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Sakurai: Arashi is like a big project. That’s why, there are a lot of people involved in it, such as the VS Arashi staff and Arashi ni Shiyagare staff. The “presence of everyone around us,” which includes those of our fans, is perhaps my biggest motivation.
Ohno: Yeah. We’re nothing without our fans and supporters, nor are we anything without our managers and staff. We wouldn’t be able to continue if all of the gears don’t come together. As expected, it’s the “gratitude” towards everyone involved. Although we have put in the effort as well, I believe everyone around us are ultimately the ones who have created, and continue to create, the present us.
Matsumoto: Yep. The fact that I’ve been able to see so many different sceneries, thanks to the five of us being able to make it this far, is also a big thing for me. Consequently, I’m able to think of things like, “Well then, what sort of scenery shall we look at beyond this?” and “It’d be nice to see this sort of scenery.” The thoughts of the “sceneries yet to be seen” become my motivation.
Aiba: Now that you mention it, my motivation may be the fact that I’m a part of Arashi. Whether it’s solo work or work as a group, the fact that “I’m part of Arashi” is my motivation to continue through the passing days. At the same time, the act of continuing is also linked to preserving that motivation.
Sakurai: That’s probably true for all our cases.
Ninomiya: That’s why we’re able to return to Arashi, whether it’s when we do our individual work, or work as Arashi. We do things in hopes of getting various people to know about us, and at the core of it, we aim to improve Arashi through the jobs we complete. By doing our jobs, we’re able to get more people to know about Arashi and get them to understand about what sort of people we are, so that’s my motivation.
—What do you keep in mind to try and preserve that motivation?
Ohno: Rather than motivation, simply put, I personally think that our 10th anniversary left a huge impact in me, looking back on it now. The excitement surrounding it and all. Although my feelings of gratitude were already there before, I probably felt it especially strongly around that time. I couldn’t have imagined that everyone would celebrate it for us so extensively, so it left a huge impression on me.
Sakurai: That’s true. But my motivation has personally never decreased, so I’ve never consciously thought about preserving it in the first place. Like Nino says, work is what creates my motivation for work, so I feel like you must work in order to get the motivation for it.
Aiba: That’s why there’s nothing else but to continue, right? (laughs)
Matsumoto: Yup. Rather than keeping something in mind, the awareness of the five of us as one is the most important thing. Each one of us is 1/5. To take things even further, it’s not only the five of us. There is also a large number of staff who are involved as well, so including them, I constantly think of myself as one member of those who are presenting “Arashi.” It’s inseparable. It’s like a part of me, similar to my own name. Both the human being that is named, “Matsumoto Jun” and the fact that I I’m a member of Arashi is engraved within me.
Sakurai: Exactly. I also find it fascinating that there are many people who know me better than I do. For example, once we finish performing a concert, that’s the end of it for us. But there are people who know about me much better by watching our concert DVDs again and again, and reading what we say in magazines multiple times (laughs). Even when people tell me, “You were ___, right?” there are often occasions where I respond, “Eh? I don’t know!” so it’s really interesting (laughs). I end up realising, “Wow, I said those sorts of things, huh?”
Ninomiya: Yep. At the same time, our desires to “improve Arashi” doesn’t come to an end, even with the existence of such people. I believe our work doesn’t end with just gaining experience and maturing. It’s not, “We’re well-known now. We’ve made it this far, so it’s fine now.” If we’re satisfied, it isn’t necessary to create things anew, after all. In that sense, I think knowing about us can be equated to having watched or listened to us in the past. That’s why I think it’s good to innovate new things for the sake of Arashi.
—Well then, following on the topic of Arashi, please inform us about each of your recent work.
Matsumoto: We’re approaching the last stages of promotion for the drama 99.9 —Keiji Senmon Bengoshi— Season II, so my schedule is becoming really packed. Everyone’s been filming without getting a lot of sleep. Even so, the filming location is filled with endless laughter, so you can probably sense that atmosphere within the video footages we filmed. In reality, the staff’s level of enthusiasm is really high, so I’m really happy I was able to be involved in such a project. There are various things while filming that are created on spot, so it’s a lot of fun. There’s a sense that we’re creating the story through each other’s responses, and it’s a site where it’s impossible to predict what will happen next, so it’s a lot of fun. Nino’s Black Pean, which will come after 99.9, probably has a completely different taste to it. I have the impression that it’s a production that has a set outlook on the world, following on from the original work. The cast also seems like they’d make a very interesting production, so I’m simply looking forward to it as a viewer.
Ninomiya: It’s not my role, but I think the viewers will enjoy the production through the perspective of Takeuchi (Ryoma)-kun’s character. I’m building up my role in hopes of making him a very distinctive character, but it’s so hard that I feel like I’m about to burst. I realise once again just how admirable Leader is, being able to act in Kaibutsu-kun (laughs).
Ohno: Ah, thanks (laughs).
Sakurai: It’s been over 10 years since I started working for NEWS ZERO, but I’m still learning, I learn something everyday. I don’t usually get nervous, but I try to stay conscious in keeping a sense of nervousness when it comes to ZERO. In other words, I don’t want to get completely used to it. In reality, there are many occasions where it gets difficult, to the extent I can’t even begin to describe it in words. Sakurai Ariyoshi THE Yakai is a show that centralises on the guest instead of on me. We have actors and various other guests who come on the show, so I’d be glad if it’s a show in which our guests can enjoy themselves.
Aiba: Aiba Manabu has just reached 5 years of airtime, but I honestly don’t know what the key to be able to continue a show for a long time is. I approach it one episode at a time. I’m all for living in the present! (laughs) I also learn a lot about sports I didn’t know before and experience them through Gutto! Sports. I’ve been able to watch this year’s Pyeongchang Olympics with more enthusiasm compared to all of the previous Olympics up until now. When I interview athletes who appear on the show, I come to understand more about the difficulty of certain techniques, and the greatness of their skills, so I was able to enjoy myself even more! Accordingly, cheering people on increases your enthusiasm, don’t you agree?
Matsumoto: Hanyu (Yuzuru)-senshu’s gold medal and Takanashi (Sara)-senshu’s medal was moving, wasn’t it! I’m pretty sure it’s the same with everyone else, but everyone’s atmosphere when they work alone compared to when we work together in Arashi’s variety shows is different. Our excitement level naturally changes as the setting also changes, without us particularly aiming to switch modes.
Aiba: That’s true.
Ohno: Also, I sense that a new game will probably appear on VS Arashi. Although playing games is fun in itself, hearing the stories of various guests who come to our show is also a lot of fun. But you know, Cliff Climb has been getting tiring recently. Maybe I’m starting to feel the decline in my physical strength (laughs). After filming, I get a little tired and realise, “Hm? I didn’t do well today.” It’s unrelated to simply being tired or lacking sleep, though I don’t know what the difference is myself (laughs). Arashi ni Shiyagare is the one and only show where I’m able to go on a location shoot, so it’s both fun and good for a change of pace. The otoko-meshi segment I filmed with Nonchan (Kotaki Nozomu) recently was fun.
Sakurai: You definitely looked like you had a lot of fun (laughs).
—You’re probably already looking towards your 20th anniversary at this stage, as Arashi. How does Ohno-san, as the group’s leader, view the members’ relationships? Have there been any changes?
Ohno: It’s going to be our 20th anniversary soon, huh? At any rate, time sure flew ever since our 10th anniversary. I remember casually saying to the other members, “It’s already 2012, huh.” All of us are now adults and continue to age together, but the atmosphere and the distribution of roles amongst us haven’t changed. More like, we might be getting closer as the years pass by (laughs).
Matsumoto: That’s true.
Sakurai: It’s sort of like, “We’re still getting closer at this point in time?” though (laughs).
Ohno: Well, I mean, we’re exchanging messages with each other a lot more now. Without getting stuck in a rut, the number of messages has continued to increase (laughs). The other day, Sho-kun sent us a video from Pyeongchang and everyone reacted, saying, “Wow!” and messaged him to tell him, “Take care on your way back.” That’s why, I’m certain our relationships and the atmosphere between the five of us won’t change from now on, either.
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