On Nov 9’s broadcast of “Tokyo Live 22”, Aiba talked about what he did on Arashi’s 15th Anniversary. According to him, he spent Nov 3rd drinking alone with MatsuJun for the first time. The two idols went out together after going to TOKIO’s 20th Anniversary concert at the Budokan. “I think this is the first time in 15th years, for us to go drinking alone.” He added excitedly, “It was just the two of us, bunched up at a small table. We made a space just for the two of us and talked. And then the tears just won’t stop! Isn’t it scary?! I don’t even really remember what we talked about”. 

Aiba-chan got everyone more excited when he said, “I also remember how MatsuJun felt like when we were hugging…” while gesturing, saying it was an extraordinary experience. When asked about MatsuJun, Aiba said, “I was all in tears, and MatsuJun was a little…ah, I shouldn’t talk about other people on TV." 

It seems like it was an important day and a big step for both Aiba and MatsuJun.  

From 7/31 episode of VS Arashi:

Sho: Yesterday, Arashi’s news DVD was released. Ohno-san, what DVD was it?

Oh-chan:…Eh?! Eh? (clearly didn’t know)

Matsujun/Sho: What was the title? Title?

Oh-chan: Er…it’s a DVD in which the five of us shine very brightly…

Matsujun: So what was the DVD?

*struggles for a bit*

Oh-chan: Ah LOVE! It’s LOVE!

Nino: Don’t do that…

Sho: You must be really busy to have forgotten. What were you up to?

Matsujun: You had an off-day yesterday? *accusingly*

Oh-chan: It’s fine isn’t it…

Matsujun: Eh? You had a break yesterday? (Oh-chan had an off-day before VS Arashi two weeks ago)

Oh-chan: I tend to have breaks on Monday. *indignant*

*they film in advance so that probably contributed to Oh-chan’s confusion*

On last week’s “Sukkiri” where Sho-kun made an appearance, MC Terry Ito asked if he has a song that is particularly memorable. 

In response, Sho-kun said that it was Arashi’s 7th single, “a Day in Our Life” (2002). It was starting from this single that Arashi began in their new and current label J-Storm. He explained that, “It was with a lot of supporting staff that we began with our own label, and it signified the new chapter of a new Arashi.” 

Terry-san said that he likes “Believe” (2009). As the rap lyrics were penned by Sho-kun, he was asked, “How was it like?”

To which he humbly responded, “We (Arashi) are not singer-songwriters and so we cannot write our own songs. However, with that few bars of rap that I have been allowed to write, as a group I think it allows us to put some of our own thoughts into our songs.”

Th conversation then turned to what kind of music Sho-kun likes. 

According to Sho-kun, he likes going to CD shops, listening to the CDs in the shop and buying the ones that he likes. 

He said that the joy of having CDs is not just listening to the music, but also holding the CDs in his hands. When asked, “You go to CD Shops by yourself? Won’t you get caught?” Sho-kun said, “Unfortunately I don’t really get found out. During off-days, I spend them normally.” 

OriSuta interviewed Matsujun for his MC role in “Sekai Ichi no Show Time”. 

– It has been 1.5 years since the last show. How do you feel. 

M: I think the show feels very special. The guests in the audience are not usual guests but buyers who are actually paying money, so the performances are highly anticipated. I also feel very nervous for them. It’s a very compact show and it’s really fun. 

– Which performance left the deepest impression?

M: It’s really hard to pick one. There are lot that I myself have never seen before. For example performances from overseas, or the trampoline act which I got to see live for the first time. 

– You mentioned in the show that you wanted to do the trampoline act at your concert. 

M: Yes yes. But nobody wants to do it (laughts). Actually after that I asked the members again. I spoke to the performer, Nakata Daisuke-san, after the recording. He says that everyone in Arashi can probably learn it in a month, so I decided to tell the members about it again. 

– And what was their reaction?

M: “You can do it in a month huh…” and just “hmm”. I think they still haven’t changed their minds. If I have time I guess we might challenge it, but then what will we do with that in our concert is another question altogether (laughs). If we have a song that might fit this I guess I might pursue it in the future. 

For those who watched the Arashi ni Shiyagare New Years’ Special, you would probably have been absolutely captivated by the beautiful Matsumoto Junko. In the second part of Jun’s segment, he pretended to be a server at the popular sweets specialty cafe “Rainbow Pancake” in Tokyo.

Apparently after the episode was aired, the T-shirt that Matsumoto wore during the show became so popular that there were tons of inquires to the shop for it. As a result, Rainbow Pancake announced on its official Twitter that they have the staff shirt which Junko wore available for sale while stocks last.

At the time the announcement was made, the T-shirt is still available in SS、S、M、L sizes. Those interested can contact the shop directly and as they said, “it will make a great souvenir for those who are visiting Tokyo!” Rainbow Pancake is also taking inquiries on the T-shirt through their Twitter. Apparently you can go into the shop just to buy the shirt without eating any pancake.

From the “Superb Gourmet” segment on “Zoom in!! Saturday” (NTV) aired on December 28, 2013.

During this segment, Arashi shared the best food they’ve ever eaten. The show began with Ohno who said that for him the ultimate gourmet food is “eating fish that he has just caught right on the spot”. He likes to slice up the Japanese seabass that he has just caught, dip it in ponzo (yuzu soy sauce) and pair it with alcohol.

Next up was Aiba Masaki-kun whose answer was “white rice”. He elaborated that he likes rice fresh out of the rice cooker, at which Ninomiya laughed at him, “Not fresh out of the oven but out of the rice cooker!” However, Aiba gave a rather strange reason for choosing white rice, “I want to dive into it.” Nino said, “Let’s hear what he has to say.” But Aiba-chan replied that, “I don’t really have an answer for you to hear…” and Matsumoto asked, “Do you use an industrial-sized rice cooker at home?” “No. I only have a small one,” Aiba replied amidst everyone’s laughter. At any rate, apparently Aiba wrote the answer with a fairy-like scenario of him jumping into hot, just-cooked rice in his tiny rice cooker.

During “Kotatsu de Arashi 2014” (Fuji TV) on January 3rd, 2014, Arashi members celebrate their 15th year together by confessing the secrets they have kept from one another for the past 15 years…

Sakurai and What He Did with the “Suke-Suke” Outfit…

Matsumoto started the confessions by saying that he actually owns the same brown T-shirt as Sakurai, and is afraid of ending up looking like a couple with him, so he never wears the shirt, to which Sakurai said that they should just, “wear it together!” Meanwhile, Ohno merely told everyone what he recently bought (a hammock chair), drawing amused laughter from his members who also teased him for having a really big house. (“My house isn’t that big,” he says. “Don’t trust artistes when they say their house isn’t that big,” Sakurai taunts. Ohno grumbled, “Aren’t you guys all artistes too?!”)