Winning Streak!

I don't know about compatability, but the guy can pull off Domyoji's ridiculous hair.  (And stand like a demon.)  Also, this quiz is from a real Japanese magazine and not some random fangirl.  Definitely...more reliable...I'm getting too into this. 

Arashi Kizuna Quiz: 

D. Matsumoto Jun
The truth is you're shy, and the one that would suit the shy you is Matsujun. Eventhough at a glance you seem cool, behind the surface you have passionate and heartful side, so probably you're kinda similar to him. Because he's someone who holds feelings importantly, it's also important for you to carefully make conversation. Because he's a soft-hearted person, if you take time to understand each other, you will be able to go along with him for a long time.

Evidence of Domyoji hair: 









Evidence of standing: (the middle one)

YES!

Take that, other quizzes!  Being Ohno (Oh, no!) Satoshi is the best.  And everyone knows he is NOT married to Sakurai Sho. 

Which Arashi member are you? Your Result:

You're SATOSHI (alias Oh-chan) OHNO!! You are the fearless (what? fearless? :p) leader of ARASHI, you are the epitome of entertainment, and not to mention you are the ideal son for all the wonderful, loving mothers around the world! You can sing, you can dance, you can make people smile, and your intense CAPOEIRA skills would make evildoers feel completely intimidated by YOU!

Stalker

QuizFarm, you are a liar.  Also, people who make Arashi quizzes:  Sakurai Sho is not that smart.  I know he went to college, but look at the things he puts on his head.  An academian he is not.

You Scored as Sakurai Sho

You're most compatible with Sho! You have a good head on your shoulders and have a broad outlook on life. Sho seems to prefer someone who is able to perceive the world and take it in stride - with him, you get a traveling companion. Results based on a 2006 translated interview about ideal marriages - therefore, you may want to take everything with a grain of salt. ;)

Sakurai Sho

80%

Ninomiya Kazunari

70%

Matsumoto Jun

68%

Ohno Satoshi

65%

Aiba Masaki

53%

New Ultimate Goal:  Take one of these quizzes and not get Sakurai Sho as a result.  There are five of them, for crying out loud!

NOOOO!

Quizzila, you are wrong!

Which Arashi Member Is Your True Lover? Your Result:

Congrats! Your true lover is Sakurai Sho! Unfortunetely, he is already married to ME, Norika (wahahaha)...
You are a type of girl that is very open and friendly. You can talk about anything: even SEX! You are very comfortable with who you are, and you have a very special and memorable personality. A strong woman that can take care of herself, AND her man!

I even retook the quiz to purposely weed Sho out.  (No offense, Sakurai Sho.  You're awesome, but not that awesome.  As always, your choice of headgear is questionable.)  

Tokyo Dogs: Now for Ladies

If Oguri Shun and Mizushima Hiro's law-enforcing shenanigans weren't enough to get us ladies to follow Tokyo Dogs, the plot has decided to incorporate some female-friendly elements of its own.  In short:  Love triangle.

Episode four saw "Nice to Every Girl" Maruo develop quite a crush on female lead Yuki.  (This also lead to some cute "I'm going to impress you now" moments.  Who knew Mizushima was so good at being embarrassed?)  Even if he won over the audience, Maruo failed to win the girl:  She likes stoic Detective So.  This would normally demonstrate a severe lack of judgement on her part, but Det. So is pretty awesome.  Det. So has yet to let us know where he stands on this issue, but we can all take a guess.

So!  Down to the speculation:  Who will she choose?  If past J-dramas are a good indicator (and we all know they are), Maruo is going down in a ball of second-male-lead flames.  Of all the dramas I've seen him in, Mizushima Hiro has only managed to get the girl once.  (He's even lost to a robot.  Come on!)  

Further plot developments should be interesting--and not just in a hilarious police love stand-off kind of way.  The writers are playing a little bit with first and second male lead stereotypes.  Usually it's the straight-laced, reliable guy (So) who ends up on the losing end of the love triangle.  Of course, Det. So will likely follow the first male lead pattern of being a jerk at first, but changing because of the female lead's love for him.  (He's already showing signs of softening:  Not shooting anyone in the knees and talking about his feelings only semi-grudgingly.)

What I'm really interested to see, though, is how this whole thing is going to affect Maruo and So's budding partnership.  Gene Wilder said that any buddy movie is really a romance between the two friends, and I think that applies to Tokyo Dogs as well.  Maruo and Yuki spend a good deal of episode five trying to figure out Det. So.  As Yuki starts to like Det. So more, so does Maruo.  Hopefully this will lead characters to reevaluate their opinions of each other and lead to some actually complicated relationship dynamics.  

Cross your fingers, people!  So far, the writing could go either way... 

This Is A Formula That Should Not Work

Plunging ever further into Japanese pop culture, I've taken a hiatus from J-dramas and moved on to the hard stuff--variety shows.  This genre is Japan at its goofiest, and even supercool boy bands like Arashi are not exempt from being made fools of.  In fact, the band has hosted over 300 episodes of weird variety show wonder.  

Prime example:  The picture above features Aiba Masaki enthusiastically executing his "A no Arashi" pose (with help from Assistant Sakurai Sho).  It's a segment where he gets really excited doing pointless scientific experiments.  For example, finding out what happens when you put binoculars on and try to run a hurdle race.  Also (true story), does wearing a suit of mirrors make you invisible?  (The answer, sadly, is no.)

Now, this should not make for good TV.  Yet, it does.  Shall we guess some reasons?

Reasons!  Which are true? 
1. Cut guys are cut guys, no matter how stupid they act.
2.  Wacky hijinks make pop stars (who are usually up on a pedestal) seem more accessible.  ("If this guy's willing to do such ridiculous things," thinks the fangirl, "it's not too much of a stretch to think he'd date me.")
3.  Wacky hijinks make pop stars easier to identify with.  ("These guys remind me of my friends and I.  I should buy their album.")
4.  Who doesn't want to see wacky hijinks?  No one, that's who.
Conclusion:  It's fun!

I have to confess that all four of those thoughts crossed through my mind as I watched episodes of ridiculous Arashi variety shows this weekend.  In fact, I plan on starting Aiba's new drama (My Girl) because of how semi-on-purpose funny he is during his experiments.  These shows are yet another cog in the wheel of highly effective Johnny and Associates marketing.  Perhaps N'Snyc, etc. would still be around if they'd followed suit?   

PS:  Utaban is probably the best of the bunch here.  Pop singing veteran Nakai torments his juniors.  Jeffer has the hook-up to even better moments at LiveJournal.

Mission: Failed

I had a theory that every Arashi song has the word omoide (memories) in it at least once.  Wordle was all too happy to disprove me.

OhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGod!

You Are Beautiful's episode 15 (second to the last) was so awesome it broke my brain.  My husband, who kept hearing my screams and squeals as I watched it, asked what the heck happened.  I was incoherent.  I'm still incoherent.  (JavaBeans will do a much better job of talking about it.)  

Let's just say that all the loose ends from the whole rest of the series are tied up.  What are they going to do for the last episode?  How will they beat how great this episode was?  I can't wait!

Hilarity Ensues

Oh, Manager Ma Hoon Yi, what would I do without you?  Probably laugh a whole lot less while watching You Are Beautiful.  Not that the rest of the show isn't a riot, but Manager Ma (played by Kim In Kwon) reaches a level of hilarity all his own.  Let's just say that there's a reason he's front-and-center in this picture.

In need of crazy schemes?  Manager Ma is there.  What about a couple minutes of hijinks or shenanigans to fill in between dramatic scenes?  Manager Ma is there.  Someone needs to stick their nose into other people's business and then do a silly dance?  Manager Ma is there.  

I'm telling you, there's nothing this man can't do.  Kim In Kwon adds his own flavor to the character and makes him a real highlight of the show.  
...Of course, there's no way to beat Hwan Tae Kyung's "fightin' eyes."  Jang Geun Suk is a master at facial expressions.

I am so going to miss this show.    

Needs Adopted

I'm trying to talk my husband into adopting Arashi's Aiba Masaki.  Who cares if he's six months older than either one of us?  What with the apparent lack of common sense and frequent air-headed comments, he needs looking after.  If someone in the group is going to do something ridiculous and then screw it up...probably it's Aiba.  No offense, Aiba Masaki, these things just make you more adoptable. 

Also, we have a dog who would take great care of him.  Animals, children, and old people all love him:  Totally the "Yuki" of the group.

Happy TURKEY Day!

Ahaha!  It's a joke!

Talk about Conflicted

Macy's is selling Frango mint chocolates.  I know this is only because of their taking over Marshall Field's (which is a very bad thing). This is tied into some deep nostalgia for me; my friends and I would go to the downtown Chicago location and try to find the most cost-effective way to spend our big high-schooler budgets on the magic of Frango.  

After moving away, Frango mints were one of the things I missed most.  I always wanted to eat some again...but Macy's?  Why, God, must you sour the sweet, chocolatey, silky, meltingy...never mind.

Mission Accomplished

My husband helped me accomplish my new ultimate goal yesterday.  Since then, I have sent a total of four text messages! 

Watch out, Paige!  I am catching up to you.

It's All That Sakurap...

Rank	Arashi Ranking Favorite (Top) to Least Favorite (Bottom)

Sorry, Sakurai Sho.  Oddly enough, Aiba Masaki had been at the bottom until this magical haunted house episode convinced me otherwise. 

Fandom is so fun!

Nodame Cantabile: Saishu Gakuso Zenpen

Oh, my God!  It's in post-production already; they got this out really quick.  Cross your fingers for a better ending than the manga!

Best. Astrological Sign. Ever.

Wikipedia says Leos (me) are compatible with Arieses (them).  I 100% agree and Christina I am sorry I stole Vince Vaughn away from you.  Wikipedia FTW!

Married

They definitely are. 

Not really, but they are pretty funny to watch.  Ninomiya Kazunari and Ohno (Oh, no!) Satoshi reach levels of goofdom typically reserved for high school guys.  But they are grown now.

I'm pretty sure this is the key to Arashi's ten years of popularity.  (And no, not just the are-they-aren't-they faux sexual tension that the slash fangirls enjoy so much--though I'm sure that's exploited as much as possible.)  The entire group seems to get along really well.  Even though their music can be dumb, they always seem like they're having a good time singing it.  Their concert costumes are worse than anything Robbie Williams could have designed in rehab, but they apparently don't mind making fools of themselves or looking ridiculous in hot pink cowboy shirts and shiny blue pants.  

Sure, I could say that listening to Arashi is a good way to learn a foreign language.  I could make the case that their lyrics are actually thoughtful when compared to other boy bands'.  Those are secondary to the fact that these boys have charisma out the wazoo.  They're having fun, and it's infectious.

All this fraternity makes me miss my best friend.  If Arashi can text each other six times a day, I can certainly learn to text and get back in touch with her.

New ultimate goal:  Learn how to text!

Beat Me to It

My thoughts exactly.  Also, the chicken-wuss samurai haircut is my favorite.  (Not gonna lie, Mr. Dincht here did influence my opinion.)

 

OH MY GOD!

OH MY GOD, VINCE AND LAGUNA TOTALLY MADE IT HAPPEN!!!  I APOLOGIZE FOR THE ALL CAPS, BUT I AM SUPER EXCITED HERE!  SO IS THIS BUNNY!!

THANK YOU, EVERYONE WHO READS MY BLOG.  YOU ARE AWESOME, AWESOME PEOPLE!  (AND YES, I THINK YOU ARE CUTE.)

Google Update

It totally worked!  Robbie Williams and his microphone picture sent me to #2 in Google results for "useless ivory"!  Will a Laguna/Vince Vaughn combo rocket me to #1?  Only time will tell.... 

For real, though, thanks to everyone who's visiting my blog!

Speaking of Robbie Williams...

Wow, his music is actually good again.  He'd been doing this falsetto pseudo-rap thing for a bit, but I think (hope) that phase is over.  The return to depressive on drugs/off drugs song-making is certainly cause for celebration.  His trademark "almost clever melodic angst" song ("Blasphemy") is the closest to clever yet!  I know this is fangirly, but oh my God am I excited for actually good Robbie Williams music!

I know the Great RW never really made it big on this side of the pond, but this video shows you just about everything that's awesome about him.  Come one, anyone who puts their initials all over Royal Albert Hall has to be pretty cool.  And those dancers' costumes?  Totally designed himself when he was in rehab.  Maybe.

...And the Lyrics Aren't So Hot, Either

Awesome GAP commercial; terrible music video.  Well, not terrible...but definitely not awesome.  Okay, maybe a little bit awesome....  The lyrics are definitely weird, though!

PS:  Why is Ninomiya Kazunari in my grandmother's shawl?

PPS:  Matsumoto Jun managed to avoid his usual "hobo chic" this time.  Props to you, Matsumoto Jun! (Now pass some style advice on to Mizushima Hiro.)

Thank You, Rapmaster

Sakurai Sho and his possible do-rag make me the #3 hit on Google for "useless ivory"!  Granted, no one is going to search that term except me, but it's cool to know that people actually visit my page.  Thanks for checking out my blog, everyone!

PS:  Oh my God, look what came up in a Google image search for "microphone"!  Great RW, will you catapult me to #2? 

You Know A Show Is Good...

...when you watch it without the subtitles.  (On second thought, I guess that sentence could also begin, "You know a show is in English...")  

At any rate, You Are Beautiful definitely falls into the "good" category.  Episode 11 ran tonight--and you can bet I was all over the internet looking for what happened.  Luckily, Cashewmaniakpop has posted a link to some raw video footage.  

Surprisingly enough, I was able to follow the plot pretty well and still had lots to squeal and laugh hysterically over.  Hwan Tae Kyung's "fightin' eyes" were probably the most frequent source of hilarity.  (I couldn't find a picture of his full-on "I'm gonna eat your face" glare, but you get the idea.)

Also, no offense to poor Jeremy, but he is a total lady.  I actually thought he was supposed to be gay for the first few episodes, and this latest installment reminded me why.  He's just...really effeminate.  And cutesy.

Anyway, check out the series.
   

Extremely Important Kotatsu Update

After finally paying off my credit card, I have officially started saving up for a kotatsu.  In a mere eleven weeks' time, the shining dream of warm laziness and procrastination shall be mine!  

...It's okay, I'm sure Chiaki-sempai is just over exaggerating.  Kotatsu looks so fun!