![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
arashitranslation
Sakurai Sho x Agantgarde
――17 years since the debut of Arashi, reminiscing the way Arashi has been through, what is the things and works that make you think ‘that was avant-garde'?
"(Hastily) The transparent costumes we wore during debut. That revolution does not fade even after 17 years. The skeleton does not fade~ (Giggle)."
――If you want to you may change new clothes.
"Right, right (Giggle). Well, there are many other things!? Our 10th anniversary (Year 2009). The staff of TV broadcasters made us an innovative existence, even more than we did. For instance, the TV broadcasters arranged various TV drama performance for members. Saying ‘there has not been such campaign thus far' [the TV broadcasters] proceeded various campaigns. Is that not innovative?"
――But, just by this, the world already showed great welcome, and still in the CD "All the Best! 1999–2009" there was hidden track "Attack it!". There is a feeling of "not conservative at all, this is not our goal, we shall go ahead". I think such thing is part of the "aggressive Arashi".
"Um, um. I ain't sure...... I want to be aggressive, since long time ago I personally like doing things in a way that others say ‘it's not the way, it's not the way', still now I am delighted to be able to do such things. But in terms of music, after all, we are not able to do everything ourselves. It is grateful to receive comments from others...... Therefore, we expressed our wish to be aggressive, then there are things like nipple T-shirt? (※ A project of NTV program ‘Arashi no Shukudai-kun, 嵐の宿題くん' broadcast from 2006) To wrap heads with stockings, to wear T-shirts where the position of nipples is cut open (Giggle). That was that period of time!"
――Indeed Arashi in that period was experimental (Giggle).
"Seriously, very much [experimental]. In that period people recognised us as interesting guys, male also would not feel allergic [dislike us] when seeing us. That was very much [experimental]. Whatever happens, we knew the weight of popularity. However, on the other hand, in that period――more and more people know our name, the more popular Arashi became, the more we were talked about by others, such as ‘my daughters very much look forward to watching your programs every week, I hope that you don't do vulgar things' (Giggle). I thought (bitter smile) ah, so that is what being popular is."
――Right. But Arashi is surreal to even counter such voice.
"Well, is that so. Of course I still want our baka-ness to be continued to be seen by our fans, but as we are growing popular, now it is necessary to conceal some things...... Therefore, getting more and more popular, conceal more and more, and perhaps there is a feeling that [I] don't want to be concealed and sort of want to pull [the concealed things] out? As a result I think there is such repetition."
――As we have just talked, to keep the already developed channels not to be blocked, there are aggressive movements but then [you will] go back.
"Um...... Well, I can only say that much! Reformist theme is difficult! Because, live at Kokuritsu Kyogijou (国立競技場), ‘Kouhaku Uta Gassen (紅白歌合戦) (NHK General)... all of these are the rails built up by our senpais so that we can be here. Of course, not entirely did we do nothing? For instance, as just mentioned, we have done ‘Blast in Miyagi' which was an event collaborating with the prefecture with an aim to promote the location, indeed I am proud of this new try. But in broad sense, after all it's the soil [on which we grow]. Before us, our senpais have made the base so that we can do various things."
――When Arashi was growing up, the opportunity to do as much as possible [developed by senpais] has matured.
"Yes Yes Yes Yes"
(To be continued)
Part 1: https://arashitranslation.dreamwidth.org/6592.html
Part 2: https://arashitranslation.dreamwidth.org/7224.html