Arashi
From WikiRoll
Contents |
[edit] Musical Career
Arashi's style of music can be classified as "pop" but they have dipped into a wider variety throughout their career and released singles with hip-hop, R&B, and rock flavors. They have gone on to release 7 full albums, 2 compilation albums, and 20 singles to date.
Even while busy working on albums, the members have concerts every year since from their debut in 1999. In 2006 Arashi toured in South Korea and Taipei.
[edit] Non-musical Career
All members of Arashi have appeared in movies, stage plays, musicals, drama, and TV specials. They have had their own variety TV shows in Japan (8 to date) with some of the members appearing as independent hosts.
Jun Matsumoto gained recognition after his role in the popular high school drama, Gokusen, which gave him further acting opportunities with dramas, such as Hana Yori Dango, Hana Yori Dango 2, Kimi wa Petto and Bambino!.
Kazunari Ninomiya has made his mark in drama, such as Stand Up! and movies, Ao no Honoo. He made a break-through in the overseas market by playing a lead role in Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima", which was released in late 2006.
Sho Sakurai became a newscaster for the news programme News Zero, and will be the first idol to ever host an elections coverage programme in July, 2007.
Both Ninomiya Kazunari and Sho Sakurai starred in Yamada Taro Monogatari with a guest star appearence of Satoshi Ohno.
All of Arashi has apeared in the movies PIKA*NCHI and PIKA*NCHI Double. All of them stared in a recent movie titled Kiiroi Namida or "Yellow Tears" that came out in 2007. Ninomiya Kazunari plays a young man who wants to become a manga artist, Aiba Masaki a singer, Ohno Satoshi a painter, Sakurai Sho a novelist, and Matsumoto Jun plays a young man from Iwate that came to Tokyo through group employement.
They also had special appearence on Utaban and other television talk shows.
[edit] Members
[edit] 
Satoshi Ohno [大野智 / Ohno Satoshi]
- Position: Leader, Main Vocal
- Born: November 26, 1980, in Tokyo, Japan
- Nicknames: Ohno, Riida, Captain, and Oji-san (by Nino)
- Blood type: A
- Entered Johnny's Entertainment Agency: October 16, 1994
Ohno is the leader of the group (this is where the nickname "Riida" comes from) not because he is the oldest, but because he had won a game of Jan-Ken-Pon (Rock-Paper-Scissors) to decide. Although he has stated that he wanted to avoid becoming the leader the most, Arashi members have once stated in an interview that Ohno is a new-age idol, who leads his group by not leading at all. He is said to lead more by presence than power since he is not one to ever bark orders. Ohno also seemed to be a strange choice since he is known to be quite passive and oblivious.
Aside from leading the vocal work, he is known to be the best dancer in Arashi. He choreographs several of their dance moves, which the other members sometimes find quite hard to follow. Back when Arashi first debuted and before he was elected leader, Ohno was told by Johnny's to be the "Dance Leader".
In fact, Ohno did not even know "A.Ra.Shi" was their debut song when they were recording it and did not find out they were debuting until the week of their actual debut. He was not active in his Johnny Jrs. time getting TV exposure like the other members of Arashi, so he was the least popular member to begin with. However, as the lead vocal of the group and being a powerful dancer, he has gained a very large fan base of his own. He's said to have fans that are mostly older women though, who think he is "cute".
Ohno and Sho are the only two members to date to have their own solo concerts. He performed his first solo concert on January 29, 2006. He is the member you will least likely see on TV or in movies because he prefers stage plays and musicals but says he enjoys concerts the most. Besides musical and acting skill, he is a talented artist and has showcased his talent on their variety shows several times.
Ohno is said to be very close to his mother, and has mentioned that she even buys his clothes for him. (I believe it was on Utaban) It was his mother who got him to audition for Johnnys by saying "It's not like they will want you to join anyway." During the auditions, he did not follow the dance instructor and merely stood at the very back of the room; waving to his mother out the window, catching the attention of one of the people running the audition. He was asked to come towards the front and dance, and he believes this may be how he passed the audition.Ohno then danced considerably well, to the president's pleasant surprise. This incident shows the very personality of Ohno, who often surprises people around him with his random musings and artistic talents.
Ohno is famously known to obliviously antagonize temperamental SMAP member Masahiro Nakai, his senior, in the latter's music show Utaban by innocently throwing frank, borderline rude comments and dropping out (or adding inappropriate) Japanese honorifics. Masahiro Nakai admitted that he dreaded the times when Ohno opens his mouth, but the two maintain a good relationship all the same.
[edit] 
Sho Sakurai [櫻井翔 / Sakurai Sho]
- Position: Rap, Vocals
- Born: January 25, 1982 in Tokyo, Japan
- Nicknames: Sho, Keio Boy, Umbrella, Sakurap
- Blood Type: A
- Entered Johnny's Entertainment Agency: October 22, 1995
Sho is the only member to have graduated from a university, Keio University, one of the top two schools in Japan. He started the trend for Johnny's to pursue their education while maintaining their "idol" status. His family is very prestigious and at first looked down on his ambitions to become an entertainer but now support him.
During the early years after Arashi's debut, Sho was appointed by the Johnny's to be the "Study Leader". Although he lost in a round of rock-paper-scissors, hence excusing him from being the group's leader, the other four of Arashi have made many remarks that Sho is the one who possesses leadership qualities.
Said to be bilingual and fluent in both Japanese and English. Sho is known to have a temper but is still deeply respected by the Jrs. and even by his senpai (seniors). He has a very strong personality and is a very successful TV host and now newscaster on which he became the first idol to host an election special.
Beside from looking the manliest Sho is actually one of the most scaredy-cat member. Despite being all serious as a news caster, he goes right after to film Arashi no Shukudai-kun where he often shows his dorky side along with the other four members. Sho is famous for his proud drawings of Totoro and Panda (G no 嵐), the worst drawer of the group.
He has also taken part in some dramas, his most famous being Kisarazu Cat's Eye along with some movies and stage plays, appearing as Bernardo, the lead of West Side Story, with fellow Arashi members Matsumoto and Ohno playing lead supporting roles. Recognized as the rapper of Arashi (other members do some rap parts as well), Sho has even taken initiative and written some of their English raps.
Sho was the first in the group to perform in a solo concert, The Show on January 14, 2006.
[edit] 
Masaki Aiba [相葉雅紀 / Aiba Masaki]
- Position: Vocals
- Born: December 24, 1982 in Chiba, Japan
- Nicknames: Aiba, Hiragana, Idol
- Blood Type: AB
- Entered Johnny's Entertainment Agency: August 15, 1996
Aiba is the carefree and silly one of the group. He joined Johnny's in hopes of getting to play basketball with popular group SMAP. While the other members are usually more serious at times, Aiba is the least, even though he is not the youngest. As the childish if not somewhat ditzy member of the group, Aiba is often the first to suggest crazy, off-the-wall ideas; even if not, he would definitely be one of the first to throw his support behind the others. As a result, Aiba has his own segment on their regular variety show ("G no Arashi") called "A no Arashi", in which he carries out many bizarre but fun experiments with the assistance of the other members.
Popular for his joyful ways, Aiba has even taken on a strange project in comparison to the other Arashi members--co-hosting a children's TV programme, "Tensai! Shimua Doubutsuen." However, he has also taken part in activities favored by other members as well, such as dramas and movies.
He was the last to know about his part in the formation of Arashi, learning of the fact only three days before their official debut in Hawaii in September of 1999. During the earlier years following Arashi's debut, Aiba's leadership appointed by Johnny's was undecided.
It might have all not happened though, for Aiba was caught up in a "scandal" earlier on and was almost kicked out of Arashi for it. Johnny's is strict on the image that the idols have to maintain and Aiba's ex-girlfriend had leaked "scandalous" photographs to hurt his career. With a loyal fanbase behind him, Aiba was allowed to stay in Arashi and since has been an integral part of Arashi.
[edit] 
Kazunari Ninomiya [二宮和也 / Ninomiya Kazunari]
- Position: Vocals
- Born: June 17, 1983 in Tokyo, Japan
- Nicknames: Nino, Monk, Poker Face
- Blood Type: A
- Entered Johnny's Entertainment Agency: June 19, 1996
Nino is one of the most multi-talented idols in Japan and widely recognized as a great actor, winning himself several awards as well. However, it may have not happened at all, for he didn't wish to audition but his mom bribed him with money and the promise that he could play baseball if he did audition. He's went on to become immensely popular thanks largely to Arashi, but also due to his acting skills.
He is the most active member in Arashi in movies and drama. Along with Jun Matsumoto, he is one of Japan's leading young actors and have been said to be able to "act with his eyes". In his latest drama Yamado Taro Monogatari, he plays the lead, along with his best friend in Arashi, Sho, as the supporting lead. Nino has skills in self-taught guitar, gymnastics, and various musical instruments. However, he is usually seen with a game console in hand instead and had publicly admitted that he is an otaku. He also admitted that he was one of the top 5 famous gamers. He enjoys playing RPG (Role-Playing Games), for example Dragon Quest.
In his TV appearances, Nino can be somewhat subdued, not as lively as he used to be. Nino and Sho are known for being the least fan-friendly, but Nino cares deeply for the people he is close to and loves his fans as a whole.
Ninomiya stated that he is left-handed but has been forced to write with his right hand by his parents when he was a child. During Arashi's early years, Johnny's appointed Ninomiya as the "Performance Leader".
The other members have stated that before he would hardly ever treat the others when they went out. It was even stated that they've only seen his wallet for the first time recently. (seen on Utaban)
He admitted publicly th
[edit] 
Jun Matsumoto [松本潤 / Matsumoto Jun]
- Position: Vocals
- Born: August 30, 1983 in Tokyo, Japan
- Nicknames: Jun, Matsujun, Devil Jun
- Blood Type: A (actually Rhesus negative)
- Entered Johnny's Entertainment Agency: May 17, 1995
Jun Matsumoto is the youngest but arguably the most popular member of the group. He is one of the three Johnny's "elite," which means he was accepted into Johnny's automatically, skipping the audition process by being put through by Johnny himself.
Johnny has proven he has a golden eye because Jun has gone on to gain an extremely large fan base thanks to his work in very popular drama, such as Gokusen and Hana Yori Dango. Matsumoto proved his acting sbilites by winning verious awards like: Best Supporting Actor in 2002 for Gokusen, and the same award again the next year for Hana Yori Dango, Best Actor in 2007 for Bambino.
Known as the "cool guy" in the group, he can at times be unexpectedly happy and hyper. Matsumoto is deemed to be the stylish one of the group. Normally serious and very dedicated to his work, Matsumoto has been declared by his bandmates as caring the most for Arashi.
He is the first Japanese male to grace the cover of Marie Claire Japan.
Matsumoto is near-sighted. Although he wears contact lenses for his work, he is frequently seen with spectacles. He is also a fan of Haryy Potter.
Ohno has labeled him the "concert master" because of his take-charge attitude and attention to detail during their live performances. During the years after their debut, he was appointed by the Johnny's as the "Comedy Leader". By now he has more or less lose the comedic image and has even gained the nickname Do-S from the other members (S standing for 'Sadist').
Although the members of Arashi enjoy more or less equal popularity, a large portion of the fans were attracted to Arashi by watching Matsumoto's dramas; a common syndrome that has been nicknamed the 'Jun-bait' by fans.
The other members have stated that even though Jun is the youngest he probably has the most sex-appeal of all the memebers.
Outside of his close friends, Matsujun is uncomfortable being touched by strangers unless he initiates it and is fairly aloof when in private. Despite this, however he also has great respect for the loyalty of his fans and supporters.
