^ I just pre-ordered the LE (I was quite surprised that it wasn't sold out already! :D).

I normally don't buy singles, but I just love dark-Arashi too much. I also have the LE of "Monster" and I want the one of "truth" sooooo badly...but I guess this is not going to happen! ;)

I have to share this clip from the newest "Arashi ni Shiyagare"-episode.
It's just soooo awesome and sweet!

My favourite moments:

*Sho's fail
*Riida and Sho dancing together...and touching a bit too much! :D
*all of them dancing "Thriller" together in the end

omg lmao Shonentai's Higashiyama is hilarious & considering he's a dai senpai in the talent agency , he's so funny xD

He said that he himself also watch AnS on a regular basis xD

it's amusing that he was training ARASHI's muscles on there , it's like what the hell man :lmfao

the guest for next week's AnS will be actor Matsuyama Kenichi (he acted as L in the Dead Note movies & as Shin in the 1st NANA movie *__*) & he's younger than ARASHI o_o

MatsuJun & Matsuyama goes way back to the very 1st season of Gokusen so yeah :O

Matsuyama Kenichi?!

He is Nino's co-star in "GANTZ", right?!

yup that's right :)

latest Fasio CM of MatsuJun



omg he looked so gorgeous there *__*

I guess I will be seeing the latest batch of Fasio mascara being sold here soon ? :p

The MJ trivia segment was hilarious!!!!! That Higashiyama guy sure does know his MJ songs very well. :)

Which song best encourages students during exam time?

Recochoku users voted on which song they thought best cheered on students who were preparing to take exams, and the results of the poll have been announced!

ARASHI won the top spot with their song “Sakura Sake,” a song whose title closely resembles the word for success on exams (sakurasaki). This is the second year in a row that the 2005 single has come in at number one, most likely because the positive lyrics describing spring and cherry blossoms – which normally mark graduation time – are helpful to students who need a little motivation to get through the difficulties of exam preparation. “I think that ‘Sakura Sake’ means ’success,’ so I listened to it all the time when I was studying for my tests,” professed a tenth year student, while another commented that the lyrics gave her “the power to look forward.”

Coming in at second place is YUI’s song “GLORIA.” Tenth year students replied, “When I was a student preparing for exams, I felt like ‘Could I stand to lose?’ whenever I heard this song,” and “The powerful message supported me.” The lyrics of YUI’s hit single express a determination to keep on going to fulfill your dreams even when the going may be tough, a positive message for students.

Kobukuro’s song YELL claiumed the third place spot, locking it into the top 5 for the third time.

Check out the full Top 5 Ranking below!

1. ARASHI – Sakura Sake
2. YUI – GLORIA
3. Kobukuro - YELL
4. Kitano Kie – Sakura Saku
5. Ikimonogakari - Ima Hashiridaseba

http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/01/whi...ing-exam-time/

omg yay Sakura Sake , 1 of my fave songs of the guys even though the PV's 1 of those kinds which will make you go o_o

but it's still a great song even up to now , the Sakurap in it's just ace <3

Winners for the “14th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix” revealed

Nikkan Sports has revealed the winners for their “14th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix” that covered the whole fall season.

Fuji TV dominated the grand prix by winning in 4 of the 5 categories. The most popular drama last season was “Freeter” which consequently led it to win “Best Drama” in the grand prix as well. Ninomiya Kazunari won “Best Starring Actor” for his performance in “Freeter” while Kanno Miho was awarded as the “Best Starring Actress” for her role in the mysterious drama “Guilty” (Fuji TV).

The five winners will be added as nominees to the annual Grand Prix that is going to take place in March.

http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/01/win...prix-revealed/

^ I'm happy that Nino and the dorama won!
Nino's acting was amazing (once again). It was interesting to see the characters battle with their various problems and I really liked how intense the dorama was sometimes!

(And the guest appearance of Aiba in the last episode was sugar! :D)

YesAsia's description of Lotus

After solidifying their place as Japan's most popular pop group in 2010, Arashi starts off their 2011 with Lotus! Again, the group's 35th single is serving as theme song of a drama starring an Arashi member, and this time it's the adaptation of the hit comic series Bartender starring Aiba Masaki. The single will also come with a B-side track.

http://www.yesasia.com/global/lotus-...0-en/info.html

ahem ahem clearly yesasia has never heard of AKB in reference to their first statement xD
Perhaps I should watch Freeter if Nino's character is actually good this time around. I don't really remember what it's about though ???

LOL

maybe if YesAsia changed the description to Japan's #1 Johnny's group in 2010 , then yeah it will be much better :p xD

Drama plot for Freeter

The story revolves around Take Seiji, who quits his job after three months. With no dreams, no savings, and a poor relationship with his family, he becomes a hikikomori. However, after his mother falls ill with depression, he ends up having to take on a part-time job at a construction site. Because of that, he soon decides to work towards rebuilding his life: "Even though I'm just a freeter, I'm going to buy a house for the sake of my family." One of the people he meets at the construction site is Chiba Manami, who graduated from a top-class university and joined a well-known general contracting firm. Manami is the complete opposite of Seiji. But while their personalities clash at first, they gradually come to understand each other

http://www.wiki.d-addicts.com/Freeter,_Ie_o_Kau.

My sister has seen Freeter & she said that Nino acted really well & that it deserved the ratings that the drama received , unlike Ryusei no Kizuna :P

^ "Ryusei no kizuna" was okay. I only watched it, because Nino was in it, though (YES! I love his acting...like really, really much! :D).
But the story got boring after a while. The last episode was epic though!!

haha

honestly if not for Nino , Ryo Nishikido & Toda Erika , I don't think Ryusei no Kizuna would have gotten such high ratings to begin with :x

I don't know about it but that's what my sister said , since she watched quite a lot of dramas featuring Nino

she hated Nino at 1st because she hated his guts in the character that he played in Yamada Taro Monogatari :p

^ooo yah high five your sister for me!! I hated Taro too! I liked Sho's character better LOL
and I didn't like his character in Ryusei either though the plot was okay.
I liked Nino in Stand Up though!

^ I can't really get into "Yamada Taro Monogatari". I watched the first episode and was soooo bored and now I don't feel like trying to watch it again!

I haven't watched "Stand Up" either and I think I never will. I'm just not very interested in the storyline.


I liked Nino best in "Ao no Honoo" (it's not a dorama, but still!). He was SO terrific in this movie!!!

.....well, of course a new single would be announced when my brother infects my computer with a damn virus. :grumpy LOL. did anyone notice me not posting for 5 days? :roflmao

anyway, "Lotus" instantly reminds me of mika nakashima, LOL, but what a nice & different title for arashi! and 2 b-sides? :yes "Boom Boom" better be a fun song! :tipsy

i just watched the PV/song preview and omg, it sounds so amazing! the PV is dark! so it kinda reminds me of the PV for "Believe" in some way. :P i think arashi look hotter in black suits, but i'll take white suits as well. :lech Bartender looks pretty good, too. soooo excited for this single! :yatta

^ Jup, I noticed!
Welcome back!!! :shughug

I just read on lj that "Dir en grey" are also going to release a song called "LOTUS"! It's kinda funny! :D
But I like the song title! It's beautiful!

But YES! I love the song and the PV!! I really can't wait until the full song leaks and I'm also curious about the PV (Arashi + suits = :love)
And you're right...the video reminds me of "Believe" too, mixed with "truth" and "Monster", which is a great thing, because all three PVs are awesome!! :heart

And I think that "Bartender" will be great. I like Aiba's acting and I'm excited for his new dorama!

^ aww, thank you noticing! :shughug i missed everyone in this thread, too! :heart no arashi is like having no life. :weep i also noticed how this thread is almost finished! that was fast (as usual) :laugh

anyway, after the last few singles, "Lotus" really is refreshing! upbeat & different! i totally love it! after watching the preview a few times already, i also noticed how handsome aiba looks in this drama! :heart if it gets subbed, i'd love to watch it! even if it's RAW, if i'm able to watch it, i totally will. it looks so much better than My Girl already. :P

:shughug
Jup, we will need a new thread soon! Mhm, I wonder what the title will be...!!

Mhm, after soooo many ballads, we really needed something fast and upbeat from Arashi and I'm glad, that we got it!!

Ah...if you want to watch Aiba's new dorama, then you can come and join "Stormy Team" on lj. This group is really awesome, because they have already subbed sooooo many stuff of Arashi. You can find nearly all of their dorama there! It's a really lovely group and they have already announced that they'll sub "Bartender"! :love

Awwww, nothing can beat "My Girl" in my heart...well, save for "Maou"! :D
"My Girl" was just so wonderful and cute. But I can't wait to see serious-Aiba in "Bartender". I just love his serious/dark side so much! :heart