughs). Having experienced last year's 10th anniversary, it'll be great if the "us" today is able to show the "New Arashi" 3 of the 11th year. That's exactly why... There's this "Full throttle!" feeling (Laughs). I want to make it an enjoyable tour this year too!
1 Aiba used the word "Do Major" here, in the same way as Jun's "Do S". I translated it quite literally, but it means something Arashi mainly does.
2 The word Aiba used can mean 'make merry', 'horse around' etc etc. I've used both translations depending on the sentence context. It basically means to get carried away by the moment and make merry/have fun. without cares).
3 Aiba used the words "Atarashii Arashi". "Atarashi Arashi" is the title of their 02-03 Winter concert, so maybe he was trying to make some reference? Lol. Or maybe I'm thinking too much.
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NINOMIYA KAZUNARI
We showed what we had to show and are also doing things we want to do...
I feel that the tour that's conveying this album is a "famous-album tour"!
I’m really looking forward to everyone’s reactions when the songs come on.
When I heard of the details of this year’s tour (Third consecutive year (at Kokuritsu), starting with 4 days of performances Kokuritsu this time round), I thought, “Arashi-san is amazing!” I can’t think of anything other than that it’s really amazing… But more than such things, the fact that we’re able to hold concerts every year is by itself a simple joy. It’s such happiness. I really think so. Because concerts are things that are different every year. There’s no such thing as “Last year’s 10th anniversary tour was special” or “We’re going back to normal tours”. That’s why, without change, there’s the feeling of “I’ll work hard!” this year too.
With a tour based on an original album, the first question is, what kind of album will it become? Is it ok for me to tell? …I think it’ll become a masterpiece (Laughs)! Since the stage where we added the songs, I've felt "it's as expected". There’s a “new” feeling and it’ll probably become a album that's danceable to. I think it’s an album with an extremely good balance. We showed what we had to show and in exchange, we're also doing things we want to do... From the perspective of the singer, I think it's an album that does not bring stress. That's why I feel that the tour that's conveying this album is a "famous-album tour"! I'm really looking forward to it.
By the way, I’m writing the lyrics to/composing the song to/arranging my solo. It’s a song I made on my (27th) birthday. The moment 16 (June) changed to 17. In the midst of having everyone send me mails saying “Happy Birthday”, I made it while humming and replying to those mails (Laughs). As to the title, I think everyone must have thought of various things. But, since they're reading this pamphlet, I think they're already listening. So instead of me talking about this or that, it'll be great if they could listen and each feel it themselves... I won't say (Laughs). Well, isn't the 27 years and about 30 minutes old me being expressed (in the song) (Laughs)? Actually, the song itself was done within that amount of time. Really, about 30 minutes. But the way of composition was totally different from what I always had so it was tough as you would expect. I did all of it, by myself. I mean, I rewrote it 7 times. Piano, Cajón1, Saxophone… I added various instruments and also a chorus2. I was present at all the recording sessions and was also allowed to give directions. For the piano, I asked for the help of a pianist I like very much. I thought it’ll be great to have someone I like do it for me. The recording sessions were really enjoyable. They became a great piece of memory. Actually, I wanted to play the piano at the concert. But… I gave it up this time. It was like "Shall I just dance?" (Laughs). Well, I don't dance much. Although I don't… I thought that a solo where I just sing would be boring so… I’ll dance! For the order of the solos, mine's probably 1st or 2nd... My appearance (solo) will likely be ending before the MC (Laughs). That's all my projection so please look forward to the final conclusion on the concert day itself!
Indeed, because this tour is based on a new original album, I’m really looking forward to everyone’s reactions when the songs come on. Like it or not, for singles, “results = reaction” will appear through the sales figure so we’ll know some way or another. But for albums, the result will not appear through the price for each song3 so… If we don’t hold concerts, we won’t know which are the songs that everyone likes and which are the ones they don’t quite like. I’m really looking forward to everyone’s reactions when the songs come on. As for the kind of concert it’ll become, we’re in the midst of preparing it... This time round, the General (Matsumoto) has joined a TV drama. He's unable to join in the exchange of ideas as often as before. Saying this means that there's an image that it's "different". But well… Anyway, we’ve never been a group that is on the defensive side. With respect to concerts, we’re a group that has been continuously taking the offensive. We’re thinking of attacking a little this year too. And also, as a “message to fans”, I hope they will send loud cheering when my solo comes on. Yup… I want them to say “Kya~♥” then even if it’s against their will so, yoroshiku ne (Laughs)!
1 The cajón is a type of drum, and considered to have originated from PERU! Read more about it on wiki.
2 Nino used the Japanese word Chorus. In this context, it refers to the back vocalists.
3 I think Nino refers to the price attached to each song on download sites.
4 Once again, I used 'guests' in place of 'audience', a more proper English word for concert attendees.
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MATSUMOTO JUN
While I myself confirm that "The person I am now is like this",
Those who came to watch will also think,
"Arashi's like this recently."
Wouldn't it become such a concert?
I'm really happy to that we're able to hold a tour again this year. But to be honest, there's also....a feeling of disappointment that, once more, we can only go some places. Now, when the group called Arashi holds concerts, there are things that we "can do and cannot do" in areas contrary to what we want, including time-related problems and various situations. The desire to visit many venues has not changed this year either and to us, performing at large venues isn't our goal. We've discussed a lot about the things we can do within this and the best result that came out of it takes the form of this round's tour. Because, in the end, the fact that there are many people who came for us from afar doesn't change regardless of the venue. In any case, it's a feeling of wanting to make the tour an enjoyable one this year too.
Fo an original album, it has been about 2 years since the last release. I think what's clearly different from the previous time when we released "Dream "A" Live" is that this is the first album created after our 10th anniversary last year and the release of the 10th Anniversary best of album "All The Best! 1999-2009". That's why, we were extremely conscious of that fact when we created the album. I think it'll be extremely simple for us to do again this time round the type of songs similar to what we've been singing in albums up till now. But we felt that it's probably not the time for that and thought of confronting ourselves as we are now... When it became such a project, what came to sight was the theme "Changes without changes". The selves who have not changed from who we were up till now despite having passed the 10th anniversary. The selves who are trying not to change. But having said that, with the passing of days and time, won't people get influenced by some things and show some changes? Within that part, what will change and what is comfortable for ourselves as we are now? That, and the topic of the kind of Arashi that people who came to watch and people who give us support would like to see, came to us while we were in the midst of discussions. So, how should we handle that? Indeed, it'll be boring if we did it in the usual way. If we're going to do it in a fresh way, we can only "take the offensive", so this time's album "The scenery we're looking at" is the piece of work that we newly challenged. With that meaning, I think each of our solos are also challenging new grounds. My solo? How should I express that sound...? Perhaps it feels a little bit like a shooting game (Laughs)? Somehow, I had originally wanted to do Hip Hop. Among the few songs that finally remained, it's the song I wanted to do most, the one I felt good listening to. There's a rap section and a Hip Hop feel. The rhythm is like that and because it also uses effects, it's like, which is my real voice (Laughs)? But the chorus1 and such are almost all recordings of my own voice so it took a really long time for the recording session. It feels a bit like Ambient Techno2 so.... I'll dance at the concert? Although I'll dance... How should I put it? It feels a bit odd. I'm thinking of doing (a performance) with an "alternate dimension" feel.
It's just that this time, I didn't turn up much for rehearsals (because of my dorama). Although everyone worked on the detailed starting points together at the beginning stage, for things like the set, to some extent I didn't thought of interfering (Laughs). Because I'll be bothered if a person who's not often present interfered...(Laughs) I think that means it's "changing"? Also, I think the "colours" of the other 4 persons will definitely appear. So, within that meaning, I'm looking forward to it extremely. Because I think this year exists by building on what we've done up till now. While I myself confirm that "The person I am now is like this", I think it'll become a concert which allows those who came to watch to think, "Ah... Arashi's like this recently." (Laughs) Anyway, I want to enjoy it. Personally, I think I'll be in love with the people in the audience stands this time, each and every round (of concerts)! I think I'll decide on one such "This person!" at each and every venue (Laughs). It might be you. So I hope that everyone of you won't be unprepared (Laughs). WIth that, I'll look forward to meeting at the venues!
1 Jun used the Japanese word Chorus. In this context, it refers to the back vocalists.
2 Jun said Ambient, but on googling, Ambient music is quite slow, so I think he meant Ambient Techno, a sub-genre. You can read more about Ambient music at wiki, and listen to some examples here and here (some are pretty good if you listen to the whole thing! Especially the first, I can imagine lyrics with Arashi's voices)
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